Podcast Summary: Totally Booked with Zibby — Gus Morais, Taylor Swift: Unofficial Search and Find Biographies
Episode Date: October 3, 2025
Host: Zibby Owens
Guest: Gus Morais, illustrator and author
Main Topic: The making of Taylor Swift: Unofficial Search and Find Biographies, an illustrated, interactive journey through Taylor Swift’s career
Overview
In this episode, Zibby Owens interviews Brazilian illustrator Gus Morais about his new book, Taylor Swift: Unofficial Search and Find Biographies. This unique publication blends the narrative style of a biography with the interactive "search and find" format, creating a Where’s Waldo?-style experience tailored for Swifties and newcomers alike. The conversation explores how Gus, a relative Taylor Swift newbie, became an expert through immersive research, what it takes to create such dense and playful illustrations, and the cultural phenomenon of Taylor Swift herself.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Gus Morais’ Artistic Background (02:11–04:00)
- Gus, a Brazilian illustrator living in Spain, is known for his vibrant, detail-rich illustrations.
- He has worked with big names (Washington Post, Warner Brothers, Lego, DC Comics), often creating "search and find" artworks.
- Despite his sister being a devoted Swiftie, Gus ironically knew little about Taylor Swift before beginning this project, leading to an intensive research odyssey.
Gus: "I knew very little about Taylor Swift when I started this book. My sister was like the big Swiftie that I knew. So I started making lots of research and, well, listen to all the songs, all the albums. I've read all the lyrics carefully, and… in the end of the process, I can say I know a lot about Taylor Swift." (04:11)
2. Origin of the Project & Book Concept (04:59–07:28)
- The project was initiated by Cider Mill Press and HarperCollins Focus, who wanted to pioneer a “search and find” style biography centered on Taylor Swift.
- The idea was to encapsulate every phase of Taylor’s career with a visual treasure hunt packed with Easter eggs, album lore, and detailed references for fans.
Gus: "They brought the idea: biographies but in search and find form... telling the story of someone’s life and using the style to show details, Easter eggs. And the first person I am thinking about is Taylor Swift." (05:32)
- Gus found the match between Taylor’s detailed artistic world and his own deeply-layered visual style inspiring.
3. Research Process and Fan Culture (07:51–11:58)
- Gus detailed the immersive, continuous research demanded by the project—listening to all music, analyzing lyrics, watching music videos, and even pausing footage to catch fine details.
- He emphasized Taylor’s use of symbolism, lore, and Easter eggs, all of which are beloved by fans and lent themselves perfectly to the “search and find” approach.
- Though not a concertgoer himself, Gus absorbed Swiftie fan culture through family (his sister), local buzz in Madrid, and online enthusiasm.
Gus: "When she arrives to make a concert in a city, everything around... changes a lot... people very excited and engaged in the streets. It's incredible." (10:06)
Zibby: "It's the Where's Waldo of Taylor Swift. It's really insane... Every color palette of each illustration, two-page spread, is different. The tone is different, the vibe. And yet you hide all these things in each..." (11:10)
4. Building the Book: Details, Research, & Sheer Scale (13:34–17:23)
- Each illustrated spread has 400–800 people, placing fans amidst high schools, concert arenas, Nashville landmarks, and other era-specific settings.
- Gus meticulously tracked details—down to the family dog, cars from childhood, and city architecture—to make the imagery authentic.
Gus: "For people… in a regular spread I usually add 400 to 600 people... sometimes 800." (13:34)
"For the Bluebird Cafe, where Taylor was discovered, I have the building drawn in a very similar architectural style." (15:00)
- The process involved pouring over music videos for reference frames and ensuring each era and location matched Swift’s career trajectory.
- The challenge was to ensure value for both experts and casual readers: super-fans could find up to 200+ references, while new fans would discover layers through play.
5. Favorite Spread: The Eras Tour & Artistic Process (17:23–18:51)
- Zibby specifically gushes over the Eras Tour stadium spread—praising its scale, vibrancy, and function as an interactive work of art.
Zibby: "My favorite page is this double spread in the middle of the Eras tour... in the middle you have this amazing spread... It's so cool. Look at that stadium. Oh, my gosh." (17:23)
- Gus reveals the timeline: 8–9 months of work, balancing deep research and intricate drawing. The design team contributed extra time perfecting materials, including shiny foil detailing on the cover.
6. What’s Next for Gus & The Series (19:08–22:06)
- Gus is planning to expand the search and find universe, next with a Halloween-themed book full of “crazy characters and lots of fun.”
- Eventually, more search and find biographies on other major cultural figures are in the pipeline.
- Gus is likely to create an updated Taylor Swift spread for her new album era (“Life of a Showgirl”), with fresh references pending further developments.
Gus: "We're definitely going to have a spread about this new era… I think it's something that I will build while this new era develops." (19:08)
7. Broader Appeal & Emotional Connection (22:39–24:26)
- Zibby and Gus emphasize that Taylor Swift: Unofficial Search and Find Biographies is for everyone: both die-hard Swifties and those who simply enjoy puzzles and art.
- Each scene is emotionally anchored in lyrics—sometimes playful, sometimes poignant.
Gus: "For every spread, each is related to an era, to an album. I've drawn one specific situation based in my interpretation of each lyric... Even if you're not a fan, you can read a lyric and have, like, whoa, this is nice." (22:39)
8. Respectful Tribute to Taylor Swift (24:29–25:02)
- Gus hopes Taylor herself receives a copy, underscoring his respect for her as an artist and for the complexity and authenticity he strove to capture.
Gus: "I made this with lots of respect, to every detail... I wanted to make a work that was true to the complexity and all of the work [Taylor] has put into her work." (24:29)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
Gus on Study & Research:
"I love doing research... I had to make this immersion into this universe, which is very complex, full of rich imagery." (04:11) -
On Scale of Illustration:
"In a regular spread I usually add like, you know, 400 to 600 people in a spread. Sometimes 800 people." (13:34) -
Zibby on the Book's Appeal:
"It’s the Where’s Waldo of Taylor Swift... And every color palette of each illustration, two-page spread, is different. The tone is different, the vibe." (11:10) -
On Making Art for Fans and Non-Fans:
"People who are not exactly Swifties could read the book and have some fun... The book can communicate on a deeper level with fans, but others will have a bunch of material to learn about her life, and also fun." (22:39)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Guest Introduction & Gus’s Background: 02:11–04:00
- How the project began: 04:59–07:28
- Gus’s Swiftie education & research journey: 04:11–07:51
- Impact of Taylor Swift fandom/culture: 09:41–11:09
- Discussion of book’s interactive elements: 13:34–17:23
- Eras Tour spread highlight: 17:23–18:05
- Timeline and design considerations: 18:05–18:51
- Future projects & series expansion: 19:08–22:06
- Broader audience appeal: 22:39–24:26
- Sending the book to Taylor & respecting her artistry: 24:29–25:02
Conclusion
Taylor Swift: Unofficial Search and Find Biographies is a meticulously crafted, playful celebration of a modern icon’s career. Gus Morais’s journey from Swiftie novice to devoted chronicler mirrors the book’s intended appeal: fans and newcomers alike will find a rich, interactive gateway to Taylor Swift’s world.
Zibby Owens: "It is the perfect gift. It is the perfect way to celebrate the new album and get a piece of Taylor's world… it is still a really great intellectual exercise to try to find and hunt down all of these things that you've hidden here so geniusly. So congratulations on this fabulous, fun ode to Taylor for all ages." (22:06)
For those looking for an interactive, visual, and emotional tour of Taylor Swift’s life—and a labor of love from its creator—this episode and the book it spotlights are not to be missed.