The Taylor Seminars

Join Hannah and Exquisite as they discuss the first of Midnights 3am tracks. "The Great War" is a masterful self-written song that describes a tumultuous time in a couple's relationship that has a happy ending. But we see glimpses of other battles in the past and even foreshadowing of betrayal and heartache in the future.

Exquisite and Hannah wrap up Track 13 of Midnights (the end of the standard album) with "Mastermind." This song mixes romanticism and manipulation to concoct the perfect closer (or is the closer?!?) that show how Taylor is clearly in control (or is she?!). Enjoy the episode? ⁠Support The Taylor Seminars on Ko-fi! ❤️ And don’t forget to join the conversation with #MidnightsSeminars on X/T...

Come crash out with Exquisite and Hannah as they talk about "Sweet Nothing," Track 12 from Taylor Swift's Midnights album. They analyze it as what it was when it was first released--a beautiful love song about being safe with someone--and then analyze it in hindsight, when we realize that this is a love that's been forgotten deep inside a pocket. And then see the full culmination of their despair...

Join Hannah and Exquisite as they discuss the personification of "Karma" on this week's episode of The Taylor Seminars. Track 11 of Midnights, "Karma" has Taylor feeling carefree and reaping the benefits of her hard-earned work--while admonishing those who are addicted to betrayal. And we'd love for you to share: what is your karma? Enjoy the episode? ⁠Support The Taylo...

Join Hannah & Exquisite as they discuss the threads that connect the song "Labyrinth" from Taylor Swift's album Midnights with the story of the Minotaur. The bull-headed man, also known as Asterion, was trapped inside a maze--isolated and forever trapped and bred to be a monster who could never find love but only devour his victims. Does that sound similar to another self-profess...

Join us for one of Taylor's prettiest and sparkliest pop songs -- and best believe it's also a threat. Hannah and Exquisite discuss "Bejeweld," track 9 of Midnights in both its historical context and with 20/20 hindsight. Enjoy the episode? ⁠Support The Taylor Seminars onKo-fi! ❤️ And don’t forget to join the conversation with#MidnightsSeminars on X/Twitter   Follow us on Twitter...

Join us this episode and come dressed for revenge as we're discussing "Vigilante Shit" from Taylor Swift's Midnights . We discuss the connections between this song and "No Body, No Crime," as well as other songs where Taylor has been provoked into action. And so join Exquisite and Hannah on this fun episode where we get to see how Taylor's self-written song is fille...

Join Hannah and Exquisite as they connect "Question...?" from the album Midnights to other songs in the 1989-verse. Of course there is "Out of the Woods," but also "Is It Over Now?," "Now That We Don't Talk," "Slut!" and more! Enjoy the episode? ⁠Support The Taylor Seminars onKo-fi! ❤️ And don’t forget to join the conversation with #MidnightsSe...

What happens when Taylor Swift looks into the windows of the people in her past? She falls deep into a portal that exposes the cracks in her current life, where she has reached fame and yet realizes there are unfulfilled "what ifs." Follow Exquisite & Hannah as they unravel Track 6 of "Midnights", finding references to other songs like "Dorothea" and "Tis the...

On this episode, Hannah and Exquisite visit one of Taylor Swift's signature Track Fives: "You're On Your Own, Kid." Listen in as they trace how the song follows Taylor's growth from a young (precocious) child to her life in NYC to finally realizing that she's got something that no one can take away. Follow us on Twitter: - ⁠@⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠taylorseminars⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

There's something so magical about Track 4 of Midnights , "Snow on the Beach." It harkens back to so many of Taylor Swift's beautiful love songs such as "Call It What You Want" and "You are in Love." With beautiful detail and ethereal vocals, she truly captures a moment in which the speaker is not in control--rather they are caught completely unaware and now t...

Join us as we dive into one of Taylor Swift's most vulnerable tracks--and it was a single? Yes, "Anti-Hero" was one of Taylor Swift's most successful singles, going #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 8 weeks. And despite its synth beat and earworm chorus, it contains some of her most sad lyrics that are filled with self-loathing. Join Exquisite and Hannah as they talk about how Tayl...

We dive into the next sleepless night, and we are transported into the Red era. But everything has changed as Taylor reexamines that "passionate as sin" relationship from new angles in Track 2 of Midnights, "Maroon." This tumultuous love affair was chronicled throughout Taylor's fourth studio album, Red, especially in songs like "Red" and "All Too Well," which we definitely reference in this week'...

We met Taylor at midnight, and we were in for an album filled with questions, regrets, self-loathing, hope, fear, anger, and everything in between. Exquisite & Hannah dive into the Midnight's prologue, searching for clues to why she wrote the album--and how it even impacted The Tortured Poets Department. We also delve into the first track, "Lavender Haze," where they talk about a...

What if we told you we're going back to the Midnights era? For this season of The Taylor Seminars, we're going to examine the tracks of the 2024 Album of the Year Midnights by Taylor Swift. But before we dive into the album, we need to do some context. That's why for this pre-Midnights episode, Exquisite and Hannah discuss two songs that have not been released on a Taylor Swift album: "Renegade,"...

It's been an amazing 9-month journey we've been on with The Tortured Poets Department. We're off to one more trip to those shores with our recap episode, "The Aftermath." Listen in as Hannah and Exquisite share their final thoughts on the album (yes we include extra time on "So Long, London"), including what we would consider the "thesis statement" of the...

We can't believe it either but we've reached the last track of The Tortured Poets Department: Anthology. That means we've reached "The Manuscript," a self-written closing track that truly helps wrap up this double album. They talk about the song's connection to "All Too Well (10 Minute Version" and its connection to one of the grand themes of TTPD of loss of inn...

As we near the end of The Tortured Poets Department: Anthology, Exquisite and Hannah analyze the beautiful and melancholy "Robin," in which Taylor sings to Robin (herself?) and how she wishes to help keep their innocence forever. They talk about the song's connection to the theme of innocence and innocence lost, which is found throughout Taylor Swift's discography in songs such a...

This week, Exquisite and Hannah talk about the fairytale-esque "The Bolter" from The Tortured Poets Department: Anthology. This fantastical song follows the story of a girl who runs--but for good reason. They talk about the song's connection to other Taylor Swift works, such as "Blank Space," "Right Where You Left Me," "It's Time To Go" and others! E...

Join Exquisite and Hannah as they discuss the melancholy and haunting "Peter" from The Tortured Poets Department: Anthology. They talk about yes, Peter from Peter Pan and Wendy, but also the implications of cedar, lamplight, and the important phrase "cause love's never lost when perspective is earned." And, of course, lots and lots of references to more Taylor Swift songs....

Join fellow Cassandras Exquisite and Hannah as they discuss how the protagonist of the song was 100% correct. They explain how her prophecies were used against her and isolated her, giving her trauma that revisits her again and again. Join Exquisite & Hannah as they discuss "Cassandra" from The Tortured Poets Department: Anthology. Join in on our conversation on Twitter/X with the hashtag #Ant...

We have a special guest for this special song ! Rob Sheffield is an author and music critic at Rolling Stone magazine. He's written many of your favorite Taylor Swift album reviews ( ⁠ Folklore ⁠ , ⁠ Red (Taylor's Version), ⁠ ⁠ The Tortured Poets Department ⁠ , but you might know him best from ⁠his ranking of TS songs⁠ . Rob also has a book coming out called ⁠ Heartbreak is the National Anthem: Ho...

In this haunting song, the protagonist shivers in the cold as she stares into the warm living rooms of strangers. What is she doing out there? How did she get to be stranded outside? What will actually happen when she meets his eyes one last time? Join Exquisite & Hannah as they discuss "I Look in People's Windows" track 25 from The Tortured Poets Department: Anthology and see if you too are a...

There's something special about "thanK you aIMee," and it's not just the unique spelling of the track from The Tortured Poets Department: Anthology. Join Exquisite & Hannah as they analyze this lighthearted and yet serious song that plays with the album's themes of violence, obstacles, and, of course, survival. Join us for lots of laughs in what is probably one of our most fun episodes. Join i...

We're back in darkness for the track "I Hate It Here." Join Exquisite & Hannah as they analyze this often-misunderstood song and reveal how Taylor Swift writes powerfully and candidly about her inner turmoil, loneliness, and unhealthy escapism. Join in on our conversation on Twitter/X with the hashtag #AnthologySeminars! Enjoy the podcast? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Send us a tip! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Twitter: @ ⁠⁠⁠...