The Taylor Seminars

The Taylor Seminars

Music EN ↓ 102 episodes

Studying the impact of Taylor Swift through 1-hour-ish seminars with Hannah (@sippingaugust) and Exquisite (@exquisitewill). The two discuss track-by-track analysis of each track on Taylor Swift's albums. They are currently discussing "The Life of a Showgirl" and have already completed episodes on TTPD and Midnights. Art Credit: Alef Vernon @alefvernon. Find him on Patreon!

Author

The Taylor Seminars

Category

Music

Podcast website

podcasters.spotify.com

Latest episode

Jun 4, 2026

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Episodes

WE feel So High School 11.10.2024

We're giggling and kicking our feet as we go back to "So High School," track 22 of The Tortured Poets Department within the Anthology. Listen in to our analysis of this beautifully sweet and romantic song by Taylor Swift. Join in on our conversation on Twitter/X with the hashtag #AnthologySeminars! Enjoy the podcast? ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Send us a tip! ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Twitter: @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠taylorseminars⁠⁠⁠...

How Did It End? (respectfully) 04.10.2024

We hereby conduct this post-mortem of a post-mortem. Join us as Hannah and Exquisite explore this painfully tragic song that examines the death of a relationship while also pointing at those who gather just to gawk. Listen in to our analysis of "How Did It End" by Taylor Swift. from The Tortured Poets Department Anthology Join in on our conversation on Twitter/X with the new hashtag #Ant...

Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus (and Elly and Exquisite and Hannah) 27.09.2024

We have a special guest for this episode! Elly McCausland is a professor of English Literature at Ghent University, Belgium where she teaches the course " English Literature (Taylor’s Version) ." Elly has a book coming out called "Stars Around My Scars," which annotates 46 of Swift's songs. When we heard about this project, we knew we had to have her on to discuss one of th...

The Albatross - Who Do You Believe? 20.09.2024

Hannah and Exquisite explore this beautifully evocative song that references poems like " The Rime of the Ancient Mariner " and " The Albatross, " Taylor's own "Blank Space" and "peace," and more. Join in on our conversation on Twitter/X with the new hashtag #AnthologySeminars! Enjoy the podcast? ⁠⁠ Send us a tip! ⁠⁠ Follow us on Twitter: @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

imgonnagetyouback Just Watch 13.09.2024

Hannah and Exquisite explore this extremely sexy, extremely chaotic song that's the second of the The Anthology tracks! Join in on our conversation on Twitter/X with the new hashtag #AnthologySeminars! Enjoy the podcast? ⁠ Send us a tip! ⁠ Follow us on Twitter: @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠taylorseminars⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sippingaugust ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Hannah @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠exquisitewill ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -...

WE hope it's sh*tty in The Black Dog 06.09.2024

We're finally on The Anthology tracks! Join Exquisite and Hannah as they discuss "The Black Dog" and how it's a perfect breakup song, with connections to "Sad Beautiful Tragic," "All Too Well," and an evermore song that made Exquisite almost cry. Oh, and stick around to the very end of the episode for a final connection to a Speak Now song! Join in on our conv...

You Look Like the Clara Bow Episode 23.08.2024

Can you believe we made it to the end of TTPD standard? In this episode, Exquisite and Hannah analyze the speakers (yes, speakers) in this song, and revisit the omnipresent theme of fame. Follow us on Twitter: @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠taylorseminars⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sippingaugust ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Hannah @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠exquisitewill ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Exquisite Art by Alef Vernon: @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alefvernon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Who are WE to fight The Alchemy? 16.08.2024

Taylor Swift writes the perfect love story/sports anthem in "The Alchemy." Listen as Exquisite and Hannah talk through the sports metaphors and how the song shows healing and growth and, of course, love. Follow us on Twitter: @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠taylorseminars⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sippingaugust ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Hannah @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠exquisitewill ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Exquisite Art by Alef Vernon: @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alefver...

The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived (He Sucks!!!) 09.08.2024

Let's get scathing and angry as we talk Track 14 of The Tortured Poets Department . We talk about not only the devastating lyrics, but also the performance of the song in the Eras tour. Also--do you think there's a double muse?!? Also, our comment section is now open! Feel free to leave feedback for this or any other episode! Follow us on Twitter: @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠taylorseminars⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

I Can Do It With a Broken Heart (And She Did) 02.08.2024

We're so depressed we act like there's a TTPD seminar every day! Tune in as we talk Track 13 (!!!) "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart." Hannah & Exquisite talk about how Taylor used her tour to push through and find herself again. And listen for all the references they found in the song. Also, our comment section is now open! Feel free to leave feedback for this or any other ep...

We Think There's Been a GLITCH 29.07.2024

You thought we were done talking about loml? Turns out there's more support for the double muse theory for the song. See Exquisite and Hannah fasten "loml" to "Glitch" with an embroidered stitch in this short bonus episode. We hope you enjoy. Also, our comment section is now open! Feel free to leave feedback for this or any other episode! Follow us on Twitter: @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠taylo...

loml (losing our minds lyrically) 26.07.2024

Let's breakdown loml lyrics while having a breakdown! Exquisite and Hannah take on this devastating song line by line as we Taylor writing the blended muses as her songwriting skill is at its highest level. See her vulnerability, sadness, and anger as she hits rock bottom. explore the anger of this wild and spooky track in the latest episode of "The Taylor Seminars. Join the co-hosts as t...

I Can Fix Him (Spoiler: She Did Not) 19.07.2024

The shortest song on The Tortured Poets Department still packs a mean wallop. Exquisite and Hannah explore the relationship between the singer and her "dangerous man" and how she has "I Can Fix Him" syndrome. And would you be surprised to hear this is a mixed muse song? Press play and join the discussion on Twitter with #ttpdseminars. Follow us on Twitter: @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠taylorseminar...

Who's Afraid of Little Old Me? (We REALLY Are) 12.07.2024

What happens to the caged beast after it's been tormented long enough? Exquisite and Hannah explore the anger of this wild and spooky track in the latest episode of "The Taylor Seminars. Join as they discuss track 10 of The Tortured Poets Department , "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" Press play and join the discussion on Twitter with #ttpdseminars. Follow us on Twitter: @ ⁠⁠...

Guilty As Sin (We Roll the Stone Away) 28.06.2024

Safe to say Exquisite and Hannah love this sexy, sensuous track. Join them as they discuss Track 9 of The Tortured Poets Department , "Guilty as Sin?" From violent imagery to Biblical allusions, this episode has it all. Press play and join the discussion on Twitter with #ttpdseminars. NOTE: We will not be releasing an episode on July 5 as we take a quick break! Follow us on Twitter: @ ⁠⁠...

Florida!!! It's One Hell of a Podcast Episode!!! 20.06.2024

Our trip through Americana continues with a stop in the Sunshine State. Join Exquisite & Hannah as they discuss Track 8 of The Tortured Poets Department , "Florida!!!" Learn about how the history and culture of the state adds to the atmosphere of the track, and hear about the how the interplay of the two singer-songwriters heightens the storytelling. (Also, they're both huge Dance Fever by Flo...

Fresh Out The Slammer Into the Microwave 14.06.2024

Join Exquisite and Hannah as they swoon over the crooning voice of Taylor Swift in Trach 7 of The Tortured Poets Department , "Fresh Out The Slammer." See how they analyze how Taylor goes out of the slammer and is about to enter the microwave, the tidal wave, the horror story -- and she has no idea. From the rhymes in the verses to the production of the outro -- this is an episode you do...

But Daddy I Love Him (I'm Having a Podcast) 07.06.2024

Journey to the West with Exquisite & Hannah as they discuss Track 6 of The Tortured Poets Department , "But Daddy I Love Him." Enjoy this wild romp through fences and running through fields as they analyze the lyricism, Americana and religious imagery, and theme of autonomy. Follow us on Twitter: @ ⁠⁠taylorseminars⁠⁠ @ ⁠⁠sippingaugust ⁠⁠ - Hannah @ ⁠⁠exquisitewill ⁠⁠ - Exquisite Art...

So Long, London (and our sanity) 31.05.2024

Buckle up as Exquisite & Hannah as they discuss Track 5 of The Tortured Poets Department , "So Long, London." And there is a lot to talk about. They go through it line by line (and sometimes go over it again) as they dig into the deep, dark emotions conveyed in the song. And yes, Exquisite cries. Follow us on Twitter: @ ⁠taylorseminars⁠ @ ⁠sippingaugust ⁠ - Hannah @ ⁠exquisitewill ⁠...

Down Bad and the Journey to TTPD 24.05.2024

Join Exquisite & Hannah as they discuss Track 4 of The Tortured Poets Department , "Down Bad." Listen as they dissect (pun intended) the lyrics and share their analysis. And for the second half of the podcast, the two talk about how they feel TTPD shows Taylor's attempt to reclaim her humanity and autonomy and how these have been themes she has been grappling with since the drop...

(Reupload) My Boy Only Listens to the Taylor Seminars 17.05.2024

Hannah and Exquisite discuss Track 3 of The Tortured Poets Department , "My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys." Listen as they go through each stanza, and stay tuned for their analysis of how the song fits in with previous Taylor works, especially those in "Reputation." P.S. This episode has been reuploaded to fix audio issues. A big thank you to everyone who alerted us about i...

Who Else Decodes Taylor? (Us) 11.05.2024

Join Exquisite & Hannah as they discuss the title track, "The Tortured Poets Department," and hear in real-time the epiphany they had about verse 1 (No smoking or bars of chocolate needed). Enjoy the podcast? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Send us a tip! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Twitter: @ ⁠taylorseminars⁠ @ ⁠sippingaugust ⁠ - Hannah @ ⁠exquisitewill ⁠ - Exquisite Art by Alef Vernon: @ ⁠alefvernon⁠ ⁠Alef's Patreon⁠

For a Fortnight There, We Were Forever 03.05.2024

Exquisite & Hannah analyze the first track "Fortnight." We talk about the context of the song, go through it stanza by stanza, and even leave room for interpretation--just how Taylor does throughout the album. NOTE: Hannah thought there was a misprint in her lyrics and tried to correct them, but her corrected lyrics were wrong, so please ignore that part. We do not have the resources to edit i...

All the Red Herrings 26.04.2024

Hannah & Exquisite dive into "The Tortured Poets Department" and its accompanying "Anthology." They start by reading and analyzing the "In Summation" poem by Taylor Swift and how it unlocks the album for careful readers and listeners. Then they talk broad themes about the album, from the red herrings and mixing of muses to the sex, innocence, and threads of predation. Enjoy the podcast? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

TTPD Cram Session 13.04.2024

We’re just days away from the release of “The Tortured Poets Department.” Join Hannah and Exquisite as they trace the evidence Taylor has presented so far about the sound and substance of the album. From her Eras tour speeches and Time “Person of the Year” Interview to the teased lyrics and variant names, Taylor has left plenty for them to talk about. Whether you’ve been keeping up with every hint...

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