PODCAST · music
The Taylor Seminars
by The Taylor Seminars
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!
Episodes
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We're "Pink Clouding" from the Thrill of It in Our Latest Podcast Episode
Join us up here on the pink cloud for "Pink Clouding," the third track from "The Encore" from Taylor Swift's "The Life of a Showgirl." Join Exquisite and Hannah as they analyze this song line by line, from the shades of pink to the exhilerating highs to the extreme vulnerability (hello, "Back to...
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We're So Glad Taylor Took Us to Cleveland!
We had SO MUCH FUN talking about "Cleveland!", the second of four tracks on Taylor Swift's "The Encore: The Life of a Showgirl." And within this fun, celebratory song, we see the showgirl burst to life. Exquisite and Hannah also connect the song to "Blank Space" and "The Albatross." She takes us…
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We Kick It With Patient Zero on The Taylor Seminars
We had A LOT to say about the "Patient Zero," the first of four tracks on Taylor Swift's "The Encore." We see Taylor baring her soul, not just to the audience, but to another woman who is in the same predicament she was once in. We go through the song, line by line, seeing how ill the singer was...
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We Have an Important Announcement: We're Ready to Analyze "The Encore"
Exquisite and Hannah are up at the magenta sunrise to do a quick analysis of all the songs on "The Encore:" Patient Zero, Cleveland!, Pink Clouding, and Babylon. This is the perfect way for you to orient yourself to the new tracks by getting some insight into the subjects of each song and how it...
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We're Getting Ready for Taylor Swift's "The Encore"
Looks like we're going to have to step out of the "folklore" woods for a few weeks and head back to the stage for "The Encore." Here's a quick preview of our upcoming schedule and our initial thoughts on this new deluxe edition of "The Life of a Showgirl" and what we think of the new tracks:1....
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Hear us out with "exile" from "folklore" with The Taylor Seminars
Two people who love analyzing Taylor Swift songs together discuss two people who can never be together in this episode of "The Taylor Seminars." Exquisite and Hannah talk about "exile," track 4 of "folklore," to see how the two people are on completely opposite poles and compare it to a different...
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We Had a Marvelous Time with "the last great american dynasty" | The Taylor Seminars
There's a reason Taylor Swift submitted "the last great american dynasty" to qualify for her historic induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Class of 2026: It's a masterpiece. From the songwriting to the production to the vocal performance, it's a perfectly crafted song that showcases…
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We love "cardigan" and said it's our favorite
We're back for an extralong episode to talk about cardigod, aka "cardigan," track 2 from Taylor Swift's AOTY-winning album "folklore. Tune in as we go line-by-line and crash out (several times) as we talk about the themes of youth, remembrance, the concept of "knowing," and, of course, reference…
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The Greatest Opening Track of All Time is "the 1"
We're kicking off our folklore track-by-track series with Track 1: "the 1." This song invites us into Taylor Swift's fictional universe with one deceptively simple question: If one thing had been different, would everything be different today? Join Exquisite and Hannah as they dive into "the 1"...
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We Head Into the Woods of Taylor Swift's "Folklore"
Exquisite and Hannah return from summer break to start their discussions of the tracks of "folklore." They talk about the themes of the album, the inspiration, and the sounds as they prep to go track-by-track starting next week. They also take a few detours to talk bout the adventures Taylor...
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"It's Time to Go" and Leave the evermore era
We've (finally) reached the final bonus track from evermore, "It's Time to Go," written by Taylor Swift and Aaron Dessner. We talk about what we love about the song (the verses) and how it fits into the selling of Taylor Swift's original work. Thank you so much for joining us on this incredible...
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We're "Right Where You Left Me"
We come to the first of two bonus tracks on evermore by Taylor Swift: "Right Where You Left Me." Join Exquisite and Hannah as they thaw out the girl who's been sitting cross-legged in the dim light and help her out of the restaurant. Want to support Exquisite on her journey to becoming a…
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Keep it 100 with Brigid Kaelin: The Sounds of "evermore"
Can you believe it's been 100 episodes of "The Taylor Seminars?" To celebrate, we invited musician Brigid Kaelin, a Kentucky-based songwriter, instrumentalist, composer, author, and artist. You may know her from her viral videos on Instagram & TikTok breaking down the songwriting of "The Fate of...
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This Episode Will Be for "Evermore"
We've made it to the closing track of Taylor Swift's evermore album. In this song, Swift uses imagery in powerful ways to show the depths of despair. And then, in the tumultuous bridge, we hear her find hope and the ability to get back up. Join Exquisite and Hannah as they celebrate this gorgeous...
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We Celebrate Taylor Swift the Songwriter
In this bonus episode, we talk about how Taylor Swift has been named one of the "30 Greatest Living American Songwriters" by The New York Times Magazine. As part of the feature, she participated in a 30-minute interview detailing her process, which is a treasure trove of information for people…
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We Want Taylor Swift's "Closure"
It's time for "closure," track 14 from Taylor Swift's evermore album. This song is full of "spite, tears, beers, and candles" and Exquisite and Hannah absolutely love it. Join us to hear how Taylor uses imperfect rhymes and imagery to convey her pettiness and persistent anger at someone who has...
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"Marjorie" is Alive in Our Head
We arrive at "Marjorie," track 13 from Taylor Swift's evermore album. One of the highlights of her discography, this track is a beautiful tribute to her grandmother, who played a significant role in Taylor's journey to becoming the superstar she is today. Join Exquisite & Hannah as they talk…
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"Long Story Short" It Was a Fun Time
"Long Story Short" from Taylor Swift's evermore album brings us back to Taylor's personal perspective. With a drive beat and a fun vocal performance, this song showcases her sharp pen and clear-eyed perspective. Join Exquisite and Hannah as they analyze the song structure, addressees, and...
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Takes Us to Know "Cowboy Like Me"
One of the clear highlights of Taylor Swift's discography is "Cowboy Like Me," the 11th track of evermore. This love song contains beautiful storytelling of two con artists who crash into each other at a party and find a love that they'll have to "pay for." Exquisite and Hannah analyze how Taylor...
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Now We're Covered in "Ivy"
There's no question that "Ivy" is one of Taylor Swift's best-written tracks ever. Track 10 of evermore showcases Swift's songwriting prowess and her Gothic sensibilities as she tells the story of a woman caught between ice and fire. In fact, you might even say she has created a haunting…
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We're on a Bench in "Coney Island"
We're in the thick of the evermore woods now with track 9, "Coney Island." (But first, we do a slight detour back to "Dorothea"). This song is heavy on the "wonder" motif that's found throughout Taylor Swift's discography, and the themes of regret and lost youth are connected to other…
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Hey, "Dorothea," We Stop and Think About You
We come to "Dorothea," track 8 of Taylor Swift's evermore. This highly underrated song is connected to so many others in Swift's discography--and it's not just "'tis the damn season," which shares the same two characters. We see the motifs of waiting and hometowns and past loves in songs such as...
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There is Happiness Because of "Happiness"
We're so happy to talk about "Happiness," the 7th track of Taylor Swift's Evermore? This song is filled with beautiful imagery and incredible diction choices that put you in the mind of the protagonist who is grieving the loss of a relationship that she thought would never see a sunset. There are...
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We Won't Let Up On "No Body No Crime"
We are back to talking Evermore (again) with one of the more fun songs on the album, "No Body, No Crime." Taylor goes back to her country roots for this song in which women get revenge after being wronged--as they should! Join Exquisite and Hannah as they breeze through this song. Want to support...
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Now the Music Video is "Opalite"!
Let's talk about the music video for "Opalite," track 3 on The Life of a Showgirl. Exquisite and Hannah discuss how Taylor Swift brilliantly captured the essence of the song and flexed her prowess as a director. We see a beautiful three-act structure with tons of symbolism and beautiful imagery....
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"Tolerate It" Should Be Celebrated
We are back to talking Evermore (finally), and we're back with one of Taylor's most devastating songs: "Tolerate It." And you better sit down for this one. This song follows a woman who is completely overlooked by her (much older) partner, a story that has been told and retold both in literature...
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Why Taylor Deserved to be Inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame
Taylor Swift has been named as part of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, entering in her first year of eligibility! The Taylor Seminars wanted to congratulate her by going through the list of five songs she submitted for consideration: "All Too Well (10 Minute Version") "Love Story" "Blank Space"...
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Now YOU Know "The Life of a Showgirl"
We've reached the last track on Taylor Swift's, The Life of a Showgirl, the title track "The Life of a Showgirl". This closer features Sabrina Carpenter as "Kitty", and Exquisite and Hannah unpack Kitty's relationship with the song's protagonist. We hope you've enjoyed our journey through this...
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Redefine All Of Your Blues with "Honey"
It's time for the sweetest song on Taylor Swift's, The Life of a Showgirl, "Honey". This underrated gem is full of beautiful sentiment, growth, and a lot of sensuality. Exquisite and Hannah also connect this song to many other Taylor Swift songs, including "Call It What You Want." Want to support...
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It's Time for Our "An End of an Era" Recap
It's 2026, and for our first episode of the year, we're doing a special recap of "The End of an Era" docuseries on Disney+. Exquisite & Hannah condensed their thoughts into one hour-long episode, where they discuss what stood out, moments that were inspiration, and what made them cry. We're so...
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Good Thing We Like the Song "CANCELLED!"
It's time for "CANCELLED!" Track 10 on Taylor Swift's, The Life of a Showgirl. This song fully embraces theatricality as its protagonist revels in her perceived wickedness and embrace of those rejected by the public for "one single drop." While Hannah and Exquisite may not have the same opinion...
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"Wood" is Taylor at her Cocky-est (Re-upload)
We're so happy that we've reached "Wood," Track 9 on Taylor Swift's, The Life of a Showgirl. This song combines the joy of "Opalite" and the sweetness of "Wi$h Li$t" to create an infectious song that creates innuendos that make Hannah and Exquisite cackle. We also reference Taylor's poem "If…
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Boss Up, Settle Down, and Listen to our Wish List Episode
We've reached Track 8 on The Life of a Showgirl, "Wi$h Li$t," which Taylor Swift has called one of her favorite tracks on the album — and it's easy to see why with her phenomenal vocals and underrated clever lyrics. Join Exquisite and Hannah as they groove to the beat and say how much they love...
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Want to Analyze "Actually Romantic"? Stop Talking Dirty to Me!
Taylor Swift leans into her Mean Girl persona with "Actually Romantic," Track 7 ofhe Life of a Showgirl, In this episode, Hannah & Exquisite talk about how this song isn't about punching down but about hitting back in the pop arena. It's also a song about letting the haters know that we…
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Our Advice on "Ruin the Friendship"
We've reached one of the highlights of The Life of a Showgirl, "Ruin the Friendship." Are you ready to go back to high school with us? Taylor Swift returns to her old high school in Nashville to paint us a picture of what it's like to choose cautious discretion over inconvenient risk—and she...
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We're Never Gonna Let "Eldest Daughter" Down
We've reached the Track 5 on The Life of a Showgirl, "Eldest Daughter." Track 5s are known as Taylor's most vulnerable album tracks, and so Exquisite and Hannah spend time carefully uncovering the overwriting and cringe allegations. Hint: They're both true—but Taylor does it on purpose. There's a...
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We Protect the "Father Figure"
Track 4 on The Life of a Showgirl, "Father Figure," is one of Taylor's strongest songs on the album, and so Exquisite and Hannah take extra time to delve into every single detail on this album. This song is the perfect example of the type of songwriting Taylor said she wanted to create:...
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Now this Ep is "Opalite" (Oh, oh, oh, oh) (Reupload)
"Opalite" from The Life of a Showgirl is infectiously comforting, full of advice that lifts you up up up up! Join Exquisite and Hannah as they discuss track 3 and how its advice shows Taylor's growth from reliving bad habits to realizing that she makes her own sunshine—and so can you! Want to...
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Elizabeth Taylor is forever in our minds
Elizabeth Taylor from “The Life of a Showgirl” is full of references to the famous actress, but it’s also full of confidence from Taylor Swift herself. Join Exquisite and Hannah as they discuss this standout track 2. Want to support Exquisite on her journey to becoming a professor? Donate here:...
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We Keep It 100 with "The Fate of Ophelia"
We're SO back with Track 1 of The Life of a Showgirl: "The Fate of Ophelia." With references to Shakespeare and Taylor Swift's own "The Albatross," this glorious song is a triumphant return to Taylor's bright pop creativity while also retaining the lyrical and storytelling strengths she has...
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How to Love "The Life of Showgirl"
We dive deeper into The Life of a Showgirl as Taylor pulls back the curtains via her album poem and Showgirl film. In fact, we think getting the right context for this album is crucial to truly appreciating it. So listen in as Exquisite and Hannah read and analyze the poem and discuss "The Fate…
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First Reaction to "The Life of a Showgirl"
The Life of a Showgirl is out! And Exquisite and Hannah are here with their initial reactions of the album. (Spoiler: They love it). Listen as they talk about the album overall and give their first impressions of each track in this short episode. But don't worry, they'll be back again to give…
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The Overture to the Showgirl Era
It's now less than one week until "The Life of a Showgirl" drops, and Exquisite and Hannah are balls of anxiety. They drop in for a quick update to let you know our upcoming schedule. We can't wait to listen to this album with you!!!!!!!!!!!! Want to support Exquisite on her journey to becoming a...
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Marriage in the Taylor Swift Universe (Part 2)
To continue to celebrate the engagement of Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce, Exquisite and Hannah go through the theme of marriage (and separation) in Taylor's discography, from folklore to The Tortured Poets Department. (Check out our previous episode for Part 1!) Taylor Swift gives a more complex…
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Marriage in the Taylor Swift Universe (Part 1)
To celebrate the engagement of Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce, Exquisite and Hannah go through the theme of marriage in Taylor's discography, from Taylor Swift to Lover. (They would've kept going but the episode went too long.) Taylor Swift talks about this institution in myriad ways, whether...
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The Life of a Showgirl: A Closer Look
We're out of the haze and back under dazzling lights in this new episode of The Taylor Seminars, and we're ready to discuss more of this new universe Taylor is revealing, variant by variant. So yes, we talk about the covers, but we also talk about the feeling of accomplishment that comes with…
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We Welcome "The Life of a Showgirl"
Even though they predicted it, Exquisite and Hannah were shocked by the drop of TS12, aka The Life of a Showgirl. They interrupt this "evermore" season with their first reactions to the new album. Listen in to hear their overall thoughts and a track-by-track sort-of-rapid-fire impressions. Enjoy...
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Tis the Episode to Talk About "Tis the Damn Season"
One of the greatest holiday songs to come out this century, "Tis the Damn Season" from evermore is a Taylor Swift song that's a modern take on the classic story of returning to one's hometown--and all the complex feelings and love that we rediscover. This gorgeous song features hints from her…
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We Excavate "Gold Rush"
What must it be like to write the hauntingly beautiful, "Gold Rush," track 3 of Taylor Swift's album evermore? Join Hannah and Exquisite as they mine the depths of this gorgeous song, including its fascinating song structure and the beauty of the rhymes. Enjoy the episode? Support The Taylor...
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Let's Drink to Her "Champagne Problems"
Join Exquisite and Hannah as they discuss Eras-tour favorite "Champagne Problems" from Taylor Swift's album evermore. This track 2 features incredible storytelling from beginning to end, with a protagonist who wishes the best for her former partner while subtly disclosing that maybe he never…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
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!
HOSTED BY
The Taylor Seminars
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Taylor Seminars have?
The Taylor Seminars currently has 112 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Taylor Seminars about?
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...
How often does The Taylor Seminars release new episodes?
The Taylor Seminars publishes regularly with 112 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
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You can listen to The Taylor Seminars on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Taylor Seminars?
The Taylor Seminars is created and hosted by The Taylor Seminars.
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