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The Swiftie and The Scholar

The Swiftie and The Scholar

Angela McDow | Dr. Jerry Coats 47 Episodes Oct 8, 2026

A weekly podcast exploring the lyrics, lore, and literary legacy of Taylor Swift. Hosted by Angela McDow, the Swiftie, and Dr. Jerry Coats, the Scholar, we read between the lines AND the liner notes. Join us each week for lyrical deep dive through Taylor Swift's eras.

Episodes

Wrapping Up Folklore: Part 1
Wrapping Up Folklore: Part 1 Oct 8, 2026 01:09:08 Well, guys, we’ve really stressed Uncle Jerry out with this one. He went so deep on the folklore album as a whole that this episode focuses mostly on the prologue and how it sets up this new style of storytelling, different from all her previous albums. Hope you enjoy, and we’ll see you back here next week for Part 2!*Links with an asterisk are affiliate links, which allow us to make a small commi
The Despair and Persistence of This is Me Trying
The Despair and Persistence of This is Me Trying Oct 1, 2026 01:09:24 We’ve made it to the end of the folklore road! Join Uncle Jerry and Angela as they discuss this is me trying, where the duo finds some Typical Taylor, ambiguity, paradox, multiple meanings, and so much more. Come back for the next two weeks as we wrap-up discussion of the album as a whole.Works Cited:CoupletsHeroic coupletsAnaphoraStarship Troopers (1997)EnjambmentEllipsisIn medias resThe Odyssey
The Secretive Destruction of Illicit Affairs
The Secretive Destruction of Illicit Affairs Sep 24, 2026 01:14:25 Today we’re covering our penultimate folklore poem with Illicit Affairs. Uncle Jerry finds this song fits perfectly within the category of folklore, and shows us just how Taylor Swift’s use of language showcases the lack of love in this song.*Links with an asterisk are affiliate links, which allow us to make a small commission on your purchase at no cost to you. Thanks so much for your support!Wor
The Paradox and Parallelism of Peace
The Paradox and Parallelism of Peace Sep 17, 2026 00:57:52 Did we finally find Uncle Jerry’s least favorite folklore poem? And maybe Angela’s too? In this episode, we dissect Peace from Taylor Swift’s 2020 album, and Uncle Jerry finds many paradoxes and double meanings, while struggling to find a window to crawl through into the narrative. Works Cited:ParadoxApostropheSynecdocheI Would Die 4 U – PrinceYou’ve Got a Friend in Me – Randy NewmanEasy Silence –
Time’s Mystic Meandering in Invisible String
Time’s Mystic Meandering in Invisible String Sep 10, 2026 01:51:10 Buckle up, folks. This is a long one! Invisible String is up next in our folklore canon, and Uncle Jerry showed up PREPARED. He and Angela chat through folktales about the red thread, handfasting ceremonies, and more before diving into the poem. They then get into a long and philosophical conversation about fate and predestination and Forrest Gump.JOIN US ON REDDIT!*Links with an asterisk are affi
The Lives We Didn’t Live in The 1
The Lives We Didn’t Live in The 1 Sep 3, 2026 01:21:57 We have the opening track of folklore for you today! Uncle Jerry and Angela discuss the relatable way Taylor Swift writes about the ruminations about the different lives we never got to live during this discussion of The 1. *Links with an asterisk are affiliate links, which allow us to make a small commission on your purchase at no cost to you. Thanks so much for your support!Works Cited:The Windh
The Devastating Paradox of Hoax
The Devastating Paradox of Hoax Aug 27, 2026 01:18:43 In this episode, we are covering Hoax, the closing track from 2020’s folklore. Uncle Jerry starts out a bit iffy on his feelings about the poem, but talking through it with Angela helps him find extra meaning.*Links with an asterisk are affiliate links, which allow us to make a small commission on your purchase at no cost to you. Thanks so much for your support!Works Cited:AnaphoraEllipsisOxymoron
The Tragedy of Miscommunication in Exile
The Tragedy of Miscommunication in Exile Aug 20, 2026 01:18:42 Continuing along our folklore journey, this episode covers exile, the collaboration between Taylor Swift and Bon Iver. Uncle Jerry teaches us about different types of exile and how they appear across literature and folk tales. We then dig into the poem and Uncle Jerry admits to Angela that he almost cheated and listened to the song because he was so ready to hear how they spoke over each other. Al
Finding Life’s Meaning in Epiphany
Finding Life’s Meaning in Epiphany Aug 13, 2026 01:03:18 We are tackling one of the most underrated tracks from Taylor Swift’s folklore album, epiphany. The poem compares past war tragedies to 2020’s pandemic, and Uncle Jerry uses the poem to teach us about Hemingway’s Iceberg Theory. *Links with an asterisk are affiliate links, which allow us to make a small commission on your purchase at no cost to you. Thanks so much for your support!Works Cited:Wilf
Imagined Futures in Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus
Imagined Futures in Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus Aug 6, 2026 01:23:30 We are back in our Tortured Poets Era with Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus. This song was much-requested and was voted on by our Patreon subscribers. Angela and Uncle Jerry talk through the poem and Uncle Jerry concedes that sometimes we try to find too much meaning in certain images.Works Cited:Sadie and Maud – Gwendolyn Brooksmaggie and milly and molly and may – e.e. cummings[in Just-] – e.e. c
Finding Agency in Dear John
Finding Agency in Dear John Jul 30, 2026 01:25:26 We’re back in our Speak Now era with Dear John. Angela explains the lore behind this quintessential track 5 from Taylor Swift, and Uncle Jerry talks himself into being a fan of this poem. *Links with an asterisk are affiliate links, which allow us to make a small commission on your purchase at no cost to you. Thanks so much for your support!Works Cited:Dear John LetterAgnes von Kurowsky*A Farewell
The Peak of Innocence in Seven
The Peak of Innocence in Seven Jul 23, 2026 01:28:50 This week is the one year podcast anniversary, and Angela saved this song especially for this episode. But before we tackle seven from folklore, Angela and Uncle Jerry reflect on the past year and Angela surprises him with a little quiz to see just how much he’s learned about Taylor Swift and swiftie culture.Thanks for being here with us!*Links with an asterisk are affiliate links, which allow us

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