Music

The Swiftie and The Scholar

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.

Latest Episodes:

The Folklore Elements of My Tears Ricochet Jul 24, 2025

Show notes

In the debut episode of The Swiftie and The Scholar, Angela McDow, the Swiftie, and her uncle Dr. Jerry Coats, the Scholar, dig into My Tears Ricochet, the fifth track from Taylor Swift's Folklore album.

They discuss the different folklore elements that Taylor uses in the song, the prevailing fan theory on the song's inspiration, and Uncle Jerry watches his first Eras Tour performance.

Works Cited:

The White Lady in Folklore

Morphology of the Folktale – V. Propp – Affiliate Link

Motif-Index of Folk-Literature; Volume 6.1 Index (A-K) – Stith Thompson – Aff Link

Motif-Index of Folk-Literature; Volume 6.1 Index (L-Z) - Stith Thompson – Aff Link

From the Beast to The Blonde – Marina Wariner

The Uses of Enchantment – Bruno Bettelheim – Aff Link

Yvonne Jocks - Goodreads

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