Diary of an Ex-English Major

By Diary of an Ex-English Major

Diary of an Ex-English Major is a podcast dedicated to dissecting both media and the written word just like in your favorite English seminar course. Diary of an Ex English Major is a tailor-made podca... more

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FAQs about Diary of an Ex-English Major:

How many episodes does Diary of an Ex-English Major have?

The podcast currently has 15 episodes available.

Diary of an Ex-English Major episodes:

August 14, 2025The Power of Teaching Literature with PhD Student Renee
Deja interviews Renee, an ex-English major and current English Literature doctoral student. The two discuss discuss Renee's path into academia as a mature student, Toni Morrison, as well as the importance of keeping Black literature in the classroom.

Books Mentioned:
Scattered and Fugitive Things: How Black Collectors Created Archives and Remade History by Laura E. Helton
Black Girlhood in the Nineteenth Century by Nazera Wright
...more
1h 11min
June 12, 2025The Book Review in the 21st Century
In this episode, Deja discusses her entree into English graduate study, blurring the lines between literary criticism and book reviews, and the function of the book review in the 21st century.

Citations
bell hooks, "The Oppositional Gaze" - https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/english/currentstudents/postgraduate/masters/modules/femlit/bell_hooks.pdf

"The End of the University and the Future of Criticism," Point Magazine's Substack. https://open.substack.com/pub/thepointmag/p/can-criticism-survive-inside-the?r=5hhw6c&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

Blog: https://cityofdeja.com
Podcast Instagram: @diaryofanexengmajor
...more
20min
May 01, 2025The New Age Reader Aesthetic (Bonus)
Bonus Episode [From the Archives]. Note: This episode was recorded in January 2024. In this bonus episode, Deja discusses the new age reader aesthetic and social media bookish influencers in the contemporary moment.

Citations
Barry Pierce, “In the shallow world of BookTok, being ‘a reader’ is more important than actually reading.” https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/booktok-tiktok-books-community

Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett, “Reading is precious – which is why I’ve been giving away my books.” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/23/reading-is-precious-but-the-cult-of-book-ownership-can-be-smug-and-middle-class

My reviews of The Atlas Complex and HOFAS have since been published on my blog:

House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas: A Lengthy, Cheesy, Whirlwind (Review). http://cityofdeja.com/2024/08/01/house-of-flame-and-shadow-book-review/

Book Review: The Atlas Complex by Olivie Blake. http://cityofdeja.com/2024/03/21/book-review-the-atlas-complex-by-olivie-blake/

Blog: https://cityofdeja.com
...more
18min
May 28, 2024 Embracing the Unconventional with English Graduate Student Adrienne
Deja interviews Adrienne, an ex-English and Writing double major and current English master's student at the University of British Columbia. The two discuss continuing English education in grad school, the value of studying literature, as well as the importance of being a life long learner.

Blog: ⁠cityofdeja.com
...more
1h 9min
February 26, 2024Taylor Swift & Putting the Humanities into Practice
In this season 2 premiere, Deja discusses putting the humanities into practice and conducts a close reading of Taylor Swift lyrics from songs "the lakes" and "All Too Well (10 Minute Version). "

Citations
UT Austin Taylor Swift Course Article - https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/news/ut-english-course-takes-a-swift-turn

List of Colleges with Taylor Swift Classes - https://www.bestcolleges.com/news/these-colleges-have-taylor-swift-classes/

Why Taylor Swift Belongs on English Literature Degree Courses - https://theconversation.com/why-taylor-swift-belongs-on-english-literature-degree-courses-219660

Evolution of Snake: The Taylor Swift Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/70xT4aA9FayuPmrRAbMrSn

The Making of a Poem: A Norton Anthology of Poetic Forms (Book)
Blog: cityofdeja.com
...more
32min
October 22, 2023 The Bookstagram Effect with Ex-English Major Jill
Deja interviews Jill, an ex-English Literature major and bookstagrammer from the account @booknerd_reads. The two discuss Jill's longtime reader status, publishing internships, and the ins and outs of the bookstagram community.
Jill's bookstagram: @booknerd_reads
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29min
September 24, 2023 Storytelling is Powerful with Ex-Creative Writing Major Alyx
Deja interviews ex-Creative Writing major Alyxandria Ang, a podcast host, online content creator, and mental health advocate. In this episode, the two discuss the power of storytelling, shifting career paths, the woes of bookish content creation, and more.

A is for Anxious: A Podcast Diary - https://open.spotify.com/show/0YNCdjhhnEGhLeVASWrW5v
Alyx's Instagram - @alyxandriaang
Alyx's YouTube Channel - https://youtube.com/@alyxandriaang

...more
59min
August 30, 2023 Following Your Curiosity with Ex-Journalism Major Ryley
Deja interviews Ryley, an ex-Journalism major by way of an English department. The two discuss the the process of following your curiosity and creativity, the character building that’s yielded from studying the humanities, questionable BookTok recommendations, and more.

Spors Girls Club Tiktok: @sportsgirlsclub
Podcast Instagram: ⁠@diaryofanexengmajor⁠
Blog: ⁠https://cityofdeja.com

...more
43min
August 06, 2023 Mid-Year Reading Check In & What is Mood Reading Anyway?
Deja chats about her 2023 reading thus far, attempts to define the concept of "mood reading," and shares how it affects her reading habits.
Mid-Year Reading Check In Blog Post
Yellowface Book Review
Alone With You in the Ether Book Review
One for My Enemy Book Review
The Atlas Paradox Book Review
Any Way the Wind Blows Book Review

Podcast Instagram: ⁠@diaryofanexengmajor⁠
Blog: ⁠https://cityofdeja.com

...more
33min
July 17, 2023 Literature is Art with Ex-English Major Candace
Deja interviews ex-English major and bookstagrammer Candace from the account @cecepointofview. The two discuss the life skills one can yield from being well read, literature as an art form, the special value of young adult books, and more.

Candace's Bookstagram: @cecepointofview
Podcast Instagram: ⁠@diaryofanexengmajor⁠
Blog: ⁠https://cityofdeja.com
...more
46min

FAQs about Diary of an Ex-English Major:

How many episodes does Diary of an Ex-English Major have?

The podcast currently has 15 episodes available.