Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society
History Hit
300 episodes
Join sex historian Dr Kate Lister on Betwixt the Sheets as she gets intimate with the stories that would make your history teacher blush.
More about the show
What were the Victorians really like behind closed (bedroom) doors? How did the Black Death favour women in medieval England? And what was Caesar like in the sack?
Join Kate as she bed-hops around different time periods; from ancient civilisations, to the middle ages, to renaissance and early modern...right up to now.
You’ll laugh, you’ll wince, and you’ll ask yourself how much has actually changed.
Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society - a podcast from History Hit.
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Episodes page 1 of 6
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Why Are Vampires Sexy?
Demonic blood-sucking creatures have existed for thousands of years before Dracula showed up all sexy, suave and problematic. Who were these figures who inspired what we know today as vampires? Why are a lot of these…
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Ancient Rome's Biggest Sex Scandal
Is this the story of a sex crazed empress? Or just some good (really) old-fashioned gossip? Was Messalina, wife of Emperor Claudius, really a sex worker by night? And did she really marry another man whilst her very…
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The Scary History of Fairies
Forget what you think about fairies... they are not cute and definitely not harmless. In today's episode we're going back centuries to a time when they could take human form and were mentioned as part of the witch…
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How To Swear Like A Viking
*TRIGGER WARNING: CONTAINS OLD NORSE SWEAR WORDS* How would you insult a Viking? What strange nicknames did they give each other? And what did a Viking rap battle sound like?! Brush up on your Old Norse and impress…
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Was Tutankhamun Mummified Erect?
What happened to King Tut's 'Little Tut' during mummification? The rumour is that he took an erection to the afterlife, but what can we know after several millennia and a very rough excavation? Dr Campbell Price came…
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Does Jesus' Foreskin Still Exist?
STOLEN! Jesus' foreskin! Well, maybe not. But 2000 years after his birth, where might Jesus' foreskin be? And why does it matter to people? Kate is joined by Dr James White for this episode to find out how the Holy…
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Why Were Nazis Obsessed With Birth Rate?
Why were the Nazis so fixated on birth rates? How did they encourage larger families? And what was their surprising angle on extramarital pregnancies? In essence, what was the Lebensborn policy? Taking us through…
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Is Rasputin's Willy in a Jar?
Was Rasputin really Russia’s greatest love machine? Did he have any healing powers? And why might his penis be pickling in a jar? We're in the middle of some willy related episodes at the moment, and it would be wrong…
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The Execution of England's Teenage Queen
To many she's known as Lady Jane Grey, but history should remember her as Queen Jane I. She was only queen for 9 days in 1553, but this made her the first ever queen of England when she was just 16. What happened in…
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What Happened To Napoleon's "Boner Part"?
Small. Shrivelled. Separated from its owner. What has been said about Napoleon Bonaparte's penis? And how much of it is true? Dr Zack White joins Kate for this episode to discuss these rumours, and what kind of lover…
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Get Ready With Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette famously spent quite a lot of money and time on her outfits and make-up. But what would it feel like to actually wear it? Joining Kate in this episode is the amazing Casta Hex, historical drag queen,…
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Lesbian Love Affair of 16th Century Scotland
In the midst of the most hostile period in Scottish history, comes a passionate lesbian love story. Set against post-Reformation Scotland, with Mary Queen of Scots on the throne, is Marie Maitland whose erotic lesbian…
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How Debauched Were Roman Orgies?
The Romans have gone down as some of the greatest perverts of all time. But what really went on inside a Roman orgy? Joining Kate to get behind the bacchanalia is fan-favourite Emma Southon whose new book is Servus:…
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The Paris Showgirl Who Fought The Nazis
Josephine Baker went from poverty and segregation in St. Louis to becoming Paris’s most sensational showgirl, captivating Europe with her dancing, sexuality and scandalous performances. But behind her outrageous…
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Mary Queen of Scots & Her Sh*thead Husband
Mary Queen of Scots has gone down in history for her power struggle with her cousin, Elizabeth I. But this was just one of the challenges she faced. Another was that Mary's second husband, Lord Darnley, was one of…
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How Many Penises Are There On The Bayeux Tapestry?
The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the most famous works of medieval art in the world, but what do we actually know about it? Who made it? Where? Why? And are those actually human genitals? Kate is joined by Dave Musgrove,…
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Slavery in the Roman Empire
Behind the impressive relics the Romans left behind lurks a much darker story: that most of Rome was built on the back of enslaved people. It's shocking to know that up to 30% of Roman society was made up of enslaved…
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History's Deadliest Women: The Blood Countess
Elizabeth Bathory was a fabulously wealthy Noblewoman accused of torturing and killing some 600 women in the 16th century. Her story is popularly spoken about as one of history's deadliest women... but is it true? And…
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Sex and Scandal on the Titanic
It's the most famous sunken ship in history, but its story is surrounded by a lot of myth. Were the working classes locked below deck and doomed to drown? Could the Titanic have avoided the iceberg? And most…
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History's Deadliest Women: The Evil Stepmother
In 1909, the third and final woman hanged in Western Australia was executed. She had murdered three of her step children. What drove Martha Rendall to kill these children? Why did others in their neighbourhood stand…
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The Mad Monk & The Witch Hunts
Malleus Maleficarum may sound like a spell but it is actually almost the opposite. This book was nicknamed the Hammer of Witches, and today we're finding out if it really started the European witch hunts. Kate is…
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History's Deadliest Women: The Husband Killer
Until the 19th century in Britain, a woman killing her husband was guilty of worse than murder, she was guilty of petty treason. So what is petty treason? What is its very harsh punishment? And why was women killing…
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The Scandalous Affair of Lord Nelson & Emma Hamilton
Lord Nelson is remembered as one of history's greatest military commanders. His victories at the Battle of the Nile, the Battle of Copenhagen and the Battle of Trafalgar cemented his legendary status, as did his…
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The Mystic Nun Killed By Henry VIII
As if the Tudor world wasn't mad enough, in 1528 a mystic nun showed up demanding an audience with Henry VIII. Elizabeth Barton stood in front of him and told him that his controversial marriage to Anne Boleyn would…
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Sex Lives of the Samurai
The samurai are some of the most mythologised people in history, so let's do some myth busting! Kate is joined by Joe Nickols, who co-curated the British Museum's samurai exhibition, to dive into the real lives of the…
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Medieval Europe's Biggest Sex Scandal
This is the wild story of a 12th century French philosopher, Abelard, who fell in love with his student, Heloise. There are a lot of problematic issues going on. Not least their age gap, the resulting power dynamic,…
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The Truth About Coco Chanel
You know her from the perfume, the little black dress, the double C bag clasp, but who was the woman, Coco Chanel? What even was her real name? From her origin story, through her inspirations and affairs, to her…
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Britain's Most Scandalous Queen
‘Who wants a girl with a personality?’ Historically, not the royals. Queen Caroline of Brunswick became Queen Consort of the United Kingdom in 1820, when her husband became King George IV. She was incredibly popular…
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Why Catherine Howard Lost Her Head
Poor Catherine Howard. She was smart, intelligent and undeniably beautiful, but ultimately no match for the vicious Henry VIII. She was certainly a victim but was she totally blameless? Joining Kate today is the…
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The Truth About Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso's impact on the art world was sensational, but what impact did he have on the people around him? His relationship history contains some problematic moments, to say the least, so we are asking if you can…
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Sex Work in Soviet Russia
After the Russian Revolution in 1917, sex work was a prime example of what capitalism did to society. Under communism, sex work would no longer need to exist in society. Spoiler: it very much still existed. How were…
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Why Helen Of Troy Is The Real Star Of 'The Odyssey'
Beautiful women are always causing trouble in history, and perhaps none more so than Helen of Troy. She's the daughter of Zeus and a human mother, after all. With the new film Odyssey hitting the big screen, find out…
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The Most Badass Dragon Slayers in History
Picture a dragon and its dragon slayer. What do you imagine? It's likely going to be a giant, scaly, fire-breathing beast and a rugged knight with a massive sword. However, throughout history we have amazing myths of…
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Sex Lives of American Presidents
With the Fourth of July and America's 250th around the corner we wanted to revisit an episode and take a look back at the presidents from the past what we know about their sex lives. Which president was well-endowed…
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Lesbian Blood Sisters of the HIV Crisis
Why did 200 people queue to give blood in the San Diego summer heat on 16 July 1983? During the AIDS crisis, many people living with HIV developed severe anaemia as a result of the disease and the treatments available…
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Supersluts of History: Hollywood's Marlene Dietrich
Marlene Dietrich was unapologetic in her love of sex, and she had a lot of it. She took Hollywood by storm in the 1930s and slept with some of tinsel town's most famous men and women. What made her so unique and…
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Sex Work in the Klondike Gold Rush
Why on earth would anyone make a perilous journey across wilderness and snow covered mountains, all because of a bit of gold? This isn't Lord of the Rings, it's the Klondike Gold Rush, when an estimated hundred…
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Supersluts of History: First World War Spy Mata Hari
Mata Hari was a dancer and courtesan who was executed in 1917 for being a spy during the First World War. How did she get involved in such dangerous business? Was she really a mastermind spy who used her sexuality to…
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A Teasing History Of Burlesque
Has Burlesque always meant the same thing? Where did it come from? And how has it changed? Kate is joined by Dr Marissa Vigneault, Associate Professor of Art History at Utah State University, to find out more about…
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Supersluts of History: Royal Mistress Madam du Barry
Madam du Barry's life was remarkable: from rags, to riches, to... revolution. And she pi**ed off Marie Antoinette along the way, too. How did this courtesan from a poor background make it to be royal mistress in…
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The Truth about Adam & Eve
What really went down in the Garden of Eden? Was there an apple? Was there a snake? Was the 'original sin' all that bad? To answer these questions and more, Kate is joined by Dr Dylan Johnson, biblical scholar and…
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Supersluts of History: Roman Empress Theodora
In this new mini-series, we're exploring and celebrating women whose sexuality was used to define them. First up is Roman Empress Theodora. How did "Theodora from the brothels", as she was known, rise to be the most…
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Sex & Pleasure in the Ancient World
Sex in the distant past is often thought about with all the fun taken out of it. Pleasure must have been a part of the sex lives of women and men in the past, so what evidence do we have to back this up? What evidence…
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How to Get Cancelled in Hollywood's Golden Age
How do you not only lose your own reputation and career, but also tank the reputation and freedoms of your entire industry? Today we’re exploring the first real Hollywood scandal, when actor Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle…
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The Most Feared Sex Act In History
It’s got many names: giving head, going down, eating out, dining at the Y, muff diving. Why has cunnilingus been stigmatised and feared so consistently throughout history?! When the Kama Sutra is turning its back on…
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How to Get Cancelled in the Tudor Court
Who was Lettice Knollys? And why was she expelled from Elizabeth I's court? Kate is joined by Estelle Paranque in this episode to find out how a man came between loving cousins, and explore whether getting with your…
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The Elusive Female Orgasm with Dan Snow
There will be giggling and gasping galore! And that's just when you listen to this episode! Dan Snow quizzes Kate on all things female pleasure. When was the first recorded female orgasm? Has there always been an…
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How to Get Cancelled as a Medieval Mistress
What do you have to do wrong to be specifically named in a law? In the 14th Century, one of the mistresses of King Edward III found out. So who was Alice Perrers? Kate is joined by the one and only Eleanor Janega to…
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A History of Homophobia
Has there ever been a time when homophobia did not exist? And what causes it to rise and fall? Kate is joined by Dr. Harry Tanner, author of 'The Queer Thing About Sin: Why the West Came to Hate Queer Love'. Harry has…
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How to Get Cancelled in Ancient Judea
What do we know about Jesus? Kate is joined for this episode by Professor of Christian Origins, Helen Bond, to find out more about the historical record for the events of the New Testament, why Jesus was persecuted,…
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