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 3 of 6
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The Truth About Roald Dahl
The Twits, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda. Roald Dahl wrote some of the world's most loved children's books. But what do we know about the man himself? Was he really a spy? Was he a good husband? And why…
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Sex and Scandal of Medieval Royals
What did Queen Isabella of France do to deserve the nickname She-Wolf? What sex scandals happened in the 14th century? And why did the Black Death improve peoples' sex lives?! Joining Kate today is the fantastic…
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The Truth About Vincent Van Gogh
However you pronounce his name, one thing is for certain: Van Gogh made made his mark on the world. But how did he interact with the world around him? From his relationship with a sex worker in the Hague to his time…
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Who was the Husband Poisoner of Renaissance Italy?
Odourless, tasteless, colourless, lethal. In the mid-17th century, men were dropping like flies in Italy. And this wasn't just the plague - it was the work of the poison Aqua Tofana. So what is Aqua Tofana? And who…
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The Truth About Mary Shelley
Frankenstein and his monster are household names - even if one is often confused for the other. But what of their creator? In this episode we are meeting Mary Shelley. Did she really lose her virginity on her mother's…
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Inside the Icelandic Witch Trials
Picture a witch. Chances are, you're thinking of a woman. But in 17th century Iceland, over 90% of the people killed for being a witch, were men. Why were more men being accused than women for being a witch? And what…
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How Bloody Was 'Bloody Mary'?
Before Mary I was Queen, no other woman had worn the crown of England. This made her a Tudor trailblazer, and a target. During her short reign she burned some 300+ people, earning her the nickname 'Bloody Mary'. Was…
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How To Fake Virginity
Why, just why, would one put a leech up their .. you know where? It's all in the name of virginity, or the faking of it. Kate is joined by Dr Julia Martins to find out why virginity was so necessary to Early Modern…
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Inside Concentration Camp Brothels
Even among Holocaust researchers, this subject is taboo. Starting in 1942, the Nazis set up brothels inside some of the camps, not for the guards, but for the prisoners. What was the point of these brothels? Who were…
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Wife-Swapping Magician of the Tudor Court
The 16th century was a dangerous time to be talking about magic and hidden forces, so how did John Dee end up being invited into Elizabeth I's court? He was an astronomer, occultist and alchemist who dedicated his…
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Inside a Wild West Brothel
Shoot outs, hard drinking and gambling. The Wild West is remembered for it's general lawlessness, but what might life have been like for the first women to join the American settlers as they moved west? **TW: This…
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The Boleyn Who Betrayed Henry VIII
She was executed on Henry VIII's orders alongside Catherine Howard, and was sister-in-law to Anne Boleyn and the King. She lived in the heart of the Tudor court, and almost made it out alive. It was a time of huge…
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Inside Imperial Japan's Brothels
After the first licensed brothel opened in the 17th century, how was sex work thought of in Japan throughout the following centuries? From the brothels in the pleasure quarters, to the rise and popularity of male sex…
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The Scandalous Royal Mistress Who Ruled France
Is this strangest threesome in royal history?! We're endlessly fascinated with the lives of royal mistresses, and this has to be one of the most notorious. It takes place in 16th century France between Henry II, his…
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Inside The 18th Century Brothel Ship
Why did a British ship carry over 200 women to Australia in the late 18th century? In this episode, we are going inside the Lady Juliana, a convict transportation ship. What crimes were these women being punished for?…
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History's Worst F*ckboys: Rasputin
Rasputin presented himself as a mystic healer, and preached that the only way to salvation was through sin — which sometimes, if rumour is to be believed, manifested in orgies. It's definitely giving f*ckboy…
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Why Are We Scared Of Single Women?
Where did the idea of the bunny boiler come from? In this episode we're exploring how single women got such a bad rap in popular culture. From Miss Havisham to Bridget Jones, Caroline Young joins Kate once again.…
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Who Was The Naughtiest Pope In History?
Sex, scandal and ... the Sacraments? Renaissance Rome wasn't for the faint hearted. And the Vatican? For some that was the source of the drama. In this episode, Kate is joined by Catherine Fletcher to meet one of the…
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History's Worst F*ckboys: Emperor Nero
Where does Emperor Nero fit in the pantheon of history's worst f*ckboys? Does he measure up against the likes of previous episodes on Charles II or Raphael? Is he the worst of the lot? And what strange sex games did…
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Queer Georgians
How did the Georgians discuss sexuality? And how, and why, did they regulate it? In this episode, Kate talks to Dr Anthony Delaney about his new book 'Queer Georgians: A hidden history of lovers, lawbreakers and…
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History's Worst F*ckboys: Raphael
The Renaissance is known for its heady combination of sex, art and exciting new ideas about the world. Was Raphael, one of the superstar painters of the period, a Renaissance top shagger? Were sex workers essential to…
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Alexander the Great's Mummy Issues: Olympias
They say behind every great man is a great woman. In this episode, we meet the woman behind Alexander the Great's success. From securing his status, to influencing his succession, Olympias was a force to be reckoned…
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History's Worst F*ckboys: Charles II
Our mini-series exploring the worst f*ckboys in history is back! In today's episode, Kate is joined by Dr. David Taylor of Oxford University to get to know the so-called Merry Monarch and the many women in his life.…
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Shag, Marry, Kill: Roman Emperor Edition
Which would be better for a fling, which would you not touch with a barge pole, and which is marriage material? There's only one way to find out. This episode was edited by Tim Arstall and produced by Stuart Beckwith.…
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How Hot Was Henry VIII?
With SIX wives, Henry VIII must have had something going for him, right? Was he handsome? Charming? Intelligent? Just plain powerful? In this episode, Kate is joined by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb, host of our sister…
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The Real Virgin Mary
Why has the idea of the Virgin Mary’s virginity been so important? What does this tell us about the relationship between Christianity and sex? And what else do we know about this woman? Joining Kate today to help her…
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How Wild Were The Last Days Of Rome?
As Rome fell, was it really non-stop orgies and parties? That's become a popular connotation, and in today's episode Kate is joined by historian and friend of the show Emma Southon (https://www.emmasouthon.com) to…
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The Strangest Tudor & Stuart Aphrodisiacs
Forget oysters, have you tried eating sparrows with a side of phallic vegetables to stir your lust?! Getting in the mood isn’t just a modern preoccupation, but the reasons behind it have definitely changed throughout…
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Did Henry VI Have A Sex Coach?
Henry VI didn't fit the medieval image of masculinity, or that much of a king, either. Who gave sex education to someone of this stature? How did his controversial marriage to the French Margaret of Anjou effect his…
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Who Were The Vestal Virgins?
What happened if a Vestal Virgin broke their pledge of virginity? How would a woman be chosen for the role? And were there any benefits to taking it? Kate is finding out in this episode with Peta Greenfield, co-author…
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Royal Sex: Cleopatra
Did Cleopatra have a bee-powered vibrator? Why did she marry both of her brothers? And how serious were her relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony? Kate is joined by Egyptologist Sarah Parcak to find out…
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How Incestuous Were The Habsburgs?
People will do crazy things to keep hold of power. The Habsburgs - one of the most powerful families in European history - were a prime example of this. To keep hold of their power, they decided they would keep their…
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Royal Sex: Elizabeth I
Was Elizabeth I really a virgin? When we talk about queens being remembered for their sex lives, we absolutely have to mention the woman so often remembered for her lack of one. Kate is joined by Professor Anna…
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Victorian Sex Work Scandal: The Prince And The Telegraph Boys
In the summer of 1889, a London police officer stopped and searched a telegraph boy, suspecting him of stealing from the Post Office he worked for. What he uncovered was not theft, but instead a network of male sex…
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Royal Sex: Catherine the Great
Did Catherine the Great really die having sex with a horse? Was she involved in her husband's death? And were her lovers selected for political reasons? In this episode, Kate speaks with Virginia Rounding about the…
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Sex Lives of the Roman Legion
As the Roman Empire grew, so did the importance of its army - the Roman Legion. But what was life on the march like? What happened on the encampments after dark? And why couldn't eunuchs join the Roman legion?!…
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Royal Sex: Marie Antoinette
Behind the wild accusations of extra-marital affairs and a lavish lifestyle, who was the real Marie Antoinette? Why did her marriage to King Louis XVI go unconsummated for 7 years? And why did her life of luxury end in…
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The Power of Medieval Gossip
People have always gossiped, but what did they gossip about in medieval times? How were women punished for gossiping? And where does the term 'gossip' come from? Joining Kate today to gossip about all things medieval…
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Royal Sex: Queen Victoria
With NINE children, it can probably be assumed that Queen Victoria was no stranger to the sheets, but what do we actually know about her love (and sex) life? To examine Victoria's diaries, her passionate relationship…
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Why Were Ancient Dicks So Small?
Have you ever been puzzled by proportions when looking at Ancient Greek statues? It can't just be us. From quarrying the stone to chipping away the final touches on your masterpiece - sculpting is a drawn out process.…
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Sex Work in Victorian London
What were the lives of women like who sold sex in the Victorian era? How did the law makers and moral crusaders of the time try to control it? How did sex workers create community in the 19th century? In the final…
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The History of the C-section
Almost half of births in the UK are delivered via Cesarean section. But when was this operation first performed? Kate Lister is joined by Hannah Marsh, author of 'Thread, A Cesarean Story of Myth, Magic, and…
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Sex Work in the Renaissance
Early Modern Italy birthed artistic giants like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, saw architectural marvels like Florence's dome and St. Peter's Basilica, and pushed scientific frontiers in astronomy. This same…
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Inside America's Famous Sex Study
How could recording people having sex be 'for science'? Same question for sleeping with your colleagues? Well, these were just two of the practices embraced by the subject of today's conversation. Donna Drucker is…
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Medieval Sex Work
Despite Christianity coming in hot and heavy in the medieval period, sex work was thriving. In many places it was legal, even. In this second episode in our mini-series exploring sex work through history, Kate is…
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What Did Jane Austen Know About Sex?
She wrote some of the most enduring romances in literature. But what did Jane Austen really know about love ... and sex? From longing looks and flirtation, to seduction and elopement, in this episode we're…
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Sex Work in Ancient Rome
What did it look like inside a Roman brothel? Who was the sex worker involved in a murder plot to kill an Emperor? And why was the Pope getting sex workers to race chariots?! In this first episode of our brand new…
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Could You Survive Medieval Childbirth?
Childbirth isn't for the faint-hearted at the best of times, let alone in the medieval period. What was a birthing room like at this time in history? Who would have been in there helping bring a new baby into the…
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The Truth About The Minotaur
Deep in an Ancient Greek labyrinth lurks the half bull half man monster: the Minotaur. What did this wild myth about a woman having a baby with a bull have to say about how humans understood our taboo desires? How did…
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The Murderous Affairs of King James
Against the paranoid backdrop of the Scottish witch trials, a murder plot involving King James and some of his lovers took place. To make matters more juicy, it centres around the Bonnie Earl of Moray, who is said to…
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