Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society
Join sex historian Kate Lister on Betwixt the Sheets as she gets intimate with the stories that would make your history teacher blush.
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?
She'll be bed-hopping 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.
So join Kate Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society - a podcast from History Hit.
Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.
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- Update frequency
- every 3 days
- Average duration
- 42 minutes
- Episodes
- 352
- Years Active
- 2022 - 2025
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 forc…
Histories 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 wom…
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…
Origins of Virginity
From luring in unicorns to protecting the Roman Empire, myths have surrounded virginity for centuries. But is virginity itself a myth?
In this episode from the archive, Kate speaks to Anke Bernau abou…
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, ho…
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 to…
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.emmaso…
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 ch…
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 A…
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 Gree…
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 Parca…
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 …
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 Prof…
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 netw…
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 Roun…
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 Roma…
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 li…
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…
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 passion…
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 d…