One thing’s for certain, queer people have always been a part of society. The language may not have always been there to describe them in all of their wonderful forms, and the history books may not have always told their stories, but they have always been there. 

To celebrate the start of Pride month, Kate is joined by author Kirsty Loehr, who’s book A Short History of Queer Women is here to shine a spotlight on some of the marvellous people and their lives. 

From the woman who’s thought to be the OG lesbian in Ancient Greece, to more modern intersectional gay black feminists via a runaway lesbian pirate in the 18th century, it’s important their stories are heard. 

Produced and edited by Stuart Beckwith. Senior Producer Charlotte Long. 

Lyre music provided by Michael Levy: https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelLevyMusic 

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Any of us who have happened to see a celebrity in the wild can admit to the strange thrill you get. 

It doesn’t matter if it’s C, D, or Z-list celebrities, even, they all count! 

But why are we as a society so obsessed with celebrities? From Ancient Greek Gods to Kim Kardashian, our obsession has endured. And what does it say about us, when most young people just want to be famous when they grow up? Without a thought for what they might be famous for. 

Kate is joined by Landon Jones, former managing editor of People Magazine and author of Celebrity Nation: How America Evolved Into A Culture Of Fans And Followers. He’s here to take us back through history to where it all began, speculate what the future of celebrity may hold, and share tales of his own, such as why Princess Diana refused to dance with him.

Produced by Sophie Gee. Senior Producer Charlotte Long. Mixed by Stuart Beckwith.

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Picture a serial killer in your mind’s eye. What do you see? More often than not it will be a man.

Statistically that’s accurate, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. Whilst it’s perhaps not the most worthy feminist cause to jump behind, the issue of gendered narratives is a fascinating one - and what better way to look at it than through the lens of serial killers?

Kate is joined by Tori Telfer, author of Lady Killers: Deadly Women Throughout History to explore the story of one of America’s most notorious female serial killers: Nannie Doss, aka the Giggling Granny. She killed 11 people, four of which were husbands, leading to her also being known as the Lonely Hearts Killer, due to her supposed search for love.

Nannie Doss interview clip courtesy of Pea Hicks. View the full interview and more on their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@peahix

Produced by Sophie Gee. Senior Producer Charlotte Long. Mixed by Stuart Beckwith.

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Queen Charlotte is back in the spotlight, thanks to the new Bridgerton spin-off series looking into her life and marriage to King George III.

We know Bridgerton uses a lot of creative license when it comes to historical accuracy (just in case you didn't know, people in the Regency period did not dance to orchestral covers of Beyonce) so today Kate thought she'd get Betwixt the Sheets with historian, Catherine Curzon to find out who the real Queen Charlotte was.

What was her early life like? How was her relationship like with her husband before and after his mental health problems? How did other members of high society view her?

You can find out more about Catherine Curzon's work here.

WARNING: There is adult content and explicit words in this episode.

Senior producer: Charlotte Long. Producer: Stuart Beckwith. Mixed by Siobhan Dale

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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It’s hard to imagine London’s gay scene before vibrant night spots like Heaven and G.A.Y, but come back with us to the 18th Century to find out about where it all began: Molly Houses. 

This was when to be gay in England was a crime punishable by death, and so a network of secretive gay gatherings in the backrooms of ale and coffee houses - known in the community as Molly Houses - were the place to go and meet other gay men. 

Where did this term come from? And what took place at great risk behind these closed doors? Kate is joined by the legendary gay historian and author Rictor Norton to find out. 

Produced by Sophie Gee. Senior Producer Charlotte Long. Mixed by Stuart Beckwith. 

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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The Ancient Romans are often thought of as ahead of their time. They invented concrete, sophisticated road systems and even underfloor heating.

But their approach to murder is starkly different to how the modern world recognises it, and frankly it’s a bit weird. These people saw 26 emperors murdered in one 50-year period, and would watch people being killed for entertainment in the Colosseum.

Today Kate is Betwixt the Sheets with Emma Southon to talk murder in Ancient Rome.

You can find out more about Emma's book here.

WARNING: There is adult content and explicit words in this episode.

Senior producer: Charlotte Long. Producer: Sophie Gee. Mixed by Stuart Beckwith.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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In 1603, James VI & I became the first king of Scotland and England. But this isn’t the only reason he was remarkable. Because he also had a big, no HUGE, fear of witches.

He literally wrote a book on it in 1597. Daemonologie, which just scratched the surface of Scotland’s relationship with so-called witches.

Today, Kate is Betwixt the Sheets with Allyson Shaw to find out more about the witch trials of Scotland.

You can find out more about Allyson's book here.

WARNING: There is adult content and explicit words in this episode.

Senior producer: Charlotte Long. Producer: Sophie Gee. Mixed by Siobhan Dale

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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What did Napoleon smell like? How many pairs of scented gloves did Marie Antoinette get through a month? And how did the study of perfume become the study of life itself in the 19th century?

Kate is joined by Theresa Levitt for this episode to find out about the world of the Parisian perfumiers Laugier and Laurent. Theresa is the author of Elixir: A Parisian Perfume House and the Quest for the Secret of Life.

Produced by Sophie Gee. Senior producer: Charlotte Long. Mixed by Stuart Beckwith.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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From significantly sized cod-pieces to revenge dresses, the Royal family have used clothes to send a message to the public for centuries, and a coronation is one of the best opportunities to communicate what kind of king or queen you’re planning to be.

King Charles III's coronation will be at Westminster Abbey, a place where monarchs have been crowned since 1066 - everyone from Henry VIII to Victoria.

Today Kate is joined Betwixt the Sheets with Rosie Harte to talk coronations and royal fashion moments throughout history, including velvet robes and pubic hair wigs. Yes, you're reading that correctly.

WARNING: There is adult content and explicit words in this episode.

Senior producer: Charlotte Long. Mixed by Stuart Beckwith.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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Incest. It’s not the lightest topic of conversation, we wouldn’t recommend bringing it up as an icebreaker on a date, or when you’re trying to impress new people at a party - but it’s one which has fascinated many of us for centuries nonetheless.

But has it always been taboo? How have the necessary degrees of separation between partners grown and shrunk over the years? And why were so many royal families keen on familial relations in the past...Hapsburg chin anyone?

Kate is Betwixt the Sheets with Brian Connolly to discuss the history of incest, an episode suggested to us by a listener. You can read more of Brian's work here.

WARNING: There is adult content and explicit words in this episode.

Senior producer: Charlotte Long. Producer: Sophie Gee. Mixed by Siobhan Dale.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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This podcast includes music from Epidemic Sounds.

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What made the decade between 1996 and 2006 a pop breeding ground? And what was this time like for the pop stars involved?

From the Spice Girls to Girls Aloud, and Take That to Blue, Kate is Betwixt the Sheets with journalist Michael Cragg to look at the success and scandals during the golden age of pop.

You can find out more about Michael Cragg's new book here.

Senior producer: Charlotte Long. Producer: Sophie Gee. Mixed by Stuart Beckwith.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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This podcast includes music from Epidemic Sounds.

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Happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, disgust, fear... we all know what these emotions feel like, right?

But what is emotion? Do we all feel the same things? And do we have the same feelings as people who lived five-hundred years ago?

Today Kate is joined Betwixt the Sheets by Richard Firth-Godbehere to find out about the origins of emotions, and what they have to do with witchcraft and desire.

You can find out more about Richard's work here.

Senior producer: Charlotte Long. Producer: Sophie Gee. Mixed by Siobhan Dale.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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This podcast includes music from Epidemic Sounds and an archive clip from Prelinger Archives.

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How common was it for a pirates to walk the plank? Was there a lot of rum? And were relationships allowed on ships?

Kate is joined by Rebecca Simon, author of 'The Pirate's Code' to find out about the codes that pirates had to live by.

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Joseph Knight.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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Why would a man embroil his own nephew in a sex scandal? What was it like for a Georgian man to have his affair with another man shared in the papers? And what options were available to them after this happened?

Today Betwixt the Sheets, Kate is finding out about the lives of William Courtenay and William Beckford, the sex scandal surrounding the two heirs and their different responses to it.

Kate is joined by Charlie Courtenay, 19th Earl of Devon, to talk about his relative William Courtenay, the 9th Earl. She is also joined by Dr Amy Frost from Beckford’s Tower in Bath.

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Sophie Gee.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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If someone from the future looked inside your wardrobe, what could they find out about your life? That you like going out to parties? Maybe your work uniform is in there? Or perhaps there is still evidence of fashion trends of yore, like the oh-so-low rise jeans of the early noughties….

We can find out so much about people, culture and society through our clothes, and it’s the same for our ancestors.

Today Kate is joined by fashion historian Dr Kate Strasdin Betwixt the Sheets to delve into the wardrobe secrets of a real life Victorian woman, from deadly dyes, to an actual pirate flag.

Senior Producer: Charlotte Long. Producer: Sophie Gee. Mixed by Joseph Knight.

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If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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‘Bond girl’ is quite a loaded term. Why aren’t they women? What makes them part of this homologous team? And what does it mean if they have red hair?

In this episode, Kate speaks to Dr Lisa Funnell, award winning author and expert on all things Bond. She is here to tell us about the different eras of Bond girls and why it’s so important to revisit our old favourites.

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Pete Dennis.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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REAL LIFE INVENTOR ALERT!!!

Two jockstraps cleverly sewn together. That was how the very first sports bra was made in 1977. The product built out from this prototype, the “Jog Bra”, went on to change women’s athletics forever.

Lisa Lindhal who, together with her friends Polly and Hinda, unleashed the sports bra on the world. In this episode from our sister podcast, Patented: History of Inventions, she spoke to Dallas Campbell . 

The episode was produced by Freddy Chick. The editor was Anisha Deva. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.

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WARNING: This episode includes adult content and explicit language. As offensive terms go, you are entering a hard hat area.

It’s one of the most taboo words in the English dictionary. In Scotland, it can be a term of endearment, but in the US it's one of the worst offences out there, and it would more than likely get you fired if you said it to your boss at work. It starts with c, and ends in t and we're not talking about a coconut.

Kate is joined Betwixt the Sheets for our 100th episode by our favourite Kathy Burke and linguist legend Professor Deborah Cameron to talk about the etymology and cultural meaning of the c-word.

Why is a word that simply means the vulva regarded as the most offensive word in the English language? Where does the word come from? And were medieval people really calling their children the c-bomb?

Senior Producer: Charlotte Long. Producer: Sophie Gee. Mixed by Stuart Beckwith.

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If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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What was the early modern version of CSI? Why might whole pubs have been singing an executed person’s final words? And was the crime of murder different back then?

In this episode, Kate spoke to Blessin Adams, a former member of the police who has been researching murders between the 16th and 18th centuries. Her book is called Great and Horrible News: Murder and Mayhem in Early Modern Britain.

*Warning - this episode contains mentions of murder, torture, infanticide, suicide, miscarriage, abortion and some gruesome details*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Sophie Gee.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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You may have seen the news that archaeologists have been reassessing a phallic object from Vindolanda Roman Fort in the north of Britain.

How does the saying go ... "If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck." Do you think this counts for d*cks too?

Today, Kate is talking to Rob Collins to find out how we can prove what an ancient artefact was actually used for.

*WARNING there are adult words and themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Joseph Knight

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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From the Chevalier de Saint-Georges to the Merry Monarch to Madame Jojo and Madame Trenti, the district of Soho in London has played host to many of the naughtiest names in history. And now, we can include Kate Lister on that list.

In this episode, join us for a walking tour of Soho with Katie Wignall from Look Up London. You can even follow along, just start off at the black and white hut on Soho Square: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1BQRD8E6Joc1xEniGomROdGSyKX6OLf0&usp=sharing

*WARNING there are adult words and themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Anisha Deva.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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How debaucherous do you have to be to be remembered as the original bad boy? How mad, bad and dangerous to know was Lord Byron? And how much of it did he get from his family?

For this episode, Kate is joined by Emily Brand, the author of ‘The Fall of the House of Byron: Scandal and Seduction in Georgian England’. From incest to murder - this family must have made for a very awkward dinner party.

Poems by George Gordon Byron read by Matt Lewis: ‘So, We’ll Go No More A Roving’ and lines 1089 to 1096 of Don Juan, canto 2.

*WARNING there are adult words and themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Sophie Gee.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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Why is the naked body of a life model more respected than a glamour model? Why has there been a resurgence in virtue policing? And why was Kate completely naked during the interview with today’s guest?!

Today we’re casting off our clothes and slipping Betwixt the Sheets with academic, feminist, economist and naked protestor, Victoria Bateman.Hear about the cyclical nature of modesty culture in Ancient Egypt and Babylonia right up to now, and find out about society’s hypocritical attitudes towards women’s bodies.

You can find out more about Victoria’s book here.

Produced by Charlotte Long. Mixed by Stuart Beckwith.

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How would a medieval woman achieve a Brazilian bikini line? Why can’t you trust a nun in the night time? And what were women doing at Medieval universities? 

Kate is joined for the THIRD time by Eleanor Janega to talk about how women were expected to be in the medieval era, and how they actually were. From biology to appearance to careers, it’s time to shed light on this half of the medieval population.

Eleanor has just released a new book, ‘The Once and Future Sex: Going Medieval on Women's Roles in Society’.

*WARNING there are adult words and themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Sophie Gee.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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RuPaul. Lily Savage. Bianca Del Rio. Dame Edna Everage. These iconic drag queens are household names, but have you ever heard about Princess Seraphina? Or William Dorsey Swann, aka 'The Queen'?

Today we're bringing you a very special mash-up episode for Comic Relief, all about the history of Drag Queens. Kate is joined by Gossip Gays hosts Danny Beard (winner of RuPaul's Race UK) and DJ Billy Andrew.

Where did the term Drag Queen come from? What is a Molly House? And why could you expect to be served a stewed prune there? It wasn't to aid digestive health that's for sure...

Red Nose Day has always been a time to spread a bit of joy. We know there’s a lot going on right now and for many people things are really tough. But if you can donate, every penny will add up to a life-changing difference. Text PODCAST to 70205 to give £5 today. To donate £5 text the word PODCAST to 70205. Texts cost your donation amount plus your standard network message charge and 100% of your donation will go to Comic Relief, a registered charity. You must be 16 or over and please ask the bill-payer’s permission. For full terms and conditions visit comicrelief.com/podcastmashup

Produced by Charlotte Long & Lucas Poole. Mixed by Stuart Beckwith.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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From aristocratic rebels to Civil Rights activists, tens of thousands of people travelled to Spain during the Civil War - and not all of them were men...

Whether they were fighting, nursing or reporting, in this episode of Betwixt the Sheets we are going to meet a few of the women who chose to risk their lives.

Kate is joined by Sarah Watling, author of ‘Tomorrow Perhaps the Future’ to hear about Gerda Taro, Martha Gelhorn and more.

*WARNING there are adult words and themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Anisha Deva.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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Why might a woman have willingly confined herself to a cell for the rest of her life? Why have so many female authors in history published under aliases or initials? And what was Jane Austen’s dirtiest joke?

In this episode of Betwixt the Sheets, Kate is joined by Anna Beer to discuss an alternative history of English literature. What prevented women from publishing their work, and how did they get around this?

Produced by Sophie Gee. Mixed by Stuart Beckwith. Senior producer: Charlotte Long.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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‘It’s my time of the month’, ‘the painters are in’, ‘aunt flo is visiting’, or a simple ‘I’m on the rag’

Periods are a fact of life for so many people. So how have they been understood? How have they been talked about and concealed? And why have periods stopped so many people from going swimming?

In this episode, Kate is joined by Elissa Stein, one of the authors of FLOW: the Cultural Story of Menstruation to find out how menstruation has been dealt with throughout history. This episode was requested by Betwixter Lisa. If you also have a request, please let us know at betwixt@historyhit.com.

*WARNING there are adult words and themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Anisha Deva.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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The first series of Bridgerton broke viewership records and became the biggest series on Netflix ever when it first came out. But a raunchy period drama is nothing new, shows with an eroticised view of the past have always been popular. Think Game of Thrones, The Tudors, Peaky Blinders...they’re all at it!

But can we even call Bridgerton history? How accurate is the series? From the fashion, to the sex, to the dental hygiene. Yep, we’re even going to be talking about dentures made from teeth taken from men who died at the Battle of Waterloo in this episode. Surprisingly the Bridgerton actors weren’t asked to rock a pair for filming the series.

Today Kate is Betwixt the Sheets with historian Catherine Curzon find out the real Regency history behind Bridgerton.

You can buy Catherine's book, Inside the World of Bridgerton: True Stories of Regency High Society here.

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Charlotte Long and Matt Peaty.

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In the UK, just over half of people above the age of 16 are married. Whether in a registry office, a place of worship or a remote beach somewhere sunny, each of these couples will have had to do some form of planning. Guest lists, cake, flowers and, of course, outfits.

Today Betwixt the Sheets, Kate is speaking to Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell about wedding dresses. When might you have worn the same dress day to day? When did white become the norm in western countries? And what is a decoy bride?

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Joseph Knight.

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Clear soup, Irish stew and steamed puddings - this was the war work of Georgina Landemare, the Churchills’ longest-serving cook.

Throughout the war years, Georgina served the Prime Minister, delegations of diplomats and the occasional royal, as well as the other staff of 10 Downing Street, Chequers and the War Rooms.

Annie Gray is back with Kate today to introduce us to Georgina; why she went into the service industry, where she learnt to cook the French way, and how she managed to make the most of wartime rations (with a few top-ups here and there).

*WARNING there are adult words and themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Stuart Beckwith.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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Why are women over the age of 50 so often cast as terrifying, decaying, manipulative people in Hollywood? When did this start? And how might it have been a reaction to second wave feminism?

In this episode, Kate is joined by Caroline Young to talk about the birth of Hagsploitation, or Hag Horror, and what it has meant for the women involved.

*WARNING there are adult words and themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Anisha Deva.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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She was a woman of unparalleled power, descended from Julius Caesar and Augustus. But how did she get there, whilst most of the rest of her family were exiled and starved to death? And how, then, did she come to be murdered by her own son, Nero?

Today Kate is joined by Emma Southon for an introduction to this very powerful hustler, and to find out why she is so often remembered as a seductress.

*WARNING there are adult words and themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Anisha Deva.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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Why might a medieval nun drink the pus of an ill patient? Where does ‘fishy Friday’ come from? And what does all of this have to do with religion?

Today, Kate is joined between some Reformation sheets by Eleanor Barnett, from instagram's @historyeats. They talk about how religion, and in particular the switch from Catholicism to Protestantism in England, influenced eating habits.We will also find out how eating habits from this period can be compared with those of today.

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Stuart Beckwith. Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

If you have an idea or comment for the show, we welcome you to get in touch at betwixt@historyhit.com.

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Can you imagine being SO smooth-talking and seductive your surname becomes an actual noun in the dictionary to describe someone who has a reputation for being an expert at in the sack?

Well today we’re going to be talking about a man who was just that…Giacamo Casanova.

But is his legacy accurate? Was he really a prolific ladies man? And did he do anything else in his life other than seduce women…and if he did, why do we only remember him for that reason? 

Today we’re bringing you a very special Betwixt the Sheets mash-up episode with History Hit’s very own Casanova, Dan Snow (don’t worry he has humbly confirmed we could call him that).

Kate and Dan will be discussing why there is much more to Casanova than just womanising - he was a scam artist, outlaw, alchemist, spy and church cleric. He wrote satires, fought duels, and escaped from prison more than once. He even set up the French national lottery. Join Kate and Dan for this special collab episode of History Hit in the Sheets to find out all this and more!

Produced by Freddy Chick, Charlotte Long and Mariana Des Forges. Mixed by Dougal Patmore.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

Email us with your subject ideas at betwixt@historyhit.com.

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Why would someone disown their son over a pair of glasses? How could an unmarried woman in 1918 have published a book about sexual pleasure? And what is an appropriate gift for a newlywed prince and princess? 

Today, we’re looking at the complicated woman who was Marie Stopes - family planning pioneer on one hand, very problematic eugenicist on the other.

Kate is joined once again by Deborah Cohen to explore Stopes’ life and influence.

*WARNING there are discussions of eugenics, adult words and themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Sophie Gee.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

Email us with your subject ideas at betwixt@historyhit.com.

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Facelifts, liposuction and nose jobs: since the mid 20th century people have saved up to have their faces and bodies transformed into their dreams.

But why might these procedures have been offered in prisons across the US, the UK and Canada? And what was the desired outcome?

Today, Kate is joined by Zara Stone, author of Killer Looks: The Forgotten History of Plastic Surgery in Prisons to discuss re-conviction rates, ‘pretty privilege’ and the so called ‘hot felon’.

*WARNING there are discussions of race, adult words and themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Thomas Ntinas.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

Email us with your subject ideas at betwixt@historyhit.com.

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She is surely one of the most fascinating figures in royal history. Perceived as a bad match for Edward VIII, Wallis Simpson is at the centre of the scandal surrounding his abdication.

But what do we know about her life besides this? From childhood to exile - Anne Sebba introduces us to the Duchess of Windsor.

*WARNING there are adult words and themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Joseph Knight.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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From Ancient Assyria to the Byzantine Empire, from the Qing dynasty’s Forbidden City to 19th century operas; Eunuchs have been present across a huge range of the world’s history. Despite this, they are often mainly thought of in terms of their private parts.

So today, Betwixt the Sheets, Kate is joined by Shaun Tougher from Cardiff University to find out what the lives of Eunuchs were like, particularly in the Byzantine Empire. Why would people, or often their parents, make this choice? And how were they perceived in their societies?

*WARNING there are adult words and themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Sophie Gee.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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What did porn look like before the internet? Who was it for? And how has it changed since?

In this episode, Kate chats to Kathleen Lubey, a professor at St. John’s University and specialist in eighteenth-century literature. Kathleen talks us through the history of pornography … that is, the type of history that can’t be deleted.

*WARNING there are adult words and themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Anisha Deva.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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So much of today’s music takes inspiration from the Blues, but where did Blues music itself come from?

Kate is joined by Lamont Jack Pearley - applied folklorist, ethnographer and historian of African American traditional music - who takes us through the history of Blues music, from influence to appropriation.

*WARNING there are adult words and discussions of racism in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Joseph Knight.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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Just in case you haven’t heard, a certain prince has released a memoir recently detailing a challenging relationship between him and his brother, the heir to the throne.

But royal sibling rifts are nothing new, in fact we can trace it back centuries… and we’re doing just that on Betwixt the Sheets today.

Kate is joined by Gone Medieval’s Matt Lewis to talk about royal spats in the middle ages and the Tudor period, involving everything from chamber pot pranks to house arrests.

Kate is also joined by biographer Anne Sebba to talk about more recent regal rifts between the Duke of Windsor and King George VI, and of course, a bit about Prince William and Harry (not much, we promise).

*WARNING there are adult words and themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Sophie Gee.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

For more History Hit content, subscribe to our newsletters here.

This podcast includes music from Epidemic Sound and an archive clip from a 1947 Coronet film.

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From Acts of Parliament to unethical clinical studies to legendary symphonies (possibly) - syphilis has stained many different areas of history.

To find out what this disease is, what it does to the body and how treatments of it and the people who have it have changed, Kate spoke to Cat Irving, Human Remains Conservator for Surgeons’ Hall in Edinburgh.

*WARNING there are adult words and discussions of illness and death in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed Thomas Ntinas.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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Do you remember the first time you thought about sex? Or the first time you talked to someone else about sex?

In this episode, Kate is discussing mid-20th century teenage sexuality with Hannah Charnock from the University of Bristol. Hannah has been using first hand accounts to find out how teenagers would find out what's ‘wrong’ or ‘right’, ‘good’ or ‘bad’, and what role the American base system has played in British sexualities.

*WARNING there are adult words and themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Thomas Ntinas.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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The darkest nights of the year have long been the time for celebrations, from Yule and Mother Night, to Christmas and New Year's Eve. But where did these traditions come from? Who started kissing under the mistletoe? Why are trees decorated and brought into homes around this time of year? And how did the Romans bring in the New Year?

Today Kate is joined Betwixt the Sheets by Ronald Hutton to find out how these celebrations originated and developed, and just what has stayed the same.

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Charlotte Long.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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How long have people been hoping for Santa to hurry down their chimneys for?

Whether it’s because he’s a bear, a dom or the ultimate daddy - in this episode we’re discussing attraction to Santa and Father Christmas.

Listen as Kate takes us through Santa’s more sordid history. Then, to find out why people might be attracted to Santa, she speaks to NHS Junior Doctor, Psychosexual Therapist in Training and Sexual Wellness Consultant Elesha Vooght.

*WARNING there are adult words and themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Anisha Deva.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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What is ‘good’ sex? Why might you need to get your protractor out in the bedroom? And when was foreplay ‘invented’?

In this episode, Kate is getting sex advice from Sarah Jones. From handbooks to hardbacks, Sarah shares the different advice that men and women of different backgrounds would receive.

Sarah is a social and cultural historian of gender and sexuality at the University of Bristol.

*WARNING there are adult words and themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Sophie Gee.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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Did Alexander the Great and the Queen of the Amazons really have sex for 13 days solid? What do we know about his male lovers? And how did his sex life stand up to that of his dad’s?

Kate is joined by The Ancients’ Tristan Hughes to find out about Alexander III of Macedon’s time Betwixt the Sheets.

*WARNING there are adult words and themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Sophie Gee.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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From reality television to theatre productions to foreign goods, the word trash has a long history of being used to deride things that are thought to have no value.

To find out what this history is, and how this language has been used against women in particular, Kate spoke to Kat Marchant of Reading the Past.

*WARNING there are adult words and themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Joseph Knight.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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He kidnapped his wife and got locked up in the Tower of London. He slept around King Charles II’s court, and drunk to excess for years before dying from syphilis and alcoholism. He became a war hero but grew disillusioned by religion and monogomy. He also wrote some of the filthiest poetry of all time. Who are we talking about? John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester.

Today Kate is joined by two special guests Betwixt the Sheets. Neil Gaiman, who will be reading some of his favourite Rochester poems, and historian Rebecca Rideal, who will be taking us through the wild life of this 17th century libertine.

To find out more about Rebecca Rideal’s work and podcast, click here.

*CONTENT WARNING: There are adult themes and explicit words in this episode. In fact, we think it’s our naughtiest episode yet.*

Senior Producer: Charlotte Long.Producer: Sophie Gee. Mixed by: Charlotte Long & Anisha Deva

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How much did Britain and its allies know about the Holocaust? Could the Bengal Famine of 1943 have been helped? And was Elizabeth I really the Virgin Queen? 

Lynsey Calver is a history teacher, and in this episode, she helps us to fill in some of the gaps on the history curriculum.

*WARNING There are adult themes and discussions of racism and the Holocaust in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Joseph Knight.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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Why were the ovaries once seen as inverted testes? What words might you use if you were trying to describe a condition 'down there' to your doctor? And why did people once believe that you couldn't conceive a baby whilst standing up?

In this episode of Betwixt the Sheets, we're clearing away the smoke, mirrors and occasional cobwebs from the mysterious realms of sexual science. Kate is joined by Emily Nagoski, author of 'Come As You Are' and expert on sexual wellbeing, healthy relationships, and the prevention of sexual violence and harassment.

*WARNING there are adult words and themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Anisha Deva.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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*This episode contains very strong language and adult content*

A semi autobiographical account from a conflicted man? An ode to a wife’s sexual desire? A criminally obscene novel?

Lady Chatterley’s Lover is one of the most famous texts from the past century, but why?

In this episode, we hear from the director of the new Netflix movie Laure De Clermont-Tonnerre about why this story is important to the 21st century. Then, Kate speaks to Frances Wilson about D.H. Lawrence, his final novel, and the trial that made them the sexual mascots of the 1960s.

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Anisha Deva.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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It’s so important that it’s been ‘discovered’ at least twice, but what is the clitoris and why has it previously been so hard to find?

The clitoris is the human female’s most erogenous zone, and is responsible for 75% of women’s orgasms. So why has it been so overlooked and demonised, and how have people sought to control female pleasure through it?

Kate is joined by Sarah Chadwick, author of ‘The Sweetness of Venus’ to discuss the stimulating history of the clitoris.

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Thomas Ntinas.

If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit 

To download, go to Android or Apple store.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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What do we know about the people who shared the surname Mussolini with the Italian fascist dictator?

Edda Mussolini may have been Benito’s daughter, but she was also the wife of a convicted traitor, an unwilling mother and a hard-drinking socialite.

To find out about Edda’s life and its connections with the Italian and German leadership, Kate spoke to Caroline Moorehead, author of the new biography ‘Edda Mussolini: The Most Dangerous Woman in Europe’.

*WARNING there are adult words and themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Sophie Gee.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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George V, Otzi the Iceman, possibly Winston Churchill and … Kate Lister. What do all these people have in common?

They have tattoos. As do a fifth of the population of the United Kingdom.

In this episode, Kate speaks to tattoo historian Matt Lodder about the origins of tattoos, their meanings and why certain stereotypes have become attached to them.

*WARNING there are naughty words and adult themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Aidan Lonergan.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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What makes a heartthrob? Is he brooding, flamboyant or a bad boy? And what qualities translate to sex symbol status in society?

Which men have made the hearts of young (heterosexual) women flutter over the centuries? And why?

Today, Carol Dyhouse joins Kate to talk about the history of famous men who have lit women’s hearts on fire.

*WARNING There are adult themes and naughty words in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Anisha Deva.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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We might now be used to hearing about the intimate details of celebrities and world leaders, but when did this become the norm?

In the lead up to the Second World War, a collection of American journalists began to report not only on world affairs - interviewing Hitler, Gandhi and Mussolini to name a few - but also private affairs, their own and those of others.

Today, Kate is Betwixt the Sheets with Deborah Cohen to find out about the reporters John Gunther, Frances Fineman Gunther, H. R. Knickerbocker, Vincent Sheean, and Dorothy Thompson. Deborah is the author of a new book ‘Last Call at the Hotel Imperial: The Reporters Who Took On A World At War’

*WARNING there are naughty words and adult themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Sophie Gee.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - enter promo code BETWIXTTHESHEETS for a free trial, plus 50% off your first three months' subscription.

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How did the people of Ancient China think about sex?

From sexual vampirism to unrealistic representations of courtesan culture, from wife lending to avoiding *ahem* finishing: in this episode Kate and Paul R. Goldin from the University of Pennsylvania delve into the beds and sexual beliefs of Ancient China.

*WARNING there are adult themes and mentions of rape in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Anisha Deva.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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It can happen on a bus, in a park, in your home, at the school gates. An estimated one in every ten women in England and Wales have reported it happening to them.

So why do people flash? And when did it become criminalised?

Indecent exposure is when someone deliberately exposes their genitals in order to frighten or upset someone else. It is difficult to prove, and has been prosecuted under a number of different laws during our history.

In this episode, Kate speaks to Professor of Psychology Dr. Elizabeth Jeglic from John Jay College of Criminal Justice to find out why people commit indecent exposure. Then, she speaks to Professor Kim Stevenson from the University of Plymouth about how indecent exposure and other sexual offences have been policed in the UK.

*WARNING there is discussion of sexual assault, rape and child abuse in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Sophie Gee.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - enter promo code BETWIXTTHESHEETS for a free trial, plus 50% off your first three months' subscription.

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https://www.btp.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/advice/rape-sexual-assault-and-other-sexual-offences/indecent-exposure-flashing-offending-public-decency/

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From Dracula, to Frankenstein, to Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, to Twilight’s Edward Cullen…when did our fascination with gothic fiction begin?

In today’s episode Kate is joined by Abby Boucher & Daniel Jenkin-Smith to talk about the origins of gothic fiction, how we define it, and the gender dynamics in the books and films throughout the centuries.

You can hear Abby and Daniel’s podcast, Save Me From My Shelf, here. 

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Thomas Ntinas.

If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - enter promo code BETWIXTTHESHEETS for a free trial, plus 50% off your first three months' subscription.

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Everybody hold hands! We're going for a seance!

How long have we've been trying to talk to dead people for? And have we ever actually been speaking to the dead or just to somebody’s clicky toe joints?

In today's episode Kate is joined by Lisa Morton, author of 'Calling the Spirits: A History of Seances', to talk about the long history of spiritualism, its believers and its fraudsters!

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Thomas Ntinas.

If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - enter promo code BETWIXTTHESHEETS for a free trial, plus 50% off your first three months' subscription.

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How long have people believed in ghosts?

Eleanor Janega is back Betwixt the Sheets with Kate to tell us why you should always stand up to ghosts and why you might be visited by a woman with frogs sucking on her body.

From improper burials to resentful visitors, they delve into people’s beliefs in ghosts and how they have changed through history.

*WARNING there are naughty words and adult topics in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Sophie Gee.

If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - enter promo code BETWIXTTHESHEETS for a free trial, plus 50% off your first three months' subscription.

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Did Henry VIII really have syphilis? Who died from a red hot poker up the bum? And which king was taken down by a school of fish?

To learn about the often gruesome ways that our royals have met their doom, Kate gets Betwixt the Sheets with Suzie Edge, TikTok historian and author of ‘Mortal Monarchs: 1000 Years of Royal Deaths’.

*WARNING there are naughty words and gory discussions of death in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Thomas Ntinas.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit. For more History Hit content, subscribe to our newsletters here. If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - enter promo code BETWIXTTHESHEETS for a free trial, plus 50% off your first three months' subscription.

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Who were Ignatius Sancho, Dido Elizabeth Belle and Francis Barber?

Between 10,000 and 30,000 black people lived in Britain during the Georgian period. Despite this, some people have remained convinced that black British history doesn't start until after the Second World War.

In this episode, Kate speaks to Gretchen Gerzina about some of the individuals who lived in Georgian Britain, their lives and their livelihoods.

*WARNING there are naughty words and discussions of slavery and racism in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Edited by Sophie Gee and Thomas Ntinas.

For more History Hit content, subscribe to our newsletters here.

If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - enter promo code BETWIXTTHESHEETS for a free trial, plus 50% off your first three months' subscription. To download, go to Android or Apple store.

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What does it take to get the reputation as one of the least popular queens in history?

Should we remember Henrietta Maria as the wife of the King executed by his subjects, the Catholic influencer and a serial adulterer? Or as a prankster, a patron of the arts and a mother of two Kings?

Henrietta Maria became Queen Consort of England, Scotland and Ireland aged 15. A quarter of a century and a civil war later she was widowed when her husband, Charles I, was executed. By the end of her life she was restored to court on a generous pension.

Her life, therefore, was a busy one, and in this episode of Betwixt the Sheets Kate is joined by Leanda de Lisle to bring Henrietta Maria out of the shadows. We look into her marriage, her motherhood and her life after the death of her husband.

*WARNING there are naughty words and adult themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Edited by Joseph Knight.

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If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - enter promo code BETWIXTTHESHEETS for a free trial, plus 50% off your first three months' subscription. To download, go to Android or Apple store.

For your chance to win 5 Historical Non-Fiction Books (including a signed copy of Dan Snow's On This Day in History), please fill out this short survey.

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What is it with our culture’s fascination with serial killers? Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, Peter Sutclifffe, Jack the Ripper….these violent people are as well known as our national treasures, but we only know them for their horrific crimes.

What role does misogyny play in how these serial killers are portrayed on our screens and in our newspapers? And how does it affect court cases? 

Today Kate is joined by historian Hallie Rubenhold, who wrote the bestselling book The Five, which looked into the lives of Jack the Ripper’s victims, and highlighted the sexism in our society’s obsession with the case.

The new series of Hallie's podcast, Bad Women, investigates the lives of the victims of the Blackout Ripper, a serial killer who hunted down women during the Blitz of World War Two.

*WARNING there are naughty words and adult themes in this episode*

Senior Producer: Charlotte Long. Producer: Sophie Gee. Edited and mixed by Anisha Deva.

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If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - enter promo code BETWIXTTHESHEETS for a free trial, plus 50% off your first three months' subscription. To download, go to Android or Apple store.

For your chance to win 5 Historical Non-Fiction Books (including a signed copy of Dan Snow's On This Day in History), please fill out this short survey.

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What did Salvador Dali, Elizabeth I and Sigmund Freud have in common? They all had phobias, and it's possible you do too.

As ‘normal’ as you might consider yourself to be, it is highly likely that you have an irrational streak. Phobias and manias are very common, and we have a lot of names for them.

In this episode of Betwixt the Sheets, Kate is joined by Kate Summerscale. Find out when we started naming our fears and compulsions, why kleptomania is mainly associated with affluent women, and what Founding Father of the United States of America, Benjamin Rush, has to do with all this.

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Anisha Deva.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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Why is there an assumption that Victorian Britain was white? Who does this mean is missing from our history books? And how can we find out more about the lives of black people in the Victorian Era?

Today, Kate is joined by Dr Keshia Abrahams and Dr John Woolf, authors of ‘Black Victorians: Hidden in History’. Keshia and John introduce us to physician George Rice, abolitionist Sarah Parker Remond and more.

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Sophie Gee.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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You might know him best as the longest reigning Scottish king, the son of Mary, Queen of Scots, the father of Charles I, or the eponymous poster of the translation of the bible into English.

But King James VI of Scotland, and I of England, had some very questionable traits and got up to shady stuff… Today Kate is joined Betwixt the Sheets with Huw Lemmey and Ben Miller to explore why James was actually a very naughty King indeed.

You can listen to Huw and Ben’s podcast, Bad Gays, here.

*WARNING* There are adult themes and fruity language in this episode.

Senior Producer: Charlotte Long. Producer: Sophie Gee. Edited and mixed by Anisha Deva.

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Private Members’ Clubs are often the location of suspected scandal - from Oscar Wilde to Chris Pincher, what happens behind these elitist doors?

Seth Alexander Thévoz joins Kate Betwixt the Sheets to reveal the secret history behind some of London’s most famous members’ clubs, from 1693 to the present day.

*WARNING there are naughty words and adult themes in this episode*

Senior Producer: Charlotte Long. Producer: Sophie Gee. Edited and mixed by Anisha Deva.

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If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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Marilyn Monroe. She's got to be one of the most famous people of all time, hasn't she?

But what happens when an investigative war reporter dedicates years of his life to finding out who real Marilyn was, interviewing hundreds of people who knew her, from her co-stars, to her psychiatrist’s family, to her hairdresser?

Today Kate is Betwixt the Sheets with journalist Anthony Summers who began his research after the inquest into Marilyn's death was reopened in 1982.

Hear what he discovered about her relationship with the Kennedy brothers, her mental health, and the circumstances surrounding her death.

You can find out more about Anthony's book, Goddess, here.

*WARNING there are naughty words and adult themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Edited and mixed by Thomas Ntinas.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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What makes a book bad? Does it have to be nonsensical? Heretical? Libellous? Sexy?

Well for 500 years, a panel from the Roman Catholic Church attempted to grapple with this distinction.

Today Betwixt the Sheets, we find out what this collection of people deemed unsafe for the eyes of their worshippers.

Kate is joined by Robin Vose, a professor of history at St Thomas University in Canada to find out what made the cut, and what didn't.

*WARNING there are naughty words in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Edited and mixed by Anisha Deva.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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What do Hatshepsut and Hillary Clinton have in common?

Well, what do they have in common with the vast majority of women who have been so successful as to gain power? Women like Britain’s new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, just the third woman to hold the title.

They have been subject to some very specific criticism which, whether it’s based on their looks or their character, would be unlikely to be directed at men in the same position.

We’re joined again Betwixt the Sheets by Eleanor Herman, whose new book ‘Off With Her Head: Three Thousand Years of Demonising Women in Power’ is out now.

*WARNING there are naughty words and adult themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Sophie Gee.

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If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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Whether they are online scams or in person card tricks, confidence games - better known now as cons - have been around for as long as we have. But while humans remain fundamentally gullible, the tricks of the trade have changed.

Today, Kate is Betwixt the Sheets with writer and successful poker player Maria Konnikova, who tells us how confidence games have developed, what the most successful ones have been, and what makes the perfect victim.

*WARNING there are naughty words in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Anisha Deva.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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This podcast includes music by Epidemic Sound.

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Why would a married couple stage an affair? Was Henry VIII really the beginning of the end for marriages? And how is the divorce process different for men and women?

Today Betwixt the Sheets, Kate is joined by Henry Kha, Senior Lecturer at Macquarie University and formerly a legal associate in the Family Court of Australia.

Henry has worked on divorces himself, and today shares the story of their development in the UK legal system.

*WARNING there are naughty words and discussions of sex in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Sophie Gee.

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This podcast includes music by Epidemic Sound and an archive clip from the film The Divorcee.

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Who was Pupetta Maresca? And what did she do to become the first woman in Italy to be prohibited from having a funeral?

In this episode, Kate chats to Barbie Latza Nadeau, a journalist and author who has lived in Italy since 1996, and who, to find out more about the women of the Italian mafia, actually went to meet some of them.

We find out why these women are just as dangerous as their male counterparts, and how their roles have changed through history.

*WARNING there are naughty words and discussions of crime and murder in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Thomas Ntinas.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

For more History Hit content, subscribe to our newsletters here.

If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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Lucy Walter, Barbara Palmer, Louise Kérouaille and Nell Gwynn. These are the names of just a key few of King Charles II’s mistresses.

In this episode, Kate is joined by Linda Porter to introduce us to these women, in addition to the King’s wife, Catherine of Braganza.

We find out what these women gained from their connections to the King, and what they stood to lose.

*WARNING there are naughty words and discussions of sex in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Anisha Deva and Sophie Gee.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

For more History Hit content, subscribe to our newsletters here.

If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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Definitions of what can and cannot be described as sexual violence vary widely across time and place. In 48 countries around the world today, for example, men cannot be prosecuted for sexually assaulting their wives.

So what can a global history, comparing the differing interpretations of victims, survivors and perpetrators from different societies, tell us about sexual violence? And how might it help us to move forward towards a violence free world?

In this episode, Kate is joined by Joanna Bourke, author of ‘Disgrace: Global Reflections on Sexual Violence’ and professor at Birkbeck University to answer these questions.

*WARNING this episode contains discussions of sexual violence*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Thomas Ntinas.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

For more History Hit content, subscribe to our newsletters here.

If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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Who was Loki having sex with? What is a horse penis cult? And were the Vikings as brutal as we think they were?

Betwixt the Sheets today, Kate is joined by Dr Cat Jarman, one of the hosts of our sister podcast Gone Medieval. From the recollections of Ibn Fadlan to Icelandic sagas filled with pick up lines, we find out the truth about being in bed with the Vikings.

*WARNING there is adult language and discussions of sexual assault in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long, Sophie Gee and Robert Weinberg.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

For more History Hit content, subscribe to our newsletters here.

If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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Football, or soccer depending on where you are in the world, is quite unsuitable for women, wouldn’t you agree? No? Well the Football Association thought so when they issued a ban on women’s football in 1921, which stayed in place for fifty years.

Off the back of England's Lionesses winning the Euros (it's also the 20th anniversary of Bend It Like Beckham, which must mean something) Kate is joined by The Guardian's women's football correspondent, Suzanne Wrack, to talk about the rise and fall, and rise again of women's football.

Hear about the factory girls of World War One, meet some of the early stars like Nettie Honeyball, and find out why the game became so political.

You can find out more about Suzanne's book here, and listen to her podcast here.

*WARNING there are naughty words in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Thomas Ntinas.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

For more History Hit content, subscribe to our newsletters here.

If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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Can a sex robot really fulfil our needs in the bedroom? And what attempts have been made in the past?

Sex robots may sound like a thing of the future, but for centuries humans have been fascinated by their desire for intimacy with the inanimate.

From Greek tales of steamy encounters with wax statues to beautifully crafted sex dolls with AI technology; Kate Lister is joined Betwixt The Sheets by archeologist turned computer scientist and expert on Human Computer Interaction, Kate Devlin, to discuss this aspiration of trying to create the “perfect” mate and more.

*WARNING there are naughty words and sexual content in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Anisha Deva.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

For more History Hit content, subscribe to our newsletters here.

If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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Was Rasputin really Russia’s greatest love machine? Did he have any healing powers? And why might his penis be pickling in a jar?

In this episode, we are drawing this mystical man out of his cloud of green smoke to find out which of the things we know about him might actually be true.

Kate is joined by Douglas Smith, historian, translator and expert in Russian history, who has emerged from the archives with a new interpretation of this cartoon baddy.

*WARNING there are naughty words and discussions of sexual coercion in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

For more History Hit content, subscribe to our newsletters here.

If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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Yo ho ho, a pirate’s life for me - but what is a pirate’s life, and what was it like for women?

This is the story of Anne Bonny and Mary Read, a pair of reputably vicious pirates, and their journeys onto and across the seas.

With the help of Julie Walker, author of 'Bonny & Read', find out whether Bonny and Read's fellow crew mates knew that they were women, their reasons for being there, and what life was actually like for them.

*WARNING this episode contains naughty words and adult themes*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Matthew Peaty.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

For more History Hit content, subscribe to our newsletters here.

If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

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As the right to decide whether to terminate a pregnancy is challenged on the other side of the Atlantic, today Betwixt the Sheets we are looking at the history of abortions here in Britain.

This is the second episode in our two-part series on abortion in the US and the UK.

First, Kate speaks to Elinor Cleghorn, author of Unwell Women, about the history of abortion law in the UK, and the significance of harrowing case of 'the horse with a green tail’ in the journey to legalising abortion.

Kate is then joined by Diane Munday, an abortion rights activist who became active in the movement in the 1960s, and believes that her work is not yet done.

*WARNING there is discussion about abortion, sexual assault and death in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From luring in unicorns to protecting the Roman Empire, myths have surrounded virginity for centuries. But is virginity itself a myth?

In this episode, Kate speaks to Anke Bernau about where the so-called cherry comes from, what it stands for and why it has been important throughout history.

*WARNING there are mentions of rape and assault in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Peter Dennis.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What comes to your mind when you think of a witch? Broomsticks? Black cats? Warts?

Early modern witchcraft expert, John Callow, is Betwixt the Sheets with Kate to explain the history behind the stereotypes we have today.

They also chat about the Bideford Witches, the last three women to be hanged for witchcraft in England, as well as the misogyny in witch trials throughout the ages.

You can find out more about John's work here.

*WARNING this episode includes naughty words*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Seyi Adaobi.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit. This podcast includes an archive clips from The Witch's Curse 1962.

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When the Bender family disappeared from Labette county, Kansas, in 1873, they left a dozen bodies buried in the garden of their home.

But who were they? Who were their victims? And why did people take bricks from their well as souvenirs?

Today Betwixt the Sheets, Kate is joined by Susan Jonusas to explore the mystery of the Benders, a family of serial killers, and finding out how their crimes were handled by the law enforcement and the press of the time.

*WARNING this episode includes discussion of murder*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Sophie Gee.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From facilitating affairs to public facilities, how has shopping changed our lives?

And where did the one-stop shop, the palace of splendour and opportunity that is the department store come from?

Kate talks to Erika Rappaport about the birth of shopping culture, the mark that department stores have had on our everyday lives and how exactly women could have their husbands sent to jail by buying an expensive sofa.

*WARNING There is some fruity language in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Peter Dennis.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we are looking into the first time abortion was made illegal in the US. This is the first of a special two-part series looking at the history of abortion in the US and the UK.

The overturning of Roe v. Wade in June ended almost half a century of the option to choose whether to continue a pregnancy in the US. 

But abortion had not always been illegal before Roe v. Wade. So when did this happen? How was it policed? And were all abortions forced into alleyways or were there any safer options?

Kate spoke to Professor Leslie J. Reagan from the University of Illinois. Leslie is the author of When Abortion Was a Crime, she explains the forces which drove abortions underground in the late 19th century, the methods of enforcement for these laws and the ways that people found to get around them.

*WARNING there is discussion of abortion and death in this episode which some listeners might find upsetting*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Sophie Gee.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From a rifle-carrying brothel madam to missionaries walking for months on end; from the Native American First Ladies of settler outposts to the mormon pilgrim whose name meant ‘rotten vagina’: the women of the American West were a varied group.

Usually when we talk about the ‘Wild West’ we think of men in cowboy hats, but today Betwixt the Sheets, Katie Hickman tells us about the women who are integral to the story of the great migration across North America.

*WARNING There is some fruity language in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Seyi Adaobi.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

Vote for Betwixt the Sheets in the Listener’s Choice Award at The British Podcast Awards: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/vote

British Podcast Awards

Listeners' Choice Award — British Podcast Awards

Vote for your favourite podcast in the Listeners' Choice Award supported by Acast+

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Bras are an everyday item for around half of the adult population, and for as long as humans have developed breasts they have been faced with the question of how to keep them contained within intricate outfits and during strenuous activity.

But how has the modern day bra developed from strapping and so-called bra bags? When did cups and cup sizings make their debut? What about underwires and padding? And has the pandemic changed our preferences?

Kate is joined by Lorraine Smith, twitter’s Master of Bras, to find out about the technical and stylistic development of bras, and what burning them is all about.

*WARNING There is some fruity language in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Edited & Mixed by Thomas Ntinas.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society.

A podcast by History Hit.

Vote for Betwixt the Sheets in the Listener’s Choice Award at The British Podcast Awards

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Warrior. Diplomat. Queen.

From fighting alongside her father and negotiating with the Portuguese on her brother’s behalf, to campaigning for the freedom of Ndongo and Matamba until her death aged 82, Queen Nzinga’s life was full to the brim with drama.

So who was the Mother of Angola? Why did she have to lead an army for three decades? And what is her legacy?

To get some answers, Kate spoke to Astrid Madimba and Chinny Ukata, the authors of a new book ‘It’s a Continent’

*WARNING There are adult themes and discussion of racism in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Edited & Mixed by Thomas Ntinas.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society.

A podcast by History Hit.

Vote for Betwixt the Sheets in the Listener’s Choice Award at The British Podcast Awards

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Outside Medieval London’s city walls, Southwark was a land without rules. It was the place where people went to partake in theatre, watch bear baiting and visit brothels. It was also under the control of the Bishop of Winchester.

Kate is joined Betwixt the Sheets by Matt Lewis from History Hit’s Gone Medieval to talk about the sex workers of Southwark, once known as the Winchester Geese. They explore the role of the church and state in controlling Medieval sex work, and how this is mirrored today.

*WARNING There are adult themes and discussion of sex, abuse and abortion in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Seyi Adaobi.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On 29 August 1867, Karl Heinrich Ulrichs stood in front of the Congress of German Jurists in Munich and urged them not to extend sodomy laws across the soon to be unified Germany.

He was booed off stage, but this stands as the earliest public queer protest in history. Similarly, his definition of his own identity and sexuality serves as one of the first times this was put into words. 

So how did Ulrichs define his own sexuality? What is an ‘urning’? And what did Ulrichs believe was behind his attraction to men?

In this episode, Kate is introduced to Ulrichs and his early queer identity by Douglas Pretsell.

*WARNING There are adult themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Stuart Beckwith.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pint, bottle, schooner, tinny … no matter how you drink it, beer is undeniably a part of social life here in Britain and around the world.

But how did it come to hold this position? Why has this been more true for British men than for British women? And what did beer taste like before mass production and microbiology?

Kate has a pint with author, broadcaster and beer lover Pete Brown to find out.

*WARNING this episode includes some fruity language*

Senior producer: Charlotte Long. Assistant producer: Sophie Gee. Mixed by Thomas Ntinas.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

This podcast includes music from Epidemic Sound and archive clips from "Brooklyn Bar Owner Wins Irish Sweepstake", 1937.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re used to exhibits in museums detailing our ancestors’ home lives and work lives, but what about their sex lives?

On a sunny day in London, Kate met Deborah Sim, the Keeper of the Museum of Sex Objects, who brought along a collection of objects that represent just that.

From a china figurine to a mysterious mudlarking discovery, what can these objects tell us about the history of sex and sexuality?

*WARNING: There are adult themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Pete Dennis.

To find out more about the museum, you can find it here.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

This episode includes music by Epidemic Sound.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1870, two young women were arrested after leaving a theatre in London. These women, so-called Fanny and Stella, were in fact Ernest Boulton and Frederick Park, and they were charged with ‘buggery’.

So who were Boulton and Park? What was the evidence against them? And why did this create such a stir across the front pages and the world?

Neil McKenna joins Kate Betwixt the Sheets to share Stella and Fanny’s extraordinary life stories and trial.

*WARNING: There are adult themes, explicit descriptions of sex and suicide references in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Thomas Ntinas.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

This episode includes music by Epidemic Sound.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

*WARNING There are adult themes and explicit descriptions of drug use in this episode. All drugs come with their own risks and legal implications. For more information please see the links below*

Angina treatments, room aromas and leather cleaners: amyl nitrite has had a wide range of reported uses over the years.But in reality the substance, better known as poppers, is usually used as something entirely different: a recreational drug.

But when did people start using them, why are they called poppers and how did they come to be so intrinsic to gay culture?

Kate is joined by Adam Zmith, author of ‘Deep Sniff: A History of Poppers and Queers Futures’ to discuss the history of poppers, from its discovery and use as medicine in the Victorian age, through its height of popularity in the clubs of the 1970s and the moral panic surrounding it in the 1980s, to today.

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Thomas Ntinas.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

This episode includes music by Epidemic Sound.

https://www.talktofrank.com/drug/poppers#how-it-looks-tastes-and-smells

https://www.release.org.uk/drugs/alkyl-nitrites-poppers/law#:~:text=The%20Medicines%20Control%20Agency%20say,attempt%20to%20circumvents%20the%20law

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This is the story of Marguerite Steinheil, the woman who shook Paris at the turn of the 20th century with one scandal after the next…one of which involving the French president apparently dying in the midst of a sex act.

Marguerite is an ambitious woman, but being born into a middle-class family and trapped in a marriage with a failed artist 20 years her senior, she knows her life choices are limited.

So how did Marguerite, who became known as ‘the Red Widow’, find herself at the centre of a scandal (and it’s not even the one involving the president) with both her husband and mother dead?

Author Sarah Horowitz joins Kate Betwixt the Sheets to share Marguerite’s story.

You can find out more about Sarah’s book here.

*WARNING There are adult themes and explicit descriptions about sex and death in this episode. *

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Annie Coloe.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit. 

This episode includes music by Epidemic Sound.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BDSM...It was around before Christian Grey you know.

As long humans have existed, there have been kinky humans in the bedroom, enjoying erotic play featuring whips, corporal punishment, humiliation and more.

Kate is joined Betwixt the Sheets by three special guests - a sadomasochistic historian, Peter Tupper, who tells us the origins of BDSM, and a professional dominatrix, Miss May, and her sub and boyfriend - Frankie, who give us an insight into their relationship and the scene today.

You can find out more about Peter's work here, and Miss May here and here.

*WARNING this episode includes A LOT naughty words and kinky themes*

Produced by Charlotte Long. Mixed by Seyi Adaobi. Special thanks to Lucy Davidson.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit. This episode includes music by Epidemic Sound, and an archive clip from a public 1950s sex education film.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who was Sarah Baartman? Why was she paraded across Europe as part of a 'freak' show? And why did it take until 2001 for her remains to be repatriated to her birthplace of South Africa?

Born around 1770, Sarah, who was derisively named as the 'Hottentot Venus', was publicly examined and exposed inhumanly throughout her life. Her brain, skeleton and sexual organs remained on display in a French museum until 1974.

Dr Robin Mitchell from joins Kate Betwixt the Sheets to discuss the tragic life of Sarah Baartman.

You can find out more about Robin's book here, or follow her on Twitter here.

*WARNING this episode includes adult themes, explicit words, and graphic discussion about slavery and racism featuring words which are now rightly deemed as offensive.*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Thomas Ntinas.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit. This episode includes music by Epidemic Sound.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From goddesses to demons, witches to saints, women have held power of many shapes and sizes throughout history and around the world. Whether they were bringers of chaos, salvation, desire or justice, this year these women are being given the spotlight.

On this Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, Kate went to see the British Museum’s new exhibition ‘Feminine Power: The Divine to the Demonic’.

Curator Belinda Crerar joins Kate Betwixt the Sheets to explore some of the most powerful items on show, and the women that they represent.

More information on the exhibition can be found here.

*WARNING this episode includes themes of an adult nature*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Annie Coloe.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever been told you’re bringing women’s rights back one-hundred years because of what you’re wearing?

The guest on Betwixt the Sheets today has. And it was a corset.

Dr Alanna McKnight has dedicated her career to researching the social and cultural history of corsets, and to challenging the idea that corsets were imposed on women as a tool of patriarchal control.

Find out why people started wearing corsets, whether men ever wore corsets, what were they made of, and how they’ve paved the way for shape wear like Spanx and waist-trainers.

Find out more about Alanna’s work here, and read her article on Kim Kardashian’s Met Gala corset here.

*WARNING this episode includes some fruity language*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Seyi Adaobi.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.This episode includes music by Epidemic Sound and an archive clip from the Public Health Film Goes to War from the National Library of Medicine 1945.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Genital warts fashioned into necklaces, teeth harvested from the battlefield and blood vessels eternalised in wax: these are some of the things that you might find inside Edinburgh’s Surgeons’ Hall Museums.

But who did they belong to? Kate is talking to Thomas Elliot, head of learning and interpretation, to find out.

*WARNING this episode includes themes of an adult nature*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Lewis Mason.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do you think of when you think of birth control? Is it condoms, IUDs, the pill? What about vasectomies?

From monkey testicles to possible cancer treatments to ties of honour, over the past 150 years ‘the snip’ has had a few variations and uses … not all of them scientifically sound. But what is it? And how did it come about?

Kate is joined Betwixt the Sheets by Georgia Grainger (https://twitter.com/sniphist) to discuss the vasectomy’s place as a contraceptive, as well as its relationship with eugenics and masculinity.

*WARNING this episode includes mentions of mental illness, eugenics and themes of an adult nature*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Pete Dennis.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

This podcast includes music from Epidemic Sound and archive clips from Singer Sewing Machines “Three Smart Daughters” advertisement, 1940, and Beich Whiz Bar “Party Magic” commercial, 1938.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Using leeches to suck the blood from patients, mercury pills, and removing limbs with NO anaesthetic - healthcare throughout history hasn’t been the most…appealing.

But have you ever thought about the difference in how men and women were treated?

From witch trials to hysteria to wandering wombs, today Betwixt the Sheets Kate speaks to Dr Elinor Cleghorn, author of 'Unwell Women' to find out about gender bias in medicine.

*WARNING this episode includes fruity language and themes of an adult nature*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Seyi Adaobi.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

This podcast includes music from Epidemic Sound and an archive clip from Body-care and Grooming public video 1948, and Good Grooming for Girls, 1946 (GlamourDaze).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why did kings and queens have spectators on their wedding night? Was sex always just for the love of their country and the want of an heir, or were some royals into different kinks?

And what about outside marriage? From an official mistress who does not have sex with the king, to one who put laxatives in her rival’s food, what does it take to get and keep this position?

Kate is Betwixt the royal Sheets with bestselling author Eleanor Herman to find out the nitty gritty from the royal bedchambers.

This episode includes archive clips from Sixty Glorious Years, 1938 and The Private Life of Henry VIII, 1933.

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Matt Peaty.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hidden in bedside tables or proudly displayed on mantelpieces, wherever you keep them (if you do), sex toys have come a long way since the first phallic-shaped object was found around 30,000 years ago.

But before they were arriving through our post boxes in unmarked, tracked packages, what did sex toys look like? What were they made from? And why were doctors using them to treat... back pain?!

Kate is joined Betwixt the Sheets by writer, sex and gender historian Hallie Lieberman to discuss the first dildo, the myth of the vibrator, and more…

Find out more about Hallie's book, Buzz: The Stimulating History of the Sex Toy, here.

*WARNING this episode includes fruity language and themes of an adult nature*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Seyi Adaobi.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

This episode includes music by Epidemic Sound and an archive clip from public vocational video from 1940.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bedlam: a scene of uproar and confusion, a noisy situation with no order or, originally, the slang name for a mental hospital in London… which for a while also happened to be a popular tourist attraction.

From chains on the wall to leeching - the history of mental health treatments is a lesson in questionable science and humanity.

Bethlehem hospital, founded around the 11th century in London, is a study of this history.

Kate is joined Betwixt the Sheets by Catharine Arnold: journalist, academic, popular historian and author of ‘Bedlam: London and Its Mad’.

*WARNING this episode includes adult themes and conversations about mental health*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Matt Peaty.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

This episode includes music by Epidemic Sound and an archive clip from an American public service announcement from 1952.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WARNING: This episode includes adult themes and explicit words.

Why did Henry VIII want everyone to know about his wet dreams? What animal product were condoms made from? And was coffee really ruining the sex lives of wives?

Suzannah Lipscomb from our sister podcast, Not Just the Tudors, joins Kate Betwixt the Sheets to talk all things sex in the 16th century.

Find out whether sex back then really was just to reproduce, the ‘discovery’ of the clitoris, and the truth about royal syphilis.

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Seyi Adaobi.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

This podcast includes music from Epidemic Sounds and an archive clip from The Private Life of Henry VIII, 1933.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

*WARNING this episode includes adult themes and conversations about mental health and drug use.*

In 2020, the UK government revealed that 17% of the adult population of Britain were prescribed medication for their mental health. But when were these drugs invented? How were they tested? And how have they become, in some cases, ‘mother’s little helper’?

From antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications to stimulants and mood stabilisers - Dr David Healy takes us on a journey through the development and use of psychiatric - or psychotropic - medication, and how this development has in turn affected our diagnoses.

David is a psychiatrist and psychopharmacologist, and is a professor of Psychiatry at McMaster University in Canada.

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Aidan Lonergan.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

This episode includes music by Epidemic Sound and archive clips from Zoloft commercial 2001.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m something that you wear, I always come in twos, I get put on your feet. I’m not socks, I am … SHOES.

Humans have been protecting their feet for a very long time.

But over the years the types of footwear we choose have developed and multiplied. Each new shoe has a new use, and often a new social meaning.

So what is the history of shoes? To find out about the masculine beginnings of heels, the reclamation of crocs, and the political ideals of docs, Kate chats to Elizabeth Semmelhack, creative director and senior curator of the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto.

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Thomas Ntinas.

If you'd like to learn more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today! To download the History Hit app please go to the Android or Apple store.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

This podcast includes music by Epidemic Sounds and archive clips from The Wizard of Oz, 1939.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who had the very first boob job? Why were women injecting liquid paraffin into their chests? And, how has the procedure developed over time?

Kate is joined Betwixt the Sheets by Professor Ruth Holliday and cosmetic surgeon Professor Vikram Devaraj to find out the bumpy history of breast augmentation, involving lawsuits, pin-ups... and mattress foam.

Find out how a sixties American housewife was persuaded to have the very first silicone implants, and more about medical scandal involving boob jobs.

You can find out more about Ruth's book here, and more about Vikram's work here.

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Annie Coloe.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

If you'd like to learn more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today! To download the History Hit app please go to the Android or Apple store.

This podcast includes music by Epidemic Sounds and an archive clip from the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Warning: There are adult themes, explicit language and references of disordered eating and diets in this episode.

Did you know that before Queen Victoria married Albert she was a well-known party-animal, who could easily stay up until 5am, drunk on a concoction of red wine and whiskey?

Or that she was notorious for being able to eat seven or eight courses in half an hour, and had a penchant for mutton curries and the freshest fruit?

Kate is joined Betwixt the Sheets by food historian Dr Annie Gray to discuss Victoria’s very indulgent habits which spilled out into all areas of her life…including the bedroom.

You can find Annie’s incredible book, The Greedy Queen: Eating with Victoria, here.

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Annie Coloe.

If you'd like to learn more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today! To download the History Hit app please go to the Android or Apple store.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

This podcast includes music by Epidemic Sounds and archive clips from Sixty Glorious Years, 1938.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Warning: This episode includes strong language and some adult themes.

What comes to mind when you see the word voodoo? Most people tend to think of horror movies, zombies, dolls and witchcraft - but Vodou is a hugely misunderstood religion and spiritual practice.

Kate is joined by two experts Betwixt the Sheets on today's episode; Dr Kyrah Malika Daniels on Haitian Vodou and the part it played in the revolution of 1791, and Elizabeth James on New Orleans and Louisiana Voodoo.

Find out its long and fascinating history, and why it's become one of the most sensationalised religions in the world.

Learn more about Haitian Vodou and its history here, and here, and you can follow Dr Daniels work, here.

For more on African and Diasporic Religious Studies, please click here.

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Seyi Adaobi.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

This podcast includes music from Epidemic Sounds, and archive clips from White Zombie 1932.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

*WARNING this episode includes explicit language and adult themes*

What were your medieval ancestors getting up to in the bedroom? Join sex historian Kate Lister, Betwixt the Sheets, to find out.

Medievalist and George Michael super-fan Dr Eleanor Janega is on the podcast to chat all things aphrodisiacs, sex diaries and religious rules.

Hear about bizarre fertility treatments involving actual fish in places they should never go, medieval chat up lines, and much, much more.

You can watch Kate and Eleanor on screen together in History Hit's documentary, Medieval Pleasures here.

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Annie Coloe.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

This podcast includes music by Epidemic Sounds and archive clips from The Princess Bride 1987, Angela MacNamara's Sex Education for Girls 1980.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why did kings and queens have spectators on their wedding night? Who had the very first boob job? And did our ancestors have their unmentionables pierced?

Join historian, Kate Lister, Betwixt the Sheets as she unashamedly roots around the topics which seem to have been skipped in history class.

Everything from landmark LGBTQ+ court cases, to political scandal, to downright bizarre medieval cures for impotence. The etymology of swear words, gender bias in medicine, and satanic panic and cults - there’s nothing off limits.

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.