History's Worst F*ckboys: Emperor Nero

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

History Hit

Society, History, Education, Sex, Scandal

4.8 • 2.1K Ratings

🗓️ 16 September 2025

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Where does Emperor Nero fit in the pantheon of history's worst f*ckboys?

Does he measure up against the likes of previous episodes on Charles II or Raphael? Is he the worst of the lot? And what strange sex games did he like to play?

Helping Kate getting to know the awful Emperor Nero is returning guest, Rome-based historian and tour guide, Alex Meddings.

This episode was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.

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All music from Epidemic Sounds.

Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, my lovely betwixters. It's me, Kate Lister. I am jumping in here to say that thanks to you, we have made the final six in the listeners choice award category at the British Podcast Awards. And that can't just be my mum voting. It can't. I mean, it might be, but I don't think that it is. And that means that a whole load of you have actually gone out there and taken the time to vote for us. And honestly, thank you so, so much. That means more than you can possibly imagine. And if you haven't voted yet, you are letting the side down and you want to just get on with it, frankly. Now, seriously, if you haven't voted, please do it now. It'll take 30 seconds at most. And you can do it by following the link in the show notes. And don't forget to click the confirmation email when it comes through. And to those of you that have already voted, don't go voting again through a different email address. That would just be a terrible thing. I'm just putting that out there. So nobody, no one actually thinks of doing that. I certainly haven't been doing that. We've never been this
0:58.7	close before. Honestly, we are within striking distance. So every vote really counts. Three years,
1:05.2	we've done this now. Three years we've been shortlisted. Maybe this is the year that we're going
1:09.7	to do it. And I promise you, I promise, it's only a couple more days of me constantly begging you for
1:16.3	votes and just thank you for being so patient and for voting.
1:20.2	All right, on with the show.
1:31.9	Amazon brings the Year WayFA Champions League. Unbelievable!
1:33.9	With Tuesday's unmissable match.
1:37.7	Enchaltingly wonderful.
1:41.9	World-class players.
1:42.9	Zeller!
1:46.5	What a strike!
1:48.1	Incredible drama.
1:49.0	And Harlan!
1:52.2	History in the making.
1:53.7	Nice with take two!
1:56.4	The UEFA Champions League.
1:58.8	It's on Prime.
2:04.9	It's not about killer abs or big left jabs, bikini selfies or TikTok fads.
2:12.9	It's about embracing every wobble, looking funny in goggles, doing the twist and shout and laughing with your mates until a bit of wee comes out.
2:16.9	It doesn't matter how you move.
2:25.8	Just move. Start with just 10 minutes of activity to help boost your energy levels, mood, sleep and confidence. Search this girl can.
	...

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