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

Beauty fads come and go - remember super low-rise jeans in the 90s? IYKYK. What was considered cool and beautiful in the medieval period? What skincare routines were medieval people doing? And how did the Black Death affect how people dressed and presented themselves? In this new mini-series, we'll be exploring the beauty standards - and ideas of ugliness - throughout time periods in history. In this second episode Kate is joined by historian and author Dr. Eleanor Janega, co-host of our sister podcast Gone Medieval, to find out why wearing make-up was a crime. This episode was edited by Tim Arstall. The producer was Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. All music from Epidemic Sounds. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 9 May 2025

Imagine an executioner. Are they big, strong, cloaked and masked? Are they male? Probably - because most executioners in history have been. Today, though, we're meeting a woman who broke the mould. Journalist and writer Clodagh Finn joins Kate to explore the life of Lady Betty, the Irish executioner of the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as some other Irish women who have defied the boundaries of their gender for obscure reasons. Clodagh writes ‘An Irish Woman’s Diary’ for the Irish Examiner and has authored a number of books including ‘Through Her Eyes: A New History of Ireland in 21 Women’. This episode was edited by Tom Delargy. The producer was Sophie Gee. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. All music from Epidemic Sounds. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 6 May 2025

What was a Roman skincare routine like? Why did the beard make a comeback under Emperor Hadrian? And what did it mean to be ugly in this time? In this new mini-series, we'll be exploring the beauty standards - and ideas of ugliness - throughout time periods in history. Starting today with Ancient Rome, Kate is joined by historian and author Emma Southon to find out why Romans would have loved the recent bushy eyebrow trend. Find out more about Emma's work here: https://www.emmasouthon.com/ This episode was edited by Tim Arstall. The producer was Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. All music from Epidemic Sounds. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 2 May 2025

You could be forgiven for thinking the Greek myth of Medusa has zero relevance to us today. Snake for hair?! But as you'll hear in today's episode, she's a woman who was vilified for her femininity and sexuality. She was literally cast out of society for it - into a cave, of all places. Joining Kate to help us get to know this mythical woman and her story is author and historian Jasmine Elmer. This episode was edited by Tom Delargy. The producer was Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. All music from Epidemic Sounds. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 29 April 2025

Charismatic, passionate, insatiable - Henry VIII is known across the world as the king who had 6 wives, and a few mistresses on the side. But was Henry a romantic or a scoundrel? Kate is joined by Natalie Grueninger, host of 'Talking Tudors', to find out just how badly behaved Henry was. This episode was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Sophie Gee. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. If you'd like to get in touch with the show you can contact us at [email protected]. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. All music from Epidemic Sounds. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 25 April 2025

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 as a f*ckboy 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. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. All music from Epidemic Sounds. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 22 April 2025

We've been tying the knot for thousands of years in one way or another, but what did a medieval wedding look like? The church had very strict ideas around monogamy and sex in this period, which affected the rituals of a wedding day, AND night. What happened in the bed chambers of the newlyweds? Why was pleasure so important? And why were divorce courts so humiliating? Joining Kate today is author and historian Jacqueline Murray, to take us back to the Middle Ages. This episode was edited by Tom Delargy. The producer was Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. All music from Epidemic Sounds. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 22 April 2025

How did a working class illiterate woman become King Charles II's favourite mistress? Nell Gwyn was an incredibly talented comedy actor who came from a working class background, and was part of a group of pioneering women who were the first allowed to take to the stage to play women's roles. Her personality was huge, audiences loved her ability to swear, and she was described as "the wildest creature to ever be seen at court." No wonder Charles loved her! What was the wild world of 17th century Restoration Theatre like? How did she change comedy acting? What did the general public think of her? Joining Kate to take us back to this world is Dr. David Taylor, Associate Professor of English at Oxford University. You can also watch both Kate and David in the History Hit documentary, Sex and Scandal: Royal Favourites, for more about Nell's extraordinary life.  This episode was edited by Tom Delargy. The producer was Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. If you'd like to get in touch with the show you can contact us at [email protected]. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. All music from Epidemic Sounds. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 15 April 2025

Have you ever heard of the Emperor who made his horse a senator? Seems like a top bloke, right? Today on Betwixt the Sheets we’re going to meet (possibly) the most debauched Roman Emperor. From stealing brides from their wedding days to an unhealthy obsession with his sister, who was Caligula and was he a f*ckboy? Kate is joined by historian Alexander Meddings to find out.  Alexander is a Rome-based historian and travel writer. He leads tours of the Appian Way - one of the most important roads of Ancient Rome. This episode was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Sophie Gee. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. If you'd like to get in touch with the show you can contact us at [email protected]. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. All music from Epidemic Sounds. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 10 April 2025

Today, it is one of the most commonly performed surgeries. But when was the hysterectomy, the removal of the uterus, first performed? How has this procedure interacted with ideas such as femininity and eugenics? And WHY would a very brave woman perform this surgery on herself? Kate is joined Betwixt the Sheets with returning guest, Dr Elinor Cleghorn. Elinor is the author of 'Unwell Women: A Journey Through Medicine and Myth in a Man-Made World'. This episode was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Sophie Gee. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. If you'd like to get in touch with the show you can contact us at [email protected]. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. All music from Epidemic Sounds. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 8 April 2025

How 'mad, bad and dangerous to know' was Lord Byron really? We know the Romantic poet had a bit of a reputation, but how true was it? And how unusual would his behaviour have been? In the first episode of our series on the worst f*ckboys in history, we're digging into Byron's relationships with Andrew Stauffer, President of the Byron Society of America, professor and chair of the Department of English at the University of Virginia, and author of 'Byron: A Life in Ten Letters'. This episode was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Sophie Gee. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. If you'd like to get in touch with the show you can contact us at [email protected]. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. All music from Epidemic Sounds. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 4 April 2025

Possibly the first recorded sexually transmitted disease, gonorrhoea is still one of the most common. We're back on the itchier side of history today to find out more about the story of this difficult-to-spell affliction. Kate is back with Cat Irving, Human Remains Conservator for Surgeons’ Hall in Edinburgh. Together they discuss the odd and off-putting treatments offered for gonorrhoea over the centuries. This episode was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Sophie Gee. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. If you'd like to get in touch with the show you can contact us at [email protected]. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. All music from Epidemic Sounds. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 1 April 2025

For better or (mostly) worse, Jiang Qing left her mark on the 20th century. Even before she was married to Chairman Mao, Jiang was a charismatic actor, and her passion for culture helped her spearhead the Cultural Revolution as part of the Communist Party in China, later in life. Joining Kate for this fourth and final episode of our limited series, Real Wives of Dictators, is Linda Jaivin, author of Shortest History of China and the upcoming Bombard the Headquarters! The Cultural Revolution in China. How did she make her way to the head of the Communist Party? Why did she describe herself as "Mao's dog"? And what brought about her downfall? This episode was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. If you'd like to get in touch with the show you can contact us at [email protected]. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. All music from Epidemic Sounds. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 28 March 2025

When the music hall dancer, Belle Ellmore, disappeared in January 1910, it was her performing colleagues who raised the alarm. Her murder by Dr. Crippen became a media sensation, and he became the star of the story. Why was Belle Ellmore murdered? Why did it cause such a sensation at its time? And what role did her friends and colleagues in the music hall industry play in bringing justice? Joining Kate today is historian and author, Hallie Rubenhold, whose feminist lens on this story, in Story of a Murder, is long overdue. This episode is edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer is Charlotte Long. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. All music from Epidemic Sounds. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 25 March 2025

Nadezhda Alliluyeva was born into a revolutionary family, but was it always her fate to marry Joseph Stalin? She was independent, intelligent and highly politicised. Indeed, Stalin was a hero of hers growing up. What was it like to be so heavily involved in the Communist Party and the Soviet Union? What was Stalin like as a husband to her? And was her death as suspicious as some made out? Joining Kate for this third episode of our limited series, Real Wives of Dictators, is Sheila Fitzpatrick, historian of the Soviet Union and author of books including The Death of Stalin. This episode was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. If you'd like to get in touch with the show you can contact us at [email protected]. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. All music from Epidemic Sounds. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 21 March 2025

In this episode, we're well and truly going down a rabbit hole. To unpick the controversies surrounding the author of Alice in Wonderland, Kate is joined by author and Professor of Film and Cultural Studies, Will Brooker. Will introduces us to Charles Dodgson, pseudonym Lewis Carroll, and his life, relationships and photography. Will is a professor at Kingston University and author of 'Alice's Adventures: Lewis Carroll in Popular Culture'. This episode was edited by Tomos Delargy and produced by Sophie Gee. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. If you'd like to get in touch with the show you can contact us at [email protected]. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. All music from Epidemic Sounds. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 18 March 2025

What was life like as Adolf Hitler's other half? Although their marriage came (very) late in their lives, Eva Braun was with Hitler from the earlier days in his political career, and was a confidant to him through the rise (and fall) of the Nazi Party. How complicit was she in the evil ideologies Hitler set out? Was she in any way a victim? And what was it like to be part of the inner circle? Joining Kate in the second episode of our limited series, Real Wives of Dictators, is Clare Mulley, historian and author of books including The Women Who Flew For Hitler, and recently, Agent Zo: The Untold Story of Fearless WW2 Resistance Fighter Elzbieta Zawacka. This episode was edited and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. If you'd like to get in touch with the show you can contact us at [email protected]. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. All music from Epidemic Sounds. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 14 March 2025

Travel back to post-WW1 London, when sex, drugs and music was exploding in Soho... causing a national moral panic. The drugs of choice? Cocaine and morphine. Still used by doctors for questionable medicinal reasons (cough syrup anyone?!) but now also taken in nightclubs and opium dens by socialites around Soho. This week, Kate is Betwixt the Sheets with Professor Toby Seddon to talk about the history of drugs, the people who were selling and taking them, and how the government attempted to crack down. Historic Soho has been brought to life in the new BBC show Dope Girls, which tells the story of Soho when female gangs ran the nightclubs after the First World War. You can watch it on BBC iPlayer now. All music from Epidemic Sounds. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 11 March 2025

What was life like to be married to Genghis Khan? In this new limited series, Real Wives of Dictators, we're finding out all about the women behind, or alongside, some of histories most notorious men. First up is Börte Üjin, the woman who built the Mongol empire alongside her husband, Genghis, in the 12th and 13th centuries. Were they in love? What happened when she was kidnapped by a rival tribe? And what was her relationship like with the other women in Genghis' life? Joining Kate today is historian Marie Favereau, author of The Horde: How The Mongols Changed The World, to help us find out. This episode was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. If you'd like to get in touch with the show you can contact us at [email protected]. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. All music from Epidemic Sounds. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 7 March 2025

When we think about Greek and Roman beauty, we think of marble statues of huge men with tiny...feet. But what did it mean to be a beautiful woman? What role did their ideas of ugliness play in these ideas? And how did Christianity throw a curveball in all of this? Taking us back to this world is Caroline Vout, author of Exposed: The Greek and Roman Body, to give us a learned glimpse beneath the togas. This episode was edited by Tom Delargy. The producer was Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. All music from Epidemic Sounds. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 4 March 2025

Michelangelo made religion sexy. That may not have been his initial aim, of course, but the way he portrayed the human form, and particularly the male form, was extremely beautiful. How did his devout Catholic faith create conflict with his well-known attraction to men? How was it expressed in his incredible artwork? And how was sexuality viewed in Renaissance Italy? Joining Kate today is historian and Michelangelo scholar at Stanford University, Sarah Prodan, to help us get to know this man better. You can find out more about Sarah's work here: https://www.sarahprodan.com/ This episode was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. If you'd like to get in touch with the show you can contact us at [email protected]. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. All music from Epidemic Sounds. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 28 February 2025

When and why did Soho become a hedonistic hotspot, the home of sex, drugs and music? Kate is Betwixt the Sheets with Dan Snow to talk about post-WW1 London - when a dark underworld of shady characters are soundtracked by an exploding jazz scene, fuelled by a roaring drugs trade. At the heart of it are the so-called 'dope girls'. Women who fascinated and appalled society in equal measure.  How did a post war mindset influence the 1920s? How did the press react to all the scandal?  And, who were some of the major players involved? Historic Soho has been brought to life in the new BBC show Dope Girls, which tells the story of Soho when female gangs ran the nightclubs after the First World War. You can watch it on BBC iPlayer now. You can listen to Dan's podcast, Dan Snow's History Hit here.

Transcribed - Published: 25 February 2025

Between 1860 and 1925, tens of thousands of women worked in Dublin's Monto, the largest red light district in Europe. It was a world of narrow alleyways full of brothels busy with sex workers, at a time when the Catholic church was trying to establish ideas around what a woman should be. Hint: it was very different to the women of Monto. What was life like for the women who lived and worked in Monto? How did these 'poor unfortunates', as they were known, create a community and support each other amidst such hard times? And how did they influence fashion trends of the time? Joining Kate today is the fantastic Caroline West, author of Wrong Women: Selling Sex in Monto, Dublin's Forgotten Red Light District, which is available now. This episode was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. If you'd like to get in touch with the show you can contact us at [email protected]. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. All music from Epidemic Sounds. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 21 February 2025

Dark ideas and stigma around different body sizes really took hold in the Enlightenment. Very unenlightened, if you ask us. This started all sorts of awful movements, and one result was BMI - or Body Mass Index - which is still used as a measure of health by doctors today. What even is the BMI? Why are women and people of colour particularly affected by these harmful ideas? And what's the future of fatphobia and BMI? Joining Kate is the fantastic Amy Farrell, professor of women’s, gender and sexuality studies at Dickinson College and author of Fat Shame: Stigma and the Fat Body in American Culture, to take us back to the dark origins of BMI and fatphobia. This episode was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. All music from Epidemic Sounds. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 18 February 2025

Societies all throughout history have tried to control female sexuality. Ireland's Magdalene Laundries and Mother and Baby Homes are two examples of this, where women were imprisoned against their will. As you'll hear, it's a history that dates back to the 18th century and is still unfolding today. Joining Kate to take us inside the Magdalene Laundries and the Mother and Baby Homes are two special guests: Natalie Hughes-Crean is a Specialist Case Worker at Frea Renewing Roots, a charity based in the north of England to help women and families affected by Mother and Baby Homes. Katherine O'Donnell, campaigner and co-author of Ireland and the Magdalene Laundries, A Campaign for Justice. How was this imprisonment and mistreatment of women allowed to go on for so long? How complicit were the state? And what are some of the incredible stories of the women whose lives these institutions ruined? This episode was edited and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. All music from Epidemic Sounds. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 14 February 2025

What are the origins of Valentine's Day? Perhaps the answer lies in a pagan festival that starts with a sacrifice in a cave above Ancient Rome. What connects the naked running through the streets of Rome to Valentine's Day today? How did the onset of Christianity in Rome effect celebrations? And when did Valentine's Day as we know it today first take off? Joining Kate to find out all about this, is friend of the show and author, Emma Southon. Check out Emma's book A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women, here. This podcast was edited by Amy Haddow and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. All music from Epidemic Sounds. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 11 February 2025

Quack doctors have made some INCREDIBLE promises throughout history, but what good would a goat testicle transplant do for you? In the early 20th century, John R. Brinkley became a sensation for - you guessed it - implanting goat's testicles into men. He promised virility and boosted fertility. Did it work? Did the law ever catch up with him for such outrageous claims? And what became of the people (and goats) who were involved in his operations? On today's episode, Kate is talking with Tim Hartford on his wonderful podcast, Cautionary Tales, created by Pushkin Industries, to find out more about this remarkable quack doctor. This episode was edited by Tom Delargy. The producers were Stuart Beckwith, Marilyn Rust and Charlotte Long. You can listen to Cautionary Tales wherever you get your podcasts. Cautionary Tales is a Pushkin Industries Production. For a full list of sources, see the show notes at timharford.com. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. All music from Epidemic Sounds. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 7 February 2025

When you hear the word Sparta, what do you picture? Well, put aside the images of the rippling six packs for just a moment, as there's a lot more to this workout-obsessed state of the ancient world than you might imagine. Joining Kate today to get to know the Spartans is the master of all things Ancient Greece, Helen King. You can check out Helen's book, Immaculate Forms: Uncovering the History of Women's Bodies, here. What were the Spartans views on same-sex relationships? Were they really as ripped as 300 made out? And did Spartan women invent the mini skirt? This episode was edited by Nick Thomson and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 Media. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 4 February 2025

As historical figures go, Genghis Khan has something of a reputation. Is there any truth to the rumours of him fathering so many children? What was life like in 12th century Mongolia? And how did he create one of histories most noted empires? Joining Kate today is historian Marie Favereau, author of The Horde: How The Mongols Changed The World, to help us find out. This episode was edited and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 Media. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 31 January 2025

Lilith's story goes back 4,000 years, and she's still making an impact today. She takes on different forms, depending on where you're looking, but a popular one was that she was the first wife of Adam, long before Eve, and was expelled from the Garden of Eden to go and live as a promiscuous, baby-killing, semen-stealing demon. As you do. In short, she's embodies a lot of male anxieties about sex and women. What are her true origins? What's with all the semen-stealing? And what's her connection to mermaids? Joining Kate today is historian Sarah Clegg, author of Woman's Lore: 4,000 Years of Sirens, Serpents and Succubi, to help us get to know this fascinating woman better. This episode was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 Media. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 28 January 2025

What's the dinosaur equivalent of Netflix and chill? Were they capable of flirting? In today's episode, Kate speaks with Dr. David Hone, author of Uncovering Dinosaur Behaviour: What They Did And How We Know, to find out more about how different dinosaurs might have had sex. Could the T-Rex's little arms aid their sexual performance? How did they penetrate through so much heavy protective armour? And were they monogamous? This episode was edited and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 Media. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 24 January 2025

What's the dinosaur equivalent of Netflix and chill? Were they capable of flirting? In today's episode, Kate speaks with Dr. David Hone, author of Uncovering Dinosaur Behaviour: What They Did And How We Know, to find out more about how different dinosaurs might have had sex. Could the T-Rex's little arms aid their sexual performance? How did they penetrate through so much heavy protective armour? And were they monogamous? This episode was edited and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 Media. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 24 January 2025

Long before phones allowed for sexting, how did the Ancient Romans exchange their illicit thoughts and desires? And what did a Roman dick pic look like? Joining Kate today to explore erotic letters from antiquity to the modern day is Owen Hodkinson, Associate Professor of Greek and Roman Cultures at Leeds University. This episode was edited by Tom Delargy. The producer was Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. All music from Epidemic Sounds. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 21 January 2025

Long before phones allowed for sexting, how did the Ancient Romans exchange their illicit thoughts and desires? And what did a Roman dick pic look like? Joining Kate today to explore erotic letters from antiquity to the modern day is Owen Hodkinson, Associate Professor of Greek and Roman Cultures at Leeds University. This episode was edited by Tom Delargy. The producer was Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. All music from Epidemic Sounds. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 21 January 2025

How do you begin to look for examples of lesbians in the medieval period? Even though it was deeply frowned upon by the powers that be, the clues are very much there... if you know where to look. What examples do we have? How did the male-run church respond to fears that nuns were getting too close for their liking? And how did a 13th century court react when a dildo was presented in a case against a woman accused of sodomy? Joining Kate today is medieval historian Tess Wingard to help us find out more. You can find out more about Tess's work here: https://tesswingard.wordpress.com/ This episode was edited and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 Media. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here.

Transcribed - Published: 17 January 2025

Red lipstick has a unique feminine power to it. It's been on the lips of some of the most influential people in history, including Cleopatra and Elizabeth I, and really took off in the 20th century. Why did it take on such an iconic status with the Suffragette movement? Why did Churchill choose not to ration lipstick? And why did Hitler hate it? Joining Kate today is journalist and red lipstick aficionado, Rachel Felder, author of Red Lipstick: An Ode To A Beauty Icon, to help us unpack the power of this make-up essential. This podcast was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. All music from Epidemic Sounds Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 14 January 2025

Sex work was everywhere in the ancient world, but a known dedicated space for it (a brothel), is an extremely rare and important thing. Pompeii offers exactly that, with details such as graffiti and drawings immaculately preserved in the only known brothel from this period. Who were the people who worked there? What can we find out about the nature of sex work in this period? And why are there penises drawn everywhere in Pompeii? Joining Kate today is the wonderful Sarah Levin-Richardson, author of The Brothel of Pompeii: Sex, Class & Gender at the Margins of Roman Society, to help us find out. This episode was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 Media. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 10 January 2025

It's January and (reluctant) thoughts turn to gym memberships, but what are the ancient origins of this phenomena? From the naked workouts of Ancient Greece to the bodybuilders of the 19th century, a lot has influenced exercise culture over the centuries - and it's always had a healthy dose of homoeroticism to it. Joining Kate today is Eric Chaline, author of The Temple of Perfection, to take us inside these spaces and find out more about them. This episode was edited by Tom Delargy, the producer was Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 Media. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 7 January 2025

From medieval d*ck pics to sex with monks, how did people in medieval times think about sex and sexuality? It was a period that spanned roughly 1,000 years and even though views on sex were largely shaped by the dominant Christian faith, whether this filtered down to every day experiences is another question. Joining Kate today is the legendary sex historian Professor Ruth Karras, author of Sexuality in Mediaeval Europe: Doing Unto Others. Why did people in the middle ages think that women were more highly sexed than men? What did they believe were aphrodisiacs at this time? And what did they think caused STIs? This episode was edited by Matt Peaty and Stuart Beckwith. The producer was Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 Media. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.You can take part in our listener survey here. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 3 January 2025

Cosmetic procedures are a huge part of (most of our) worlds. With new ones seemingly cropping up all the time, the boob job feels like an old classic. What are the origins of the boob job? Who had the first ever one? And how has it changed over time? Today we're revisiting a conversation Kate had with Professor Ruth Holliday and cosmetic surgeon Professor Vikram Devaraj, to find out more about this bumpy history. This episode was edited by Annie Coloe & Tom Delargy. The producer was Sophie Gee. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 Media. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 31 December 2024

Dating back some 30,000 years, sex toys have a long (no pun intended) and fascinating history. What were the earliest sex toys like? How did technology change them? And did Victorian doctors really prescribing them for back pain? In today's episode, we're revisiting an episode where Kate was joined 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. This episode was produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Seyi Adaobi. All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 Media. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 27 December 2024

Like it or not, there's no escaping Charles Dickens at this time of year. But who was the man behind classics such as A Tale of Two Cities, Oliver Twist and of course, A Christmas Carol? His life is as rich as many of the characters' stories in one of his books, including a brutal Victorian upbringing and rumours of sex and scandal. Joining us in this re-run to explore the controversy of the man is Charles Dickens super-fan Miriam Margolyes - a national treasure in her own right. Having written and starred in the play, Dickens Women, Miriam knows better than most the complicated relationships he had in his life: from his mother who took him out of school to work in a rat-infested blacking factory aged 12, to his wife whom he had a bookcase wall built to separate her from him. This episode was edited and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 Media. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 24 December 2024

At the time, surely Kateryn Parr had her reservations about being Henry VIII's sixth wife? Aside from being a tyrannical maniac who'd just beheaded his last wife, Catherine Howard, he was getting old, angry and his ulcerous leg was getting smelly. However, Kateryn was smart - she was the first queen to be a published author - and she loved the glitz and glamour of her new position. What was her life like before Henry entered the picture? How did she narrowly escape being sent to the tower for heresy? And why was her marriage after Henry so controversial? In the sixth and final episode of our limited series, Secret Wives of the Six Wives, Kate is joined by Tudor export Nicola Tallis, to help us find out more about the woman who would thrive as a queen and go on to live to survive Henry VIII. This episode was edited and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 Media. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 20 December 2024

Accessing stories from the past can be difficult, but how do we access smells from the past? In today's episode, Kate is joined by Eleanor Jackson, curator of a new British Library exhibition, Mediaeval Women In Their Own Words, which features original texts about, and by, women from this period. Whether that's Joan of Arc's signature or a welsh poet who wrote “Lovely bush you are blessed by God above” in her 'Poem to the Vagina'. Kate's also joined by Tasha Marks, an artist who creates sensory experiences, who has brought to life smells such as medieval hair perfumes to life as part of the exhibition. This episode was edited by Matt Peaty and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 Media. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 17 December 2024

Henry VIII called her his 'rose without a thorn', but the teenage Catherine Howard was to fall out of favour less than 18 months after becoming Queen of England. Out of all of Henry's wives it could be argued that the young queen, who was a cousin of Anne Boleyn, is most deserving of our sympathy. How did her past come back to haunt her? What would it have been like for this young woman to be with Henry VIII - an older man with a stinky leg ulcer? And what was the truth behind the scandal of her downfall? In the fifth and penultimate episode of our limited series, Secret Wives of the Six Wives, Kate is joined by Tudor export Nicola Tallis, to help us find out more about the young woman who had to deal with so much drama and tragedy in her short life. This episode was edited and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 Media. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 13 December 2024

The history of lonely hearts ads might be a lot deeper than you'd expect. For as long as people have been printing newspapers, people (read: men) were enquiring about potential partners. By the time the culture took off in the 18th century, how were people looking for love? How did the First World War boost the medium? And what are some of the strangest dating stories from this history? Joining Kate today is Francesca Beauman, author of Shapely Ankle Preferr’d: a history of the Lonely Hearts advertisement, to find out how lonely heart ads created a new way to date.  In part two of the episode, Kate's joined by Ana Kirova, CEO of the dating app Feeld, who recently published a report with the Kinsey Institute on where dating culture is today, and where it could lead in the future. This episode was edited by Tom Delargy, the producer was Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 Media. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.You can take part in our listener survey here. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 10 December 2024

Anne of Cleves gets a pretty raw deal in the history books. She's often accused of being ugly, after Henry VIII claimed the painting he had made of her was overly flattering. While their marriage was short-lived, is it time we give Anne of Cleves, who hailed from a small state in Germany, the props she deserves? Just who was this woman who came from relative obscurity into the madness of the Tudor court, and came out one of life's winners? In the fourth episode of our limited series, Secret Wives of the Six Wives, Kate is joined once again by Tudor export Nicola Tallis, to help us find out more about the woman who arguably played the game of being Henry's wife better than any of the five others. This episode was edited and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 Media. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 6 December 2024

What did Queen Elizabeth I gain from being thought of as celibate? Why was property so essential to the Christian church embracing celibacy? And what's really behind the 'No Nut November' movement? In today's episode, Kate's joined by Elisa Sobo, Professor of Anthropology at San Diego State University, and Sandra Bell of Durham University, to take a look at those of us today and throughout history who have chosen to abstain from sex. Together, they edited Celibacy, Culture, And Society: Anthropology Of Sexual Abstinence, and you can read more on the subject of celibacy in Sandra's book Dynamics of Biocultural Diversity. This episode was edited by Tom Delargy. The producer was Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 Media. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.You can take part in our listener survey here. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 3 December 2024

Meek and mild, or smart and scheming? Have we all been underestimating the third wife of Henry VIII? Was Jane Seymour the meek and mild lady she's often portrayed as, or was she more smart and scheming than we give her credit for? Although her time as queen didn't last long, Seymour's legacy was huge. Not only did she give Henry his first son, she was also the only one of his wives not to lose her title, her head, or her husband. Who was the real woman behind the reputation? How did she cleverly win Henry's favour? And how did her life meet a sudden and tragic end? In the third episode of our limited series, Secret Wives of the Six Wives, Kate is joined once again by Tudor export Nicola Tallis, to help us find out more about the woman who finally gave Henry what he craved: a male heir. This episode was edited by Tom Delargy. The producer was Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 Media. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 29 November 2024

We often think of the way we treat pubic hair as a relatively modern thing. But how did they manage pubic hair in Ancient Greece, or the Middle Ages? Why would someone wear a pubic wig (also known as a merkin)? And why was the pubic hair of suspected witches shaven off? Joining Kate today is Professor Jill Burke, author of How to be a Renaissance Woman: The Untold History of Beauty and Female Creativity, to help us uncover this history. This episode was edited and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 Media. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.   You can take part in our listener survey here. Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 26 November 2024