Rephonic
Artwork for Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society

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

History Hit
Henry VIII
Sex Work
Elizabeth I
Anne Boleyn
Tudor Court
Sexuality
Victorian Era
Christianity
Catherine Of Aragon
Ancient Egypt
Renaissance
Ancient Rome
Virginity
Women's Rights
Marie Antoinette
Roman Empire
Medieval Period
Protestantism
Hysterectomy
Single Women

Join sex historian Dr Kate Lister on Betwixt the Sheets as she gets intimate with the stories that would make your history teacher blush.

What were the Victorians really like behind closed (bedroom) doors? How did the Black Death favour women in medieval England? And what was Caesar like in the sack?

Join Kate as she bed-hops around different time periods; from ancient civilisations, to the middl... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes479Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

Listen to this Podcast

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

Latest Episodes

Josephine Baker went from poverty and segregation in St. Louis to becoming Paris’s most sensational showgirl, captivating Europe with her dancing, sexuality and scandalous performances.

But behind her outrageous persona was an extraordinary woman wh... more

Mary Queen of Scots has gone down in history for her power struggle with her cousin, Elizabeth I. But this was just one of the challenges she faced.

Another was that Mary's second husband, Lord Darnley, was one of history’s worst husbands.

Estelle ... more

The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the most famous works of medieval art in the world, but what do we actually know about it? Who made it? Where? Why? And are those actually human genitals?

Kate is joined by Dave Musgrove, content director at History Ext... more

Behind the impressive relics the Romans left behind lurks a much darker story: that most of Rome was built on the back of enslaved people.

It's shocking to know that up to 30% of Roman society was made up of enslaved people. So how was this represen... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Dave Musgrove
Author of The Story of the Bayeux Tapestry, Unraveling the Norman Conquest
History Extra / The Story of the Bayeux Tapestry
Episode: How Many Penises Are There On The Bayeux Tapestry?
Shelley Puhak
Author and historian, The Blood Countess
Author of The Blood Countess
Episode: History's Deadliest Women: The Blood Countess
Joanna Buck
Professor Emerita at the University of Birkbeck and Grisham College; author
University of Birkbeck; Grisham College
Episode: History's Deadliest Women: The Evil Stepmother
Rose Wallis
Professor of Crime, Criminal Justice, Social Protest at the University of West England
University of the West of England
Episode: History's Deadliest Women: The Husband Killer
Dan Snow
Naval historian and commentator invited to discuss Nelson and Emma Hamilton
Independent historian/TV presenter
Episode: The Scandalous Affair of Lord Nelson & Emma Hamilton
Hayley Nolan
Author and historian
Author of Notorious Anne Boleyn and the Great Tudor Hoax
Episode: The Mystic Nun Killed By Henry VIII
Joe Nickols
Co-curator of the recent samurai exhibition at the British Museum
British Museum
Episode: Sex Lives of the Samurai
Dr. Eleanor Janega
Author and medieval historian
Gone Medieval / History Hit
Episode: Medieval Europe's Biggest Sex Scandal
Rhonda Garelick
Author of Mademoiselle Coco Chanel and the Pulse of History
Hofstra University (Institute for Public Humanities and the Arts)
Episode: The Truth About Coco Chanel

Host

Kate Lister
Host of Betwixt The Sheets, History Hit

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 8.2k ratings
  • Hope to hear more from guests

    I adore this show, and I learn heaps from it. In the past few months, however, I’ve noticed host Kate almost one-upping or speaking over guests. Kate, you are brilliant and a fun listen, but please let your guests shine too!

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    malp31987
    United States19 days ago
  • Nourishes my inner geek

    Wow and thank you for being part of the cohort of historical historians who help me

    To nourish my inner geek. Love the show ❤️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Zozzabird
    United Kingdom25 days ago
  • What's with the ads?

    Love the podcast and have been a subscriber for the past year. Lately though, ads are coming through. Please remedy so we can get back to enjoying the show without interruptions.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gbarnn
    United States25 days ago
  • What’s going on?

    Love you Kate, love the show! Producers, why am I getting ads as a subscriber? Other HH shows are streaming fine.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lapskunk
    United Statesa month ago
  • Making History Entertaining

    Discovered Kate on another podcast which led me here. In these dark and crazy times, I have found history provides context as well as relief from the news. Now add into that history the spice of life we all love, and you have episodes that end and all you wish for someone to get Kate to tell the stories while we see something like Drunk History acting it out - you could say “porny” but with a lesson

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AJandJohn
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Fans appreciate the entertaining yet scholarly approach to spicy history and feel inspired to explore related topics deeper.
Some feedback calls out frequent ads or interruptions, suggesting smoother ad pacing would improve the experience.
Listeners praise the host for accessibility and humor, with many noting strong guests and rigorous historical context.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Slavery in the Roman Empire
Q: Did Romans ever express anti-slavery sentiments or movements?
There was no broad anti-slavery movement; at most, Seneca hinted at a more humane approach, but abolition never occurred, and slavery persisted well into late antiquity and beyond.
Slavery in the Roman Empire
Q: Was there any possibility of freedom for slaves?
There were pathways to manumission and sometimes promotion within the slave hierarchy, but freedom was limited, typically available to men in imperial service or through specific legal processes, and women rarely purchased their own freedom.
Slavery in the Roman Empire
Q: How prevalent was slavery, and how could someone become enslaved?
Slavery was pervasive across the empire, often starting with captives from wars or expansion and expanding through the birth of children to enslaved mothers; many households owned multiple slaves, and entire strata could be enslaved for life.
History's Deadliest Women: The Blood Countess
Q: Okay. All right. So like I said, there will be people listening who don't know who the Countess Elizabeth Bathory is. So could you give us the headline story?
Elizabeth Bathory was a 16th-century noblewoman who became infamous for the legend of torturing and killing young women; however, substantial archival evidence and modern scholarship show many aspects of the popular story are mythologized, with only a small number of deaths clearly linked to her or her inner circle, and much of the sensational detail arising from later myths and trials.
The Scandalous Affair of Lord Nelson & Emma Hamilton
Q: What role did Nelson's career and charisma play in shaping Emma Hamilton's status and the couple's public perception?
Nelson's battlefield heroism and magnetic leadership amplified Emma's visibility and strategic leverage, making them a legendary pair in public imagination, though their personal and financial vulnerabilities eventually exposed the fragility of that fame.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A history-oriented program that blends scholarly context with vivid storytelling to unpack intimate, scandalous, and politically charged moments from past societies. Episodes commonly explore gender dynamics, sexuality, power, and public spectacle—from Tudor-era intrigues and royal legends to the social histories of sex work and wartime culture. A distinctive feature is hosting deeply researched, credentialed guests alongside a witty, approachable host, which creates a balance of rigor and accessibility that appeals to curious listeners who enjoy reliable historical analysis with a dash of flair.

Where can I find podcast stats for this podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to this podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does this podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for this podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for this podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for this podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does this podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers this podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Not Just the Tudors
2. After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal
3. Gone Medieval
4. The Ancients
5. Dan Snow's History Hit

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 5 years ago and published 479 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact this podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for this podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for this podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for this podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of this podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Dave Musgrove
2. Shelley Puhak
3. Joanna Buck
4. Rose Wallis
5. Dan Snow
6. Hayley Nolan
7. Joe Nickols
8. Dr. Eleanor Janega

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days