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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
Marie Antoinette
Sexuality
Anne Boleyn
Roman Empire
Christianity
Tudor Court
Renaissance
Virginity
Victorian Era
Protestantism
Hysterectomy
Single Women
Catherine Howard
Rome
Ancient Egypt
Genghis Khan
Greek Mythology

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 weeklyEpisodes497Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

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

Latest Episodes

Come back with us to the surgeons hall of 1870s Edinburgh, where a certain Arthur Conan Doyle is watching bodies being dissected.

Meet notorious surgeon Joseph Bell, the real life inspiration for Sherlock Holmes, whose pioneering forensics methods u... more

YouTube

To celebrate the release of Kate's new History Hit documentary, Beating Around The Bush: The History of Pubic Hair, we're revisiting a favourite episode about exactly that.

Watch the documentary here: access.historyhit.com/videos/beating-aro... more

Forget celebrities running around the Highlands... come back to the 16th century Tudor court when being a traitor meant literally losing your head.

Joining Kate today is Tudor historian and author Nicola Tallis, to expose the ultimate Tudor traitor:... more

YouTube

In the first half of the 1700s, Britain was overwhelmed by gin. But it might not have been as fun as it sounds.

Today, we're hearing about what the so-called gin-craze was, the impact that it had on regular people, and the government's attempts to c... more

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Recent Guests

Jill Burke
Professor of Renaissance art history and author of How to Be a Renaissance Woman
University of Edinburgh
Episode: The Short and Curly History of Pubic Hair
Nicola Tallis
Tudor historian and author
Episode: The Tudor Traitor Who Killed Anne Boleyn
Judith Hawley
Professor of 17th- and 18th-century literature and culture
Royal Holloway
Episode: London's Gin Craze
Janina Ramirez
Historian, author and medievalist
Episode: Why Are Vampires Sexy?
Alexander Meddings
Roman historian who leads tours around Rome
Episode: Ancient Rome's Biggest Sex Scandal
Diane Purkiss
Historian, Oxford professor and author of Fairies and Fairy Stories and The Museum of Witchcraft
University of Oxford
Episode: The Scary History of Fairies
Eleanor Barraclough
Historian and author specializing in Old Norse language and literature
Episode: How To Swear Like A Viking
Campbell Price
Egyptology expert and guest on the show
Independent Egyptologist
Episode: Was Tutankhamun Mummified Erect?
James White
Professor from the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
Episode: Does Jesus' Foreskin Still Exist?

Host

Kate Lister
Host of Betwixt The Sheets, History Hit

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 8.4k 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 States3 months 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 Kingdom3 months 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 States3 months 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 States3 months 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 States3 months 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

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Tudor Traitor Who Killed Anne Boleyn
Q: Do you think that Henry believed the charges?
Tallis thinks Henry may have partly believed the allegations because Anne's behavior and an indiscreet remark made the rumors seem plausible to him, though the charges were fabricated and the situation was convenient for Henry.
The Tudor Traitor Who Killed Anne Boleyn
Q: Ultimately, why did Henry VIII divorce Anne Boleyn?
Nicola Tallis argues that Cromwell engineered Anne's downfall after their interests diverged and Anne became a threat to his position. Henry's waning affection and willingness to believe the accusations helped make the plot succeed.
The Short and Curly History of Pubic Hair
Q: When did feminists decide pubic hair was something to talk about?
Burke says the debate was particularly prominent in second-wave feminism in the 1970s, when removing body hair was often seen as conforming to male expectations. She describes the issue as more nuanced than a simple choice between individual agency and patriarchy.
The Short and Curly History of Pubic Hair
Q: Has men's pubic hair been subject to as many changes as women's?
Burke says there is some historical evidence of men shaping pubic hair, but less discussion of men's hair overall. In many Western societies, masculinity and body hair were associated.
Why Are Vampires Sexy?
Q: When do vampires get sexy?
Ramirez traces the seductive vampire to the Romantic period, when John Polidori drew on Eastern European revenant lore and a Byron-inspired character to create a pale, alluring figure who seduces people.

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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.

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

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

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 5 years ago and published 497 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Jill Burke
2. Nicola Tallis
3. Judith Hawley
4. Janina Ramirez
5. Alexander Meddings
6. Diane Purkiss
7. Eleanor Barraclough
8. Campbell Price

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.

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