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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
Victorian Era
Anne Boleyn
Tudor Court
Christianity
Sexuality
Catherine Of Aragon
Ancient Egypt
Renaissance
Ancient Rome
Virginity
Women's Rights
Marie Antoinette
Medieval Period
Protestantism
Hysterectomy
Single Women
Catherine Howard

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 weeklyEpisodes473Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

Listen to this Podcast

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

Latest Episodes

In 1909, the third and final woman hanged in Western Australia was executed. She had murdered three of her step children.

What drove Martha Rendall to kill these children? Why did others in their neighbourhood stand by and not raise the alarm sooner... more

Malleus Maleficarum may sound like a spell but it is actually almost the opposite. This book was nicknamed the Hammer of Witches, and today we're finding out if it really started the European witch hunts.

Kate is joined by the wonderful Eleanor Jane... more

Until the 19th century in Britain, a woman killing her husband was guilty of worse than murder, she was guilty of petty treason.

So what is petty treason? What is its very harsh punishment? And why was women killing their husbands so terrifying?

Ka... more

Lord Nelson is remembered as one of history's greatest military commanders. His victories at the Battle of the Nile, the Battle of Copenhagen and the Battle of Trafalgar cemented his legendary status, as did his dramatic death mid-battle.

But there'... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
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Recent Guests

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
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
Ann Foster
Author of Rebel of the Regency, the Scandalous Saga of Caroline of Brunswick, Britain's Queen Without a Crown
Episode: Britain's Most Scandalous Queen
Suzanne Blier
Author and Harvard professor
Harvard University
Episode: The Truth About Pablo Picasso
Emily Shukman-Matthews
Professor researching sex work in Russia from the early 20th century to the present day
San Diego State University
Episode: Sex Work in Soviet Russia
Ruby Blondell
Professor of Classics, University of Washington; author on Helen of Troy
University of Washington
Episode: Why Helen Of Troy Is The Real Star Of 'The Odyssey'

Host

Kate Lister
Host of Betwixt The Sheets, History Hit.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 7.9k ratings
  • Conspicuously absent on trans life and features transphobes

    🙄

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    NcCartney
    Germany3 months ago
  • 😍

    Love this podcast, a new favourite!!! The topics are fascinating, Kate is a brilliant host and the guest speakers are well-informed. An engaging way to learn about some of history’s more sordid details.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    froglet77
    Australia4 months ago
  • Mostly great

    However not everything and everyone has to be made feminist and/or queer.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    printedvintage
    Canada4 months ago
  • Please don’t nitpick

    I love all the podcasts HH has. This was the first one I listened to. I have to say….the complaints about music and other arbitrary things are silly. You’re here to learn spicy history are you not? You’ll survive 30 seconds of music or a bit of banter between the host and guests. I adore Kate and always look forward to a new episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Alexxi0494
    United States4 months ago
  • Hate the new show music!

    For the love of the Gods, can you please revert back to your original soundtrack? This newer one is atrocious and doesn’t fit at all!!

    Drives me crazy and it is sure to drive me away from a very good show.

    Whose bloody idea was it anyway?!!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    fotovitamina
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Education meets entertainment in a witty, accessible format.
Music and pacing can be divisive, but content is consistently strong.
Guests are well-chosen and topic variety is excellent.
Engaging and informative with great guests; host keeps it lively.
Open, funny, and feminist-leaning history with solid research.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
The Scandalous Affair of Lord Nelson & Emma Hamilton
Q: How did Emma Hamilton transition from her beginnings to becoming a central figure at the Naples court?
She leveraged her beauty, intelligence, and multilingual skills to navigate social networks, secure training in refinement, and cultivate influence at the Neapolitan court, aligning herself with powerful figures and the queen to reshape her fortunes.
Medieval Europe's Biggest Sex Scandal
Q: What makes Eloise a standout figure among medieval women?
Her sharp intellect, willingness to challenge norms, and the surviving letters that let us hear her voice directly, all of which portray her as a capable and deeply passionate thinker rather than a passive subject.
Medieval Europe's Biggest Sex Scandal
Q: Why does this love story endure in popular imagination?
Because it combines intense personal passion with high-level intellectual exchange, offering a vivid portrait of two highly educated individuals who refused to be fully consumed by the social constraints around them.
Sex Work in Soviet Russia
Q: Why did the late 1920s see a turn toward conservatism and repression of sex work?
Stalin-era policies re-emphasized traditional gender roles, anti-natalist priorities, and the suppression of independent labor organizations for women, treating sex workers as dissidents and threats rather than victims needing support.

Audience Metrics

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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-focused show that explores sexual culture, power, and society across eras, blending scholarly analysis with lively storytelling. Episodes cover topics from medieval court politics and Renaissance gender norms to Victorian mores and modern debates about female pleasure and sexuality. A standout is the host's ability to pair rigorous historical context with accessible, humor-infused conversation and engaging guest experts, making niche topics approachable for a broad audience.

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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. The Ancients
5. Dan Snow's History Hit

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 4 years ago and published 473 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. Rose Wallis
2. Hayley Nolan
3. Joe Nickols
4. Dr. Eleanor Janega
5. Rhonda Garelick
6. Ann Foster
7. Suzanne Blier
8. Emily Shukman-Matthews

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