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
Marie Antoinette
Sexuality
Renaissance
Roman Empire
Ancient Rome
Catherine Of Aragon
Christianity
Virginity
Victorian Era
Ancient Egypt
Protestantism
Hysterectomy
Single Women
Catherine Howard
Rome

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 weeklyEpisodes489Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

Listen to this Podcast

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

Latest Episodes

Forget what you think about fairies... they are not cute and definitely not harmless.

In today's episode we're going back centuries to a time when they could take human form and were mentioned as part of the witch trials.

What are the rules of talk... more

*TRIGGER WARNING: CONTAINS OLD NORSE SWEAR WORDS*

How would you insult a Viking? What strange nicknames did they give each other? And what did a Viking rap battle sound like?!

Brush up on your Old Norse and impress your friends with the most obscen... more

What happened to King Tut's 'Little Tut' during mummification? The rumour is that he took an erection to the afterlife, but what can we know after several millennia and a very rough excavation?

Dr Campbell Price came into the studio to bust a few my... more

STOLEN! Jesus' foreskin!

Well, maybe not. But 2000 years after his birth, where might Jesus' foreskin be? And why does it matter to people?

Kate is joined by Dr James White for this episode to find out how the Holy Prepuce has supposedly survived t... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
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

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?
Lisa Pine
Author of Nazi Family Policy 1933 to 1945; historian
University of London (affiliation mentioned)
Episode: Why Were Nazis Obsessed With Birth Rate?
Douglas Smith
Historian and author, expert on Rasputin
Author of Rasputin biography
Episode: Is Rasputin's Willy in a Jar?
Kate Williams
Historian and author of Regina, A New History of Women and Power
Wiley/Regina
Episode: The Execution of England's Teenage Queen
Zack White
Historian, guest on the episode
Napoleonic Wars Podcast
Episode: What Happened To Napoleon's "Boner Part"?
Casta Hex
Historical drag queen, embroiderer and textile artist
Self / Casta Hex
Episode: Get Ready With Marie Antoinette
Ashley Douglas
Historian, translator and author
Episode: Lesbian Love Affair of 16th Century Scotland
Emma Southon
Author and historian
Independent historian
Episode: How Debauched Were Roman Orgies?

Host

Kate Lister
Host of Betwixt The Sheets, History Hit

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 8.3k 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 States2 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 Kingdom2 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 States2 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 States2 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 States2 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

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Was Tutankhamun Mummified Erect?
Q: Why do you think Tutankhamun's penis was described as erect in the autopsy report?
The guest suggests it may reflect broader phallocentric symbolism in Egyptian religion and state ritual rather than a literal intentional preservation, noting that the physical state of remains after centuries and prior handling complicates any firm conclusion.
Was Tutankhamun Mummified Erect?
Q: What would you want to be preserved?
A preference for preserving hair or other personal features is highlighted, with a humorous aside about wanting curls to remain, but the broader point is about choosing how the body is represented in the afterlife and the symbolism of preservation.
What Happened To Napoleon's "Boner Part"?
Q: Was Napoleon as tall as people think, or was he shorter because of caricatures?
They discuss the height myth, explaining that Napoleon was roughly average for his time, and that British caricature and imperial propaganda exaggerated his smallness to fit a narrative about French superiority and British resilience.
What Happened To Napoleon's "Boner Part"?
Q: Right, Zack, explain yourself.
Zack argues that Napoleon was not the solitary innovator history often credits, but a genius at leveraging propaganda and organizational reforms, while his personal life reveals a much messier and more coercive side, especially in his treatment of partners and lovers.
Is Rasputin's Willy in a Jar?
Q: What explains the longevity of the rumors about Rasputin's sexuality or improprieties?
The combination of his peasant origin, his influence at court, and a highly politicized environment fueled gossip; royal private life versus public scrutiny created fertile ground for myths, which were amplified by a sensational press and aristocratic rivalries.

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. 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 489 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. Campbell Price
2. James White
3. Lisa Pine
4. Douglas Smith
5. Kate Williams
6. Zack White
7. Casta Hex
8. Ashley Douglas

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