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PODCAST

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

Join sex historian 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?She"ll be bed-hopping around different time periods; from ancient civilisations, to the middle ages, to renaissance and early modern...right up to now.You’ll laugh, you’ll wince, and you’ll ask yourself how

history

All Episodes

37:33

Inside The 18th Century Brothel Ship

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal &... ·

2025/09/30

Why did a British ship carry over 200 women to Australia in the late 18th century? In this episode, we are going inside the Lady Juliana, a convict transportation ship.What crimes were these women being punished for? What was life like on the ship? And why was it called a 'floating brothel'?Our guest, Siân Rees, is the author of ‘The Floating Brothel: The extraordinary true story of an 18th-century ship and its cargo of female convicts’.This episode was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Sophie

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49:24

Who Was The Naughtiest Pope In History?

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal &... ·

2025/09/19

Sex, scandal and ... the Sacraments? Renaissance Rome wasn't for the faint hearted. And the Vatican? For some that was the source of the drama.In this episode, Kate is joined by Catherine Fletcher to meet one of the Vatican's randiest residents - Pope Alexander VI. From saucy parties to the scandals of the Borgia family, why might this be the naughtiest pope in history?Catherine is the author of a number of books including ‘The Beauty and the Terror: An Alternative History of the Italian

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44:47

History's Worst F*ckboys: Emperor Nero

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal &... ·

2025/09/16

Where does Emperor Nero fit in the pantheon of history's worst f*ckboys?Does he measure up against the likes of previous episodes on Charles II or Raphael? Is he the worst of the lot? And what strange sex games did he like to play?Helping Kate getting to know the awful Emperor Nero is returning guest, Rome-based historian and tour guide, Alex Meddings.This episode was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.Please vote for us for Listeners'

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44:49

Histories Worst F*ckboys: Charles II

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal &... ·

2025/09/02

Our mini-series exploring the worst f*ckboys in history is back!In today's episode, Kate is joined by Dr. David Taylor of Oxford University to get to know the so-called Merry Monarch and the many women in his life.Was it better to be married or be a mistress to Charles II? How many lovers did he really have? And was Restoration England as fun as it sounded?This episode was edited by Amy Haddow and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer is Charlotte Long.Please vote for us for Listeners'

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35:10

Shag, Marry, Kill: Roman Emperor Edition

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal &... ·

2025/08/29

Which would be better for a fling, which would you not touch with a barge pole, and which is marriage material? There's only one way to find out.This episode was edited by Tim Arstall and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.Please vote for us for Listeners' Choice at the British Podcast Awards! Follow this link - https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting - and don’t forget to confirm the email. Thank you!Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original

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45:27

How Hot Was Henry VIII?

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal &... ·

2025/08/22

With SIX wives, Henry VIII must have had something going for him, right? Was he handsome? Charming? Intelligent? Just plain powerful?In this episode, Kate is joined by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb, host of our sister podcast Not Just the Tudors. They discuss the vanity of Henry VIII, his sporting prowess, and his injuries. Listen to discover just how terrible this Tudor king smelt.This episode was edited by Tim Arstall and produced by Sophie Gee. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.Please vote for

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42:05

The Real Virgin Mary

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal &... ·

2025/08/19

Why has the idea of the Virgin Mary’s virginity been so important?What does this tell us about the relationship between Christianity and sex? And what else do we know about this woman?Joining Kate today to help her get to know more about Mary, her life and her influence is author and historian Sir Diarmaid Macculloch.This episode was edited by Tim Arstall. The producer was Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.Please vote for us for Listeners' Choice at the British Podcast Awards

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38:05

The Strangest Tudor & Stuart Aphrodisiacs

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal &... ·

2025/08/12

Forget oysters, have you tried eating sparrows with a side of phallic vegetables to stir your lust?!Getting in the mood isn’t just a modern preoccupation, but the reasons behind it have definitely changed throughout the centuries.What aphrodisiacs were people using in the Early Modern period? Who were the authorities on this? And how was witch craft involved?!Joining Kate today is author and historian Dr. Jennifer Evans to help us find out.This episode was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by

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48:08

Did Henry VI Have A Sex Coach?

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal &... ·

2025/08/08

Henry VI didn't fit the medieval image of masculinity, or that much of a king, either.Who gave sex education to someone of this stature? How did his controversial marriage to the French Margaret of Anjou effect his reputation? And what problems were they facing in the bedroom?Joining Kate today is author and historian Lauren Johnson to help us get to know this misunderstood medieval monarch.This episode was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte

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46:51

Who Were The Vestal Virgins?

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal &... ·

2025/08/04

What happened if a Vestal Virgin broke their pledge of virginity? How would a woman be chosen for the role? And were there any benefits to taking it?Kate is finding out in this episode with Peta Greenfield, co-author of ‘Your Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire’ and co-host of ‘The Partial Historians’, with her colleague Dr Fiona Radford.This episode was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Sophie Gee. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.Please vote for us for Listeners' Choice at the British

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47:28

Royal Sex: Cleopatra

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal &... ·

2025/08/01

Did Cleopatra have a bee-powered vibrator? Why did she marry both of her brothers? And how serious were her relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony?Kate is joined by Egyptologist Sarah Parcak to find out where Cleopatra's seductress reputation came from, and whether she lived up to it.This episode was edited by Tim Arstall. The producer was Sophie Gee. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.Please vote for us for Listeners' Choice at the British Podcast Awards! Follow this link, and don’t

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47:43

Royal Sex: Elizabeth I

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal &... ·

2025/07/25

Was Elizabeth I really a virgin? When we talk about queens being remembered for their sex lives, we absolutely have to mention the woman so often remembered for her lack of one.Kate is joined by Professor Anna Whitelock, author of ‘Elizabeth’s Bedfellows: An Intimate History of the Queen’s Court’ and, more recently, ‘The Sun Rising: James I and the Dawn of a Global Britain’.This episode was edited by Tomos Delargy. The producer was Sophie Gee. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.Please vote for

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46:44

Victorian Sex Work Scandal: The Prince And The...

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal &... ·

2025/07/22

In the summer of 1889, a London police officer stopped and searched a telegraph boy, suspecting him of stealing from the Post Office he worked for. What he uncovered was not theft, but instead a network of male sex workers being frequented by some of the most respectable gentlemen in the country.Kate is joined by John Scott to discuss the scandal that ensued. John is Head of School in the School of Justice at Queensland University of Technology.This episode was edited by Tomos Delargy. It was

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45:48

Sex Lives of the Roman Legion

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal &... ·

2025/07/15

As the Roman Empire grew, so did the importance of its army - the Roman Legion.But what was life on the march like? What happened on the encampments after dark? And why couldn't eunuchs join the Roman legion?!Joining Kate today to tell her all about this battle-hardened rabble, is Rome-based historian and tour guide Alex Meddings. Find out more about his work here: https://alexandermeddings.com/Episode edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer is Charlotte Long.Sign

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54:21

Royal Sex: Marie Antoinette

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal &... ·

2025/07/11

Behind the wild accusations of extra-marital affairs and a lavish lifestyle, who was the real Marie Antoinette? Why did her marriage to King Louis XVI go unconsummated for 7 years? And why did her life of luxury end in tragedy amidst the French Revolution?Joining Kate today for the second episode in our Royal Sex mini-series, is Professor of French literature, Catriona Seth, to help us get to know this remarkable woman.This episode was edited by Tomos Delargy. The producer was Sophie Gee. The senior

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47:34

Royal Sex: Queen Victoria

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal &... ·

2025/07/04

With NINE children, it can probably be assumed that Queen Victoria was no stranger to the sheets, but what do we actually know about her love (and sex) life?To examine Victoria's diaries, her passionate relationship and her society's attitude to sex, Kate is joined for this special episode by Royal Historian Kate Williams and journalist Robert Hardman. Kate and Robert are cohosts of 'Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things', a podcast from the Daily Mail.Listen to find out why bicycle porn was all the

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52:10

Sex Work in Victorian London

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal &... ·

2025/06/27

What were the lives of women like who sold sex in the Victorian era? How did the law makers and moral crusaders of the time try to control it? How did sex workers create community in the 19th century?In the final part of our mini-series on sex work throughout history, Kate's joined by Dr. Julia Laite, historian, professor of history at Birkbeck University, to take us back to the Victorian era.This episode was edited by Tom Delargy. The producer was Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte

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45:56

Sex Work in the Renaissance

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal &... ·

2025/06/20

Early Modern Italy birthed artistic giants like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, saw architectural marvels like Florence's dome and St. Peter's Basilica, and pushed scientific frontiers in astronomy. This same vibrant era was also home to Bologna's uniquely regulated sex work industry.So what was life like for the sex workers of Renaissance Italy? Kate is joined in this episode by Dr Vanessa McCarthy, historian of gender, sex, and sexuality in the early modern world at the University of

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44:11

Inside America's Famous Sex Study

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal &... ·

2025/06/17

How could recording people having sex be 'for science'? Same question for sleeping with your colleagues? Well, these were just two of the practices embraced by the subject of today's conversation.Donna Drucker is returning to the podcast to discuss pioneering sexologist, Alfred Kinsey. Donna, from Colombia University, is author of The Classification of Sex.This episode was edited by Nick Thomson. The producer was Sophie Gee. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds

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43:53

Sex Work in Ancient Rome

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal &... ·

2025/06/06

What did it look like inside a Roman brothel? Who was the sex worker involved in a murder plot to kill an Emperor? And why was the Pope getting sex workers to race chariots?!In this first episode of our brand new limited-series on sex work through history, Kate is joined by Professor Anise Strong, who takes us back to meet some of the amazing sex workers from Ancient Rome, including one who was involved in a murder plot to kill Emperor Commodus.This episode was edited by Tim Arstall. The producer

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