Why did kings and queens have spectators on their wedding night? Who had the very first boob job? And did our ancestors have their unmentionables pierced?Join historian, Kate Lister, Betwixt the Sheets as she unashamedly roots around the topics which seem to have been skipped in history class.Everything from landmark LGBTQ+ court cases, to political scandal, to downright bizarre medieval cures for impotence. The etymology of swear words, gender bias in medicine, and satanic panic and cults - there’s nothing off limits.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 much has actually changed.So join Kate Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society - a podcast from History Hit.Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 per month for 3 months with code BETWIXT sign up at historyhit.com/subscribe.You can take part in our listener survey here.
https://play.acast.com/s/betwixt-the-sheets
Gesamtlänge aller Episoden: 6 days 9 hours 31 minutes
episode 197: The Real Joan of Arc
How did a peasant girl go on to lead French armies at the age of 17?
To mark International Women's Day on March 8th, Kate's joined by Eleanor Janega, co-host of sister podcast Gone Medieval, to explore the life of the formidable Joan of Arc...
episode 196: Kink in the Renaissance
Come with us back to Renaissance England, when writers were playing with ideas of sexuality in interesting ways...
episode 195: History of Sex Work in America
Despite lawmakers best efforts, sex work has been around for since record began...and will certainly go back even further...
episode 194: Who Really Was Boudica?
She's the warrior queen who took on the mighty Roman Empire, but who really was Boudica?
Separating facts from the myths we've read can be tricky, but thankfully Kate is joined by the wonderful Emma Southon, author of A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women, to find out the truth and explore our most reliable sources...
episode 193: The Sex Life of William 'Braveheart' Wallace
If you've seen the film Braveheart, you might have certain expectations about the real history of William Wallace.
Separating fact from fiction can be tricky, but what do we really know about this iconic Scot, and the supposed relationships that sparked his rebellion against the English?
Today Kate is joined by author and host of Gone Medieval, Eleanor Janega, to find out the truth behind William Wallace...
episode 192: The Real History of Sex Dolls
The origins of the modern sex doll are shrouded in myth.
Some say they came from crafty sailors in the 18th century, a long way from home and in need of, ahem, company.
In today's episode, Kate is joined by Bo Ruberg, author of Sex Dolls At Sea: Imagined Histories of Sexual Technologies to uncover the truth...
episode 191: Sex Work in the Middle Ages
Medieval England was not subtle.
Take sex work, for example. You knew exactly where to go, because the streets were labelled accordingly. Cokkes Lane, anyone?
Not only that, but the areas were sanctioned by a Bishop. Yes, you read that correctly...
episode 190: The Surprising History of 'Karens'
What do Alexa, Adolf and Karen have in common?
They're all names that have plummeted in popularity.
The most recent, Karen, is largely due to the meme-powered phenomenon of calling out white privilege by calling someone a 'Karen'...
episode 189: What Was Sex Like In Medieval Times?
What happened when medieval monks were told by the church that they had to be celibate? And how did their wives react?
On today's episode, we're joined by Katherine Harvey, historian and author of The Fires of Lust: Sex in the Middle Ages, to take us back to the middle ages and answer the question: what was sex like in medieval times?
This episode was edited by Tom Delargy. The producer was Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long...
episode 188: The REAL Charles Dickens with Miriam Margolyes
Joining us today is writer, actor and all-round Charles Dickens superfan Miriam Margolyes...