Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society
Kanalinformation
Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society
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?...
Seneste episoder
383 episoder
Why Catherine Howard Lost Her Head
Poor Catherine Howard. She was smart, intelligent and undeniably beautiful, but ultimately no match for the vicious Henry VIII.
She was certainl...
The Truth About Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso's impact on the art world was sensational, but what impact did he have on the people around him?
His relationship history contains...
Sex Work in Soviet Russia
After the Russian Revolution in 1917, sex work was a prime example of what capitalism did to society.
Under communism, sex work would no longer...
Why Helen Of Troy Is The Real Star Of 'The Odyssey'
Beautiful women are always causing trouble in history, and perhaps none more so than Helen of Troy.
She's the daughter of Zeus and a human mothe...
The Most Badass Dragon Slayers in History
Picture a dragon and its dragon slayer. What do you imagine?
It's likely going to be a giant, scaly, fire-breathing beast and a rugged knight wi...
Lesbian Blood Sisters of the HIV Crisis
Why did 200 people queue to give blood in the San Diego summer heat on 16 July 1983?
During the AIDS crisis, many people living with HIV develop...
A Teasing History Of Burlesque
Has Burlesque always meant the same thing? Where did it come from? And how has it changed?
Kate is joined by Dr Marissa Vigneault, Associate Pro...
The Truth about Adam & Eve
What really went down in the Garden of Eden? Was there an apple? Was there a snake? Was the 'original sin' all that bad?
To answer these questio...
The Most Feared Sex Act In History
It’s got many names: giving head, going down, eating out, dining at the Y, muff diving.
Why has cunnilingus been stigmatised and feared so consi...
How to Get Cancelled in the Tudor Court
Who was Lettice Knollys? And why was she expelled from Elizabeth I's court?
Kate is joined by Estelle Paranque in this episode to find out how a...
The Elusive Female Orgasm with Dan Snow
There will be giggling and gasping galore! And that's just when you listen to this episode!
Dan Snow quizzes Kate on all things female pleasure....
How to Get Cancelled as a Medieval Mistress
What do you have to do wrong to be specifically named in a law? In the 14th Century, one of the mistresses of King Edward III found out. So who was Al...
A History of Homophobia
Has there ever been a time when homophobia did not exist? And what causes it to rise and fall?
Kate is joined by Dr. Harry Tanner, author of 'Th...
How to Get Cancelled in Ancient Judea
What do we know about Jesus? Kate is joined for this episode by Professor of Christian Origins, Helen Bond, to find out more about the historical reco...
Sex Work in Colonial India
When the British Empire colonised India, how did it treat their different ideas about sex? How did they treat sex workers like the Devadasi, meaning '...
Who was the first 'Lesbian'?
Was Sappho queer? Or was this Ancient Greek poet just really really good friends with women?
Today on Betwixt the Sheets, Kate is joined by Kath...
Sex Work in the American Revolution
Where the American War of Independence raged, the camp followers...followed.
Among them were sex workers, for both the American and British troo...
The Murder That Shocked Hollywood
In post-war Hollywood, the film industry had a reputation for its dark side as much as anything happening on the big screen.
So when Elizabeth S...
Henry VIII vs. Catherine of Aragon | History's Worst Breakups
Welcome to a brand new mini-series on Betwixt the Sheets, where our host, Dr Kate Lister, takes you through the most catastrophic breakups in history....
The Most Notorious Sex Worker of 18th Century Dublin
Dublin in the 18th century was a wealthy colonial capitol, but only for a select few.
Amongst this hugely divided and politically charged world...
How Filthy Were the Egyptians?
Lead in eyes, scented animal fat melting over wigs, teen circumcision - the Ancient Egyptians went to great lengths for beauty and hygiene. So how cle...
How Hot Was Lord Byron?
How 'mad, bad and dangerous to know' was Lord Byron really?
We know the Romantic poet had a bit of a reputation, but how true was it? And how un...
Who Was The Virgin Mary
Despite virginity being a myth, why has Mary’s virginity been considered so important?
What does this tell us about the relationship between Chr...
The Truth About Sigmund Freud
It's the one we've all been waiting for!
The Oedipus Complex; the oral, anal and phallic stages; penis envy; psychoanalysis - we've all heard of...
The Truth About Mythical Women
Myths are incredibly powerful, especially when it comes to creating nations.
Why are mythical women so central to how we think about our nations...
History's Worst F*ckboys: Rasputin
Rasputin presented himself as a mystic healer, and preached that the only way to salvation was through sin — which sometimes, if rumour is to be belie...
Why Are We Scared Of Single Women?
Where did the idea of the bunny boiler come from?
In this episode we're exploring how single women got such a bad rap in popular culture. From M...
Who Was The Naughtiest Pope In History?
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.
...
History's Worst F*ckboys: Emperor Nero
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...
Queer Georgians
How did the Georgians discuss sexuality? And how, and why, did they regulate it? In this episode, Kate talks to Dr Anthony Delaney about his new book...
History's Worst F*ckboys: Raphael
The Renaissance is known for its heady combination of sex, art and exciting new ideas about the world.
Was Raphael, one of the superstar painter...
Alexander the Great's Mummy Issues: Olympias
They say behind every great man is a great woman. In this episode, we meet the woman behind Alexander the Great's success. From securing his status, t...
History's Worst F*ckboys: Charles II
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...
Shag, Marry, Kill: Roman Emperor Edition
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.
Origins of Virginity
From luring in unicorns to protecting the Roman Empire, myths have surrounded virginity for centuries. But is virginity itself a myth?
In this e...
How Hot Was Henry VIII?
With SIX wives, Henry VIII must have had something going for him, right? Was he handsome? Charming? Intelligent? Just plain powerful?
In this ep...
The Real Virgin Mary
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? A...
How Wild Were The Last Days Of Rome?
As Rome fell, was it really non-stop orgies and parties?
That's become a popular connotation, and in today's episode Kate is joined by historian...
The Strangest Tudor & Stuart Aphrodisiacs
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 pre...
Did Henry VI Have A Sex Coach?
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 di...