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

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

Author: History Hit Language: English Episodes: 100
Ever wondered about the unspoken rules and private lives that shaped our past? Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society pulls back the curtain on the intimate forces that have influenced civilizations across time. Guided by sex historian Dr. Kate Lister, this History Hit podcast explores the fascinating intersections of desire, power, and social norms. Each episode digs into the questions rarely found in textbooks, examining how personal behavior and public scandal have driven political change, shaped laws, and defined cultural identities. You’ll hear about the surprising realities of Victorian domesticity, the unexpected social advantages for women following the Black Death, and even speculative curiosities about the private habits of figures like Julius Caesar. Lister bed-hops through eras with a scholar’s rigor and a storyteller’s flair, moving from ancient worlds through the medieval and Renaissance periods into more recent history. The conversations are insightful and engaging, transforming taboo topics into a legitimate lens for understanding human progress and conflict. Tuning in offers a unique perspective on the past, revealing how the most personal aspects of life are inextricably woven into the broader tapestry of society. It’s a deep and often surprising dive into the histories that happened, quite literally, behind closed doors.
Episodes
Who was the Husband Poisoner of Renaissance Italy? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:20
Odourless, tasteless, colourless, lethal. In the mid-17th century, men were dropping like flies in Italy. And this wasn't just the plague - it was the work of the poison Aqua Tofana.So what is Aqua Tofana? And who was it…
The Truth About Mary Shelley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:30
Frankenstein and his monster are household names - even if one is often confused for the other. But what of their creator?In this episode we are meeting Mary Shelley. Did she really lose her virginity on her mother's gra…
Inside the Icelandic Witch Trials [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:16
Picture a witch. Chances are, you're thinking of a woman.But in 17th century Iceland, over 90% of the people killed for being a witch, were men.Why were more men being accused than women for being a witch? And what happe…
How Bloody Was 'Bloody Mary'? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:43
Before Mary I was Queen, no other woman had worn the crown of England.This made her a Tudor trailblazer, and a target.During her short reign she burned some 300+ people, earning her the nickname 'Bloody Mary'. Was this n…
How To Fake Virginity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:43
Why, just why, would one put a leech up their .. you know where? It's all in the name of virginity, or the faking of it.Kate is joined by Dr Julia Martins to find out why virginity was so necessary to Early Modern people…
Inside Concentration Camp Brothels [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:06
Even among Holocaust researchers, this subject is taboo. Starting in 1942, the Nazis set up brothels inside some of the camps, not for the guards, but for the prisoners.What was the point of these brothels? Who were the…
Wife-Swapping Magician of the Tudor Court [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:54
The 16th century was a dangerous time to be talking about magic and hidden forces, so how did John Dee end up being invited into Elizabeth I's court?He was an astronomer, occultist and alchemist who dedicated his life to…
Inside a Wild West Brothel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:19
Shoot outs, hard drinking and gambling. The Wild West is remembered for it's general lawlessness, but what might life have been like for the first women to join the American settlers as they moved west?**TW: This episode…
The Boleyn Who Betrayed Henry VIII [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:40
She was executed on Henry VIII's orders alongside Catherine Howard, and was sister-in-law to Anne Boleyn and the King. She lived in the heart of the Tudor court, and almost made it out alive.It was a time of huge danger,…
Inside Imperial Japan's Brothels [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:34
After the first licensed brothel opened in the 17th century, how was sex work thought of in Japan throughout the following centuries?From the brothels in the pleasure quarters, to the rise and popularity of male sex work…