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

When you look into the history of menopause it’s steeped in misogyny, fear and demonising women’s bodies.  But what is the truth behind some of the popular menopause myths? How has it been understood (or misunderstood) throughout history? And how have post-menopausal women essential to human evolution?  Joining Kate today is Dr. Jennifer Gunter, author of the Menopause Manifesto and gyna...

There are many privileges that come with being a royal, but where do mistresses lay amongst these? If you'll excuse the pun. Charles II was notorious for the women in his life, from his wife Catherine to infamous mistresses like the formidable Nell Gwynn. What was in it for them? And how did they all get along? Joining Kate today is Linda Porter, author of Mistresses: Sex and Scandal at the Court...

What does it mean to be a geisha? How does someone become one? And how do they differ from sex workers? The geisha world is famously very secretive and private, and taking us into it today is Lesley Downer, who spent years befriending geishas in research for her book Geisha: The Secret History of a Vanishing World . This episode was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior...

Glass of meat wine, anyone? That's right, the Victorians loved a glass of meaty wine. They loved drinking so much that it became a moral panic, with whole movements of temperance cropping up around Britain. What was drinking culture really like in the Victorian and Edwardian Britain? Were women able to drink as much as men? And what exactly went into that meat wine? Helping Kate get to the bottom...

Elvis Presley embraced sexuality from the start. Rock n roll was not tame music, and neither were his early performances. So much so that he was nicknamed Elvis 'the pelvis' after early TV performances. But were his personal relationships and relationship with sexuality like? How did his relationship with his mother influence him? And how was his relationship with a 14 year old Priscilla seen at t...

If there’s one thing you’ll find out from this episode, it’s that the Ancient Greeks were better at philosophy than gynaecology. Struggling to conceive? You might be given a stuffed dead puppy to provoke fertility. Helping Kate make sense of Ancient Greek gynaecology today is Helen King, author of Hippocrates' Woman: Reading the Female Body in Ancient Greece . What questions will a visit to an Anc...

The Aztec Empire might conjure up images of human sacrifice. And whilst religious violence was part of their society, theirs was also a very egalitarian society where pleasure was valued and sexuality was an unashamed part of every day life. How was queerness perceived and represented in this period? What sexual freedoms did they enjoy? And what part did the Goddess of Filth play in their lives?!...

What is the origin of the word fetish? How did the war play a part in shaping fetishwear? And what are some of the styles that are most enjoyed? Kink and fetish scenes have been a part of society for years, and the clothing that participants wear is often very specific, and a key part of what makes them, well, effective.  It’s a fascinating history, and to explain it to us is Frenchy Lunning,...

The word drag is synonymous with flamboyant, fun performances. But where does the term come from and what does it mean?  This more modern story of playing with gender identity’s dates back to the 1870s, and it’s a history that takes in the wars, censorship and fears. Heaven forbid! Taking us through this fascinating history of drag as we know it today is Jacob Bloomfield, author of Drag:...

King James I was a man whose sexuality was known by people in France, let alone (the newly formed) Britain of the early 17th century. So it may come as no surprise that men, such as the handsome George Villiers, might use their sexuality to their advantage and gain status, money and power whilst romancing the king. Helping Kate explore the sex and scandal of the Jacobean court is Anthony Delaney,...

We think we know the Vikings, but how well do we really know them? From the insignia we think they wear, to the names they call themselves and the way they spoke to each other, there's a lot to uncover. Joining Kate today is Dr. Caitlin Ellis, historian and Associate Professor at the University of Oslo, to take us back to this world and find out more. This episode was edited and produced by Stuart...

Of all the taboo topics covered on Betwixt the Sheets, this one might make you wince the most. But it cannot be denied that poo and our management of it through history has massively shaped human civilisation. What are the evolutionary reasons why we're so repulsed? What would happen if you came across the Aztec poo goblin? And what does the future hold for us and our poo? Joining us today is the...

We've been fascinated by royalty for hundreds of years, but what do we know about their sex lives? Quite a lot, it turns out. Today we're revisiting an episode Kate recorded with bestselling author Eleanor Herman to find out about what it took to not just be a mistress of a royal, but keep competitors at bay, too. This episode was edited by Tom Delargy and Matt Peaty. It was produced by Stuart Bec...

Whilst ballet is undoubtedly one of the most graceful and elegant art forms, it also has a long and dark history of sexual exploitation. How did King Louis XIV's love of the ballet fundamentally change it? What was the patronage system and how did dancers use it to their advantage? And who were some of the female pioneers who embraced sexuality within the ballet? Joining Kate today is Deirdre Kell...

Abraham Lincoln is often thought of as the most loved president in America's history, but how much do we know about his personal life? Furthermore, how much do we know about his sexuality, and the potential he might have been gay? Joining Kate today are Callie Hawkins and Joan Cummins, who work at Lincoln Cottage , where he lived for over a quarter of his presidency. They also host their podcast,...

This is the story of one of the most notorious women of the Ancient world. Phrynne was a sex worker in the 4th century BC who came from an impoverished background to be one of the most talked about, and wealthiest, women in Greece. What do we know about her remarkable life? Was it true that by exposing her breasts in court, she was acquitted from a potential death penalty? And how has her influenc...

The Vikings have a fair claim to being the most overly-eroticised group of people in history. It's fair to say this is somewhat reductive. What forms did sexuality take in Viking society? How was magic a part of their understandings of sexuality? And what were their attitudes to sexual violence? Joining Kate today to tell us more is Marianne Hem Eriksen, Associate Professor of Archaeology at Leice...

Whether it's a declaration of love, anger or rebellion against the government, graffiti can give us incredible insight into the social history of everyday people. By the 18th century it's recognised by authorities a serious social problem and a threat to their positions of power. How was graffiti used to fuel political unrest? How was it used to aid the sex trade? And how was it used in solving a...

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. How did her visions of saving France from the English play a part in her life? Why was it significant that she wore men's clothes and led armies? And what's h...

Come with us back to Renaissance England, when writers were playing with ideas of sexuality in interesting ways. How much of a filth bag was Shakespeare? How did he play with the ideas of power dynamics for pleasure in his plays? And what were other writers doing to explore non-traditional ideas of sex, fantasy and desire? Joining Kate today are Joseph Gamble and Gillian Knoll, co-editors of the f...

Despite lawmakers best efforts, sex work has been around for since record began...and will certainly go back even further. We often explore the history of sex work in Europe, but what history does this huge industry have in America? How did the colonisation of America and the slave trade impact and shape it? And how did sex workers and brothels help in the American Civil War? Kate's joined by Kati...

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. What happened when Boudica launched a surprise attack on the Roman head...

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...

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. How were early sex dolls used to smuggle booze into Paris? What do the sex doll myths reve...

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. Ever wondered how sex work was viewed in Medieval times? Were attitudes more progressive then than they are now, even? Kate is joined by friend of the sh...