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Every episode
Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society
30 episodes
History's Deadliest Women: The Husband Killer
Ep 451 · Aug 14, 2026 · 52 min
Until the 19th century in Britain, a woman killing her husband was guilty of worse than murder, she was guilty of petty treason. So what is petty treason? What is its very harsh punishment? And why was women killing their husbands so terrifying? Kate is joined by Rose Wallis, a social historian of crime, criminal justice and social protest at the University of the West of England. They discuss the particular case of Elizabeth Herring, and why she ended up at the stake. This episode was edited by…
The Scandalous Affair of Lord Nelson & Emma Hamilton
Ep 450 · Aug 11, 2026 · 49 min
Lord Nelson is remembered as one of history's greatest military commanders. His victories at the Battle of the Nile, the Battle of Copenhagen and the Battle of Trafalgar cemented his legendary status, as did his dramatic death mid-battle. But there's another side to Nelson's story: his extraordinary love affair with Emma Hamilton. Today, Kate explores the scandalous relationship between Britain's greatest naval hero and his famous mistress, and asks how their spouses reacted to their very open r…
The Mystic Nun Killed By Henry VIII
Ep 449 · Aug 7, 2026 · 47 min
As if the Tudor world wasn't mad enough, in 1528 a mystic nun showed up demanding an audience with Henry VIII. Elizabeth Barton stood in front of him and told him that his controversial marriage to Anne Boleyn would make God strike him down. Did Barton survive this? Well, what do you think. As the only nun executed in English history, what was her origin story? How did she become so famous? And if her visions weren't real, why would she be faking them? Joining Kate today is author and historian…
Sex Lives of the Samurai
Ep 448 · Aug 4, 2026 · 45 min
The samurai are some of the most mythologised people in history, so let's do some myth busting! Kate is joined by Joe Nickols, who co-curated the British Museum's samurai exhibition, to dive into the real lives of the samurai. How much fighting did they actually do? Could women be samurais? And what did they use for lube? Voting is now open for the Listener's Choice Award at this year's Podcast Awards. Click to place your vote on the Spotify mobile app: https://open.spotify.com/s/xhg6PJa This ep…
Medieval Europe's Biggest Sex Scandal
Ep 447 · Jul 31, 2026 · 41 min
This is the wild story of a 12th century French philosopher, Abelard, who fell in love with his student, Heloise. There are a lot of problematic issues going on. Not least their age gap, the resulting power dynamic, and, oh yes—Abelard was castrated. So why does this love story endure? Joining Kate today is the fantastic Dr Eleanor Janega, historian, author and co-host of our sister podcast Gone Medieval. Voting is now open for the Listener's Choice Award at this year's Podcast Awards. Click to…
The Truth About Coco Chanel
Ep 446 · Jul 28, 2026 · 46 min
You know her from the perfume, the little black dress, the double C bag clasp, but who was the woman, Coco Chanel? What even was her real name? From her origin story, through her inspirations and affairs, to her connections to the Nazi party - today we find out more about Chanel. Kate is joined by NYT columnist Rhonda Garelick, author of 'Mademoiselle: Coco Chanel and the Pulse of History' and founding director at Hofstra's Institute for Public Humanities and the Arts. Voting is now open for the…
Britain's Most Scandalous Queen
Ep 445 · Jul 24, 2026 · 53 min
‘Who wants a girl with a personality?’ Historically, not the royals. Queen Caroline of Brunswick became Queen Consort of the United Kingdom in 1820, when her husband became King George IV. She was incredibly popular with the public, but unfortunately not so much with her husband, who had hated her from the start (the feeling was mutual). Today, Kate is joined by Ann Foster to tease apart all of the wild parties, pranks, adultery, accusations of adultery and actual mob violence involved in the li…
Why Catherine Howard Lost Her Head
Ep 444 · Jul 21, 2026 · 53 min
Poor Catherine Howard. She was smart, intelligent and undeniably beautiful, but ultimately no match for the vicious Henry VIII. She was certainly a victim but was she totally blameless? Joining Kate today is the always-fabulous historian Gareth Russell, author of Young and Damned and Fair: The Life of Catherine Howard, Fifth Wife of King Henry VIII, to help us find out more about this short-lived Queen of England. Voting is now open for the Listener's Choice Award at this year's Podcast Awards.…
The Truth About Pablo Picasso
Ep 443 · Jul 17, 2026 · 47 min
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 some problematic moments, to say the least, so we are asking if you can - or even if you should - separate the art from the artist. Joining Kate today is author and Harvard professor, Suzanne Blier, to help us navigate this and find out more about Pablo Picasso. Voting is now open for the Listener's Choice Award at this year's Podcast Awards. Click here…
Sex Work in Soviet Russia
Ep 442 · Jul 14, 2026 · 41 min
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 need to exist in society. Spoiler: it very much still existed. How were sex workers treated in Soviet Russia? Why were they glamourised? And what's the sex industry like in Russia today? Joining Kate today is expert on all of this and more, Professor Emily Schuckman Matthews, to take us back to Soviet Russia. This episode was edited by Tim Ar…
Why Helen Of Troy Is The Real Star Of 'The Odyssey'
Ep 441 · Jul 10, 2026 · 47 min
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 mother, after all. With the new film Odyssey hitting the big screen, find out all about the formidable Helen of Troy who was supposedly the most beautiful woman in the world and caused the Trojan War. Joining Kate today is Ruby Blondell, Professor of Classics at University of Washington and author of two books on Helen of Troy. This episode was edited by Tim…
The Most Badass Dragon Slayers in History
Ep 440 · Jul 7, 2026 · 48 min
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 with a massive sword. However, throughout history we have amazing myths of women dragon slayers. What are the ancient origins of the dragon? How do women dragon slayers differ from their male counterparts? And what genitals do medieval dragons have?! Joining Kate today is historian and author Jasmine Elmer, to get to know these historical stories and the r…
Sex Lives of American Presidents
Ep 439 · Jul 3, 2026 · 36 min
With the Fourth of July and America's 250th around the corner we wanted to revisit an episode and take a look back at the presidents from the past what we know about their sex lives. Which president was well-endowed and supposedly presented it to staff in the Oval Office? Which president had an affair on his honeymoon? And which had an affair with his wife's secretary? And no, they're not all JFK. Joining Kate today to help us find out is Eleanor Herman, author of Sex with Presidents: The Ins an…
Lesbian Blood Sisters of the HIV Crisis
Ep 438 · Jun 30, 2026 · 44 min
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 developed severe anaemia as a result of the disease and the treatments available at the time, leaving them dependent on regular blood transfusions. But where would the blood come from, especially with gay men being turned away from donating? In this episode, we're exploring one of the most inspiring examples of solidarity between lesbians and gay men in modern…
Supersluts of History: Hollywood's Marlene Dietrich
Ep 437 · Jun 26, 2026 · 49 min
Marlene Dietrich was unapologetic in her love of sex, and she had a lot of it. She took Hollywood by storm in the 1930s and slept with some of tinsel town's most famous men and women. What made her so unique and create such a legacy? As a sexually liberated German woman what did the Nazis make of her? And did she really sleep with JFK and his father?! This is the final instalment of our mini-series, Supersluts of History, where we're exploring and celebrating women whose sexuality was used to de…
Sex Work in the Klondike Gold Rush
Ep 436 · Jun 23, 2026 · 39 min
Why on earth would anyone make a perilous journey across wilderness and snow covered mountains, all because of a bit of gold? This isn't Lord of the Rings, it's the Klondike Gold Rush, when an estimated hundred thousand people made the journey across Alaska to goldfields in the Klondike region, Canada. Among them, women. But why did women make this journey? How much of their work was sex work? Kate is joined by Brian Castner for this episode about life in the Alaskan Gold Rush. Brian is the auth…
Supersluts of History: First World War Spy Mata Hari
Ep 435 · Jun 19, 2026 · 55 min
Mata Hari was a dancer and courtesan who was executed in 1917 for being a spy during the First World War. How did she get involved in such dangerous business? Was she really a mastermind spy who used her sexuality to gain intelligence? Or a scapegoat whose sexuality was used against her? In our new mini-series, Supersluts of History, we're exploring and celebrating women whose sexuality was used to define them. Joining Kate today is Professor Julie Wheelwright, author of The Fatal Lover: Mata Ha…
A Teasing History Of Burlesque
Ep 434 · Jun 16, 2026 · 53 min
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 Professor of Art History at Utah State University, to find out more about how burlesque has become the art form it is today. This episode was edited by Tim Arstall. The producer was Sophie Gee. The senior producer was Freddy Chick. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sig…
Supersluts of History: Royal Mistress Madam du Barry
Ep 433 · Jun 12, 2026 · 46 min
Madam du Barry's life was remarkable: from rags, to riches, to... revolution. And she pi**ed off Marie Antoinette along the way, too. How did this courtesan from a poor background make it to be royal mistress in Versailles? How did the French Revolution impact her? And what her 'special talents' that attracted King Louis XV? In our new mini-series, we're exploring and celebrating women whose sexuality was used to define them. Joining Kate today is historian and author Professor Christine Adams,…
The Truth about Adam & Eve
Ep 432 · Jun 9, 2026 · 44 min
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 questions and more, Kate is joined by Dr Dylan Johnson, biblical scholar and historian of the Ancient Near East at Cardiff University. His most recent publication is 'Lawgiving in the ancient Near East'. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.c…
Supersluts of History: Roman Empress Theodora
Ep 431 · Jun 5, 2026 · 40 min
In this new mini-series, we're exploring and celebrating women whose sexuality was used to define them. First up is Roman Empress Theodora. How did "Theodora from the brothels", as she was known, rise to be the most powerful woman across the Roman Empire? Joining Kate today is author Stella Duffy, to take us back to the 6th century and help us get to know Theodora's incredible story. This episode was edited by Tim Arstall. The producer was Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Freddy Chick. S…
Sex & Pleasure in the Ancient World
Ep 430 · Jun 2, 2026 · 45 min
Sex in the distant past is often thought about with all the fun taken out of it. Pleasure must have been a part of the sex lives of women and men in the past, so what evidence do we have to back this up? What evidence of queer sex and attraction is there? And how did the Victorians try to cover up sex and pleasure in Ancient Greece and Rome? Joining Kate today is the wonderful historian and author Jean Menzies, whose new book explores all of this and more. *TW: sexual violence discussed at the s…
How to Get Cancelled in Hollywood's Golden Age
Ep 429 · May 29, 2026 · 41 min
How do you not only lose your own reputation and career, but also tank the reputation and freedoms of your entire industry? Today we’re exploring the first real Hollywood scandal, when actor Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle was accused of assault and manslaughter. Though he was acquitted in court, Arbuckle nearly lost everything. In recent years it has been argued that this was unfair, but we aren't so sure. Kate finds out more in this episode with author and film critic Mick LaSalle. This episode was ed…
The Most Feared Sex Act In History
Ep 428 · May 26, 2026 · 31 min
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 consistently throughout history?! When the Kama Sutra is turning its back on it, you know something is up. Today is a special solo episode where Kate takes you through the history of cunnilingus, to find out why this sex act has been so insulting, demonised and feared. This episode a special celebration of Kate's new book, Flick: The Story of Female Pleasure,…
How to Get Cancelled in the Tudor Court
Ep 427 · May 22, 2026 · 37 min
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 man came between loving cousins, and explore whether getting with your friend's crush has EVER been acceptable. This episode was edited by Hannah Feodorov. The producer was Sophie Gee. The senior producer was Freddy Chick. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up…
The Elusive Female Orgasm with Dan Snow
Ep 426 · May 19, 2026 · 35 min
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. When was the first recorded female orgasm? Has there always been an orgasm gap? And is there any possibility of it closing? Kate's new book is 'FLICK: The Story of Female Pleasure'. This episode was edited by Hannah Feodorov. The producer was Sophie Gee. The senior producer was Freddy Chick. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original docum…
How to Get Cancelled as a Medieval Mistress
Ep 425 · May 15, 2026 · 54 min
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 Alice Perrers? Kate is joined by the one and only Eleanor Janega to find out how Alice rose to power, and what brought her down? Eleanor is one of the hosts of our sister podcast, Gone Medieval, and the author of 'The Once and Future Sex: Going Medieval on Women's Roles in Society'. This episode was edited by Hannah Feodorov. The producer was Sophie…
A History of Homophobia
Ep 424 · May 12, 2026 · 48 min
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 'The Queer Thing About Sin: Why the West Came to Hate Queer Love'. Harry has been exploring ancient and biblical sources to find out where homophobia began, and why it seems to intensify in times of inequality. This episode was edited by Tim Arstall. The producer was Sophie Gee. The senior producer was Freddy Chick. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of ho…
How to Get Cancelled in Ancient Judea
Ep 423 · May 8, 2026 · 49 min
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 record for the events of the New Testament, why Jesus was persecuted, and who by. Helen is Professor of Christian Origins at the University of Edinburgh, and co-hosts the Biblical Time Machine Podcast. This episode was edited by Hannah Feodorov. The producer was Sophie Gee. The senior producer was Freddy Chick. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of ho…
The Fake Princess Who Fooled Georgian England
Ep 422 · May 5, 2026 · 50 min
What you'll hear in today's episode is a story that strikes to the dark heart of the British Empire. Despite being set in the time of Jane Austen's early 19th century polite society, Princess Caraboo's strange tale makes her an instant celebrity. But how much of it, if any, is true? Where does it lead? And what happens when the truth is a lot darker than the lie? Joining Kate today is the wonderful Dr. Maddy Pelling, co-host of After Dark and author of Hoax: Truth and Lies in the Age of Enlighte…
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