The History of Sex

Two-Spirit: The Lakota Winkte - Sex on the Great Plains Oct 03, 2022

What does it mean to be Two-Spirit? The film The Miseducation of Cameron Post likens it to being a "Native American David Bowie," but that's a far cry. What does it really mean? And what is the Two-Spirit tradition of the Lakota, the winkte?

Episode theme music courtesy of the The Eagle and the Raven Band, featuring Ki' Earth Spirit.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Europe’s Third Gender: Byzantine Court Eunuchs - Showcase, Feat. Dead Ideas Sep 05, 2022

Did you know that Europe had its own third gender tradition, which arose, flourished, and then disappeared over the span of a few centuries? In the Byzantine Empire, this third gender was called a eunuch. They began as exotic imports from abroad, but quickly became a local tradition both feared and respected, reviled and adored, devilish and angelic.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Were Lakota Women Slaves to their Husbands? - Sex on the Great Plains Aug 01, 2022

19th-century writers called Lakota women virtually enslaved to their husbands, but were they? Or were they skilled artisans, valued by the community, and empowered within their marriages? It turns out the working woman of the modern West owes much to the skilled craftswoman of the Great Plains.

Special thanks to Dr. Jon Cleland Host for help in the preparation of this episode. Episode theme music courtesy of the The Eagle and the Raven Band, featuring Ki' Earth Spirit.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

To Save the Lakota: An Interview with Dr. Jeff Means - Sex on the Great Plains Jul 04, 2022

If you had to choose between giving up your way of life or facing the death of your people, what would you do? What if it meant having to give up ever feeling like a man, a woman, or your authentic self again? Lakota historian Jeff Means is here to helps us understand that question.

How the Lakota Became Cowboys - Sex on the Great Plains Jun 06, 2022

After hunting bison for centuries, the Lakota suddenly switched to cattle in the late 19th century. Why did they hunt cattle? Why was it crucial to maintaining the gender norms of Lakota men, women, and those Two-Spirit folk called the winkte? And why was the cattle hunt their last best hope for survival? Special thanks to Dr. Jeff Means, Dr. Jon Cleland Host, and Neil McKay for help in the preparation of this series. Episode theme music courtesy of the Battling Sioux Singers.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

When Nip Slips Were Normal - Showcase, Feat. Dead Ideas May 02, 2022

Today, female toplessness is taboo in Western culture, but did you know that until quite recently indeed, showing nip was normal? Not only was it normal, but it was often the height of fashion. Noble women and even queens all sported this particular wardrobe choice. So, when did this begin, and how did it come to be taboo? We find out in this showcase episode from Dead Ideas.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

This Time For Me: An Interview with Transparent Star Alexandra Billings Apr 04, 2022

What would it be like to live through almost the entire recent history of the transgender movement, from near-complete marginalization in the 1960s to glimmers of mainstream acceptance in the present? Alexandra Billings, who plays Davina on the hit TV show Transparent, did just that. We talk to her about her new memoir This Time For Me, which tells one person’s experiences from the 60s through today.

Featuring a rendition of "Over the Rainbow" by pianist Christopher-Joel Carter, IV.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Was the West Gay? - Sex in the Wild West Mar 07, 2022

Were there queer folks in the Wild West? We address comments made by actor Sam Elliot about the "evisceration of the American myth" by the new Western film The Power of the Dog, and take a look at the hard evidence for queer folks on the frontier.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

No Home on the Range? The Black Cowboy’s Short-lived Glory - Sex in the Wild West Feb 07, 2022

Is it just me, or does the image of the cowboy feel Whiter than White? Yet, in actual history, 1 out of 4 cowboys was Black. The Wild West was surprisingly welcoming in some ways to African Americans, except when it came to interracial sex. And sex may be why it now feels like cowboys were all one skin tone. How did fears of miscegenation ultimately lead to the whitewashing of the Western genre?

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Cowboy Cross-dressers - Sex in the Wild West Jan 03, 2022

Calamity Jane, Little Joe Monahan, and Mrs. Nash... What was life like for those who dared to cross-dress in the Wild West? Why were their stories twisted to fit an emerging American mythos in the 20th century? And what does that say about how we view cross-dressing today?

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Funny Skits Compilation 2021 (Holiday Special) Dec 25, 2021

So uh... 2021, huh folks? What can I say, well... at least it was better than 2020, right? And actually it was a pretty decent year for us as a show, with some significant milestones. Come celebrate with us with a retrospective of all the skits from this year, plus a new one as a special treat just for you.

Thank you to Myuu for this episode's theme music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz_quOg7tQQ

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

The Bisexual Superpower: An Interview with Jen Winston Dec 06, 2021

If your sexuality had a superpower, what would it be? That's kind of an odd question, so let me go first. For Jen Winston, author of the new book Greedy, their bisexuality's superpower is a kind of vision, vision that allows a person to see things that other folks may struggle to see. Jen is here to tell you all about that, and a whole lot more as well.

Featuring the song "Gettin' Bi" by Peter Haydon and James J. Dominguez.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Go West, Young Woman - Sex in the Wild West Nov 01, 2021

What was life like in the Wild West for women? As it turns out, it was a surprisingly progressive place in terms of women's rights. Women could divorce more easily, own property, claim a homestead, open a business, and in some territories even vote. So how did it get to be as progressive as it was?

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

The Myth of the Manly Cowboy - Sex in the Wild West Oct 04, 2021

At the heart of American masculinity lies the cowboy, a loner heartthrob who pulls himself up by his own bootstraps, rides off into the sunset, and don't need no help from nobody. Except he wasn't. Actual historical cowboys were nothing like that. So what were they really like?

Special thanks to Gregory Hinton of the Out West exhibit and the Autry Museum of the American West for help in researching this series.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

The History of Gay Porn, Feat. The History of Gay Sex Sep 06, 2021

Today's showcase episode traces the evolution of obscenity laws and the struggles of a community to obtain the kind of sex-positive, identity-affirming erotic material that most of us today of all orientations pretty much take for granted. Well, it wasn’t always that way, especially for gays. In fact, it was a long and tumultuous road, involving some deliciously back-alley twists and turns. Stuart of The History of Gay Sex will tell you all about it.

Find The History of Gay Sex on your favorite podcast platform or on Instagram at @historyofgaysex.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

The Sex and Gender of Yours Truly (100K Download Special) Aug 02, 2021

We've looked at sex and gender all across history, but what about me? What's my sex and gender? How do I attempt to live out a non-toxic straight male masculinity in the modern era? It's an exclusive tell-all exposé today as we celebrate 100,000 downloads.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Male Witches - Viking Gender Benders Jul 05, 2021

The seiðmaðr was a male witch, and when you think of witches as women, that’s how the Norse thought of them too. These men defied their culture’s gender norms, and for it they received ridicule, not unlike the phenomenon today of bronies – you know, guys who are really into My Little Pony. What was it like for these gender-defiant Norse spell-slingers? Were they essentially the bronies of the Viking world? This episode is sponsored by Manscaped. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

OG Gays in the Military: Ancient Greece's Sacred Band of Thebes: An Interview with James Romm Jun 07, 2021

The Sacred Band of Thebes, comprised entirely of gay male lovers, was Ancient Greece’s original response to the gays in the military question. What was that like? How did it function? And what was its lasting legacy? That’s what we’re going to find out today, just in time for Pride Month. Here to help us do it is classicist James Romm, author of The Sacred Band: Three Hundred Theban Lovers Fighting to Save Greek Freedom.

By the way, the New Yorker article referenced in the episode is "Ancient Greece's Army of Lovers" by Daniel Mendelsohn.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg and get a hand-drawn portrait. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Victorian Secret: Vice in the Victorian Era May 10, 2021

We all know the Victorians were notorious prudes about sex, right? But was that really true? Well, yes and no. The truth is, they were both prudish and prurient. The age of Victoria was bursting at the seams with variety as people coped with a new, massively urbanized world. Much of the consternation about sex was a reaction to the changes brought about by the that urbanization.

This episode is sponsored by MANSCAPED.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Shieldmaidens - Viking Gender Benders Apr 05, 2021

Viking warrior women were not common, but they did probably exist. And they went against the gender norms of their day. Such brave swordswomen were, in fact, gender benders. And perhaps some of them may even have been what we would today call transgender. These warriors rocked the longboat of their day’s norms.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

The History of Bras, Feat. The Exploress Mar 01, 2021

From the practical sports bra to Victoria’s secret to Lady Gaga’s fire-spitting pyro bra, the brassiere has become a cornerstone of modern women’s wear. But where did these little lovelies come from? Here to tell you the story is Kate of The Exploress.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

How to Be a Black Man in the Civil War Union Army: An Interview with Verb Washington Feb 01, 2021

What was it like for Black men who fought in the American Civil War? Why did they fight for a racist country, and what did this act mean for their sense of manhood? Here today to help us understand the perspective of these Black soldiers is military scholar Versalle F. Washington, who prefers to go by "Verb." His book Eagles On Their Buttons, tells the story of the 5th Ohio Regiment of Black soldiers in the Civil War, and dwells repeatedly on themes of masculinity and what service meant to these men.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Our Gender Future: How Will Gender Change in the 2020s? Jan 01, 2021

How will gender norms change in the 2020s? That is the question I posed to you, dear listener, yesterday. You can chime in on Facebook where we are @historyofsexpod. Meanwhile, here are my Top 5 predictions for changes by the end of this decade.

Special thanks to all those who provided answers to the question for this episode!

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Funny Skits Compilation 2020 (New Years Special) Dec 31, 2020

2020 is almost over. We’re counting down the final hours. And here to help you do it are all the funny skits of our show from 2020. Happy New Year, everybody! Plus, updates on the show, and a question for you to answer!

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Evolved to Go Down? The History of Oral Sex Dec 21, 2020

Why do we go down on each other? Are we evolved for oral sex? Find out in today's stimulating episode.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Women of the Maori, Feat. History of Aotearoa New Zealand Dec 07, 2020

What was life like for women in New Zealand before the arrival of Europeans? The Maori are the main indigenous people of Aotearoa, or what we now call New Zealand, and the experience of Maori women was in many ways strikingly different. Here to tell us all about it is Thomas of the podcast History of Aotearoa New Zealand.

This episode has been sponsored by LetsGetChecked. Go to www.trylgc.com/btnewberg and use code “history” to get 20% off your purchase.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

The Etymology of Sex, Feat. The Endless Knot Nov 02, 2020

Do you spend a lot of time thinking about sex? (the word, that is!) How did we get our English word “sex”? Aven and Mark of the podcast The Endless Knot are here to help us find out. Today, we unearth the etymology of sex.

This episode has been sponsored by LetsGetChecked. Go to www.trylgc.com/btnewberg and use code “history” to get 20% off your purchase.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

The History of Tomboys: An Interview with Lisa Selin Davis Oct 05, 2020

When her six-year-old daughter first called herself a “tomboy”, Lisa Selin Davis had to ask herself what that word meant. Davis launched a deep exploration of gender and gender nonconformity, and discovered the tomboy label is both empowering for some and problematic for others.

Also featuring Youtube creators Kjones and Elohm's Eye.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Toxic Masculinity and Masks in the Age of COVID-19 Aug 31, 2020

If you were in doubt about whether masculinity can be toxic, well, it’s plenty clear now. Numerous studies have shown that men are far less likely to wear masks than women. This masculine behavior is literally toxic. Or... biohazardous? Anyway...

Why are men more likely to go maskless in public? What does it have to do with masculinity, and what can we do to be real men with masks?

This episode has been sponsored by LetsGetChecked. Go to www.trylgc.com/btnewberg and use code "history" to get 20% off your purchase.

Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Was Queen Elizabeth Actually a Man? Feat. Our Fake History Jun 29, 2020

What if Queen Elizabeth had been a man? We dive into this bizarre idea in today’s showcase episode, courtesy of Sebastian Major of Our Fake History.

Our Fake History is a podcast that explores myths people think are history and history that might be hidden in myths. At the heart of today’s episode is gender: the idea that maybe Queen Elizabeth was really a man.

Now, is that preposterous? Yeah, probably. Deliciously preposterous. But what’s great about it is what it teaches us along the way: we’ll learn about the struggles Elizabeth faced as a woman, the sexism of her age and the centuries after when this theory was being bandied about.

This episode has been sponsored by LetsGetChecked. Go to www.trylgc.com/btnewberg and use code "history" to get 20% off your purchase.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Report from Minneapolis: Making Sense of the Riots Over George Floyd's Death May 30, 2020

My city is on fire today. This is day four of the riots in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police. And everyone around me is saying, “I’m angry too, but why destroy your own community? It doesn’t make sense.”

But is there another way to look at it? In this episode, I share first-hand reports of the riots as well as experiences of income disparity in local schools. By looking behind the violence to the roots of disadvantage, can we turn confusion into empathy?

For references, credits, and more, visit our website at www.historyofsex.com.

The First Bisexual Erasure? - Sex in the Third Reich May 25, 2020

Why didn't the Nazis make an exception for bisexuals? They could have helped raise the birth rate as much as anyone else, yet they were persecuted alongside homosexuals without distinction. Was this an early form of bisexual erasure? And what is bisexual erasure anyway?

This episode has been sponsored by LetsGetChecked. Go to www.trylgc.com/btnewberg and use code "history" to get 20% off your purchase.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Wolves in Women‘s Clothing? Cross-dressing in the German Army - Sex in the Third Reich May 18, 2020

Pages upon pages of photos of Nazi soldiers... in drag - that's what's in Martin Dammann's book Soldier Studies: Cross-dressing in der Wermacht. Were the Nazis more diverse than we ever thought? Or is there something more insidious lurking here? Today we take a look at the situation in which cross-dressers found themselves in the Third Reich.

This episode has been sponsored by LetsGetChecked. Go to www.trylgc.com/btnewberg and use code "history" to get 20% off your purchase.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Is Lesbian Sex ”Real” Sex? - Sex in the Third Reich May 11, 2020

Of course lesbian sex is "real" sex! Why wouldn't it be? Yet the rabidly homophobic Nazis declined to prosecute lesbian sodomy charges, apparently on the grounds that it wasn't. Moreover, most of Western history agreed: without penetration, lesbian sex was not "real" sex. How could this be? Discover the history of views toward female-female sex from the ancient world to today.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Were There Gays in the Ranks? - Sex in the Third Reich May 04, 2020

Were there really gays in the Nazi party, even though they sent thousands of homosexuals to concentration camps or worse? Yes. In fact, Ernst Röhm, the second most powerful man in the party in the early years, was gay - and a close friend of Hitler's. How could this be?

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

How Aztecs Make Babies Apr 27, 2020

What if you got the birds and the bees talk from Aztec parents? How different would it be? Answer: quite different indeed. Among the other things needed to make a baby besides "loving each other very much", are ritual, sacrifice, and sweeping. How does that work?

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Were Early Peruvians Obsessed With Blowjobs? The Moche Sex Pots Apr 20, 2020

What can we really learn about a culture from its artistic depictions of sex? To look at the pottery of the Moche from the north coast of Peru, you would think that these people must have been obsessed with blowjobs. And backdoor stuff. And, well, a whole lot else too. But does this tell us how they got their rocks off? Or is it more complicated than that?

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

How to Be a Man in Civil War America Apr 13, 2020

Hey, did you catch the ultimate fighting match last week, you know the one where they gouged each other’s eyes out? Um, no, you probably didn’t, because that doesn’t happen today. But it did happen in the 19th century.

What did it mean to be a man in the era of the Civil War? To be a man – an American man – was to be independent, and this was displayed by control over your own body up to and including risking getting your eyes gouged out in a brawl. But that meant different things for different people. What did it mean for Southern as opposed to Northern men? Working class vs. middle class? Or White and Black?

Credit goes to Dig: A History Podcast for doing most of the research for this episode. Their episode "Patriarchs, Brawlers, and Gentleman: Manhood in the Civil War Era" was originally intended to air as a showcase episode on our feed, but the deal fell through due to book-industry politics out of both of our hands. This episode covers similar ground in a different fashion.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

The First Intersex in Colonial America: The Case of Thomas/ine Hall Apr 06, 2020

In 1629, in colonial Virginia, there came before the courts one Thomas Hall. Or was it Thomasine Hall? That was the question. This was the first recorded intersex person in America - that is, apart from Native American traditions, of course (which we DO cover in this episode). The colonists didn't know what to do. Today, we're taking a look at perceptions of intersex in early colonial America, and all of the centuries of tradition that went into them, from ancient Greece up to the present.

To check out Hall's story for yourself, see The Minutes of the Council and General Court of Colonial Virginia.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Covid Cabana: Top 5 Ways to Have Fun Despite the Coronavirus Mar 27, 2020

This episode goes out to all of you at home out there during this pandemic, but we want to dedicate it especially to listener Owyn in Toronto, Canada. He’s faced a string of tough challenges recently, and now there’s the covid challenge on top of it all, but on the bright side, Owyn: it’s your 19th birthday today! Happy Covid 19th, Owyn!

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Promise Me You Will Stay Alive: Jewish Manhood During the Holocaust - Sex in the Third Reich Mar 23, 2020

How did Jewish men resist the Nazis? How did they bear up when the regime came for them and their families? How did they maintain their manhood as they were reduced to animals in the eyes of their oppressors?

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

A Few Good Mensches: How Jewish Men Fought for Freedom - Sex in the Third Reich Mar 16, 2020

Jewish masculinity changed dramatically in the modern era, going from intellectual to soldier. What was it like for them before and during the Nazi regime? And how did they fight back as the hate machine bore down on them and their families?

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

The Soldier-Father Contradiction - Sex in the Third Reich Mar 07, 2020

Can you be both a soldier and a father at the same time? How do you go to the front knowing you might never see your children again? Males in Nazi Germany were expected to do exactly that, so what was that like?

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Toxic Masculinity in Germany - Sex in the Third Reich Mar 02, 2020

How do you make a Nazi cry? It sounds like the setup to a joke, but it's no joke. Today, we explore the Nazi male, whose toxic masculinity was hard as Krupp steel. Yet even for these tough as nails men, there were times when it was okay to cry. What was it like for men in the Third Reich?

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Sappho and Same-sex Love in Ancient Greece, Feat. The Exploress Feb 24, 2020

Our theme this month has been the female body, so today we’re bringing you that lover of women’s bodies, Sappho. From the isle of Lesbos, from which we get our word lesbian, she has been renowned throughout history as a master of literature and a lover of other women, but what is the actual evidence that she took female lovers? And what were the attitudes toward same-sex love in ancient Greece, for women and for men? Kate of the podcast The Exploress is here to tell us all about that in today’s eloquent showcase episode.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Vagina Dentata: Reclaiming a Symbol of Power Feb 14, 2020

How do you reclaim a symbol of patriarchal oppression for women's empowerment? The 2007 movie Teeth attempts to do just this with the folklore motif of the vagina dentata, or toothed vulva. Today, we explore the folktales behind this myth and how this movie flips the script.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Hysteria and the Wandering Womb Feb 10, 2020

What is the oldest medical diagnosis in history? It's hysteria, the condition attributed to women's wombs wandering around their bodies causing trouble. Come explore the 4000-year history of this bizarre medical tradition.

NOTE: This episode has been updated to remove parts no longer supported by scholarly opinion.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Did Da Vinci Omit the Clit? A History of the Clitoris Feb 03, 2020

It's a mystery: in Leonardo Da Vinci anatomical study of the female sexual organs, there is no hint whatsoever of the clitoris. Did Da Vinci really not know about the clit? Or did nobody in Renaissance Italy know about it? How could a culture forget such a thing?

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Jazz Bond: Josephine Baker, Spy - Feat. Spy Stories - Sex in the Third Reich Jan 27, 2020

She was a jazz dancer, but also a spy? That's right. During WWII, Josephine Baker joined the French Resistance. Find out all about it in this episode from the podcast Spy Stories.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Swing Kids: Punk Sex Rebels of Germany - Sex in the Third Reich Jan 20, 2020

Was swing the original punk scene? The swing kids of Nazi Germany might make you wonder. They were rebellious, hip, and libertine, and gave the middle finger to fascism.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Was Jazz Worse Than Marilyn Manson? Fear of ”African” Music - Sex in the Third Reich Jan 13, 2020

Was jazz worse than Marilyn Manson? It's panic at the disco this week, as we explore how parents of Interwar Germany and beyond fretted over this African American-rooted music, which fostered a new sexual ethos.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Flapper Girls Vs. Octomoms - Sex in the Third Reich Jan 06, 2020

Why of all things were the Nazis terrified of the flapper girl? Find out how fear of die neue Frau or the "New Woman" led Nazis to construct their ideal woman as her opposite, and how they stamped her out by further vilifying Jews.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Business Nuns: Lady Tycoons of Ancient Mesopotamia? Feat. Dead Ideas Dec 30, 2019

A shockingly high number of clay tablet receipts for certain transactions bear the names of religious women living outside the patriarchal system. Was the naditum the lady tycoon of Ancient Mesopotamia?

Oh, and fun fact: it's also a brand of fashionable leather bags and luxury goods! I'm not kidding, they were inspired by the example of the ancient naditum - awesome, right? Check it out at naditum.com.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

The Oldest Transgender Tradition in History? The Gala of Ancient Sumer Dec 30, 2019

Boys don't cry, right? But the gala of Ancient Sumer did. In fact, they used a special dialect reserved for women to present as females when they sang lamentations in the temple. Could this be the oldest transgender tradition in history?

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

The History of Sex Toys: An Interview with Dr. Gillian Kenny Dec 23, 2019

We're picking up good vibrations, today, folks. We've got the sponsor of our show, Dr. Gillian Kenny, historian of women, sex, and magic in medieval Europe, to teach us about our tool-using species. Today, it's everything you always wanted to know about sex toys, but were afraid to ask!

Dr. Gillian Kenny is a research fellow at Trinity College in Dublin in the Center for Gender and Women’s Studies. She can be found on Twitter as @medievalgill.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Funny Skits Compilation 2019 (Holiday Special) Dec 23, 2019

A compilation? That's right. This is all the skits from our show this year, plus a few others of mine you may or may not have heard before, and one you definitely haven't heard before. Happy Holidays, everybody!

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

The Da Vinci Code of Ancient Sumer: Is Sex Sacred? Dec 16, 2019

Is sex sacred? Or at least, can it be? The Da Vinci Code revolves a secret sex ritual, but was there ever a time and place when such rituals were common? Welcome to Ancient Sumer.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Real Men Need Eunuchs: Ancient Assyrian Masculinity Dec 09, 2019

Why did eunuchs arise? And what does it have to do with the hyper-masculinity of ancient Assyria?

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Sex and the City (of Babylon) Dec 02, 2019

How did ancient peoples have sex? How much of our sexual repertoire - you know, the positions, techniques, and so on - varies across time? And how much stays the same? Today, we explore the bedrooms of ancient Babylonians, as revealed by a compendium of omens dealing with sex.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Whips, Chains, and... Meatballs? BDSM Today: An Interview with Rusty Nov 25, 2019

You know you've wondered... hmm, what would it be like to be whipped in front of a crowd of people? Or to hold the whip? The real thing may not be quite what you imagined. What is it really like to experience the BDSM community today? And can it tell us anything about those in the kink scene in Weimar Berlin? That's what we're exploring today with our interview with kink insider Rusty.

Rusty, who prefers she/her pronouns, has been an educator and speaker in both the kink and non-monogamous communities since mid-2016. She enjoys exploring personal dichotomies. For example, she is both an avid Rope Top (meaning she ties people up) and a submissive in a 24/7 TPE dynamic (or Total Power Exchange, i.e. the type of all-encompassing arrangement where one might have dominion over things like bedtime, finances, and multivitamins). She is passionate about diversity, inclusion, acceptance, consent, and personal accountability. In addition, she draws wisdom from over a decade in the recovery community and a background in critical sociolinguistics. She identifies as queer, kinky, non-binary, feminist, and an egalitarian polyamorist. She can be found on Fetlife as Mominant and her writings on ethical relationships can be found at the blog Poly With a Big Heart: http://www.polywithabigheart.com

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

When Jesus Was ”Aryan” - Sex in the Third Reich Nov 18, 2019

Was Jesus Aryan? Um... no, but believe it or not the Nazi state birthed a new religion that said yes. Oh, and in case you were wondering, yes it's a sex thing.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Nudism - Sex in the Third Reich Nov 11, 2019

Nazi nudism? Yup. As conservative as the Nazis were, they were not so with getting naked. How did body culture and nudism contribute to the Nazi aesthetic? Find out in this episode.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

How to Breed a Master Race - Sex in the Third Reich Nov 04, 2019

The Nazis were desperate for Aryan babies, and enacted whole national policies to get them. So how exactly did the Nazis try to raise the fertility rate? And did it work? Find out all about their grand laboratory experiment in this episode.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

A Real-life Handmaid‘s Tale - Sex in the Third Reich Nov 04, 2019

Germany of the Weimar Republic was one of the most sexually progressive countries in the world, but that all changed in 1933 when Hitler came to power. The Nazis enacted one of the most sexually oppressive programs the world has seen, all aimed at raising the fertility rate. Why did Hitler envision not so much a welfare state as a daycare state? Find out in this episode, the first in our super-deep dive series Sex in the Third Reich.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Linebacker Beauty Queen: Gender in American Football in the 1990s: An Interview with Joy Auburn Oct 28, 2019

What was it like to play on an American football team in the 1990s as a girl? Author Joy Auburn tells us what it was like for her, giving us a glimpse into gender in the 1990s.

Find Joy Auburn on Instagram as @authorjoyauburn.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

The History of Gay Bars, Feat. Born Yesterday Oct 21, 2019

They're nigh ubiquitous today, but where did they come from? And what struggles did people endure to make them happen? In our first showcase episode, Joey Brunelle of the podcast Born Yesterday tells us about three hundred years of drinking, dancing, and police raids. Find Joey at bornyesterdaypodcast.com.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

One Baby, One Father... Right? The Myth of Single Paternity Oct 14, 2019

Some Amazon tribes believe a child can have multiple fathers. Was it just pure luck that our Western belief in the single father turned out to be correct?

Please subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Why Do We Have Sex in Private? Oct 14, 2019

Is it just me, or is it weird that our species has sex in private? You would think it would be dangerous to leave the safety of the group to engage in an act that leaves you defenseless while you're doing it. So what's up with our penchant for privacy?

Please subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Primitive Polyamory? Sex at Dawn and the Canela Amazon Tribe Oct 14, 2019

Are we evolved to have multiple lovers at the same time?

Please subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

What the Zombie Apocalypse Teaches Us About Sex: Hunter-gatherers and the Walking Dead Oct 14, 2019

If we became hunter-gatherers again, how would our sex lives change?

Please subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

Introducing the History of Sex: Gender and Sex Across World History Oct 06, 2019

What is this show about? Find out what's in store. Welcome to The History of Sex. We explode gender norms by exploring their incredible variety across time.

You can find us at www.historyofsexpod.com, or on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest as @historyofsexpod, on Youtube as History of Sex Pod, or by email as historyofsexpod@gmail.com. Support us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg.

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