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

Latest Episodes:

Victorian Wardrobe Secrets Apr 14, 2023

Show notes

If someone from the future looked inside your wardrobe, what could they find out about your life? That you like going out to parties? Maybe your work uniform is in there? Or perhaps there is still evidence of fashion trends of yore, like the oh-so-low rise jeans of the early noughties….

We can find out so much about people, culture and society through our clothes, and it’s the same for our ancestors.

Today Kate is joined by fashion historian Dr Kate Strasdin Betwixt the Sheets to delve into the wardrobe secrets of a real life Victorian woman, from deadly dyes, to an actual pirate flag.

Senior Producer: Charlotte Long. Producer: Sophie Gee. Mixed by Joseph Knight.

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Bond Girls Apr 11, 2023

Show notes

‘Bond girl’ is quite a loaded term. Why aren’t they women? What makes them part of this homologous team? And what does it mean if they have red hair?

In this episode, Kate speaks to Dr Lisa Funnell, award winning author and expert on all things Bond. She is here to tell us about the different eras of Bond girls and why it’s so important to revisit our old favourites.

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Pete Dennis.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

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Sports Bra Apr 07, 2023

Show notes

REAL LIFE INVENTOR ALERT!!!

Two jockstraps cleverly sewn together. That was how the very first sports bra was made in 1977. The product built out from this prototype, the “Jog Bra”, went on to change women’s athletics forever.

Lisa Lindhal who, together with her friends Polly and Hinda, unleashed the sports bra on the world. In this episode from our sister podcast, Patented: History of Inventions, she spoke to Dallas Campbell .

The episode was produced by Freddy Chick. The editor was Anisha Deva. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.

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A History of the C-Word Apr 04, 2023

Show notes

WARNING: This episode includes adult content and explicit language. As offensive terms go, you are entering a hard hat area.

It’s one of the most taboo words in the English dictionary. In Scotland, it can be a term of endearment, but in the US it's one of the worst offences out there, and it would more than likely get you fired if you said it to your boss at work. It starts with c, and ends in t and we're not talking about a coconut.

Kate is joined Betwixt the Sheets for our 100th episode by our favourite Kathy Burke and linguist legend Professor Deborah Cameron to talk about the etymology and cultural meaning of the c-word.

Why is a word that simply means the vulva regarded as the most offensive word in the English language? Where does the word come from? And were medieval people really calling their children the c-bomb?

Senior Producer: Charlotte Long. Producer: Sophie Gee. Mixed by Stuart Beckwith.

For more History Hit content, subscribe to our newsletters here.

If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

Voting is now open for the Listener's Choice Award at this year's Podcast Awards! UK & Ireland listeners please place your vote on the Spotify mobile app here: https://open.spotify.com/s/xhg6PJa

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Early Modern Murder Mar 31, 2023

Show notes

What was the early modern version of CSI? Why might whole pubs have been singing an executed person’s final words? And was the crime of murder different back then?

In this episode, Kate spoke to Blessin Adams, a former member of the police who has been researching murders between the 16th and 18th centuries. Her book is called Great and Horrible News: Murder and Mayhem in Early Modern Britain.

*Warning - this episode contains mentions of murder, torture, infanticide, suicide, miscarriage, abortion and some gruesome details*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Sophie Gee.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

For more History Hit content, subscribe to our newsletters here.

Voting is now open for the Listener's Choice Award at this year's Podcast Awards! UK & Ireland listeners please place your vote on the Spotify mobile app here: https://open.spotify.com/s/xhg6PJa

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pestle or Sex Toy? The Roman 'Dildo' Mar 28, 2023

Show notes

You may have seen the news that archaeologists have been reassessing a phallic object from Vindolanda Roman Fort in the north of Britain.

How does the saying go ... "If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck." Do you think this counts for d*cks too?

Today, Kate is talking to Rob Collins to find out how we can prove what an ancient artefact was actually used for.

*WARNING there are adult words and themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Joseph Knight

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

For more History Hit content, subscribe to our newsletters here.

Voting is now open for the Listener's Choice Award at this year's Podcast Awards! UK & Ireland listeners please place your vote on the Spotify mobile app here: https://open.spotify.com/s/xhg6PJa

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sordid Soho Mar 24, 2023

Show notes

From the Chevalier de Saint-Georges to the Merry Monarch to Madame Jojo and Madame Trenti, the district of Soho in London has played host to many of the naughtiest names in history. And now, we can include Kate Lister on that list.

In this episode, join us for a walking tour of Soho with Katie Wignall from Look Up London. You can even follow along, just start off at the black and white hut on Soho Square: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1BQRD8E6Joc1xEniGomROdGSyKX6OLf0&usp=sharing

*WARNING there are adult words and themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Anisha Deva.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

For more History Hit content, subscribe to our newsletters here.

Voting is now open for the Listener's Choice Award at this year's Podcast Awards! UK & Ireland listeners please place your vote on the Spotify mobile app here: https://open.spotify.com/s/xhg6PJa

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lord Byron: Incest, Adultery & Daddy Issues Mar 21, 2023

Show notes

How debaucherous do you have to be to be remembered as the original bad boy? How mad, bad and dangerous to know was Lord Byron? And how much of it did he get from his family?

For this episode, Kate is joined by Emily Brand, the author of ‘The Fall of the House of Byron: Scandal and Seduction in Georgian England’. From incest to murder - this family must have made for a very awkward dinner party.

Poems by George Gordon Byron read by Matt Lewis: ‘So, We’ll Go No More A Roving’ and lines 1089 to 1096 of Don Juan, canto 2.

*WARNING there are adult words and themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Sophie Gee.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

For more History Hit content, subscribe to our newsletters here.

Voting is now open for the Listener's Choice Award at this year's Podcast Awards! UK & Ireland listeners please place your vote on the Spotify mobile app here: https://open.spotify.com/s/xhg6PJa

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Female Nudity & Modesty Mar 17, 2023

Show notes

Why is the naked body of a life model more respected than a glamour model? Why has there been a resurgence in virtue policing? And why was Kate completely naked during the interview with today’s guest?!

Today we’re casting off our clothes and slipping Betwixt the Sheets with academic, feminist, economist and naked protestor, Victoria Bateman.Hear about the cyclical nature of modesty culture in Ancient Egypt and Babylonia right up to now, and find out about society’s hypocritical attitudes towards women’s bodies.

You can find out more about Victoria’s book here.

Produced by Charlotte Long. Mixed by Stuart Beckwith.

Voting is now open for the Listener's Choice Award at this year's Podcast Awards! UK & Ireland listeners please place your vote on the Spotify mobile app here: https://open.spotify.com/s/xhg6PJa

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Medieval Women: Beauty, Work & Pubic Hair Mar 14, 2023

Show notes

How would a medieval woman achieve a Brazilian bikini line? Why can’t you trust a nun in the night time? And what were women doing at Medieval universities?

Kate is joined for the THIRD time by Eleanor Janega to talk about how women were expected to be in the medieval era, and how they actually were. From biology to appearance to careers, it’s time to shed light on this half of the medieval population.

Eleanor has just released a new book, ‘The Once and Future Sex: Going Medieval on Women's Roles in Society’.

*WARNING there are adult words and themes in this episode*

Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Sophie Gee.

Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

For more History Hit content, subscribe to our newsletters here.

Voting is now open for the Listener's Choice Award at this year's Podcast Awards! UK & Ireland listeners please place your vote on the Spotify mobile app here: https://open.spotify.com/s/xhg6PJa

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.