‘It’s my time of the month’, ‘the painters are in’, ‘aunt flo is visiting’, or a simple ‘I’m on the rag’Periods are a fact of life for so many people. So how have they been understood? How have they been talked about and concealed? And why have periods stopped so many people from going swimming?In this episode, Kate is joined by Elissa Stein, one of the authors of FLOW: the Cultural Story of Menstruation to find out how menstruation has been dealt with throughout history. This episode was requested by Betwixter Lisa. If you also have a request, please let us know at betwixt@historyhit.com.*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. 

The first series of Bridgerton broke viewership records and became the biggest series on Netflix ever when it first came out. But a raunchy period drama is nothing new, shows with an eroticised view of the past have always been popular. Think Game of Thrones, The Tudors, Peaky Blinders...they’re all at it!But can we even call Bridgerton history? How accurate is the series? From the fashion, to the sex, to the dental hygiene. Yep, we’re even going to be talking about dentures made from teeth taken from men who died at the Battle of Waterloo in this episode. Surprisingly the Bridgerton actors weren’t asked to rock a pair for filming the series.Today Kate is Betwixt the Sheets with historian Catherine Curzon find out the real Regency history behind Bridgerton.You can buy Catherine's book, Inside the World of Bridgerton: True Stories of Regency High Society here.Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Charlotte Long and Matt Peaty.For more History Hit content, subscribe to our newsletters here. 

In the UK, just over half of people above the age of 16 are married. Whether in a registry office, a place of worship or a remote beach somewhere sunny, each of these couples will have had to do some form of planning. Guest lists, cake, flowers and, of course, outfits.Today Betwixt the Sheets, Kate is speaking to Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell about wedding dresses. When might you have worn the same dress day to day? When did white become the norm in western countries? And what is a decoy bride?Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Joseph Knight. For more History Hit content, subscribe to our newsletters here. 

Clear soup, Irish stew and steamed puddings - this was the war work of Georgina Landemare, the Churchills’ longest-serving cook.Throughout the war years, Georgina served the Prime Minister, delegations of diplomats and the occasional royal, as well as the other staff of 10 Downing Street, Chequers and the War Rooms.Annie Gray is back with Kate today to introduce us to Georgina; why she went into the service industry, where she learnt to cook the French way, and how she managed to make the most of wartime rations (with a few top-ups here and there).*WARNING there are adult words and themes in this episode*Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Stuart Beckwith.Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.For more History Hit content, subscribe to our newsletters here.

Why are women over the age of 50 so often cast as terrifying, decaying, manipulative people in Hollywood? When did this start? And how might it have been a reaction to second wave feminism?In this episode, Kate is joined by Caroline Young to talk about the birth of Hagsploitation, or Hag Horror, and what it has meant for the women involved.*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.

She was a woman of unparalleled power, descended from Julius Caesar and Augustus. But how did she get there, whilst most of the rest of her family were exiled and starved to death? And how, then, did she come to be murdered by her own son, Nero?Today Kate is joined by Emma Southon for an introduction to this very powerful hustler, and to find out why she is so often remembered as a seductress.*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.

Why might a medieval nun drink the pus of an ill patient? Where does ‘fishy Friday’ come from? And what does all of this have to do with religion?Today, Kate is joined between some Reformation sheets by Eleanor Barnett, from instagram's @historyeats. They talk about how religion, and in particular the switch from Catholicism to Protestantism in England, influenced eating habits.We will also find out how eating habits from this period can be compared with those of today.Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Stuart Beckwith. Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.If you have an idea or comment for the show, we welcome you to get in touch at betwixt@historyhit.com.Sign up to History Hit with the code HISTORYEATS to get half price for the first three months.

Can you imagine being SO smooth-talking and seductive your surname becomes an actual noun in the dictionary to describe someone who has a reputation for being an expert at in the sack?Well today we’re going to be talking about a man who was just that…Giacamo Casanova.But is his legacy accurate? Was he really a prolific ladies man? And did he do anything else in his life other than seduce women…and if he did, why do we only remember him for that reason? Today we’re bringing you a very special Betwixt the Sheets mash-up episode with History Hit’s very own Casanova, Dan Snow (don’t worry he has humbly confirmed we could call him that).Kate and Dan will be discussing why there is much more to Casanova than just womanising - he was a scam artist, outlaw, alchemist, spy and church cleric. He wrote satires, fought duels, and escaped from prison more than once. He even set up the French national lottery. Join Kate and Dan for this special collab episode of History Hit in the Sheets to find out all this and more!Produced by Freddy Chick, Charlotte Long and Mariana Des Forges. Mixed by Dougal Patmore.Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.Email us with your subject ideas at betwixt@historyhit.com.

Why would someone disown their son over a pair of glasses? How could an unmarried woman in 1918 have published a book about sexual pleasure? And what is an appropriate gift for a newlywed prince and princess? Today, we’re looking at the complicated woman who was Marie Stopes - family planning pioneer on one hand, very problematic eugenicist on the other.Kate is joined once again by Deborah Cohen to explore Stopes’ life and influence.*WARNING there are discussions of eugenics, 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.Email us with your subject ideas at betwixt@historyhit.com.

Facelifts, liposuction and nose jobs: since the mid 20th century people have saved up to have their faces and bodies transformed into their dreams.But why might these procedures have been offered in prisons across the US, the UK and Canada? And what was the desired outcome?Today, Kate is joined by Zara Stone, author of Killer Looks: The Forgotten History of Plastic Surgery in Prisons to discuss re-conviction rates, ‘pretty privilege’ and the so called ‘hot felon’.*WARNING there are discussions of race, adult words and themes in this episode*Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Thomas Ntinas.Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.Email us with your subject ideas at betwixt@historyhit.com.