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

Explore Napoleon Bonaparte's fascinating sex life, from his first sexual experiences to his complex relationship with his great love, Josephine. Learn about the bidding on his 'shrivelled eel' and his desire for a dynasty. Discover the impact of his traumatic experiences on his mental state and delve into the intimate details of his personal relationships. Plus, updates on the 'Napoleon' film release and podcast promotions.

Returning friend of Betwixt, Ronald Hutton, introduces us to some of the fantastic goddesses of yore. They discuss the Ancient world's gods of sex and death, the rock chick of ancient times, and the lack of sexualization in Christianity. They explore the origins of Aphrodite and Venus, the multi-faceted goddess Inanna, and the connection between ancient goddesses and modern brands. They also talk about Aphrodite, Lilith, and the Morrigan, and the power of female libido in ancient traditions.

This November marks 60 years since President John F Kennedy was assassinated. His name is associated with history defining events, but it’s also connected with a dynasty, known for their celebrity and notoriously for being ‘cursed.’The Kennedy family, thought of as American royals by many, have a fascinating and tragic history - especially the women in JFK’s life and family line.Today we're exploring the story of JFK's sister Rosemary. Following a failed lobotomy which left her unable to walk or talk, she was hidden from public view for fear of jeopardising the pristine image of the family dynasty.This is the second instalment in a mini-series, The Kennedy Women, which started with their great-grandma Bridget, and will also cover Jackie, JFK's affairs, and the so-called Kennedy curse.The senior producer was Charlotte Long. The producer was Stuart Beckwith.Archive courtesy of NBC.You can read Kate Clifford Larson's book, Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter, here.Don’t miss out on the best offer in history! Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts.Get a subscription for £1 for 3 months with code BETWIXTTHESHEETS1 sign up now for your 14-day free trial https://historyhit/subscription/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke Turner, the author of Men At War: Loving, Lusting, Fighting, Remembering 1939-1945, delves into the hidden stories of World War II soldiers. Topics covered include unconventional sexual activities during the war, the significance of oral testimony, the repression of sexuality under the Nazis, the life of LGBT activist Dudley Cave, and the progress made in LGBTQ+ representation in the military.

This November marks 60 years since President John F Kennedy was assassinated. His name is associated with history defining events, but it’s also connected with a dynasty, known for their celebrity and notoriously for being ‘cursed.’The Kennedy family, thought of as American royals by many, have a fascinating and tragic history - especially the women in JFK’s life and family line.Today we’re going right back to the start, to a farm in Ireland to meet JFK’s great-grandma, Bridget, who overcame tragedy and poverty to forge the foundation of a dynasty.This is the first instalment in a mini-series, The Kennedy Women, which will look into the lives of Bridget, Jackie, Rosemary and the so-called family curse.The senior producer was Charlotte Long. The producer was Stuart Beckwith.Archive courtesy of NBC.You can read more about Neal Thompson’s work here.Don’t miss out on the best offer in history! Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 for 3 months with code BETWIXTTHESHEETS1 sign up now for your 14-day free trial https://historyhit/subscription/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They’re famously thought of as a buttoned up prudish bunch, but we all know they loved to bump uglies as much as anyone today. Were the spanking punishments of boarding schools really the origins of flagellation brothels? Who were the pin-ups of Victorian women? And what did the saucy portrait Queen Victoria gave to Prince Albert look like? Today we go Betwixt the Victorian Sheets with Dan Snow, from History Hit sister podcast Dan Snow’s History Hit, to find out all about Victorian Sex. This podcast was edited by Tom Delargy. The producers were Charlotte Long and Freddy Chick. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free original podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians like Kate Lister, Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Lucy Worsley, Mary Beard and more.Get 50% off your first 3 months with code BETWIXT. Download the app on your smart TV or in the app store or sign up at historyhit.com/subscribe.You can take part in our listener survey here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Explore the origins of witchcraft, the history and prevalence of witch trials throughout Europe, and the factors that led to the rise of witch hunting. Debunk misconceptions spawned from the Maleficent Maleficarum. Discuss the theory of ergot poisoning's involvement in the Salem witch trials.

Josephine Baker, an extraordinary figure, went from poverty to being a superstar. She became a spy for the Allies in WW2, using invisible ink and hiding documents. Her rise to fame, iconic banana skirt, and racism she faced are discussed. Her activism in civil rights and humanitarian work in adopting 12 children are highlighted.

Tony Bogaert, author of Understanding Asexuality, joins Kate to discuss the origins and impact of asexuality. They explore the challenges faced by asexual individuals in a hypersexual world and dive into the historical perception and medicalization of asexuality. They also delve into the peculiarities and complexities of human sexuality.

We all know how the song goes, the one about Hitler having one testicle.And whilst it's disarming to poke fun at someone so evil, there's an interesting and serious conversation to be had about how Hitler's relationships and sexuality could have shaped him.Today Kate is joined by Norman Ohler, author of Blitzed: Drugs in Nazi Germany, to find out more about Adolf Hitler's personal life, his views on sex, and whether there's any truth to the rumours.Did Hitler have a testicle bitten off by a goat? Was his interest in coprophilia true, or anti-Nazi propaganda? And who was the love of his life?Let's go Betwixt the Sheets to find out.This podcast was edited and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free original podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians like Kate Lister, Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Lucy Worsley, Mary Beard and more.Get 50% off your first 3 months with code BETWIXT. Download the app on your smart TV or in the app store or sign up at historyhit.com/subscribe.You can take part in our listener survey here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.