Lucy Walter, Barbara Palmer, Louise Kérouaille and Nell Gwynn. These are the names of just a key few of King Charles II’s mistresses.In this episode, Kate is joined by Linda Porter to introduce us to these women, in addition to the King’s wife, Catherine of Braganza.We find out what these women gained from their connections to the King, and what they stood to lose.*WARNING there are naughty words and discussions of sex in this episode*Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Anisha Deva and 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.If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!You've been listening to a History Hit podcast. Please take a couple of minutes to fill out this survey with your feedback, we'd really appreciate it.

Definitions of what can and cannot be described as sexual violence vary widely across time and place. In 48 countries around the world today, for example, men cannot be prosecuted for sexually assaulting their wives.So what can a global history, comparing the differing interpretations of victims, survivors and perpetrators from different societies, tell us about sexual violence? And how might it help us to move forward towards a violence free world?In this episode, Kate is joined by Joanna Bourke, author of ‘Disgrace: Global Reflections on Sexual Violence’ and professor at Birkbeck University to answer these questions.*WARNING this episode contains discussions of sexual violence*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.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!You've been listening to a History Hit podcast. Please take a couple of minutes to fill out this survey with your feedback, we'd really appreciate it.

Who was Loki having sex with? What is a horse penis cult? And were the Vikings as brutal as we think they were?Betwixt the Sheets today, Kate is joined by Dr Cat Jarman, one of the hosts of our sister podcast Gone Medieval. From the recollections of Ibn Fadlan to Icelandic sagas filled with pick up lines, we find out the truth about being in bed with the Vikings.*WARNING there is adult language and discussions of sexual assault in this episode*Produced by Charlotte Long, Sophie Gee and Robert Weinberg.Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.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!You've been listening to a History Hit podcast. Please take a couple of minutes to fill out this survey with your feedback, we'd really appreciate it.

Football, or soccer depending on where you are in the world, is quite unsuitable for women, wouldn’t you agree? No? Well the Football Association thought so when they issued a ban on women’s football in 1921, which stayed in place for fifty years.Off the back of England's Lionesses winning the Euros (it's also the 20th anniversary of Bend It Like Beckham, which must mean something) Kate is joined by The Guardian's women's football correspondent, Suzanne Wrack, to talk about the rise and fall, and rise again of women's football.Hear about the factory girls of World War One, meet some of the early stars like Nettie Honeyball, and find out why the game became so political.You can find out more about Suzanne's book here, and listen to her podcast here.*WARNING there are naughty words 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.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!You've been listening to a History Hit podcast. Please take a couple of minutes to fill out this survey with your feedback, we'd really appreciate it.

Can a sex robot really fulfil our needs in the bedroom? And what attempts have been made in the past?Sex robots may sound like a thing of the future, but for centuries humans have been fascinated by their desire for intimacy with the inanimate.From Greek tales of steamy encounters with wax statues to beautifully crafted sex dolls with AI technology; Kate Lister is joined Betwixt The Sheets by archeologist turned computer scientist and expert on Human Computer Interaction, Kate Devlin, to discuss this aspiration of trying to create the “perfect” mate and more.*WARNING there are naughty words and sexual content 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.If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

Was Rasputin really Russia’s greatest love machine? Did he have any healing powers? And why might his penis be pickling in a jar?In this episode, we are drawing this mystical man out of his cloud of green smoke to find out which of the things we know about him might actually be true.Kate is joined by Douglas Smith, historian, translator and expert in Russian history, who has emerged from the archives with a new interpretation of this cartoon baddy.*WARNING there are naughty words and discussions of sexual coercion in this episode*Produced by Charlotte Long and 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.If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

Yo ho ho, a pirate’s life for me - but what is a pirate’s life, and what was it like for women?This is the story of Anne Bonny and Mary Read, a pair of reputably vicious pirates, and their journeys onto and across the seas.With the help of Julie Walker, author of 'Bonny & Read', find out whether Bonny and Read's fellow crew mates knew that they were women, their reasons for being there, and what life was actually like for them.*WARNING this episode contains naughty words and adult themes*Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Matthew Peaty.Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit. 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!

As the right to decide whether to terminate a pregnancy is challenged on the other side of the Atlantic, today Betwixt the Sheets we are looking at the history of abortions here in Britain.This is the second episode in our two-part series on abortion in the US and the UK.First, Kate speaks to Elinor Cleghorn, author of Unwell Women, about the history of abortion law in the UK, and the significance of harrowing case of 'the horse with a green tail’ in the journey to legalising abortion.Kate is then joined by Diane Munday, an abortion rights activist who became active in the movement in the 1960s, and believes that her work is not yet done.*WARNING there is discussion about abortion, sexual assault and death in this episode*Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee.Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

From luring in unicorns to protecting the Roman Empire, myths have surrounded virginity for centuries. But is virginity itself a myth?In this episode, Kate speaks to Anke Bernau about where the so-called cherry comes from, what it stands for and why it has been important throughout history.*WARNING there are mentions of rape and assault in this episode*Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Peter Dennis.Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.

What comes to your mind when you think of a witch? Broomsticks? Black cats? Warts?Early modern witchcraft expert, John Callow, is Betwixt the Sheets with Kate to explain the history behind the stereotypes we have today.They also chat about the Bideford Witches, the last three women to be hanged for witchcraft in England, as well as the misogyny in witch trials throughout the ages.You can find out more about John's work here.*WARNING this episode includes naughty words*Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Seyi Adaobi.Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit. This podcast includes an archive clips from The Witch's Curse 1962.