Bedste Scandal Sheets-podcasts (2025)

1
Inside the Brothel of Pompeii 46:45

22h ago46:45

46:45

Sex work was everywhere in the ancient world, but a known dedicated space for it (a brothel), is an extremely rare and important thing. Pompeii offers exactly that, with details such as graffiti and drawings immaculately preserved in the only known brothel from this period. Who were the people who worked there? What can we find out about the nature…

1
Ancient Eroticism, Pagan Workouts & Body Ideals: History of the Gym 40:16

4d ago40:16

40:16

It's January and (reluctant) thoughts turn to gym memberships, but what are the ancient origins of this phenomena? From the naked workouts of Ancient Greece to the bodybuilders of the 19th century, a lot has influenced exercise culture over the centuries - and it's always had a healthy dose of homoeroticism to it. Joining Kate today is Eric Chaline…

1
Medieval Sex Myths 46:04

8d ago46:04

46:04

From medieval d*ck pics to sex with monks, how did people in medieval times think about sex and sexuality? It was a period that spanned roughly 1,000 years and even though views on sex were largely shaped by the dominant Christian faith, whether this filtered down to every day experiences is another question. Joining Kate today is the legendary sex…

1
When Was The First Boob Job? 59:46

12d ago59:46

59:46

Cosmetic procedures are a huge part of (most of our) worlds. With new ones seemingly cropping up all the time, the boob job feels like an old classic. What are the origins of the boob job? Who had the first ever one? And how has it changed over time? Today we're revisiting a conversation Kate had with Professor Ruth Holliday and cosmetic surgeon Pr…

1
Did Ancient People Have Sex Toys? 42:10

15d ago42:10

42:10

Dating back some 30,000 years, sex toys have a long (no pun intended) and fascinating history. What were the earliest sex toys like? How did technology change them? And did Victorian doctors really prescribing them for back pain? In today's episode, we're revisiting an episode where Kate was joined by writer, sex and gender historian Hallie Lieberm…

1
Sex Life & Scandal of Charles Dickens 48:00

18d ago48:00

48:00

Like it or not, there's no escaping Charles Dickens at this time of year. But who was the man behind classics such as A Tale of Two Cities, Oliver Twist and of course, A Christmas Carol? His life is as rich as many of the characters' stories in one of his books, including a brutal Victorian upbringing and rumours of sex and scandal. Joining us in t…

1
Kateryn Parr | Secret Lives of the Six Wives 37:08

22d ago37:08

37:08

At the time, surely Kateryn Parr had her reservations about being Henry VIII's sixth wife? Aside from being a tyrannical maniac who'd just beheaded his last wife, Catherine Howard, he was getting old, angry and his ulcerous leg was getting smelly. However, Kateryn was smart - she was the first queen to be a published author - and she loved the glit…

1
How Did People Smell in Medieval Times? 44:17

25d ago44:17

44:17

Accessing stories from the past can be difficult, but how do we access smells from the past? In today's episode, Kate is joined by Eleanor Jackson, curator of a new British Library exhibition, Mediaeval Women In Their Own Words, which features original texts about, and by, women from this period. Whether that's Joan of Arc's signature or a welsh po…

1
Catherine Howard | Secret Lives of the Six Wives 37:38

29d ago37:38

37:38

Henry VIII called her his 'rose without a thorn', but the teenage Catherine Howard was to fall out of favour less than 18 months after becoming Queen of England. Out of all of Henry's wives it could be argued that the young queen, who was a cousin of Anne Boleyn, is most deserving of our sympathy. How did her past come back to haunt her? What would…

1
History (and Future) of Dating 1:00:50

1M ago1:00:50

1:00:50

The history of lonely hearts ads might be a lot deeper than you'd expect. For as long as people have been printing newspapers, people (read: men) were enquiring about potential partners. By the time the culture took off in the 18th century, how were people looking for love? How did the First World War boost the medium? And what are some of the stra…

1
Anne of Cleves | Secret Lives of the Six Wives 39:38

1M ago39:38

39:38

Anne of Cleves gets a pretty raw deal in the history books. She's often accused of being ugly, after Henry VIII claimed the painting he had made of her was overly flattering. While their marriage was short-lived, is it time we give Anne of Cleves, who hailed from a small state in Germany, the props she deserves? Just who was this woman who came fro…

1
History of Celibacy 38:29

1M ago38:29

38:29

What did Queen Elizabeth I gain from being thought of as celibate? Why was property so essential to the Christian church embracing celibacy? And what's really behind the 'No Nut November' movement? In today's episode, Kate's joined by Elisa Sobo, Professor of Anthropology at San Diego State University, and Sandra Bell of Durham University, to take …

1
Jane Seymour | Secret Lives of the Six Wives 38:43

1M ago38:43

38:43

Meek and mild, or smart and scheming? Have we all been underestimating the third wife of Henry VIII? Was Jane Seymour the meek and mild lady she's often portrayed as, or was she more smart and scheming than we give her credit for? Although her time as queen didn't last long, Seymour's legacy was huge. Not only did she give Henry his first son, she …

1
History of Pubic Hair 44:46

2M ago44:46

44:46

We often think of the way we treat pubic hair as a relatively modern thing. But how did they manage pubic hair in Ancient Greece, or the Middle Ages? Why would someone wear a pubic wig (also known as a merkin)? And why was the pubic hair of suspected witches shaven off? Joining Kate today is Professor Jill Burke, author of How to be a Renaissance W…

1
Anne Boleyn | Secret Lives of the Six Wives 41:17

2M ago41:17

41:17

How did Anne Boleyn go from being a commoner to being the Queen of England? As soon as she arrived in the Tudor court she stood out from the other beautiful women who were throwing themselves at Henry VIII, but made him wait for seven years before they eventually got together. In the second episode of our limited series, Secret Wives of the Six Wiv…

1
Gladiator Women of Ancient Rome 34:50

2M ago34:50

34:50

Evidence shows us that women gladiators fought in front of baying crowds in Ancient Rome. Who were these women? How would these fights have played out? And what did the rest of Rome think of women taking up such a masculine space? Joining Kate is historian and expert in all things Ancient Rome, Emma Southon, author of A History of the Roman Empire …

1
Catherine of Aragon | Secret Lives of the Six Wives 36:17

2M ago36:17

36:17

We know the fates of Henry VIII's wives, but what were these iconic women really like? In the first episode of this limited series, Secret Lives of the Six Wives, we'll explore the ways that Catherine of Aragon was a formidable queen and leader, and why, perhaps, she's been misunderstood all these years. Joining Kate, is author and Tudor export Nic…

1
Gladiators' Sex Lives 44:35

2M ago44:35

44:35

Who really were the gladiators of Ancient Rome? With them once again hitting the big screens this month, we wanted to take you back a couple of thousand years to find out more about the people who fought and what their lives were really like. What rights in society did they have? How often did they meet a gruesome end? And were they sex symbols? Jo…

1
The Real Sylvia Plath 58:08

2M ago58:08

58:08

** TW: This episode contains themes of suicide ** Sylvia Plath was one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. During and since she died, she became known for her volatile relationship with fellow poet, Ted Hughes, as much as her own beautiful, confessional writing. What was Sylvia Plath like as a woman? What drew her and Ted Hughes to…

1
Sex Lives of Presidents 36:57

2M ago36:57

36:57

With the US election happening, we wanted to take a look back at the presidents from the past what we know about their sex lives. Which president was well-endowed and supposedly presented it to staff in the Oval Office? Which president had an affair on his honeymoon? And which had an affair with his wife's secretary? And no, they're not all JFK. Jo…

1
What Made You Ugly In The Ancient World? 43:06

2M ago43:06

43:06

When we think about Greek and Roman beauty, we think of marble statues of huge men with tiny...feet. But what did it mean to be a beautiful woman? What role did their ideas of ugliness play in these ideas? And how did Christianity throw a curveball in all of this? Taking us back to this world is Caroline Vout, author of Exposed: The Greek and Roman…

1
Inside the Witch Trials: Salem | Fear In A New World 43:00

2M ago43:00

43:00

We often think of the witch trials as something in the deep and distant past. But, as we'll hear in today's episode, the attitudes and behaviour that led to witch trials is as present today as it was then. In this third and final episode of our limited series, Inside the Witch Trials, we go back to Salem, Massachusetts, to find out how colonialism,…

1
18th Century Dating: From Booty Calls to 'Bundling' 37:25

3M ago37:25

37:25

What was life like as a single person in the 18th century? What if you became pregnant out of wedlock? In today's episode, Kate talks to Angela Muir, author of Deviant MaternityIllegitimacy in Wales, c. 1680–1800, to find out what navigating single life was like for the lower classes: from strange dating customs such as 'bundling', to evidence we h…

1
Inside the Witch Trials: Iceland | The Men Who Burned As Witches 32:35

3M ago32:35

32:35

When we think of the witch trials, we often think of women being charged. Whilst misogyny was at the heart of many of the witch trials, this isn't the full story. In this second episode of a limited series, Inside the Witch Trials, we go back to the the Westfjords of Iceland, to find out why it was mostly men, not women, who were burned at the stak…

1
Nefertiti: The Greatest Ancient Egyptian Queen? 1:00:28

3M ago1:00:28

1:00:28

Ancient Egyptian rulers, incest, the Nazis and female empowerment, all in one episode! 'But how?' You say. 'What story could possibly bring all of these things together?' This is the story of Queen Nefertiti and her bust. Kate is joined by Joyce Tyldesley and Monica Hanna to find out just who this woman was, and how a statue of her ended up in Berl…

1
Inside the Witch Trials: Pendle | The Child Who Condemned Her Family 36:18

3M ago36:18

36:18

People in the 17th century were at spiritual war with the devil. It was a time of huge upheaval. What became known as the witch trials soon followed. In this first episode of a limited series, Inside the Witch Trials, we go back to the English village of Pendle in 1612, to find out how and why a nine year old girl was able to condemn her family to …

1
Orgasms & Skincare According to a Medieval Nun 38:04

3M ago38:04

38:04

Hildegard of Bingen, the 12th century nun, was a certified genius and a true polymath. From her many side hustles to her skincare recommendations, she wrote about everything from what happens when the world ends to what the female orgasm feels like. Why would a celibate nun know about this? What did she have to say about swollen testicles? And why …

1
Sex & Scandal in Catherine of Aragon's Court 41:51

3M ago41:51

41:51

When Henry VIII wanted a divorce from Catherine of Aragon, he needed to prove that she was not a virgin when they wed. One woman was key to proving this: Catalina of Motril, Catherine's enslaved servant who was always present in the royal bedroom. Before the divorce, though, what was Catalina's experience like in the heart of the Tudor court? What …

1
Illegitimacy: Sex & Secrecy in the 18th Century 44:24

3M ago44:24

44:24

Why were children punished for illegitimacy in the 18th century? And what does the word even mean? The truth is quite shocking, and probably still affects a lot of the people you know today. Joining Kate today is Kate Gibson, historian and author of Illegitimacy, Family, and Stigma in England, 1660-1834, to explore the ways that female sexuality pl…

1
Medieval Chastity Belts: History Unlocked 45:38

3M ago45:38

45:38

Sexual purity was hugely importance in the medieval world, especially for women. How did chastity work in practice? Why was it so important? And was the infamous chastity belt really used? Joining Kate today is friend of the show and co-host of our sister podcast, Gone Medieval, Eleanor Janega, to help us unlock the mysteries of Medieval chastity o…

1
Sex in Ancient Mesopotamia 50:40

4M ago50:40

50:40

How sexually liberated were the people of Ancient Mesopotamia? In what is modern day Iraq and dates back to around 3000 BC. The answer may surprise you, with gender fluidity and sexual diversity quite commonplace. Look no further than their frisky goddess, Ishtar. Taking us back to this fascinating period is Stephanie Budin, historian and author of…

1
Underwear: Codpieces, Loin Cloths & Thongs 34:35

4M ago34:35

34:35

Whatever your underwear preferences, have you ever wondered about their history? From the Tudor codpiece to Victorian bloomers, they've all got a story to tell. Sharing them with Kate today is Nina Edwards, author of The Virtues of Underwear: Modesty, Flamboyance and Filth. This episode was edited by Max Carrey, the producer was Stuart Beckwith. Th…

1
What Did The Vikings Really Look Like? 40:04

4M ago40:04

40:04

Were the Vikings the original trendsetters? Even when they were raiding the poor monks in Lindsfarne in 793, they were passing on hairstyles that annoyed some of the local elders. Why did they file their teeth? How often did they bathe? And what influence did their gods have on all of this? Joining Kate today to explore the beauty standards of the …

1
Cruising & Cottaging: Sex in Public Places 39:23

4M ago39:23

39:23

With privacy being a modern luxury, where did people in the past go to meet and hook up? Public toilets were (and can still be) a popular option. But what were secret signals? And what were the risks? Especially if, like many of the people who did it, you were part of the gay community. Joining Kate today is Dr. Jeff Meek, lecturer in economic and …

1
Ancient Goddesses: Rebellion, Magic & Sexual Liberation 44:41

4M ago44:41

44:41

Struggling for role models in the modern world? We've got your back, looking way back to the ancient world. Join Kate and Jasmine Elmer, author of her new book, Goddess With A Thousand Faces, as they explore the remarkable stories of some of histories most incredible ancient Goddesses and the lessons we can learn from them. What can Artemis the Gre…

1
Pagan Ritual Nudity 38:29

4M ago38:29

38:29

Rituals are a big part of this funny human experience, aren't they? Whether that's morning rituals like making your bed... or pagan rituals that involve stripping down to your birthday suit for certain ceremonies. The importance of nakedness is a big part of it, too, that can help separate you from this world and bring you closer to nature, and oth…

1
What The Ancient Greeks Got Wrong About The Female Body 46:47

4M ago46:47

46:47

Why did the Ancient Greeks depict a womb as an octopus in their textbooks? Their writings and (mis)understandings of the female body might seem borderline comical now, but how did these beliefs on the physical indicators of womanhood still impact us today? Joining Kate is Helen King, author of Immaculate Forms: A History of the Female Body in Four …

1
Could You Survive Victorian Surgery? 43:56

4M ago43:56

43:56

What was it really like inside a Victorian operating theatre? Did people really smoke cigars and eat oysters while they watched high risk surgery taking place? And what were the most common procedures? In today's episode Kate joins Dr. Monica in the Old Operating Theatre in London, to find out about the sights, smells and screams you would have hea…

1
Medieval Life During Plague & War 40:42

4M ago40:42

40:42

When so much of history is written by men, Margaret Paston's letters offer us a rare insight into the life of a woman and the world around her in 15th century England. How did she cope with waves of plague wiping out her town? What did she do when the War of the Roses reached her home? And what family gossip did she write about? Joining Kate today …

1
The Real Princess Diana 48:43

5M ago48:43

48:43

However you feel about the royal family, there's no denying, there was something about Princess Diana. From the clothes she wore to the causes she championed, she set the template for the modern royal, ruffling a lot of feathers in the process. Why did she speak to us so much? Was there any truth to rumours of the affairs both Charles and Diana had…

1
Life Lessons From Historical Women 35:48

5M ago35:48

35:48

When women's stories aren't being flat-out ignored from the history books, they can often be sidelined. Well not here! Joining Kate today is the comedian and author of Life Lessons from Historical Women, Eleanor Morton, to share some of her favourite stories of inspirational women through history and the lessons they have taught her. What would it …

1
Renaissance Beauty: Snails, Cat Poo & Fatal Make-Up 44:43

5M ago44:43

44:43

Why did Renaissance women say the Lord's prayer while removing pubic hair? If you're like us you definitely want to know the answer to this, and so much more about beauty culture during the Italian Renaissance between the 15th and 17th centuries. Joining Kate today is Professor Jill Burke, author of How to be a Renaissance Woman: The Untold History…

1
Sex Work in 18th Century Paris 42:17

5M ago42:17

42:17

Paris was a wild place in the 18th century. It was the Age of the Enlightenment, cafe culture was exploding along with the world of ballet and opera, and there's the small matter of the Revolution in 1789. Before that kicked off, though, there were estimated to be 30,000 sex workers in Paris, plus an additional 10,000 high-class courtesans. What wa…

1
The Real Cleopatra 45:34

5M ago45:34

45:34

Cleopatra. One of the most famous people from history, and remembered for her beauty, power and scandalous love affairs. But how accurate is her legacy? Did you know she married not one, but two of her brothers? Or that she could speak eight languages? Or that she lived closer to the invention of the iPhone, than the construction of the pyramids (w…

1
The Curious History of Beds 33:51

5M ago33:51

33:51

Sex and beds have a long, interwoven history. Here on Betwixt we often cover sex history, but we haven’t done a deep dive into the history of where it’s often done… in bed. So today we have something a little different for you, here’s an episode all about the history of beds, and it’s a story that will take us from medieval France, to 17th century …

1
The Real Anne Boleyn: Sex, Scandal & Betrayal 50:56

5M ago50:56

50:56

Anne Boleyn was smart, sophisticated and had SO much charisma. She kept Henry VIII waiting for SEVEN YEARS before they finally got together, and even then it was on her terms. So where did it all go wrong for Anne Boleyn? Were any of the wild accusations made against her true? And what do her last words tell us about her? Joining Kate today is the …

1
How Nudes Changed Britain 32:07

5M ago32:07

32:07

Why were nudes so significant in Victorian England? What role did painting them play in wider social change at that time? And why didn't men think that women had the capacity for genius? Joining Kate today is Tabitha Barber, curator of the Tate Britain exhibition Now You See Us, which explores women artists in Britain over the last 500 years. You c…

1
The Dark History of Bearded Ladies & the Victorian Freak Show 39:00

6M ago39:00

39:00

What would it have really been like to visit a Victorian freak show? Were "freak performers" exploited, or empowered in a world that would likely have otherwise rejected them? And has the Victorian freak show ever really gone away? Joining Kate today is John Woolf, author of The Wonders: Lifting the Curtain on the Freak Show, Circus and Victorian A…

1
History of Grief: Sky Burials & Victorian Death Photos 43:23

6M ago43:23

43:23

Why did the Victorians dress up their dead relatives for photo shoots? What are the origins of embalming? And why do most of us have such a separated relationship with death? Helping Kate get to the bottom of all of this is the wonderful Brandy Schillace, author of Death's Summer Coat: What the History of Death and Dying Teaches Us About Life and L…

1
Flagellation Brothels: Georgian Spanking Houses 39:18

6M ago39:18

39:18

18th century London was a haven for kinky connoisseurs, and flagellation houses were at the heart of it. Whatever your preference to be spanked by - birches, whips, paddles - they had you covered. What went on behind closed doors? Who was being spanked, and why was it all the range for upper class men? Taking Kate into this naughty underworld today…

Podcasts der er værd at lytte til

Scandal Sheets Podcasts

Podcasts der er værd at lytte til

Hurtig referencevejledning