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

Sexuality is a funny thing. It's a social construct just as much as, say, virginity is.
We use words like heterosexuality and homosexuality because they are convenient, more than because they're wholly accurate.
What roots do these words have in 19th century Germany? How did the word 'straight' come from the gay community? And what is the future of sexuality and its terms?
Joining Kate today is the fantastic Hanne Blank, author of Straight: The Surprisingly Short History of Heterosexuality.
This episode was edited by Teän Stewart-Murray. The producer was Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.
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If the Kennedy's were America's first royal family, then Jackie was its queen.
She was a style icon who, alongside her husband and president JFK, symbolised a fresh hopeful start in post-war America.
And then on 22nd November 1963, the unimaginable happened.
But who was the woman who led the country in its grief? Famously defining that time in America as Camelot. Who was the woman behind the immaculate hair do and pink Chanel suits? What was her life like before the spotlight, and how did she seek to rebuild it after JFK's assassination?
Today Kate is joined by two guests to tell her story. Author Eleanor Herman, and first up Laurence Leamer, author of The Kennedy Women: The Saga of an American Family, to find out more.
This episode was edited and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The Senior Producer was Charlotte Long.
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How do we understand something as huge as a global epidemic?
Similarly to Covid, the AIDS epidemic, which was most destructive in the 1980s and 90s, had such universal reach. Yet within that, there were millions of personal experiences.
What was it like to work on the frontline with people who were hit by this cruel virus? How did a Canadian air steward come to be wrongly blamed for introducing AIDS to North America?
To mark World AIDS Day, today Kate is joined by two special guests. Firstly, Flick Thorley, who speaks about why her experience as a nurse on an AIDS ward was a blessing. Secondly, we’re joined by Richard McKay, author of Patient Zero And The Making Of The AIDS Epidemic to unpack the larger societal reaction.
Click here to find out more about the amazing work the Terrence Higgins Trust do.
This episode was edited by Tom Delargy. The producer was Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.
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.
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“If I don’t have a woman for three days, I get terrible headaches.”
That is what JFK allegedly told the UK prime minister, Harold MacMillan, after a meeting on nuclear arms. An interesting alternative to pain killers, right?
Despite being in a high-profile marriage, JFK has been linked with many women. From Hollywood stars and White House interns, to potential Soviet Spies and Mafia wives.
Kate is joined Betwixt the Sheets with Eleanor Herman to discuss the many alleged affairs and scandals, for the third instalment in our Kennedy Women series.
You can find out more about Eleanor Herman’s book, ’Sex with Presidents’ here.
This episode was edited by Tom Delargy. The producer was Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.

The 1980s have a lot to answer for - spandex, for one.
It also saw the first new anti-gay law in Britain for over a century.
Against the backdrop of the HIV epidemic, and increasing homophobia across the media and politics, the law Section 28 was passed in 1988, which stopped the "promotion of homosexuality" in schools and local authorities across Britain.
What did this even mean? Who did it affect? And what was the response from the gay community?
This month marks 20 years since Section 28 was finally repealed, and in this special episode we’ll look back to the damage it caused and the defiance from those who opposed and helped overturn it - marking it as the most successful civil rights movement in modern British history. 
Joining Kate are a few special guests who were on the picket lines, in the classrooms and making headlines to draw public attention to the cause: 
Paul Baker, whose book, Outrageous, The Story of Section 28 and Britain’s Battle for LGBT Education, is available now.
Catherine Lee MBE, whose book, Pretended, Schools and Section 28: Historical, Cultural and Personal Perspectives, is available now. 
Paul Fairweather, who worked for Manchester City Council in the 1980s, and continues to support the LGBTQ+ community at the George House Trust, which provides HIV support, advice and advocacy services. 
Peter Tatchell, human rights campaigner, who continues his tireless work for equality and human rights continues with the Peter Tatchell foundation. You can find out more and donate to here. 
This episode was edited and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.
Archive courtesy of: BBC, Fox 5 New York, LGBT+marketing, Richard Johnson, Direct Action, Nick Lansley.
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Napoleon Bonaparte has been described in many way throughout history. Conquerer. Lover. Legend. Shrivelled Eel?
Perhaps you haven't heard the last description before, but that's how a journalist described Napoleon's 'penis' when it went up for auction in 1977.
Yes, you read that correctly, and it sold for $3000. Today Kate is Betwixt the Sheets with Dan Snow to talk all about the adventures of Napoleon's 'shrivelled eel'...from his first sexual experiences to his great love, Josephine.
Ridley Scott's Napoleon is out in cinemas from November 22nd.
This podcast was edited by Dougal Patmore and produced by Stuart Beckwith.
The senior producers were Charlotte Long and Mariana Des Forges.
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/