Join sex historian Kate Lister on Betwixt the Sheets as she gets intimate with the stories that would make your history teacher blush. What were the Victorians really like behind closed (bedroom) doors? How did the Black Death favour women in medieval England? And what was Caesar like in the sack? She'll be bed-hopping around different time periods; from ancient civilisations, to the middle ages, to renaissance and early modern...right up to now. You’ll laugh, you’ll wince, and you’ll ask yo ...
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First person stories of queer coming of age. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and genderqueer people.
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Gender and Sex Across World History
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Explore historical and cultural examples of same-sex sex throughout the course of human history with Stuart as we cover from ancient times to the present. Contact the podcast with any questions at gaysexhistory@gmail.com
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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 …
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Jane Seymour | Secret Lives of the Six Wives
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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 …
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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…
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Anne Boleyn | Secret Lives of the Six Wives
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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…
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Gladiator Women of Ancient Rome
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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 …
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Catherine of Aragon | Secret Lives of the Six Wives
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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…
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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…
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** 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…
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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…
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What Made You Ugly In The Ancient World?
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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…
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Inside the Witch Trials: Salem | Fear In A New World
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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,…
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18th Century Dating: From Booty Calls to 'Bundling'
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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…
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Inside the Witch Trials: Iceland | The Men Who Burned As Witches
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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…
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S5E14 - Firsts Vol.7: High School Heartstoppers
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Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify. This episode is the first of a three part series about first love. Specifically, the messy, inconvenient, heartbreaking chaos that first love often inspires for people in high school as well as all the sweetness, optimism and exciting feelings of discovery both about ourselves and that special someone. Mi…
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Nefertiti: The Greatest Ancient Egyptian Queen?
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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…
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Inside the Witch Trials: Pendle | The Child Who Condemned Her Family
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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 …
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Orgasms & Skincare According to a Medieval Nun
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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 …
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Sex & Scandal in Catherine of Aragon's Court
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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 …
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Illegitimacy: Sex & Secrecy in the 18th Century
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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…
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Medieval Chastity Belts: History Unlocked
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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…
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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…
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Underwear: Codpieces, Loin Cloths & Thongs
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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…
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What Did The Vikings Really Look Like?
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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 …
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Cruising & Cottaging: Sex in Public Places
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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 …
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Ancient Goddesses: Rebellion, Magic & Sexual Liberation
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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…
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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…
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What The Ancient Greeks Got Wrong About The Female Body
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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 …
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Could You Survive Victorian Surgery?
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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…
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Medieval Life During Plague & War
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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 …
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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…
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Life Lessons From Historical Women
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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 …
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Renaissance Beauty: Snails, Cat Poo & Fatal Make-Up
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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…
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Guest Podcast: "Nuances - Queering Premodern Asia"
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Enjoy this bonus episode of the podcast series Nuances: Our Asian Stories. Hosted by Lazou, Nuance's latest season is titled Queering Premodern Asia and each episode explores different aspects of sexual diversity in premodern Asia with commentary and personal stories from guest scholars and artists. Lazou reached out recently and, because our podca…
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Sex Work in 18th Century Paris
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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…
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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…
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The Curious History of Beds
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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 …
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The Real Anne Boleyn: Sex, Scandal & Betrayal
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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 …
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S5E13 - Firsts Vol.6: Young Adult
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Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify. You graduated high school. You packed up all your things and you’re moving into a dorm room or your first apartment. Finally, you have the chance to define life on your own terms. For many queer people, leaving our family and getting our own place is the chance to finally seek out the experiences we’ve al…
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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…
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The Dark History of Bearded Ladies & the Victorian Freak Show
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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…
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History of Grief: Sky Burials & Victorian Death Photos
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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…
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Flagellation Brothels: Georgian Spanking Houses
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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…
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Incest & Royalty: House of the Dragon & Beyond
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With the House of the Dragon featuring *that* incest scene, we thought we'd look into the real history of sexual relations within families. Has it always been taboo? How have the necessary degrees of separation between partners grown and shrunk over the years? And why were so many royal families keen on familial relations in the past...Hapsburg chi…
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S5E12 - Firsts Vol.5: The Art of Cruising
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Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify. These days, thanks to technology, it’s easier than ever to hook up; but no app can provide the rush you feel when you lock eyes with someone in person and you know, without any verbal communication, that there is a mutual interest. In this episode, our interviewees share first-time stories of cruising as …
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Gaslighting to Woke: Origins of Modern Buzzwords
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What does it mean to be 'woke'? What did the bluesman Leadbelly mean when he coined the phrase? And what does a story set in Victorian London have to do with the term gaslighting? Joining Kate today is Robbie Morgan, Lecturer and Consultant in Applied Ethics at Leeds University, to chat about the buzzwords we use and how their meanings have changed…
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Surprising History of Redheads: From Prehistoric Gingers to Ed Sheeran
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Boudica. Elizabeth I. Ed Sheeran. The history of the redhead goes back thousands of years, and it fluctuates from prejudice in medieval Europe, to the height of fashion in Protestant England. 2% of the global population are redheads, so if you are one, you're one of a special few. Jacky Colliss Harvey, author of Red: A History of the Redhead, joins…
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Queer London & The Post-War Moral Panic
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In the wake of the Second World War, a moral panic swept through Britain around a rise in homosexuality. London was the heart of this scare because of how thriving and vibrant the gay scene was. How did lawmakers react during time? What affect did class have on the gay experience? And amongst the darkness of the period, what joy could be found? Joi…
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Emperors & Scandals in Ancient Rome with Mary Beard
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What happens at a Roman emperor's dinner party? Why would you be lucky to get out alive? And how are emperors even chosen? Joining Kate today is the one, the only Mary Beard, to take us back to Ancient Rome and help separate the facts from the myths. Mary's latest book, Emperor of Rome, is out now in paperback.This episode was edited and produced b…
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Sex & Scandal in UK Politics
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With the UK election a mere few days away (at time of release), what better time to look back at some of the biggest scandals in our political history? In this episode, Kate's exploring the notorious Profumo affair of the early 1960s and the Thorpe Affair of the 1970s. They had it all: sex, espionage and corruption at the highest level of society. …
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Whose idea was the patriarchy? How long has it been a part of our lives? And how do we even define it? For something that's so prevalent in most of our lives, it can sometimes feel like there's an inevitability to it. However, there are so many examples of alternatives, and surprising reasons to its origins. Exploring all of this with Kate today is…
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