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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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Witches Betwixt is a collective of queer witches & allies representing a wide variety of magical practices and spiritual paths. On Sundays (2pm ET) we livestream a 60+ minute weekly episode on our YouTube channel in which we discuss various topics relevant to the experience of a queer witch.
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Betwixt and Between are two witches and real life friends who curl up on the sofa amidst animals, tea and craft projects to chat about witchcraft. Sometimes we bring on knowledgeable guests and sometimes we use our own expertise from our academic backgrounds in theology and psychology to add to texture to our shows. But we always approach our subjects from a practical, personal, dirt-under-fingernails perspective.
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Betwixt podcast is a unique place for meaningful conversations about the liminal spaces between faith, spiritual formation and a flourishing life. Through intimate conversations with fascinating guests, we share stories of their experiences at the brink of becoming and the wisdom of charting a course through the in-between. Join us on this journey as we explore the depths of our innermost selves and the outermost reaches of our faith. We hope our stories will help you embrace the unknown and ...
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Red lipstick has a unique feminine power to it. It's been on the lips of some of the most influential people in history, including Cleopatra and Elizabeth I, and really took off in the 20th century. Why did it take on such an iconic status with the Suffragette movement? Why did Churchill choose not to ration lipstick? And why did Hitler hate it? Jo…
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)O( Witches Betwixt is a collective of queer witches & allies representing a wide variety of magickal practices and spiritual paths. On Sundays (2pm ET) we livestream a 60+ minute weekly episode on our YouTube channel in which we discuss various topics relevant to the experience of a queer witch. Check us out on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Go…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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)O( Witches Betwixt is a collective of queer witches & allies representing a wide variety of magickal practices and spiritual paths. On Sundays (2pm ET) we livestream a 60+ minute weekly episode on our YouTube channel in which we discuss various topics relevant to the experience of a queer witch. Check us out on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Go…
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)O( Witches Betwixt is a collective of queer witches & allies representing a wide variety of magickal practices and spiritual paths. On Sundays (2pm ET) we livestream a 60+ minute weekly episode on our YouTube channel in which we discuss various topics relevant to the experience of a queer witch. Check us out on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Go…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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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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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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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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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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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)O( Witches Betwixt is a collective of queer witches & allies representing a wide variety of magickal practices and spiritual paths. On Sundays (2pm ET) we livestream a 60+ minute weekly episode on our YouTube channel in which we discuss various topics relevant to the experience of a queer witch. Check us out on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Go…
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)O( Witches Betwixt is a collective of queer witches & allies representing a wide variety of magickal practices and spiritual paths. On Sundays (2pm ET) we livestream a 60+ minute weekly episode on our YouTube channel in which we discuss various topics relevant to the experience of a queer witch. Check us out on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Go…
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continue reading
)O( Witches Betwixt is a collective of queer witches & allies representing a wide variety of magickal practices and spiritual paths. On Sundays (2pm ET) we livestream a 60+ minute weekly episode on our YouTube channel in which we discuss various topics relevant to the experience of a queer witch. Check us out on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Go…
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continue reading
)O( Witches Betwixt is a collective of queer witches & allies representing a wide variety of magickal practices and spiritual paths. On Sundays (2pm ET) we livestream a 60+ minute weekly episode on our YouTube channel in which we discuss various topics relevant to the experience of a queer witch. Check us out on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Go…
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continue reading
)O( Witches Betwixt is a collective of queer witches & allies representing a wide variety of magickal practices and spiritual paths. On Sundays (2pm ET) we livestream a 60+ minute weekly episode on our YouTube channel in which we discuss various topics relevant to the experience of a queer witch. Check us out on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Go…
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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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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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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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)O( Witches Betwixt is a collective of queer witches & allies representing a wide variety of magickal practices and spiritual paths. On Sundays (2pm ET) we livestream a 60+ minute weekly episode on our YouTube channel in which we discuss various topics relevant to the experience of a queer witch. Check us out on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Go…
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continue reading
)O( Witches Betwixt is a collective of queer witches & allies representing a wide variety of magickal practices and spiritual paths. On Sundays (2pm ET) we livestream a 60+ minute weekly episode on our YouTube channel in which we discuss various topics relevant to the experience of a queer witch. Check us out on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Go…
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continue reading
)O( Witches Betwixt is a collective of queer witches & allies representing a wide variety of magickal practices and spiritual paths. On Sundays (2pm ET) we livestream a 60+ minute weekly episode on our YouTube channel in which we discuss various topics relevant to the experience of a queer witch. Check us out on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Go…
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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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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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)O( Witches Betwixt is a collective of queer witches & allies representing a wide variety of magickal practices and spiritual paths. On Sundays (2pm ET) we livestream a 60+ minute weekly episode on our YouTube channel in which we discuss various topics relevant to the experience of a queer witch. Check us out on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Go…
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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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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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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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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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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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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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Unfortunately, EP 139's audio quality wasn't usable for audio-only listeners. The full video livestream is on our YouTube channel. )O( Witches Betwixt is a collective of queer witches & allies representing a wide variety of magickal practices and spiritual paths. On Sundays (2pm ET) we livestream a 60+ minute weekly episode on our YouTube channel i…
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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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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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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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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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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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