Best Cottage In The Court Podcasts (2024)

1
Sex in Ancient Mesopotamia 50:40

1h 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

2h 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

16m 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

3d 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

5d 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

3d 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

7d 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

10d 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

25d 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

1M 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

21d 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

1M 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

29d 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

1M 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

1M 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

1M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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…

1
Incest & Royalty: House of the Dragon & Beyond 47:55

2M ago47:55

47:55

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…

1
Gaslighting to Woke: Origins of Modern Buzzwords 40:27

2M ago40:27

40:27

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…

1
Surprising History of Redheads: From Prehistoric Gingers to Ed Sheeran 36:54

2M ago36:54

36:54

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…

1
Queer London & The Post-War Moral Panic 40:16

2M ago40:16

40:16

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…

1
Emperors & Scandals in Ancient Rome with Mary Beard 47:09

3M ago47:09

47:09

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…

1
Sex & Scandal in UK Politics 35:21

3M ago35:21

35:21

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. …

1
Origins of the Patriarchy 45:12

3M ago45:12

45:12

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…

1
Incest in Ancient Egypt 31:01

3M ago31:01

31:01

From recent research we know that the great boy king Tutankhamun was a result of incest. How did it effect him? And was incest in Ancient Egypt mostly for symbolic reasons of retaining power, or did it go further than that? Joining Kate today is the wonderful Sarah Parcak, archaeologist and Egyptologist, to help us find out more. Importantly, they …

1
Sex Life of Henry VIII 46:21

3M ago46:21

46:21

When we think of Henry VIII we think of a big, blood thirsty tyrant. But was there more to this caricature of a king then we give him credit for? Joining Kate today to help us get to know this man better is the fantastic Tracy Borman, author of Henry VIII and the men who made him. Why did Henry love his daily horoscopes? How did his hypochondria af…

1
The REAL Bridgerton: Historians React To Season 3 44:05

3M ago44:05

44:05

*SPOILER ALERT: THIS EPISODE CONTAINS DETAILS OF SEASON 3 OF BRIDGERTON* With the second part of season 3 of Bridgerton dropping on Netflix in the last few days, Kate is joined by Catherine Curzon, author of Inside the World of Bridgerton: True Stories of Regency High Society, to break down how it stands up to historical accuracies of the era. How …

1
Tudor Lesbians 45:43

3M ago45:43

45:43

Throughout history, it's mostly been queer men who were persecuted under the historical sodomy laws, but the Tudor period saw a spike in women being tried under it. Why was this? And why was it mostly happening in what is modern day Belgium and Netherlands? Joining Kate today is historian Jonas Roelens, who specialises in sexuality in the early mod…

1
The Betrayal of Mary Queen of Scots 56:25

3M ago56:25

56:25

Mary Queen of Scots had a life that resembled a Game of Thrones plot: she had awful taste in men, and a cousin in Queen Elizabeth I of England, who - spoiler alert - eventually signed her death warrant. In the face of some outrageous adversity, though, Mary Queen of Scots was an extraordinary woman and queen. Was it all bad luck, or was there poor …

1
Tudor Origins of the Condom 45:55

3M ago45:55

45:55

What were condoms like in Tudor times? Before you were able to pop to the supermarket to pick some up, where did people buy them? Joining Kate today is historian Dr. Kate Stephenson, to explore what the earliest evidence of condoms is, just how effective they were, and to smash some of the myths surrounding their history. This episode was edited by…

1
Incest in Ancient Rome 37:33

4M ago37:33

37:33

What's the worst thing you could accuse someone of in Ancient Rome? There are a few strong candidates, but incest is definitely up there. In today's episode, Kate speaks with Roman historian, Emma Southon, author of A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women, to find out more about the different ways the Ancient Romans thought about incest. This epi…

1
The REAL Bridgerton: Georgian Drugs & Alcohol 43:07

4M ago43:07

43:07

The third season of Bridgerton is out and we are back in sexy scandalous Georgian society. But while we watch, we're taking a step back to ask: how real is Bridgerton? On our third episode in our REAL Bridgerton mini-series, we're looking at the the booze and drugs that took 18th and early 19th century Britain by storm. Why was opium taken for heal…

1
Sex Work in Colonial Australia 43:00

4M ago43:00

43:00

From the first fleet of convict ships arriving in Australia in 1788, sex work was a central part of the new society British colonialists were building. What was the reality for women when they arrived? What records are there of sex workers from this time? And how has sex work shaped modern Australia? Today, Kate's joined by the fantastic Rae France…

1
The REAL Bridgerton: Queen Charlotte, Lord Byron & Georgian Celebrity 43:08

4M ago43:08

43:08

The third season of Bridgerton is out and we are back in sexy scandalous Georgian society. But while we watch, we're taking a step back to ask: how real is Bridgerton? On this second episode in our REAL Bridgerton mini-series, we're looking at the royals and celebrities who filled the newspapers during 18th and early 19th century Britain. What was …

1
History of Monogamy 43:12

4M ago43:12

43:12

From the earliest iterations on the plains of Africa, to 21st century reconsiderations of it: are humans meant to be monogamous? Joining Kate today is Helen Fisher, author of ANATOMY OF LOVE: A Natural History Of Mating, Marriage, And Why We Stray, to shed a light on our own relationship with this ancient social status. How successful is it really?…

1
The REAL Bridgerton: Georgian Sex 48:14

4M ago48:14

48:14

The long-awaited third season of Bridgerton is here! And with it, we all become obsessed with a particularly sexy version of Regency-era history. Today's episode is the first in our mini-series on the REAL Bridgerton. Across four episodes we'll uncover Georgian attitudes to drugs and alcohol, insights into the celebrities of the time, and a re-cap …

1
Medieval Torture & Execution 49:47

4M ago49:47

49:47

When you say ‘going medieval’ on someone, it brings up quite nasty connotations. But is this brutal suggestion a fair depiction of medieval times and their thoughts on torture and punishment? What are some of the more gruesome methods they employed? And why did Henry I give authorisation for his own granddaughter-in-law to be blinded? Joining Kate …

1
Menopause: History, ‘Hysteria’ & Hormone Revolutions 46:58

4M ago46:58

46:58

When you look into the history of menopause it’s steeped in misogyny, fear and demonising women’s bodies. But what is the truth behind some of the popular menopause myths? How has it been understood (or misunderstood) throughout history? And how have post-menopausal women essential to human evolution? Joining Kate today is Dr. Jennifer Gunter, auth…

1
Sex & Scandal in Charles II's Court 46:54

5M ago46:54

46:54

There are many privileges that come with being a royal, but where do mistresses lay amongst these? If you'll excuse the pun. Charles II was notorious for the women in his life, from his wife Catherine to infamous mistresses like the formidable Nell Gwynn. What was in it for them? And how did they all get along? Joining Kate today is Linda Porter, a…

1
History of Geishas 42:27

5M ago42:27

42:27

What does it mean to be a geisha? How does someone become one? And how do they differ from sex workers? The geisha world is famously very secretive and private, and taking us into it today is Lesley Downer, who spent years befriending geishas in research for her book Geisha: The Secret History of a Vanishing World. This episode was edited by Tom De…

1
Drunk Victorians: Moral Panic & Meat Wine 44:59

5M ago44:59

44:59

Glass of meat wine, anyone? That's right, the Victorians loved a glass of meaty wine. They loved drinking so much that it became a moral panic, with whole movements of temperance cropping up around Britain. What was drinking culture really like in the Victorian and Edwardian Britain? Were women able to drink as much as men? And what exactly went in…

1
Elvis Presley's Sex Life 36:46

5M ago36:46

36:46

Elvis Presley embraced sexuality from the start. Rock n roll was not tame music, and neither were his early performances. So much so that he was nicknamed Elvis 'the pelvis' after early TV performances. But were his personal relationships and relationship with sexuality like? How did his relationship with his mother influence him? And how was his r…

1
Ancient Greek Sexual Health: Wandering Wombs & Headless Beetles 44:06

5M ago44:06

44:06

If there’s one thing you’ll find out from this episode, it’s that the Ancient Greeks were better at philosophy than gynaecology. Struggling to conceive? You might be given a stuffed dead puppy to provoke fertility. Helping Kate make sense of Ancient Greek gynaecology today is Helen King, author of Hippocrates' Woman: Reading the Female Body in Anci…

1
Sex in the Aztec Empire 44:04

5M ago44:04

44:04

The Aztec Empire might conjure up images of human sacrifice. And whilst religious violence was part of their society, theirs was also a very egalitarian society where pleasure was valued and sexuality was an unashamed part of every day life. How was queerness perceived and represented in this period? What sexual freedoms did they enjoy? And what pa…

1
Fetishwear: A Kinky History 1:03:27

6M ago1:03:27

1:03:27

What is the origin of the word fetish? How did the war play a part in shaping fetishwear? And what are some of the styles that are most enjoyed? Kink and fetish scenes have been a part of society for years, and the clothing that participants wear is often very specific, and a key part of what makes them, well, effective. It’s a fascinating history,…

1
The History of Drag Queens 42:12

6M ago42:12

42:12

The word drag is synonymous with flamboyant, fun performances. But where does the term come from and what does it mean? This more modern story of playing with gender identity’s dates back to the 1870s, and it’s a history that takes in the wars, censorship and fears. Heaven forbid! Taking us through this fascinating history of drag as we know it tod…

1
Sex & Scandal in King James' Court 1:01:29

6M ago1:01:29

1:01:29

King James I was a man whose sexuality was known by people in France, let alone (the newly formed) Britain of the early 17th century. So it may come as no surprise that men, such as the handsome George Villiers, might use their sexuality to their advantage and gain status, money and power whilst romancing the king. Helping Kate explore the sex and …

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