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

History of the Witch

It’s that time of year again, Halloween. A word which conjures up images of pumpkins, ghosts, and of course…witches. But have you ever wondered what the ancient origins of witchcraft is? How did the black-hat-broomstick stereotype emerge? And what causes the waves of witch trials throughout history, right up to the present day? Kate is Betwixt the Sheets with Ronald Hutton to discuss the history of the witch. This podcast was mixed and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.  Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free original podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians like Dan Snow, James Holland, Mary Beard and more. Get 50% off your first 3 months with code<a href="http://access.historyhit.com/checkout?code=patented&amp;plan=monthly" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://access.historyhit.com/checkout/subscribe/purchase?code=betwixt&amp;plan=monthly" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AFTERDARK</a> Download the app on your smart TV or in the app store or sign up at <a href="http://historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">historyhit.com/subscribe</a>You can take part in our listener survey <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/6FFT7MK" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.

Why did kings and queens have spectators on their wedding night? Who had the very first boob job? And did our ancestors have their unmentionables pierced? Join historian, Kate Lister, Betwixt the Sheets as she unashamedly roots around the topics which seem to have been skipped in history class. Everything from landmark LGBTQ+ court cases, to political scandal, to downright bizarre medieval cures for impotence. The etymology of swear words, gender bias in medicine, and satanic panic and cults - there’s nothing off limits. 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 yourself how much has actually changed. So join Kate Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal &amp; Society - a podcast from History Hit. Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 per month for 3 months with code BETWIXT sign up at <a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">historyhit.com/subscribe</a>. You can take part in our listener survey <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/6FFT7MK" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.