logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2024
35m 50s

History of Sh*t: Aztec Poo Goblins to Vi...

History Hit
About this episode

Of all the taboo topics covered on Betwixt the Sheets, this one might make you wince the most.


But it cannot be denied that poo and our management of it through history has massively shaped human civilisation.


What are the evolutionary reasons why we're so repulsed? What would happen if you came across the Aztec poo goblin? And what does the future hold for us and our poo?


Joining us today is the marvellous Suzie Edge, author of History Stinks!: Poo Through The Ages to tell us more.


This episode was edited by Tom Delargy. The producer was Stuart Beckwith and the senior producer was Charlotte Long.


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 https://historyhit/subscription/


You can take part in our listener survey here.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Nov 21
Did Henry VIII Have An Affair With Anne Boleyn's Sister?
<p>She was 'the Other Boleyn Girl' - Anne's sister, Mary, who supposedly had an affair with King Henry VIII. Such drama!</p><br><p>What evidence is there that the two got betwixt the sheets together? How likely was it?!</p><br><p>Joining Kate today is the historian and author, Es ... Show More
38m 50s
Nov 18
The Truth About Roald Dahl
<p>The Twits, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda. Roald Dahl wrote some of the world's most loved children's books.</p><br><p>But what do we know about the man himself? Was he really a spy? Was he a good husband? And why have some editions of his books been edited?</p><br ... Show More
48m 34s
Nov 14
Sex and Scandal of Medieval Royals
What did Queen Isabella of France do to deserve the nickanem She-Wolf? What sex scandals happened in the 14th century? And why did the Black Death improve peoples' sex lives?!Joining Kate today is the fantastic author and historian, Helen Carr, to take us back to this time to fin ... Show More
53m 49s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2023
Babylon
<p>The urban cultures of ancient Mesopotamia formed the foundation for so much of our modern world. Nowhere exemplifies this better than the city of Babylon, which was the cultural seedbed for the Greek and Roman civilisations that in turn left such lasting legacies.</p><br><p>On ... Show More
34m 12s
Feb 2024
Greek Myths: The Furies
<p>The gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece have been written about for thousands of years. From their home atop Mount Olympus, they reigned over the land, sea and sky. The course of human history was shaped by the whims and wishes of these deities, and the Furies were no excepti ... Show More
20m 26s
Mar 2024
2. Machu Picchu: The Rise of the Inca Empire
<p>Part 2/4. At their most powerful, the Inca had the largest empire in the world. Lasting just one century from the mid-15th century, it stretched across the South American continent from the Amazon to the Pacific. The Inca developed ingenious ways to grow food in some of the wo ... Show More
39 m
Feb 2024
Origins of the Civil War
<p>The war between the Union and the Confederacy is a major turning point in the history of the United States. But why did it happen?</p><br><p>From slavery and states' rights, to economic, legislative, moral, and political issues, in this episode, Don and Professor Adam Smith ex ... Show More
34m 54s
Nov 2023
Gunpowder Plot: Tudor Origins
<p>The Gunpowder Plot is one of the hinge events of British history - an act of terror the roots of which stretch back to the Tudor period and Henry VIII's break with Rome. It's a story of Holy War, divided loyalties and religious hatred. And it has never been more timely.&nbsp;< ... Show More
56m 32s
Oct 2022
Rasputin: Myth & Manhood
<p>Was Rasputin really Russia’s greatest love machine? Did he have any healing powers? And why might his penis be pickling in a jar?</p><br><p>In this episode, we are drawing this mystical man out of his cloud of green smoke to find out which of the things we know about him might ... Show More
50m 28s
Mar 2024
Irish in America: Poverty to Power
<p>At least 23 of the Presidents of the United States can have their ancestry traced back to Ireland.</p><br><p>So why did this diaspora come to America? What was their reception like? And how have they reached the top of the power structure so regularly?</p><br><p>We are finding ... Show More
47m 1s
Jun 2024
The Parthians
<p>The Parthians were heavyweights of ancient Mesopotamia. Hailing from what is now modern day Iran, they charged onto the scene by destroying the Seleucid Empire and became one of Rome’s most formidable enemies. They are perhaps most famous for capturing Crassus - Rome’s spider- ... Show More
54m 58s
Apr 2022
Before Rome: The Truth About Late Iron Age Britain
<p>Roman connections with Britain stretch back to (at least) the mid 1st century BC. But what has archaeology revealed about the Late Iron Age British societies they interacted with? Do we have any concrete evidence for the druids? Was human sacrifice a thing? Sit back and enjoy ... Show More
43m 28s
Jul 2023
Lion Man: The First Myth?
<p>Discovered in a German cave, days before the Second World War broke out, the Lion Man statue remained an enigma for decades. A figurine that represents a hybrid creature with the body of a human and the head of a lion, the statue is made from mammoth ivory and is estimated to ... Show More
32m 45s