Dr. Kate Lister

Dr. Kate Lister, a British author, columnist, and podcaster, is renowned for her work concentrating on women's rights and the history of sexuality and sexual behavior. Prior to her writing and broadcasting career, she served as a senior lecturer in the Centre for Victorian Studies at Leeds Trinity University. In 2016, she founded the online blog and research forum, Whores of Yore, which had amassed a following of over 360,000 on Twitter by 2021.

Lister's publications include "A Curious History of Sex," and "Harlots, Whores & Hackabouts: A History of Sex for Sale." These books, coupled with her regular contributions to the i newspaper and appearances on British radio and television, have solidified her role as a thought leader in her field. Beyond her public persona, Lister actively supports charities for sex workers in her home city of Leeds.

In recognition of her work, Lister received the Sexual Freedom Award as Publicist of the Year in 2017 for her blog. Her influence has extended to the podcasting sphere since 2022, when she began hosting the History Hit podcast "Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal, and Society." This venture was soon acknowledged, receiving a nomination for Best New Podcast at the Audio and Radio Industry Awards in 2023. In 2025, she debuted a new podcast with Jameela Jamil titled "Mistresses" on history's "other women."