‘All American: Venus & Serena’ reports on the iconic Williams sisters and what sports stories can tell us about America
Head to the tennis court with Witness Docs’ “All American: Venus & Serena.” Each season shares an icon’s story from their early days to later successes and what these sports stars’ lives can tell us about America.
Now in its second season of “All-American,” sports reporter and host Cecil Harris explores Venus and Serena Williams’ careers, shares their most-celebrated moments, truths about how America overlooks Black excellence, and chats with a variety of guests ranging from retired tennis players to journalists, fans, and the sisters’ former coach Rick Macci.
Did you know that 20 years ago, the duo got booed on the court? Start the podcast from episode 1 to hear the tennis legends’ triumphs and tribulations. This series is super bingeable for sports fans with the average episode running less than 40 minutes each.
Episode 1, season 2 picks up as the All American team meets at the 2021 US Open and the Williams sisters are absent due to injuries while the team looks at their impact on the tournament. Cecil chatted with The Hollywood Reporter’s Nekesa Mumbi Moody about the 2002 US Open and the crowd’s initial indifference when the Williams sisters arrived on the scene.
Episode 2 discusses what Richard Williams envisioned for his daughters even before they were born and how their mom, Oracene Price, also contributed to their succeess. The third episode recaps Venus’ professional tennis debut and the obstacles she overcame on her career path without her sister.
Hear what happened when a Williams family rumor got out of control and Cecil unpacked a tournament from 2001. Episode 5 examines Althea Gibson’s story, a pioneer and one of the greatest tennis players you might not have heard of yet. As one of Serena’s heroes, Althea drastically impacted the tennis world and has “received little in return.”
The first season of “All-American” zoned in on golfer Tiger Woods’ rise, fall, and comeback, presented by Jordan Bell and Albert Chen. Episodes investigate Woods’ story and what was reported in the media vs. what actually happened.
For new episodes of “All American: Venus & Serena,” tune in weekly wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.
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