logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2024
17m 46s

Billie Jean King Wins the “Battle of the...

Airship | Noiser | Wondery
About this episode

September 20, 1973. In a widely-publicized exhibition match, tennis champion Billie Jean King defeats former player Bobby Riggs in what becomes known as “the Battle of the Sexes”. This episode originally aired in 2022.


  • Support the show! Join Into History for ad-free listening and more.


History Daily is a co-production of Airship and Noiser.

Go to HistoryDaily.com for more history, daily.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Today
Telstar Reaches Orbit
July 10, 1962. The world’s first active communications satellite is launched into space.Support the show! Join Into History for ad-free listening and more.History Daily is a co-production of Airship and Noiser.Go to HistoryDaily.com for more history, daily.See Privacy Policy at h ... Show More
14m 37s
Yesterday
The First Wimbledon Tennis Tournament
July 9, 1877. Spectators gather at the All England Club for the first Wimbledon Championship, marking the beginning of an annual sporting tradition.Support the show! Join Into History for ad-free listening and more.History Daily is a co-production of Airship and Noiser.Go to Hist ... Show More
15m 42s
Jul 8
Con Man Soapy Smith is Shot Dead
July 8, 1898. Notorious confidence man Jefferson “Soapy” Smith is killed in a gunfight with a vigilante in the Alaskan boomtown of Skagway. This episode originally aired in 2024.Support the show! Join Into History for ad-free listening and more.History Daily is a co-production of ... Show More
15m 35s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2024
President Calvin Coolidge: The Roaring 20s' Quiet Leader
Sworn in after the death of President Harding by the light of a kerosene lamp, the 30th President of the United States led the country through 6 years of the prosperous roaring 1920s. Coolidge polled more than 54% of the popular vote in 1924, so what was so good about 'silent Cal ... Show More
48m 31s
Aug 2024
US Open Day 2 - Stories everywhere, a lost generation and the longest match ever
It was an extraordinary second day at the US Open. Catherine, David and Matt cover Jasmine Paolini coming back to beat Bianca Andreescu, Noami Osaka’s awesome performance and statement outfit, Dan Evans winning the longest match in US Open history, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinne ... Show More
1h 8m
Jul 2024
Billie Jean King's Story Read by Jessica Valenti
Once upon a time, there was a bespectacled girl who loved tennis. She was resourceful and figured out a way to get tennis lessons for free since her family didn't have a lot of money. When she became a national champion, she began to fight for equal rights within the tennis circu ... Show More
17m 40s
Aug 2024
Medieval Life During Plague & War
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 ... Show More
40m 42s
Jan 2025
Nell Gwyn: life of the week
Nell Gwyn epitomised the wild spirit of the Restoration era. An orange-seller turned actress, turned royal mistress of King Charles II, she hustled her way to the very top with charm, wisecracks and withering putdowns. Sophie Shorland tells Ellie Cawthorne more about Gwyn's rags- ... Show More
38m 13s
Sep 2023
Season 3 | 1. Softsword
King John’s first real test of leadership arrives, in the form of a treaty with Philip Augustus, the wily King of France. Will John spot the French King’s trap, or blunder straight into it? Meanwhile, a grim discovery in the river Seine sets the tone for the reign of England’s mo ... Show More
27m 45s
Jun 22
Martina Navratilova: 'Women are still judged by a different metric than men'
Amol Rajan speaks to Martina Navratilova, one of the greatest-ever tennis players, about her life and career. The story of her rise to the top of the game is as remarkable as the number of tournaments she managed to win.Born behind the Iron Curtain in Czechoslovakia in 1956, she ... Show More
23 m
Aug 2021
Billie Jean King: Pressure is a Privilege
The legendary tennis player joins us to talk about being outed in 1981, why she didn't feel comfortable with her sexuality until she was 51, and the epiphany she had as a 12-year-old that changed her life. All In, Billie Jean King's autobiography is out now.  LGBTQ&A is hosted by ... Show More
19m 45s
Jul 2024
The Princess Diana Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
PART ONE OF TWO!!! Much like Lord of the Rings or Wicked or Breaking Dawn. Our Princess Diana saga continues as we cover Princess Diana's engagement and early marriage. We also experiment with new, fun, podcast dynamics, such as eating candy directly into the microphone and throw ... Show More
56m 34s
May 6
VE Day: a people's history
Nazi Germany had finally been defeated. And, for 24 hours, Britons could let their hair down and celebrate. But not everyone was in the mood to party. As 2025 marks the 80th anniversary, John Willis tells the story of VE Day via the experiences of ordinary Britons who lived throu ... Show More
29m 7s