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

Althea Gibson: The Wimbledon Champion Who Beat The Odds

The world of tennis in the 1940s wasn't made for someone of Althea Gibson's background. She was the descendent of slaves, and grew up in South Carolina with the nearest tennis courts available to an African American at that time being hundreds of miles away. How did Althea Gibson go on to become the first African American to win a Grand Slam title? What challenges did she face on and off the court? And what's her legacy today? Kate is joined by Ashley Brown, author of Serving Herself: The Life and Times of Althea Gibson, to find out. This episode was edited by Stuart Beckwith, and produced by Sophie Gee. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. If you're enjoying Betwixt please vote for us at the British Podcast Awards <a href="https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>. It would mean the world to us! Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free original podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians like Kate Lister, Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Lucy Worsley, Mary Beard and more. Get 50% off your first 3 months with code <a href="https://access.historyhit.com/checkout/subscribe/purchase?code=betwixt&amp;plan=monthly" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BETWIXT</a>. Download the app on your smart TV or in the app store or sign up at historyhit.com/subscribe.

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>.