This is Alice, and on this episode, we have the incomparable

Billie Jean King.

At birth, my brother and I, both of us, our third word that we learned was ball.

Ball, Daddy, Mommy, ball, ball.

So anything to do with a ball ball which tennis has a ball um there

that's why we played basketball first because my dad was a basketball player he was a really good

really good athlete we love sports and your mom was a good swimmer my mother did not talk about

herself because in those days it was always about the dad. And I yelled at my mom later in life.

I said, Mom, why didn't you talk to us about what you like, swimming and running?

She said, well, I wanted your dad to have all the attention.

That is such a 1950s family.

You know, it was always about dad being the one.

The course of Billaging King's life was written in the stars from the very beginning,

it seems. She was a ferocious force on and off the court, transforming tennis and transforming

the world for women. This is what it takes, a podcast about passion, vision, and perseverance

from the Academy of Achievement. I'm your host, Alice Winkler.

Adam A. This child is gifted. And I heard that enough that I started to believe it.

If you have the opportunity, not a perfect opportunity,

and you don't take it, you may never have another chance.

It all was so clear.

It was just like the picture started to form itself.

There was no way in which a lie could prevail over the truth,

...