All-American: Venus & Serena

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Witness Docs presents All-American, a series that zeroes in on sports icons to find out what their stories can tell us about America itself. Season 1 focused on the many chapters of world-famous golfer Tiger Woods: a phenom's rise, a shocking fall from grace, and debatably the greatest sports comeback of all time. Host and producers Jordan Bell and journalist Albert Chen revisit Tiger's journey to find out what the media got right, and what it didn't. Season 2 focuses on Venus and Serena Williams. Hosted by veteran journalist Cecil Harris, the story reveals ugly truths about how America often scorns and resists Black excellence. Hear more great stories about complicated people from Witness Docs at witnesspodcasts.com

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Recent Reviews
  • AnnC430
    Venus and Serena
    What a great show! I love it!
  • williemd
    "Venus & Serena" insightful storytelling
    So interesting to learn about Venus and Serena from Cecil Harris, a journalist/writer who followed the sisters for their entire pro careers— from their earliest days, when tennis fans were slow to embrace two Black sisters. I enjoyed learning about their mom Oracene Price for the first time also. The host is good at focusing on the broader/deeper context around their success on the courts (e.g. the specific challenges of their race, and specific strengths of the parenting and coaching in their family unit).
  • aDishTowel
    Season 2
    Season 1 was very interesting, easy to listen to and enjoyable. Season 2 on the other hand sounds like an actual robot is reading the script. I honestly couldn’t figure out for the first half of episode 1 if they were having an AI read the script as a bit, but no. The guy is just not great at voice acting/story telling
  • JJ.SXM.22
    🔥🔥🔥
    Can't wait 'til Season 2 Drops!
  • maxie1312
    Great pod
    I listened to this podcast during a 6 hour drive with my dad. Both of us were very entertained and learned a lot. Worth a listen for sure!!
  • ladydaydreamer
    Finally!
    I’ve been waiting for the new season of All-American for so long!
  • tall6677
    Great Clips; Bad Hosts
    This is very well produced and takes the listener through the arc of Tiger’s story. The problem is that the two hosts are the kind of people who giggle for no reason at statement so don’t even jokes. He has a tendency to end his sentences as questions? Like when people do that and raise their voices? She is worse and comes across not only as being an airhead in terms of golf, but celebrating her own ignorance. They also keep virtue signaling which gets annoying. When Tiger refuses to identify himself in the way they want him to, they pretty much say well, Tiger was wrong. And when Tiger accepted the presidential medal of freedom from Trump, and said he respected the office, the hosts bend over backwards to try to explain how it’s one of tigers “many contradictions,” as if they had the vapors over Tiger rising above party politics.
  • by50&;hx
    Good podcast
    Good subject but stop with the annoying and fake laughter. Also commentary is obviously scripted, making it sound like impromptu conversation is annoying as well.
  • Mailman42431
    Ugh
    I’d have given it zero stars if possible. Could the host be anymore ignorant about golf or even Tiger for that matter. She makes the podcast unbearable.
  • Ann1490
    Really enjoyed!
    Every episode was fun to listen to
  • Andrea Dunlop
    Adding so much to the story I thought I knew!
    Such a good deep dive.
  • Navybuff2010
    A great podcast that’s about Tiger, not golf
    I was captivated by this podcast, but I have hunch as to why the ratings do not reflect its quality: First, and I believe most importantly, I believe the hosts misjudged their target audience. The primary host, Jordan Bell, is a younger millennial that grew up hearing about Tiger, but she admits that she didn’t know much more about him or about golf than what the media told her. It seems that she wanted to convey the story and translate the events as if she were talking to her twin, or someone very similar to her. The problem, I feel, is that most of the people interested in this podcast are going to be elder millennials/Gen Xers that are familiar with golf and have been following Tiger throughout his entire career. These are people who already have a good base knowledge of both Tiger and golf, so the earlier episodes diving into the basics of who he was and the basics of golf are understandably off-putting. Because of this, there are many reviews that jump to the conclusion that the podcast isn’t worth listening to because the host CLEARLY doesn’t know what she’s talking about. This, in my opinion, is unfair. This podcast is not about golf, but about the media’s treatment of Tiger. To that end, they did quite a bit of research and knew what they were talking about. Both hosts are very competent journalists and storytellers, and I truly enjoyed being placed on the outside of the media circus and peering in. The second reason for the mediocre ratings is, in my opinion, over-sensitivity. The hosts do not shy away from talking about how race is a much talked about piece of Tiger’s media story, and I don’t doubt that some of the listeners of this podcast may have felt uncomfortable with the topic, or even subjects of their criticism. This, unsurprisingly, would cause people to recoil and potentially even write a poor review. Ultimately, I found this podcast to be an interesting look in to an angle of the Tiger story that we’re not familiar with: how he is and was treated by the media. I felt the hosts did a great job of drilling down to some of the most important conflicts in Tiger’s history and explaining the nuances involved, and I came away having learned a lot more than I thought I already knew.
  • kmtrent
    Next Season
    Please do Serena and Venus Williams
  • Marines159
    Worthless
    They did no research on the subject of golf and the anti Trump comments were biased and irrelevant. Be better
  • RayBryce
    Wrong Host For This Pod
    As a woman who loves sports, it’s really disappointing that Jordan Bell didn’t take it upon herself to learn more about golf for this podcast. Frankly, it’s pretty unprofessional and not a good look for women who are still fighting to have a credible voice in the world of sports broadcasting. I even struggle to be taken seriously in conversation. She doesn’t have to be an expert, but the giggly “I’m clueless about the sports world” attitude was maddening. It’s not cute to play dumb, especially when it’s your job.
  • BossHOGG693
    Swing and miss
    Little to no research on the topic at hand. The lack of understanding the subject matter is unreal, knowing this is a golf athlete you should at least know something about golf. The information is poor at best everything that was discussed has been out in the news for 20 years . I don’t mind a refresher but I think not knowing what a bogey is and a birdie and having someone else explain it told me it wasn’t worth the listen . Only made 5 parts maybe it gets better but seriously doubt that
  • awful preparation
    Research?
    The lack of research that went into this is appalling. The host has no base understanding of golf. She literally asks: “What’s a bogey?” ...In the second episode!
  • annemurch
    Tiger woods
    I’ve enjoyed this podcast....but listening to the episode of Tiger getting his medal of freedom award...and your hatred of Trump made me sick...he is our President and I would like to think you would have more respect for the office.
  • Kellkell708
    Distraction Episodes
    Those “bonus” episodes were not worth listening to. Otherwise, I found it interesting.
  • Outwest
    Rehash with nothing new
    Basically a rehash of Tiger’s career. I have never followed golf closely and there was really not much new info given here that I didn’t already know. The Distraction episodes were trash. I was hoping for much better than a recap of newspaper articles.
  • N.E.M
    If you don’t know Golf don’t do a podcast on Tiger
    This podcast is ok. I have not yet learned anything I didn’t know from reading a book about Tiger. However my biggest gripe is that one host had to explain Eagle and Bogey to the other host. Embarrassing. I don’t play golf or watch golf on TV. And I know those terms. Do some homework before you start a podcast.
  • Hank2214
    Terrible
    This podcast is awful. She decides to do a show about a person and a sport she knows nothing about. And then, can’t even get person too accept a call or agree to an interview. She is a terrible fake news host. Do not recommend this show.
  • ieasy does it
    Disappointed in lack of depth.
    Know the sport before hosting a podcast on it. Not much depth whatsoever. Disappointed in the content.
  • curved stick
    Tiger
    This is a poorly produced podcast and a waste of your time. Limited new insight into an athlete who received blanket coverage from better informed media. I had to wonder what Stitcher was thinking when they asked these two to host. The only discernible theme of the series seems to be hero worship. I suppose they just needed to sell some advertising and figured the title would guarantee a certain number of downloads.
  • andy goody
    Only for the novice golf fan
    This is clearly a podcast designed for someone who knows next to nothing about golf. Really just a collection of what is already known about Tiger. The descriptions a birdie, eagle etc. and the amount of time spent on those was really, really bad. A podcast of this premise will attract the golf enthusiast not a novice, seems like a pretty clear disconnect between show and audience. If you’re a golf enthusiast do not listen to this.
  • picujoe
    Smugness
    I could tolerate the lack of knowledge about golf but when they had to throw in anti Trump comments they lost me. Was an interesting effort until then.
  • OleMissRebelMomma
    Too long for little information
    I listened just because of the subject matter but after every episode I asked myself why I waste my time. They talk as much about themselves as Tiger and throw in political attitude. I may not be a huge Trump fan but a ‘journalist’ should be unbiased and not ASSume their entire audience wants their take on him playing golf with the President. He played with President Obama too and I don’t see them making an issue of that. Such a waste. Just read Tiger’s Wikipedia page and you will learn more without the boring side bar conversation
  • Hang side
    Had to get your political view in!
    Interesting story for sure but you just had to get your political jabs in about Trump. If you’re going to bring up an assumed racial background about Trump please give specific instances on when this took place. On the other hand, our “president elect” Joe Biden has PLENTY of examples on YouTube. In fact the first one that pulls up is KAMALA HARRIS holding his feet to the fire 😂
  • BCroxford
    Very little meat on the bones
    This is pretty thin stuff. It get cobbled together and this had no real “flow” to it at all. Also, there simply isn’t much information here. No real insights, just a lot of light conversation
  • Natioam
    Really
    Part of the problem with America is every show has to talk down about someone who accepts an award from Trump. You could hear it in these two voices. How about we follow what Tiger said....no matter who is in the office you respect the office.
  • tycillian
    Awful
    Awful podcast. Why would we decide what we need is a Tiger podcast where they spend ten minutes explaining what a birdie is.
  • ElcacahuateBlanco
    No New Info
    I was excited to find out about some of the backstory but there was no info that I hadn’t already seen before. This podcast is only suitable for someone who has never heard of Tiger Woods Don’t waste your time.
  • Lija Mom
    Suggestion for season 2
    Michael Vick
  • Andrew M Odonnel Photography
    Awful.
    I can’t stand either of the talentless hosts. The hosts are boring and verbose. The episodes are unnecessarily long. The details focused on are unnecessary. May god have mercy on their talentless souls.
  • Mickey in oregon
    If you like commercials go for it!
    The story is good yet it could’ve been covered in 2-3 episodes. This is 1/3 commercials 1/3 Tiger story and 1/3 about the producers. Don’t get me wrong this has some impressive moments yet 9 episodes common! Wikipedia and YouTube will get you the same story quicker!
  • Petefish2
    Host is SO bad—SKIP
    I love Tiger Woods and was so excited to hear this podcast. Turns out it is terrible. The host acts like she was born yesterday, knows more about journalism than anyone else but has never seen golf played. We made it through four episodes before deciding there was no coming back from how bad this was. Bummer.
  • Amariep1
    Bonus- fat shaming and laughs
    Yuck. Turned it off when the bonus episode’s intro went down a rabbit hole of talking at length about how 90’s golfers “looked like they got kicked out of a bowling alley”
  • News hungry
    Great story, but ...
    Love the story telling by the podcasters but I too have to agree regarding length of episodes and ads. It feels as if each new episode has more ads interrupting the story, making the narrative less interesting because, oh wait, here comes some commercials (which for me, is worse because some of the ads are the hosts talking about product/service/etc). I get it, that’s how a podcast makes money and can continue its storytelling, but it is a downside to an otherwise wonderful show. Length of episodes - you’ve pulled us in, keep the story going...give me a good 45 mins - 60 mins of already great content:). I look forward to the new episodes each week and can’t wait to see what other athletes you’ll focus on...you guys are my running buddies each Sunday morning.
  • dobson 06
    Brings nothing to the table
    Seriously feels like they went through the headlines about Tiger over the years as research and then started recording. So many opportunities to dive deeper and just stays surface level or plays MULTIPLE skits/stand up/radio clips about Tiger rather than adding their own opinion on the subject. In a podcast called “All-American” I was ready to listen to a deep dive about Tiger’s golf game but mostly just heard recycled stories. The two hosts are the absolute worst for hosting a sports podcast just find another tiger woods podcast I’m sure there is one
  • Rueben over Burger
    Big Wipey Fade, but you might have to explain that to the hosts
    Is this a podcast about the story of Tiger or journalists sharing their opinions on articles about Tiger? If you want political commentary, maybe this is your scene. If you want a chronicle on Tiger, expect wild disappointment.
  • JMerrickw
    I’m out the Distraction guys killed this for me!
    BELOW IS MY ORIGINAL 3 STAR REVIEW. But the idiot hosts of the DISTRACTIONS Are killing what was a decent podcast. Why are they taking about fat kids eating pizza in a gym? Why are they here! If you want the main Tiger topic to succeed get rid of the DISTRACTIONS Good Bye! I’ve read all previous reviews and I liked this podcast and lack of knowledge about golf I found it engaging and honest. I was looking forward to episode 4! But wish I never listened E4; the two guest host were so annoying and arrogant. Their contribution was all but pointless other than to listen to themselves talk. IMO they did not speak to the audience but spoke to their inflated egos. Felt unprepared and ruined the focus of the theme of the podcast. I’m not sure why they were brought on, maybe to promote their podcast but I’ll NEVER listen to theirs and will unsubscribe if they come back or do not get back on point.
  • Samantha_B
    Had potential
    Episodes seem to be getting shorter with more ads.... and the guest Distraction episodes add no value Will stick it out to hear the story through but not loving this one
  • gibalittlebit
    Chemistry in the rough
    The hosts’ awkward chuckles are so abundant I wonder if they must hit a quota per minute. Podcast sponsored by: forced chemistry!
  • KBron72
    Stick with the original format
    I agree with others about not enjoying the episodes where you bring on the Distraction guys. I can’t listen. Totally different tone and I don’t enjoy it at all. Otherwise I was enjoying the episodes chronicling Tiger’s career.
  • Djohn12402
    Drop the Distraction guys
    I have found your podcast interesting to listen to. The Distraction guys are undertalented and unfunny. I find their frequent use of profanity to be unnecessary and a “distraction”. You guys can do better. Just drop the “bonus” podcasts... you’re better than this.
  • KenFromOC
    Just got worse (again)
    Another review update: Just when I thought this was getting a bit better it just got worse. WHY DO YOU FEEL THE NEED TO BRING ON THESE “DISTRATION” BONE HEADS? They are horrible and judging by the reviews, we all think the same! Why can’t you just give us YOUR podcasts? And why for every minutes of real content you give us another minute of ads or dumb banter? This is middle-school level once again! Do you folks even know what you are doing? I would love to hear back and address all this. Thank you. Although I did not like the Distracted episode ( lame juvenile hosts on that one), the main podcast has gotten a lot better and a big thanks to getting the content started right away instead of 5 minutes of ads and banter! ——My earlier review: Overall I was expecting more. This is basically at high school freshman level in both the interview and content. The “host” Jordon Bell comes off as if she has done no research at all. How does someone who is doing a series on Tiger Woods have such little basic knowledge of the game of golf? She has to ask what a “birdie” is? It’s as if this podcast was made by a high schooler for the benefit of someone even younger. The worst part are the ads - just too many. So much so it took (and I am not exagerating) 5 full mintues to get past the ads and promotions and all before we get to the introduction of the episode! “Chapter 2... The Coronation” came at about 5:12 into the podcast. Note to the producers: Whether it’s a podcast or a YouTube video your audience wants the “show” to begin almost immediately! Good concept, but needs lot’s of work.
  • Viking X
    Poor
    This podcast does not hit the mark. The golf knowledge is very poor
  • DGSoFla
    Distracted by the Distraction
    Horrible episode in the series. The regular episodes are terrific, but The Distraction is horrible. I don’t need to listen to two or three guys cursing and analyzing like 15-year-olds in a locker room.I’m listening to your series because I want to learn more about tiger, not their opinion about how golf courses should be set up and how the PGA or the USGA should be running their tournaments.
  • DOFTR
    The distraction
    The distractions episodes are absolutely awful. Please for the love of god stop pushing that hot steamy garbage upon us
  • tried7namesbeforethis
    Started strong
    The first few episodes were what I was expecting, a recount of Tiger’s career with some behind the scenes insight. Then it just devolved into a sports-caster-wanna-be-pro-athlete critique filled rant that no one really cares to hear.
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