Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay
Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay dissect the biggest topics in Black culture, politics, and sports. Two times per week, they will wade into the most important and timely conversations, frequently inviting guests on the podcast and occasionally debating each other.
Episodes
August 11, 2026 • 117 mins
Van and Rachel debate "capitalism" before discussing accusations of an Usher body double and Drake’s content creation. Plus, Kamala Harris speaks on what’s needed from the Democrats, and Van breaks down the X-Men vs. the Avengers.
(0:00) Intro
(6:34) A capitalism conversation
(51:37) Usher using body doubles?
(1:00:51) Drake’s stream
(1:20:56) Kamala Harris and "ruthless" Democrats
(1:40:13) X-Men vs. Aven...
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August 7, 2026 • 120 mins
Van and Rachel react to results from the August primary races, Sophie Cunningham weighing in on trans athletes, A$AP Rocky opening up to Jason Lee. Then, author and political leader Stacey Abrams returns to weigh in on the ongoing fight for voting rights.
(0:00) Intro
(5:39) Primary race results
(19:26) Sophie Cunningham on trans athletes
(30:01) A$AP Rocky on his relationship with Rihanna
(42:25) Stacey Abrams joins the sho...
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Van and Rachel react to Spider-Man’s big box office weekend before switching gears to talk about RFK Jr.’s on-air meltdown and Governor Wes Moore’s chummy exchange with a Trump official. Then actor, writer, and producer Diarra Kilpatrick joins to talk about Season 2 of the hit show 'Diarra From Detroit.'
(0:00) Intro
(0:15) ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ box office
(8:42) RFK Jr.’s on-air meltd...
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July 31, 2026 • 127 mins
Van and Rachel discuss tragedy and personas in rap, and updates in the Nolan Wells case before diving into President Trump’s attempts at voter suppression. Then Jonathan Majors speaks, the author of ’Children of Blood and Bone’ distances herself from the film, and Usher’s interaction with a fan sparks debate.
(0:00) Intro
(7:46) The Madden curse
(27:48) Gun violence and 21 Savage
(40:37) Update on the ...
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Van and Rachel react to the recasting of Black Panther, a cheating scandal in the WNBA, and the White House Correspondents' Dinner before welcoming actor Kerry Washington to discuss the revival of ‘The Whoopi Monologues’ and the importance of theater. Plus, Representative James Clyburn says Black voters let Kamala down, and a respectability politics discussion about Tuskegee University.
(0:00) Intro
(20:08) David Jo...
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July 24, 2026 • 146 mins
Van and Rachel react to both ESPN’s decision to lay off Ryan Clark and LeBron’s decision to drag out free agency. Then, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani says he can’t arrest Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Trump administration freezes Medicaid funding for CA and MN. And finally, a debate about the placement of a controversially titled book on a former NBA head coach's desk.
(0:00) Intro
(27:42) Ryan Clark and th...
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July 21, 2026 • 144 mins
Van and Rachel have a spoiler-filled discussion of the newly streaming film ‘Obsession,’ before reacting to the success of 'The Odyssey.' Then, controversy in the WNBA warrants an apology rating, the Tate brothers are arrested, the military’s testing testosterone, and Fox News is joking about sexual assault. Then, ESPN executive VP David Roberts joins to discuss his career and massive impact on the sports broadcas...
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July 17, 2026 • 133 mins
Van and Rachel react to a problematic Hollywood Reporter article and some Christian blacklash for KevOnStage, before discussing Boosie’s failed efforts to get a pardon and recent killings at the hands of ICE. Then Rachel gives her list of “top five finest men.”
(0:00) Intro
(24:38) New face of Hollywood
(46:08) KevOnStage upsets some fans
(1:05:27) Boosie’s pardon play
(1:17:32) Memphis Bleek and comm...
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July 14, 2026 • 128 mins
Van and Rachel react to the death of Senator Lindsey Graham and the speculation around the health of Senator Mitch McConnell before digging into Jay-Z’s mention of Colin Kaepernick at a recent performance.
(0:00) Intro
(27:25) Rachel’s porkless week
(29:52) World Cup updates
(33:29) Reactions to Lindsey Graham’s death
(56:21) Mitch McConnell speculation
(1:00:45) Jay-Z disses Colin Kaepernick
(1:51:31) Ra...
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July 10, 2026 • 137 mins
Van and Rachel react to the U.S. men's soccer team’s loss to Belgium and the list of Emmy nominees. Then they discuss the end of the plans for Harriet Tubman’s $20 bill and Graham Platner ending his Senate campaign. Plus, an update on Marcellus Wiley, and the death of a Mississippi teen sparks conversation.
(0:00) Intro
(18:53) U.S. loses to Belgium
(31:06) Emmy nominations
(42:34) Harriet Tubman $20 bill plans en...
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July 7, 2026 • 116 mins
Van and Rachel react to the U.S. soccer controversy before discussing Marcellus Wiley’s arrest and the "America250" celebration in D.C. Plus, will Diddy get a pardon thanks to Trump? And the song of the summer sparks a debate.
(0:00) Intro
(35:07) The U.S.-FIFA controversy
(51:15) Marcellus Wiley’s arrest
(1:03:47) "America250" celebration
(1:19:08) Will Trump pardon Diddy?
(1:28:41) India.Arie, Yung Miami, and ...
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July 3, 2026 • 138 mins
Van and Rachel react to the biggest news of the NBA offseason before questioning whether Kamala Harris is gearing up for a presidential run and discussing Barack Obama’s opinion of George Washington. Then Maureen Edobor, an assistant professor at Washington and Lee School of Law, joins to help break down the impact of some recent Supreme Court decisions before Van asks a patriotic question.
(0:00) Intro
(10:01) The new-lo...
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June 30, 2026 • 120 mins
Van and Rachel react to the 2026 BET Awards before discussing the latest from a pair of former Fox News hosts, and the conflict dividing the Democratic Party.
(0:00) Intro
(16:04) BET Awards recap
(29:00) Haiti and Megyn Kelly’s racist rhetoric
(54:11) Tucker Carlson leaving the GOP
(1:06:14) Moderates vs. Democratic Socialists
(1:31:03) New segment: Rachel Hasn’t Seen This
(1:39:40) Fewer babies named Donald
...
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June 26, 2026 • 127 mins
Van and Rachel kick off the podcast with a follow-up discussion about Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico before digging into a pair of music industry topics. Plus, an awkward interaction during ESPN’s NBA draft coverage, and was A$AP Rocky disrespectful with the stuff he said during a performance?
(0:00) Intro
(0:17) A Crockett-Talarico recap
(59:46) XXL Freshman Class: Auntie Rach vs. Baby Jade
(1:08:55) Lizzo’s...
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June 23, 2026 • 152 mins
Van and Rachel react to questions about Representative Jasmine Crockett’s support of her former opponent James Talarico before Van makes a connection between geopolitics and ‘The Wire.’ They also hit a couple of sports topics and SZA’s anti-AI stance before the multi-hyphenate Estelle joins the show.
(0:00) Intro
(13:11) Jasmine Crockett, James Talarico, and party unity
(35:10) The Iran conflict and &ls...
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June 19, 2026 • 122 mins
Van and Rachel discuss the results of the L.A. primary race, before reacting to the death of a one-year-old at the hands of police. Then Jemele Hill joins to talk boycotts amidst a deal between Target and Jay-Z.
(0:00) Intro
(13:43) L.A. mayoral primary race results
(31:36) Mississippi police shoot and kill one-year-old
(54:41) Jemele Hill joins the show
(1:25:43) Tyra Banks sues Netflix
(1:42:26) Knicks parade reactions
(...
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June 16, 2026 • 104 mins
Van and Rachel are back from a break to react to the historic NBA Finals, the UFC fight at the White House, and David Oyelowo’s take on African and Southern Black accents. Then defense attorney Yodit Tewolde joins to help break down the trial and conviction of Karmelo Anthony.
(0:00) Intro
(8:26) New York Knicks are NBA champs
(27:34) UFC fight at the White House
(44:15) David Oyelowo on African and Southern Black accen...
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June 12, 2026 • 54 mins
Connecticut senator Chris Murphy joins to discuss multiculturalism, the withdrawal of Joe Biden’s presidential candidacy, and his new book, ‘Crisis of the Common Good.’
(0:00) Intro
(1:36) Responding to the symptom of Trump
(5:07) Common good capitalism
(7:21) The country’s most harmful cults
(10:07) Building cultural connections
(21:38) Getting personal
(24:20) The male loneliness epidemic
(27:14)...
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June 9, 2026 • 58 mins
Van and Rachel welcome U.S. Representative from Minnesota Ilhan Omar for a wide-ranging discussion of governing in 2026.
(0:00) Intro
(1:09) Governing in 2019 vs. 2026
(5:07) What’s holding Democrats back?
(7:07) AIPAC-sponsored candidates
(15:47) 2024 election post-mortem
(21:52) MAGA vs. Rep. Omar
(24:28) Minnesota stands up to ICE
(29:22) Nancy Mace pushes ban on naturalized citizens
(36:32) Embracing MAGA expat...
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June 5, 2026 • 155 mins
Van and Rachel check in on the California primary races, and discuss Tyler, the Creator's disdain for top-five lists before senior politics reporter at Axios, Marc Caputo, joins to break down the congressional vote on Iran. Plus, comedian and rapper Jay Pharoah sheds light on fame, faith, and impressions.
(0:00) Intro
(12:18) Spencer Pratt and the L.A. mayoral race
(37:03) Tyler, the Creator on top fives
(50:46) Marc Caputo o...
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