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
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 expats
(39...
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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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June 2, 2026 • 113 mins
Van and Rachel react to Jay-Z’s freestyle at the Roots Picnic, and Donald Trump taking two public L's in the lead-up to his Freedom 250 festival. Plus a check-in on the L.A. mayoral race, and an Atlanta judge and police deputy chief’s noisy sexual encounters get exposed.
(0:00) Intro
(19:12) Jay-Z freestyle
(42:57) Trump cancelling concert
(52:27) Removal of Trump’s name from Kennedy Center
(1:00:06) Spencer Pratt’s appeal
...
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May 29, 2026 • 124 mins
Van and Rachel are back from the holiday break to react to Kevin Hart's response to problematic jokes at his roast, updates in the fight against redistricting, and Spencer Pratt’s appeal to L.A. voters. Plus Jaxson Dart’s MAGA moves, and Ray J gets KO'd.
(0:00) Intro
(15:54) Kevin Hart responds to roast critics
(41:20) Iran conflict update
(56:40) The redistricting battle
(1:12:37) White wine spritzers
(1:21:13) Spencer Pra...
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Van and Rachel react to the results of this week’s primary races and the release of the DNC Autopsy report of the 2024 election. Plus Chelsea Handler on racist jokes, Cheyenne Bryant’s doctoral backlash, and Michelle Obama on MAGA.
(0:00) Intro
(0:18) Is Hip-Hop still fun?
(15:47) Primary election reactions
(28:10) The DNC’s 2024 election autopsy
(51:04) Chelsea Handler, race and roasts
(1:10:13) “Dr.” Cheyenne Bryant
(1:2...
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May 19, 2026 • 126 mins
Van and Rachel review Drake’s highly anticipated new album, ‘Iceman.’ Did it live up to the hype? Then they discuss a white college student’s alleged scheme to attract Black athletes before gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer joins the podcast to shed light on his potential policies for the Golden State.
(0:00) Intro
(8:33) ‘Iceman’ album review
(35:06) Black athlete scheme
(54:59) Tom Steyer joins the show
(1:56:00) Polls in...
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May 15, 2026 • 160 mins
Van and Rachel react to Jason Lee and Peter Rosenberg’s "culture vulture" conversation and the AKA’s being upset with Rachel, before discussing Chud the Builder's shooting and arrest and calls for student-athletes to boycott SEC schools. Then author Tiffany D. Cross joins to talk about her new book, ‘Love, Me: A Letter to Black Women in a Toxic Country, Career, and Relationship.’
(0:00) Intro
(13:47) Jason Lee, Peter Rosenberg ...
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May 12, 2026 • 114 mins
Van and Rachel recap ‘The Roast of Kevin Hart’ and discuss this era of gerrymandering and ABC challenging the FCC. Then, Stephen A. Smith has a wish for Black voters, James Charles apologizes, and Caitlin Clark does the Morgan Wallen walk.
(0:00) Intro
(0:14) 'The Roast of Kevin Hart'
(17:27) Virginia redistricting ruling
(36:04) ABC vs. the FCC
(48:02) Stephen A. Smith and the Black vote
(1:02:29) James Charles berates for...
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May 8, 2026 • 124 mins
Van and Rachel react to the verdict in the Stefon Diggs case before discussing the Bezos backlash at the Met Gala. Plus, Quavo and Offset tease new music, and Van has a brand-new VanLaTEN list.
(0:00) Intro
(4:33) Responding to viral racism
(15:10) Stefon Diggs found not guilty
(29:47) The Met Gala and Jeff Bezos
(42:53) MrBeast birthday love
(54:41) New music from Migos?
(1:00:12) L.A. mayoral debate
(1:16:08) Dana White...
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May 5, 2026 • 123 mins
Van and Rachel look back on the legacy of 'Love & Hip-Hop' before reacting to the pausing of Post Malone and Jelly Roll’s stadium tour. Plus, Scott Jennings gets flustered on CNN and Fernando Mendoza skips the White House visit, before a conversation about colorism and Blackness.
(0:00) Intro
(17:37) The end of ‘Love & Hip-Hop’
(32:37) Post Malone and Jelly Roll cancellations
(44:51) Scott Jennings and CNN’s ‘Newsnight’
(1:0...
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Van and Rachel react to the news of Druski hosting the BET Awards before discussing the Supreme Court’s latest blow against the Voting Rights Act. Then L.A. Mayor Karen Bass joins to answer questions about her plan for the city in a second term.
(0:00) Intro
(0:14) Druski hosting BET Awards
(9:26) A Megan and Klay Thompson talk pt. 2
(21:31) The Supreme Court and voting rights
(53:40) Mayor Karen Bass joins the show
Hosts...
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April 28, 2026 • 140 mins
Van and Rachel discuss distrust around the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting, before reacting to cheating allegations from Megan Thee Stallion about Klay Thompson. Then, Grammy Award-winning artist Durand Bernarr stops by to shed light on being “everyone’s favorite cousin,” before comedian Aida Rodriguez joins to preview Van’s upcoming standup set.
(0:00) Intro
(1:34) White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting
(19:4...
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April 24, 2026 • 129 mins
‘Michael’ Review, ‘Iceman’ Preview, and Kendrick Sampson on Quincy Jones and Black Creativity
Van and Rachel give a review of the Michael Jackson biopic before digging into theories about Drake’s upcoming album. Plus, they give a recap of the California gubernatorial debate before actor Kendrick Sampson joins to give insight on his portrayal of Quincy Jones in the film ‘Michael.’
(0:00) Intro
(8:08) ‘Michael’ review
(33:06)...
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April 23, 2026 • 34 mins
Van and Rachel sit down with the star and director of the new Netflix series ‘Man on Fire’ following a screening of the show’s first episode.
Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay
Guests: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Steven Caple Jr.
Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Jade Whaley
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April 21, 2026 • 139 mins
Van and Rachel react to Mary J. Blige’s comments on her 2012 Burger King commercial before discussing Roland Martin’s response to Justin Fairfax killing his wife, Cerina, and then himself. Then writer Jamilah Lemieux joins to talk about her new book, ‘Black. Single. Mother.: Real Life Tales of Longing and Belonging.’
(0:00) Intro
(4:49) Mary J. Blige’s Burger King commercial
(16:04) Roland Martin’s response to the Fairfax murd...
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April 17, 2026 • 134 mins
Van and Rachel discuss the mysterious circumstances around the death of an influencer before diving into Dave Chappelle’s interview with NPR and Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar’s comments on embracing Trump allies. Plus, an argument for Trump being the Antichrist. Then, Michael Tubbs, a candidate for lieutenant governor of California, joins the show.
(0:00) Intro
(06:38) The mysterious death of an influencer
(13:49) Dave ...
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April 14, 2026 • 117 mins
Van and Rachel recap the first weekend of Coachella, before discussing Afrika Bambaataa’s legacy and reported history of abuse. Then, Trump shares an image of himself as Dr. Christ, Gucci Mane releases a diss track, and the church gets lit.
(0:00) Intro
(2:54) Coachella recap: Justin Bieber
(11:47) Coachella recap: Sabrina Carpenter
(22:54) The legacy of Afrika Bambaataa
(42:18) Rep. Eric Swalwell suspends campaign
(51:59) ...
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April 10, 2026 • 134 mins
Van and Rachel react to the shooting of the rapper Offset before welcoming HuffPost’s Akbar Shahid Ahmed to discuss the latest on the conflict in Iran. Then, actor Mark Kassen joins to discuss his newest film, ‘PH-1.’
(0:00) Intro
(1:10) Jake Paul and blackface
(7:11) Offset’s shooting
(10:33) The state of Atlanta hip-hop
(17:12) Akbar Shahid Ahmed joins the show
(43:45) Kanye and the cancellation of Wireless Fest
(51:59) ...
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April 7, 2026 • 140 mins
Van and Rachel discuss NBA players' dislike for staying in Memphis before reacting to Trump’s Easter message about Iran and Edward Blum’s fight against civil rights.
(0:00) Intro
(22:21) The NBA vs. Memphis
(41:19) Trump’s Easter message
(59:30) Joe Rogan and Theo Von on Iran
(1:23:10) Edward Blum’s latest lawsuit
(1:37:52) Sponsors and Kanye West
(2:03:18) Trick Daddy vs. the AKAs
Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay
...
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April 3, 2026 • 143 mins
Van and Rachel discuss the firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi and revelations about former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s husband before reacting to the arrest of Pooh Shiesty. Plus a discussion of Jaden Ivey, Brandy and Wanya Morris’s relationship and Deontay Wilder’s wild comments.
(0:00) Intro
(0:54) AG Pam Bondi fired
(26:06) Trump’s prime-time address
(43:19) Kristi Noem’s husband and ‘bimbofication’
(1:09:33) Pooh Shies...
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