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 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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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) Spence...
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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)...
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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) &ldq...
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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 Steye...
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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) Jas...
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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...
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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 a...
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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
...
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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 Correspo...
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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.’
(0:0...
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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&...
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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
(...
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