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
July 15, 2025 • 35 mins
Van and Rachel are joined by Director Malcolm D. Lee to discuss his new book, ‘The Best Man: Unfinished Business’, what inspired the writing of the original movie, and if we can expect a ‘Girls Trip 2’ anytime soon?
(0:00) Intro
(1:35) Adapting the story for the page
(7:33) Addressing criticism
(11:29) Adapting the story for the screen
(14:47) Prequels?
(17:46) One of the sexiest casts of all-time
(22:35) Sable bour...
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Rachel and Van discuss Nicki Minaj’s X rants about the discrimination lawsuit against Megan Thee Stallion and Jay-Z’s possible debt. Then, they dissect Tucker Carlson’s Epstein cover-up theory before getting Rachel’s opinion of “the Miami mess” on X.
00:00 - Welcome!
24:13 - Nicki Minaj’s X posts
44:24 - Megan’s lawsuit moving forward
57:39 - Tucker Carlson’s Epstein theory
1:09:18 - The Miami mess
1:24:50 - Thanks for watc...
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July 8, 2025 • 102 mins
Van and Rachel react to the tragic Texas floods, before switching gears to discuss the conversations coming out of this year’s Essence Festival.
(0:00) Intro
(0:25) Texas Floods
(34:29) Essence Fest 2025
(43:40) Diaspora War
(1:02:07) Epstein Files Update
(1:07:27) Zohran Mamdani, African American
(1:23:43) 4Extra’s 4th of July Accident
(1:33:04) Skip Bayless
Host: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay
Producer: ...
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Let’s “celebrate” the Fourth with a two-topic episode: the Diddy trial and Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.” For today’s episode we bring in Yodit Tewolde to talk about the results from the Diddy trial, and Stephen Neukam to talk about how the country will be affected by Trump’s new bill.
00:00 - Welcome!
00:24 - Reaction to the Diddy Trial Results
37:08 - Celeb Reactions
39:30 - Yodit Tewolde Joins Us!
1:40:42- Stephen ...
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July 1, 2025 • 124 mins
Van and Rachel are joined by Columbia Law School professor Jamal Greene to help break down the recent rulings from the SCOTUS.
(0:00) Intro
(00:27) The morality of stealing
(24:47) Jury deliberates in Diddy trial
(31:34) Knicks considering Dawn Staley?
(36:11) Zohran Mamdani update
(53:21) The Big Beautiful Bill
(1:11:05) Jamal Greene joins the show
(1:33:21) Glaze of the Week
(1:39:08) Drake and the ‘abs’ debat...
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It’s Rachel’s last day in Paris, and Van’s dropping loaves (gross)! They talk about the closing statements from the Diddy trial with Yodit Tewolde before getting into quick hitters, Zohran Mamdani’s victory, and the use of the n-word by That Mexican OT.
00:00 - Welcome!
03:47 - Rachel’s Paris call
14:37 - Yodit Tewolde joins us!
43:06 - The NBA draft
51:22 - Chuck Schumer is Hospitalized During the Heat Wave
57:05 - Trump i...
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June 24, 2025 • 129 mins
Rachel’s back! And the U.S. is on the brink of war! Rep. Ro Khanna joins to bring congressional perspective to our involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict, before HuffPost’s Akbar Shahid Ahmed returns to help dig into Iran’s retaliation on a U.S. military base.
(0:00) Intro
(17:24) Rep. Ro Khanna joins the show
(29:54) Authorizing strikes without Congress
(34:08) Andrew Cuomo vs. Zohran Mamdani
(49:32) Akbar Shahid Ah...
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June 20, 2025 • 127 mins
It’s Juneteenth, so we brought Dr. Peniel Joseph back to discuss his book, ‘Freedom Season,’ and the activist Robert F. Williams before podcaster Demetria Lucas joins to help break down the Tyler Perry lawsuit. And finally, The Ringer’s Chris Ryan joins to weigh in on the "face of The Ringer" debate.
(0:00) Intro
(08:52) Tucker Carlson & Ted Cruz
(30:34) Dr. Peniel Joseph joins the show
(32:39) ‘Freedom Season: How 1963 T...
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June 17, 2025 • 137 mins
With Rachel in Europe, Van’s flying solo to address the evolving conflict in the Middle East with HuffPost’s Akbar Shahid Ahmed.
(0:00) Intro
(3:14) Father’s Day
(23:35) Israel-Iran attacks
(28:48) Akbar Shahid Ahmed joins the show
(1:03:09) GOP Rep calls for ‘nuking’ Gaza
(1:08:04) Minnesota lawmaker shooting
(1:21:08) Van hates Caitlin Clark
(1:28:56) Stephen A. Smith loves solitaire
(1:40:39) Will Smith’s new song
(1...
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June 13, 2025 • 136 mins
Van and Rachel give an update on the fallout from Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, before filmmaker Kayla Johnson and Pastor Tim Johnson join to discuss their documentary, ‘Fatherless No More’.
(0:00) Intro
(:31) Age guidelines in dating
(7:00) Rachel’s skunk story
(18:35) Remembering Sly Stone
(20:53) Remembering Ananda Lewis
(29:09) BET Awards
(33:26) The Me Too Movement
(50:01) Claressa Shields snubbed?
(51:31) U...
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June 10, 2025 • 103 mins
Van and Rachel are joined by Seema Mehta of the Los Angeles Times to address the unrest in L.A.
(0:00) Intro
(3:11) Cardi B and the Target boycott
(8:40) Why Keith Sweat is single at 63
(18:01) Swedish gospel
(24:06) Coco Gauff vs. Aryna Sabalenka
(30:28) Anti-ICE protests in L.A.
(48:16) Seema Mehta joins the show
(1:01:02) Should Black people care?
(1:26:7) 'Tha Carter VI' Review
(1:34:21) Glaze of the Week
Hosts: ...
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June 6, 2025 • 102 mins
Van and Rachel are joined by NBA great Metta Sandiford-Artest, who thinks he’s the right man to lead the Knicks.
(:39) Debating the phrase "freak-off"
(12:53) Offset threatens violence
(22:09) Linda McMahon and DEI
(34:32) Metta Sandiford-Artest joins the show
(56:08) Karine Jean-Pierre leaving the Dem. Party
(1:09:47) Dez Bryant, homophobia, and the NFL
(1:18:12) The White Black Panther
(1:27:59) Transactional relationsh...
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June 3, 2025 • 115 mins
Van and Rachel react to racists attempting to claim the sentiment “Black fatigue” (0:00), before legendary basketball player and coach Dawn Staley joins the show to talk about life lessons from her memoir, ‘Uncommon Favor’ (15:15). Then, reactions to Offset’s request for spousal support from Cardi B (46:31), an Atlanta family deals with squatters throwing pool parties (1:01:59), a debate on how many mechanical bull rides are too ma...
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May 30, 2025 • 119 mins
Van and Rachel are back from the Memorial Day break to talk Trump’s "big, beautiful bill" (:48), Elon Musk's decision to officially leave the administration (2:40), the latest out of the Diddy trial (8:15) and Trump’s recent pardons (17:37). Then they give their reactions to Druski’s skit in whiteface (24:46) and have a conversation about conversations with RGIII (32:53), before they give some updates on the alpha dog King Charles ...
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May 27, 2025 • 59 mins
Van sits down with Newark Mayor Ras Baraka to discuss entering the gubernatorial race (:34), whether it’s important or possible for Black people to have positive relationships with police (16:15), Democrats shying away from more progressive politics (27:23), and criticism of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s White House appearance (38:40). Plus, a peek into his career in music (40:04).
Host: Van Lathan
Guest: Mayor Ras Barak...
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May 23, 2025 • 122 mins
Van and Rachel discuss a wholesome TikTok trend (10:50) before reacting to the death of a member of Congress (14:15), and giving an update on the RGIII vs. Ryan Clark drama (20:06). Then reparationist Jessica Ann Mitchell Aiwuyor joins to dig into Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s veto of a reparations bill (29:40). Plus, Kid Cudi takes the witness stand in the Diddy trial (57:22), humanitarian efforts are stalled in Gaza (1:11:21), an...
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May 20, 2025 • 106 mins
Van and Rachel discuss Dan Bongino and Kash Patel’s comments on Jeffrey Epstein’s death (8:10), and whether Atlanta is still the Black Mecca (14:02). Then, reactions to Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis (20:49), before Robert Griffin III earns Glaze of the Week (36:31), and Snoop Dogg addresses the Trump inauguration backlash (53:59). Then, writer Anna Malaika Tubbs joins to talk about her new book, ‘Erased: What American Patriarchy Has...
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May 16, 2025 • 109 mins
Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay start the episode by discussing the TikTok trend of including redheaded Americans in the Black community (07:20). Then, they go through a few “quick hitters,” including the restraining order sought by Halle Bailey (18:52), the backlash about Meghan Trainor’s new look (33:28), and their reactions to the introductions to the federal bill redefining what qualifies as “obscene” (58:14). Then, they bring on...
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May 14, 2025 • 98 mins
Van and Rachel took to New York’s Gramercy Theater in front of a lively audience to discuss the old guard of the Democratic Party, after David Hogg’s “get over yourself” comment (12:57). Then Van debuts a new spinoff, “Glaze of the Decade” (29:37), before thought warriors join the show for Animal Games (54:38) and a Rachel Apology Contest (1:12:07).
Hosts: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay
Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashl...
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May 9, 2025 • 109 mins
Van and Rachel discuss the buildup to the selection of the new pope (14:37) and the acquittal of the officers who killed Tyre Nichols (16:46) before shifting gears to the Met Gala and its celebration of Black style (32:43). Then, instant reactions to the announcement of Pope Leo XIV (56:08), a conversation around the lawsuit against Smokey Robinson (59:09), and the discussion on Jayden Daniels’s mom makes a comeback (1:28:30).
H...
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