Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Van and Rachel welcome Texas Rep. James Talarico to shed light on the state’s Democrats fleeing to prevent a vote over efforts to add Republican seats. (0:00) Intro (8:01) Top 5 White Singing Ladies *since 2010 (9:27) Stephen A. Smith vs. Michelle Obama (28:42) Rep. James Talarico joins the show (34:57) The fight against gerrymandering (41:18) Toughening the Democrats (1:02:35) Glaze of the Week (1:15:15) Palantir update (1:16:15) FEMA to deny grants over Israel boycotts Host: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay Guest: Rep. James Talarico Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rachel and Van start the show by running through some quick-hitters, including the internet’s reaction to Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle commercial, Ari Lennox’s thoughts on Martin’s treatment of Pam, and Kamala Harris’s new book. Then, they talk about new updates to the Israel-Hamas conflict and some reactions to their Hulk Hogan segment last week. 00:00 - Welcome! 00:59 - Sydney Sweeney’s good “jeans” 29:57 - Ari Lennox’s thoughts on Martin and Pam 44:59 - Kamala Harris’s '107 Days' 1:12:28 - The Gaza-Israel Conflict 1:35:14 - Shannon Sharpe and Gilbert Arenas 1:45:32 - Reactions to our Hulk Hogan segment 2:08:38 - Thanks for watching! Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay Producers: Donnie Beacham and Ashleigh Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Van and Rachel discuss the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, talk about Dr. Umar’s plea for help, and give N3on an apology rating before Elliott Connie joins to discuss his methods for mental wellness. (0:00) Intro (0:45) The Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza (46:06) Dr. Umar’s Plea for Help (59:46) N3ON Apology Rating (1:25:20) Tyler Perry on Ownership & ‘Sinners’ (1:32:30) Elliott Connie Joins the Show Host: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay Guest: Elliott Connie Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rachel and Van start the show by talking about the passing of the infamous Hulk Hogan and the complexity of his legacy. Then, the host of Two Personal, Joy Taylor, joins us to talk about processing the surprise cancellation of her show, how she was treated in comparison to her male counterparts, and her opinion of men. 00:00 - Welcome! 00:37 - Hulk Hogan’s passing 03:56 - Joy Taylor joins us 38:57 - Feelings toward Fox 48:58 - Will the dam break? 57:48 - Vulnerably in certain spaces 1:02:18 - Opinion on men 1:56:41 - What does Joy want to build? 2:18:39 - Thanks for watching! Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay Guests: Joy Taylor Producers: Donnie Beacham and Ashleigh Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Van and Rachel react to the tragic news of Malcolm-Jamal Warner's death, before welcoming Houston farmer Jeremy Peaches to shed light on the Trump administration's impact on Black farmers. (0:00) Intro (4:59) Colbert ‘Late Show’ canceled (14:07) Remembering Malcolm Jamal Warner (22:52) Couple caught cheating at concert (42:02) Glaze of the Week (48:39) Jeremy Peaches joins the show (1:10:11) Need to hear from Snoop and Nelly? (1:26:18) WNBA pay dispute (1:47:11) Nessa, Kaepernick and Jay-Z Host: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay Guest: Jeremy Peaches Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rachel and Van are joined by Calvin Abbasi, strategic advisor to the OpenAI Nonprofit Commission, to talk about perceptions of AI, the dangers of it, and real questions that need to be asked about this developing technology. 00:00 - Welcome! 02:11 - AI and Self-Preservation 07:40 - Is AI Dangerous? 09:10 - The Grok Situation 14:18 - The Architect Determines the AI 17:14 - Thoughts on Sam Altman 19:53 - DeepSeek’s Effect on the AI Industry Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay Guest: Calvin Abbasi Producers: Donnie Beacham and Ashleigh Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 bourbon (22:41) Girls Trip 2 (24:17) Essence Fest Hosts: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay Guest: Malcolm D. Lee Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 watching! Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay Producers: Donnie Beacham and Ashleigh Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 Neukam Joins Us! 1:56:46 - Breakdown of the Bill 2:05:00 - It’s OK to Admit That You’re Wrong Thanks for Watching! Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay Guests: Stephen Neukam and Yodit Tewolde Producers: Donnie Beacham and Ashleigh Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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’ debate (1:50:59) Bachelorette fight breakdown Host: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay Guests: Professor Jamal Greene Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 is called "daddy" by NATO’s secretary-general 1:11:50 - Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the New York primary 1:24:02 - Draymond Green and the punch 1:33:25 - That Mexican OT Saying the N-word 1:44:31 - Thanks for watching! Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay Guest: Yodit Tewolde Producers: Donnie Beacham and Ashleigh Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 Ahmed (52:25) Trump’s response (1:23:04) NBA Finals (1:29:17) Kevin Durant traded (1:32:31) McGrady compares career to Kobe’s (1:38:44) Face of the Ringer (1:54:09) Glaze of the Week Host: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay Guests: Rep. Ro Khanna and Akbar Shahid Ahmed Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 Transformed America’s Civil Rights Revolution (36:32) The assault on history (47:26) The life of Robert F. Williams (58:14) Demetria Lucas joins the show (59:29) The Tyler Perry lawsuit (1:17:16) The Diddy trial (1:21:17) Chris Ryan & the face of the Ringer (1:35:35) Thoughts on Juneteenth (1:45:38) Pusha T disses Travis Scott Host: Van Lathan Jr. Guests: Peniel Joseph, Demetria Lucas, and Chris Ryan Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 (1:53:00) Glaze of the Week (1:59:56) N-----ism Host: Van Lathan Jr. Guest: Akbar Shahid Ahmed Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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) Update on the anti-ICE protests (1:14:42) Reactions to Sen. Alex Padilla removal (1:18:12) Kayla and Tim Johnson join the show (1:44:55) A review of Tyler Perry’s ’Straw’ Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay Guests: Kayla Johnson and Pastor Tim Johnson Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay Guest: Seema Mehta Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 relationships Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay Guest: Metta Sandiford-Artest Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 many for a guy on the first date (1:19:43). Then, a dating preference discussion (1:30:42) Glaze of the Week (1:36:00), and an Angel Reese-Shedeur Sanders comparison (1:42:26). Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay Guest: Dawn Staley Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 (45:46). Finally, Mandii B and WeezyWTF of Decisions Decisions join to talk about the name change from Whoreible Decisions (58:32) and takeaways from their upcoming book, ‘No Holes Barred: A Dual Manifesto of Sexual Exploration and Power’ (1:07:37) Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay Guests: Mandii B and WeezyWTF Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices