Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

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Society & Culture
**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.

Latest Episodes:

Trump Hearts Mamdani, MAGA Bots Exposed, and the Summer Walker Drama Explained Nov 25, 2025

Show notes

Van and Rachel check in on the state of politics and culture before taking a quick Thanksgiving break!

(0:00) Intro

(12:58) Mamdani’s meeting with Trump

(42:10) No primary challenge for Representative Hakeem Jeffries

(59:53) The erotic poetry of RFK Jr.

(1:16:14) A new game: Where in the world is MAGA?

(1:24:58) Klay Thompson vs. Ja Morant

(1:33:38) Summer Walker relationship drama

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas

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Senator Brian Schatz On Trying to Comprehend MAGA. Plus, Men’s Views on the WNBA With Angel McCoughtry! | Higher Learning | The Ringer Nov 21, 2025

Show notes

Rachel and Van start the show by discussing Pharrell Williams's intention behind his comments from the last episode. They are then joined by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz from Hawaii to break down his X post about converting MAGA supporters. Last, they are joined by WNBA legend, musician, and honorary member of Zeta Phi Beta, Angel McCoughtry, to talk about how men treat and talk about the WNBA.

00:00 - Welcome!

00:54 - Pharrell Clarifies

28:20 - Trump Berates Bloomberg News Reporter

37:54 - Sen. Brian Schatz Joins Us!

53:07 - Coast Guard Changes Classifications On Hate Symbols

1:11:12 - Angel McCoughtry Joins Us!

1:33:04 - Thanks for Watching!

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guests: Sen. Brian Schatz and Angel McCoughtry

Producers: Ashleigh Smith and Donnie Beacham

Video Supervision: Jon Jones

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MAGA Regrets, Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Apology, and Pharrell’s Philosophy Nov 18, 2025

Show notes

Van and Rachel react to fractures in the MAGA movement, give a rating for Marjorie Taylor Greene’s apology, and get into the Epstein brothers' correspondence about Trump “blowing Bubba.” Plus, Michelle Obama talks about America’s readiness for a woman president, Pharrell shares his dislike of politics, and Eric Adams goes to Israel.

(0:00) Black women in pop and hip-hop

(19:16) MAGA regrets

(45:23) Marjorie Taylor Greene’s apology

(50:55) Trump and Bubba

(56:15) Michelle Obama on a woman president

(1:10:40) Pharrell and politics

(1:34:04) Eric Adams in Israel

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas

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Is the Shutdown Really Over? Plus, More Epstein Files Leak, and the State of the GOP With Emma Vigeland! | Higher Learning | The Ringer Nov 14, 2025

Show notes

Rachel and Van start the show by reacting to the Epstein emails released by both Democrats and Republicans. Then, they are joined by former reporter for the Young Turks and current co-host of the Majority Report, Emma Vigeland, to talk about the Epstein files, the state of the GOP, and the characteristics of useful disagreements between progressives. Later, they talk about the response toward Donald Trump’s appearance on the Pat McAfee Show for Veterans Day, and Rachel gives an apology rating to Kayla Nicole. Last, they end the show with a segment of VanLaTEN.

00:00 - Welcome!

05:08 - Updates on the Epstein files

32:04 - Emma Vigeland joins us!

1:31:39 - Trump on the Pat McAfee Show

2:01:15 - Rachel’s apology rating: Kayla Nicole’s old tweets

2:19:15 - The VanLaTEN: “Top five dudes that got their friends killed in movies”

2:29:04 - Thanks for watching!

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guest: Emma Vigeland

Producers: Ashleigh Smith and Donnie Beacham

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas

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The End of the Shutdown With Representative Summer Lee. Plus, Reactions to the ‘Michael’ Trailer Nov 11, 2025

Show notes

Van and Rachel discuss the agreement to end the government shutdown before welcoming Representative Summer Lee to give her perspective as a congresswoman. Then Van gives his take on the controversy surrounding James Talarico’s social media habits, and a Michael Jackson impersonator responds to the trailer for the biopic ‘Michael.’

00:00 Intro

(6:13) Government shutdown ends

(31:00) Representative Summer Lee joins the show

(1:23:13) James Talarico follows adult film stars

(1:30:58) Reactions to the ‘Michael’ trailer

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guests: Rep. Summer Lee

Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas

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The New Blue Wave, a Great Value Economy, and the Act of Centering Men. Plus, Talking the World Series With Jesse Blake! | Higher Learning | The Ringer Nov 07, 2025

Show notes

Rachel and Van start the show with a recap of the recent elections, including what the “blue wave” of elected officials means for the future of politics, the passage of Prop 50, and the reactions to Zohran Mamdani winning the NYC mayoral election. Then, they are joined by Jesse Blake, co-owner of the podcast network SDPN, to talk about the World Series and what it’s like being a Toronto Blue Jays fan. Finally, they talk about the developing GOP “civil war” over Nick Fuentes before getting into Summer Walker’s newest cover art and the viral discussion about whether it is embarrassing to have a boyfriend.

00:00 - Welcome!

04:34 - Election night recaps

32:02 - Van Jones comments on Zohran Mamdani

1:04:06 - Jesse Blake joins the show

1:18:13 - Has a GOP civil war begun?

1:40:32 - Summer Walker’s new album artwork

1:52:17 - Embarrassing boyfriends

2:10:35 - Thanks for watching!

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guest: Jesse Blake

Producer: Ashleigh Smith and Donnie Beacham

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas

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A Broken White House, With Karine Jean-Pierre. Plus, the End of SNAP? Nov 04, 2025

Show notes

Jomi Adeniran joins Rachel and Van to react to the Dodgers winning a classic World Series before discussing the Trump administration’s efforts to cut the funding for SNAP. Then, Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary for the Biden administration, joins to talk about her new book, ‘Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines’; the response to her book tour; and the reasons behind her exit from the Democratic Party.

00:00 Dodgers' World Series win

(18:20) Efforts to end SNAP

(1:01:06) Ignoring the blackface costumes

(1:08:39) Karine Jean-Pierre joins the show

(1:12:46) A look into the book

(1:22:11) A broken White House

(1:38:17) Where should the party go?

(2:13:38) Graham Platner’s campaign

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guests: Oluwajomiloju Adeniran and Karine Jean-Pierre

Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas

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Black Political Power and Jesse Jackson, With Abby Phillip! Plus, Elections Galore and a Red Alert for Hip-Hop. | Higher Learning | The Ringer Oct 31, 2025

Show notes

Rachel and Van start the show with a conversation on the Virginia election and intercommunity politics concerning Black Republicans. Then they are joined by Abby Phillip, anchor of 'NewsNight' on CNN, to talk about her latest book, 'A Dream Deferred: Jesse Jackson and the Fight for Black Political Power.' They end the show by giving their thoughts on the Billboard Hot 100's top 40 not having any rap songs for the first time since 1990.

00:00 - Welcome!

01:27 - Virginia Election Day approaches

16:12 - NYC mayoral race

38:50 - California’s Prop 50

51:58 - Abby Phillip joins us!

1:53:31 - The attack on SNAP benefits and resources

1:56:09 - Billboard Hot 100’s top 40: no rap songs

2:13:31 - Thanks for watching!

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guest: Abby Phillip

Producers: Donnie Beacham and Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas

RESOURCES :

Detroit Farmers Giving Away Food

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQa5L7jDRa3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

LA County Mobilizes Food Assistance as Federal Government Shutdown Continues

https://lacounty.gov/2025/10/28/la-county-mobilizes-food-assistance-as-federal-government-shutdown-continues/

SNAP benefits ending: Here's where you can get emergency assistance in Southern California

https://www.foxla.com/news/snap-benefits-ending-november-government-shutdown

SNAP runs out of money Nov. 1. Here's what that means in your state

https://www.npr.org/2025/10/28/g-s1-95189/snap-food-stamps-government-shutdown-november

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Fatherhood and Forgiveness With Roy Wood Jr., Plus Ed Zitron Breaks Down the “AI Bubble” Oct 28, 2025

Show notes

Van and Rachel talk Kamala Harris’s political future, New York Representative Hakeem Jeffries endorsing Zohran Mamdani, and the Cash Money vs. No Limit ‘Verzuz’ battle before Roy Wood Jr. joins to discuss his new memoir, 'The Man of Many Fathers.' Then technology writer Ed Zitron joins to break down the economic impact of AI.

(0:00) Intro

(1:00) Kamala Harris running again?

(9:53) Hakeem Jeffries endorses Mamdani

(18:57) Roy Wood Jr. joins the show

(1:12:51) Ed Zitron on AI

(1:45:29) ‘Verzuz’: Cash Money vs. No Limit

(1:50:30) Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear on "inclusion and exclusion"

Hosts: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay

Guests: Roy Wood Jr. and Ed Zitron

Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas

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Sifting Through Emmanuel Acho’s Perspective. Plus, Logan Explains the NBA Gambling Scandal! | Higher Learning | The Ringer Oct 24, 2025

Show notes

Rachel and Van start the show by rating Stephen A. Smith’s apology to Jasmine Crockett before getting into Emmanuel Acho’s latest comments and perspective on our past intense interview with him. Then, Logan Murdock from The Ringer’s Real Ones joins to talk about the NBA gambling scandal, celeb culture, and masculinity. Last, they talk about the backlash against Keke Palmer’s new fish-out-of-water show, ‘Southern Fried Rice.’

00:00 - Welcome!

00:53 - Sneak peek of next week’s show: The AI problem

07:29 - Stephen A.’s apology

29:34 - Revisiting Emmanuel Acho

53:11 - Logan Murdock joins us!

1:40:51 - Keke Palmer’s new show

1:59:14 - Thanks for watching!

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guest: Logan Murdock

Producer: Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas

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