Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Latest Episodes:

The State of the Gaza Ceasefire With Akbar Ahmed. Plus, the Demands of the “No Kings” Protest and the Ghost of Social Media’s Past. | Higher Learning | The Ringer Oct 21, 2025

Show notes

Rachel and Van start the show by talking about the “No Kings” protest, the goals of the protest, and the “blatant hypocrisy” from the reaction of the far right. Then, they talk about two controversies concerning offensive past social media posts, one from Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner and the other from Grammy winner Tyler, the Creator. Last, they go over the Gaza ceasefire deal with Huffington Post senior diplomatic correspondent Akbar Ahmed and the violations that followed it.

00:00 - Welcome!

09:12 - The “No Kings” protest

44:16 - Joe Rogan declines to debate Gov. Gavin Newsom

49:36 - Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner apologizes for past social media posts

1:03:49 - Tyler, the Creator’s social media past brings current backlash

1:23:21 - Akbar joins the show!

1:41:23 - What do we do about the Stephen A. thing?

1:52:39 - Thanks for watching!

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guest: Akbar Ahmed

Producers: Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas

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Breaking Down Reparations and Restorative Justice With Isaac Bryan! Plus, Threatening the Voting Act and Stephen A.’s Crockett Comments. | Higher Learning | The Ringer Oct 17, 2025

Show notes

Rachel and Van start the show by remembering the late legend D’Angelo and the issue concerning the health of black men in America. Then, they are joined by Isaac Bryan, member of the California State Assembly, to talk about assaults on reparations and restorative justice and his relationship with Governor Gavin Newsom. Later, they take a peek into the latest Stephen A. Smith drama and the reactions to his comments on Representative Jasmine Crockett.

00:00 - Welcome!

03:23 - Thoughts about the Gavin Newsom interview

14:42 - Remembering D’Angelo

36:51 - The Supreme Court and the Voting Rights Act

50:46 - Young Republicans' secret Telegram chat leaked

57:56 - Isaac Bryan joins us!

1:28:24 - Stephen A. and his comments on Rep. Jasmine Crockett

1:46:27 - Thanks for watching!

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guest: Isaac Bryan

Producers: Donnie Beacham and Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas

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Exploring the Democratic Narrative With Governor Gavin Newsom! Plus, Ryan Grim Explains the Ceasefire. | Higher Learning | The Ringer Oct 10, 2025

Show notes

Rachel and Van start the show by giving their reactions to the return of ‘Verzuz’ and their opinion of Cash Money versus No Limit Records. Then, they are joined by California Governor Gavin Newsom to talk about the current Democratic Party, Trump, and who could be in the running to lead the Democratic Party. Later, Ryan Grim stops by to talk about the Gaza ceasefire and what it actually means.

00:00 - Welcome!

02:19 - Governor Gavin Newsom joins us!

1:10:34 - Ryan Grim joins us!

1:34:25 - ‘Verzuz’ returns

1:46:01 - Ubisoft cancels Civil War–era 'Assassin's Creed' game

1:48:13 - Thanks for watching!

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guests: Governor Gavin Newsom and Ryan Grim

Producers: Donnie Beacham and Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas

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Van Jones’s Very Bad Joke, Ayesha Curry’s Admission, and Diddy’s Sentencing Oct 07, 2025

Show notes

Van and Rachel react to a strange weekend of football before discussing Van Jones’s “dead Gaza baby” joke, Diddy’s sentencing, and Ayesha Curry’s comments on motherhood and marriage.

(0:00) Intro

(8:21) Mark Sanchez’s stabbing & arrest

(16:30) Kyren Lacy update

(31:09) Van Jones apologizes for joke

(48:19) Diddy sentenced

(1:03:32) Ayesha Curry’s admission

(1:45:58) Theo Von & Adin Ross on Trump

(2:08:31) Taylor Swift’s new album

(2:21:13) “Love is Blind”

Hosts: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay

Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas

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Navigating the Shutdown With Rep. Maxwell Frost! Plus, the WNBA's Bad Leadership, and Ray J Vs. the Kardashians. | Higher Learning | The Ringer Oct 03, 2025

Show notes

Rachel and Van start the show by taking a moment to acknowledge the life of the late Assata Shakur before Rep. Maxwell Frost joins to talk about the government shutdown and the volatile housing market. After, they get into the drama surrounding the WNBA leadership comments, and Ray J getting sued by the Kardashians. Then, they end the show with a “VanLaTEN” for Bad Bunny.

00:00 - Welcome!

05:56 - Assata Shakur’s passing

08:15 - Rep. Maxwell Frost joins us!

1:04:04 - The WNBA’s leadership

1:31:33 - Ray J is getting sued

1:41:49 - The reaction to Bad Bunny and the Super Bowl

1:43:59 - Van’s 5 ideas for Bad Bunny’s performance

1:53:15 - Thanks for watching!

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guest: Rep. Maxwell Frost

Producers: Donnie Beacham and Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas

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Karen Attiah on The Washington Post Firing, Plus Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl Sep 30, 2025

Show notes

Van and Rachel welcome former Washington Post opinion columnist Karen Attiah to discuss her firing from The Post after she made critical remarks about gun culture and violence in the U.S. in the wake of Charlie Kirk's killing.

(0:00) Intro

(9:30) Release of redacted Epstein files

(21:29) A review of ‘107 Days’ by Kamala Harris

(48:50) Bad Bunny performing at Super Bowl

(55:33) Karen Attiah joins the show

(1:28:06) Therapy and Young Thug

(1:54:01) Looming government shutdown

Hosts: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay

Guests: Karen Attiah

Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas

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Talking ‘Him,’ Biracial Identity, and Athleticism With Tyriq Withers! Plus, the Back-and-Forth With Stephen A. and Jimmy Kimmel’s Return. | Higher Learning | The Ringer Sep 26, 2025

Show notes

Rachel and Van start the show off by talking about Stephen A. Smith’s response to our comments last show before getting into the removal of ‘Fearless Debaters’ from TSU’s campus and Jimmy Kimmel’s successful return. Then, Tyriq Withers joins the show to talk about his new movie, ‘Him’; the different reactions to the film; the realism of the athleticism showcased in it; and biracial identity.

00:00 - Welcome!

07:29 - Stephen A.’s response to Higher Learning

32:32 - Pandering to Black women

37:47 - ‘Fearless Debaters’ removed from TSU's campus

48:13 - Jimmy Kimmel’s return

1:10:03 - The missing PS5

1:16:38 - Kamala Harris’s appearance on 'The Rachel Maddow Show'

1:20:52 - Tyriq Withers joins us!

1:52:25 - Thanks for watching!

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guest: Tyriq Withers

Producers: Donnie Beacham and Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas

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The Lionizing of Charlie Kirk With Ryan Grim, Plus Malik B on Viral Comedy Sep 23, 2025

Show notes

Van and Rachel welcome ‘Counter Points’ cohost Ryan Grim to discuss his and other platforms’ coverage of Charlie Kirk in the days since his death, before comedian Malik B joins to talk how he literally fought for a role in ‘Creed,’ and his new Hulu special, ‘LOL Live With Malik B.’

(00:00) Intro

(10:21) Having uncomfortable conversations

(33:27) Ryan Grim joins the show

(1:27:28) OG Corner: Van Jones & Stephen A. Smith

(1:54:12) Democratic leadership

(2:05:33) Ghostface Killa and Infinite Coles

(2:16:49) Malik B joins the show

(2:56:10) ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ returns

Hosts: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay

Guests: Ryan Grim and Malik B

Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr.

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas

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Memphis Bleek and Van Lathan (Not Jones), Plus Jimmy Kimmel’s Suspension Sep 19, 2025

Show notes

Van addresses Memphis Bleek calling him out on Club Shay Shay, before he and Rachel react to 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' being taken off the air and the media’s coverage of Charlie Kirk following his death.

(00:00) Intro

(00:12) A Memphis Bleek/Van Lathan explainer

(25:02) Kushner, Trump and the Carters

(49:29) Jimmy Kimmel Suspended

(1:22:52) The sanitizing of Charlie Kirk

(1:57:13) Hangings in Mississippi

(2:03:58) LeBron & Drake Update

Hosts: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay

Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr.

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas

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Empathy, Sympathy, and Charlie Kirk. Plus, Erika Alexander and the Legacy of ‘Living Single.’ Sep 16, 2025

Show notes

Van and Rachel start by discussing the legal and cultural fallout from the killing of Charlie Kirk. Then they welcome actress Erika Alexander to talk about Apple TV+’s ‘Invasion’ and look back on her role as Maxine in ‘Living Single.’

(0:00) Intro

(1:02) Fallout from Charlie Kirk’s shooting

(36:46) Brian Kilmeade on homeless: “Just kill ‘em”

(54:05) Van’s basketball tangent

(58:42) ‘The Gilded Age’

(1:01:22) Erika Alexander joins the show

(1:55:21) AI influencer?

Hosts: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay

Guest: Erika Alexander

Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas

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