Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

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