
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

Jun 27, 2025 • 1h 54min
Draymond’s Punch, Daddy Trump, and Dropping Loaves! Plus, a Diddy Trial Update. | Higher Learning | The Ringer
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

Jun 24, 2025 • 2h 9min
All-Out War, or Deescalation? And Crowning the "Face of The Ringer"
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

Jun 20, 2025 • 2h 8min
Juneteenth: A Fundamentally American Holiday. Plus, the Tyler Perry Lawsuit
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

Jun 17, 2025 • 2h 17min
Is World War III Happening? And Will Smith Like Pretty Girls, So There’s That
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

Jun 13, 2025 • 2h 17min
Are Americans Cool With Chaos? Plus, Kayla and Pastor Tim Johnson on ‘Fatherless No More’
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

Jun 10, 2025 • 1h 44min
Anti-ICE Protests and a “Should Black People Care?” Discussion
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

Jun 6, 2025 • 1h 43min
Metta Sandiford-Artest Wants the Knicks Job, and the White Black Panther
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

Jun 3, 2025 • 1h 56min
Dawn Staley’s ‘Uncommon Favor,’ Plus Cardi B and Offset Spousal Support
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

May 30, 2025 • 1h 60min
Trump’s Latest Pardons. Plus, Ethical Nonmonogamy With Mandii B and WeezyWTF
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

May 27, 2025 • 60min
Progressivism and Poetry With Newark Mayor Ras Baraka
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 Baraka
Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices