

Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay
The Ringer
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 15, 2022 • 1h 34min
The Cult of Kanye and Isabelle Khurshudyan on the War in Ukraine
Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay react to Kanye West’s latest online activity, including his threats to D.L. Hughley (18:56), before discussing ‘The Power of the Dog’ director Jane Campion’s trending weekend (32:52). Plus, Washington Post foreign correspondent Isabelle Khurshudyan joins from Odessa, Ukraine, to give us an update on where things stand in the Russia-Ukraine war (44:16).Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel LindsayGuest: Isabelle KhurshudyanProducers: Trudy Joseph and Donnie Beacham Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 11, 2022 • 1h 51min
Ryan Coogler’s Run-in and Reactions to Jussie Smollett’s Sentencing
Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay discuss director Ryan Coogler getting mistaken for a bank robber in Atlanta (20:30), before reacting to Kim Kardashian’s tone-deaf comments about work ethic (40:41). Plus, Jussie Smollett gets sentenced (1:21:44) and some recent Emmanuel Acho comments come under fire (1:29:27).Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel LindsayProducers: Trudy Joseph and Donnie Beacham Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 8, 2022 • 1h 25min
Gambling in the NFL and Brittney Griner’s Detainment
Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay react to the news of Calvin Ridley’s suspension for gambling (16:16), before discussing Brittney Griner’s arrest and detainment in Russia (36:19). Plus, Jemele Hill tweets about the belittling of Black women in podcasts (49:34), and we talk sticky bangs (1:02:37).Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel LindsayProducers: Trudy Joseph and Donnie Beacham Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 4, 2022 • 1h 34min
Florida’s "Don’t Say Gay" Bill and State of the Union Reactions
Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay discuss President Biden’s first State of the Union address (14:39), before debating reacting to the casting news for the reboot of ‘White Men Can’t Jump’ (39:46). Then reactions to Breonna Taylor’s killer being found not guilty (56:43), and Florida’s "Don’t Say Gay" bill gets one step closer to becoming law (1:02:08).Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel LindsayProducers: Trudy Joseph and Donnie Beacham Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 1, 2022 • 1h 40min
The Treatment of Africans in Ukraine and Steelo Brim on the Longevity of ‘Ridiculousness’
Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay discuss images of Africans experiencing racism while fleeing Ukrainian war zones (11:27), and react to President Biden’s Supreme Court nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson (40:39). Plus, ‘Ridiculousness’ cohost Steelo Brim joins to discuss the long-running MTV show and his ‘Wine & Weed’ podcast (53:34).Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel LindsayGuest: Steelo BrimProducers: Trudy Joseph and Donnie Beacham Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 25, 2022 • 1h 38min
The Russian Invasion of Ukraine and DJ Akademiks on Misinformation
Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay react to the news of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (2:19), before welcoming Terrell Jermaine Starr, host of the ‘Black Diplomats’ podcast, to discuss what he’s seeing in Kyiv (19:50). Plus, the disparity between the WNBA and NBA is broken down (40:58), and DJ Akademiks joins to discuss his reporting of the Megan Thee Stallion/Tory Lanez case (52:12).Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel LindsayGuest: Terrell Jermaine Starr and DJ AkademiksProducers: Trudy Joseph and Donnie Beacham Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 22, 2022 • 1h 31min
Reacting to the Verdict in the Ahmaud Arbery Trial and Trying to Define Justice
Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay first discuss their childhood churches (2:00) and then react to the guilty verdict in the federal hate crimes trial of Ahmaud Arbery’s killers (17:00). Next, they talk about Juwan Howard’s altercation after Sunday’s Wisconsin-Michigan game and what type of punishment that merited (36:00), before closing with a conversation about how we talk to our parents about sex (1:11:00). Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel LindsayProducers: Trudy Joseph and Mike Wargon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 18, 2022 • 1h 37min
Talking ‘Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy’ With Directors Coodie and Chike
Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay discuss Kanye West's troublesome social media activity (7:28) before welcoming ‘Jeen-Yuhs’ directors Coodie and Chike to discuss the evolution of Kanye in their new Netflix documentary (26:23). Plus, the NFL hires Loretta Lynch (18:18), and Eric Adams meets with drill rap artists (1:12:44). Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel LindsayGuest: Coodie and ChikeProducers: Trudy Joseph and Donnie Beacham Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 15, 2022 • 1h 28min
The Super Bowl Halftime Recap and a Talk With Timothy Ware-Hill
With Super Bowl Sunday behind us, Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay vent their distaste for the current state of big game commercials (8:05) before discussing the concern around drill music and a related rise in violence (12:25). Plus, the memorable halftime performance gets a recap (30:19), and Timothy Ware-Hill joins to discuss a problematic situation (43:02).Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel LindsayGuest: Timothy Ware-HillProducers: Trudy Joseph and Donnie Beacham Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 11, 2022 • 1h 40min
Analyzing the Biden–Crack Pipe Headlines and Anna Malaika Tubbs on Black Motherhood
Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay break down the Biden administration’s harm reduction plan and conversations around the crack pipe headlines (19:08), before discussing new Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel’s response to questions about racial identity (48:34). Plus advocate and NYT bestselling author Anna Malaika Tubbs joins to discuss her new book, ‘The Three Mothers’ (1:01:37). Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel LindsayGuest: Anna Malaika TubbsProducers: Trudy Joseph and Donnie Beacham Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices