Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Van and Rachel react to the U.S. soccer controversy before discussing Marcellus Wiley’s arrest and the "America250" celebration in D.C. Plus, will Diddy get a pardon thanks to Trump? And the song of the summer sparks a debate.

(0:00) Intro

(35:07) The U.S.-FIFA controversy

(51:15) Marcellus Wiley’s arrest

(1:03:47) "America250" celebration

(1:19:08) Will Trump pardon Diddy?

(1:28:41) India.Arie, Yung Miami, and the “Spend Dat” debate

(1:42:40) "White and Proud" Facebook group takeover

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Jade Whaley

Social Producer: Bernard Moore

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas and Jacob Cornett
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Van and Rachel react to the biggest news of the NBA offseason before questioning whether Kamala Harris is gearing up for a presidential run and discussing Barack Obama’s opinion of George Washington. Then Maureen Edobor, an assistant professor at Washington and Lee School of Law, joins to help break down the impact of some recent Supreme Court decisions before Van asks a patriotic question.

(0:00) Intro

(10:01) The new-look (white) Lakers

(15:57) LeBron’s latest decision

(41:02) Is Kamala Harris running in 2028?

(50:50) Obama on admiring George Washington

(1:21:24) Maureen Edobor on SCOTUS’s latest decisions

(1:50:02) Are you proud to be an American?

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guest: Maureen Edobor

Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Jade Whaley

Social Producer: Bernard Moore

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas and Jacob Cornett
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Van and Rachel react to the 2026 BET Awards before discussing the latest from a pair of former Fox News hosts, and the conflict dividing the Democratic Party.

(0:00) Intro

(16:04) BET Awards recap

(29:00) Haiti and Megyn Kelly’s racist rhetoric

(54:11) Tucker Carlson leaving the GOP

(1:06:14) Moderates vs. Democratic Socialists

(1:31:03) New segment: Rachel Hasn’t Seen This

(1:39:40) Fewer babies named Donald

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Jade Whaley

Social Producer: Bernard Moore

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas and Jacob Cornett
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Van and Rachel kick off the podcast with a follow-up discussion about Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico before digging into a pair of music industry topics. Plus, an awkward interaction during ESPN’s NBA draft coverage, and was A$AP Rocky disrespectful with the stuff he said during a performance?

(0:00) Intro

(0:17) A Crockett-Talarico recap

(59:46) XXL Freshman Class: Auntie Rach vs. Baby Jade

(1:08:55) Lizzo’s new album sales

(1:24:03) Jokes about the Jay Williams accident

(1:31:07) Was A$AP Rocky being disrespectful?

(1:37:57) Is the GOP out of patience with Trump?

(1:49:20) Black male suicide rates

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Jade Whaley

Social Producer: Bernard Moore

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas and Jacob Cornett

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Van and Rachel react to questions about Representative Jasmine Crockett’s support of her former opponent James Talarico before Van makes a connection between geopolitics and ‘The Wire.’ They also hit a couple of sports topics and SZA’s anti-AI stance before the multi-hyphenate Estelle joins the show.

(0:00) Intro

(13:11) Jasmine Crockett, James Talarico, and party unity

(35:10) The Iran conflict and ‘The Wire’

(1:01:19) Bill Maher and the Obama Presidential Library

(1:16:32) New York Knicks headed to the White House

(1:26:13) Wholesome World Cup content

(1:33:48) SZA and the dangers of AI

(1:45:27) Estelle joins the show

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guest: Estelle

Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Jade Whaley

Social Producer: Bernard Moore

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas
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