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...

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 al...

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 mes...

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 Rach...

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...

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) D...

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 th...

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 Mamd...

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)...

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) W...

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 Sh...

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...

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)...

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 ma...

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 upd...

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: Va...

Van and Rachel discuss a wholesome TikTok trend (10:50) before reacting to the death of a member of Congress (14:15), and giving an update on the RGIII vs. Ryan Clark drama (20:06). Then reparationist Jessica Ann Mitchell Aiwuyor joins to dig into Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s veto of a reparations bill (29:40). Plus, Kid Cudi takes the witness stand in the Diddy trial (57:22), humanitarian effort...

Van and Rachel discuss Dan Bongino and Kash Patel’s comments on Jeffrey Epstein’s death (8:10), and whether Atlanta is still the Black Mecca (14:02). Then, reactions to Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis (20:49), before Robert Griffin III earns Glaze of the Week (36:31), and Snoop Dogg addresses the Trump inauguration backlash (53:59). Then, writer Anna Malaika Tubbs joins to talk about her new book, ‘E...

Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay start the episode by discussing the TikTok trend of including redheaded Americans in the Black community (07:20). Then, they go through a few “quick hitters,” including the restraining order sought by Halle Bailey (18:52), the backlash about Meghan Trainor’s new look (33:28), and their reactions to the introductions to the federal bill redefining what qualifies as “ob...

Van and Rachel took to New York’s Gramercy Theater in front of a lively audience to discuss the old guard of the Democratic Party, after David Hogg’s “get over yourself” comment (12:57). Then Van debuts a new spinoff, “Glaze of the Decade” (29:37), before thought warriors join the show for Animal Games (54:38) and a Rachel Apology Contest (1:12:07). Hosts: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay Produce...

Van and Rachel discuss the buildup to the selection of the new pope (14:37) and the acquittal of the officers who killed Tyre Nichols (16:46) before shifting gears to the Met Gala and its celebration of Black style (32:43). Then, instant reactions to the announcement of Pope Leo XIV (56:08), a conversation around the lawsuit against Smokey Robinson (59:09), and the discussion on Jayden Daniels’s m...

Van and Rachel react to Donald Trump getting involved with NIL in college sports (14:02), and the Turkey Leg Hut crime saga (26:16). Then, Diddy’s trial begins (32:54), Trump appears on ‘Meet the Press’ (50:59), and thanks to a mom saying the N-word, we have a new Glaze of the Week (1:14:53). Plus, a conversation about squatters' rights (1::27:06). Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay Producers: D...

Van and Rachel discuss Donald Trump’s cabinet’s praise of his first 100 days in office (2:55), and Paul Pierce’s explanation of NBA players’ dating habits (14:51). Plus, Terrence Howard says what he’d do to his lips if he ever kissed a man (28:51), and Giannis Antetokounmpo gets into it with Tyrese Haliburton’s dad (35:33). Then, reactions to a video of somebody going too far at a pool party (47:3...

Van and Rachel welcome former NFL cornerback and ESPN contributor Domonique Foxworth to react to Shedeur Sanders’s historic fall in the NFL draft (16:49) and Saquon Barkley spending quality time with President Trump (37:15). Then director of photography Autumn Durald Arkapaw joins to discuss how she shot arguably the most talked-about film of the decade, ‘Sinners’ (50:41). Finally, Van has a plan...

Van and Rachel react to the latest in Shannon Sharpe's lawsuit and discuss his reaction (22:41), before breaking down Elon Musk’s decision to take a step back from politics to focus on Tesla (55:34). Then astrophysicist Dakotah Tyler (soon to be Dr. Tyler) joins to debunk Wiz Khalifa’s belief that the Earth is flat (1:07:21). Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay Guest: Dakotah Tyler Producers: Don...