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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.

Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Rachel and Van start the show by giving their reactions to the return of ‘Verzuz’ and their opinion of Cash Money versus No Limit Records. Then, they are joined by California Governor Gavin Newsom to talk about the current Democratic Party, Trump, and who could be in the running to lead the Democratic Party. Later, Ryan Grim stops by to talk about the Gaza ceasefire and what it actually means.

00:00 - Welcome!

02:19 - Governor Gavin Newsom joins us!

1:10:34 - Ryan Grim joins us!

1:34:25 - ‘Verzuz’ returns

1:46:01 - Ubisoft cancels Civil War–era 'Assassin's Creed' game

1:48:13 - Thanks for watching!

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guests: Governor Gavin Newsom and Ryan Grim

Producers: Donnie Beacham and Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas
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Exploring the Democratic Narrative With Governor Gavin Newsom! Plus, Ryan Grim Explains the Ceasefire. | Higher Learning | The Ringer

Van and Rachel react to a strange weekend of football before discussing Van Jones’s “dead Gaza baby” joke, Diddy’s sentencing, and Ayesha Curry’s comments on motherhood and marriage.

(0:00) Intro

(8:21) Mark Sanchez’s stabbing & arrest

(16:30) Kyren Lacy update

(31:09) Van Jones apologizes for joke

(48:19) Diddy sentenced

(1:03:32) Ayesha Curry’s admission

(1:45:58) Theo Von & Adin Ross on Trump

(2:08:31) Taylor Swift’s new album

(2:21:13) “Love is Blind” 

Hosts: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay

Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith 

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas
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Van Jones’s Very Bad Joke, Ayesha Curry’s Admission, and Diddy’s Sentencing

Rachel and Van start the show by taking a moment to acknowledge the life of the late Assata Shakur before Rep. Maxwell Frost joins to talk about the government shutdown and the volatile housing market. After, they get into the drama surrounding the WNBA leadership comments, and Ray J getting sued by the Kardashians. Then, they end the show with a “VanLaTEN” for Bad Bunny.

00:00 - Welcome!

05:56 - Assata Shakur’s passing

08:15 - Rep. Maxwell Frost joins us!

1:04:04 - The WNBA’s leadership

1:31:33 - Ray J is getting sued

1:41:49 - The reaction to Bad Bunny and the Super Bowl

1:43:59 - Van’s 5 ideas for Bad Bunny’s performance

1:53:15 - Thanks for watching!

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guest: Rep. Maxwell Frost

Producers: Donnie Beacham and Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas
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Navigating the Shutdown With Rep. Maxwell Frost! Plus, the WNBA's Bad Leadership, and Ray J Vs. the Kardashians. | Higher Learning | The Ringer

Van and Rachel welcome former Washington Post opinion columnist Karen Attiah to discuss her firing from The Post after she made critical remarks about gun culture and violence in the U.S. in the wake of Charlie Kirk's killing.

(0:00) Intro

(9:30) Release of redacted Epstein files

(21:29) A review of ‘107 Days’ by Kamala Harris

(48:50) Bad Bunny performing at Super Bowl 

(55:33) Karen Attiah joins the show

(1:28:06) Therapy and Young Thug

(1:54:01) Looming government shutdown

Hosts: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay

Guests: Karen Attiah

Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith 

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Karen Attiah on The Washington Post Firing, Plus Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl

Rachel and Van start the show off by talking about Stephen A. Smith’s response to our comments last show before getting into the removal of ‘Fearless Debaters’ from TSU’s campus and Jimmy Kimmel’s successful return. Then, Tyriq Withers joins the show to talk about his new movie, ‘Him’; the different reactions to the film; the realism of the athleticism showcased in it; and biracial identity.

00:00 - Welcome!

07:29 - Stephen A.’s response to Higher Learning

32:32 - Pandering to Black women

37:47 - ‘Fearless Debaters’ removed from TSU's campus

48:13 - Jimmy Kimmel’s return

1:10:03 - The missing PS5

1:16:38 - Kamala Harris’s appearance on 'The Rachel Maddow Show'

1:20:52 - Tyriq Withers joins us!

1:52:25 - Thanks for watching!

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guest: Tyriq Withers

Producers: Donnie Beacham and Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Talking ‘Him,’ Biracial Identity, and Athleticism With Tyriq Withers! Plus, the Back-and-Forth With Stephen A. and Jimmy Kimmel’s Return. | Higher Learning | The Ringer

Van and Rachel welcome ‘Counter Points’ cohost Ryan Grim to discuss his and other platforms’ coverage of Charlie Kirk in the days since his death, before comedian Malik B joins to talk how he literally fought for a role in ‘Creed,’ and his new Hulu special, ‘LOL Live With Malik B.’ 

(00:00) Intro

(10:21) Having uncomfortable conversations

(33:27) Ryan Grim joins the show

(1:27:28) OG Corner: Van Jones & Stephen A. Smith

(1:54:12) Democratic leadership

(2:05:33) Ghostface Killa and Infinite Coles

(2:16:49) Malik B joins the show

(2:56:10) ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ returns

Hosts: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay

Guests: Ryan Grim and Malik B

Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr.

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lionizing of Charlie Kirk With Ryan Grim, Plus Malik B on Viral Comedy

Van addresses Memphis Bleek calling him out on Club Shay Shay, before he and Rachel react to 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' being taken off the air and the media’s coverage of Charlie Kirk following his death.

(00:00) Intro

(00:12) A Memphis Bleek/Van Lathan explainer

(25:02) Kushner, Trump and the Carters

(49:29) Jimmy Kimmel Suspended 

(1:22:52) The sanitizing of Charlie Kirk

(1:57:13) Hangings in Mississippi

(2:03:58) LeBron & Drake Update

Hosts: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay

Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr.

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Memphis Bleek and Van Lathan (Not Jones), Plus Jimmy Kimmel’s Suspension

Van and Rachel start by discussing the legal and cultural fallout from the killing of Charlie Kirk. Then they welcome actress Erika Alexander to talk about Apple TV+’s ‘Invasion’ and look back on her role as Maxine in ‘Living Single.’

(0:00) Intro

(1:02) Fallout from Charlie Kirk’s shooting

(36:46) Brian Kilmeade on homeless: “Just kill ‘em”

(54:05) Van’s basketball tangent 

(58:42) ‘The Gilded Age’

(1:01:22) Erika Alexander joins the show

(1:55:21) AI influencer?

Hosts: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay

Guest: Erika Alexander

Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Empathy, Sympathy, and Charlie Kirk. Plus, Erika Alexander and the Legacy of ‘Living Single.’

Rachel and Van start the show off by talking about the death of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, the many reactions to it, and what may come from his killing. Then, they react to an excerpt from Kamala Harris’s upcoming book mentioning Joe Biden’s “reckless” decision to run again in the last election. Later, actor, model, and comedian Melvin Gregg joins to talk about his latest show, ‘The Paper,’ before he, Van, and Rachel all share memories of their biggest heartbreak.

00:00 - Welcome!

00:26 - The killing of Charlie Kirk

56:00 - Kamala’s book and her disappointment with Biden's reelection bid

1:14:50 - Israel bombed Hamas negotiators

1:16:24 - The new Bachelorette

1:20:20 - Melvin Gregg joins us!

2:11:59 - Thanks for watching!

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guest: Melvin Gregg

Producers: Donnie Beacham and Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas
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Kamala’s Disappointment and the Killing of Charlie Kirk. Plus, Melvin Gregg Talks ‘The Paper’! | Higher Learning | The Ringer

Van and Rachel dig into the Texas senate race, vaccine mandates (or lack thereof) in Florida, and Young Thug’s leaked jail calls, before welcoming marriage and family therapist Nina Westbrook to discuss her new mental wellness app, Nebbi. 

(0:00) Intro

(0:39) Left-wing influencers 

(13:29) The Phillies Karen

(27:15) Rep. James Talarico running for senate

(48:52) Vand & the realities of aging 

(55:23) Nina Westbrook joins the show

(1:37:49) Florida’s vaccine overhaul

(1:55:34) Glaze of the Week

(2:03:08) Young Thug leaks

Host: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay

Guest: Nina Westbrook

Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Navigating the Shutdown With Rep. Maxwell Frost! Plus, the WNBA's Bad Leadership, and Ray J Vs. the Kardashians. | Higher Learning | The Ringer

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