Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Episode: Kanye West Will Return, Druski and the Megachurch, and the Iranian Conflict
Date: January 16, 2026

Overview

In this lively episode, Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay tackle three central topics: Teyana Taylor’s public loyalty to Kanye West amid his continued controversies, Twitch star Kai Cenat’s highly personal “I Quit” video, and comedian Druski’s viral megachurch sketch lampooning charismatic preachers. The episode also delves deep into the ongoing protests and turmoil in Iran with expert guest Professor Huss Banai, and the controversial escalation of ICE/immigration enforcement actions in the U.S. Social and political commentary flows naturally between discussions of Black pop culture, mental health, and international affairs, all in the hosts’ candid, unfiltered style.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Updates & Reflections (00:13–11:22)

• Celebrations: Rachel surprises her mother on her 70th birthday; Van reflects on his own mother's upcoming milestone and family longevity.
• Louisiana Culture: Van shares his amusement at the competitive “daiquiri technology” in his home state, describing an “arms race” of flavors.
• Dream Sequence: Van recounts a surreal, comedic dream featuring his deceased father as the Crypt Keeper—a dream that leads to a heartfelt, on-air apology to Rachel for his past behavior.
  • Quote: "Son, you're mean to that girl." (Van quoting dream-father, 08:09)
  • Quote: "This was the only dream involving my dad where there was no sadness. I laughed when his head blew up. It was like a sitcom." (Van, 08:46)
  • Apology: Leads to mutual understanding and sets a tone of accountability and openness for the rest of the episode.

2. Kanye West Will Return – On Culture, Cancelation, and Loyalty (16:29–30:15)

Teyana Taylor’s Stance

• Context: Teyana Taylor won a Golden Globe and, in a Vanity Fair interview, stated she won’t abandon Kanye (Ye), though she disagrees with his antisemitic remarks.
• Rachel’s View:
  • “It’s human decency. ... I wouldn’t abandon you if you crash out in public." (18:08)
  • Differentiates between public support and personal loyalty—makes clear that being there for someone doesn't mean supporting harmful ideas or actions.
• Van’s Analysis:
  • Draws a Marvel movie parallel: “Kanye West will return”—predicts Kanye’s public rehabilitation and a potential new album without the overt hate, restoring some of his cultural cachet.
  • Quote: "Kanye hasn't had a tremendous amount of success at craziness... Every vile, antisemitic thing that he's done... it’s cost him something. And because it’s cost him something... a lot of people look at Kanye and, because it’s cost him social standing, they go, you know what, this dude has something wrong with him." (22:30)
  • Moral Complexity: Explores why many still feel an affinity towards Kanye, hinting at the difficulty Black culture—viewed as a 'big family'—has with cutting ties, even with wayward members.
  • Draws a line between abandoning and supporting—making space for hope for someone’s mental health recovery without returning as a fan.

Rachel’s Candid Stance:

• “I can't see myself... going back and supporting him in the arts... My answer right now is no, I wouldn't.” (26:28)
• Both acknowledge the difficulty disconnecting from cultural figures with shared history, but reinforce boundaries between personal compassion and public endorsement.

3. Kai Cenat’s Vulnerability and Generation Z’s Mental Health Awakening (31:47–41:42)

Kai Cenat’s “I Quit” Video

• Context: Kai Cenat, the most popular Twitch streamer, uploads a video announcing a pivot in his career and a new focus on mental health.
• Rachel’s Admiration:
  • Lauds Kai’s self-awareness and brave departure from chronic online performance: "At 24, I just have to commend him... when it feels like everything they do is so wrapped up in the streaming digital world." (33:03)
• Van’s Remarks:
  • Criticizes detractors who mocked Kai for looking up words while reading online—affirms normalcy of lifelong learning.
  • Observes that public scandal led Kai to realize “y’all don't think he's a person,” just “a thing for their constant entertainment.” (35:50)
  • Quote: "If I can’t grow and hurt and be flawed and be vulnerable in front of people, what’s in it for me?" (37:56)
  • Calls Kai’s step back a model of authenticity and urges others to “ask yourself, what's in it for me?”
• Both Hosts: Agree his vulnerability offers a powerful example and hope it sparks cultural change around mental health and online boundaries.

4. Druski & the Megachurch—Satire, Spirituality, and Community Responsibility (43:06–60:44)

Druski’s Viral Megachurch Sketch

• Clip played.
• Memorable Line (from the skit): “I had somebody in the congregation ask why I'm wearing Christian Dior and Christian Louboutins. Cause I'm a Christian and I walk in the blood of Jesus." (43:17)

Reactions & Analysis

• Backlash Discussion: Van’s surprised at backlash from Christian communities; Rachel less so—notes deep-rooted sensitivity and "fear of blasphemy" in Black church culture.
• Quote (Rachel): “Black people don’t play when it comes to church... it's not even a hit dog will holler situation. ...There’s a conflict: you know he’s not wrong, but you have the fear of the other side of what you’ve known for so long.” (45:39)
• Van’s Broader Take: Calls out the “circus, show, and capitalism” in megachurches, separating true spirituality from spectacle.
  • Quote: “Because, as much as he was online... I think people start to talk to you or treat you like you’re not an actual human being.” (41:00)
• Rachel’s Nuance: Acknowledges not all megachurches deserve criticism but agrees that Druski targets excess and performance, not faith itself.
• Both hosts ultimately find the sketch hilarious and important, as it lands deeply felt but necessary criticism inside Black religious life.

5. ICE and the American People—A Call to Resistance (62:06–74:30)

• Van: Asserts that ICE is "at war with the American people," citing recent violent incidents and growing federal aggression.
  • Quote: “Resistance of ICE from you as an American citizen is non negotiable. ... If you can't say, 'Hey, don't do that,' you're not a citizen. ... You're a subject.” (68:07)
• Rachel: Stresses the need for public knowledge and voting against those who enable ICE overreach; calls out the emboldening rhetoric and immunity granted to federal agents.
• Call to Action:
  • Both encourage listeners to stay informed, resist normalization of oppression, and vote for change—emphasizing everyday acts of knowledge and mutual aid as tools for resistance.

6. Iranian Protests and U.S./Western Intervention – In-Depth with Professor Huss Banai

(Timestamps approx: 79:11–126:51)

Explainer: Iran’s Protest Movement

• Economic Collapse: Protests triggered by Iran’s currency collapse, spreading across merchant classes, university students, and artists.
  • Quote (Prof. Banai): "The chants quickly went from ‘we want better management of the economy’... to ‘this regime has stolen the ordinary people's taxes.’” (81:12)
• State Crackdown: Reports of severe regime violence (estimates of thousands killed in a week), internet blackouts, and the chilling effect on resistance.

Historical Patterning

• Protests are not new: Banai draws a line from the current protests to a long tradition of economic, political, and social dissent in Iran.
  • Role of Women: Iranian women are not passive victims but are leaders and disruptors—even the face of women-led protests.

Regime Stability & Potential for Change

• Van asks if real regime change is possible.
  • Prof. Banai: Realistically, the regime’s military power and willingness to use violence favor its retention of power—unless massive external or military shifts occur; draws analogies to Gaddafi, Assad, Saddam Hussein.
• Complexity of Foreign Intervention:
  • Discusses the dilemma for Iranians and outsiders alike: support regime change but risk Western imperialism, or risk perpetuating an autocracy that resists outside domination.
  • Warns against seeing either the regime or the opposition as monolith or as inherently good/bad—true democracy rarely aligns with a single leader or movement.

The Palestinian Question Connection

• Van notes: Some feel Iran is the only major power resisting U.S./Israeli domination in the region, and that its fall could doom the Palestinian people.
  • Prof. Banai’s nuanced answer: Iran’s role is double-edged—its resistance-credentials have given cover to Israeli expansion, but its backing of autocrats and militias is not admirable either.
  • "You don't want a champion of the Palestinian people that is so viscerally against human rights, basic dignity of individuals; they don't practice it at home." (115:40)

Women and Agency in Iran

• Banai: Iranian women are foundational to reform—highly educated, active in protest, always subverting and reshaping cultural norms from within.

Notable Quotes

• “Indiana football, man... I’m rooting for what I always root for, which is chaos and the destruction of contemporary hierarchy.” (124:53, Van—light moment after the very heavy analysis.)

7. Cultural & Sports Banter – Wrapping Up (126:51–end)

• Discussion of Indiana football’s Cinderella story, Texas vs. USC, and college football’s greatest teams.
• More friendly competition and trivia: “J. Cole will retire... but J. Cole will return!” (60:44)
• Return to lighter, human moments—holiday plans, MLK Day debate, acknowledgment of the team behind the scenes.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• "Kanye West will return." (Van, 20:10/22:28)
  • The Marvel analogy for cultural figures who can’t stay gone.
• "If I can't grow and hurt and... be vulnerable in front of people, what's in it for me?" (Van, on Kai Cenat, 37:56)
• "This is her very publicly ... intending to continue to love on and have a relationship with Kanye West." (Van, 19:35)
• "Black people don’t play when it comes to church. ... There’s a conflict. They know that he’s not wrong, but there’s the fear." (Rachel, 45:39)
• “You're not a citizen, you're a subject. And those are two different things.” (Van, ICE segment, 68:30)
• "You don't want a champion of the Palestinian people that is so viscerally against human rights, basic dignity of individuals; they don't practice it at home." (Prof. Banai, 115:40)
• Van’s father’s dream apology: “Maybe that's myself telling me that. So I apologize for the way I've carried on.” (09:29)

Important Timestamps

• [16:29] – Start of Teyana Taylor/Kanye discussion
• [22:28] – Van’s “Kanye West will return” Marvel analogy
• [31:47] – Kai Cenat’s “I Quit” video conversation
• [43:06] – Druski’s megachurch sketch analysis
• [62:06] – ICE and federal agency crackdown discussion
• [79:11] – Start of Iran/protest segment with Prof. Huss Banai
• [115:49] – Palestinian resistance question and regional politics
• [120:10] – Iranian women’s agency, protest, and resilience
• [126:51] – Lighter banter: Indiana football and episode wrap-up

Tone and Style

The conversation weaves humor, cultural critique, serious policy debate, and honest personal reflection. Van and Rachel consistently mix pop culture references with deep social analysis, maintaining a candid, sometimes irreverent tone but always cycling back to community impact, personal accountability, and critical engagement.

For New Listeners: Why This Episode Matters

This Higher Learning installment is a masterclass in blending culture, current events, and historical perspective. Whether you’re curious about the nuances of cancel culture in the Black community, the burden of being an online celebrity, the line between faith and fraud in religious life, or the geopolitical complexities shaping Iran and American policy, Van and Rachel deliver honest, multi-layered insight.

If you want to understand not just headlines but the forces and emotions behind them—always with a dash of humor and humility—this is an episode not to miss.