Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Live from New York, It’s Higher Learning!

Date: May 14, 2025
Podcast: Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay
Host: The Ringer

Episode Overview

In this special live episode recorded in New York, Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay discuss recent headlines and enduring issues within Black culture, politics, and media. The show features their signature blend of humor and frank conversation, with deep dives into political accountability, generational divides within the Democratic Party, fan culture in hip-hop, and a playful exploration of New York’s animal scene. The episode also includes interactive segments with the live audience—ranging from “Animal Games” to a raucous “Apology Game”—and notable discussions on the role of objectivity in public discourse.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Banter: Celebrity Scandals and Empathy

(00:35–03:42)

• Topic: Reflection on recent scandals involving Diddy and Tory Lanez, with Rachel recounting an accidental encounter with Diddy’s somber family at her hotel.
• Quotes:
  • “I felt bad for them. I looked the daughters in the face. I felt bad. It’s just so sad.” — Rachel (03:33)
• Insight: The hosts show empathy for public figures’ families, emphasizing the human cost of public scandals.

2. Inside Puff’s World: Van’s Meeting with Diddy

(03:51–09:32)

• Topic: Van describes a surreal, intimidating job interview at Diddy’s mansion, complete with quizzes about Black culture and uncomfortable power dynamics.
• Quotes:
  • “Puff actually gives me a quiz on black people.” — Van (06:51)
  • “I started to look around the house, I saw a lot of people, like, smiling and bowing to Puff. … I was like, yo, this nigga Puff got these motherfuckers on lock.” — Van (07:45)
• Memorable Moment: Van’s impersonation of Diddy’s household rituals, highlighting how celebrity can create an intimidating, cult-like environment.

3. New York Culture & Hailing Cabs: Van’s ‘Step Through, Follow Through’

(09:53–12:57)

• Topic: Van critiques New Yorkers’ aggressive cab-hailing style, demonstrating his flamboyant alternative (“Step through, Follow through”) for the audience.
• Quotes:
  • “You literally look like a temptation.” — Rachel (12:02)
• Memorable Moment: Van performing his cab-hailing technique live, poking fun at New York stereotypes.
• Audience engagement: Audience helps count his steps, adding to the humor.

4. Political Accountability: “Big Deal of the Day”—Democratic Party Generational Divide

(13:46–30:24)

• Key Focus: Tension within the Democratic Party between younger progressives and the old guard, ignited by David Hogg’s public remarks about longtime Rep. Jim Clyburn.
• Timestamps:
  • David Hogg’s comments: (15:32)
  • Bakari Sellers' response and hosts’ debate: (16:02–23:48)
• Quotes:
  • “That type of gatekeeping is exactly the problem with the Democrats that we keep talking about.” — Rachel (21:20)
  • “When these niggas lose, we die. If that means that Clyburn gotta fucking get out of the Congress, then I don’t fucking care.” — Van (18:22)
• Insight: Rachel and Van both argue for fresh leadership and criticize the tendency to shield powerful elders from criticism. Van grounds the urgency in environmental injustice and health issues facing Black communities in the South.
• Notable exchange: Van expresses the awkwardness of hearing hard truths about Black leadership from a white person (David Hogg), but ultimately insists the message is necessary.

5. The ‘Glaze of the Year’ (Superlative Groupthink Award) 2020–2025

(31:45–54:06)

• Topic: Celebrating five years of Higher Learning by awarding the most egregious examples of “dick riding” (unquestioning group loyalty) from each year.
• Honorees:
  • 2020: Democrats’ kente cloth kneeling after George Floyd’s murder (33:15)
  • 2021: January 6th insurrectionists and Republican enablers (35:04)
  • 2022: Kanye West expressing open admiration for Hitler (39:44)
  • 2023: The OceanGate submarine disaster (glaze = “delusion of the wealthy”) (41:34)
  • 2024: The Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar rap fan war (43:34)
  • 2025: Byron Donalds referring to Trump as “Daddy” (46:53)
• Quotes:
  • “There’s a lot of glazing that goes on. And my next book … the name of this book is Dick Riding Must Die.” — Van (50:14)
  • “I truly believe that the ability to critical think and to set apart tribalism to a degree … we have to use our brains.” — Van (50:28)
• Insight: Van and Rachel lampoon political and pop cultural sycophancy, arguing for greater objectivity and critical thought.

6. Audience Interaction: Conservative in the House

(36:23–39:30)

• Memorable Moment: Hosts invite a self-identified conservative (Terrence) on stage, challenging his views on fiscal responsibility and social programs.
• Quote: “Stand up. Stand up, real quick. So I’m talking about. Look at him. Hey, what’s your name?” — Van (37:03)
• Insight: Highlights the podcast’s willingness to foster live debate, even in the heart of a progressive-leaning crowd.

7. Objectivity and Critical Thinking

(50:14–55:00)

• Van’s Announcement: He teases his forthcoming book, Dick Riding Must Die: How Objectivity Can Save the World.
• Dialogue:
  • “Truth is truth, no matter how inconvenient it is.” — Van (52:51)
• Insight: The segment underscores a core message: tribalism and hero worship are detrimental, and independence of thought is essential.

8. Comedy and Audience Games: “Animal Games”

(55:04–74:11)

• Segment: Animal-themed trivia featuring an audience participant (Naomi) and abundant jokes about rats and New York wildlife.
• Memorable Exchanges:
  • “Did you dissect a pigeon? … Mr. Mincik has killed so many people.” — Rachel & Van (64:16–64:28)
  • “How the fuck do we know this? … Rats are one of the few mammalian species where females prefer mates with smaller penises. True or False?” — Donnie & Van (69:43–70:03)
• Insight: The segment provides a lighthearted break, showcasing the hosts’ chemistry and rapport with their listeners.

9. Audience Showdown: The “Apology Game” & Gender Wars

(75:49–95:46)

• Format: Male and female audience members compete to give the “best” apology for various scenarios, judged by Rachel.
• Best Apology Scenario Highlights:
  • Apologizing for arguing with an in-law
  • Missing a friend’s wedding for a job (and secretly not liking the spouse)
  • Apologizing for offensive old tweets being dredged up
• Notable Rachel Quotes:
  • “That was the best one. All of y’all had great apologies. … But I don’t believe any of you. Y’all get a one all equally. A one. Because I don’t believe you.” (95:01)
• Insight: Rachel, the “apology rater,” is notoriously hard to please—adding to the fun. The segment pokes fun at the formulaic nature of public apologies and “cancellation” cycles.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “But if I’m being the old fan, I look at them, I go, y’all niggas fucked. I hope he put that money in the trust or all y’all gonna be on OnlyFans.” — Van (02:33)
• “You literally look like a temptation.” — Rachel (12:02)
• “When these niggas lose, we die. If that means that Clyburn gotta fucking get out of the Congress, then I don’t fucking care.” — Van (18:22)
• “That type of gatekeeping is exactly the problem with the Democrats that we keep talking about.” — Rachel (21:20)
• “There’s a lot of glazing that goes on. And my next book … the name of this book is Dick Riding Must Die.” — Van (50:14)
• “Truth is truth, no matter how inconvenient it is.” — Van (52:51)
• “I don’t believe any of y’all. Y’all get a one all equally. A one. Because I don’t believe you.” — Rachel (95:01)

Important Segments (Timestamps)

| Segment | Time | |:---------------------------------------------- |:----------- | | Opening: Diddy & Empathy | 00:35–03:42 | | Van’s Diddy Story | 03:51–09:32 | | NY Cab-Hailing & Audience Fun | 09:53–12:57 | | Politics: Democratic Party Old vs. Young | 13:46–30:24 | | “Glaze of the Year/Decade” Highlights | 31:45–54:06 | | Conservative Audience Debate | 36:23–39:30 | | Animal Games | 55:04–74:11 | | Audience Apology Showdown (Gender Wars) | 75:49–95:46 |

Tone and Style

The episode’s tone is irreverent, candid, often hilarious, and sometimes deeply serious, perfectly balancing improvisational comedy with biting commentary on culture and politics. The live audience’s energy contributes to an atmosphere that is both lively and communal, reinforcing the podcast’s commitment to open, thought-provoking—and fun—conversation.

Conclusion

This inaugural live Higher Learning episode captures everything fans love about the show: raw honesty, sharp analysis, infectious humor, and fearless engagement with both difficult topics and the podcast’s own loyal community. Whether exploring political accountability, poking fun at groupthink in culture, or making the crowd laugh through trivia, Van and Rachel deliver a memorable—and quintessentially Higher Learning—experience for listeners and attendees alike.