So much resonated from your episode after the election. Your work is important, and I thank you for the energy you sacrifice to make the world a better place. You said exactly what I needed to hear.

I’ve been waiting to hear your take on the election. As a Hispanic women I am also disappointed and disgusted with the results. Thank you for the laughing through the crying. That’s how I am getting through these hard days.

I enjoy Higher Learning so much!! I appreciate being able to listen to every topic and conversation. Thank you for sharing so much and providing very insightful and important perspectives and experiences. Van, Rachel, Donnie and Ashley…y’all are great!!! I miss Animal Games. I love Hootenanny!

I admire you Rachel! Love your podcast 💜

Carville is trash Boo on you for platforming him

I was starting to get into this show, but Van is so disrespectful to Rachel. Also Vick as a guest? Seriously? That’s a dealbreaker for me.

I was thinking the same thing the other day! Halle should be farther along. I think she should be pop. She needs pop writers and producers!!!

Better than all the rest.

Very compelling issue that others could have talked about. This is such a disappointment. You just lost a dog-loving, pitbull-owning subscriber.

I found this podcast after hearing Van’s brilliant takes on The Prestige TV podcast. I was excited to see that he was hosting a podcast with Rachel Lindsay as I’ve appreciated her input in the media over the years. However, this podcast is often hard to listen to. Van constantly interrupts Rachel, and perpetually plays Devil’s Advocate/ Prove Me Wrong. It’s disappointing to go from civil and nuanced conversations amongst peers on the Prestige podcast to somewhat patronizing exchanges on this one. Rachel often sounds too exhausted to force her way in, and I sympathize. It’s uncomfortable. Perhaps they should experiment and have different guest hosts sub in so he can hear the difference of how he interacts them versus Rachel. That said, I hope the feedback hear helps and the show improves. It has the potential to be great.

How the $*@! was Lisa Bonet left off of the Van LaTen? An absolute travesty and I demand a recount. :) Love this show so much and I look forward to every single episode. Sending love and light to Rachel and forever a Van fan. Keep doing your thing and thank you for taking us higher!

No Sade?!?

DNC don’t need to cater to anyone branding them killers. That doesn’t mean J and K are not working on a cease fire in the Middle East.

Celebrities need to keep the public out of their business because people do get invested. Why is it so hard to just keep family business with family?!? They’re people too and will make the best decisions for themselves. I 100% agree with van, please control what people know ESPECIALLY celebrities.

I really enjoy the topics and conversation. Van brings a lot to the table while taking a bunch off too. Please work on NOT constantly interrupting your co-host, (especially by laughing at her as she’s making a serious point); repeating yourself more than four times in a row (it was funny or not already, or it’s a tic that can be overcome). Otherwise 5 stars

I wrote a review a few years ago now when Van and Rachel first started the pod. Always been a favorite podcast, but I commented their coverage on LGBTQ issues needed a lot of work (this was around the time of Lil Nas X’s Montera video for context). Thank you for doing that work and continuing to approach everyone with the love and respect they deserve. I’m very impressed that criticism/feedback was taken in stride. Van in particular has just hit me over and over again with his growth and the care he displays when challenged for the right reasons.

I know it’s been mentioned, but if Van could work on conciseness and Rachel would defend her opinions and stances a bit more, it would be even better. I really do appreciate you guys for all you do, just my opinion!❤️

Enjoy this podcast, but it feels time for a break. Van is so long winded and repetitive. I’d like to hear more from Rachel. Appreciate the work y’all do. Van, remember, we all have two ears and ONE mouth for a reason.

PROTECT VAN LATHAN AT ALL COSTS. WE NEED HIM

Van can be really long winded and gets repetitive when he thinks he said something funny like a name or a word; and since they are both monotone it makes it a hard listen sometimes. Their culture takes are more interesting than their political ones, but Van has a weird distaste for Africans that gets biggotish in his rants. Other than that 3 stars is fair.

Racism isn’t okay but antisemitism is?

I truly love this podcast. I am rooting for Rachel and Van.

I'm a new listener and I love the show. I love hearing the facts as well as your opinions.

Ya’ll really motivated people to not vote for Biden. Trump needs all the help you can give, keep up the good work.

I am disappointed that the elephant in the room was not mentioned by Van or Rachel. Both seemed totally behind Biden even though he is funding, directing and supporting the genocide in Palestine. 20,000 dead children and Van and Rachel are not criticizing that adamantly. It’s ok to vote for him but not mentioning the genocide is appalling. 63% of Americans want the funding of the genocide to stop. So how is Biden better than republicans as far as listening to the American ppl?

I came for Rachel, I stayed for Van. Both are incredible podcasters who are willing to set down their egos but not their morals. I love listening to them work through complex topics with respect for one another even when they disagree. The range this podcast has is unmatched.

She has a bullseye on her back as if LaVar Ball is her Pop’s. They’re picking her up 94 ft. and trying to slap the (hardwood) floor. Playing the type of D. Which hasn’t been seen since Jordan and Pippen shut down Toni Kukoć. They shouldn’t let her score. Yet playing playoff defense against her, to prove what?

Having someone on like Bowman, who spreads Antisemitic conspiracy theories, denies rapes, amongst other crazy things on his YouTube page? You’d be mad if someone on the right platformed MTG, but Bowman is ok? Shame on you guys.

Great podcast

I’m obsessed with Van

Mind. Blown. Van Lathan — and ONLY Van Lathan — is the one person in American media, who could bring a metaphor — based upon a forgotten superhero movie — to bear on the 2024 cultural foundation-shaking rap beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake…and have it come full-circle, to make poignant sense by the end. (And major props + flowers to Ms. Lindsay, for helping Van out with her, “He flew too close to the sun” line. You could have been an excellent therapist, if that had been your chosen path.) This podcast is the ONLY place I’ve seen Drake’s current predicament couched in terms of what all artists do — and have done, since the beginning of time — their art: Working out who they are, and how their unique life circumstances relate to the world at-large, and is an expression of the Human Condition. I welled up a little, y’all. And what we KNOW to be true, is that this world wasn’t ever going to accept Drake in the Justin Bieber / Justin Timberlake “lane” of pop music. And so — Caucasian mother notwithstanding — he had to work with what he had…and that’s what he did. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the insight, and the thoughts based upon the fact that he was a human being, before he was ‘Drake’. And if Mr. Lamar really does intimate, in one of his May 2024 Drake “diss tracks” — that the battle Drake is fighting is really “with yourself” — then I’d say he’d probably make a fine therapist, as well. And what it all points to, is America’s long national struggle with race, and trying to live up to our stated ideals.

Been a fan since day one! Big rach huge fan since bach days and Van I admire you black king and appreciate your authenticity you bring to the podcast. Y'all are such a great pair together. I look forward to tuesday and friday mornings :). I appreciate this episode specifically due to your interest in wanting to do a NECESSARY, needed deep dive into haiti. It's a conversation many people need to have and hear about and incredibly important. Thank you van for speaking on it, I look forward to hearing the discussion and even the guest you may potentially have on wooohoooooo!!

I love this podcast and can’t believe I’ve been listening for about a year without leaving a review! Rachel and Van are the perfect co-hosts because they don’t just echo each other’s sentiments but bring their honest opinion and commentary to every topic. This is one of the few podcasts I can listen to with confidence that I’ll be aligned with their thinking on topics of race, politics, pop culture and more! Keep it up! Only thing I’d love is hearing more from Rachel than Van at times. Van be going off on rants sometimes but we still love him lol.

Rachel, PLEASE STOP EATING ON THE AIR. I am begging you, please. I hate when I can’t listen. Please ♥️

Just commenting to say, as part of the summit. We must come together as a community to check in on Rachel through this difficult time….of her not having Black Wangus. Praying for her happiness.

Don’t listen if you’re actually wanting to learn about the political state of our country. Rachel is a democrat at all costs and fails to see why minorities would vote for Trump over Biden. The claim that Biden is the “lesser of 2 evils” is ignorant. Supporting Trump is “anti-Christ” according to Rachel lol. Please do your research on what each of these candidates support and stand for and decide for yourself who is more aligned with the teachings of Christ, or at least wants a better standard of living for Americans. Don’t let a rich, privileged celebrity tell you what is best for YOU politically.

This podcast is a must-listen. I’ve really enjoyed recent episodes when Van and Rachel have spoken up more about the atrocities happening in Gaza. It’s so important to pay attention to this issue, and it’s great to hear Van say that he’s been reading more into the history. They mentioned that they’re hoping to platform some Palestinian voices soon, and I’m really looking forward to hearing more. Thank you both!

I really wish that Van would stop leaning on “Charlemagne’s my friend”. He knew what he was doing and if this was an apology, it should have saved the minutes he wasted to attempt a response to his disgusting behavior. Jess Hilaroius really needs to actually add some sort of substance to the show. She doesn’t appear to have an opinion on anything and contributes nothing! Complete trash!

I’ve loved this show for a long time but recently it’s become so political every. Single. Episode. I come to this podcast to get away from all of the political talk. They spend half the time talking politics each episode. Move on.

You always stand up for the dignity of Black people, and speak to the history of America and how we’ve been treated. Like you, my Dad always spoke to how Blacks were treated like animals. He grew up in rural Georgia and escaped to the north for employment and opportunity! Keep doing what you’re doing! ♾️👏🏾🙏🏾💪🏾♾️

I appreciate bringing light to so many issues and educating us all through it.

Van lathan are gay/black women biased pandering coons who don’t need a platform. Then he tries to blend cultures while going on math Hoffa and figgmunity but he acts completely different over there and he knows why. He calls out every black man (right or wrong )while giving every black woman an excuse (right or wrong) and doesn’t say nothing about bill Simmons etc he’s a coon acting like he trying to bring change which is more problematic.

I look forward to new episodes dropping every Tuesday and Friday - the conversations are so thought provoking! Keep doing your thing guys!

Absolutely love the show and the conversations. I do find it interesting that black men in hiphop had and have no problem violently disrespecting black women, especially dark skin black men. Where do these behaviors start!!!

Van is not alone. I have been feeling the same way and unable to articulate what it is starting with COVID. The church has fails us all. And has us afraid of each other. I’m taking baby steps to get my faith back and praying for the answers .🙏🏾

I’m so happy I found this podcast. Not sure why it took me so long since I’m a huge fan of them both. I love them together. I love their truthfulness. Some of the smartest conversations in the community. Keep it up!

Regurgitated, one-sided, brainwashed speech… no thank you 🤙🏿

I look forward to listening to Higher Learning every Monday and Friday. Rachel and Van feel like family. I don’t always agree with them or their guests. But I appreciate how they analyze the issues, educate me on new topics, and force me to challenge my perspective. I’m in awe of how they handle themselves and support each other in addressing hard personal times and difficult news stories. They are gracious & vulnerable enough to share parts of their lives with us. They don’t shy away from the tough topics. They get the best guests, and the episodes are well-produced. The podcast is the best combination of authenticity, intellectual engagement, and uplifting banter. Rachel, Van, and Donny’s consistency and familiarity has actually gotten me through some dark times. There have been days, even weeks, when a corny Van joke has been the only thing to make me smile. Rachel’s fortitude in facing vitriol and big life changes with grace has inspired me, especially as a young female attorney. I’ve been listening since the very beginning and continue to look forward to every episode! P.S. Please bring back mailbag more often! (And the song, unless Semisonic finally heard it and said something 😆)

Israel is a terrorist state and the hosts support them and the genocide of the Palestinians. They are on the side of the violent white colonizers while touting racial equity? May this show fail and these idiots never get a platform again.

It’s rough cos he thinks so much more of himself but he has a loooooong way to go. The way he talks about women is gross.