Gendered Problems and Decentering Men With Joy Taylor! Plus, Thoughts on Hulk Hogan. | Higher Learning | The Ringer
Rachel and Van start the show by talking about the passing of the infamous Hulk Hogan and the complexity of his legacy. Then, the host of Two Personal, Joy Taylor, joins us to talk about processing the surprise cancellation of her show, how she was treated in comparison to her male counterparts, and her opinion of men. 00:00 - Welcome! 00:37 - Hulk Hogan’s passing 03:56 - Joy Taylor joins us 38:57 - Feelings toward Fox 48:58 - Will the dam break? 57:48 - Vulnerably in certain spaces 1:02:18 - Opinion on men 1:56:41 - What does Joy want to build? 2:18:39 - Thanks for watching! Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay Guests: Joy Taylor Producers: Donnie Beacham and Ashleigh Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
25 Jul 2h 22min
The Life of Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and What Just Happened to Black Farmers?
Van and Rachel react to the tragic news of Malcolm-Jamal Warner's death, before welcoming Houston farmer Jeremy Peaches to shed light on the Trump administration's impact on Black farmers. (0:00) Intro (4:59) Colbert ‘Late Show’ canceled (14:07) Remembering Malcolm Jamal Warner (22:52) Couple caught cheating at concert (42:02) Glaze of the Week (48:39) Jeremy Peaches joins the show (1:10:11) Need to hear from Snoop and Nelly? (1:26:18) WNBA pay dispute (1:47:11) Nessa, Kaepernick and Jay-Z Host: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay Guest: Jeremy Peaches Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
22 Jul 2h 6min
How Scary Is AI? Let’s Ask Calvin Abbasi! | Higher Learning | The Ringer
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 19:53 - DeepSeek’s Effect on the AI Industry Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay Guest: Calvin Abbasi Producers: Donnie Beacham and Ashleigh Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
18 Jul 28min
Malcolm D. Lee and Expanding Story of ‘The Best Man’
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 all-time (22:35) Sable bourbon (22:41) Girls Trip 2 (24:17) Essence Fest Hosts: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay Guest: Malcolm D. Lee Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
15 Jul 33min
Is Nicki Lying? Plus, Tucker’s Epstein Theory and the Miami Mess. | Higher Learning | The Ringer
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 mess 1:24:50 - Thanks for watching! Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay Producers: Donnie Beacham and Ashleigh Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
11 Jul 1h 29min
Tragic Flooding in Texas and the Essence Fest Diaspora Wars
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 Rachel Lindsay Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
8 Jul 1h 40min
The Fourth of July Delivers the End of Diddy’s Trial and Trump’s Big “Beautiful” Bill | Higher Learning | The Ringer
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 Joins Us! 1:40:42- Stephen Neukam Joins Us! 1:56:46 - Breakdown of the Bill 2:05:00 - It’s OK to Admit That You’re Wrong Thanks for Watching! Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay Guests: Stephen Neukam and Yodit Tewolde Producers: Donnie Beacham and Ashleigh Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
4 Jul 2h 13min
Authentic Abs, the Big Beautiful Bill and a Constitutional Crisis
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) Drake and the ‘abs’ debate (1:50:59) Bachelorette fight breakdown Host: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay Guests: Professor Jamal Greene Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
1 Jul 2h 2min
