Higherlearning

Van Lathan built his public profile as a producer and on-air personality at TMZ, where he became widely recognized for directly confronting Kanye West in 2018 after West claimed slavery was "a choice." That viral exchange established him as an unflinching voice on Black culture and politics, a quality he carries into every Higher Learning episode.

Yes, Rachel Lindsay made history in 2017 as the first Black lead on The Bachelorette, starring in Season 13 of the franchise. After her time on the show she became a prominent entertainment commentator and eventually co-host of Higher Learning, where she brings the same willingness to speak plainly about culture, politics, and public figures.

Higher Learning is produced by The Ringer, the sports and pop-culture media company founded by Bill Simmons that was acquired by Spotify in 2020. That affiliation gives the show editorial credibility and broad distribution across major podcast platforms.

Jay-Z sits at the center of what Higher Learning does — his moves around commerce, loyalty, and public image raise exactly the questions the show is built to dissect. Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay have covered everything from Memphis Bleek publicly backing Jay-Z amid backlash over a Target deal to the critical reception of Jay-Z's freestyles, treating his decisions as cultural flashpoints rather than celebrity gossip.

The hosts are explicit that they will not tell listeners how to vote — Rachel Lindsay has made that boundary public — but they share their own strong opinions on candidates and political events without pulling punches. The philosophy is less "here's your ballot guide" and more "here's exactly how we feel, and you decide for yourself."

Jasmine Crockett is a Democratic congresswoman from Texas who has become one of the most vocal and culturally visible progressive voices in Washington. Higher Learning covers her because she sits squarely at the intersection of Black politics and mainstream political drama, which is precisely the territory Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay specialize in.

FanDuel has run sponsored campaigns alongside Higher Learning, a natural fit given the show's predominantly male, sports-engaged audience. The hosts' credibility in Black sports and entertainment culture makes the podcast an appealing vehicle for brands trying to reach that demographic authentically.

Yes — because The Ringer is owned by Spotify, Higher Learning is available on Spotify alongside YouTube and other major podcast apps. The show publishes new episodes twice a week, so it's easy to stay current regardless of which platform you prefer.

Higher Learning releases new episodes twice a week, keeping the show timely enough to react to fast-moving news in Black politics, sports, and entertainment. That consistent cadence is a big part of why the show maintains an audience that returns regularly and engages well above the category average.

The Higher Learning audience skews heavily male and falls mostly in the 18-to-44 age range, with the large majority of listeners based in the United States. The show's blend of political commentary, sports debate, and entertainment analysis appeals to people who want substantive, culturally grounded takes rather than surface-level hot takes.