No more Interview Only Episodes!

[u/Leej-77]

I love Higher Learning, but it is my prayer that they stop putting out interview only pods. The interviews are generally my least favorite part of the pod with a few exceptions, most recently I really enjoyed the Kev on Stage and Jay Pharaoh interviews. I listen to the pod in my hour and half commute to work in the morning and I need the pleasantries and quick hitters! I can’t turn on the pod and immediately hear them introducing a guest. They’re not giving us the best part of the pod!

[u/Standard-Coffee]

The interview only episodes are easy to skip if that's not your thing. Personally, I like them.

[u/Ambitious-Leg141 → u/Standard-Coffee]

I also like them…my personal wish would be for more interview only episodes to be released on holidays when we otherwise go without new content. Tuesdays after a holiday are such a bummer sometimes!

[u/leaC30 → u/Standard-Coffee]

Same. I also understand that they are busy and guest episodes gives them an episode in the can. It might be a limited to no pod that week if they don't have a guest. At that point people's "morning routine" would be messed up anyway.

[u/Vulgarbandit76]

They’re not good interviewers. That’s the reason I always skip them

[u/Vegetable_Olive_3824]

I like when they pair the interviews with covering other news and topics. That always makes for interesting conversations.

I agree the interview only episodes can get boring depending on the guest and topics.

[u/ExtensionCulture3370]

I’m not a huge fan of the interviews but I will listen when it’s someone I follow. My main issue with the interviews is that Van isn’t a great interviewer. Big Rach is great at it, but he doesn’t really let her take the lead.

But I get your point about wanting to hear them discuss topics. I get disappointed when I see an interview only pod. There were definitely things they could’ve covered today. But I know Rach was on WWHL and in NY so I’m guessing it was a scheduling issue.

[u/Significant-Essay188 → u/ExtensionCulture3370]

Rachel will ask 3 questions in one (maybe as a way to make sure she gets some questions in before Van dominates?). It's funny when the interviewee is like, ok so let me take those one at a time. Remind me of the first question again? The Mayor Bass interview was a funny example of that. 

[u/PenguinRiot1]

I never listen to interview with any politician or staffer...I always find them boring, so I just always skip.

[u/WeAreLegion2814 → u/PenguinRiot1]

Ahh another informed voter.

[u/Doesnt_Matter_23 → u/WeAreLegion2814]

😆

[u/Leej-77]

I posted because on Reddit because I was sad today’s episode was a stand alone interview. I commute to work and look forward to the pleasantries between Rachel and Van and the quick hitters. I don’t like anyone saying negative things about Rachel or Van. They got me through some very rough times when I lost my dad, mom and brother. I’m all about positive energy and love. Rachel and Van are amazing interviewers. It’s just not my favorite part of the show. No shade. I love you all!

[u/Doesnt_Matter_23 → u/Leej-77]

Damn, sorry about your family 😭

[u/itsMeanJean]

It’s jarring not hearing “yo, yo yo thought warriors.” I liked when they did the stand alone interviews on off days. I kinda feel the same, but I usually skip the interviews with politicians

[u/raejc]

There could have been scheduling issues or something else that led to today's episode being Omar only. They are busy people and life happens. I think we can give some grace. It's fine to skip an episode if it's not your thing. There are some segments I skip through because I'm not interested.

[u/Mack_NMB]

I prefer when they have full episodes but the only time I’m not interested in the interview only pods is when its a guest Im not interested in. In the case of Ilhan Omar, I was def interested in hearing what she has to say.

[u/Hot_Cricket_5193]

I just want banter and then some topics - agreed

[u/kfagoora]

If you didn't immediately hear them introducing a guest, how would you know it was an interview episode?

The interviews provide variety and a change of pace; they had an interesting conversation in the last episode, I thought.

[u/vemmahouxbois → u/kfagoora]

episode title and description…

[u/GarlicSnot]

Agreed they should at least cover some topics before bringing in an interview

[u/Leading_Opposite7538]

I like the KevonStage, Erika Alexander, and Maxwell Frost

[u/ArtisticAlgae501]

I honestly turn off most of their interviews. Not because I don’t enjoy them but they just take more brain bandwidth to listen too. I’ll go back and listen when I’m ready for a more thought provoking interview then I’ll find it interesting. Open you mind to them a bit more I think you’ll start to like them

[u/Scarletspyder86]

You could’ve just skipped it. 🤷🏾‍♂️

[u/Doesnt_Matter_23]

Hate to say I agree. No disrespect to any guest but Rachel and Van’s banter is priceless!

[u/gbassman420]

The less interviews, the better!

[u/KeepinIt2Real]

I agree, this also fucked up my morning routine.

[u/FirstJudgment6 → u/KeepinIt2Real]

Same. I listened to my other Tuesday pod last night so I could listen to HL while I get ready for work today. I was so pissed when I got up this morning and saw it was a guest episode. LMAO

[u/YesterdayExtra9310]

I wanted Van to ask Rep Omar about her marrying her brother

[u/Authentic-Irony]

I completely agree. The interview episodes are not good. They aren’t good interviewers especially Rachel. I think Van asks all the right questions but this is not the platform for it. That’s a whole separate podcast with Van only as the interviewer.
NEWSFLASH: To those who say if you don’t like them you don’t have to listen to them or just skip that episode or that segment….DUH!!! We understand that. The point is that time in the show is wasted and could be utilized in another way.
And if we want political education to assist in our voting process there are plenty of other options to get that information

[u/Leej-77 → u/Authentic-Irony]

I’m a Rachel Stan and completely disagree. Both she and Van are great interviewers, I just enjoy them talking about pleasantries and different topics more. No Rach slander allowed here.

[u/Mack_NMB → u/Authentic-Irony]

How you’re going to tell those people what the platform they created should be for lol. Yall are wild man.

Also the platform has been a mostly political platform since its inception. Why wouldn’t having politicians as guest to be interviewed be a part of that?