Grits and Eggs Podcast — Episode 105: The Path Less Taken

Host: Deante’ Kyle
Guest/Co-Host: Big Ice Cup Cat
Release Date: December 2, 2025

Episode Overview

In this raw and unfiltered episode, Deante’ Kyle and Big Ice Cup Cat dive deep into the theme of "The Path Less Taken." They discuss the importance of authenticity, organic growth, and community integrity amid a culture increasingly shaped by media manipulation, consumerism, and conformity. The episode mixes reflections on Black culture, pop culture, media literacy, personal stories, and community advice with their signature blend of humor, honesty, and sharp social commentary.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Updates, Gratitudes & Community Announcements

• 00:56 – 08:30

• Deante’ opens with gratitude "Woke up in the morning and to God be the glory. Thankful for another day to tell my story..." (00:15)
• Talks about the positive response to recent Patreon content, upcoming guests, and ongoing special segments like New Music Mondays and the return of Freestyle Fridays.
• Acknowledges community engagement, especially through advice submissions and voice messages.

Notable Quote:
“We brought Shaderic back. The homie Mavi came... It went so long, the goddamn visuals went out. Had to cut him off… we started potting, yo.” — Deante’ (03:40)

2. On Art, Community, and Giving Flowers

• 08:30 – 13:00

• Deante’ and Big Cat reflect on fan art brought to a recent live show, highlighting the importance of community creativity and giving back.
• Discussion about being emotionally touched by community support.

Notable Quote:
“First time sharing her art with the public... She knocked it out the park. I almost brought tears to your eyes!” — Big Cat (10:20)

3. Black Transparency vs. Model Minority PR

• 13:00 – 27:00

• Deante’ provides a nuanced take on community self-presentation, contrasting Black transparency with the “PR” efforts of Asian communities who, as he notes, often brand and shield internal issues from public scrutiny.
• Explores colorism across cultures, Asian communities’ intra-group divides, and "brand" dynamics.
• Ties these observations to popular culture via references to Frank Lucas, American Gangster, and broader media tropes.

Notable Quotes:
“We don’t have to live in shame — y’all gonna disparage us whether we winning or losing. So Black people are just gonna be honest… we’re the most transparent community.” — Deante’ (15:22)
“They treat Asians… like a brand. They hide their colorism well. It’s a brand name. Guarantee they stick beside it like Pepsi.” — Deante’ (17:50)

4. Social Critique: Assimilation, Capitalism, and Media Manipulation

• 27:00 – 43:00

• Discusses the costs of assimilation, the “Full House Effect” (how apparent perfection hides dysfunction, especially in white mainstream culture and media).
• Breaks down capitalism as a corrupting, self-replicating cancer; calls out use of natural resources like the Great Lakes for data centers and the negative impacts of AI-driven consumerist culture.
• Exposes media manipulation: how Black Friday sales "records" are manufactured to discourage grassroots consumer action like boycotts.

Notable Quotes:
“If we was looking at capitalism as it operates in America… we would call it a cancer because it is a cancer.” — Deante’ (34:10)
“News media is listed as entertainment. The entertainment aspect allows them to fabricate the truth.” — Deante’ (42:10)

5. The Power and Pitfalls of Organic Content Creation

• 43:00 – 48:00

• Deante’ emphasizes their commitment to organic growth and authenticity: “never paid for a follower… never used fucking Adsense, none of that shit… all this shit been off the muscle for the people.” (45:02)
• Warns about the difference between real, organically-grown voices and mass-marketed, paid-placement content sowing division.

6. Intentional Consumption & Social Media Mindfulness

• 48:00 – 51:00

• Urges listeners to be intentional about their social media consumption, emphasizing media literacy and the need to distinguish organic art from advertisement.
• Warns listeners about engaging with bots and manipulated narratives online: “He who angers you controls you.”
• Exposes the prevalence of AI-generated content meant to reinforce stereotypes, especially about Black women.

Notable Quotes:
“If you wake up every day to scroll that phone and you’re not intentional… you can’t complain about the society.” — Deante’ (50:22)

7. Choosing the Path Less Taken: The Value of Authenticity

• 51:00 – 54:30

• Articulates a central thesis: the value of authenticity and the dangers of taking the worn, easy road in creative and social pursuits.
• Draws on Patrice O'Neal's analogy of Hollywood as "the beast" that chews up creators and spits them out, warning against low-hanging fruit.

Notable Quotes:
“The path less taken has more rewards. If the path is laid out for you by others, it’s always meant to benefit them in the end.” — Deante’ (52:11)
“If you ain’t build me up, you can’t take me down. When you take the long way, you’ll appreciate the scenery.” — Deante’ (54:02)

8. Voicemail & Listener Q&A: Community Advice and Reflections

• 51:41 – 76:40

A. “Don’t Quit!” Listener from Chicago (51:41)

• Savannah passionately urges the hosts not to quit the podcast.
  “If y’all quit, I’m really gonna find y’all wherever y’all are at. Don’t quit!” (52:00)

B. Dream of a Black News Network (55:16)

• Listener suggests Deante’, Cam Jones, and others should launch a Black-centered news network for community communion and trusted info.

C. Guidance on Grief and Manhood (58:00)

• Young listener asks Deante’ to expand on “emotions are a guide” in the context of grief and manhood after losing a close friend to suicide.

• Deante’ offers a heartfelt response, stressing emotional vulnerability, deep introspection beyond surface emotions, and the necessity of supportive male spaces for Black men.

  Notable Quote:
  “When I talk about your emotions being a guide… some people wake up every day with sadness, anger… those emotions are meant to guide you deeper within yourself to figure out what’s going on… vulnerability and emotional openness doesn’t make us weaker… it increases our strength.” — Deante’ (58:30-59:40)

D. Wrestling and Race (Advice email, 1:01:30)

• Listener reflects on a racially-charged Booker T./Triple H. storyline in WWE. Deante’ and Big Cat dissect the impact of racism and exclusion in wrestling, draw parallels to opportunities for Black stars across mainstream culture, and express their disillusionment with the industry.

  Notable Quotes:
  “That was the first time I was like, damn, this ain't for us… that shit hurt because I thought Booker was going to win.” — Deante’ (1:03:00)
  “Vince McMahon is a racist. Triple H is a racist… I never watched WWE again after they put Westside Gunn out.” — Deante’ (1:03:50)

E. Relationship Advice for a Single Mom (1:07:00)

• Middle-aged mother seeks advice on ending a relationship with a partner lacking ambition and accountability.

• Deante’ and Big Cat stress the importance of not settling, not parenting your partner, and advocating for self-care and self-respect.

  Notable Quote:
  “At 50, you got to be a 50 year old… You don’t need him to survive… You just want a warm body. Little dicking… it’s time to go, reshape and revise… pour into yourself.” — Deante’ (1:09:00-1:14:00)

9. Closing Reflections: Endurance, Labor, and Wisdom

• 77:58 – End

• Poetic outro on sowing seeds, wisdom, learning from elders, balancing faith and reason.

• Recurrent motif: taking the “long way” for lasting growth and integrity.

  Notable Quotes:
  “Wisdom is the application of knowledge. I was picking up what he was putting down, just wasn’t applying it…” — E (78:41)

Memorable Moments & Timestamps

• Opening: Deante’s poetic rap-style gratitude (00:15)
• Best fan art submission ever, emotional reflections (10:20)
• "They treat Asians...like a brand." (17:50)
• Capitalism as a cancer, AI, and the Great Lakes (34:10)
• Media fabrication and Black Friday skepticism (42:10)
• Organic growth vs. paid-for influence (45:02)
• Intentional consumption, media bots, and manipulation (50:22)
• Path Less Taken: Authenticity, Hollywood’s “beast” (52:11)
• Savannah’s voicemail — “Don’t quit!” (51:41)
• Advice on grief — “Emotions are a guide” (58:30, 59:40)
• Wrestling/race discussion — “This ain’t for us” (1:03:00)
• Single mom relationship advice — “You don’t need him to survive” (1:09:00)
• Outro Poem about wisdom and legacy (77:58–79:28)

Summary Takeaways

• Never compromise authenticity: The episode champions long-term, organic growth and personal integrity over shortcuts, paid influence, or appropriated success.
• Community over conformity: Deante’ draws sharp lines between Black transparency and the masked PR efforts of mainstream and minority communities assimilating to whiteness.
• Be media literate & intentional: The hosts urgently caution against media manipulation—be mindful of what you consume, who you follow, and how corporate/AI-driven narratives shape perception.
• Emotional depth is strength: Vulnerability, especially among Black men, is framed as powerful, necessary, and healing.
• Take the long road: The episode’s closing wisdom is that the “path less taken” offers more lasting fulfillment, resilience, and realness—whether creatively, socially, or personally.

For fans and new listeners alike, Episode 105 serves as an engaging, thought-provoking, and at times humorous plea for intentionality, self-respect, and revolutionary authenticity in a noisy, manipulated world.