Grits and Eggs Podcast – Episode 109: “Things Can Happen”
Host: Deante’ Kyle
Date: December 16, 2025
Guests/Regulars: Big Cat, Close Friend/Co-host(s)
Description: Deante’ Kyle delivers an unfiltered end-of-year reflection touching on current events, politics, personal growth, community, and the pitfalls of power and lust, with Big Cat and others chiming in.
Episode Overview
Episode 109, “Things Can Happen,” sees Deante’ and friends processing the close of 2025—a year marked by dramatic events, ongoing social ills, and moments of personal and communal reckoning. Through jokes, critical discussion, and raw storytelling, the crew covers gun violence, governmental failures, the pressure of cultural assimilation, and the deep value of self-reflection.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Year-End Reflections and Gratitude
- The crew celebrates the show’s continued success, thanks listeners, and recognizes both the struggle and blessings of the past year.
- Big Cat highlights personal milestones: “Breakfast Club, sold out show in Brooklyn. Sold out show… Meet and greets, all type of stuff, man. Just taking it all in Paul’s.” (07:07)
- A vibe of community, gratitude, and keeping it real sets the tone.
2. Pop Culture and Comedy: 85 South Show Recap
- The crew details their experience at the 85 South Show tour finale at State Farm Arena, expressing starstruck moments and backstage antics.
- “It’s been very few times I’ve been starstruck. It wasn’t Cole for Martin. It was Manny Fresh.” – Co-host (05:47)
- “I never thought I’d be smoking a blunt in State Farm arena, but there I was.” – Deante’ (05:18)
3. A Bleak News Cycle: Mass Shootings & Government Incompetence
- The conversation pivots to the recent Brown University school shooting and the persistent crisis of mass shootings in America.
- Deante’ lambasts political leadership, especially Donald Trump’s reckless misinformation:
- “Imagine that you open Twitter and you see your president says you’re safe, says the FBI have subdued the assailant and everybody’s safe to come out.” (10:27)
- “Shooter still active, please shelter in place.” (11:28)
- Discussion of mass shooting statistics in 2025: 390 dead, 1778 wounded in 398 shootings as of November 30 (14:23).
4. Gun Laws, Political Cynicism, & the “Things Can Happen” Mentality
- Illustration of how gun violence is normalized:
- “So then Donald Trump says… To the families and the victims… things can happen. Things can happen anywhere.” (12:13–12:29; also episode’s title)
- “This is our president. Things can happen.” – Deante’ (12:35)
- Frustration with federal inaction: “There is going to be no discussion… that will compel them to change the gun laws…” (19:44)
5. Politics, Black Leadership, and the Israel/Palestine Debate
- Focus on Jasmine Crockett’s congressional run and contradictions of Black political representation in America.
- “She’s willing to call people out… I think she definitely has a vested interest in what’s best for Black people.” (16:08)
- Critique of broader government corruption:
- “I am of the ideology that our entire government is corrupt, regardless who sits in what seat…” (17:35)
- “They’re still sending money to Israel… These niggas don’t give a fuck about us.” (20:19)
- Calls out performative allyship and anti-Blackness among white leftists/“pro-Palestine” activists:
- “You white people not slick… you white liberals specifically are not slick. Y’all like to hide y’all anti-blackness behind a cause.” (28:21–28:26)
6. Finding Solace & Self-Reflection Amidst Chaos
- Major section on self-care, solitude, the effects of information overload, and the necessity of solitude and introspection.
- “You need a time of solitude every day. There’s a lot of information being thrown your way and it can get confusing and it can become paralyzing…” (23:31)
- “You have to give your brain a break.” (31:13)
- “You gain so much peace from self reflection.” (32:44)
- Links between avoidance behaviors, substance use, and a lack of self-reflection.
7. Addiction, Avoidance, and Personal Accountability
- Deante’ and the crew delve into personal stories of addiction, avoidance, and the hard work of self-realization.
- “You catch yourself looking at a screen all the time, it’s because you’re running away from that self reflection.” (31:22)
- “That’s the function of the brain: to dissect subconsciously and consciously information. You have to give your brain a break.” (30:49)
8. Power, Lust, and Self-Destruction
- Extended roast and cautionary tale on the downfall of Black coaches in white institutions, using the Michigan coach’s scandal as an example.
- “You risking your job to do it.” (52:27)
- “Too old to be risking your career for some pussy. Man. Come on, man…” (52:43)
- “You can’t seek equity and degeneracy… It’s they play, it’s they game.” (57:10)
- “These niggas know how to keep their dick in their pants.” (54:18)
- Lessons on the traps of materialism, alcohol, and the illusory rewards of assimilation.
9. Advice Segment:
a. “Is it because I’m fat?”
- Listener from Oakland wonders if her weight is why she’s single, despite career success and other women “worse off” being married.
- Deante’ responds: “It’s not because you Fat. There’s a lot of niggas that love them a bigger woman… I think the issue is that you’re in Oakland, California. Pimp culture in the Bay is rampant.” (73:45)
- Advice: don’t blame yourself—consider location and the local dating mindset.
b. “Help a Sister Out”
- Listener from Chicago struggling with homelessness, career burnout, and supporting a partner, seeks advice and community support.
- “Before you can help the community, you have to help yourself. There has to be some stability in your life before you can start giving your energy to others.” – Deante’ (79:44)
- Recommends focusing on stability in 2026, allowing herself and her partner time to find footing.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Things can happen. Things can happen anywhere.” – Donald J. Trump quote, repeated by Deante', setting the episode’s tone (12:13)
- “If you’re not taking care of yourself, you’re not going to be able to take care of anybody else.” – Deante’ (80:54)
- “Perfection begins at inception.” – Co-host/Therapist wisdom, repeated as the year’s mantra (36:53)
- “You gain so much peace from self reflection.” – Deante’ (32:44)
- “We can’t keep seeking out equity and degeneracy.” (47:54)
- “You’ll never see $5 million a year again… Unless you come out and start a podcast. Right wing grifting…” (62:08)
- “Kingdom of heaven is within you. You got to know thyself.” (64:05)
Top Five Christmas Movies – Crew’s Picks
[84:25]
- Christmas Story
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas (cartoon & Jim Carrey version)
- Bad Santa
- Friday After Next
- Honorable Mentions: Bad Santa 2
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Intro/Freestyle: [00:17]
- Year-end Reflections: [01:54–07:35]
- Gun Violence/Brown University Shooting: [08:37–14:45]
- Government Accountability & Gun Laws: [14:45–19:44]
- Jasmine Crockett & Political Hypocrisy: [15:29–21:22]
- Solitude & Self-Reflection: [23:31–36:45]
- Personal Growth/Addiction: [36:45–47:10]
- Michigan Coach, Lust & Assimilation: [47:10–62:35]
- Advice Letters: [72:47–83:22]
- Christmas Movie Lists: [84:11–86:15]
Tone and Style
Conversational, irreverent, deeply personal, and full of humor even when handling heavy topics. There’s signature Southern Black wit, bracing honesty, and an undercurrent of encouragement and love for the community.
Summary Takeaways
- The year brought hardship, tragedy, and the same old problems, but also reminders to seek gratitude, self-knowledge, and connection.
- Deante’ and crew urge listeners to take responsibility for their own growth and well-being as a means of building strong, healthy communities.
- The stark realities of racism, political corruption, and gun violence are not shied away from, but neither is the possibility of change—starting from the inside out.
- Final wisdom: “Kingdom of heaven is within you. You got to know thyself.” (64:05)
For full participation (advice, best-of moments, merch, and more), listeners are encouraged to support via Patreon, Discord, and checking out Gritsandeggs.com. Podcast to resume with special guests and wrap-up episodes at year’s end.