Grits and Eggs Podcast

Episode 121 – Future Congresswoman Bri Woodson

Host: Deante’ Kyle
Date: February 14, 2026

Episode Overview

In this compelling and unfiltered episode, host Deante’ Kyle sits down with Bri Woodson, a 31-year-old progressive firebrand and congressional candidate for Georgia's 12th district. Woodson discusses her path from content creator and mental health professional to history-making political figure, detailing her motivations, struggles with addiction, firsthand experience with marginalization, and bold ambitions for real change in rural Georgia. The conversation ranges across representation, public policy, southern Black culture, language, activism, and candid reflections on the challenges of political and personal resilience.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Introducing Bri Woodson’s District and Background

• [00:41–01:46]
  • Woodson explains the vast district she aims to represent, spanning Augusta, Statesboro, Dublin, parts of Savannah—22 counties in all.
  • The hosts discuss the misconception of Atlanta as a stand-in for Georgia, emphasizing the “super Black” identity of other areas and the rural-urban divide.
  • Quote (Woodson): “It's nothing to pass by Confederate flags and cotton fields... what do you think Georgia is?” [01:47]

2. Black Representation in Rural Southern Politics

• [01:54–03:08]
  • Woodson, at 31, positions herself as the youngest Black woman in Georgia’s history to run for Congress.
  • She reflects on the surprising mix of support and skepticism she’s received, both in person and online, due to her prior platform as “the controversial blond.”

3. Social Media and Viral Political Momentum

• [03:51–04:35]
  • Her transition from content creator to candidate arose directly from grassroots encouragement (“you do it!”)—including a viral video that moved 27,000 followers and $12,000 in donations in two weeks.
  • Quote (Woodson): “Thirty seconds of insane courage will change your life… and next thing I know, I’m filing with the FEC.” [05:23]

4. Issues Facing Rural Georgia: Healthcare & Connectivity

• [06:45–09:16]
  • Healthcare Crisis: Hospitals in rural Georgia have been closing, forcing new mothers to drive over an hour for care.
  • Telehealth & Internet: Virtual care’s promise is curbed by the lack of broadband internet in many rural communities.
  • Insurance Parity: Woodson describes how the rollback of parity laws hurts marginalized communities, particularly for mental health and substance use.
  • Quote (Woodson): "Those [insurance changes] affect the poorest of us, the most undereducated of us. Those are the people that deserve representation.” [08:42]

5. Personal Motivation and Representation

• [09:16–12:50]
  • Woodson’s lived experience—in addiction, trafficking, and recovery—shapes her candidacy. She calls out Congress’ overwhelming wealth and disconnect from everyday struggles (e.g., “Do you know how much eggs cost?”), emphasizing the power of Congress over real lives.
  • Quote (Woodson): “I am the marginalized, quite literally. I meet so many different intersectionalities of marginalized. And there’s not enough representation of that in Congress right now.” [11:00]
  • The conversation skewers the “status quo” of career politicians, nepotism, and the limits of empathy from incumbent elites.

6. Systemic Inequality, Racism, and American Politics

• [13:13–14:17; 22:03–24:55]
  • Unfiltered discussion of white supremacy, the “New South,” and misinformation about the realities of rural Georgia.
  • Woodson discusses writing a book, You Can’t Decolonize What You Don’t Recognize: How to Spot Supremacy in Media, Politics, Education and Society.
  • Both critique how racism, class, and control pervade systems—using historical references (e.g., Lyndon B. Johnson, “If you can convince the lowest white man...”), and note the psychological warfare and mental health impacts of racism.
  • Quote (Woodson): “Racism should be in the DSM. I think it’s an umbrella under narcissism. We need to treat it as such.” [22:49]

7. Overcoming Fear and Sacrifice in Activism

• [18:05–20:04]
  • Woodson admits the candidacy is “not something that is fun… This is a sacrifice.” She and other Black women activists feel the weight and fear of being at the forefront of political and activist spaces.
  • Quote: “This feels like the fight of our generation and the fight of our lives… and it’s heavy.” [19:49]

8. Language, Communication, and Political Messaging

• [32:24–36:07]
  • Woodson highlights the importance of adjusting language to connect with people from all backgrounds—critiquing academic elitism and convoluted Democratic messaging that can alienate less-educated voters.
  • Woodson’s approach: “You can say anything, as long as you say it the right way.” [33:34]
  • The hosts dissect how Trump’s success, in part, lies in “plain speaking,” and the link between literacy, education, and political access.

9. Class, Education, and Rural Struggles

• [37:09–39:37]
  • The discussion covers rural white and Black communities, dissecting how lack of educational access sustains systemic poverty and stifles opportunities in the South—factory towns, poor schooling, and language barriers breed “intolerant” masses easily manipulated by fearmongering politicians.
  • Quote (Woodson): “Education breeds tolerance… when you have a mass of people that are uneducated and therefore intolerant… you can put a target on the trans community [or any minority].” [38:47]

10. Issues, Promises & Public Transportation

• [41:12–46:59]
  • Woodson’s campaign promises in progress: assembling constituents’ first-100-days priorities at upcoming community events. Focus issues include healthcare, affordability, housing, and access.
  • Affirms the complexity of improving public transit in rural areas and the resistance to structural changes by both rural and wealthy suburban interests.
  • Quote: “You don’t have to like me, you just have to let me fight for you.” [48:49]

11. Identity, Authenticity, and Accessibility in Politics

• [54:04–59:27]
  • Woodson on why she isn’t interested in “celebrity politician” status: “If I wanted celebrity status, I’d just keep making content... that wasn’t enough.”
  • Origin of “Controversial Blond”: Woodson details her viral rise, her creative use of hair and persona, and handling MAGA trolls as a Black woman online.
  • She emphasizes being constantly accessible to constituents, taking pride in her flawed, real persona rather than a “perfect politician” image.

12. The Burden and Power of Black Women’s Activism

• [65:59–69:44]
  • Discusses the labor and expectation placed on Black women to always lead or “be cannon fodder” for social movements. Woodson argues for Black people to focus on self-advocacy and take care of their mental health, rather than always carrying everyone else’s struggles.
  • Quote (Woodson): “We’re never next, we’re always now.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Thirty seconds of insane courage will change your life.”
  Bri Woodson, [05:23]

• “I am the marginalized, quite literally... and there’s not enough representation of that in Congress.”
  Bri Woodson, [11:00]

• “Racism should be in the DSM. I think it’s an umbrella under narcissism.”
  Bri Woodson, [22:49]

• “You can say anything as long as you say it the right way.”
  Bri Woodson, [33:34]

• “Education breeds tolerance.”
  Bri Woodson, [38:47]

• “You don’t have to like me, you just have to let me fight for you.”
  Bri Woodson, [48:49]

• “It’s not something that I want to do. It feels like it’s necessary. And in that necessity comes responsibility.”
  Bri Woodson, [18:10]

• “Rest is radical resistance in a system that capitalizes off of our exhaustion, right? Just like joy is radical resistance.”
  Bri Woodson, [26:00]

• “We’re never next, we’re always now.”
  Bri Woodson, [68:18]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:47] – Reality of rural Georgia, Confederate flags, and Black communities
• [03:51] – Viral rise from content creator to candidate
• [06:45] – Rural hospital closures, lack of telehealth, and mental health policy
• [11:00] – Marginalized identity, lack of true representation in Congress
• [22:49] – Pathologizing racism, intersection of mental health and policy
• [33:34] – Political language, elitism, and connecting with all voters
• [38:47] – Education as a root of tolerance and prevention of hate
• [48:49] – Representation beyond likability, “let me fight for you”
• [54:04] – Rejecting celebrity politics, valuing realness and accessibility
• [69:44] – Balancing public protest and safety, the heavy toll of activism

Tone & Takeaways

• The discussion is raw, honest, and culturally resonant—balancing humor (“lean in” to your identity), depth, and hope.
• Woodson’s story is one of survival, self-ownership, and radical hope for representation beyond the status quo.
• The episode underscores the power of grassroots activism, the importance of authentic, accessible candidates, and the urgent need for political leadership drawn from lived experience.
• Both host and guest challenge listeners to understand the real Georgia—the poverty, the promise, the generational burdens, and the fight ahead.

Final Notes & How to Connect

• Accessible and responsive: Woodson reiterates her commitment to direct contact with constituents and transparency.
• Campaign website: BriWoodsonForCongress.com (Bri spelled: B-R-I)
• Plug: “If you have a question… don’t ever feel like you can’t reach out to me. I’m always around. Quite literally always around.” [71:20]

This episode is essential listening for anyone invested in the future of American democracy, Southern politics, or authentic progressive change.