Grits and Eggs Podcast
Host: Deante’ Kyle (aka Grizznet)
Guest: D’Angelo Deberry
Episode: 144
Date: May 8, 2026
Episode Overview
In this wide-ranging and candid episode, Deante' Kyle sits down with fitness influencer and military man D’Angelo Deberry. The conversation flows from pop culture influence, the realities of content creation, and Black men’s health, to small-town life, the “Uncle Olympics,” fitness philosophy, social media hate, and the inner workings of building and maintaining community online and off. Both men reflect on personal growth, fatherhood, and maintaining integrity in the social media landscape. The episode is a rich mix of insights, motivation, humor, and real talk.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The “Uncle Olympics” and Fitness Influence
(00:36 – 05:53)
- Event Breakdown: D’Angelo describes the “Uncle Olympics” as an adult field day inspired by family reunion vibes, featuring events like deadlifts, bench press, sprints, and a mile run to balance strength and cardiovascular fitness.
- “It’s something like an adult field day, you feel me?...I want everybody in the vibe having a good time.” — D’Angelo (02:39)
- Culinary Theme: Event features healthier twists on soul food — sweet potato waffles, chicken, and sweet potato mash.
- Philosophy on Fitness: D’Angelo encourages individualized health journeys and rejects rigid fitness absolutes.
- “I want people to be the best version of themselves…It’s about just pushing people to become their best selves, the best version that they want to be.” — D’Angelo (05:01)
2. Addressing Health Disparities in the Black Community
(05:53 – 08:50)
- Heart Health: Spotlight on disproportionately high rates of heart disease and hypertension among Black men.
- “It’d be the heart, bruh…that congestive heart failure and shit like that, where it’s like, you don’t know until it’s too late.” — Grizznet (06:10)
- Cultural Norms: D’Angelo discusses the lack of a workout culture in small-town South Georgia and how food traditions can shape health outcomes.
- “Where I’m from, people not doing that, people sitting still. And then, you know, we eat good…soul food plates have 3-4 carbs on one plate, one protein.” — D’Angelo (07:27)
3. Small-Town Roots and Building Community
(14:14 – 17:24)
- The Osilla Experience: D’Angelo describes the warmth but stagnation of small-town life, balancing the positives of close-knit community with the drawbacks of limited progression.
- “It’s community…they’ll come sit in your living room, knock on your door, randomly come sit…that can be a con too…cause you just sitting around and ain’t getting nothing done.” — D’Angelo & Grizznet (15:08-15:47)
- Family Influence: Both hosts recall the generational family ties in their respective Georgia towns.
4. Military Path and Everyday Discipline
(17:31 – 23:00)
- From No Blueprint to Instructor: D’Angelo shares growing up without parental guidance on post-high school options, leading to his Army career.
- “I didn’t have any guidance…my peers was talking about, like, SATs, ACTs. I was like, bro, what the hell is y’all talking about?” — D’Angelo (17:40)
- Work-Life Balance: The military structure helps him separate work from home life, emphasizing teaching, fatherhood, and not taking work stress home.
- Career Longevity: D’Angelo plans to “do the 20” if he doesn’t reach self-sustaining success elsewhere.
- On Social Media Income: Both agree that social media is “not reliable” and shouldn’t replace a stable job (22:16).
5. Authenticity, Online Influence & Handling Hate
(23:00 – 27:40)
- Natural Growth: Both men credit their success to being themselves online rather than chasing trends.
- “When it comes natural, that’s when people gravitate…you being authentic.” — D’Angelo (09:42)
- Handling ‘Haters’: Open social media hate as a monetizable form of content, especially when creators become beloved.
- “People hate how much other people love you…The more people like you, the more people that’s gonna hate you.” — D’Angelo (26:44 & 27:31)
- Controversy Management: D’Angelo shrugs off online drama: “If it’s not a threat, I can’t really worry about it.” (24:00)
6. Fitness Trends, Mukbangs, and Food Content
(10:52 – 14:04)
- Cultural Shifts: Debate about mukbang culture, body changes caused by frequent food challenges, and how content incentives can lead to unhealthy habits.
- “Once you start getting paid to do it, then it’s incentivized…you ain’t even thinking about your health no more.” — Grizznet (11:51)
- Health Risks: D’Angelo acknowledges the challenge of staying healthy when food content is trending, and the addictive entertainment of food media.
7. Fatherhood, Personal Boundaries & Therapy
(31:25 – 41:13)
- Online/Offline Balance: Both discuss protecting their families and especially children’s privacy due to social media risks.
- “If you say something about my [kids]…it’s gonna be a lack of understanding on my part.” — Grizznet (34:03)
- On Therapy and Men’s Mental Health: Grizznet details his journey to therapy to juggle rapid life changes, imposter syndrome, and childhood trauma.
- “Therapy…kind of just give you the tools to deal with your stuff, but also putting things in perspective.” — Grizznet (37:03)
- “Don’t allow your audience to deify you…once you buy into that, you can’t go back to being human.” — Grizznet, advice from therapist (38:33)
8. Business, Integrity, and Avoiding the “Money-Hungry” Trap
(42:07 – 47:13)
- Purpose Over Profit: D’Angelo refuses to drop products or training he isn’t passionate about, even when there’s demand.
- “If I don’t want to wear this shirt, why the hell would I put it out?” — D’Angelo (46:17)
- “When you’re not money hungry, I think that’s when your moral compass stays straight.” — D’Angelo (46:03)
- Both avoid sponsorships that compromise their values, such as male enhancement or gambling brands.
9. Nutrition & Staying Disciplined
(49:49 – 54:25)
- Incremental Change: D’Angelo advocates for small, sustainable dietary improvements rather than drastic shifts.
- “Take baby steps…slowly do better day by day. Don’t even pull out a scale if you’re new to this. Just start eating healthier.” — D’Angelo (50:29)
- Real-Life Challenges: Both relate to the difficulty of eating well on the go (traveling, events), and how food discipline is harder outside a routine.
- Sweet Potatoes: Both are fans, highlighting how simple healthy swaps can become enjoyable.
10. Substance Use, Family Impact, and Adulthood Choices
(54:32 – 62:11)
- Personal Choice: D’Angelo never drank or did drugs—initially by intuition, later intentionally after witnessing their negative impact within his family.
- Nuance on Weed: Both note that while weed feels “okay” compared to harder drugs, it can be abused—especially among artists.
- Food as Fuel: As with substances, food can have significant emotional and physical impacts, especially when living a sedentary lifestyle.
- “Your lifestyle will make it more difficult…when you’re on the road, it’s hard to eat healthy.” — D’Angelo (53:14)
11. Community, Commerce & Support
(64:02 – 66:24)
- On Supporting Black Entrepreneurs: Discussion about the need to pay full price and stop asking for discounts from small businesses.
- “Support people…without asking for a discount, bro. Just support.” — D’Angelo (64:40)
- “I may be paying for you to support me.” — D’Angelo (65:55)
12. Closing Reflections & Where to Find More
(66:24 – End)
- Staying Motivated: D’Angelo wants to keep inspiring others, pushing authenticity and healthy living.
- “The best way you can support me…is by doing that—eating healthy and working out.” — D’Angelo (67:05)
- Streaming and Growth: D’Angelo is getting into more live streaming, primarily on TikTok and Twitch (@dangelo1012), and is excited to continue building community.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “If it’s not a threat, I can’t really worry about it.” — D’Angelo on online drama (24:00)
- “People hate how much other people love you.” — D’Angelo (26:44)
- “When you’re not money hungry, that’s when your moral compass stays straight.” — D’Angelo (46:03)
- “Acknowledgement is the first step, but it’s all subjective. It’s up to you. It’s not my definition… it’s your definition.” — D’Angelo on fitness journeys (05:01)
- “Don’t allow your audience to deify you…once you buy into that, you can’t go back to being human.” — Grizznet’s therapist advice (38:33)
- “I think the audience can tell when you need it, when you like desperate for it. They could tell.” — D’Angelo (23:38)
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Timestamp | Segment | Topic |
|-----------|---------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
| 00:36 | Uncle Olympics | Event purpose, events, and format |
| 05:53 | Black Men’s Health | Heart disease, food culture |
| 14:14 | Small-Town Roots | Community, generational family |
| 17:31 | Military & Education | Entry story, discipline, Army experience |
| 23:00 | Authenticity & Social Hate | Handling drama, being natural online |
| 31:25 | Fatherhood & Therapy | Family privacy, mental health, handling growth |
| 42:07 | Integrity in Business | Merch strategy, avoiding the “money-hungry” trap |
| 49:49 | Food Discipline | Practical advice, food swaps, maintaining health |
| 54:32 | Substance & Family Impact | Abstaining, family influence |
| 64:02 | Supporting Black Creators | Commerce, discounts, and community support |
| 66:24 | Final Reflections | Supporting D’Angelo, socials, streaming plans |
Final Thoughts
This episode is a profound blend of practical advice, lived experience, and community-oriented discussion. D’Angelo’s genuine, no-gimmicks approach to health and content resonates deeply through his stories and philosophy, while Deante’ keeps it real about the ups and downs of online visibility and business. The conversation is as much about building external strength as it is about nurturing internal well-being, family, and integrity in public life.
Where to Find D’Angelo:
- TikTok: @dangelo1012
- Instagram: @dangelo1012_
- Twitch: @dangelo1012
- Merch & programs: [Link in bio]
Support by: “Eating healthy and working out.” (67:05)
“You know, these are things I care about…It’s also cool that it helped me connect with people in a real way.” — Grizznet (09:07)
[End of summary.]