Grits and Eggs Podcast
Episode 95 – Lynae Vanee (October 27, 2025)
Host: Deante’ Kyle
Guest: Lynae Vanee
Episode Overview
In this dynamic, unfiltered episode, Deante' Kyle sits down with writer, poet, and media innovator Lynae Vanee for an authentic conversation about content creation, Black liberation, the evolution of media, politics, culture wars on the Internet, and the real stakes for Black communities. The discussion flows from Lynae’s creative and career journey—including the origins of “Parking Lot Pimpin’” and “The People's Brief”—to deeper themes of self-actualization, communal responsibility, systemic challenges, and hopes for the future. Both hosts' humor, candor, and commitment to “keeping it Black, but keeping it brief” drive the lively back-and-forth, making for an episode rich in insight, practical wisdom, and memorable moments.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Power of Live Shows & Changing Media (01:34–03:35)
- Lynae’s push for live formats: Lynae reflects on advocating for a live season finale at Revolt and her love of in-person, culturally intimate spaces.
- “I’m super into experimenting with different formulas… creating these in-person, intimate spaces could really be a game changer for the culture.” – Lynae (01:39)
- Deante’ on keeping things fresh: They both bemoan overly monotonous set-based podcasting, arguing for creativity and change.
2. Lynae’s Path: Teaching, Poetry, & Content Creation (05:48–09:32)
- Leaving teaching: Lynae details her burnout as a Black studies teacher, the invisible labor, and eventually reallocating her energy toward what she truly loves.
- “Teaching is a thankless job… I decided to stop giving it my 100% because 60% would be enough, and give 40% to the things that I love doing.” – Lynae (06:10)
- How “Parking Lot Pimpin’” was born: In response to 2020’s social justice uprisings, Lynae saw an appetite for approachable Black history and perspective.
- “It was one of those things where you see your life’s preparation make you perfect for a moment.” – Lynae (08:11)
3. The Role of Media Voices – Accessibility, Trust, and Mission (09:35–14:57)
- Why brevity and Blackness matter: Deante’ praises Lynae’s work for being informative, concise, and unapologetically for Black folks—something largely absent in broader discourse.
- “It’s effective because it’s to the point, but it’s also very Black… I’mma keep it Black, but I’mma keep it brief.” – Deante’ (13:19)
- Evolving content: Lynae transitioned from history facts to tying cultural/political moments to history, emphasizing the need to keep her work accessible and truly helpful rather than just reactionary.
4. Building “The People’s Brief” – Networks, Frustrations, & Wins (14:57–18:43)
- Growth through community: Connections from Spelman and management with Color Creative led to greater opportunities and show pitches.
- Industry obstacles: Lynae faced repeated industry rejections—“too high concept,” “too smart”—but persevered, culminating in Revolt offering her a show after years of groundwork.
5. Representation, Internet Culture, & Diaspora Conversation (19:33–28:03)
- Viral criticism & Twitter toxicity: A segment about athletes dating white women gets taken out of context online, prompting reflection on the dangers of internet clip culture and colorism accusations.
- “Twitter is an extremely toxic place… you can’t really defend yourself. Nobody really watches videos there.” – Deante’ (20:14)
- Diaspora wars & “tether” rhetoric: Deante’ and Lynae critique divisive conversations on foundational Black Americans (FBA), Ados, and the notion of “tethering” based on ancestry, instead pushing for unity rooted in shared culture and lived experience.
- Shared culture: Both highlight the cultural parallels (music, food, dance) across Black communities globally.
6. The Complexity of Accountability in Black Public Discourse (31:33–39:59)
- Creating safe spaces for dialog: Lynae discusses producing dialogue-centered content that avoids harm, especially to marginalized voices.
- Apology and Growth: Both discuss the importance of public accountability—especially men modeling the maturity to apologize and address harm.
- “We often rob ourselves of opportunities with an unwillingness to say sorry, or to say, I know better now.” – Lynae (33:11)
- Digital footprint: Deante’ warns about how old statements circulate, impacting opportunities—so integrity and honesty matter.
7. The Political Arena: Moderating Kamala Harris, Demands on Black Women (40:42–58:39)
- Moderating for Kamala: Lynae describes the nerve-wracking experience of moderating the Vice President’s Atlanta stop; lack of prep and high security reveal difficulties in political media work.
- Black women overqualification: Deante’ notes how “overqualified” is often code for not wanting to compete with Black women, despite their high educational attainment.
- “The most qualified candidate to ever apply for the position—that’s simply the truth.” – Lynae (57:04)
- On political loyalty: Both are critical of party politics as “teams,” and advocate for informed, pragmatic support rather than unconditional allegiance.
- “Our democracy shouldn’t be ran as a competition… Who’s the best candidate? What side of the aisle they’re on should be irrelevant.” – Deante’ (58:38)
8. Black Political Power, Local Engagement, and Systemic Solutions (61:42–70:34)
- Real representation: They highlight mayors (like Brandon Jackson in Baltimore) who are genuinely involved post-election as models for trust and positive outcomes.
- Political scripts vs. reality: Both critique politicians for using “scripts” and ignoring the very real violence fostered by public policy (e.g. Cop City, Atlanta).
- Long-term strategy: Deante’ explains how changes impacting Black communities are planned generations in advance, making reactionary organizing less effective.
9. Imagination, Afrofuturism, and Reimagining Black Life (76:23–85:59)
- Imagination as liberation: Lynae calls for releasing fear and tapping into radical imagination beyond the “realities” handed down by oppressive systems.
- “We’re on the precipice of being about to look like it’s never looked like for us… We gotta know what each other needs so we don’t feel lonely, desperate, or too scared to try this other way.” – Lynae (80:30)
- Afrofuturism & place: Deante’ and Lynae discuss the need for cultivating Black community—physically (e.g. “come back down South!") and socially—so people aren't just “recreating the empire” elsewhere or online.
- Local economies and routines: Emphasize building sustainable, locally rooted lives that foster agency and shared joy.
10. Exodus, Internationalism, and Pragmatic Dreaming (92:22–99:36)
- On leaving America: Lynae argues everything’s possible if planned collectively, but one must respect existing cultures and be cautious not to replicate colonial behaviors.
- Not everyone needs to do everything: “Everybody doesn’t have to do everything. Everybody has to do something.” – Lynae (94:50)
- On fighting systemic power: Both advocate resisting with intention rather than fleeing, making a lasting impact wherever one is.
11. Embracing Creative Freedom (104:08–106:40)
- Looking ahead: Lynae shares her upcoming projects: the final episodes of “The People’s Brief,” a poetry mixtape with visuals, and dreams of writing and creating on her own terms.
- Deante’ on not being boxed in: Reinforces that their generation can constantly re-invent themselves via social media and creative collaboration.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Teaching is not a 9 to 5. It’s a 16 to 72. You just take your work home with you.” – Lynae (06:11)
- “Your immediate circle is not ever necessarily going to be your target audience.” – Lynae (15:12)
- “Twitter is an extremely toxic place… you can’t really defend yourself.” – Deante’ (20:14)
- “If you flee from abusive power without resistance, then wherever you land, you will recreate that abuse of power, because that’s the only way you’ve seen power used.” – Deante’ (99:18)
- “We gotta know what each other needs so we don’t feel lonely, so we don’t feel desperate, so we don’t feel too scared to try this other way.” – Lynae (80:28)
- “I just want to be… a voice that people trust to include or even lead or be a visionary on their projects.” – Lynae (51:55)
- “Integrity comes from that willingness to be like, yeah, I missed the mark on that.” – Deante’ (39:39)
- “The reality that you live in was somebody’s idea. So what’s your idea? And why aren’t you enacting those ideas?” – Deante’ (97:21)
Timestamps for Major Segments
| Timestamp | Segment / Topic | | ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ | | 01:34–03:35 | Live Shows, Format Evolution | | 06:10–09:32 | Lynae’s Background: Teaching, Poetry, Parking Lot Pimpin’ | | 13:19–14:57 | Approach to News, Blackness in Media | | 18:43–19:33 | Breaking into “The People’s Brief,” Pitch Struggles | | 19:33–28:03 | Diaspora Wars, FBA, and Internet Criticism | | 31:33–39:59 | Accountability, Growth, and Public Discussion | | 40:42–45:37 | Moderating Politicians, Choosing Projects | | 58:38–61:42 | Political Allegiance, Informed Voting | | 66:10–70:34 | Cop City, Urban Planning, Long-term Policy | | 80:28–85:22 | Imagination, Afrofuturism, Local Community | | 92:22–99:36 | Leaving vs. Fighting, Diaspora Return | | 104:08–106:40 | What’s Next for Lynae: “People’s Brief,” Mixtape, Writing |
Flow & Tone
The conversation is conversationally sharp, often humorous and always rooted in genuine experience. Both speakers use direct language, inside jokes, and pop culture references—often sliding seamlessly from heavy political critique to lighthearted talk about cheese sandwiches or wedding traditions. Throughout, both Lynae and Deante’ are transparent about insecurities, imperfections, and dreams, modeling the very vulnerability and integrity they advocate for in Black media and beyond.
Final Thoughts
This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in the intersection of Black media, politics, culture, and the creative process. The dialogue doesn’t just dissect cultural issues—it models the kinds of honest, empowering, community-focused conversations both hosts advocate for. You’ll walk away both challenged and inspired, with a clearer sense of the real work and imagination required for Black liberation and collective flourishing.