Overview of INTERVIEW: Deante Kyle Talks Coming Thru America Tour, Grits & Eggs Podcast, Capitalism, Activism + More
Deante Kyle returns to The Breakfast Club to discuss his Coming Thru America Tour, the growing reach of the Grits & Eggs Podcast, and his larger views on capitalism, community organizing, activism, media attention, and the pressure on public figures to speak out. The conversation mixes tour promotion with a broader cultural and political discussion about how Black communities build power, use attention online, and organize in real life.
Tour and Podcast Updates
Coming Thru America Tour
- Kyle announced the Coming Thru America Tour, launching October 1 in Chicago.
- Early dates include Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Detroit, plus two New York shows in January.
- He said the tour is designed to create a communal, in-person space where audiences can connect with people who share their values.
What the live show offers
- He framed the tour as more than a performance:
- a chance to build community
- a place to talk openly about politics, pop culture, and everyday life
- a “family reunion” type of atmosphere
- His pitch: if people leave the show and still feel isolated, they missed an opportunity to connect.
Capitalism, Commerce, and the Value of Attention
His anti-capitalist stance, explained
- Kyle addressed criticism that he has anti-capitalist views but is still charging for tickets.
- His response: this is commerce and economics, not exploitation.
- He emphasized that:
- venues and teams must be paid
- he is not pretending the work is free
- he is not going to shame people for buying entertainment
Attention as currency
- A major theme was that attention is a form of currency.
- He argued that social media platforms monetize conflict by encouraging people to:
- argue constantly
- react impulsively
- stay emotionally drained
- His point: people often waste their energy on internet fights instead of using it for community building or growth.
Community, Organizing, and Activism
Real-life organizing matters more than online posturing
- Kyle argued that political strategy should not happen publicly in random social media threads.
- He believes real organizing should happen in spaces like:
- churches
- barbershops
- community gatherings
- unions
- He said the Black community has historically been strongest when it could commune, plan, and move together.
Voting and civic action
- He stressed the importance of midterm voting and voter registration.
- He noted that voting barriers are real and that civic engagement must go beyond talking online.
- His broader message: awareness is not enough; action is required.
Celebrities, Responsibility, and Public Pressure
On asking celebrities to “say something”
- Kyle pushed back on the idea that celebrities are the main people who should be carrying activism.
- He said everyday people should use their voice too, especially when they have access to the internet and the ballot box.
- He also warned against performative activism—being “for the people” only when it benefits a project, brand, or rollout.
Support should be measured by action, not slogans
- He praised public figures who actually do work, not just post opinions.
- He mentioned examples like:
- Miss Rachel, for real humanitarian efforts
- Macklemore, for more substantive support of Palestinian relief
- His takeaway: don’t just reward people for saying the right thing—look at what they actually do.
On selective outrage and white validation
- Kyle criticized how quickly some audiences celebrate white public figures for basic political gestures.
- He suggested people often give outsized praise for low-risk statements, while ignoring more consistent activism from others.
- He also noted that some of these “bold” statements are less costly for celebrities with major industry support.
Trucking, Industry Changes, and Personal Perspective
Life as a former truck driver
- Kyle reflected on his time as a truck driver and said he doesn’t miss it.
- He described trucking as:
- physically taxing
- lonely
- economically difficult, especially with rising fuel costs
What changed from the outside looking in
- Now that he’s on the “inside” of media and public life, he says he sees people more as regular humans rather than larger-than-life figures.
- He also said he still stays connected to:
- truck drivers
- schools and young people
- everyday workers who are dealing with economic pressure
Trucking industry concerns
- He said the industry became more difficult during the pandemic, especially for independent drivers.
- He supported crackdowns on unsafe or improperly licensed drivers, arguing that trucks are too dangerous to treat casually.
- He linked that issue to the broader economy, saying trucking is part of the lifeblood of consumer goods movement.
Notable Takeaways
- Community must be built in real life, not just online.
- Attention is a valuable resource and should not be wasted on endless internet conflict.
- Activism should be measured by action, not just statements.
- Organizing works best when people plan together, like unions and church communities historically did.
- The tour is meant to be a gathering space, not just a stage show.
- Kyle’s perspective blends social commentary, political awareness, and humor in a way that aims to motivate rather than simply entertain.
Tour and Listening Info
How to get tickets
- Tickets are available at DeanteKyle.com
- He advised fans to buy directly through his site instead of third-party sellers.
Podcast promotion
- He also plugged the Grits & Eggs Podcast, encouraging listeners to subscribe and follow the show.