Get a Grip Podcast

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig sits down with Alex Deener for an intense and unfiltered conversation about early drug use, opioid addiction, heroin, prison, violence, relapse, and the long road to recovery. Alex's story is a powerful look at how addiction can take hold at a young age and spiral into consequences that change the course of an entire life.Alex opens up about his childhood and getting caught with painkillers in middle school, an incident that led to a felony charge and being pushed into online school. With fewer boundaries and his drug use escalating, Alex became deeply involved with opioid pills during high school. At just 18 years old, he tried heroin for the first time, setting off a devastating chapter of addiction. He describes the progression from Opana to heroin and the dangerous decisions that pulled him further into a life centered around drugs.Eventually, Alex was caught with cocaine and heroin and received prison time. He shares the brutal reality of incarceration, including a jail fight that left his jaw broken and the experience of being locked up at the Ohio State Penitentiary. As his addiction continued, crack cocaine became another part of his struggle. Alex also reflects on his childhood experiences with Adderall, the challenges of trying to get sober, and the repeated trips in and out of treatment that came before he began to understand what lasting recovery would require.🔥 Expect emotion. Expect truth. Expect hope.🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful stories on addiction, recovery, and resilience.Get a Grip Podcast Social Media: Find our TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio links, and more on our Linktree below!Get a Grip Social Media Links:https://linktr.ee/officialgetagrippodcast👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.#getagrip #redemptionstory #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #addictionrecovery #recoveryjourney #trauma #childhood #oxy #dealer #soberlife #wedorecover #childhoodtrauma #healing #inspiration #awareness #kingpin #trafficking #hustle #opioidcrisis #neardeathexperience #fyp #prison #bar #mistake #change #survivor #survival #tv #television #inspire #parole #officer #school #teacher #students #study #student #changinglivesdaily

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig sits down with Colleen for a raw, emotional, and eye-opening conversation about childhood trauma, losing her brother, alcoholism, blackouts, multiple DUIs, jail time, and finding a way into recovery after nearly three decades of drinking. Colleen shares the story behind her headline-grabbing experience of being a blackout drinker from the age of 11 to 39, opening up about the painful experiences and destructive patterns that shaped much of her life.Colleen begins by reflecting on her childhood and what it was like growing up as the “bad kid.” She discusses the experiences that influenced her early years, including the devastating loss of her brother after a friend accidentally killed him. The tragedy left a lasting mark on her life, adding another layer of pain to an already complicated childhood. Colleen also reveals that she began drinking beer at just 11 years old, setting the stage for a relationship with alcohol that would continue for decades.As Colleen got older, her experiences became increasingly complicated. She shares an unsettling childhood encounter with an older man at a movie theater and reflects on other difficult moments that stayed with her. Despite the challenges she faced, Colleen pursued her interest in art and eventually made it into the Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD). But what should have been an exciting chapter of her life quickly took a different direction when she began using cocaine during her sophomore year. What she describes as her “Cocaine Career” became another turning point in a life increasingly affected by substance use.Colleen opens up about the progression of her drinking and the frightening reality of experiencing blackouts. She recounts receiving her first DUI without even remembering the incident, followed by a second DUI not long afterward. Her story highlights the dangers of drinking to the point of losing awareness and how addiction can continue escalating even when serious consequences begin piling up.By age 31, Colleen was also dealing with medical issues, adding another challenge to the physical and emotional toll of years of alcohol use. As the consequences of her drinking continued, she eventually faced jail time related to her DUIs. She discusses what that experience was like and how years of destructive decisions affected her life, relationships, and future.After years of struggling, Colleen finally made her way back to AA meetings for what would become her last time starting over. Recovery was not simply about stopping drinking; it meant confronting the past, rebuilding relationships, and learning how to approach life differently.Colleen also discusses her relationship with her parents today and how those relationships have evolved throughout her journey. After years marked by pain, addiction, and difficult experiences, she reflects on what recovery has taught her and offers advice to anyone who may be struggling with alcohol or wondering whether change is possible.🔔 Like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful stories about addiction, recovery, resilience, and redemption.Get a Grip Podcast Social Media:TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio & more:https://linktr.ee/officialgetagrippodcast📩 Collaboration & Business Inquiries:[email protected]👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.#GetAGripPodcast #AddictionRecovery #RecoveryJourney #CrackAddiction #Addiction #SoberLife #WeDoRecover #MentalHealth #Recovery #Relapse #Sobriety #DrugAddiction #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionAwareness #RedemptionStory

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Nicole Pike for a raw, emotional, and unfiltered conversation about childhood abuse, prescription pills, heroin addiction, crack addiction, homelessness, losing custody of her children, and the long road back to recovery.Nicole opens up about growing up with an abusive grandmother and how the trauma she experienced as a child shaped many of the struggles she would face later in life. As she got older, Nicole began taking tramadol before progressing to Percocet and other prescription opioids. Her addiction quickly became more serious, leading her to steal her father's checks and eventually clear out his bank account to support her drug use.During her addiction to oxycodone, Nicole became pregnant with her daughter and ultimately made the difficult decision to give her up for adoption. She also shares the unbelievable story of how she met her son's father on the same night she gave birth to her daughter.Nicole's addiction continued to progress, eventually taking her from prescription opioids to heroin. She became involved with a boyfriend who was also a drug dealer, and the two were using heroin when Nicole became pregnant with her son. When she gave birth, CPS came to the hospital, beginning another painful chapter in her life.Nicole eventually entered serious recovery with her son and managed to stay clean for two years and ten months. But after that period of sobriety, she began drinking, opening the door to another devastating relapse. Her father eventually discovered that her son's father had died, and Nicole describes how that loss sent her spiraling back into alcohol and opioid addiction.After a serious car accident, Nicole's addiction took another drastic turn. She relapsed on prescription pills and crack cocaine and eventually found herself trapped in a three-year crack binge. During that period, she describes robbing cars and finding thousands of dollars, including one time when she discovered $13,000 and another when she found $6,000.Nicole also discusses experimenting with fentanyl and the desperate lengths she went to as her addiction continued. At one point, she went to ten different rehabs in a single year, searching for a way out of the cycle of addiction.Perhaps one of the most difficult parts of Nicole's story is the time she spent homeless during her three-year crack addiction. She shares what it was like spending her first night homeless on the west side of Columbus and the devastating circumstances that eventually led her to sell her body to get money for crack.This is a brutally honest conversation about addiction, trauma, heroin, crack cocaine, fentanyl, homelessness, prostitution, relapse, loss, motherhood, and recovery. Nicole's story shows just how far addiction can take someone—and that even after years of devastating consequences, a different life is still possible.🔔 Like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful stories about addiction, recovery, resilience, and redemption.Get a Grip Podcast Social Media:TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio & more:https://linktr.ee/officialgetagrippodcast📩 Collaboration & Business Inquiries:[email protected]👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.#GetAGripPodcast #AddictionRecovery #RecoveryJourney #CrackAddiction #Addiction #SoberLife #WeDoRecover #MentalHealth #Recovery #Relapse #Sobriety #DrugAddiction #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionAwareness #RedemptionStory #OvercomingAddiction #RecoveryStory #Hope #Resilience #Healing #addictiontreatment

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Matthew Fishrupp for a raw, intense, and eye-opening conversation about Xanax addiction, prescription drug abuse, partying, arrests, psychosis, rehab, and the long road to recovery. Matthew's story reveals how quickly recreational drug use can spiral into a life consumed by addiction, and how becoming a father ultimately changed everything.Matthew opens up about his childhood and the experiences that shaped him growing up. After being sent to Marine Military Academy, he eventually returned to high school, where pills and marijuana became part of his life. What started as experimentation would gradually develop into something much more dangerous. He discusses his first arrest and how his choices began leading him down a path of increasingly serious consequences.When Matthew went to college, partying became a major part of his lifestyle, but Xanax addiction soon began taking control. He shares stories about getting arrested in Texas for marijuana and the frightening experiences that came with driving while heavily under the influence of Xanax. He also describes the wide range of drugs he was using, including his experiences with promethazine and lean, and how substance use continued escalating as he chased the next high.As his addiction progressed, Matthew experienced psychosis and found himself desperately trying to get back into rehab. Even treatment wasn't a straightforward path. He discusses nearly getting kicked out of rehab, meeting his future wife while in treatment, and eventually finding ways to obtain research chemical benzodiazepines after leaving. His addiction continued to evolve, eventually involving crack and cocaine, along with a dangerous episode involving liquid benzodiazepines.Matthew also opens up about what happened after he initially got sober, including periods when he continued dabbling in addiction. He explains how difficult it was to completely leave drugs behind and how the cycle of substance use continued to affect his life. But everything began to change when he had his first child. Becoming a father gave him a new perspective, a new responsibility, and a reason to stop using everything and build a different future.One of the most sobering moments of the conversation comes when Matthew discusses learning that someone who had been sober for ten years died from an overdose. His story highlights the dangers of relapse, the unpredictable nature of addiction, and the importance of taking recovery seriously, even after years of sobriety.This is a powerful conversation about Xanax addiction, prescription drug abuse, polydrug use, psychosis, treatment, relapse, fatherhood, and the difficult process of rebuilding a life after addiction. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Recovery is possible, and asking for help can be the first step toward a different life.🔔 Like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful stories about addiction, recovery, resilience, and redemption.Get a Grip Podcast Social Media:TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio & more:https://linktr.ee/officialgetagrippodcast📩 Collaboration & Business Inquiries:[email protected]👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.#GetAGripPodcast #AddictionRecovery #RecoveryJourney #CrackAddiction #Addiction #SoberLife #WeDoRecover #MentalHealth #Recovery #Relapse #Sobriety #DrugAddiction #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionAwareness #RedemptionStory #OvercomingAddiction #RecoveryStory #Hope #Resilience

<p>In this episode of <strong>Get a Grip Podcast</strong>, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with James Polley for a raw, intense, and eye-opening conversation about growing up gay, meth addiction, homelessness, violence, overdose, and finding a path to recovery.</p><p>James opens up about his childhood and the challenges he faced while growing up gay. As he got older, he was introduced to meth, setting off a chain of events that would dramatically change the course of his life.</p><p>One of the most shocking moments in James's story involves a meth-related robbery that ended with him being shot. But even after recovering from his gunshot wound, James went right back to using drugs. His addiction continued to spiral, and he experienced another devastating moment when he found his friend dead in his apartment after a night of drug use.</p><p>Eventually, James lost his apartment and began moving into abandoned houses, spending years living in what are known as bandos. He describes what life was like during that period, how much meth he was using every day, and the dangerous situations that became part of his routine.</p><p>In another terrifying moment, James went to a casino believing he was using meth, only to discover the substance contained fentanyl. He overdosed and was given Narcan three times, coming dangerously close to being pronounced dead.</p><p>As his addiction continued, James found himself facing felony charges and additional legal trouble after being caught with a gun and drugs. Those experiences became a turning point, forcing him to reconsider where his life was headed.</p><p>James eventually began his recovery journey and shares how treatment helped change his direction. He also discusses how he went from struggling with addiction himself to working in the treatment field and helping others who are facing similar battles.</p><p>This is a powerful conversation about meth addiction, homelessness, surviving violence and overdose, the consequences of addiction, and the possibility of turning your life around. James's story is a reminder that even after years of chaos and devastating setbacks, recovery and a new purpose are possible.</p><p><strong>If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Recovery is possible.</strong></p><p>🔔 <strong>Like, comment, and subscribe</strong> for more powerful stories about addiction, recovery, resilience, and redemption.</p><p><strong>Get a Grip Podcast Social Media:</strong><br>TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio & more:</p><p><a href="https://linktr.ee/officialgetagrippodcast">https://linktr.ee/officialgetagrippodcast</a></p><p>📩 <strong>Collaboration & Business Inquiries:</strong><br><a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a></p><p>👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.</p><p>#GetAGripPodcast #AddictionRecovery #RecoveryJourney #CrackAddiction #Addiction #SoberLife #WeDoRecover #MentalHealth #Recovery #Relapse #Sobriety #DrugAddiction #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionAwareness #RedemptionStory #OvercomingAddiction #RecoveryStory #Hope #Resilience #Healing #addictiontreatment</p>

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Jason Gardner for a wild, honest, and ultimately inspiring conversation about alcoholism, career struggles, reckless drinking, relationships, consequences, and finding a way into recovery.Jason opens up about his childhood and some embarrassing moments growing up before talking about his first experiences with alcohol. What started as teenage drinking quickly turned into a pattern that followed him into high school and college. He shares the story of wrecking his parents' car while drunk in high school and some of the unbelievable drinking shenanigans that followed during his college years.As Jason's career began to take off, so did his drinking. He explains how alcohol gradually became a bigger part of his life and eventually began affecting his career, finances, relationships, and decision-making. He also shares stories about getting into trouble with the IRS, spending money on college girls, and some unforgettable nights involving gentlemen's clubs and bartenders.One relationship would lead to one of the most chaotic periods of his drinking. After breaking up with his favorite bartender, Jason went on an eight-day bender that ended with him wrecking his car while drunk—and somehow still driving it home.Eventually, Jason's drinking reached a breaking point. After recording a .34 BAC, he was forced to detox and confront just how far his alcohol use had progressed.Today, Jason is sober and has a completely different perspective on his past. He talks about what life is like in recovery, the importance of sponsorship, and the lessons he's learned along the way. He also opens up about where he is today and what recovery has given him that alcohol never could.This is a raw and often hilarious conversation about alcoholism, the consequences of drinking, relationships, career struggles, and the process of rebuilding your life in recovery.If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Recovery is possible.🔔 Like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful stories about addiction, recovery, resilience, and redemption.Get a Grip Podcast Social Media:TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio & more:https://linktr.ee/officialgetagrippodcast📩 Collaboration & Business Inquiries:[email protected]👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.#GetAGripPodcast #AddictionRecovery #RecoveryJourney #CrackAddiction #Addiction #SoberLife #WeDoRecover #MentalHealth #Recovery #Relapse #Sobriety #DrugAddiction #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionAwareness #RedemptionStory #OvercomingAddiction #RecoveryStory #Hope #Resilience #Healing #addictiontreatment

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig sits down with Chris Cole for an intense and unbelievable story about addiction, partying, fatherhood, relapse, and recovery.Chris opens up about his childhood, early drinking, and how Adderall became his first real addiction. His substance use eventually escalated to cocaine, and by his senior year of high school, partying and cocaine had become a regular part of his life.Chris shares some wild stories from his years of partying, including getting banned from Jerry Springer and Fenway Park after a night fueled by cocaine and alcohol. He also talks about running onto the Fenway field and getting tackled, a moment that went viral on social media.Eventually, Chris found a passion for cutting hair and began getting his life somewhat under control. But after being introduced to Xanax, the addiction returned. Becoming a father, a breakup, and repeated relapses sent his substance use into a much darker place.Chris describes smoking crack, using Percocet, abusing nitrous oxide, developing a 7OH habit, experiencing seizures and withdrawal, and eventually shooting fentanyl. He also opens up about overdosing, hospitalizations, nerve damage from heavy nitrous use, and the events that finally led him to detox and treatment.Today, Chris is in recovery and reflects on everything he went through and what life looks like now.This is a raw story about addiction, relapse, fatherhood, overdose, and finding a way back.If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Recovery is possible.🔔 Like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful stories about addiction, recovery, resilience, and redemption.Get a Grip Podcast Social Media:TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio & more:https://linktr.ee/officialgetagrippodcast📩 Collaboration & Business Inquiries:[email protected]👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.#GetAGripPodcast #AddictionRecovery #RecoveryJourney #CrackAddiction #Addiction #SoberLife #WeDoRecover #MentalHealth #Recovery #Relapse #Sobriety #DrugAddiction #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionAwareness #RedemptionStory #OvercomingAddiction #RecoveryStory #Hope #Resilience #Healing #addictiontreatment

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig sits down with Cory Baton for a raw and deeply personal conversation about childhood abuse, addiction, relapse, serious health complications, and the fight to finally build a life in recovery.Cory opens up about a difficult childhood and the abuse he experienced growing up. By just 14 years old, Cory was already caught in the grip of addiction, using crack cocaine and eventually shooting heroin intravenously. What began at an incredibly young age would turn into years of substance use and consequences that would affect nearly every part of his life.Cory talks about starting to shoot drugs at 14 and being introduced to OxyContin at 15. His story offers a disturbing look at how early exposure to drugs can quickly escalate and how difficult it can be to break free once addiction takes hold.After periods of trying to get his life back on track, Cory experienced relapse and found himself facing another devastating chapter. He suffered a stroke and ultimately needed brain surgery, adding an unimaginable medical crisis to an already difficult battle with addiction.One of the most powerful moments of the conversation comes when Cory describes being on Sullivant Avenue with a walker, physically struggling after everything he had been through, while still trying to find drugs. It's a striking example of just how powerful addiction can become—and how far someone can fall while still chasing the next high.But Cory's story doesn't end there.He explains what is different about his sobriety this time and what has changed in his mindset after years of addiction, relapse, and consequences. Cory also shares advice for anyone currently struggling with substance use or trying to find their way back into recovery.This is an intense and emotional conversation about childhood trauma, crack cocaine, IV heroin use, OxyContin, relapse, stroke, brain surgery, homelessness, and the difficult road toward recovery.If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Recovery is possible.🔔 Like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful stories about addiction, recovery, resilience, and redemption.Get a Grip Podcast Social Media:TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio & more:https://linktr.ee/officialgetagrippodcast📩 Collaboration & Business Inquiries:[email protected]👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.#GetAGripPodcast #AddictionRecovery #RecoveryJourney #CrackAddiction #Addiction #SoberLife #WeDoRecover #MentalHealth #Recovery #Relapse #Sobriety #DrugAddiction #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionAwareness #RedemptionStory #OvercomingAddiction #RecoveryStory #Hope #Resilience #Healing #addictiontreatment

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Tom McDonald for a powerful and eye-opening conversation about alcoholism, addiction, DUIs, family, prison, recovery, and what it takes to rebuild your life after decades of drinking.Tom describes growing up with a good childhood before discovering vodka and eventually spending 10 years working as a bartender. His relationship with alcohol continued to grow until he found a job working for a liquor distributor—putting him even closer to the substance that would eventually consume his life.Tom opens up about getting two DUIs on the same day, getting married, and becoming a father to his daughter while still struggling with alcoholism. After eventually making his way into a halfway house and getting a year of sobriety, Tom found himself replacing alcohol with another addiction: crack cocaine.For a period of time, Tom was smoking crack but wasn't drinking. He talks about the vodka he drank, how every single dime he made seemed to go toward alcohol, and just how completely his addiction took control of his life.After years of drinking, Tom's addiction eventually led to his eighth DUI. But this time, something happened that changed everything. His 10-year-old daughter wrote him a letter, forcing him to confront the impact his drinking was having on the people he loved most.That letter became one of the biggest turning points in Tom's life.After his eighth DUI, Tom was sentenced to three years in prison and required to attend 2,000 AA meetings. He finally began the process of getting sober after nearly 30 years of drinking.But sobriety wasn't just about putting down the vodka. Tom had to rebuild his relationship with his daughter, learn how to live differently, and eventually discover a new purpose by helping other people struggling with addiction.Today, Tom works in recovery and helps people battling all kinds of substance use issues. He shares what he's learned from decades of addiction and recovery, including some of the challenges people face with Medicaid and accessing treatment.Tom also offers his first piece of advice to someone who is on Day One of sobriety—a simple message that could make all the difference for someone trying to change their life.🔔 Like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful stories about addiction, recovery, resilience, and redemption.Get a Grip Podcast Social Media:TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio & more:https://linktr.ee/officialgetagrippodcast📩 Collaboration & Business Inquiries:[email protected]👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.#GetAGripPodcast #AddictionRecovery #RecoveryJourney #CrackAddiction #Addiction #SoberLife #WeDoRecover #MentalHealth #Recovery #Relapse #Sobriety #DrugAddiction #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionAwareness #RedemptionStory #OvercomingAddiction #RecoveryStory #Hope #Resilience #Healing #AddictionTreatment