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PODCAST

Get a Grip Podcast

Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes

Get a Grip Podcast is hosted by Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes, both in recovery from addiction and alcoholism. In each episode, they share their unfiltered stories of overcoming addiction, time in prison, and struggles with mental health—mixing raw honesty with humor. The podcast gives a voice to the underdog, breaking down the stigma surrounding addiction and recovery. Through candid conversations and real-life experiences, Louis and Aaron inspire others on their journey, showing that while recovery

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All Episodes

01:13:38

I Turned To Crack After My Son Got Killed By a Drunk...

Get a Grip Podcast ·

2025/08/31

In this explosive episode, hosts Louis and Aaron sit down with Harry Paige, whose story could easily be the script of a dark Hollywood drama. On paper, Harry had everything he needed. Growing up with two sisters in a stable, loving family, he never went without—food on the table, a roof over his head, and parents who cared. But what looked like a safe childhood quickly gave way to a world of danger and destruction.Introduced to drugs at a young age, Harry’s path started with curiosity but rapidly

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00:59:43

I Was Addicted to Heroin Before I Graduated High...

Get a Grip Podcast ·

2025/08/27

In this powerful episode, hosts Louis and Aaron sit down with Bryce Sparks, a man whose life could have been the script of a tragedy—but instead turned into a story of resilience, redemption, and hope.Bryce’s upbringing was anything but easy. From a young age, he carried pain and struggles that no child should have to endure. By the time most kids were thinking about prom or graduation, Bryce was already deep in the grip of heroin addiction. What started as a way to escape his circumstances quickly

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01:42:12

How I Survived Over 20 Years Of IV Drug Use And 4...

Get a Grip Podcast ·

2025/08/24

In this powerful episode, hosts Louis and Aaron sit down with Bryan Sparks, a man whose story feels like it could have been pulled straight from a tragic movie—but with an ending filled with hope and redemption.Bryan’s life took a dark turn at just 13 years old when he faced a trauma no child should ever have to endure: finding his best friend dead from an overdose. That heartbreaking moment set the tone for years of chaos, pain, and survival. From there, Bryan’s journey spiraled into a life

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01:33:18

From 13-Year-Old Trailer Park Dealer to Using Every...

Get a Grip Podcast ·

2025/08/20

In this powerful episode, hosts Louis and Aaron sit down with Devin Nunamaker, a man whose story takes us deep into the chaos of early addiction and the hope of true recovery. Devin was first introduced to drugs at just 12 years old, starting with what seemed harmless but quickly spiraling out of control. By 13, he was already using heroin—an unimaginable reality for someone barely entering their teenage years.From that point on, Devin’s life became a blur of institutions, jail cells, and near-death

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01:38:20

I Got Arrested In Front Of My Whole Town With 50 Bags...

Get a Grip Podcast ·

2025/08/17

Step up to the plate for a powerful and raw conversation with hosts Aaron and Louis as they sit down with Brent King, a former all-star ball player whose life took a turn no one expected. Brent grew up with talent, discipline, and a future full of promise on the field—but behind the glory, darkness was waiting. At just 13 years old, he slipped into the grip of opiates, a choice that would alter the trajectory of his entire life.It wasn’t long before Brent’s addiction pulled him into the streets, and

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02:16:58

My Brutal Truth Of Opiate Addiction And How Hard It...

Get a Grip Podcast ·

2025/08/13

In this unfiltered and fast-moving episode, hosts Louis and Aaron sit down with Amanda Bosley, a woman whose story is a wild ride through survival, struggle, and ultimate redemption. Amanda grew up caught between chaos at home and the hard realities of life on the streets, where every day felt like a gamble. She learned quickly how to navigate danger, adapt to unpredictable situations, and keep going when most would have given up.Her journey took a darker turn when she fell into the grip of opiates

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01:45:21

How He Went From Pawning, Forging Checks, to Scamming...

Get a Grip Podcast ·

2025/08/10

In this electrifying episode, Aaron and Louis sit down with Ben Sheets—a man whose life has been anything but ordinary. Ben grew up in an affluent neighborhood, the picture-perfect student-athlete with a bright future ahead. But behind the trophies and the smiles, trouble was brewing.It started innocently enough—just weed and alcohol at first—but Ben’s thirst for the next high quickly escalated to opiates. Before long, he was stealing from the very people who loved and trusted him, burning bridges

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01:03:39

He Was Exposed to Drugs by 6, Then Survived...

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2025/08/07

In one of the rawest and most jaw-dropping episodes to date, Louis sits down with Patrick McCombs—a man whose life began in chaos and spiraled into the darkest corners of addiction, crime, and prison politics.By the age of six, Patrick had already been exposed to sex and drugs—thrust into a world no child should ever experience. With no real sense of safety or guidance, he grew up fast and hard. What followed was a storm of street life, robberies, and eventually time behind bars. But prison wasn’t

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01:53:31

From the Sticks to Hittin' Licks — How He Lost...

Get a Grip Podcast ·

2025/08/03

In this raw and revealing episode, Aaron and Louis sit down with Tony Newton—a man whose journey into addiction started in the quiet backwoods but spiraled into chaos that took him to the brink of destruction. Tony grew up in a decent, hardworking family in the sticks, with no early signs that he’d one day become trapped in a cycle of addiction, crime, and incarceration. But when Oxycontin entered his life, everything changed.What began as casual use quickly turned into full-blown dependency. Tony

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01:46:11

I Was Born From Sexual Assault and This is the Toll...

Get a Grip Podcast ·

2025/07/30

In this deeply moving and thought-provoking episode, Louis and Aaron sit down with the extraordinary Melroe—a woman with a story unlike any other. Born into trauma and chaos, Melroe opens up about her earliest memories of pain, confusion, and the challenges of growing up in an environment that left deep emotional and spiritual scars. She shares how her traumatic childhood shaped not only her survival instincts but also her entire worldview.Melroe doesn’t just reflect on the past—she explains how

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01:52:15

Don Matis Jr: From Glue to Global Redemption – 40...

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2025/07/27

In this powerful and deeply moving episode, Aaron and Louis sit down with a true legend of the Cleveland recovery community—Don Matis Jr.. Known throughout the city and beyond as a living example of resilience, wisdom, and raw honesty, Don’s story is unlike anything you’ve heard before.Don’s journey into addiction began shockingly early—at just 10 years old, he was already snorting glue, unknowingly stepping onto a path that would wind through the darkest corners of the Cleveland drug scene for

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01:20:46

He Started Using OC-80's With The Host of our Show at...

Get a Grip Podcast ·

2025/07/23

From high school halls to hospital beds, jail cells, and the edge of death—Alex Panzera’s story is one of brutal honesty, quiet resilience, and the relentless fight to stay alive.In this gripping and emotional episode, we dive into the life of Alex, who first experimented with OxyContin at just 15 years old. What began as a casual escape quickly unraveled into a nightmare. Within a few short years, Alex was fully consumed by heroin addiction, chasing a high that always left him lower than before. As

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01:34:56

From Small-Town Ohio to Strung Out In Brooklyn: My...

Get a Grip Podcast ·

2025/07/20

In this powerful and raw episode, Louis and Aaron sit down with Jenna Daubenmire — a resilient woman whose journey will leave you speechless. Jenna grew up in a small town in Ohio, where life was simple and filled with the warmth of family. But like many, she found herself pulled into a world far darker than anyone could have imagined. Chasing the high that promised to numb the pain, Jenna eventually found herself in the heart of New York City, caught up in the chaos of Chinatown’s infamous

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00:53:53

The Devil in Detox: How Rock Bottom Doesn’t Care...

Get a Grip Podcast ·

2025/07/16

In this raw and deeply moving episode, Louis and Aaron sit down with Casey Richards, whose story is as gripping as it is inspiring. On the surface, Casey had it all— a stable, loving upbringing, everything he could ever want or need, and a promising future. But addiction doesn't discriminate.Casey takes us through his unexpected descent into substance dependence, focusing on his brutal experience with benzodiazepine withdrawal—an ordeal that he describes in haunting detail. From the sleepless

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00:42:30

How Cocaine, Adderall, And Meth Led Me To Heart...

Get a Grip Podcast ·

2025/07/13

In this jaw-dropping episode, Louis and Aaron sit down with the unforgettable Kody Schaffner — better known as “Just a Dude on Batteries.” Kody’s story begins in a quiet small town in Ohio, but his path quickly takes a turn most couldn’t imagine. After bouncing through the foster care system, Kody began drinking at an early age, seeking escape and stability in all the wrong places. As an adult, Kody became a hardworking tower tech for T-Mobile, scaling massive towers and logging endless hours. To

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00:59:55

Fentanyl, Felonies, and a Second Chance — The Dark...

Get a Grip Podcast ·

2025/07/09

In this gripping and unfiltered episode, Louis sit's down with Tyler Baker—better known in the streets as Vito Dinero—for an unforgettable deep dive into the life of a man who went from stealing cars and running hustles to rebuilding his life after prison. Tyler’s story is raw, real, and packed with emotion, revealing the dark alleys of a criminal past and the uphill climb toward redemption.Tyler opens up about growing up in chaos—from a broken home filled with instability to the early choices

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00:45:58

I Interviewed The Judge That Sent Me To Jail - Then...

Get a Grip Podcast ·

2025/07/06

In this powerful and emotional full-circle moment, Louis sits down with none other than The Honorable Judge Stephen McIntosh — the very judge who once sentenced him to jail.What begins as an intense reunion quickly unfolds into a candid, raw, and deeply insightful conversation about justice, redemption, and the power of second chances. Judge McIntosh opens up about the hard truths of the prison system, exposing the flaws he’s witnessed firsthand after decades on the bench. But he doesn’t stop there

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01:28:06

Master Manipulator Transported Drugs Around Prison |...

Get a Grip Podcast ·

2025/07/02

In this powerful and emotional episode, Louis and Aaron sit down with Sean McMahon, a man whose life took a drastic turn from a seemingly typical suburban childhood to the unforgiving grip of addiction and crime. Sean grew up in a stable home, surrounded by everything he needed to succeed. But by the age of 13, his curiosity and environment led him down a dangerous path—he tried hard drugs for the first time, and nothing was ever the same.That early encounter ignited a downward spiral that would

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01:48:14

How Using Heroin At 15 Years Old Led Me To...

Get a Grip Podcast ·

2025/06/29

Alyx Gold’s story starts off like many others — a relatively normal childhood, a decent upbringing, nothing too out of the ordinary. She had hopes, dreams, and a future ahead of her. But everything changed the day she tried heroin for the first time at just 15 years old. That single moment sent her life spiraling into a world she never could have imagined. What followed was years of darkness — battling addiction, committing crimes just to survive, and selling herself for money in the streets. The

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01:17:05

I Was A Fetty Fiend Doing 12 Pills A Day

Get a Grip Podcast ·

2025/06/25

In this gripping episode, we sit down with Steven Preciado—a stand-up comic from California whose story is anything but ordinary. Despite growing up in a stable, “normal” home, Steven’s path took a sharp turn when he began experimenting with alcohol and drugs at a young age. What started as a curiosity quickly spiraled into chaos as he found himself in the deadly grip of fetty addiction. He lost his way, lost himself, and nearly lost his life. But against all odds—and without going to rehab—Steven

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