Get a Grip Podcast

Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes
  • 4.8 (128)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Weekly

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 is challenging, it’s possible. Tune in for laughter, hope, and stories of transformation.

  1. 1d ago

    How My 18-Month-Old Daughter Accidentally Took 16mg of Suboxone | Ep 215

    In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Jordan Py for a raw, emotional, and at times unbelievable story about alcoholism, prescription drugs, cocaine, addiction, marriage, fatherhood, relapse, and the long road toward recovery. Jordan opens up about his childhood and his first experiences with alcohol before describing how drinking gradually progressed during college. What started as partying eventually became something much more serious. After landing a job as a police radio dispatcher, Jordan admits he was showing up to work extremely intoxicated. His drinking continued to escalate after he started working as a line cook, where cocaine entered the picture and vodka became a constant part of his life. A prescription for Vicodin would become a major turning point. Jordan describes how quickly his drug use progressed from Vicodin to Roxy 30s and eventually snorting pills. But in the middle of his addiction, Jordan met the woman who would become the love of his life. Even as he was building a relationship and planning a wedding, his addiction continued behind the scenes. Jordan shares the unbelievable story of receiving $10,000 for his wedding and going on his honeymoon with Norco pills taped to his leg—only for the pills to fall out during TSA. Eventually, his wife discovered the truth. Jordan went to treatment and was placed on Suboxone, but he was still drinking heavily. He opens up about just how much vodka he was consuming and the dangerous consequences that followed, including the terrifying moment when his 18-month-old daughter accidentally got hold of his Suboxone. After eventually getting off Suboxone, Jordan's alcohol use became even more intense during COVID. He describes the bizarre games he began playing with alcohol and how his drinking spiraled further out of control. One of the darkest moments came when his wife confronted him about his drinking. Jordan responded by drinking an entire bottle of Wild Turkey and attempting to burn down the house. He was kicked out and was finally forced to confront how far his addiction had taken him. Eventually, Jordan walked into an AA meeting and began taking a different path. But even years later, he explains that alcohol remained a struggle and shares the unusual deal he made with God about when he would allow himself to get drunk again. This is a powerful and unfiltered conversation about alcoholism, prescription drug addiction, cocaine, marriage, fatherhood, relapse, consequences, faith, and recovery. Jordan also reflects on the complicated relationship between the pain he experienced, the addiction that followed, and the possibility that he may never have met his wife without the path that prescription drugs put him on. 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: getagrippodcast614@gmail.com 👇 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

    How My 18-Month-Old Daughter Accidentally Took 16mg of Suboxone | Ep 215

  2. 4d ago

    I Got Banned From Jerry Springer & Fenway Park... Then Got Addicted to Crack, Fentanyl & Nitrous | Ep 214

    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:getagrippodcast614@gmail.com 👇 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

    I Got Banned From Jerry Springer & Fenway Park... Then Got Addicted to Crack, Fentanyl & Nitrous | Ep 214

  3. 6d ago

    How I Spent $40K on Crack in 5 Months & Still Held a Job | Ep 213

    In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Jason Baer for a wild, emotional, and unbelievable story about family trauma, alcohol, cocaine, crack addiction, money, crime, international drug use, and ultimately finding his way into recovery. Jason opens up about growing up in a chaotic home and the mental health struggles and abuse surrounding his father. He shares disturbing memories from his childhood, including an incident where his mother hit his father with a 2x4. Those experiences would shape Jason in ways he didn't fully understand until later in life. As Jason got older, drinking gradually became an everyday part of his life. What started as drinking eventually became a daily routine, setting the stage for an addiction that would become increasingly difficult to control. When Jason's father died, he inherited $80,000. But instead of using the money to build a better future, Jason was already deep into cocaine use. He eventually discovered crack cocaine and describes how quickly it took over his life. Incredibly, Jason spent approximately $40,000 in less than five months on crack while continuing to show up for work and maintain the appearance that everything was normal. Jason also takes Louis and Aaron through his experiences hustling in the Hilltop, where his addiction and lifestyle continued to escalate. He shares stories about getting caught up in situations that could have resulted in serious legal consequences, including an unbelievable incident while abroad. The story gets even crazier when Jason talks about traveling and continuing to find crack, including getting drugs in Mexico and interacting with military personnel while using crack. His addiction didn't stop when he left home—it followed him wherever he went. Jason also opens up about receiving another $40,000 and what happened to that money, including a period where his addiction led him to steal valuable coins. These stories reveal just how far his addiction progressed and the lengths he was willing to go to continue feeding it. But eventually, something had to change. Jason discusses the point when he finally began moving toward recovery and started confronting the addiction that had consumed so much of his life. His story is a powerful reminder that addiction can affect anyone, regardless of whether they are still working, making money, traveling, or appearing successful from the outside. 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: getagrippodcast614@gmail.com 👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments. #GetAGripPodcast #AddictionRecovery #RecoveryJourney #CrackAddiction #Addiction #SoberLife #WeDoRecover #MentalHealth #Recovery #Relapse #Sobriety #DrugAddiction #AlcoholAddiction

    How I Spent $40K on Crack in 5 Months & Still Held a Job | Ep 213

  4. Sep 16

    How Heroin at 14 Led to 4 Mini-Strokes and Brain Surgery | Ep 212

    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:getagrippodcast614@gmail.com 👇 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

    How Heroin at 14 Led to 4 Mini-Strokes and Brain Surgery | Ep 212

  5. Sep 13

    How I Started Smoking PCP at 12, Became a Heroin Addict, and Lost Everything | Ep 211

    In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Aaron Garnes sits down with Dave Marcus for an intense and unbelievable conversation about growing up with drug-addicted parents, being exposed to drugs from an early age, dealing drugs, heroin addiction, homelessness, psychosis, jail, and ultimately finding a reason to change his life. Dave opens up about growing up in a household surrounded by addiction. His father was an amphetamine chemist, meaning drugs were a part of Dave's environment from a very young age. By just 12 years old, Dave was smoking PCP, and his substance use would continue to escalate as he got older. After being expelled from multiple schools, Dave was introduced to Percocet and OxyContin. Before long, he found himself learning the street economy—dealing drugs on corners and even driving prostitutes around to make money and support his lifestyle. Eventually, Dave became hooked on heroin. His addiction would cost him almost everything. Dave talks about losing his daughter's mother and his daughter, eventually finding himself living out of his car and struggling to survive. Dave also shares one of the darkest and most chaotic periods of his addiction, including a terrifying episode of psychosis while shooting speedballs and experimenting with dangerous ways of using drugs. His behavior became increasingly unpredictable as his addiction spiraled further out of control. Even family became involved in the chaos. Dave describes participating in grocery store scams with his mother and aunt, eventually watching his mother get arrested as a result of one of those schemes. He also opens up about his experiences in jail and what those moments taught him. Eventually, Dave began taking steps toward a different life. He went through detox, started attending meetings, and began looking for something beyond the cycle of drugs and survival. Today, Dave is working on developing a book and a game while reflecting on the experiences that shaped him. He explains the moment his perspective began to change and what ultimately helped him see that there could be something more waiting for him on the other side of addiction. This is a raw and unfiltered story about childhood trauma, addiction, heroin, homelessness, family, crime, psychosis, incarceration, recovery, and the power of changing your perspective. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Recovery is possible.

    How I Started Smoking PCP at 12, Became a Heroin Addict, and Lost Everything | Ep 211

  6. Sep 11

    I Drank Vodka Every Day for 30 Years, Found Crack, Got 8 DUI's, and Somehow Survived | Ep 210

    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: getagrippodcast614@gmail.com 👇 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

    I Drank Vodka Every Day for 30 Years, Found Crack, Got 8 DUI's, and Somehow Survived | Ep 210

  7. Sep 9

    I Got High on My Grandma’s Fentanyl Patches | Ep 210

    In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig sits down with Ronnie Schaffer for a raw and deeply personal conversation about growing up with an alcoholic and abusive father, getting into the party scene at a young age, working in his dad’s bar, opioid addiction, fentanyl, loss, and ultimately finding a path toward recovery. Ronnie opens up about his childhood and the impact his father's alcoholism and abuse had on him. He shares some unbelievable stories from growing up before talking about his teenage years, including dealing weed and throwing a massive high school party that would become one of many turning points in his life. After getting kicked out, Ronnie found himself living at the top of a bar before eventually becoming a bartender at his dad's establishment. What initially seemed like a way to make a living quickly became a lifestyle centered around the bar. Ronnie talks about his daily routine, drinking, and eventually starting to pop Percocet. Things began to spiral after Ronnie was kicked out of working at his dad's bar. His opioid use intensified, eventually leading him to get high using his grandmother's fentanyl patches. Then Ronnie's world was hit with another devastating loss when his dad developed throat cancer and passed away. Ronnie also opens up about one of the darkest moments of his addiction, including an incident involving a nail gun, before explaining how he eventually found his way toward medication-assisted treatment. Today, Ronnie is taking 18mg of Suboxone a day and talks openly about what life in recovery on MAT looks like for him. He shares his perspective on Suboxone, what has helped him stay on track, and the advice he would give to anyone struggling with opioid addiction. This is a powerful conversation about childhood trauma, addiction, grief, and finding a way to survive—and ultimately rebuild your life. 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:getagrippodcast614@gmail.com 👇 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

    I Got High on My Grandma’s Fentanyl Patches | Ep 210

  8. Sep 6

    How I Wenat From Crack in High School to a Full-Blown Heroin & Meth Addict | Ep 209

    In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Aaron Garnes sits down with Natalie France for a raw and deeply emotional conversation about addiction, motherhood, abusive relationships, homelessness, heroin, meth, incarceration, pregnancy, and finding recovery after years of chaos. Natalie opens up about her childhood and her first experiences with alcohol before getting introduced to cocaine at just 16 years old. What started with cocaine quickly progressed into crack during high school, sending her down a path that would eventually lead to a full-blown addiction. Hoping to escape her addiction and start over, Natalie moved to California looking for a geographical cure. But changing locations couldn't change what was happening inside. She found herself in abusive relationships before meeting her first husband, and eventually discovering OxyContin. Back in Ohio, Natalie was using OxyContin and meth while raising a newborn. Before long, she found heroin, and her addiction escalated even further. She talks about what it was like trying to work and parent while living as an active addict—and how she managed to keep going despite the chaos surrounding her. Natalie eventually moved to Georgia, where she spent years taking methadone, gabapentin, and Xanax. She also found herself repeatedly dealing with the legal system over petty crimes committed to support her addiction. One of the most unbelievable moments of her story happens when Natalie is stopped by an undercover officer after leaving a trap house. In an attempt to avoid getting caught, she swallowed a large amount of meth and ultimately ended up in jail. But that wasn't her lowest point. Natalie eventually dropped her kids off, became homeless, and spent approximately a year and a half shooting heroin. Then, at 38 years old, she discovered something that would completely change her life: she was five months pregnant. At the same time, Natalie was overdosing every day. Her addiction had reached an unimaginable level. But just when it seemed like there was no way out, her cousin stepped back into her life, took her to rehab, and helped give her another chance. Natalie talks openly about what her rock bottom really looked like, what finally pushed her into recovery, and what getting sober actually meant after years of addiction. She also shares what happened with her child and how recovery began changing her 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: getagrippodcast614@gmail.com 👇 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 #Professor #NotreDame #UCBerkeley

    How I Wenat From Crack in High School to a Full-Blown Heroin & Meth Addict | Ep 209
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Hosts & Guests

4.8
out of 5
128 Ratings

About

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 is challenging, it’s possible. Tune in for laughter, hope, and stories of transformation.

Information

  • Creator
    Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    223
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes
  • Show Website
    Get a Grip Podcast

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