Get a Grip Podcast

Latest Episodes:

From CEO, to Divorced Peruvian Cocaine Smuggler, to 37 Years Sober | Episode 57 Jun 08, 2025

Show notes

John’s journey is nothing short of jaw-dropping. He started drinking at a shockingly young age, long before most kids even know what addiction is. But for years, he lived in denial—brushing off the red flags, numbing the pain, and convincing himself he had everything under control. By all appearances, he was succeeding. He built his own logistics company from the ground up and looked like a man on the rise. But behind the scenes, the addiction was tightening its grip.Then it all came crashing down.John lost everything—his company, his home, and his marriage. The very foundation of his life crumbled beneath him, and he found himself standing in the rubble, broken and desperate. With no real direction and no one left to turn to, John made a choice that would change the trajectory of his life in a terrifying way: he got involved in the international drug trade.What followed was a chaotic descent into Peru’s cocaine underworld. John began smuggling kilos of cocaine while still deep in the throes of drinking and using. He was living life on the edge—trafficking drugs, dodging disaster, and numbing the wreckage of his past with whatever he could get his hands on. The money was fast, the risks were higher, and the darkness just kept growing.But somehow, he survived.John eventually found recovery—through grit, surrender, and sheer determination. Today, he has nearly 38 years sober and is living proof that no one is too far gone to turn their life around. He’s a man who once smuggled cocaine by the kilo and now shares his experience to help others find the light.And here’s a twist: John once got into a heated verbal altercation with Louis, one of our hosts, during a recovery meeting. Emotions flared, words were exchanged—but instead of letting it divide them, they both grew from it. Today, they’re close friends and allies in sobriety.This episode is raw, real, and packed with lessons about resilience, redemption, and the power of transformation. Tune in to hear how John went from drowning in addiction and international drug trafficking to becoming a living example of what long-term recovery can look like.🔔 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, iHeart Radio links, and more below on our Link Tree below!Get a Grip Social Media Links: https://linktr.ee/officialgetagrippodcast

How She Survived A Decade Of Human Trafficking | Episode 37 Jun 06, 2025

Show notes

In this powerful episode, Louis dives deep into the incredible story of Vanessa Torres – a woman who overcame unimaginable hardships to transform her life and become a beacon of hope for others. Raised in a broken household surrounded by poverty, drugs, and chaos, Vanessa grew up with six siblings in an environment that seemed designed to keep her down. Her early life was marked by addiction, with drinking and drugs serving as an escape from the turmoil.

But everything changed when Vanessa was trafficked and groomed by a manipulative trafficker. Trapped in a vicious cycle for nearly a decade, Vanessa’s journey to freedom seemed impossible. However, her path took a turn when she joined Freedom a La Cart, an organization designed to help women who have been trafficked, offering her not just a job but a new sense of purpose.

Despite her criminal record, Vanessa defied the odds and found herself working at the prosecutor’s office, contributing to justice in ways she never imagined. Today, she has reclaimed her life, found happiness, and is dedicating herself to helping others who are still trapped in the cycles of trafficking and abuse.

Join us as Vanessa shares her inspiring story of resilience, healing, and the power of second chances. Her journey is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the possibility of redemption. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode to help spread awareness and hope to those who need it most.🔔 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, iHeart Radio links, and more below on our Link Tree below!Get a Grip Podcast Link Tree: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/officialgetagrippodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

Growing Up With A Sexual Predator For A Brother And How I Became An Alcoholic By 16 Years Old | Episode 56 Jun 04, 2025

Show notes

In this raw and powerful episode, Louis sits down with Dennis McFarland—a man whose journey from chaos to redemption is nothing short of miraculous. Growing up dirt-poor in a packed house with eight cousins, Dennis’s childhood was defined by turmoil, survival, and heartbreak. Times were so tough, they resorted to eating cat food just to make it through the day.By the age of 16, Dennis was a full-blown alcoholic, numbing the pain of a life that seemed hopeless. But things took an even darker turn when he became possessed by a demonic force—something he speaks about with chilling honesty. It was only through an incredible spiritual awakening that Dennis found religion, reclaimed his life, and has remained sober since 1991.From rock bottom to becoming a beacon of hope, Dennis later worked in corrections—using his past to inspire and guide inmates, including people just like me. Today, he's a published author of two powerful books and continues to dedicate his life to helping others find light in the darkest places.This is an unforgettable story of pain, transformation, and the relentless power of faith. Don’t miss it.
🔔 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, iHeart Radio links, and more below on our Link Tree below!

Get a Grip Social Media Links: ⁠https://linktr.ee/officialgetagrippodcast

Supporting My Family While Hooked on Opiates In Cleveland Ohio | Episode 55 Jun 01, 2025

Show notes

In this powerful and emotional episode, Aaron sits down with Joey Louis, a remarkable man with a story that will leave you speechless. Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, Joey didn’t have the typical childhood — he was forced to grow up fast, becoming the caretaker for both his mother and younger brother, who were battling addiction to opiates.Joey opens up about the unimaginable weight he carried at such a young age. With his family spiraling deeper into addiction, he was trapped in a cycle of chaos, fear, and heartbreak.

But Joey didn’t give up. Instead, he made a bold decision that changed everything: he went to rehab, got clean, and chose to become the example his family desperately needed.Through raw and honest conversation, Joey shares what it was like walking through hell — watching his loved ones suffer, trying to hold it all together, and fighting his own battles with substance use. His journey to sobriety wasn’t easy, but it was real.

And now, he’s on a mission to break generational cycles and inspire others to believe in a better future.This episode isn’t just about addiction — it’s about resilience, sacrifice, and the power of hope. Joey’s story will move you, challenge you, and remind you of the strength we all have to rise, even from the darkest places.

🔔 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, iHeart Radio links, and more below on our Link Tree below!

Joey Gandee's Socials:

YouTube : https://youtube.com/@thegandeeshow

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/thegandeeshow

TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@thegandeeshow

Get a Grip Social Media Links: https://linktr.ee/officialgetagrippodcast

How I Went From Breaking The Law to Enforcing It | Episode 54 May 28, 2025

Show notes

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Ernest Hayden, a man whose life story reads like a movie — but it's 100% real. Growing up in a tough environment surrounded by crime and chaos, Ernest was pulled into a world of drug dealing and criminal activity from a young age. For years, that life defined him — until he made a choice that would change everything.Ernest didn’t just walk away from the streets — he transformed his mindset, his path, and his purpose. Ironically, he first enrolled in school for criminal justice not to reform his life, but to become a better criminal. But fate had other plans.

What began as a strategy for manipulation became a journey of self-discovery, discipline, and redemption.Now, years later, Ernest Hayden is living proof that true change is possible.

After serving as a corrections officer, Ernest now works as a probation officer, helping others who are trying to find a way out of the same life he once lived. His story is raw, honest, and deeply inspiring — a testament to resilience, second chances, and the power of transformation.💥 Whether you're interested in criminal justice, stories of redemption, or simply want to hear from someone who's lived it all — this episode is for you. Ernest's journey will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about crime, change, and what it means to truly turn your life around.

🔔 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, iHeart Radio links, and more below on our Link Tree below!

Get a Grip Podcast Link Tree: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/officialgetagrippodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

MMA Fighter Kicks Heroin and Ends up on A&E's 60 Days In | Episode 53 May 25, 2025

Show notes

From the depths of addiction to the bright lights of television, Daniel Ritchie’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. In this gripping episode of our podcast, we sit down with Daniel to uncover the raw and powerful story of a man who once lived in the shadows, chasing a high in a desperate attempt to belong.

Growing up, Daniel always felt like an outsider. Struggling to find his place in the world, he turned to heroin at a young age—seeking comfort and connection in all the wrong places. His addiction took him to some dark and dangerous places, but even in his lowest moments, a spark of hope remained.After years of battling his demons, Daniel found the strength to get clean. Today, he proudly celebrates 8.5 years of sobriety. But his journey didn’t end there. In a wild twist of fate, Daniel found himself back behind bars—not as an inmate, but as a participant on the hit A&E series 60 Days In.Thrown back into the chaos of jail, Daniel became part of one of the show’s most unforgettable and talked-about moments. It was a full-circle experience that forced him to confront his past, relive old traumas, and ultimately prove just how far he’s come.Now, Daniel is using his story to help others.

Working in addiction treatment and sharing his experience with audiences across the country, he’s a powerful voice for recovery, resilience, and redemption.This episode is raw, real, and absolutely unforgettable—a must-listen for anyone who believes in second chances and the unbreakable human spirit.

🔔 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, iHeart Radio links, and more below on our Link Tree below!

Get a Grip Podcast Link Tree: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/officialgetagrippodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Find Daniel's Links below:

FB:https://www.facebook.com/dantheweapon

IG: https://www.instagram.com/danweapon513

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@danielritchie1

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The Truth About MAT: My Journey Out of Addiction | Episode 52 May 22, 2025

Show notes

Louis and Aaron sit down with Lance Ball whose journey is nothing short of extraordinary—heartbreaking, inspiring, and a true testament to the power of resilience and hope.Born into a world stacked against him, Lance didn’t just witness hardship—he lived it, day in and day out. His childhood was shaped by instability, trauma, and survival. His mother, locked in a cycle of poverty and pain, turned to prostitution to provide. His father, consumed by addiction, was largely absent, both physically and emotionally. Lance’s earliest memories aren’t of playgrounds or birthday parties—they’re of dark alleys, strangers coming and going, and the constant presence of drugs and danger. From the very beginning, life offered him no roadmap to peace or purpose.By his teenage years, Lance was already spiraling, numbing the pain with the same substances that stole his father. Addiction sank its teeth in deep, and for a long time, it looked like he might never escape. Arrests, overdoses, broken relationships—it became a cycle of self-destruction that nearly cost him everything. But in the middle of the chaos, something inside Lance refused to give up.That’s when Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) entered his life. For the first time, he had a fighting chance—not just to survive, but to truly heal. With the support of MAT, counseling, and an unrelenting commitment to change, Lance began the slow, painful, and powerful process of recovery. He learned how to sit with his trauma instead of running from it. He faced the ghosts of his past and began building a future he never thought was possible.Today, Lance is more than sober—he’s transformed. Clean, focused, and grounded, he’s stepping into a brand new chapter of his life: he’s about to become a father himself. It’s a full-circle moment that brings with it both emotion and purpose. He’s determined to break the cycle, to give his child the kind of life he never had, and to use his story to inspire others walking similar paths.In this powerful episode, Lance shares his story with unfiltered honesty. From the streets to sobriety, from brokenness to fatherhood, this conversation is one you won’t forget. Whether you’re in recovery, know someone who is, or just need a reminder of what the human spirit is capable of, this is the podcast you need to hear.Hit that subscribe button, turn on notifications, and join us for this unforgettable episode. Lance Ball is living proof that no matter where you come from, healing is possible—and the future is worth fighting for.
🔔 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, iHeart Radio links, and more below on our Link Tree below!

Get a Grip Podcast Link Tree: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/officialgetagrippodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

From Gucci to Guilty: He Grabbed the Bag, Then Got Bagged | Episode 50 May 19, 2025

Show notes

In this unforgettable episode, Aaron sits down with Tony Williams—a man whose story is as raw as it is inspiring. Tony takes us deep into the world he was born into: a childhood overshadowed by drugs, crime, and survival. With a father who sold crack and a home life that resembled a trap house more than a safe haven, Tony’s earliest lessons were taught on the streets. He opens up about how being exposed to addiction, violence, and fast money at such a young age shaped his mindset, hardened his heart, and made criminal life feel like the only option.As a teenager, that path led to a fateful moment: a purse snatching gone wrong, a pistol in his possession, and a prison sentence that would change the trajectory of his life. Inside those walls, Tony was forced to face the consequences of choices he barely understood when he made them. But prison didn’t break him—it woke him up.Now years sober, free, and fully committed to helping others escape the life that once held him hostage, Tony shares how he turned pain into purpose. From mentoring young men on the edge to speaking truth in communities still battling generational cycles of crime and addiction, Tony’s story is more than redemption—it’s a roadmap out of darkness.This episode is emotional, eye-opening, and filled with moments that will leave you speechless. Don’t miss this powerful conversation about the impact of environment, the weight of choices, and the unshakable hope of a second chance.

🔔 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, iHeart Radio links, and more below on our Link Tree below!

Get a Grip Podcast Link Tree: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/officialgetagrippodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

How After a Brutal Heroin Addiction I Got Sober and Lost My Leg | Episode 49 May 15, 2025

Show notes

In this emotionally charged and deeply revealing episode, Louis sits down with Josh Hart for a conversation that is as raw as it is inspiring. From the very first moments, Josh takes us into the heart of his story—a story marked by chaos, crime, and the relentless grip of heroin addiction. He doesn’t hold back as he recounts how what began as experimentation spiraled into a full-blown dependency that shattered every part of his life. He lost relationships, freedom, and any sense of self-worth. The addiction didn’t just ruin his life—it consumed it, leading him down a path of criminal activity, broken trust, and incarceration. Josh speaks with a rare honesty that doesn’t glamorize or dramatize—it simply tells the truth of what it’s like to be completely lost and unsure if you’ll ever find your way back.

But this is also a story of resilience and transformation. Josh walks us through the turning points that helped him claw his way back from rock bottom. Recovery wasn’t a straight line—it was messy, painful, and often uncertain. Yet through the support of others and an inner strength he didn’t know he had, he began to rebuild. And just when he thought he was finally on steady ground, life blindsided him with another unimaginable test. While working a job during his sobriety, Josh was caught in a devastating explosion—an accident that would cost him one of his legs. For many, that kind of trauma would have been a breaking point. But not for Josh. Instead of relapsing or retreating into despair, he faced the pain head-on and doubled down on his commitment to sobriety.

Through tears, laughter, and reflection, Louis and Josh explore what it means to survive not just addiction, but life itself when it’s at its most brutal and unfair. They talk about how the road to recovery isn’t just about staying clean—it’s about learning how to live again when everything you knew has been taken away. This episode is a tribute to the human spirit, a reminder that healing is possible even after the darkest chapters, and a call to anyone who feels like they’ve gone too far to ever come back.

Whether you’ve battled addiction yourself, love someone who has, or simply want to understand the strength it takes to rebuild after devastation, this conversation will stay with you long after it ends.Josh Hart’s story isn’t just one of survival—it’s one of transformation, courage, and the power of never giving up, no matter what life throws your way.

🔔 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, iHeart Radio links, and more below on our Link Tree below!

Get a Grip Podcast Link Tree: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/officialgetagrippodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

I Survived 17 Years On The Streets In Active Addiction As A Call Girl | Episode 48 May 11, 2025

Show notes

In this powerful and deeply moving episode, Aaron sits down with Rachel McIntyre—a survivor, warrior, and true inspiration. Before the age of 18, Rachel had already endured more than most face in a lifetime. Raised in the harsh realities of poverty, she navigated a childhood filled with instability, emotional neglect, and danger. Her early years were marked by relentless hardship, including multiple instances of sexual assault that left lasting emotional scars.

As a teenager, Rachel turned to drugs in an attempt to silence the pain and chaos within—a coping mechanism that quickly spiraled into a dangerous addiction.But one horrifying night changed the trajectory of her life forever: Rachel was drugged and assaulted at a party, a terrifying experience that could have ended her story entirely.

Instead, it became the turning point. Though that trauma pushed her even deeper into addiction and left her feeling completely hopeless, something inside her refused to give up. Slowly, painfully, Rachel began to fight her way back. Through courage, vulnerability, and unwavering determination, she confronted the trauma that had haunted her for years and started the process of healing from the inside out.

Today, Rachel stands not only sober, but empowered—using her voice and her story to advocate for others who are suffering in silence. She now dedicates her life to helping people who are battling addiction, trauma, and abuse, offering them the empathy and guidance she once so desperately needed herself.This episode dives into Rachel’s raw, unfiltered truth—her pain, her resilience, and the incredible journey that led her to become a beacon of hope for so many. It’s a story of survival, redemption, and the power of turning unimaginable darkness into purpose. You don’t want to miss this one.

🔔 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, iHeart Radio links, and more below on our Link Tree below!

Get a Grip Podcast Link Tree: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/officialgetagrippodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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