Get a Grip Podcast

Latest Episodes:

How I Survived 22 Years of Heroin Addiction, 22 Jail Stays & Raising 7 Kids | Ep 182 Jun 28, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Latisha Barnes for an unforgettable conversation about surviving addiction, life on the streets, incarceration, and ultimately finding recovery after decades of chaos.

Latisha's story began with a difficult childhood that was shaped by family struggles and instability. By just 14 years old, she was pregnant, living on her own, and trying to survive in one of the toughest environments imaginable. At 15, she had become a mother while navigating life in the streets with little support and few options.

Not long after, heroin entered her life—and everything changed.Latisha shares how she was introduced to heroin, what led her deeper into addiction, and how she eventually graduated to using raw heroin. She opens up about the hustles that funded her addiction, robbing drug dealers, living by the street code, and the mindset that allowed her to survive more than two decades in active addiction.

The conversation also explores her many encounters with the criminal justice system, including the unbelievable story of how she ended up in prison over just two dollars. Through it all, Latisha raised seven children while battling heroin addiction and cycling through jail more than 20 times.

After years of living in survival mode, something finally changed.Latisha reflects on the moment that pushed her toward recovery, the challenges of rebuilding her life, and how she transformed from someone consumed by addiction into someone living with purpose. Today, she uses her story to inspire others and prove that no one is beyond redemption.This episode is a powerful reminder that your past does not have to define your future.

🔥 Expect emotion. Expect truth. Expect hope.

🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful stories on addiction, recovery, and resilience.

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I Escaped Heroin... Until 7OH Ruined My Life Again | Ep 181 Jun 26, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Eric Wright for an honest and eye-opening conversation about growing up in Chicago, addiction, relapse, and finding hope after years of chasing a high.

Eric's story begins on the streets of Chicago, where he started smoking and selling marijuana while still in school. As he got older, he became immersed in the city's rave scene, experimenting with party drugs and experiencing the dangerous highs that came with them. After an early run-in with the law, Eric entered his first treatment center as a teenager, where he was introduced to Alcoholics Anonymous long before he believed he needed it.

Everything changed when heroin entered the picture.Eric shares what it was like being introduced to heroin in a city where the drug was everywhere, eventually becoming involved in selling it and learning hard lessons from both the streets and law enforcement. He also talks about attending a Scientology-based rehab program, moving across the country in search of a geographical cure and repeatedly discovering that changing locations couldn't fix what was happening inside.

Throughout the years, addiction continued to evolve. Eric opens up about insurance fraud following a car accident, finding brief periods of stability, and then watching everything unravel again after becoming hooked on potent gas station products containing kratom-derived compounds.

He shares how one relapse led to another, from crack cocaine and methamphetamine to severe alcohol dependence.

The conversation also explores the devastating impact addiction had on his family, including his relationship with his son, surviving an alcohol withdrawal seizure, and the painful realization that he had to completely surrender if he wanted to live.

Today, Eric is rebuilding his life one day at a time. He reflects on what finally changed, how the obsession to use eventually lifted, and what recovery looks like after finding hope again.This is a powerful conversation about relapse, resilience, and proving that it's never too late to start over.

🔥 Expect emotion. Expect truth. Expect hope.

🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful stories on addiction, recovery, and resilience.

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ICE Took My Baby's Father... Why I Turned to Heroin and a Brothel | Ep 180 Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Carmen Honeycutt for a shocking and deeply personal story of addiction, loss, survival, and recovery.Carmen's struggle with substance abuse began at a young age and quickly escalated into a devastating addiction to Opana, one of the most powerful prescription opioids of its time. What started as experimentation soon became a daily battle that would consume every aspect of her life.

At just 19 years old, Carmen found herself pregnant while working in the restaurant industry and navigating a complicated relationship. As she became a young mother, addiction continued tightening its grip. She opens up about being introduced to Opana 40s, the powerful hold the drug had on her, and the desperate lengths she went to in an attempt to escape both addiction and emotional pain.

The story takes an unexpected turn when her child's father is detained by ICE and eventually deported. Determined to stay with him, Carmen travels to his home country, where she experiences a completely different way of life while battling addiction and withdrawal far from home.

As her addiction progressed, heroin entered the picture and changed everything. Carmen shares the terrifying reality of intravenous drug use, the differences between heroin and prescription opioids, and how her dependence eventually led her into prostitution to support her habit.

This episode offers a raw look at the realities of addiction—the isolation, the desperation, the overdoses, and the consequences that follow. Carmen discusses multiple near-death experiences, involvement from Child Protective Services, losing control of her life, and the heartbreaking moments that finally forced her to confront her addiction.

Most importantly, she shares how recovery finally clicked, what life looks like today, and why she continues to speak openly about her experiences to help others who are still struggling.This is a story of survival, redemption, and hope for anyone who believes they are too far gone to change.

🔥 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, iHeart Radio links, a more on our Link Tree below!

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

For Collaboration and Business inquiries, please use the contact information below:

📩 Email: getagrippodcast614@gmail.com

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I Had Unlimited Access to Opiates & Benzos as a Pharmacy Tech... Then I Found 7OH | Ep 179 Jun 21, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig sits down with Lauren Hayes for an incredibly honest conversation about addiction, trauma, recovery, and the dangers of emerging substances that many people still know very little about.

Lauren's story begins with a chaotic childhood that led her into risky situations at a very young age. By the fourth grade, she was already partying with high school students, setting the stage for years of unhealthy coping mechanisms and destructive choices.

At 15, she met the man who would become her husband, and by 18 she was a mother. Soon after, she discovered she was expecting twins while living in a tiny apartment and struggling to make ends meet.

As life became more overwhelming, Lauren found herself battling an eating disorder that influenced many of her decisions surrounding substances and self-image. Everything changed when she began working at a pharmacy. What started as taking a couple of hydrocodone pills quickly spiraled into a serious addiction. With access to medications and opportunities that few people have, Lauren found herself trapped in a cycle she couldn't control.

Throughout the episode, she shares the realities of addiction, her experiences seeking help from healthcare providers, and the long road toward recovery. But recovery wasn't a straight line. From moving to Florida for a fresh start, to returning to Ohio, surviving mental health crises, family tragedies, DUIs, theft charges, and the collapse of a 20-year marriage, Lauren's story is one of resilience through repeated setbacks.

The conversation takes a particularly important turn as Lauren discusses her experience with 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a powerful compound found in some kratom-derived products. She explains how quickly it took hold of her life, how it felt compared to prescription opioids, and how it eventually led her into dangerous combinations with stimulants and methamphetamine.

Lauren also shares the terrifying moment her addiction nearly killed her, how her son helped save her life, and why she believes more people need to understand the risks associated with substances that are often misunderstood or underestimated.

This episode is a powerful story of survival, motherhood, addiction, recovery, and hope.

🔥 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, iHeart Radio links, a more on our Link Tree below!

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

For Collaboration and Business inquiries, please use the contact information below:

📩 Email: getagrippodcast614@gmail.com

👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

How I Lost My Adopted Son to the Life of Addiction | Ep 178 Jun 19, 2026

Show notes

In this deeply emotional episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig sits down with Bob Miller to share the story of Dareion Davis—a young man whose life was filled with promise, challenges, redemption, and ultimately tragedy.

Bob first met Dareion when he was just a kid and quickly became much more than a mentor. As Dareion's family struggled, Bob stepped in to help, eventually bringing him into his home and obtaining temporary guardianship. What began as an effort to help a young man find stability grew into a father-son relationship built on love, trust, and hope.

Throughout the conversation, Bob reflects on Dareion's childhood, his years growing up in Grandview, and the potential he showed as a football player. From high school athletics to earning an opportunity to play football at Muskingum University, Dareion appeared destined for success. But like so many young people, he also faced challenges, poor decisions, and struggles that threatened to derail his future.

Bob shares stories of giving Dareion second chances, watching him battle through difficult periods, and eventually seeing him embrace sobriety and begin rebuilding his life. Their relationship grew stronger than ever as Dareion worked toward becoming the man everyone knew he could be.Then everything changed.

In one of the most heartbreaking moments ever shared on the podcast, Bob recounts the day he learned Dareion had been shot and killed by a drunk teen. He describes receiving the devastating news, navigating interactions with law enforcement, and trying to make sense of a tragedy that forever changed his life.

The conversation also explores the court proceedings that followed, the sentencing of the young woman responsible, and the remarkable story of Bob's encounter with her father. Through unimaginable grief, Bob found a way to extend compassion while continuing to honor Dareion's memory.

The episode concludes with a powerful reading from one of Dareion's organ donation recipients, highlighting how even in death, his life continued to impact others in meaningful ways.This is a story about family, redemption, forgiveness, loss, and the enduring impact one person can have on the lives around them.

🔥 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, iHeart Radio links, a more on our Link Tree below!

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

For Collaboration and Business inquiries, please use the contact information below:

📩 Email: getagrippodcast614@gmail.com

👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

How I Beat Cancer...and then Became a Crackhead | Ep 177 Jun 17, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Gary King for a wild and emotional journey through addiction, survival, recovery, and second chances.Gary's story begins with a difficult childhood before he dropped out of high school and moved to Nashville looking for a new start. Instead, he found himself pulled deeper into a world of substance abuse. What started with cocaine quickly escalated into Xanax, prescription opioids, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin.

Along the way, Gary found himself living a life few could imagine. He shares stories of stealing nitrous oxide tanks, supplying drugs at major music festivals, and navigating the chaos of addiction while convincing himself he still had control. But addiction had other plans.

Everything changed when Gary began experiencing severe health issues and discovered he had cancer. He underwent an 18-hour surgery that saved his life, but the pain management that followed would introduce him to powerful prescription opioids, setting the stage for years of addiction to Percocet, OxyContin, Opana, Xanax, and more.

As the drugs intensified, so did the consequences.Gary opens up about waking up in hospitals after Xanax blackouts, finding a friend dead after a night of drug use, and eventually progressing from snorting methamphetamine to injecting meth and heroin. He shares the devastating impact addiction had on his family, including the heartbreaking moment he had to tell his daughter he was leaving to seek treatment.This episode is a raw and honest look at the destruction caused by addiction, the reality of withdrawal and recovery, and the hope that exists on the other side.

🔥 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, iHeart Radio links, a more on our Link Tree below!

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

For Collaboration and Business inquiries, please use the contact information below:

📩 Email: getagrippodcast614@gmail.com

👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Parents in Jail. Foster Care. 8th Grade Dropout. Then Came Meth. | Ep 176 Jun 14, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Chelsea Tipton for a powerful conversation about childhood trauma, addiction, loss, and finding a way forward.

Chelsea's life was filled with instability from the very beginning. Growing up with parents who struggled with legal troubles and incarceration, she faced challenges that most children could never imagine. As family trauma continued to mount, including the loss of her father and the emotional impact it had on her siblings, Chelsea found herself navigating foster care placements, psychiatric wards, and a childhood marked by uncertainty.

As she entered her teenage years, substance use became an escape. What started with marijuana and alcohol quickly progressed into pills and eventually methamphetamine. After dropping out of school in the eighth grade, Chelsea found herself surrounded by addiction and unhealthy relationships that pulled her deeper into a dangerous lifestyle.

She opens up about meeting people who normalized drug use, being paid in methamphetamine to babysit, and the devastating consequences addiction had on every aspect of her life. The conversation becomes even more emotional as Chelsea shares the pain of losing her mother and the relapse that followed.

As her addiction escalated, Chelsea eventually began injecting methamphetamine, reaching some of the darkest moments of her life. Yet through all the chaos, loss, and self-destruction, she ultimately found a path toward recovery.This episode is an honest look at how childhood trauma can shape a person's future, the grip addiction can have on someone's life, and the hope that recovery can offer even in the darkest circumstances.

🔥 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, iHeart Radio links, a more on our Link Tree below!

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

For Collaboration and Business inquiries, please use the contact information below:

📩 Email: getagrippodcast614@gmail.com

👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Surviving Oxy Addiction, & Poverty in The Bottoms of Columbus, Ohio | Ep 175 Jun 12, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Joey Blake for a raw and unforgettable conversation about addiction, poverty, fatherhood, and recovery.Joey's story begins with humble beginnings, born to a 14-year-old mother and raised in circumstances that made life difficult from the start. By the time he was a teenager, he was already experimenting with alcohol and marijuana, while simultaneously facing the responsibilities of becoming a father at just 16 years old. Less than a year later, he was expecting another child.

As the pressure mounted, Joey found himself chasing money, drugs, and escape. He shares how he blew through $200,000 in just a few months, the destruction addiction brought into his life, and the chaos that followed. From methamphetamine and crack cocaine to a devastating opioid addiction, Joey's life spiraled into survival mode.

The conversation dives deep into life in the Bottoms of Columbus, Ohio, where addiction, poverty, and crime became everyday realities. Joey opens up about running a Florida pill mill operation, encounters with Child Protective Services, dangerous living conditions, and the heartbreaking impact addiction had on his family and children.

Despite years of chaos, loss, and self-destruction—including the death of his mother from an aneurysm related to substance abuse—Joey eventually found a way out.

He shares the moment recovery finally started to make sense, the importance of finding the right sponsor, and how sobriety transformed not only his life but the lives of his children. Today, Joey is navigating recovery, raising a large family, and proving that change is possible no matter how far someone has fallen.

This episode is a powerful reminder that addiction doesn't care where you come from—but recovery is available to anyone willing to fight for it.

🔥 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, iHeart Radio links, a more on our Link Tree below!

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

For Collaboration and Business inquiries, please use the contact information below:

📩 Email: getagrippodcast614@gmail.com

👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

I Escaped Oxy & Meth Addiction—Now My Daughter Is Living My Nightmare | Ep 174 Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Amanda Long to discuss her journey from addiction and chaos to recovery and purpose.

Amanda grew up with young parents and describes a childhood that often left her searching for direction and stability. As she entered her teenage years, rebellion became a way of life, leading her down a path of risky decisions and eventually substance abuse.

What started with pills quickly escalated into a much more serious addiction. Amanda shares how opioids and heroin took control of her life, the consequences that followed, and the challenges she faced as addiction became stronger than anything else around her.

Despite the devastation addiction brought into her life, Amanda refused to give up. She opens up about the turning points that led her toward recovery, the hard work required to rebuild her life, and the lessons she learned along the way.

Today, Amanda is living proof that recovery is possible. Not only has she found sobriety, but she now dedicates her life to helping others who are struggling with addiction find hope and a path forward.

This is a powerful conversation about resilience, redemption, and the incredible transformation that can happen when someone decides to fight for a better life.

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, Amanda's story is a reminder that no matter how far you've fallen, recovery is possible.

Subscribe to *Get a Grip Podcast* for more real stories of addiction, recovery, redemption, and second chances.

🔥 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, iHeart Radio links, a more on our Link Tree below!

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

For Collaboration and Business inquiries, please use the contact information below:

📩 Email: getagrippodcast614@gmail.com

👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

I Sold Myself to the Plug for Fentanyl | Stripping, Selling Crack & Recovery | Ep 173 Jun 07, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Ashtyn for a brutally honest conversation about addiction, toxic relationships, the adult entertainment industry, and the long road to recovery.

Ashtyn's story begins with a difficult childhood and early exposure to situations no young teenager should have to navigate. She opens up about being involved with an 18-year-old when she was only 13, setting the stage for years of unhealthy relationships and destructive decisions.

As addiction entered the picture, methamphetamine quickly became a major part of her life. Over time, she found herself caught in a cycle of drugs, unstable relationships, and survival. After reconnecting with her child's father, life continued to spiral as she entered the world of stripping, where she experienced both the fast money and the dangers that came with it.

The episode takes several shocking turns as Ashtyn shares stories about meeting a wealthy sugar daddy, being robbed after leaving the strip club, and eventually being introduced to fentanyl—a drug that would dramatically change the course of her life.

From selling drugs and transporting them across state lines to driving under the influence and risking everything for her addiction, Ashtyn's story is a powerful look at how quickly life can unravel when substance abuse takes hold.

But this isn't just a story about addiction.

It's also a story about survival, accountability, and recovery. Ashtyn shares the moment she finally began fighting for her life, the humbling experiences that came with treatment, and how she eventually found a new path in recovery.

This conversation is raw, emotional, and filled with lessons for anyone struggling with addiction or loving someone who is.

🔥 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, iHeart Radio links, a more on our Link Tree below!

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

For Collaboration and Business inquiries, please use the contact information below:

📩 Email: getagrippodcast614@gmail.com

👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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