PodcastsHealth & WellnessGet a Grip Podcast

Get a Grip Podcast

Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes
Get a Grip Podcast
Latest episode

176 episodes

  • Get a Grip Podcast

    I Watched My Mom Die While We Were Using Meth Together | Ep 172

    2026/06/05 | 44 mins.
    In this powerful episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Rich Davenport for a heartbreaking story of childhood trauma, addiction, loss, and recovery.
    Rich's struggles began at just 5 years old when his mother was diagnosed with cancer. As her health deteriorated, his childhood quickly unraveled, eventually leading him into foster care and a series of emotional battles that few children should ever have to face. By the age of 7 or 8, he was already engaging in self-harm and being admitted to psychiatric hospitals as he searched for a way to cope with overwhelming pain.
    As he entered his teenage years, drugs became an escape. Rich shares how he was introduced to cocaine at just 13 or 14 years old before eventually finding methamphetamine—a substance that would completely take over his life. What started as using quickly evolved into manufacturing meth, pushing him deeper into addiction and further away from any sense of stability.
    Then came the moment that changed everything.At 21 years old, Rich watched his mother die while the two of them were using methamphetamine together. It's a devastating story that still impacts him today and became one of the defining moments of his life.
    After years of chaos, grief, and addiction, Rich eventually found his way into recovery. He discusses the brutal mental withdrawal that comes with methamphetamine addiction, the challenges of rebuilding a life after years of substance abuse, and the unexpected moment he met his father while in treatment.Rich also shares why he eventually stepped away from traditional recovery meetings, what has helped him maintain his recovery journey, and the lessons he's learned through survival, loss, and healing.
    This is a raw conversation about addiction, family, grief, mental health, and the possibility of finding hope after unimaginable pain.
    🔥 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: [email protected]
    👇 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 #changinglives
  • Get a Grip Podcast

    I Smuggled Illegal Aliens, Survived Human Trafficking, and Beat Heroin Addiction | Ep 171

    2026/06/03 | 2h 19 mins.
    In this unforgettable episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Mickey Mills to share one of the most shocking and inspiring recovery stories ever featured on the show.
    Born in St. Petersburg, Russia and adopted into the United States, Mickey's life was shaped by trauma from an early age. After losing a close friend to suicide and experiencing abuse, she spiraled into addiction, overdosing on benzodiazepines and experimenting with heroin by just 15 years old.
    Mickey opens up about homelessness, toxic relationships, living under bridges, moving across the country, entering the sex industry, and becoming involved in criminal activity tied to addiction and human smuggling operations near the border. What began as substance abuse evolved into a life marked by exploitation, trafficking, violence, and survival.
    She also provides powerful insight into the psychology of abusive relationships, addiction, methamphetamine use, dissociation, and the realities many never see behind trafficking and sex work.
    Through overdoses, near-death experiences, dangerous situations, and devastating betrayals, Mickey somehow survived. Life-changing moments eventually led her toward recovery, motherhood, and a new purpose.
    Today, she works with survivors of human trafficking and uses her experience to help others escape situations she once believed she would never survive herself.
    This episode is a raw look at addiction, trauma, recovery, and redemption—and a reminder that transformation is possible.
    🔥 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: [email protected]
    👇 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 #changinglives
  • Get a Grip Podcast

    How My Transgender Baby Daddy Got Me Pregnant, Addicted to F3ntanyI, and Put Me Through Hell | Ep 171

    2026/05/31 | 1h 22 mins.
    In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Isabella Hoover to share a story filled with addiction, betrayal, toxic relationships, family struggles, and ultimately recovery.Isabella's life started with challenges from day one. Born addicted and suffering a stroke as a baby, she faced obstacles long before she could understand them. As a teenager, she was dealt another devastating blow when her mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, sending Isabella deeper into a lifestyle of partying and poor decisions.
    What followed was a relationship that would completely change the course of her life.
    Isabella opens up about meeting the father of her child, the shocking betrayals that followed, and the chaos that consumed their lives. From infidelity and addiction to increasingly bizarre and toxic situations, she shares the reality of being trapped in a relationship fueled by drugs, manipulation, and dysfunction.As opioid use escalated, Isabella found herself battling addiction while trying to navigate pregnancy, motherhood, and a crumbling relationship. She also tells the terrifying story of nearly dying from severe kidney abscesses and spending a month in the hospital, where powerful pain medications contributed to an even deeper dependence on fentanyl.
    The situation only became more complicated after the birth of her child. Child protective services became involved, custody battles emerged, and Isabella was forced to make impossible decisions about her future and the future of her baby.Through it all, she eventually found the strength to break free from addiction, leave behind the chaos, and begin rebuilding her life.
    This episode is a raw and emotional look at how addiction and toxic relationships can destroy lives—and how recovery can create a path forward even when everything seems lost.
    🔥 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: [email protected]
    👇 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 #changinglives
  • Get a Grip Podcast

    From Percs to Needles & Prison | How I Recovered | Ep 170

    2026/05/29 | 1h 14 mins.
    In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Kenny Maupin to talk about how addiction can happen to anyone — even someone who had a good childhood and loving family. Kenny opens up about growing up in a stable home before his parents divorced at a young age, something that quietly affected him more than he realized at the time.
    What started with marijuana and alcohol eventually progressed into harder drugs and ultimately IV heroin use. Kenny shares how addiction slowly took over his life, changing the way he thought, lived, and viewed himself. He talks honestly about the emotional pain, the progression of substance abuse, and how quickly recreational use turned into full-blown dependency.
    Throughout the conversation, Kenny reflects on the choices he made, the people he hurt, and the moments that forced him to confront the reality of his addiction. But this episode is also about hope, transformation, and purpose. Today, Kenny is sober and dedicating his life to helping other people break free from addiction and rebuild their lives.
    This is a powerful reminder that addiction does not discriminate. No matter your upbringing, background, or circumstances, anyone can fall into the cycle — and anyone can recover with the right help, honesty, and support.
    If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, this episode offers real insight, encouragement, and proof that recovery is possible.
    🔥 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: [email protected]
    👇 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 #changinglives
  • Get a Grip Podcast

    My Dad Taught Me How to Smoke Cr4ck… | Ep 169

    2026/05/27 | 1h 34 mins.
    In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Tree Burns for one of the rawest conversations yet. Raised in chaos with a mother addicted to cr4ck and a father constantly in and out of prison, Tree’s childhood spiraled fast. By just 9 years old he was already getting high, running the streets, robbing convenience stores, and getting lit at school while trying to survive a life with no real stability.
    As the violence, partying, and addiction escalated, Tree found himself in and out of trouble, spending years in DYS and later bouncing from house to house, couch to couch, and relationship to relationship just trying to make it. From drinking and fighting constantly to becoming homeless after a police encounter, his life only kept getting darker.
    Things took an even harder turn when he was introduced to m3th and eventually started selling f3ntanyl throughout southeastern Ohio. Tree opens up about the paranoia, daily drug use, chasing people down in a U-Haul after being robbed, and the criminal lifestyle that eventually led to direct indictments and serious consequences.
    One of the most heartbreaking moments of the interview comes when Tree talks about smoking cr4ck with his own father for the first time — a cycle of addiction passed down from generation to generation. What started as a broken childhood turned into years of destruction, benders, arrests, lies, and losing himself completely.
    But this episode is more than just addiction and crime. Tree reflects deeply on becoming a father, losing relationships, hitting rock bottom, and finally realizing that the life he was living was built on lies. He shares how honesty with his probation officer became the first real step toward getting clean and how reflection changed the way he sees himself and the world around him today.
    This is a powerful story about generational trauma, survival, addiction, consequences, and redemption. If you’ve ever struggled, loved someone battling addiction, or wondered how people end up trapped in these cycles, this episode gives an unfiltered look into that reality.
    🔥 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: [email protected]
    👇 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 #changinglives
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About Get a Grip Podcast
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.
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