Get a Grip Podcast

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Chris Tudor for an incredible story of addiction, world travel, relapse, and the realization that no matter where you run, you can't outrun yourself.
Chris' struggles began early with juvenile detention and behavioral issues that hinted at a lifetime of chasing the next escape. After spending time at a recovery center as a young person, he believed he could leave addiction behind—but the patterns continued to follow him into adulthood.
Following his first felony stop, Chris enlisted in the U.S. Army hoping to build a better future. Instead, he found that his addictive behaviors simply shifted into different areas of his life. After leaving the military, he joined a traveling sales team before eventually building a successful career growing marijuana.On the outside, life looked promising—but behind the scenes, alcoholism and opioid addiction were taking over.
Chris shares how prescription OxyContin changed everything, leading him down what many knew as the "OXY Highway" before heroin completely consumed his life. In a desperate attempt to escape addiction, he moved to Detroit—once known for its massive heroin market—believing a change of scenery would somehow fix the problem.
When that didn't work, Chris took his search for sobriety across the globe.
From obtaining a work visa in New Zealand and experiencing opioid withdrawal on an international flight, to getting a DUI overseas and traveling through Thailand, Vietnam, and Australia in search of a fresh start, Chris discovered that geography couldn't solve what addiction had created.
After returning to Ohio, his addiction became even more severe. He survived a fentanyl overdose, hit rock bottom after nodding off around his daughter, and eventually found himself homeless while using both methamphetamine and fentanyl.Chris shares what finally led him to treatment, the lessons he learned from years of running from addiction, and why true recovery only began when he stopped trying to escape himself.This episode is a powerful reminder that recovery isn't about finding a new place—it's about becoming a new person.
🔥 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!
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📩 Email: getagrippodcast614@gmail.com
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#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 #changinglivesdaily

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Rachid Yatkin for an unforgettable conversation about childhood trauma, incarceration, addiction, and the fight to rebuild a life after years of destructive choices.Rachid's story begins with a turbulent childhood marked by conflict at home. He opens up about his complicated relationship with his father, enduring abuse from his mother, and growing up as what he describes as a "Ritalin baby."
He also reflects on what it was like being a student during the September 11th attacks and how those early experiences shaped the person he would become.
As he got older, Rachid became involved in the streets, eventually robbing drug dealers and finding himself caught in a cycle of crime that led to burglary charges and time in prison. He shares the harsh realities of life behind bars, from witnessing violence and disturbing events to becoming involved in violent encounters himself.
The conversation also explores the surprising availability of drugs inside prison and how addiction continued even while incarcerated. After his release, Rachid returned to dealing drugs before his own substance use spiraled further, eventually leading him to methamphetamine and severe alcohol addiction.At his lowest point, alcohol completely consumed his life. Rachid speaks candidly about the staggering amounts he was drinking, the terrifying experience of alcohol withdrawal that landed him in the hospital, and the moment he realized he had to make a change or risk losing everything.
Today, Rachid is committed to recovery and uses his experiences to show others that no matter how dark life becomes, there is always hope for a new beginning.This episode is a powerful conversation about accountability, redemption, and the courage it takes 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
👇 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 #changinglivesdaily

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig sits down with Shawn Mims for a powerful conversation about childhood trauma, addiction, homelessness, and the journey toward lasting recovery.
Shawn's story begins with a difficult childhood that set the stage for years of destructive choices. He shares how he started smoking cigarettes at just nine years old, long before he understood the consequences of addiction. After losing his father, Shawn struggled to cope with the grief, and substance use quickly became an escape.
As a teenager, marijuana became a major part of his life, eventually leading him to drop out of school. What started with weed soon escalated into experimenting with harder drugs, pulling Shawn deeper into a lifestyle of addiction and crime.By just 18 years old, Shawn was facing multiple felony burglary charges. He reflects on the decisions that led him there, the consequences that followed, and the experiences that shaped his outlook on life—including a memorable psychedelic experience that forced him to confront parts of himself he had been avoiding.
When heroin entered the picture, everything changed. Shawn opens up about his first experience with the drug, the rapid downward spiral that followed, and how addiction eventually left him living in a homeless shelter with nowhere left to turn.
Despite years of struggle, Shawn found a way out. He shares what recovery looked like for him, the changes that helped him stay sober, and why he believes anyone can rebuild their life no matter how far they've fallen.This episode is an honest conversation about loss, addiction, second chances, and the hope that recovery can bring.
🔥 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.
#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 #changinglivesdaily

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig sits down with T.Y. Brooks for a raw and honest conversation about growing up in the streets, juvenile detention, addiction, and finding a new path through recovery.
T.Y.'s struggles began at an early age. After getting into trouble as a kid, he spent two and a half years in the Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS), an experience that shaped much of his teenage years. Once back on the streets, he quickly became immersed in the drug culture, experimenting with opioids and finding ways to make money through illegal hustles.
He opens up about trying OxyContin for the first time, selling counterfeit drugs, and how partying with substances like MDMA eventually led him down an even darker road. When methamphetamine entered his life, everything changed.T.Y. shares what it was like discovering meth before the COVID-19 pandemic, how the drug evolved over the years, and the terrifying moment he unknowingly used meth that had been contaminated with fentanyl. He discusses the dangers of today's illicit drug supply, the increasing risk of accidental overdose, and how addiction became harder than ever to escape.
After attempting to clean up his life, T.Y. experienced setbacks and relapse before finally finding a recovery that worked for him. He reflects on the lessons he learned through addiction, what sobriety looks like today, and why he believes anyone struggling can still turn their life around.
This episode is a powerful conversation about resilience, accountability, and hope in the face of addiction.
🔥 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.
#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 #changinglivesdaily

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Aaron Garnes and Louis Essig sit down with Eddie Pennington for a gripping conversation about growing up in addiction, surviving the streets, and finding hope after years of substance abuse and legal trouble.
Eddie's story begins in a home where addiction was already a part of everyday life. Raised by an alcoholic father and a mother battling crack cocaine addiction, he was introduced to alcohol at a young age, drinking Little Kings while still a kid. As if that wasn't enough, a devastating car accident during his early teens became another defining moment in his life.
As Eddie got older, his drug use escalated from experimentation to full-blown addiction. He shares how he became involved in transporting drugs on trips to Florida, eventually developing a severe crack cocaine addiction before progressing to intravenous drug use.
The conversation dives into the realities of street life, including boosting stolen vehicles, committing retail theft, passing fraudulent checks, and the criminal lifestyle that funded his addiction. Eddie explains how those choices eventually caught up with him, leading to serious charges and life-changing consequences.
After getting sober, Eddie believed the worst was behind him. But addiction had one more chapter to write. He opens up about relapsing while in a relationship, becoming addicted to fentanyl, surviving another devastating car accident, and nearly losing his life to an overdose.
Today, Eddie reflects on the lessons he learned through recovery, the importance of accountability, and why he continues to share his story to help others who are still trapped in addiction.
This episode is a powerful reminder that no matter how far addiction takes you, recovery is always 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: getagrippodcast614@gmail.com
👇 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 #changinglivesdaily