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Get a Grip Podcast

Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes
Get a Grip Podcast
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5 of 66
  • How Cocaine, Adderall, And Meth Led Me To Heart Failure And Relying On Batteries To Keep It Pumping | Episode 65
    In this jaw-dropping episode, Louis and Aaron sit down with the unforgettable Kody Schaffner — better known as “Just a Dude on Batteries.” Kody’s story begins in a quiet small town in Ohio, but his path quickly takes a turn most couldn’t imagine. After bouncing through the foster care system, Kody began drinking at an early age, seeking escape and stability in all the wrong places. As an adult, Kody became a hardworking tower tech for T-Mobile, scaling massive towers and logging endless hours. To keep up with the brutal demands of the job, he turned to harder drugs — a decision that would have consequences no one could predict.Eventually, when Kody tried to get clean, his body had other plans. His heart gave out, and today, it runs on actual batteries — a mechanical system that keeps him alive. It’s one of the most extreme examples of what long-term substance abuse can do to the human body.But even in the face of such a severe consequence, Kody’s story is filled with hope. With a disciplined exercise regimen and continued sobriety, there’s a chance he may one day live without the batteries. His journey is raw, real, and a powerful reminder that no matter how far gone things seem, there is always a way back. Don’t miss this powerful episode — it’s one that will stay with you.🔔 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/officialgetagrippodcast⁠Follow Kody's SocialsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@justadudeonbatteriesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/justadudeonbatteriesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CANtH5FL7/?mibextid=wwXIfrYouTube: https://youtube.com/@justadudeonbatteries
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  • Fentanyl, Felonies, and a Second Chance — The Dark Side of Addiction | Episode 65
    In this gripping and unfiltered episode, Louis sit's down with Tyler Baker—better known in the streets as Vito Dinero—for an unforgettable deep dive into the life of a man who went from stealing cars and running hustles to rebuilding his life after prison. Tyler’s story is raw, real, and packed with emotion, revealing the dark alleys of a criminal past and the uphill climb toward redemption.Tyler opens up about growing up in chaos—from a broken home filled with instability to the early choices that pulled him into a world of crime. As a kid, he was angry, lost, and looking for power in all the wrong places. That path would eventually lead him to incarceration, where the real story begins.What makes this episode even more powerful is the unique dynamic between Louis and Tyler. Years before sitting across from each other on this podcast, Louis was a corrections officer, and Tyler was behind bars. Tyler shares his first impression of Louis from the inmate’s side of the fence and reflects on the complex relationship between inmates and COs. Their candid exchange reveals what prison life looks like from both sides of the system—and it's not what you see in movies.Tyler doesn’t hold back as he describes his time in prison—how he learned to navigate danger, the mental strategies he developed to stay sharp, and even wild survival techniques like “fishing for skunks”—a bizarre and hilarious method he swears by for getting what you need in lockup. Listeners get a front-row seat to the realities of prison culture, the unwritten rules, and the moments that tested his humanity.But crime wasn’t just about survival—Tyler once loved it. He talks openly about the thrill he got from stealing cars, the tactics he used to outsmart security systems, and how the high-stakes game of criminal life became an addiction of its own. The stories are intense, but the turning point comes when Tyler explains how that same adrenaline nearly cost him everything.This episode isn’t just about mistakes—it’s about growth. Tyler shares what finally broke through his hardened exterior, what redemption looks like from the inside, and how he found a new path when most people counted him out. From the depths of incarceration to building a new future outside the walls, Tyler's transformation is a testament to resilience, vulnerability, and the power of change.If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to walk away from the streets and build a new life, this is the episode for you. Packed with emotion, insight, dark humor, and redemption, Tyler Baker's story is a raw blueprint for anyone who’s ever wanted to break free from their past.🔔 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
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  • I Interviewed The Judge That Sent Me To Jail - Then Helped Me Get A Job There | Episode 64
    In this powerful and emotional full-circle moment, Louis sits down with none other than The Honorable Judge Stephen McIntosh — the very judge who once sentenced him to jail.What begins as an intense reunion quickly unfolds into a candid, raw, and deeply insightful conversation about justice, redemption, and the power of second chances. Judge McIntosh opens up about the hard truths of the prison system, exposing the flaws he’s witnessed firsthand after decades on the bench. But he doesn’t stop there — he shares how his perspective has evolved and the changes he’s made in his courtroom, including his championing of a drug court program that gives people struggling with addiction a real shot at recovery instead of more time behind bars.The episode dives into Louis’ time in that very program, and the pivotal moment when Judge McIntosh sent him to jail for what would be the last time. They revisit that day, the weight of that decision, and how it ultimately became the turning point in Louis' life.This is more than a podcast — it’s a redemption story told from both sides of the bench. Expect honesty, humility, and hope in this remarkable dialogue between a man who once handed down sentences and the man who turned one of those sentences into a life reclaimed.Don't miss this one — it's history, healing, and humanity in one unforgettable conversation.🔔 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
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  • Master Manipulator Transported Drugs Around Prison | Episode 63
    In this powerful and emotional episode, Louis and Aaron sit down with Sean McMahon, a man whose life took a drastic turn from a seemingly typical suburban childhood to the unforgiving grip of addiction and crime. Sean grew up in a stable home, surrounded by everything he needed to succeed. But by the age of 13, his curiosity and environment led him down a dangerous path—he tried hard drugs for the first time, and nothing was ever the same.That early encounter ignited a downward spiral that would consume his teenage years and carry him deep into the world of criminal activity. Sean quickly found himself immersed in a lifestyle of theft, drug deals, and hustling just to survive. His choices eventually landed him behind bars, not once, but multiple times. Even in prison, Sean couldn’t escape the chaos. He became known for his ability to move drugs through the prison system, operating under the radar in one of the most high-stakes environments imaginable.But no matter how tough or street-smart he became, Sean couldn’t outrun the pain that addiction brings. Eventually, the weight of it all—loss, regret, exhaustion—broke through his hardened exterior. Desperate for a way out, he entered rehab and began the long, grueling process of healing. For the first time in his life, he faced the truth, fought his demons, and made the choice to live differently.Today, Sean is a completely transformed man. Clean, healthy, and full of purpose, he now dedicates his life to helping others find their way out of the same darkness he once knew so well. His story is one of raw truth, unbelievable resilience, and the hope that redemption is always possible—no matter how far gone you think you are.🔔 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
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  • Using Heroin At 15 Years Old Led Me To Prostitution, Trauma, a Life I Couldn't Escape | Episode 63
    Alyx Gold’s story starts off like many others — a relatively normal childhood, a decent upbringing, nothing too out of the ordinary. She had hopes, dreams, and a future ahead of her. But everything changed the day she tried heroin for the first time at just 15 years old. That single moment sent her life spiraling into a world she never could have imagined. What followed was years of darkness — battling addiction, committing crimes just to survive, and selling herself for money in the streets. The girl who once had so much potential found herself trapped in a cycle of pain, shame, and survival. But Alyx isn’t someone who gave up. She’s someone who got up. After years of hitting rock bottom over and over again, she made the decision to fight for her life. Through countless struggles and moments where the light at the end of the tunnel seemed impossible to find, she found recovery — and held on with everything she had. Today, Alyx works at a rehab center, pouring her heart and soul into helping others who are walking the same broken path she once did. She’s a fierce advocate, a powerful voice, and proof that even in the darkest places, redemption is possible.In this episode, Alyx sits down to share her jaw-dropping journey — raw, real, and unfiltered. From the depths of addiction to the heights of purpose-driven recovery, she tells it all. If you’ve ever wondered how someone can come back from the brink and turn their pain into power, this is the story you need to hear.🔔 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/officialgetagrippodcast⁠Connect with Alyx:IG: https://www.instagram.com/@ _alyxgoldTikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/real_housewives_of_resilienceFB:https://www.facebook.com/share/18qBNF6CcU/mibextid=wwXIfrhttps://www.speakinggold.com
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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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