Get a Grip Podcast

• My Battle with H3r0in, F3ntanyl & Methadone -- Trying to Stay Clean Ep | 95

  In this powerful episode, hosts Aaron and Louis sit down with Dan Vanwallsen, a man whose life took a sharp turn from a normal childhood into the darkness of addiction — and eventually, into a life dedicated to helping others heal.Dan didn’t come from chaos. He didn’t grow up surrounded by addiction or crime. In fact, his childhood was nothing out of the ordinary. But addiction doesn’t discriminate, and for Dan, it started with curiosity — and ended in chains.Heroin entered his life quietly, the kind of thing you think you’ll only try once. But the drug’s grip was fast and unforgiving. To avoid withdrawal and keep functioning, Dan transitioned to methadone — believing it would be his lifeline. Instead, it became another prison. Methadone ruled every day of his life, controlling his decisions, his movements, and his future. It was a ball and chain he dragged behind him for years.Dan’s story is packed with heartbreaking lows and near-fatal mistakes — moments when he couldn’t see a way out and wondered if this was how his story would end. But somewhere in that struggle, something changed. Dan refused to let addiction write the final chapters of his life.Through brutal honesty, support, and an unbreakable will, Dan broke free. He detoxed. He rebuilt. He transformed. And now, he doesn’t just celebrate his own sobriety — he works in recovery, using the pain he survived to guide others out of the same darkness.This episode is unfiltered and packed with emotion — a deep dive into:• How a good childhood can still lead to addiction• The quiet traps heroin and methadone set• The brutal process of getting clean for real• The mission Dan now lives out every day helping othersToday, Dan is proof that no matter how far drugs take you, there is always a way back. His journey is a reminder that recovery isn’t just possible — it’s worth every single fight.🔥 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/officialgetagrippod.cast👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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• I Drank & Used Everyday For 26 Years, Now I’m 15 Years Sober Ep | 94

  In this heartfelt and inspiring episode, host Louis sits down with James Witherspoon, a man who grew up in the tough streets of Detroit and knows firsthand what it feels like to be underestimated. As a kid, James was bullied relentlessly. He never felt like he fit in, never felt like he was enough. But unlike many who struggle early, James didn’t dive into addiction right away. He didn’t start drinking until he was 18… and when he did, he fell in love fast.That love quickly turned toxic. James experimented with other substances, but alcohol always had the tightest grip. No matter how many times he tried to break free, it dragged him back to his knees — again and again. His journey is filled with setbacks, painful lessons, and moments where he wasn’t sure he would survive.But James did more than survive — he transformed. Today, he is the Clinical Director at a treatment facility, helping men and women just like him find hope, healing, and a new life beyond addiction. His story is proof that it’s never too late to rewrite your future and become someone you’re proud of.This episode dives deep into the struggles, the turning points, and the powerful comeback of a man who refused to stay down. James’s honesty and strength make this one of the most uplifting conversations you’ll hear.🔥 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👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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• What This Former Addict Told Middle Schoolers Will Shock You | Ep 93

  In this moving and eye-opening episode, Louis Essig steps into an 8th-grade classroom with one mission — to tell the truth. Not the sugarcoated version, but the real, gritty, and painful truth about drug addiction and how it completely derailed his life.Louis grew up with every opportunity in front of him. He was a bright student, earned good grades, and was active in sports. From the outside, he looked like a kid destined for success — someone who had it all together. But behind the smiles and achievements, Louis began making choices that would slowly unravel everything he once valued. What started as “just trying it once” turned into a full-blown addiction that would steal years of his life, destroy relationships, and leave him homeless on the west side of Columbus, Ohio.Standing in front of these middle school students, Louis doesn’t hold back. He shares the raw details of how addiction doesn’t care who you are — it doesn’t matter where you come from, how smart you are, or what kind of family you grew up in. He talks about the pain, the fear, the hopelessness, and the reality of living every day just trying to survive. But he also shares something else — hope.Today, Louis is using his past to change the future. He travels to schools and communities, speaking directly to young people about the choices that can change everything. He educates them on what can happen when drugs and alcohol become a part of their lives — not just the health risks, but the legal consequences, the felony convictions, and the lifelong challenges that come with those decisions.But more than that, Louis shows that recovery is possible. He’s proof that no matter how far you fall, there’s always a way back. His honesty, emotion, and passion captivate every student in the room, leaving them with a powerful message: one decision can change everything — for better or for worse.This is more than just a talk. It’s a wake-up call. It’s a reminder that addiction doesn’t start in a dark alley — it often starts in a classroom, at a party, or with a friend’s offer. And Louis Essig is here to make sure these kids hear the truth before it’s too late.Watch as Louis turns his pain into purpose, his struggle into strength, and his story into a message that could save lives.🔥 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👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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• I Almost Died 3 Times During My 15-Year M3th & H3ro!n Addiction | Ep 92

  In this raw and unforgettable episode, Louis sits down with Josh Nugent, a man whose journey through addiction, chaos, and near-death experiences is as harrowing as it is inspiring. Josh grew up in the gritty streets of Detroit, where instability and addiction were a part of daily life. His father, a hardworking man who fell victim to alcoholism, eventually lost his job, forcing the family to uproot their lives and move to Columbus in search of a new start. But instead of finding stability, Josh found himself spiraling deeper into darkness. At a young age, he began experimenting with drugs—starting with bath salts and K2, chasing that first high that would quickly turn into an uncontrollable obsession. What began as curiosity soon morphed into addiction, and Josh’s life descended into total chaos. He tells Louis about the wild, dangerous, and often life-threatening situations that followed—violent fights, dangerous drug deals, and moments where he stared down the barrel of a gun, unsure if he would make it out alive. Every high came with a cost, and every escape led him closer to destruction. The drugs took everything from him—his peace, his safety, his sanity—and yet, somehow, he survived.Josh’s story is one of unimaginable darkness but also unbelievable strength. Even in his lowest moments, something inside him refused to quit. He talks about the turning points—the moments when he realized that if he didn’t change, he wouldn’t live much longer. The process of getting clean wasn’t easy. It took humility, pain, and the courage to face everything he’d been running from. Through his recovery, Josh found not just sobriety but purpose. He discovered a calling to help others who were still trapped in the same darkness that almost killed him.Today, Josh Nugent works at a correctional facility, using his past as a powerful tool to reach those who feel hopeless and lost. He connects with inmates and addicts on a level most people never could—because he’s lived it. He knows what it’s like to lose everything, and he knows what it takes to rebuild. His mission is simple but profound: to show others that no matter how far you’ve fallen, redemption is always possible. Join Louis and Josh for an intense, emotional, and deeply human conversation about addiction, survival, and the fight to reclaim your life. This episode doesn’t shy away from the ugly truths—the chaos of meth addiction, the violence of the streets, and the scars that never fully fade—but it also celebrates the beauty of recovery and the strength it takes to transform pain into purpose. Josh’s story is living proof that no matter where you come from or what you’ve done, it’s never too late to rise.🔥 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👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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• I Smoked Cr4ck Until My Hands Bled — Now I Preach | Ep 91

  In this powerful and brutally honest episode, Louis sits down with Brett Wilder, a man whose story of rebellion, addiction, and ultimate redemption is nothing short of extraordinary. Brett opens up about growing up in a deeply religious household with strict, rule-bound parents. What was meant to guide him instead became the fuel for his rebellion. By the time he turned eighteen, Brett decided to taste the world for himself—and that first encounter with alcohol and weed opened a door he would spend years trying to close. What started as experimentation quickly spiraled into chaos, leading Brett down a dark and destructive path ruled by addiction.It wasn’t long before Brett found himself in the grip of a crippling crack cocaine habit—one that consumed every thought, every dollar, and every piece of dignity he had left. He describes the desperation with haunting detail: breaking the crack stem and cutting his own lips just to get one more hit, one more moment of escape from the pain that had become his reality. His days blurred together in a haze of hopelessness, self-destruction, and spiritual torment. The harder he tried to stop, the deeper he sank, until it seemed there was no way out.But Brett’s story didn’t end there. In the midst of his darkness—when he had lost everything—he experienced a moment of divine intervention that would change his life forever. Brett says it was Jesus Christ Himself who reached into his chaos and pulled him out. That encounter broke the chains of addiction and gave him a new purpose. Today, Brett is an evangelist and revivalist, traveling to share his testimony and help others confront and cast out the demons that hold them captive. He speaks with conviction, passion, and gratitude, knowing firsthand that no one is too far gone to be redeemed.Join Louis and Brett Wilder for an unfiltered conversation about rebellion, addiction, and spiritual awakening. This episode dives deep into the painful realities of crack addiction and the miraculous transformation that followed. It’s a raw, emotional journey through the lowest valleys of human experience to the highest peaks of faith and freedom—a testament to the power of grace, deliverance, and the strength of a man who refused to let his story end in darkness.🔥 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👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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