Get a Grip Podcast

Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes

Addiction

Recovery

Mental Health

Entrepreneurship

Federal Prison System

Ponzi Scheme

Addiction Recovery

O.J. Simpson

Drug Use

Sobriety

Video Games

Alcoholism

Event Planning

Social Media Influence

Digital Marketing

Family

Faith and Spirituality

Nostalgia

Content Creation

Mass Murder

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... more

276 ratings

Publishes	Twice weekly	Episodes	152	Founded	a year ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	Personal JournalsSociety & Culture

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Latest Episodes

I Was Forced to Shoot Heroin at 16… It Changed My Life Forever | Ep 150

In this deeply raw and emotional episode of Get a Grip Podcast, hosts Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Alysha Shbasky to share a story that is as heartbreaking as it is powerful.Alysha’s journey into addiction started early—watching her mom... more

10 Apr 2026 • 52 min

How Heroin Addiction Led Me to 10 Years in West Virginia Prison | Ep 148

In this powerful episode of Get a Grip Podcast, hosts Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Cameron Brewster for a raw and unfiltered conversation about a life shaped by trauma, addiction, prison, and ultimately redemption.Cameron opens up about... more

8 Apr 2026 • 1 hr 8 min

How I Built an OxyContin Empire at 19… Inside Florida’s Pill Mill Era | Ep 147

In this episode of the Get A Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Josh Shaw to unpack a wild story of early crime, addiction, and building an underground empire during the height of the pill mill era.Josh’s journey starts young—ge... more

5 Apr 2026 • 2 hrs 21 min

I Was Pregnant at 18 and Addicted to Meth & Opiates… This Is How I Survived | Ep 146

In this powerful and emotional episode of the Get A Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Shaye Shunkle to share a story that is as heartbreaking as it is inspiring—a journey through addiction, motherhood, chaos, and ultimately, re... more

3 Apr 2026 • 1 hr 11 min

Key Facts

Accepts Guests

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Number of Listeners

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Recent Guests

Cameron Brewster

Guest from Parkersburg, West Virginia

Episode: How Heroin Addiction Led Me to 10 Years in West Virginia Prison | Ep 148

Josh Shaw

Guest of the episode, sharing his life story from early adversity through pill-mill era criminal activity to recovery

Cleveland, Ohio-based individual with addiction and crime history

Episode: How I Built an OxyContin Empire at 19… Inside Florida’s Pill Mill Era | Ep 147

Shaye Shunkle

Speaker from Mount Vernon, Ohio dealing with addiction and recovery

Individual guest

Episode: I Was Pregnant at 18 and Addicted to Meth & Opiates… This Is How I Survived | Ep 146

Matt Wiseman

Guest who shares his addiction and prison experience

From Zanesville/Whitehall area, Ohio

Episode: I Was a Full-Blown Addict at 12… Then Got Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison | Ep 145

Vinny Ramirez

Guest on Get a Grip Podcast, recovering addict with lived experience in gangs, prison, and recovery

Independent / Guest on Get a Grip Podcast

Episode: I Started Dealing Heroin in High School… and Almost Lost Everything Ep | 144

Marrissa Hibbler

Guest sharing her lived experience with addiction, pregnancy, and recovery

Columbus, Ohio

Episode: How I Lost a Child During Crack & Heroin Addiction | Ep 142

Al Savage

Guest, from Toledo, Ohio, with a long history of addiction and incarceration, now advocate and speaker on recovery

Independent recovery advocate

Episode: How I Went From Heroin Addiction at 14 to 23 Years in Prison… Now 22 Years Sober | Ep 141

Chelsea Boggs

Resident of Springfield, Ohio; speaker sharing her addiction and recovery journey

Springfield, Ohio

Episode: From Fake IDs to Fentanyl: How My Addiction Took Everything | Ep 140

Nicole Stull

Guest introduced as a wonderful guest; survivor sharing trauma and recovery journey

Independent survivor and advocate

Episode: From My Dad’s Drug Mule at 5 to Facing 80 Years In Prison | A Life Built on Trauma | Ep 139

Hosts

Louis Essig

Co-host and advocate for recovery, highlighting personal experiences.

Aaron Garnes

Co-host and recovery advocate, sharing insights from his journey.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 276 ratings

Great podcast
Very real open honest podcast!
Apple Podcasts
5
AHersh17
United States14 days ago
Such a great podcast
Having never been an addict myself but being the sibling of 2 former addicts, this podcast is really insightful for me. The guests are always great story tellers, and I am truly impressed and proud that they went through everything they went through and got out to tell the story on the other side. I also really enjoy the hosts’ antidotes of their own story throughout the episodes. Selfishly, I also appreciate that this podcast isn’t full of ads unlike all of the other ones I listen to. I can alw... more
Apple Podcasts
5
princessmay107
United Statesa month ago
Love this pod
I absolutely love this podcast. I actually found it on TikTok and just started listening on Monday. I love how real and raw the stories are. I just celebrated 8 years clean and wish I would have had this podcast when I was early in my recovery.
Apple Podcasts
5
LeliaAsh
United States2 months ago
Excellent Podcast
My only critique would be to vet people who claim they got clean because of a spiritual awakening and that god drove them to help others. It sends a weird message to folks who don’t need Christianity to get clean and really highlights how folks trade one addiction for another. At least be responsible and put a notice up that one persons experienced is different from othered. This last guys story was really interesting but when he got to the Jesus delusions it’s went off the rails.
Apple Podcasts
5
BobMaloogaLoogaLoogaLooga
United States2 months ago
Enjoy the stories but..
I don't like to discredit anyone buuuuut I do not like the host, at alllllll. he seems high or on something, imo. his demeanor/voice is so so so irritating, even though i absolutely enjoy his guests.
Apple Podcasts
1
bbbbfjtdktd
United States4 months ago

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Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The connection the hosts have with their guests is often highlighted as a positive aspect.

Listeners appreciate the raw and candid storytelling that creates relatable moments.

Listeners resonate with the mission to destigmatize addiction and recovery narratives.

There is an emphasis on humor which helps to balance heavy topics.

Some reviews express concern over the hosts' demeanor or delivery during discussions.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts	#27	United States/Society & Culture/Personal Journals
Apple Podcasts	#41	Canada/Society & Culture/Personal Journals
Apple Podcasts	#225	United Kingdom/Society & Culture/Personal Journals
Apple Podcasts	#46	Australia/Society & Culture/Personal Journals
Apple Podcasts	#49	South Africa/Society & Culture/Personal Journals
Apple Podcasts	#72	Norway/Society & Culture/Personal Journals

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How I Built an OxyContin Empire at 19… Inside Florida’s Pill Mill Era | Ep 147

Q: How did you end up in prison and what happened there?

A series of charges related to drugs and prescription forgery led to county jail time, then a prison sentence after plea negotiations; in prison, the guest encountered ongoing drug use among inmates but ultimately found a path to sobriety through programs and self-reflection.

How I Built an OxyContin Empire at 19… Inside Florida’s Pill Mill Era | Ep 147

Q: What was the turning point that pushed you toward serious crime with pills?

The combination of a heavy drug habit, easy access to prescription pills through pain clinics, and the era's lax safeguards created a financial and lifestyle incentive to scale up, especially after the stepfather's death removed a source of stability and accountability.

The Reality of Meth & Fentanyl Addiction on the Streets of Hilltop, Ohio | Ep 143

Q: How did you end up in treatment, and what was that experience like?

Treatment happened at times when I realized I wasn't doing it for myself, so I decided to give it another shot. It's a tough, ongoing process, and readiness matters a lot—without being fully ready, it's hard to stay, but trying again and being honest about your progress and setbacks is crucial.

The Reality of Meth & Fentanyl Addiction on the Streets of Hilltop, Ohio | Ep 143

Q: What advice would you have for anybody that's out there struggling or anything you would want to tell people?

Be true to yourself, take it one day at a time, and focus on small, achievable steps toward recovery rather than trying to fix everything at once. Recognize that it's okay to ask for help and to accept that you'll make mistakes along the way, but keep showing up and trying to do better each day.

How My Heroin Addiction & Losing My Mom to an Overdose Inspired This Podcast | Ep 138

Q: What inspired you to start the podcast and share your story publicly?

The host explains that sharing his recovery journey and experiences with addiction helps others, educates younger audiences, and reduces stigma, while validating that recovery is possible.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Get a Grip Podcast

What is Get a Grip Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content revolves around the deeply personal narratives of individuals who have faced addiction, showcasing their struggles, recovery journeys, and triumphs. Many guests share their transformative stories about overcoming obstacles such as homelessness, family trauma, and severe substance abuse, often highlighting pivotal moments that led them to seek help. The discussions tend to blend raw honesty with elements of humor, providing both insight and inspiration to listeners. Unique to this series is the focus on unfiltered storytelling that emphasizes vulnerability while destigmatizing the discourse around addiction and recovery, making it appealing to a broad audience.

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How many listeners does Get a Grip Podcast get?

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What are the audience demographics for Get a Grip Podcast?

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Which podcasts are similar to Get a Grip Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Get a Grip Podcast:

1. Rise Above with Kevin Lanning
2. Locked In with Ian Bick
3. Nothing’s Off the Table with Louis Ruggiero
4. We're All Insane
5. Dumb Blonde

How many episodes of Get a Grip Podcast are there?

Get a Grip Podcast launched a year ago and published 152 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Get a Grip Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Get a Grip Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on Get a Grip Podcast?

Recent guests on Get a Grip Podcast include:

1. Cameron Brewster
2. Josh Shaw
3. Shaye Shunkle
4. Matt Wiseman
5. Vinny Ramirez
6. Marrissa Hibbler
7. Al Savage
8. Chelsea Boggs

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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