Get a Grip Podcast

In this unforgettable episode, Louis sits down with Jeremy Harrell, a U.S. military veteran whose life took a shocking and surreal turn after he returned home from serving his country. What begins as a story about service, sacrifice, and trying to do the right thing quickly unfolds into one of the most unbelievable cautionary tales you’ll ever hear.After spending time deployed in Iraq, Jeremy came home hoping to rebuild his life and continue serving—this time by helping others. Instead, he found himself fired while navigating the VA system, struggling to reintegrate, and facing the harsh realities many veterans know all too well. Refusing to give up, Jeremy did what few people would dare to do: he started a nonprofit organization aimed at making a difference where institutions had failed.The organization wasn’t fringe or ignored—it was so impactful that it was even recognized and selected by the History Channel, a moment that should have marked validation and success. But instead of praise and support, Jeremy’s nonprofit drew the attention of VA agents. What followed was almost unimaginable: he was issued a summons related to his nonprofit, charged with a Class C federal felony, and ultimately found himself incarcerated in federal prison.In this raw and eye-opening conversation, Jeremy breaks down how a veteran trying to serve his community ended up locked up by the very system meant to support him. He shares what it was like to go from Iraq to federal custody, how quickly life can unravel, and what this experience taught him about power, bureaucracy, and resilience. This is not just a story about prison—it’s about purpose, injustice, and the cost of standing up when the rules aren’t made for people like you.This is a true 1-of-1 story—one that raises serious questions about how veterans are treated, how nonprofits are policed, and how easily good intentions can turn into life-altering consequences. You won’t hear anything like this anywhere else.🔥 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.#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

In this deeply personal and powerful episode, Aaron sits down with Louis for a raw, unfiltered conversation about mental health, grief, and survival.Louis opens up about the profound impact of losing both of his parents and how that loss reshaped every part of his life. He speaks candidly about the mental health struggles that followed — from overwhelming grief and isolation to panic attacks, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts — and the quiet, exhausting battle of trying to keep going when everything feels heavy.This isn’t a polished or sugar-coated conversation. It’s an honest look at what it means to live with grief long after the world expects you to have “moved on.” Louis shares what those darkest moments felt like, how his mind turned against him at times, and how panic and fear would appear without warning. Together, Aaron and Louis explore how loss can change your sense of identity, your relationships, and your understanding of yourself.At the same time, this episode is about survival, vulnerability, and connection. Louis reflects on what helped him endure — the small moments, the people who showed up, and the slow, uneven process of learning how to live with pain instead of running from it. Aaron creates a space that allows the conversation to unfold naturally, asking thoughtful questions and holding space for honesty without judgment.This episode is for anyone who has:Experienced deep loss or griefStruggled with anxiety, panic attacks, or intrusive thoughtsFelt alone in their mental health journeyNeeded to hear that they are not broken for feeling the way they do⚠️ Content Warning: This episode includes discussions of mental health struggles, suicidal ideation, grief, and panic attacks. Please take care while watching and step away if you need to.If this conversation resonates with you, know that you’re not alone. Talking about mental health openly matters — and sharing stories like Louis’s can help break the silence that keeps so many people suffering quietly.If you or someone you know is struggling right now, consider reaching out to a trusted person or a mental health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you’re outside the U.S., local crisis resources are available in many countries.💬 Let us know in the comments what this episode meant to you, and consider sharing it with someone who might need to hear it.❤️ If you found this conversation meaningful, like, subscribe, and join us for more honest discussions that matter.🔥 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.

In this powerful and unfiltered episode, Louis sits down with Kevin Dye for a raw conversation about survival, addiction, crime, loss, and redemption. Kevin opens up about growing up in chaos and being exposed to addiction at a young age, watching his family struggle while trying to find his own identity in an unforgiving environment.The conversation dives deep into Kevin’s relationship with his brother and how addiction ran through their lives, shaping decisions that would follow them for decades. Kevin shares the moment he first crossed the line into using himself, and how quickly that escalated into reckless behavior that put his life and others at risk. From heavy drinking and drug use to dangerous choices behind the wheel, Kevin doesn’t hold back on the reality of how dark things became.Kevin recounts stories from the streets that reveal how he became deeply involved in dealing, navigating dangerous environments, cutting people off, and surviving situations that easily could have ended his life. He talks about discovering new territories, learning how the game worked, and the mindset that allowed him to justify his actions while ignoring the damage being done.One of the most emotional parts of the conversation comes when Kevin reflects on the moment he realized he had a serious problem, and how meeting his future wife while she was still living on the streets became a turning point in his life. He explains how he tried to restart, convincing himself he could change the rules by selling to the trap instead of the user, and the false sense of control that came with that thinking.Kevin also speaks on the reality of the drug world at higher levels, including the danger faced by kilo dealers and the violence tied to cartel involvement. With shocking honesty, he breaks down how he became known for his cooking skills, earning a reputation that brought both money and attention, but also intensified the risk and consequences.The episode continues with stories of riding dirty, constantly looking over his shoulder, and eventually reaching the breaking point that led him toward recovery. Kevin shares deeply personal moments, including being confronted by his son, finding his brother in devastating conditions, and the chain reaction of events that caused everything in his life to collapse.This is not a glorified story of crime or drugs. It is a cautionary, human account of how addiction can consume generations, destroy families, and convince people they are in control when they are not. Kevin’s honesty sheds light on the long road to accountability, recovery, and rebuilding a life from the ground up.A must-watch conversation about consequences, survival, and the possibility of change 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👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

In this episode, John Ross sits down with Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes to share his story with honesty, perspective, and hard-earned clarity. John walks through his early exposure to drugs and alcohol, growing up around addiction, and the choices that led him to drinking heavily by 14 and experimenting with substances at a young age. He reflects on his first experiences with Xanax and the blackout fueled by rage that became a turning point in his life. The conversation explores his first arrest, time spent in county jail, relapse, and the cycle of consequences that followed. John also opens up about rebuilding, navigating probation, confronting a gambling addiction that left him over $100,000 in debt, and learning from the losses. This episode isn’t just about how things fell apart—it’s about accountability, survival, and the awareness that comes from hitting bottom and choosing a different direction.🎧 Time Stamps00:01:30 – Introduction to Ritalin00:03:30 – Doing Adderall at a young age00:05:00 – Growing up with a mother smoking crack00:07:30 – First time smoking weed00:11:30 – Drinking alcohol at 1400:12:30 – Passing out drunk in the snow at 1400:14:00 – First introduction to Xanax00:17:00 – Doing Suboxone before church00:20:15 – First arrest00:23:00 – Robbing a man with a wad of cash (first felony)00:28:00 – Xanax blackout00:29:00 – Flashes of rage (HOOK)00:38:00 – What county jail is really like (ends ~42:00)00:49:30 – Cheeking meds for ramen (Louis closing blinds)00:55:00 – Going back to jail00:59:30 – Relapse and working with his P.O.01:02:00 – Gambling addiction: making money, then losing it all01:06:00 – $100,000 in debt at Hollywood Casino01:09:30 – Wrapping up🔥 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.

Louis sits down with Kyle Darby for one of the craziest, rawest, and most brutally honest conversations ever recorded on the pod. Kyle opens up about his chaotic past, from breaking into his dad’s safe as a kid to the night cops stormed into his house and the spiral that followed. He dives into the infamous M3th story, how he once got people strung out without even realizing the long-term damage, and how h3roin and X4nax became his drugs of choice while a dirty doctor kept the prescriptions flowing. Kyle talks about getting high with his dad, cutting his dad’s 80 in half, and the surreal moment he snorted his baby mom’s ex-husband’s ashes—yes, really—which became one of the craziest hooks in podcast history. He breaks down how he accidentally snorted cremains, shares his most intense OD story, and reflects on relapsing after three years of sobriety. This episode is wild, heartbreaking, darkly funny, and ultimately human—an unfiltered look at addiction, family, and the chaos that shaped Kyle’s life. “Snorting Cremains” might be the thumbnail, but the conversation runs much deeper than shock value. Buckle up.🔥 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.