# I Was a Daily Blackout Drinker... Then I Got 5 DUIs | Ep 184

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/get-a-grip-podcast-7141471/i-was-a-daily-blackout-drinker-then-i-got-5-duis-ep-184
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/get-a-grip-podcast-7141471/i-was-a-daily-blackout-drinker-then-i-got-5-duis-ep-184.md
Podcast: [Get a Grip Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/get-a-grip-podcast-7141471)
Published: 2026-07-05T23:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/officialgetagrippodcast/episodes/I-Was-a-Daily-Blackout-Drinker----Then-I-Got-5-DUIs--Ep-184-e3lmhri
Audio file: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/APO3480970041.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/get-a-grip-podcast-7141471/episodes/i-was-a-daily-blackout-drinker-then-i-got-5-duis-ep-184
Duration seconds: 3681

## Resource

In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Ben Solove to discuss a lifetime of alcoholism, repeated second chances, and the decision that finally changed everything. Ben's story begins with an ordinary childhood, but like many people, his relationship with alcohol started at a young age. What seemed like harmless drinking gradually became a dependence that followed him through high school, college, and adulthood. After attending The Ohio State University, Ben eventually dropped out and took a job at Chi-Chi's, where drinking became woven into his everyday life. He shares stories from the restaurant industry, following the Grateful Dead across the country, and the culture that normalized heavy drinking while masking a growing addiction. As alcohol tightened its grip, the consequences became impossible to ignore. Ben opens up about drinking on the job, the first DUI that should have been a wake-up call, and how he ultimately accumulated five DUIs in just five years. He reflects on the legal trouble, damaged relationships, and the emotional toll of watching his life slowly unravel. The conversation also explores his first marriage, the divorce that followed, and the moment he realized he could no longer continue living the way he had been. Through drug court, accountability, and a willingness to finally change, Ben began rebuilding his life from the ground up. After completing the program, Ben moved to Key West hoping for a fresh start. While life continued to throw unexpected challenges his way, including another painful relationship ending, he remained committed to his recovery and the life he had worked so hard to build. This episode is an honest conversation about alcoholism, consequences, redemption, and proving it's never too l…

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## Transcript

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