{"podcast":{"title":"Get a Grip Podcast","slug":"get-a-grip-podcast-7141471","podcast_index_feed_id":7141471,"rss_url":"https://anchor.fm/s/f9cdd698/podcast/rss","website_url":"https://linktr.ee/officialgetagrippodcast","image_url":"https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/staging/podcast_uploaded_nologo/41810166/41810166-1742665156512-51f4e5b811028.jpg","author":"Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes","episode_count":193,"summary":"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.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-16T10:19:52.913714+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/get-a-grip-podcast-7141471"},"episode":{"title":"Surviving Oxy Addiction, & Poverty in The Bottoms of Columbus, Ohio | Ep 175","slug":"surviving-oxy-addiction-poverty-in-the-bottoms-of-columbus-ohio-ep-175","published_at":"2026-06-12T23:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/get-a-grip-podcast-7141471/surviving-oxy-addiction-poverty-in-the-bottoms-of-columbus-ohio-ep-175","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/get-a-grip-podcast-7141471","url":"https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/officialgetagrippodcast/episodes/Surviving-Oxy-Addiction---Poverty-in-The-Bottoms-of-Columbus--Ohio--Ep-175-e3kmr52","audio_url":"https://traffic.megaphone.fm/APO7733239870.mp3","summary":"In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Joey Blake for a raw and unforgettable conversation about addiction, poverty, fatherhood, and recovery.Joey's story begins with humble beginnings, born to a 14-year-old mother and raised in circumstances that made life difficult from the start. By the time he was a teenager, he was already experimenting with alcohol and marijuana, while simultaneously facing the responsibilities of becoming a father at just 16 years old. Less than a year later, he was expecting another child. As the pressure mounted, Joey found himself chasing money, drugs, and escape. He shares how he blew through $200,000 in just a few months, the destruction addiction brought into his life, and the chaos that followed. From methamphetamine and crack cocaine to a devastating opioid addiction, Joey's life spiraled into survival mode. The conversation dives deep into life in the Bottoms of Columbus, Ohio, where addiction, poverty, and crime became everyday realities. Joey opens up about running a Florida pill mill operation, encounters with Child Protective Services, dangerous living conditions, and the heartbreaking impact addiction had on his family and children. Despite years of chaos, loss, and self-destruction—including the death of his mother from an aneurysm related to substance abuse—Joey eventually found a way out. He shares the moment recovery finally started to make sense, the importance of finding the right sponsor, and how sobriety transformed not only his life but the lives of his children. Today, Joey is navigating recovery, raising a large family, and proving that change is possible no matter how far someone has fallen. This episode is a powerful reminder that addiction doesn't care where you come from—but…","meta_description":"In this episode of Get a Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Joey Blake for a raw and unforgettable conversation about addiction, pov…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":5584,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/get-a-grip-podcast-7141471/episodes/surviving-oxy-addiction-poverty-in-the-bottoms-of-columbus-ohio-ep-175/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/get-a-grip-podcast-7141471/surviving-oxy-addiction-poverty-in-the-bottoms-of-columbus-ohio-ep-175.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}