I Lost Everything to Fentanyl — My Story of Addiction & Homelessness | Ep 156 episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 24, 2026 · 23 MIN

I Lost Everything to Fentanyl — My Story of Addiction & Homelessness | Ep 156

from Get a Grip Podcast · host Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes

In this raw and unfiltered episode of the Get A Grip Podcast, Louis Essig takes the conversation out of the studio and into the streets of Columbus, Ohio—coming face-to-face with the harsh realities that so many people walk past every day.This isn’t a distant discussion about addiction or homelessness. It’s real people, real stories, and real pain—captured in the very environments where survival is a daily battle.Louis sits down with men and women living on the streets, many of whom are caught in the grip of alcohol dependency and the devastating rise of fentanyl use. These are individuals with pasts, families, dreams, and turning points—stories that often go unheard beneath the surface of their current circumstances. Through honest conversations, they open up about how they got here, the choices and traumas that shaped their path, and the reality of trying to survive while battling addiction.You’ll hear about the cycle—how quickly things can spiral, how fentanyl has changed the game entirely, and how difficult it is to escape once you’re in it. But you’ll also hear moments of clarity, resilience, and humanity that cut through the chaos—reminders that these are people, not statistics.Louis approaches each conversation without judgment, creating space for honesty and connection in places where both are often rare. The result is a powerful, eye-opening look at addiction and homelessness that challenges assumptions and forces a deeper understanding of what’s really happening behind the scenes.This episode is heavy, but it’s important. It shines a light on a crisis that’s happening in real time—and asks the viewer not to look away.🔥 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/officialgetagrippodcastFor Collaboration and Business inquiries, please use the contact information below:📩 Email: [email protected]👇 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 raw and unfiltered episode of the Get A Grip Podcast, Louis Essig takes the conversation out of the studio and into the streets of Columbus, Ohio—coming face-to-face with the harsh realities that so many people walk past every day.This isn’t a distant discussion about addiction or homelessness. It’s real people, real stories, and real pain—captured in the very environments where survival is a daily battle.Louis sits down with men and women living on the streets, many of whom are caught in the grip of alcohol dependency and the devastating rise of fentanyl use. These are individuals with pasts, families, dreams, and turning points—stories that often go unheard beneath the surface of their current circumstances. Through honest conversations, they open up about how they got here, the choices and traumas that shaped their path, and the reality of trying to survive while battling addiction.You’ll hear about the cycle—how quickly things can spiral, how fentanyl has changed the game entirely, and how difficult it is to escape once you’re in it. But you’ll also hear moments of clarity, resilience, and humanity that cut through the chaos—reminders that these are people, not statistics.Louis approaches each conversation without judgment, creating space for honesty and connection in places where both are often rare. The result is a powerful, eye-opening look at addiction and homelessness that challenges assumptions and forces a deeper understanding of what’s really happening behind the scenes.This episode is heavy, but it’s important. It shines a light on a crisis that’s happening in real time—and asks the viewer not to look away.🔥 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/officialgetagrippodcastFor Collaboration and Business inquiries, please use the contact information below:📩 Email: [email protected]👇 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

NOW PLAYING

I Lost Everything to Fentanyl — My Story of Addiction & Homelessness | Ep 156

0:00 23:32

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Get a Grip Podcast?

This episode is 23 minutes long.

When was this Get a Grip Podcast episode published?

This episode was published on April 24, 2026.

What is this episode about?

In this raw and unfiltered episode of the Get A Grip Podcast, Louis Essig takes the conversation out of the studio and into the streets of Columbus, Ohio—coming face-to-face with the harsh realities that so many people walk past every day.This isn’t...

Can I download this Get a Grip Podcast episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!