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—getting arrested at just 9 years old, fighting in juvenile detention, and being prescribed high doses of Adderall as a kid. By high school, he was already dealing weed, getting expelled, and quickly moving into selling harder drugs. Everything escalated when he was introduced to Oxy, eventually leading him to sell and use pills taken from his own home.By just 19 years old, Josh found himself running an opiate operation through pain clinics—sponsoring people, moving large amounts of pills, and becoming deeply embedded in Florida’s pill mill scene. With connections inside pharmacies and money pouring in, he lived fast—blowing hundreds of thousands through gambling and addiction while his empire grew.But it didn’t last. Federal agencies shut everything down, and what followed was a rapid سقوط into heavier drug use, risky behavior, and life-threatening moments—including overdoses, hallucinations, and encounters with powerful psychedelics.Amid the chaos, Josh also faced devastating personal loss and his own battles with mental health, leading to a breaking point that forced change.After serving time and hitting rock bottom, Josh finally found his way into treatment and recovery—marking the beginning of a new chapter.This is a raw look inside the rise and fall of a young “pill mill kingpin,” and what it takes to come back from the edge.⚠️ Viewer discretion advised: This episode contains discussions of drug use, addiction, violence, and mental health.

🔥 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: getagrippodcast614@gmail.com👇 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 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, recovery.

Shaye’s story begins with a difficult childhood, born to a mother who was just 15 years old. Growing up surrounded by instability, she was exposed to alcohol and drugs early on, setting the stage for a turbulent teenage life. By high school, Shaye was already deep into substance use, experimenting with pills like Darvocet and getting caught in a cycle of trouble that led her in and out of juvenile detention.

Things escalated quickly—stealing her mom’s car, getting pulled over, and diving deeper into dangerous behaviors, including abusing Triple C’s and other substances that took a serious toll on her mental and physical health. Despite the chaos, life didn’t slow down. Shaye became pregnant while battling addiction, navigating relationships, and dealing with a baby’s father who was on the run in Florida.

Her story takes even darker turns as she opens up about trying meth for the first time—a moment she describes as a major turning point—and her struggles balancing addiction with motherhood in what she calls “Meth & Motherhood.” She also shares about a near-tragic suicide attempt, and the moment that stopped her from going through with it.

From car accidents and opiate use to intense confrontations and violence, Shaye doesn’t hold anything back—including a moment where she stood up and fought back against racism directed at her child.

But through all of it, there’s resilience.

This episode is a raw look at what it means to survive when everything is stacked against you—and what it takes to finally choose a different path. Shaye closes by reflecting on her journey into recovery and what life looks like today on the other side of addiction.

⚠️ Viewer discretion is advised: This episode contains discussions of addiction, mental health, violence, and suicide.

If you or someone you know is struggling, this episode is a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is still a way out.

🔥 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: getagrippodcast614@gmail.com👇 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 intense and unfiltered episode of the Get A Grip Podcast, Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes sit down with Matt Wiseman to unpack a life story that is as shocking as it is deeply human.Matt’s journey begins in a chaotic childhood where innocence was stripped away early. He shares what it was like taking his first drink at just 6 years old—forced to grow up fast in an environment filled with trauma, violence, and confusion. As his family faced devastating accusations against his father, Matt recalls the moment law enforcement came to take him away—and how, as a child, he reacted in a way no kid ever should have to.From there, his life spiraled into a cycle that would define his adolescence: addiction, crime, and incarceration. By the age of 12, Matt already believed he was a full-blown addict, and from that point forward, freedom became rare. In and out of juvenile detention and prison, he opens up about spending the majority of his formative years behind bars—detailing charges ranging from robbery and kidnapping to grand theft auto, arson, and more.This episode dives deep into the mindset of someone institutionalized at a young age—what it’s like getting caught stealing a semi truck by multiple departments, surviving prison riots, and even breaking into a volunteer fire department in search of needles. Matt also shares stories from working on oil rigs, the violence he encountered both inside and outside prison walls, and the moments that continued pulling him back into the system.Perhaps the most raw moments come from his time serving a 16-year sentence, including his transfer to Lebanon Correctional Institution, where the first six months tested him mentally and physically. He speaks openly about making moonshine behind bars, and what it really looks like to join the Aryan Brotherhood—including the brutal initiation process.But through all the chaos, there’s a question that lingers—what’s different this time?Now, after spending the majority of his life locked up and only a few years of true freedom since childhood, Matt reflects on the patterns, the pain, and the possibility of change.This is not just a story about crime and addiction—it’s about trauma, survival, identity, and whether someone can truly break free from a life that seemed destined from the start.⚠️ Viewer discretion is advised: This episode contains graphic discussions of violence, addiction, and prison life.If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, this conversation is a powerful reminder that no matter how far gone things may seem, change is still possible.
🔥 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: getagrippodcast614@gmail.com👇 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