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In this powerful episode, hosts Aaron and Louis sit down with Dan Vanwallsen, a man whose life took a sharp turn from a normal childhood into the darkness of addiction — and eventually, into a life dedicated to helping others heal.Dan didn’t come from chaos. He didn’t grow up surrounded by addiction or crime. In fact, his childhood was nothing out of the ordinary. But addiction doesn’t discriminate, and for Dan, it started with curiosity — and ended in chains.Heroin entered his life quietly, the kind of thing you think you’ll only try once. But the drug’s grip was fast and unforgiving. To avoid withdrawal and keep functioning, Dan transitioned to methadone — believing it would be his lifeline. Instead, it became another prison. Methadone ruled every day of his life, controlling his decisions, his movements, and his future. It was a ball and chain he dragged behind him for years.Dan’s story is packed with heartbreaking lows and near-fatal mistakes — moments when he couldn’t see a way out and wondered if this was how his story would end. But somewhere in that struggle, something changed. Dan refused to let addiction write the final chapters of his life.Through brutal honesty, support, and an unbreakable will, Dan broke free. He detoxed. He rebuilt. He transformed. And now, he doesn’t just celebrate his own sobriety — he works in recovery, using the pain he survived to guide others out of the same darkness.This episode is unfiltered and packed with emotion — a deep dive into:• How a good childhood can still lead to addiction• The quiet traps heroin and methadone set• The brutal process of getting clean for real• The mission Dan now lives out every day helping othersToday, Dan is proof that no matter how far drugs take you, there is always a way back. His journey is a reminder that recovery isn’t just possible — it’s worth every single fight.🔥 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/officialgetagrippod.cast👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
 By Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes
By Louis Essig and Aaron Garnes5
5959 ratings
In this powerful episode, hosts Aaron and Louis sit down with Dan Vanwallsen, a man whose life took a sharp turn from a normal childhood into the darkness of addiction — and eventually, into a life dedicated to helping others heal.Dan didn’t come from chaos. He didn’t grow up surrounded by addiction or crime. In fact, his childhood was nothing out of the ordinary. But addiction doesn’t discriminate, and for Dan, it started with curiosity — and ended in chains.Heroin entered his life quietly, the kind of thing you think you’ll only try once. But the drug’s grip was fast and unforgiving. To avoid withdrawal and keep functioning, Dan transitioned to methadone — believing it would be his lifeline. Instead, it became another prison. Methadone ruled every day of his life, controlling his decisions, his movements, and his future. It was a ball and chain he dragged behind him for years.Dan’s story is packed with heartbreaking lows and near-fatal mistakes — moments when he couldn’t see a way out and wondered if this was how his story would end. But somewhere in that struggle, something changed. Dan refused to let addiction write the final chapters of his life.Through brutal honesty, support, and an unbreakable will, Dan broke free. He detoxed. He rebuilt. He transformed. And now, he doesn’t just celebrate his own sobriety — he works in recovery, using the pain he survived to guide others out of the same darkness.This episode is unfiltered and packed with emotion — a deep dive into:• How a good childhood can still lead to addiction• The quiet traps heroin and methadone set• The brutal process of getting clean for real• The mission Dan now lives out every day helping othersToday, Dan is proof that no matter how far drugs take you, there is always a way back. His journey is a reminder that recovery isn’t just possible — it’s worth every single fight.🔥 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/officialgetagrippod.cast👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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