About this episode
Brandon Novak is a keynote speaker, author, former professional skateboarder/TV star, and intervention specialist who reclaimed his life from addiction in 2015. In this episode, Brandon walks us through his remarkable journey from sleeping in abandoned houses as a homeless heroin addict to owning and operating several sober living facilities and earning widespread respect as a champion for people in recovery. He also speaks about: -How he first got into drugs and alcohol, and his thoughts on "gateway drugs" -The moment when Bam Margera offered help at a critical time -Becoming a famous MTV star on 'Viva La Bam' in the mid-2000s -The story behind his mother buying him a cemetery plot -The epiphany he experienced standing on his mother's doorstep after she kicked him out of her house and put a restraining order on him -Why he recommends a firm approach to dealing with loved ones who are battling addiction -The spiritual element of his recovery -Why he doesn't consider his 12 unsuccessful attempts to get sober, "failures" -Why he's not tempted to consume drugs or alcohol today -How to include friends in recovery in social activities -The business of owning sober living homes and an addiction treatment center -How he scaled his sober living facilities to 65 beds Brandon’s charitable cause: King's Crusade , which helps fund inpatient addiction recovery treatment for people who can't otherwise afford it. Books mentioned in this episode: Streets of Baltimore by Brandon Novak Dreamseller by Brandon Novak Support Brandon's Scholarship Foundation: Donate to provide free beds for individuals transitioning out of treatment (Venmo: @novakshouse). Struggling or need guidance? Contact Brandon directly at 610-314-6747. Connect with Brandon: Instagram Website Redemption Addiction Treatment Center Enjoyed this episode? Follow A Better Life in your favorite podcast app and share this episode to spread the word.