#39: Brandon Novak

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 bedsBrandon’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 NovakDreamseller by Brandon NovakSupport 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:InstagramWebsiteRedemption Addiction Treatment CenterEnjoyed this episode? Follow A Better Life in your favorite podcast app and share this episode to spread the word.