Ego and Addiction with Brandon Novak
May 31, 2019 ·
41m 20s
From the highest highs, including sponsorship deals, hit movies and a bestselling autobiography, to the lowest lows, including stints in prison, rehab, and homelessness on the streets of Baltimore, Brandon...
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From the highest highs, including sponsorship deals, hit movies and a bestselling autobiography, to the lowest lows, including stints in prison, rehab, and homelessness on the streets of Baltimore, Brandon Novak has lived a life that defies easy description. Recruited in his early teens as the nation’s next top professional skateboarder – drawing praise from icons like Tony Hawk and becoming the industry’s first athlete to be sponsored by Gatorade – Novak came to
international fame as a cast member of the hit MTV series “Jackass.” He would go on to travel to world, appearing in mainstream studio and signing a multi-book publishing deal based on his bestselling debut autobiography “Dreamseller.” All the while, however, he was battling a crippling addiction to heroin. Over the course of 21 years, Novak’s addiction slowly cost him his career, friendships and freedom, leading to more than 13 stays in rehab, an extended prison sentence and even a restraining order filed by his mother – the one supporter he never thought he would lose.
“In theory and on paper I had been a very successful individual. I had done things in life that people equate to success or happiness, and that most even dream of doing,” says Novak. “In reality I was a 35-year-old man standing on the stoop of his mother’s house, whose worldly possessions consisted of eight scarves, two jackets, three socks and a stick of deodorant, which all fit into a bag that doubled as my pillow... Addicts talk about hitting their bottom, but my bottom came up to meet me.” Now, Brandon tours the country advocating for people who struggle with addiction and mental health disorders. His book “Dreamseller” is one of Amazon.com’s top 50 book sellers as of May 2018.
Brandon was one of the stars of the MTV Jackass Movie series and on the hit television show Viva La Bam. He skated professionally with Tony Hawk and is celebrating 4 years without any drugs or alcohol. He currently works with Banyan Treatment Centers in the field of addiction recovery.
www.banyantreatmentcenter.com
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international fame as a cast member of the hit MTV series “Jackass.” He would go on to travel to world, appearing in mainstream studio and signing a multi-book publishing deal based on his bestselling debut autobiography “Dreamseller.” All the while, however, he was battling a crippling addiction to heroin. Over the course of 21 years, Novak’s addiction slowly cost him his career, friendships and freedom, leading to more than 13 stays in rehab, an extended prison sentence and even a restraining order filed by his mother – the one supporter he never thought he would lose.
“In theory and on paper I had been a very successful individual. I had done things in life that people equate to success or happiness, and that most even dream of doing,” says Novak. “In reality I was a 35-year-old man standing on the stoop of his mother’s house, whose worldly possessions consisted of eight scarves, two jackets, three socks and a stick of deodorant, which all fit into a bag that doubled as my pillow... Addicts talk about hitting their bottom, but my bottom came up to meet me.” Now, Brandon tours the country advocating for people who struggle with addiction and mental health disorders. His book “Dreamseller” is one of Amazon.com’s top 50 book sellers as of May 2018.
Brandon was one of the stars of the MTV Jackass Movie series and on the hit television show Viva La Bam. He skated professionally with Tony Hawk and is celebrating 4 years without any drugs or alcohol. He currently works with Banyan Treatment Centers in the field of addiction recovery.
www.banyantreatmentcenter.com
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