Jackass star and pro skateboarder Brandon Novak has seen it all.
From sleeping on the streets and sinking deep into heroin to barely seeing a way out, he’s been at rock bottom more times than most could imagine.
The reason he made it through and is still here, still skating, is because he found God. In his conversation with former pro skateboarder Mikey Taylor, he keeps it real about how faith changed his life, what broke him down, and what built him back up.
Skating has always been his world and Novak says obsession can go two ways. It can destroy you or save you if you learn how to aim it right. Landing tricks, throwing himself into skating, it gave him focus and a kind of peace he couldn’t find anywhere else. For a long time, that same drive fed his addiction. Everything shifted when he turned toward something bigger than himself, God. That is when the chaos started making sense and recovery began to stick.
He does not sugarcoat his path. Hitting rock bottom and going through rehabs again and again led to the real change. It wasn’t following steps or doing what others told him. It was surrendering, being honest, and letting faith guide him instead of trying to control everything himself. That is when things finally clicked.
Now he is using what he’s learned to help others. He is building houses and programs for people in recovery, creating spaces where they can find hope and structure without losing themselves. Novak points out that homelessness is not just about rent, it’s addiction, mental health, and people needing a real shot at rebuilding.
Even after everything he’s been through, Novak hasn’t lost that skater edge. He is still real, still raw, but now it is grounded in faith and purpose.