Uploaded July 2024 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
@TheBrandonNovak showed all the signs of becoming a highly successful, rebellious young man. He was a professional skateboarder in his early teens, rubbing elbows with the likes of Bucky Lasek and Tony Hawk. In his late teens and twenties, he was a regular on world-famous TV shows like Viva La Bam and Jackass.
But drugs and alcohol were always lurking in the shadows for Novak, and he soon fell head-first into the dark trap of his addictions. He endured bouts of homelessness, committed every petty crime you could imagine, and even resorted to sex work to feed his addictions.
The stats would suggest Brandon Novak shouldn’t be sober right now. He probably shouldn’t even be alive. But not only is he alive with 9 years of sobriety under his belt, he’s found a deep and meaningful purpose in his life, running his own rehab centers and taking care of his elderly mother.
This is the hilarious and heartening story of how Novak turned it all around. And trust me, if he can do it, so can anyone else.
Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough, to be a slightly less awful person: markmanson.net/breakthrough
0:00:00 Introduction
0:05:25 What is it like reliving crazy stories?
0:07:46 What's your new definition of fun?
0:22:32 Brandon's early life
0:28:22 When did drugs really become a problem?
0:34:23 Why did rehab #13 work?
0:42:57 How can people help addicts?
0:44:31 Christopher F*cking Columbus of finding rock bottom
0:46:03 The fundamental unhealthy mindsets
0:52:31 Reflection on Jackass
0:56:48 Why Jackass couldn't be made today
1:00:46 Are addicts just trying to get the love they want?
1:06:26 Brandon's treatment centers
1:12:10 What people did for Novak along the way
1:14:13 What do you give too many fucks about?
1:17:26 What do you give too few fucks about?
@TheBrandonNovak showed all the signs of becoming a highly successful, rebellious young man. He was a professional skateboarder in his early teens, rubbing elbows with the likes of Bucky Lasek and Tony Hawk. In his late teens and twenties, he was a regular on world-famous TV shows like Viva La Bam and Jackass.
But drugs and alcohol were always lurking in the shadows for Novak, and he soon fell head-first into the dark trap of his addictions. He endured bouts of homelessness, committed every petty crime you could imagine, and even resorted to sex work to feed his addictions.
The stats would suggest Brandon Novak shouldn’t be sober right now. He probably shouldn’t even be alive. But not only is he alive with 9 years of sobriety under his belt, he’s found a deep and meaningful purpose in his life, running his own rehab centers and taking care of his elderly mother.
This is the hilarious and heartening story of how Novak turned it all around. And trust me, if he can do it, so can anyone else.
Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough, to be a slightly less awful person: markmanson.net/breakthrough
0:00:00 Introduction
0:05:25 What is it like reliving crazy stories?
0:07:46 What's your new definition of fun?
0:22:32 Brandon's early life
0:28:22 When did drugs really become a problem?
0:34:23 Why did rehab #13 work?
0:42:57 How can people help addicts?
0:44:31 Christopher F*cking Columbus of finding rock bottom
0:46:03 The fundamental unhealthy mindsets
0:52:31 Reflection on Jackass
0:56:48 Why Jackass couldn't be made today
1:00:46 Are addicts just trying to get the love they want?
1:06:26 Brandon's treatment centers
1:12:10 What people did for Novak along the way
1:14:13 What do you give too many fucks about?
1:17:26 What do you give too few fucks about?
