Brandon Novak built an unlikely career at the intersection of skateboarding, stunt television, and storytelling, first breaking through on MTV's Viva La Bam and the Jackass franchise. That same willingness to put himself on the line eventually extended to his recovery, where he became one of the most visible voices talking openly about addiction. Brandon Novak brought that full arc to the Digital Social Hour, sitting down with Sean Kelly for a conversation that moves well past the highlight reel.
What follows is a candid look back, from the chaos of his Jackass and Hollywood years to the harder, quieter work of getting and staying sober. Sean Kelly gives him room to walk through that journey point by point, turning what could have been a nostalgia trip into a grounded conversation about honesty, accountability, and rebuilding a life.
About Brandon Novak
Brandon Novak is a former professional skateboarder, discovered as a teenager by Tony Hawk, who rose to national attention through MTV's Viva La Bam and the Jackass films before becoming an actor and writer in his own right.
He is also the author of the addiction memoir Dreamseller, which chronicles his decades-long struggle with heroin addiction and his path to recovery. Since getting sober, Novak has become an outspoken advocate for addiction recovery, sharing his story on stages, podcasts, and in print to help others find their way out of active addiction.
What Brandon Novak and Sean Kelly Talked About
- How a career built on stunts and skateboarding intersected with two decades of addiction
- The realities of prison and how that experience became a turning point
- What getting and staying sober actually required, day to day
- Lessons from writing Dreamseller and turning a painful past into a public memoir
- How the Jackass and Viva La Bam years shaped his public image
- Why honesty about addiction matters more than the highlight reel
- The support systems and structure that keep long-term recovery intact
Why This Conversation Matters
Recovery stories like Brandon Novak's carry real weight because they refuse to skip the hard parts. His conversation on the Digital Social Hour offers listeners an unflinching look at what addiction costs and what sustained recovery actually takes, a message that resonates well beyond the world of skateboarding and television.
▶ Watch the full episode on YouTube
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About Sean Kelly & the Digital Social Hour
Sean Kelly is an entrepreneur and the host of the Digital Social Hour, one of the fastest-growing interview podcasts in the world, where he sits down with entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and cultural voices for candid, long-form conversations. The show draws over 100 million views a month across platforms. Explore more guest features on SeanKelly.io.
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