He Tried Rehab 13 Times: How Brandon Novak Finally Beat Addiction
LIFE WITH MIKEY4 Nov 2025

He Tried Rehab 13 Times: How Brandon Novak Finally Beat Addiction

Brandon Novak went from homeless heroin addict to building sober housing and opening treatment centers without losing his skater DNA or humility. In this raw conversation, he explains why “recovery works so well you stop doing it,” how faith changed everything, and why our homelessness crisis isn’t just about the price of rent.

What you’ll learn

  • The obsession that powers skating can destroy you or save you (and how to aim it).

  • Why Novak says his breakthrough came on rehab #13 and what finally “took.”

  • The role of God/Higher Power and the 12 steps in creating a true psychic change.

  • “Money is a byproduct of solving real problems”how purpose first led him to build recovery housing and programs.

  • Homelessness: why addiction + mental health drive the crisis more than housing alone.

Standout moments

  • “No human power can lift the obsession” on surrender and finally getting honest.

  • “The better my life gets, the higher the relapse risk” (and how he counters it).

  • Skateboarding as meditation: why a slammed trick beats a $2,000 dinner for peace of mind.

What he’s building now

  • A new licensed New Jersey outpatient facility (opened last week), plus 7 houses / 70 beds supporting clients in recovery.


Need help? Brandon invites anyone struggling to reach out directly: brandonnovak.com.

Avsnitt(86)

Buy vs. Build: The Decision Behind Growing Wealth

Buy vs. Build: The Decision Behind Growing Wealth

Most people think real estate development is just construction. It’s not. The real game starts years before a shovel hits the ground and that’s where fortunes are made or lost.In this episode, Mikey T...

31 Mars 32min

How We're Analyzing a $18M Multifamily Building (Step by Step)

How We're Analyzing a $18M Multifamily Building (Step by Step)

Most people will never buy a piece of real estate not because they don't have the money, but because nobody ever sat them down and walked them through every single step of the process.In this episode,...

28 Mars 46min

He Went From Poverty to a $25M portfolio in Real Estate by 31

He Went From Poverty to a $25M portfolio in Real Estate by 31

Michael Mnatsakanian grew up in poverty as a first-generation American raised by a single mom. He got an engineering degree from UCSD, commissioned as a U.S. Army officer, and started investing in rea...

17 Mars 56min

Why Your Salary Might Not Build Long-Term Wealth

Why Your Salary Might Not Build Long-Term Wealth

If all your income stopped tomorrow, how long would you last?Many people can't answer that question and  that's part of the problem.In this episode, Mikey and Michael discuss why society often priorit...

3 Mars 37min

2026 Potential Wealth-Building Opportunities Amid Market Shifts

2026 Potential Wealth-Building Opportunities Amid Market Shifts

In today's market, access to capital has become more restricted, with banks lending less than in previous years. The real estate market may feel stagnant, and stock prices appear high relative to hist...

24 Feb 53min

They Keep Investing Confusing So You Don’t Ask Questions

They Keep Investing Confusing So You Don’t Ask Questions

Investing can feel complicated for a reason. In this episode, a former financial advisor breaks down how "big words" and Wall Street jargon may cause confusion, leading to decisions that aren't fully ...

17 Feb 55min

Everyone Says “Wait.” Here’s Why That Could Cost You Seven Figures

Everyone Says “Wait.” Here’s Why That Could Cost You Seven Figures

Are current conditions in the self-storage market creating opportunities that resemble past cycles? AJ Osborne shares how he evaluates today’s self-storage environment, including comparisons to post-2...

10 Feb 56min

The 401k Mistake That Could Cost You

The 401k Mistake That Could Cost You

Most people lock up money too early in retirement accounts and miss flexibility when opportunities show up. In this episode we walk through how we’d think about allocating $10k, $100k, and $1M, why we...

2 Feb 50min

Populärt inom Business & ekonomi

framgangspodden
varvet
badfluence
rss-jossan-nina
rss-borsens-finest
uppgang-och-fall
rss-svart-marknad
avanzapodden
borsmorgon
rss-dagen-med-di
rss-kort-lang-analyspodden-fran-di
rss-den-nya-ekonomin
tabberaset
svd-tech-brief
fill-or-kill
lastbilspodden
24fragor
rss-inga-dumma-fragor-om-pengar
rss-veckans-trade
kapitalet-en-podd-om-ekonomi