I travelled to the middle of the woods, in Wilmington Delaware, to interview recovered alcoholic and heroin addict, Jackass and Viva La Bam star, Brandon Novak.

I took an hour long uber, from Philadelphia to get to Bandon’s place in Wilmington, Delaware. My Uber driver chatted non stop as eventually we started veering away from civilisation and snaking through tree lined tracks until we approached Brandon’s property.

Brandon is sat on a bench outside the house as I pull up. He’s wearing just a pair of shorts, no shirt, no shoes. I try and read some of the words on his heavily tattooed torso as I walk over.

It’s clear that he’s on a call, so we do that silent hello thing, he daps me up and gives me a hug.

I sit down next to him as the call continues. It’s gently raining but it’s so warm (that sticky American heat) so the sporadic rain drops are actually a relief.

He’s talking business. ‘Novak’s house’ is a sober living facility.

The business side of helping people sounds intense.

The call concludes and we go inside.

Brandon had moved into his new digs a week prior. The bones of the house are beautiful. There’s a couple of pieces of flatpack furniture yet to be built and art is stacked in front of the walls, ready to be hung.

He shows me an incredible, ornate iron cross, salvaged from the ruins of a French church.

I meet his cats.

We sit down and have the conversation you’re about to listen to.

I was nervous about this interview. I’m not an addiction expert and I didn’t want to focus on Brandon’s lowest moments, like a lot of interviewers do.

I’m so happy that I made that decision and this is a conversation that I’m really proud of.

Find out more about Brandon’s and his work - Brandonnovak.com

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