How Jayden Sheridan Went from Homeless Teen to National Youth Mentor | EP132

Jayden Sheridan is a youth mentor, changemaker, and the founder of Gnarly Neighbors. A grassroots movement using skateboarding to break cycles of trauma and build safe spaces for Australia’s most vulnerable youth.

 

From a childhood marked by poverty, violence, and homelessness in one of Australia’s most disadvantaged towns, Jayden transformed his pain into purpose. He went from selling drugs to survive to mentoring over 9,000 kids a week and building a self-sustaining youth hub with a skatepark, café, and creative studios.

 

In this episode, Jayden shares how “smiling kids become smiling adults”, and why prevention, not crisis intervention, is the secret to lasting impact. You’ll learn the importance of belonging, mentorship, vulnerability, and how anyone can be a catalyst for change in their own community.

 

Get in touch with Jayden or Gnarly Neighbours - https://gnarlyneighbours.com.au

 

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Jayden's Quick Fire Answers

 

What does success mean to you?

"Success is happiness. It’s not about money… Happiness comes from stock for other people."

 

What does happiness mean to you?

"Same as success, stock levels."

 

What’s your normal morning routine these days?

"If I can get up, get into the gym by 6, start the day right… walk my little boy to school… then it’s head down in my laptop and into the admin dungeon."

 

What piece of advice would you put on a billboard for the world to see?

"I wouldn’t give myself advice, every hard thing shaped me. But I give kids little acronyms or metaphors that will click later when they need it. It’s about planting seeds of resilience and empowerment."

 

Who would you suggest as a future guest on the show?

"My mate Belly. He’s an apprentice sprinkler fitter, just doing his best. His version of success and happiness is just as real. He made it out too."

 

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Listen To The Podcast

 

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1CCrfi7eB3zlANJ81D1C72?si=4221bec96c244a0c

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/success-x-happiness/id1683066164

 

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Find Us On Social Media

https://www.instagram.com/sxhpod

 

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Chapters

 

(00:00:00) - Introduction

 

(00:00:44) – Chapter 1 | From Seymour to Survival

Jayden shares his difficult upbringing in one of Australia’s most disadvantaged towns, revealing how childhood trauma, skateparks, and a belief in something greater helped him survive and find belonging.

 

(00:11:49) – Chapter 2 | Fatherhood and the Power to Change

At just 17, Jayden learned he was going to be a dad. A life-altering moment that forced him to break the cycle, take ownership, and begin his mission to help others avoid the path he nearly followed.

 

(00:17:46) – Chapter 3 | Prevention Over Crisis Intervention

Jayden explains why reactive systems are failing young people and how creating safe spaces and consistent role models is the true key to long-term impact.

 

(00:28:45) – Chapter 4 | Gnarly Neighbours: From 6 Boards to 9,000 Kids

He tells the full story of how he bootstrapped Gnarly Neighbours—starting with six skateboards and a local park—into a national youth movement transforming communities across Australia.

 

(00:44:30) - Quick Fire Questions

 

(00:49:29) - Outro

 

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#podcast #mentalhealth #inspirationalstory