Jesse James Opens Up About New Life: "I'm Still Standing"

Exclusive! Now living in Austin, Sandra Bullock's ex says he's become a "better dad and a better person"

You'd think after the mess that Jesse James got himself into two years ago with now ex-wife Sandra Bullock, the last thing he'd want to do is star in a reality show.

Well, he's back—and he doesn't giving a flying fig what you think about him…

"I'm not afraid of s--t," James exclusively told me earlier today while promoting Jesse James: Outlaw Garage, his new Discovery Channel special premiering April 9. "Everyone can say whatever they want about me and call me whatever, but guess what? I'm still standing."

And that he is—just not in Hollywood. James now lives in Austin and slowly returned to television by competing on Discovery's American Chopper: The Build-Off in December.

Outlaw follows James and his team at the Austin Speed Shop as they rebuild a 1932 Ford Roadster. He's hoping it will become a series.

"I think I'm in a pretty awesome place in life," James said. "In light of everything that's happened, I think I came out of it a better dad and a better person while living and working in a place that's like heaven to me."

Daddy time includes letting 8-year-old daughter Sunny help tattoo her name on his wrist. "There's a little bit of personal life [in Outlaw] with the kids and kind of explaining where I am now," James said. "I hate the words reality TV because I think this is a refreshing change because none of it is scripted—there's no made-up drama."

If anyone knows drama, it's Jesse James.