At Home With Red Leather: Addiction, Recovery & the Music That Saved Him

Chocolate-loaded peanut butter cookies, vulnerability, and one of the most honest conversations I’ve ever had on this show. 🍪🎸 In this intimate home hang, I welcome Red Leather for his first-ever in-person podcast interview — and what unfolds is raw, emotional, reflective, and deeply human. From addiction and near-death experiences to sobriety, gratitude, and finding purpose through music, Red Leather opens up about the real stories behind Reno and Tahoe and the life that inspired them. Red Leather opens up about: ⚡️ Writing Reno during active addiction and Tahoe in sobriety ⚡️ The importance of place and creating music in Joshua Tree, Tahoe, Big Bear, and beyond ⚡️ The terrifying true story behind “Last Call” ⚡️ Hitting multiple rock bottoms before finally getting sober ⚡️ His heart attack, overdose, and the moment everything changed ⚡️ “Angel Song,” love, healing, and learning how to receive support ⚡️ “Losing My Religion” and questioning everything you thought you believed ⚡️ Nirvana, Radiohead, and the music that shaped his voice and sound ⚡️ Addiction, escapism, and the cycle of shame ⚡️ Why sobriety gave him clarity and helped him become who he really is ⚡️ The origin of the Red Leather persona and how the mask became a symbol of hope ⚡️ Gratitude as a superpower ⚡️ The role live music plays in human connection and healing ⚡️ His dreams of creating timeless albums and building a lasting legacy Plus: cookies, deep music conversations, Marvin Gaye, Phantom Planet, Radiohead deep dives, and a reminder that it’s never too late to change your life. This is Red Leather , vulnerable, thoughtful, and just getting started. Subscribe on Substack for more behind-the-scenes from our house hangs: allisonhagendorf.substack.com 🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts: https://play.megaphone.fm/sxhb2ibzrw-vle8ombutpa ⸻ ❤️ FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE TO ALLISON ✅ Substack: https://allisonhagendorf.substack.com ✅ YouTube: https://youtube.com/AllisonHagendorf ✅ Official Website: https://allisonhagendorf.com ✅ Instagram: https://instagram.com/allisonhagendorf ✅ TikTok: https://TikTok.com/@allisonhagendorf ✅ X: https://x.com/allihagendorf ⸻ 00:00 - Intro 01:38 - Welcome & Cookies 03:32 - Reno vs Tahoe & Sense of Place 05:16 - Songwriting Process 06:49 - The Story Behind “Last Call” 11:42 - Rock Bottom & Near-Death Experiences 13:56 - “Angel Song” & Healing Through Love 15:51 - Favorite & Most Surprising Moment on the Album 16:32 - “Losing My Religion” 18:27 - “Get Out of My Head” & Nirvana’s Influence 20:11 - The Role of Music in Life 22:53 - The Start of Addiction 25:03 - Sobriety, Clarity & Becoming Himself Again 25:34 - The Mask, The Costume & The Character 27:38 - Will He Ever Unmask? 28:42 - Message to Anyone Struggling 29:26 - What He Hopes for Himself 30:56 - Gratitude as a Superpower 33:29 - What’s On His Playlist Right Now 35:40 - What Scares Him Now? 37:30 - What Excites Him Now? 41:00 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices