Episode Details

Mari Fong interviews Nick Hexum of 311 and Brandon Jay of Altadena Musicians for a special episode for Podcasthon, focusing on nonprofits and those who do good in this world.

For our featured musician, I’m excited to have singer-songwriter Nick Hexum of 311, share his secrets about a mental health and addiction story that he kept hidden for more than a decade. With 311 being known for their songs like “Down,” “Amber” and “Beautiful Disaster,” many of them filled with lyrics of positivity and unity, with 311 performing high-energy shows since 1988, you can imagine how surprising it was to hear Nick talk about his self-doubt, anxiety and perfectionism that eventually led to a terrifying addiction. 

Having interviewed Nick in the past, I was honored to be the one to hear this honest and vulnerable story of benzodiazepine addiction and recovery, one he admits he’s never shared with his fans or the public before today. I’ll be playing a clip of Nick Hexum’s song “Lonely Existence” from his side project EP, “Waxing Nostalgic” which dropped in 2025. This is Part 1 of Nick's story. 

This is also a special Podcasthon episode where 2800 podcasts from around the world spotlight a nonprofit and I’ve chosen Altadena Musicians, a foundation that’s helped musicians recover thousands of instruments and vinyl records, getting them back into the hands of those that lost theirs in the Eaton and Palisades fires in Los Angeles. I’ll be talking to musician and founder of Altadena Musicians, Brandon Jay. 

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The information shared during this interview is for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for any individualized medical concerns.