Voice Memos: Driving Through LA with a Guitar and a Dream

What does it mean to create music in solitude and keep going when the world feels heavy? LA-based singer-songwriter Leah Cordova joins John Malmborg for an intimate conversation about music, memory, and the winding roads of creative expression. From singing in an empty house to capturing melodies on her phone along the Pacific Coast Highway, Leah shares how her artistry was shaped by personal grief, generational love of music, and the landscapes of Southern California.

They talk about the healing power of sad songs, the magic of voice memos, and the quiet courage it takes to share your voice in public. Leah reflects on the inspiration she finds in nature, the beauty of Big Sur, and how community came together in the wake the 2025 California wildfires. This episode is a reflection on how art emerges from silence, how music carries us through, and how place shapes the songs we sing.