Today we’d like to introduce you to Zoe Hansen.
Hi Zoe, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born in London, England, and ran away to New York City at the age of 17 where I became involved in the fashion industry working for MTV on videos styling hair makeup I developed a drug problem that had continued from London. I was going out every night to fabulous clubs in New York City and hanging out with designers, actors, and creative people of all persuasions. I soon needed to make money to support my addiction so I became fully immersed in the sex industry. I first worked in an escort service and then I went onto brothels, but I also worked in the street too. All of this is in my book. I eventually opened up five of my own brothels and made a lot of money, and I have written a book called Going Down in Gotham, which is about my experience as a runaway turned into a successful businesswoman, a madam streetwalker, rubber shop owner, and my struggle with addiction—- in my memoir I tell a lot of very amusing entertaining stories that occurred during my 40 years in NYC. My book gives the feel and the vibe of a city that is not there anymore, but people look back with nostalgia and remember the city that once was. I give you that in my memoir. I currently live in Los Angeles. I am sober and drug free, for the first time since I’ve been 12. I have a wonderful 23-year-old son who is in the Marines and I am married to my soulmate Jerry Stahl. He’s written 12 books, most famous is Permanent Midnight his memoir which was made into a movie starring Ben Stiller. He is a wonderful supportive husband and I love him more than I can express. I currently participate in.readings with some talented artists and writers in Los Angeles and New York City and I continue to support peers of mine.
I am very spiritual, I am a devoted Wiccan for 40 years and recently a follower of the ancient practice Qigong.
I have three beautiful black rescue dogs, and I live in a gorgeous old haunted house with a beautiful garden. In the dark hours of the morning in my garden inhaling the aroma of nature and earth, and I look back on my wild life and I smile to myself. I can’t believe I made it this far after all the overdoses all the near death experiences, one where I actually did die for three minutes. The fact that I am still here is nothing less than a miracle, a spiritual miracle. I am here to watch my son grow into the amazing man he has become, and to continue to write and share my life with the man I was destined to be with.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My struggles along the way have been huge, addiction and drug abuse and alcoholism, mental illness of which I have been working on now successfully sober for eight years
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a writer. I have written a book titled Going Down lin Gotham, which is a humorous memoir about my life in New York City in the sex industry. I am most proud of that to date. I read at events, often with known people in Los Angeles and New York City, and have been for the past decade and a half . I’ve been building a name in my community as a writer and public speaker. I’ve performed at colleges, private clubs, parties and libraries alongside notable people in the writing and artistic world. But before I wrote my book, I lived the life that I talk about which was driven by my internal pain of childhood abuse and neglect. I came from a wealthy upper middle class family that had absolutely no emotional support or love from my parents so that drove me to substances to block the pain.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I collaborate with a lot of people I’ve been on many Podcasts people interview me. I was on Soft White Underbelly which gained 150,000 views in a month. I talk about my sobriety on lots of recovery podcast and . I I was on Dopey Pod podcast, which is a well-known recovery podcast and it’s a great interview of my life and struggles. I.have a Substack and invite people to collaborate with me or invite me to be in any anthology. I am always open to collaborations.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Thez0e
- Facebook: Zoe Hansen
- Youtube: Zoe Hansen
