diff --git a/bookscraper/start_audio_worker.sh b/bookscraper/start_audio_worker.sh
index 62acf21..ebf6c92 100755
--- a/bookscraper/start_audio_worker.sh
+++ b/bookscraper/start_audio_worker.sh
@@ -7,6 +7,26 @@ echo "  STARTING LOCAL macOS AUDIO WORKER"
 echo "====================================================="
 echo ""
 
+# ------------------------------------------------------
+# Load .env so REDIS_BROKER_LOCAL becomes available
+# ------------------------------------------------------
+if [ -f ".env" ]; then
+    set -o allexport
+    source .env
+    set +o allexport
+fi
+
+# ------------------------------------------------------
+# Override Redis to local instance for macOS
+# ------------------------------------------------------
+export REDIS_BROKER="$REDIS_BROKER_LOCAL"
+export REDIS_BACKEND="$REDIS_BACKEND_LOCAL"
+
+echo "[AUDIO] Redis override:"
+echo "        REDIS_BROKER=$REDIS_BROKER"
+echo "        REDIS_BACKEND=$REDIS_BACKEND"
+echo ""
+
 # ------------------------------------------------------
 # Create venv if needed
 # ------------------------------------------------------