Why Woodstock 2030 Matters: Giving People a Real Reason to Keep Going
When the world feels heavy, “call a hotline” isn’t enough. Woodstock 2030 is our dare to love out loud—music, community, and belonging for anyone who needs a reason to keep going.
Woodstock 2030 Revival mission image — community gathering and unity event concept. Support Woodstock 2030
By Ian Primmer • CommonX Podcast
There’s a moment in life when the room gets too quiet.
The bills stack up.
The pressure builds.
The world feels heavy in your chest.
And even the strongest among us start to wonder if tomorrow is worth the climb.
Maybe you’ve been there.
Maybe you’re there right now.
If you are — hear me clearly:
You’re not alone.
“Call a hotline” helps some people. It truly does. But for most of us, especially in the Gen X tribe who grew up figuring it out ourselves, that isn’t the whole answer. We don’t just need crisis help — we need connection before the crisis ever hits.
We need community.
We need purpose.
We need a reason to keep going.
That’s why we’re building Woodstock 2030.
It’s not nostalgia. It’s a blueprint for belonging.
This isn’t about tie-dye and old posters.
This is about creating a place — a real, physical, living movement — where people can show up without judgment. A place where music, humanity, and honest conversation collide. Where you can look around and see a crowd of people who understand exactly what you’re carrying.
Woodstock 2030 is our dare to the world:
Show up. Stand together. Love out loud.
It’s music with intention.
Service with sleeves rolled up.
And a thousand small moments that whisper, “You matter. Stay.”
What Woodstock 2030 IS
A movement for connection
A place for veterans, first responders, single parents, neighbors — everyone
A celebration of music, culture, and humanity
A spotlight on mental health without shame
A network of local chapters doing real work
What Woodstock 2030 is NOT
Not a cash grab
Not a selfie moment
Not a one-day trend
Not an empty slogan
Not another place where you feel alone
If we do this right, the real currency is belonging.
Why Gen X needs to lead this movement
We grew up with mixtapes, pay phones, walkmans, and a world where you had to figure out life without Google or tutorials. We didn’t have safe spaces, online communities, or “mental health days.” We had grit, duct tape, and a stubborn refusal to quit.
We also watched some of the greatest voices of our generation fall to silent battles.
Chester Bennington. Chris Cornell. Too many veterans. Too many brothers and sisters.
Our generation knows the cost of silence better than most.
So now, we’re turning that pain into purpose.
What we’re asking from you
This isn’t a corporate movement.
It’s people-powered.
We ask for three things:
1. Add your voice.
Share a story. Share a skill. Share a song. Write in the comments below 😎
Your presence matters more than your perfection.
2. Stand with someone.
Invite a friend who’s been quiet.
Take someone to coffee.
Send the message you’ve been putting off.
3. Build with us.
Help us map local partners — gyms, VFW halls, indie venues, skate shops, churches, record stores.
Let’s make this community real, city by city.
If you’re struggling today
Let me say this without hesitation or fluff:
Don’t throw in the towel. Stay with us.
There’s more for you than you realize.
We are building something you can stand inside of when the wind kicks up.
You matter.
Your voice matters.
Your life matters.
We’re CommonX.
We believe in common ground.
In real talk.
In showing up for one another.
In conversations that save people who never wanted to ask for help.
And with Woodstock 2030, we’re going to prove it —
loud, kind, brave, and together.
— Ian & Jared
Make Woodstock 2030 happen and support today.
Woodstock 2030 Revival t-shirt — official CommonX Podcast apparel.
Derek Morris Is Proof You’re Not Alone: Songs, Scars, and Showing Up
Humble, driven, and unafraid to speak about what matters most — Derek Morris is a musician who turns pain into purpose. Through his music, he’s helping others find hope, healing, and the courage to keep going. In this exclusive CommonX feature, Derek opens up about his journey through PTSD, his passion for giving back, and the power of using your voice for good.
By Ian Primmer
Today’s guest Derek Morris is the kind of artist who walks in like a neighbor and leaves like a friend — humble, direct, and focused on lifting people up. A San Diego singer-songwriter and visual artist (the mind behind the playful “VEMPS” universe), Derek turns hard chapters into hopeful anthems, sharing messages like “Don’t give up” and “You are not alone” across his work. On the show he opened up about living with PTSD and how music became both a lifeline and a lighthouse for others finding their way. If you land on Derek’s site, you’re greeted with a chorus of encouragement — “You are so loved… You are not a mistake… Don’t give up!” It’s not branding; it’s a mission statement. Derek’s catalog threads pop-punk snap with reflective alt-rock and cinematic textures, from the electric punch of “777” to the atmospheric “You Don’t Need to Know Right Now.”
Turning Pain Into Promise
Derek has spoken publicly about surviving abuse, addiction, and the long tail of trauma, naming PTSD directly — and then writing through it. Recent posts tease “Never Stop Fighting,” a song explicitly about living with PTSD and refusing to let it have the last word. For fans who need to hear it, Derek writes like a friend on the other side of the storm: keep going. Beyond songs, Derek’s “VEMPS” characters and art books widen his canvas — a bright, hand-drawn counterweight to heavy themes. It’s kinetic, kid-curious, and unmistakably his — evidence that recovery isn’t just survival; it’s creative overflow.
777” — official video; neon-noir energy with a resilient core. YouTube
“You Don’t Need to Know Right Now” — reflective, West-coast melancholy. YouTube
“Never Stop Fighting” (teaser) — a direct letter to anyone living with PTSD.
On-mic and off, Derek carried himself with the same humble steadiness you hear in his songs. He told us he shares freely and keeps showing up because someone out there needs the message today, not tomorrow. Beyond the stage lights and studio sessions, Derek Morris has found another outlet for connection — the podcast world. Whether he’s sharing stories about overcoming challenges, talking shop about songwriting, or offering words of encouragement to those battling PTSD, Derek’s voice carries the same honesty found in his lyrics. His mission is simple: to uplift, to connect, and to give freely through both conversation and music. Each time he picks up a mic, it’s not just about the notes or the words — it’s about healing, hope, and helping others find their own rhythm in the noise.
There’s a rare kind of artist who reminds you that authenticity still exists — that music can still heal, inspire, and bridge the space between pain and purpose. Derek Morris is one of those artists. From the first moment he walked into the studio, there was no ego, no walls — just a genuine soul who uses his voice and his guitar as tools for light. His story is one of resilience, of living with purpose through the storms of PTSD and finding redemption in the notes he shares so freely with the world. Derek doesn’t just make music — he gives it away, both literally and emotionally, pouring pieces of himself into every chord and every conversation. As podcasters, we meet a lot of people chasing fame or recognition; Derek isn’t one of them. He’s chasing connection. And in a world that can feel divided and loud, that kind of humility and strength is something worth amplifying. CommonX is honored to share his story — not because he asked us to, but because people like him remind us why we do this in the first place.