Stay Warm, Stay Working — The Gen-X Winter Code

Winter workwear hero image for Common-X article Stay Warm, Stay Working — The Gen-X Winter Code, stay Warm this Winter with 32 Degrees Gear.

Gen-X never waited for perfect conditions — we just kept going. This winter, Common-X teams up with 32 Degrees to prove that staying warm isn’t soft; it’s smart.

Built for the Cold, Not the Couch

Back in the day, we didn’t have heated parkas or thermal tech. We had stubbornness, black coffee, and a hoodie that barely survived the washing machine.

Now? The grind’s the same, but the gear got smarter. 32 Degrees brings that minimalist, no-excuses warmth that fits our generation — light, tough, and built to move.

Whether it’s a 5 a.m. workout, a frozen job site, or a long haul behind the wheel, warmth shouldn’t slow you down. That’s the Gen-X winter code: stay moving, stay real, stay working.

From the Job Site to the Studio

Common-X runs on early mornings, late nights, and a whole lot of cold workdays. 32 Degrees gear has become part of the uniform — soft enough for the mic, warm enough for real-world grind.

It’s proof that tech gear doesn’t have to scream “influencer.” It can quietly keep you from freezing while you build something that matters.

🧢 Why It Fits the Brand

Like Common-X, 32 Degrees is about balance — comfort without complacency. They make the kind of everyday gear that lets you handle work, workouts, and weekends without switching identities.

“From the job site to the studio — if it’s warm, it works.”

Official 32 Degrees logo representing the brand’s lightweight warmth and performance apparel, featured in the Common-X winter partner story Stay Warm, Stay Working — The Gen-X Winter Code.

🎬 The Smashing Machine Review | X-Files by CommonX: The Rock’s Rawest Role Yet

A review by Curb Fail Studios

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson built a career on confidence, charm, and control. The Smashing Machine breaks all three. It’s a fight film that leaves the ring and dives straight into the bruised soul of a man trying to outlast his own legend.

When the Mask Comes Off

Dwayne Johnson takes on Mark Kerr, the real-life MMA champion whose life hit as hard outside the cage as it did inside. Directed by Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems), this movie doesn’t glorify victory — it exposes the fight to stay human when the cheers fade.

It’s sweaty, shaky, and brutally honest. Safdie shoots it handheld, claustrophobic — like you’re trapped in Kerr’s head. The Rock isn’t playing The Rock anymore. He’s just a man crumbling under the weight of everything he built.

Why It Hits Gen-X Different

For Gen-X, this story hits home.

We came from an era that told us to “tough it out,” to work harder, to never let them see you crack. Kerr — and Johnson — are living proof that even the strongest among us reach a breaking point.

It’s the kind of film that makes you look back at your own grind and ask, what did it cost me to keep going?

That’s the CommonX spirit right there — resilience, reinvention, and brutal honesty.

The Rock’s Transformation

No CGI. No cape. No polished one-liners. Just a 260-pound man sweating through withdrawals, depression, and the quiet shame of failure. Johnson’s performance is career-defining — a reminder that vulnerability can hit harder than any punch.

Safdie’s camera never looks away, and neither should you.

🎧 Soundtrack and Grit

It hums with the pulse of 90s underground — distorted basslines, ambient noise, and moments of silence that say more than dialogue. It’s not a hype movie — it’s a human one.

Throw it in your Skullcandy cans, hit the treadmill, and see how long you can last before you start thinking about your own comeback story.

Final Verdict

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)

The Smashing Machine is Dwayne Johnson stripped down to raw nerve and muscle — a film that trades fame for honesty and lands a knockout.

It’s a story every Gen-Xer understands: how to fall, get up, and start again when no one’s cheering.

Now playing in theatres and streaming worldwide.

🎬 X-Files Review: Predator – Badlands

by: Curb Fail Studios staff

1987 gave us one of the rawest creature flicks ever made. Now Predator – Badlands drags that legend through the dust and into the future — part survival horror, part redemption arc, and 100 percent Gen-X attitude.

Back to the Hunt

Director Dan Trachtenberg (Prey) returns with a lean, mean sequel that actually feels like a Predator movie again. Set in a scorched, near-future wasteland, it drops a new cast — led by Elle Fanning — into a world where the line between hunter and hunted barely exists.

Forget bloated CGI fests; this thing moves like an old-school actioner. Sparse dialogue, heavy tension, and a camera that loves grit more than gloss. The tech’s new, but the DNA’s pure 1980s menace.

Why It Hits Gen-X

We grew up on muscles, mud, and one-liners. The Badlands crew bleeds that same energy — just with more scars and less spray-tan. It taps straight into that Gen-X survivalism: make it work, fix it yourself, and don’t trust the system to save you.

Where millennials chase multiverses, we still chase grit. Badlands gives it back in spades.

The New Mythology

Trachtenberg builds on what Prey started — turning Predator into folklore instead of franchise. The Yautja’s still the ultimate hunter, but here it’s almost symbolic: the physical embodiment of everything trying to wipe out what’s left of humanity.

For Gen-X, that reads like a metaphor for burnout, resilience, and refusing to die quiet. That’s Common-X territory, man.

🎧 Sound, Sweat, and Score

The soundtrack pounds like metal scraped against concrete — industrial echoes, tribal drums, and synth nods that wink at Alan Silvestri’s original score. It’s the kind of sound design you feel in your ribs, perfect for Skullcandy headphones and late-night treadmill rage sessions.

Final Verdict

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4.5/5)

Lean, mean, and smarter than it looks. Predator – Badlands respects its roots but doesn’t worship them. It’s the sequel Gen-X deserved — the one that remembers the jungle, the fear, and the fight.

X-Files Feature: “The Common-X Store — Born From Panic, Sweat, and Gen-X Stubbornness

The Build

It started like everything we do at Common-X — with an idea that refused to die.

We spent 13 straight hours wrestling with Squarespace settings, Printify sync errors, and checkout bugs that demanded more clearance than the Secret Service. There were panic attacks, profanity, and at least one rage session on the treadmill.

But you know what? We pushed through it — because that’s what Gen-X does.

We don’t quit when something breaks. We break it harder until it finally works.

The Merch

The 6-7 AF Graphic Tee was the first one off the line — a front-and-back design that captures everything we love about this project: bold, a little smart-ass, and unapologetically ours.

Fun fact: Ian’s iPhone refused to let him buy one (thanks, Apple security), but his wife slid right in and became Customer #1 in Common-X history. That’s how we knew the store was officially alive.

The Meaning

This isn’t about selling shirts. It’s about planting a flag for every Gen-Xer who still believes in doing it yourself — even when the system makes it hard.

We built this store the same way we built this show: from the ground up, one stubborn step at a time.

“If you can’t find a lane, pave one.”

That’s Common-X, said Ian Primmer - Co-Host of CommonX Podcast

The Future

The cash register’s open 24/7.

More designs, more drops, more chaos are coming — because now that the gears are turning, there’s no slowing down.

🛒 Visit the Common-X Store →

The Quiet Hours: When the World Sleeps, I Walk

(An X-Files by Ian Primmer | CommonX Podcast)

There’s a certain peace that lives in the early hours — the kind that only shows up when the world hasn’t yet opened its eyes. It’s 2:30 a.m. when I wake up, not by choice, but because life decided I needed a moment with myself. The house is quiet. The coffee maker stirs. The moon hangs like a soft bulb over a world too distracted to notice. My wife is still sleeping, and I envy her ability to rest so deeply. She’s earned it.

Me? I shower, lace up my shoes, and head for the gym. Not because I have to. Because I promised myself I would.

There’s something sacred about walking while everyone else is dreaming. Each step feels like a conversation with the universe — one where the only thing required is honesty. The treadmill hums beneath me, the heart rate climbs, and for 90 minutes, it’s just me, my thoughts, and the steady rhythm of motion. I’m not chasing youth. I’m chasing peace.

We don’t talk enough about the quiet victories — those moments when no one’s watching, no one’s clapping, and no one’s there to post about it. The alarm goes off, your body aches, your spirit feels small, and still, you show up. That’s what defines a person. That’s what builds a soul that can weather storms.

Sometimes, life doesn’t need to be loud to be powerful. Sometimes, the most revolutionary act is simply not giving up.

I think about all the people out there right now, fighting invisible battles — the ones who drag themselves out of bed despite the weight on their chest, who smile when they want to break, who choose to keep walking when standing still would be easier. You are the quiet heroes. The ones the world overlooks but can’t function without.

So if today feels heavy, let me remind you: it’s not about perfection. It’s about persistence. The gym, the grind, the growth — it’s all a reflection of the fight inside you. And you’re stronger than you think.

When I finish that 90-minute walk, I won’t have changed the world. But I’ll have changed my world. And maybe, if these words reach someone who needs them, that’ll be enough.

Because in these quiet hours, when the world sleeps and I walk, I find my truth — and my truth is this: You are not alone. Keep going.

🎸 Mullet Malone: The Silent Cowboy Who Made 90s Country Go Viral

Mullet Malone standing beside his side-by-side ATV stuck in the mud, capturing his trademark 90s country humor and laid-back attitude.

There’s a new outlaw riding across social media—and he doesn’t say a word. No promos, no captions begging for follows. Just a mullet, a cold beer, chillin’ in the shop, and the twang of 90s country rolling through your feed. Somehow, that’s all it takes for Mullet Malone to pull millions of views and a community of fans who feel like they already know the guy. In a world that overshares everything, Malone has turned under-sharing into an art form. His reels and shorts are simple POV clips with just enough on-screen text to make you spit out your drink laughing. The punchline isn’t delivered—it’s implied. That’s the genius: he’s letting the viewer do half the work, and that makes every video feel personal.

The Malone Effect

He’s not parodying 90s country—he’s honoring it. The soundtrack swings between Brooks & Dunn, Travis Tritt, Alan Jackson, and the kind of honky-tonk anthems that used to rattle truck speakers across backroads before Spotify existed. You don’t have to be from the sticks to get it; you just have to remember when music videos had storylines and jeans had actual dirt on them. Malone’s silence is a flex. While everyone else is shouting for attention, he just hits record, cracks a beer, and lets nostalgia do the talking. His followers eat it up because it’s not curated—it’s felt. He’s the embodiment of what CommonX has been saying since day one: authenticity still wins. The Gen-X humor, the shrug-at-life energy, the “I’ll be who I am” vibe—it’s all right there in that camera roll.

The CommonX Connection

We talk a lot on the show about reclaiming what’s real. Mullet Malone is doing that with nothing but timing and a sense of humor. He’s not just viral; he’s a mirror for everyone who misses when life wasn’t filtered through algorithms. In a world that never shuts up, sometimes silence—with the right soundtrack—says everything.

Keep the Vibe Alive

If you dig stories like this, check out more on The CommonX Podcast or become a sponsor to help keep independent voices alive:
👉 Sponsor the CommonX Podcast | On-Air Advertising & Brand Partnerships — Common-X Podcast

This CommonX feature is brought to you by Summit Racing, Alpinestars, and Heavy Duty Ramps — brands built for real horsepower and hard work. Click the brand images below for CommonX Discounts

Summit Racing logo and performance automotive imagery representing CommonX partner Summit Racing, supporting the Mullet Malone feature and Gen-X gearhead culture.

Alpinestars logo representing CommonX partner Alpinestars — a leading brand in motorsports and action-sports performance gear.

Heavy Duty Ramps logo representing CommonX partner Heavy Duty Ramps — makers of professional-grade loading ramps and equipment trusted by builders, riders, and racers.

Reclaiming Minds: Lisa Ekman on Deprogramming and the Path Back to Unity

Graphic for the CommonX X-Files article “Reclaiming Minds,” featuring a quote from guest Lisa Ekman and the release date November 16, set in a minimalist Gen-X design style.

(An X-Files Feature by CommonX Podcast)

The Courage to Question Everything

Sometimes the hardest battles aren’t fought overseas or in the streets — they’re fought in our own minds. For author and activist Lisa Ekman, the journey of stepping away from once-familiar beliefs wasn’t about politics — it was about truth, courage, and the willingness to face what no longer felt right. “The left became radicalized during my lifetime to take positions that I can no longer be associated with or defend. Coming to these conclusions and deprogramming myself was the hardest thing I have ever done,” said Ekman. Her words aren’t just political commentary — they’re personal confessions from someone who dared to unlearn what she once stood for and rebuild her worldview from the ground up.

The Awakening

In a time when division feels like the new normal, Lisa’s story asks a bold question: can a nation ever find unity if its people don’t first reclaim their minds?

“A country divided cannot stand,” she adds. “We have an opportunity to unify the country but only if we can help people who are brainwashed or indoctrinated reclaim their minds. Replacing fear with love, faith, acceptance, and love of liberty and country provides a path to unity.”

Her new book explores that challenge — not through anger or blame, but through transformation. She speaks openly about replacing fear with love, judgment with faith, and ideology with liberty.

The CommonX Conversation

Lisa Ekman joins Ian Primmer and Jared Mayzak for a powerful new episode of the CommonX Podcast — recorded Friday, November 8 at 10 AM and premiering Sunday, November 16. Expect a raw, honest discussion about truth, media, and the courage it takes to think for yourself. Like every CommonX episode, this one seeks balance, empathy, and deeper understanding — not division.

What I took away from our conversation this morning with Lisa Ekman is that healing our minds doesn’t begin with screens or systems — it begins with each other. Reprogramming ourselves means reconnecting with real life: sharing dinner with friends, taking walks without distraction, and making space for genuine conversation. The path to reclaiming our minds starts when we step back into humanity — together. Lisa offers powerful ideas and practical tools in this piece — it’s a must-read.
— Ian Primmer

⚖️ Disclaimer

CommonX is not a political podcast and does not endorse any political party or ideology. Our goal is simple: to host real conversations with real people — across every belief system — in pursuit of understanding, not persuasion.

Read & Share

Her story challenges us to think deeper, listen closer, and remember what truly unites us. You can follow Lisa on X here and visit her website at Deprogramming Democrats

Author Lisa Ekman, writer of “Deprogramming Democrats & unEducating the Elites: How I Escaped the Progressive Cult,” standing in front of an American flag, featured in the CommonX X-Files article “Reclaiming Minds.”

The Quiet Wins Nobody Sees

By The CommonX Crew

There’s a kind of victory that never trends, never goes viral, and never earns a badge next to your name. It happens quietly, when no one’s watching — in the early mornings, the long nights, and the moments when your heart’s telling you to stop but your purpose says keep going.

Those are the quiet wins.

The world glorifies the finish line, but the real beauty lies in the middle — in the grind, the setbacks, and the courage it takes just to show up again. You won’t get a trophy for getting out of bed when everything hurts, or for starting over when your last effort fell flat. But those are the moments that build you.

Every rep, every late-night edit, every “nobody’s listening” upload — they all count. They’re proof that you haven’t given up. And that’s the thing about persistence: it doesn’t shout. It whispers. It whispers, “Just one more day. Just one more try. Just one more step.”

You may feel invisible right now. Like the world is moving on without you. But someone out there — someone who hasn’t even met you yet — needs you to keep going. They need your story, your grit, your truth. Because one day, they’ll find your work and realize they weren’t the only one struggling to hang on.

And when that day comes, every quiet win will make sense.

The soreness. The doubt. The silence. It all becomes fuel.

You’ll look back and realize that the breakthrough didn’t happen overnight — it happened in all those small, unseen moments when you chose not to quit.

So if you’re reading this and you’re tired… if you’re questioning whether it’s worth it… please don’t stop now. You’ve come too far to walk away from what could be just around the corner.

Sometimes the biggest victories don’t announce themselves.

Sometimes they’re just a whisper that says,

“You made it through another day.”

Keep showing up.

Keep believing.

Keep fighting for the quiet wins nobody sees.

Because one day, someone will.

— The CommonX Crew

🎙️ For everyone chasing their dream in silence.

From the Garage to the Mic: The Climb So Far

From the Garage to the Mic: The Climb So Far – motivational graphic for the CommonX Podcast article by Curb Fail Productions, symbolizing growth, creativity, and persistence.

By Curb Fail Productions – A CommonX Reflection

In the quiet corners of Deer Park, WA, long before the cameras, guests, or sponsors, there was just a voice — an honest one. It belonged to two friends who believed every story mattered, that good people still exist, and that service isn’t about glory. It’s about showing up. When CommonX was just an idea, it wasn’t about money, metrics, or fame. It was about connection. It was about two Gen-X dads — Ian Primmer and Jared Mayzak — who wanted to remind the world that compassion and curiosity still had a place in the noise. Week after week, they built something out of nothing — a studio in a shop, a show from the soul, and a mission that cut through the static.

From those first uncertain recordings to interviews with legends, artists, veterans, and visionaries — CommonX became a home for humanity. Each episode, each X-File, carried the same heartbeat: everyone has a story worth hearing. At the center of it all are Ian and Jared — partners, brothers-in-arms, and co-hosts who never wanted the spotlight but somehow became beacons. Ian’s strength has always been his heart — the empathy to see the good in everyone he meets. Jared’s has been his fire — the energy and conviction to keep the momentum alive when the mountain feels steep. Together, they’ve kept CommonX climbing.

Curb Fail Productions was never about building a media empire. It’s about building bridges. It’s about truth told with respect, laughter shared with strangers, and the belief that the world gets a little better each time someone chooses empathy over ego. So as we look back on how far this climb has taken us — from the garage to the mic, from a spark to a movement — we pause to say thank you. To everyone who’s listened, read, laughed, and joined the ride. You’re not just part of the audience; you’re part of the story.

Because that’s what this whole thing has always been about: people. Real people.

— Curb Fail Productions

Dedicated to every guest, listener, and dreamer who ever believed their voice mattered.

Listen Here:

🎙️ Spotify – CommonX Podcast

▶️ YouTube – CommonX Channel

🍏 Apple Podcasts – CommonX

Skullcandy logo – official audio partner of the CommonX Podcast, delivering premium sound for every episode and every listener.

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Every Day Counts: The CommonX Fitness Comeback

By Ian Primmer – CommonX Podcast

From Burnout to Breakthrough

They say discipline beats motivation — and that’s become my truth. Every day now starts the same way: no excuses, no shortcuts, just sweat. The gym’s not optional anymore; it’s the foundation. I might get one day off when the work calls me in, but otherwise, I’m in there pushing steel like I’m forging my own comeback story.

I don’t train for vanity. I train for clarity. For energy. For focus. For that razor edge that makes me a better husband, dad, creator, and co-host on the CommonX Podcast. This isn’t a phase — it’s a lifestyle.

Fueling the Fire

Clean eating isn’t punishment — it’s precision. Every meal’s got a purpose: fuel, not filler. My mornings kick off with oatmeal or a wrap, mid-day brings the CommonX Comeback Shake, and dinner’s all about lean proteins and greens.

That’s where the right partners make a difference.

• 1st Phorm keeps my macros dialed in and recovery tight — pure power with zero hype.

• A-Sha Foods brings balance with smart, high-protein noodles that hit like comfort food without the guilt.

• And when it’s time to unwind, Coach Soak steps in to help my muscles recover from the grind — magnesium-rich soaks that turn soreness into satisfaction.

Fuel, discipline, recovery — the three pillars of the comeback.

1st Phorm: keeps my macros dialed in and recovery tight — pure power with zero hype.

A-Sha Foods brings balance with smart, high-protein noodles that hit like comfort food without the guilt.

Coach Soak steps in to help my muscles recover from the grind — magnesium-rich soaks that turn soreness into satisfaction.

The Recovery Nobody Sees

The unseen reps happen after the gym. That’s when your body repairs, your mind resets, and your drive re-ignites. Recovery is where progress hides — it’s where tomorrow’s strength is born.

Coach Soak’s been a game-changer there. After long shifts and back-to-back gym sessions, those mineral soaks remind me that rest isn’t weakness. It’s strategy.

As I tell myself after every session:

“Pain is just the echo of progress — proof that you showed up.”

The Mindset That Builds More Than Muscle

Showing up every day has changed more than my body. It’s sharpened my focus behind the mic, too. The CommonX Podcast has always been about showing up for the truth — now I’m showing up for myself the same way.

Consistency has a rhythm. It starts at 4:50 AM and doesn’t end until the last rep’s done. It’s not glamorous, it’s not always fun, but it’s real.

Every day counts because tomorrow only exists if you build it today.

Join the Comeback

If you’re reading this, you’ve got a comeback in you too. Whether it’s health, hustle, or headspace — the CommonX way is simple: show up, fuel up, recover, repeat.

Level up your own routine with our partners in grind:

• 1st Phorm — Fuel for the Comeback

• A-Sha Foods — Clean Comfort, Gen-X Style

• Coach Soak — Recovery for the Relentless

Because in the end, it’s not about perfection — it’s about persistence.
And every damn day… counts.

🕯️ Ozzy Osbourne: The Sound That Never Dies

“You can’t kill rock and roll — it’s alive in every note he left behind.”

There are rock stars — and then there’s Ozzy Osbourne. The man who single-handedly helped shape heavy metal, terrified parents, inspired millions, and somehow made the entire world fall in love with his madness.

Born in Birmingham, England in 1948, John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne came from working-class grit. Before he was the “Prince of Darkness,” he was just a kid with dyslexia, odd jobs, and a voice that didn’t quite fit anywhere — until it changed music forever.

🎸 The Birth of Heavy Metal

When Ozzy joined forces with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, the result was Black Sabbath — the band that invented a genre. Their 1970 self-titled debut was raw, dark, and loud — a thunderclap that split rock in two. Albums like Paranoid and Master of Reality didn’t just define metal; they built it from the ground up.

Songs like Iron Man, War Pigs, and Paranoid weren’t just riffs — they were rebellion set to distortion. Ozzy’s haunting voice and unfiltered energy turned fear into freedom.

⚡ The Solo Resurrection

After his firing from Sabbath, most thought Ozzy’s story was over. Instead, it was just beginning. Teaming up with guitar prodigy Randy Rhoads, he unleashed Blizzard of Ozz (1980) and Diary of a Madman — records that became instant classics. Crazy Train and Mr. Crowley remain two of the most recognizable rock anthems in history.

Even after tragedy struck with Rhoads’ death, Ozzy kept pushing. With players like Jake E. Lee, Zakk Wylde, and Geezer Butler returning to his orbit, his solo career became a masterclass in endurance. Albums like No Rest for the Wicked, No More Tears, and Ozzmosis proved he could outlast every critic and every demon.

🧠 The Myth and the Man

Then came the moments that blurred the line between legend and lunacy — the infamous bat-biting incident, the MTV reality show The Osbournes, and decades of being both rock’s wildest figure and its most unlikely symbol of love and humor.

But through it all, Ozzy never stopped being real. Beneath the spectacle was a man who wore his struggles with addiction, depression, and fame openly. He survived what most couldn’t — and somehow still showed up on stage, microphone in hand, giving everything he had left.

🕊️ The Final Notes

His 2022 album Patient Number 9 became a haunting farewell — reflective, experimental, and packed with collaborations from icons like Eric Clapton, Tony Iommi, and Jeff Beck. It wasn’t just a goodbye; it was a celebration of a life that changed the sound of the world.

When Ozzy Osbourne passed away in 2025, the shock reverberated through generations. But for those of us who grew up with his voice echoing through our walls, it wasn’t an ending — it was immortality being confirmed.

🖤 From the CommonX Host’s Desk — Ian Primmer

Ozzy’s music raised us. His madness made us laugh, his honesty made us feel seen, and his riffs — they taught us to feel alive.

He was chaos and compassion in equal measure, a man who gave the misfits, metalheads, and midnight souls a home. In every gym, garage, and garage band that ever plugged in a guitar — Ozzy’s DNA is there.

Rest easy, legend. You didn’t just scream into the void — you made the void sing back.

🎸 “What Else Could I Write? I Don’t Have the Right.” — Kurt Cobain and the Echo of a Generation

“The sound of truth never dies. It just finds new chords.”

Written by Ian Primmer

In the quiet between the noise, Kurt Cobain’s words still linger like cigarette smoke in the back of every Gen-X memory. “What else could I write? I don’t have the right.” It wasn’t just a lyric — it was a confession. A poet caught between fame and fracture, saying the quiet part out loud before anyone else dared to.

Born from the grunge-soaked heart of Aberdeen, Washington, Cobain didn’t just write songs — he wrote truths that still punch decades later. Nirvana’s sound wasn’t built to be clean; it was built to be honest. That rawness, that resistance to polish, was the pulse of a generation that refused to be marketed, molded, or muted.

At CommonX, we talk a lot about what it means to grow up Gen-X — a mix of latchkey rebellion, mixtapes, and that sense of being unseen in the crowd. Cobain was that spirit, distilled into one human being. He didn’t just play music; he made us feel like we weren’t alone in our contradictions.

Even now, when you strip away the nostalgia and the myth, there’s something timeless about how Kurt saw the world — broken yet beautiful, cynical but sincere. In a time when social media celebrates the surface, his vulnerability feels even more radical.

Maybe that’s why Gen-X still finds itself humming his lyrics while scrolling headlines that feel more corporate than cultural. Cobain once said, “I’d rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not.” That line could be tattooed across the entire CommonX ethos — and maybe across our hearts, too.

Because at the end of the day, being Gen-X isn’t about what we owned or streamed or posted. It’s about what we felt. And few ever made us feel quite like Kurt did.

From the CommonX Host’s Desk – Ian Primmer

Every time I listen to Kurt, I’m reminded why we started CommonX in the first place — to give a voice to the generation that never really asked for one, but damn well earned it. I think about those lines: “What else could I write? I don’t have the right.”

That hits harder as a creator, a dad, and a Gen-X’er trying to build something real. Whether it’s in the gym before sunrise or behind the mic with Jared, I try to bring that same raw honesty to what we do. We’re not chasing perfection; we’re chasing truth — just like Kurt did.

So here’s to every listener, artist, and misfit who still believes that being real means something. You’re our people.

🦷 Best Bands to Listen to in the Dentist’s Chair (Shoutout to Kristen @ Smile Source North 🤘)

by Ian Primmer — CommonX Podcast

Let’s be honest — most of us would rather be anywhere else than reclined under a bright light while someone scrapes away at our molars. But sometimes, the right music and the right person behind the mask can change everything.

This morning I found myself back in the dental chair, mouth numb, AirPods in, bracing for the worst. But my hygienist Kristen changed the game. She was calm, patient, and so gentle I barely realized the cleaning had started. For once, I wasn’t white-knuckling the armrests. I was vibing.

🎧 The CommonX Chair Playlist

If you’re lucky enough to have a hygienist who lets you plug in, here’s the ultimate Gen X-approved soundtrack for your next appointment — equal parts chill, nostalgic, and dentist-chair zen:

1. Nirvana – “All Apologies”
   A soft-grunge lullaby for your nerves. Kurt’s voice somehow makes even the sound of scraping feel poetic.

2. The Smashing Pumpkins – “1979”
   A hypnotic hum that turns the whir of the polisher into background ambience.

3. The Cranberries – “Dreams”
   The gentle rhythm and Dolores O’Riordan’s vocals make the chair feel like a daydream.

4. Foo Fighters – “Learn to Fly”
   Because even in a dentist’s chair, there’s a strange freedom in just letting go and floating through the moment.

5. Men Without Hats – “I Love the ’80s”
   The perfect closer — CommonX had the world debut of this track, and it’s impossible not to smile while it plays.

😁 Shout-Out

Huge thanks to Kristen and the crew at Smile Source North for restoring my faith in dentistry. I walked out feeling cleaner, lighter, and weirdly… happy? Never thought I’d say that. Additionally, April is also amazing she was just out today.. just sayin 😎🤘

Turns out, sometimes it’s not about avoiding the dentist — it’s about finding the right playlist and the right person behind the mask.

Ivan Doroschuk: From Pogo to Pop Culture — The Legacy of Men Without Hats

By CommonX Staff | The X-Files | CommonXPodcast.com

When you’ve fronted one of the most recognizable anthems of the 1980s, it would be easy to live inside the nostalgia.

But Ivan Doroschuk, lead singer and songwriter of Men Without Hats, isn’t interested in rewinding — he’s interested in remembering why it mattered in the first place.

We’ve been lucky enough to interview Ivan twice on the CommonX Podcast, and every time he joins us, the conversation feels less like an interview and more like catching up with an old friend who helped soundtrack an entire generation.

The Birth of “The Safety Dance”

Ivan explained that pogo dancing — that early punk-era, vertical bounce of pure energy — was often misunderstood by bouncers as aggressive behavior, a misunderstanding that sparked the idea for The Safety Dance.

What started as a reaction against rules became a declaration of individuality, and in the process, one of the most iconic singles of the MTV generation.

📺 Beavis and Butthead and the Art of Humility

One of Ivan’s favorite pop-culture callbacks came years later when he saw The Safety Dance video on Beavis and Butthead.

He laughed remembering their commentary:

“Who does this guy think he is? Michael Jackson? He keeps saying he can dance but he can’t dance.”

Ivan said he thought that was great — and that moment captures exactly who he is: grounded, self-aware, and always in on the joke.

For a man who helped define MTV’s first decade, he’s refreshingly un-Hollywood.

Legacy in Motion

Men Without Hats still play to packed crowds around the world, and Ivan continues to write and record music that bridges eras.

His latest work blends nostalgia with the boldness that made the band legendary — proof that timeless ideas never really age, they just evolve.

For CommonX, talking with Ivan reminds us why we started this journey: to capture stories that shaped our culture from the people who lived them.

The Safety Dance may have started as a reaction to being misunderstood, but four decades later, it stands as a celebration of individuality — and Ivan Doroschuk is still leading the crowd.

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🎧 Watch or Listen

🎥 Ivan Doroschuk of Men Without Hats on CommonX Podcast

💿 “I Love the ’80s” — A CommonX Exclusive

In one of the most exciting moments in CommonX history, Men Without Hats’ single “I Love the ’80s” was debuted on-air for the first time ever right here on our show — introduced by the band’s manager, Cory White.

That premiere wasn’t just another interview segment; it was a milestone that marked CommonX as a trusted platform where legacy artists still choose to share their newest creations first.

Hearing that track for the first time — raw, nostalgic, and full of energy — was like watching history loop back around in real time.

Richard Karn: Tool Time to Timeless — Our Sit-Down on CommonX

By CommonX Staff | The X-Files | CommonXPodcast.com

There are moments in life when you realize your little show from a small town has become something much bigger. For us at CommonX, that moment was sitting across from Richard Karn — actor, producer, and the face of Home Improvement’s everyman wisdom — for a conversation that felt like catching up with an old friend.

Richard didn’t show up as a Hollywood icon; he showed up as one of us. He talked about life after Tool Time, the evolution of entertainment, and the quiet pride of still being recognized for doing something genuine.

We didn’t need a script — just two mics, some laughter, and a shared understanding that real conversations never go out of style. What surprised us most was how naturally he fit the CommonX vibe.

Karn spoke about growing up in the Pacific Northwest, working hard, staying grounded, and refusing to let fame change who he was. When he reflected on his years alongside Tim Allen, it wasn’t nostalgia — it was perspective.

“You know,” he said, “people remember the laughs, but what mattered was the connection. That’s what lasts.”

It was one of those episodes that reminded us why we started CommonX in the first place: to bridge generations, celebrate authenticity, and give our audience the kind of substance that algorithms can’t fake.

Sitting with Richard Karn didn’t just elevate our show — it validated it.

🎧 Watch or Listen

🎥 Richard Karn on the CommonX Podcast

🎬 “KC from Kings of Tupelo: The Untold Story Behind the Documentary”

By CommonX Staff | The X-Files | CommonXPodcast.com

Every once in a while, an interview comes along that doesn’t just fill time — it stops time. That’s what happened when CommonX sat down with KC from Kings of Tupelo, the man behind one of the most talked-about underground documentaries in modern music storytelling.

Our conversation with KC lasted nearly four hours — and it became our most-watched CommonX episode to date. We went in expecting a glimpse behind the curtain of the Kings of Tupelo film, but what we found was something deeper: a man unafraid to tell the truth about what it costs to stay authentic in a world built on artifice.

KC spoke with the same conviction and raw tone that made his performance in the Kings of Tupelo documentary unforgettable. Every word felt like it was coming straight from the soul of someone who has lived it, lost it, and found a way to put it back into song.

What struck us most was how much of his story never made it to film — the behind-the-scenes grit, the quiet moments of reflection, and the human cost of chasing something pure in a world that too often rewards the opposite. Off camera, KC was everything you’d hope for in a real artist: honest, humble, and unfiltered.

Sitting with him wasn’t just another interview — it was a reminder of why we do what we do. CommonX was built for conversations like this — raw, reflective, and rooted in real experience. And for us, that four-hour marathon felt more like a privilege than a production.

🎥 KC — Kings of Tupelo | CommonX Podcast (Full Interview)

That’s So Mid, Bruh: The Story Behind 6-7

By CommonX Staff | The X-Files | Deer Park, WA

There was a time when average wasn’t cool. When “good enough” was never enough. When people stayed up all night with a soldering iron, a four-track recorder, and a bad attitude just to prove they could do something better.

Then somewhere along the way, we landed in what could only be called the 6-7 era — the time when “mid” became not only an adjective but a lifestyle.

How “Mid” Took Over

“Mid” didn’t start as a compliment. It was born in comment sections and memes, weaponized by Gen Z to describe anything that didn’t totally suck… but didn’t hit either.

“It’s mid.”

Translation: It exists. I noticed. Moving on.

Music, movies, relationships, and even food get hit with the “mid” tag daily. It’s the universal shrug of modern life — a word that captures our collective indifference, the vibe of a generation raised on algorithms telling them what to like before they even press play.

But here’s the twist: “mid” isn’t new. It’s just the rebrand of mediocrity — and CommonX is calling it out.

The Rise of the 6-7

Once upon a time, people rated stuff 1 through 10. Five meant “meh.” Six or seven meant “pretty good.” But then the whole system collapsed into safe zones — nobody wants to offend, nobody wants to stand out, so everything’s just… six or seven.

That restaurant? “A solid seven.”

That Netflix show? “It’s a six, maybe seven.”

Your coworker’s band? “Six-ish, bro.”

We’ve become a world allergic to extremes — to being a one (failure) or a ten (try-hard). Everyone’s stuck in the middle, sipping $8 lattes, posting mid takes, living mid lives.

Gen X Never Did Mid

That’s where Gen X rolls up in a beat-up Civic with the stereo cracked and says: Nah, we’re not doing that.

Gen X grew up in the analog trenches. We didn’t have participation trophies; we had rejection letters. We didn’t download; we dubbed. We didn’t go viral; we earned our scars.

And now, as the world slides into the comfort of 6-7, the CommonX Podcast is here as a rallying cry for the ones who still chase the 10 — not because it’s easy, but because doing it halfway never satisfied the soul.

From Ivan Doroschuk talking legacy to Steve Mayzak breaking down AI consciousness, to Sid Griffin keeping Americana alive — CommonX refuses to be mid. It’s the antidote to the algorithm. The unfiltered, long-form, real talk antidote to a world of scrollable sameness.

The CommonX Ethos

Every episode, every blog, every quote we drop — it’s built on one simple creed: Don’t be mid. Be memorable.

Whether you’re writing songs, building companies, or raising kids, being a 10 isn’t about perfection — it’s about giving a damn. It’s about heart, risk, authenticity. The kind of stuff you can’t fake with filters or hashtags.

We don’t settle for 6-7 around here. That’s where comfort lives — and comfort kills creativity.

So yeah, call us old-school, call us analog dreamers, call us stubborn. But when history looks back, it won’t remember the “mid.”

It’ll remember the misfits, the makers, and the mic-droppers who gave everything they had.

Welcome to CommonX — where 6-7 gets left on read.

Why the CommonX Podcast Is the Best Show in the Pacific Northwest

A Podcast Born in the Heart of the Inland Northwest

When co-hosts Ian Primmer and Jared Mayzak launched CommonX out of a small shop studio in Deer Park, WA, they weren’t chasing fame — they were chasing truth.

What began as late-night conversations about music, media, and the human condition has evolved into one of the most talked-about independent shows in the region.

Their guest list reads like a cross-section of culture itself — from rock legends like Ivan Doroschuk (Men Without Hats) and Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot) to authors, veterans, political voices, and everyday people with extraordinary stories.

The Sound of the PNW — Unfiltered

The Pacific Northwest has always been home to the rebels, thinkers, and dreamers who prefer campfires over spotlights. CommonX taps straight into that energy — raw, honest, and unapologetically Gen X.

Listeners across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and beyond tune in because the show speaks a language corporate podcasts forgot: authenticity. Whether it’s exploring faith, freedom, music, or modern censorship, CommonX keeps it real — no scripts, no spin, just conversation.

From TikTok to the Turntables

Before CommonX exploded, host Ian Primmer found viral success as GENXDAD on TikTok — proof that Gen X still knows how to command the internet. That following became the foundation for a regional powerhouse: the CommonX brand now spans TikTok, YouTube, Spotify, and a fast-growing web platform at commonxpodcast.com.

The show’s reach has extended from Spokane to Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver B.C., proving that the Pacific Northwest still knows how to make noise that matters.

What Makes CommonX the Best in the PNW

• 🎙️ Authenticity Over Agenda – Real talk without the political polish.

• Rooted in Gen X Grit – A generation that built bridges between analog and digital.

• Culture Meets Conversation – Every episode blends music, memory, and modern reality.

• Independent to the Core – Produced by two lifelong Washington creators, not a network.

It’s not corporate, it’s not curated — it’s CommonX. And that’s exactly why it’s resonating from the Cascades to the Columbia.

Looking Ahead

With Season 2 already in production and high-profile guests lining up, CommonX is poised to bring the voice of the Pacific Northwest to a global audience. Whether listeners are lifelong locals or digital nomads, the message is the same: real conversation still lives here.

As the Pacific Northwest continues to grow, CommonX stands as its raw, unfiltered pulse — the podcast built for those who still believe authenticity matters.

Did the Internet Eat Reality?

Reality used to mean something you could touch, see, and feel. Now it’s filtered, edited, and uploaded before it ever really happens. Somewhere between selfies, algorithms, and AI headlines, the internet didn’t just change reality — it consumed it.

The Moment It Happened

It wasn’t a single day or a viral post. Reality didn’t collapse in one click — it bled out slowly. We traded photo albums for Instagram grids, local hangouts for Discord servers, and conversation for comments. Now we scroll through the world instead of living in it.

Gen X might be the last generation to remember what life before the upload felt like — when a moment stayed a memory instead of content.

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The New Religion of Algorithms

We used to ask teachers, mentors, and parents for wisdom. Now, we ask Google, YouTube, and TikTok. The algorithm doesn’t care about truth — it only cares about what keeps you scrolling. It feeds the dopamine loop, not your brain.

We’ve reached the point where the algorithm isn’t showing us reality — it’s writing it.

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The AI Era: Simulation Becomes Default

Artificial intelligence writes the news, draws the art, sings the songs, and finishes our sentences. The lines between creator and code are gone. Deepfakes can make anyone say anything.

If you can’t tell what’s real anymore… maybe that’s the new definition of real.

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The Gen X Perspective

Gen X was raised analog and forced to adapt digital. We built the bridge — now we’re watching it burn. We remember when eye contact meant truth and “offline” wasn’t an insult. That’s why CommonX exists — to bring real back to the table.

Because while the world argues over what’s real, Gen X knows one thing for sure: reality doesn’t need a Wi-Fi signal.

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Final Thought

Maybe the internet didn’t just eat reality — maybe it ate our attention, our patience, and our sense of time. But as long as there’s one person still asking why, the story’s not over.

🎙️ The Algorithm, The Sprinklers, and a World That Still Needs Laughs

By Ian Primmer | CommonX Podcast

🎙️ The Algorithm, The Sprinklers, and a World That Still Needs Laughs

It’s funny how the internet decides what’s worth remembering.

The first time I went viral wasn’t for a deep conversation, a song, or a bold take — it was for accidentally turning the sprinklers on while my wife was mowing the lawn.

Sam Tripoli said it best on Tin Foil Hat: “Thanks for sacrificing your marriage for everyone’s entertainment.”

That line hit because it was more than a joke. It summed up how the algorithm works. It rewards chaos, cringe, and anything that makes people stop scrolling for two seconds. Somewhere in that madness, I realized that every viral moment — no matter how ridiculous — is a chance to reach people who might need a reason to smile, think, or connect again.

When Sam asked why I’d ever want to be on satellite radio, my answer was simple: to reach more people and bring them together in a world full of hate. I wasn’t talking about selling out — I was talking about scaling up. If a sprinkler fail can break through the noise, imagine what genuine conversation could do.

The algorithm might have created the modern circus, but it’s also given us a microphone. CommonX exists because there’s still a crowd out there looking for something real — laughter, perspective, and a reminder that humanity still works when we choose to show up.

View the full discussion on TinFoil Hat Podcast here here 👇

https://spotify.link/n7Ufc4GpXXb

Read more X-Files articles by CommonX: https://www.commonxpodcast.com/thex-files