THE PENALTY BOX — The Most Badass Enforcers in American History

Digital poster for The Penalty Box article showcasing hockey fight imagery with gloves on ice and bold typography.

by Ian Primmer - CommonX

There’s a certain kind of human who doesn’t work for applause. They don’t chase headlines. They don’t beg for validation. Their purpose is carved out of grit, loyalty, and the silent promise that when the world turns violent, they’ll be the first ones to step into the storm. On the ice, they called them Enforcers. In real life, they’re something else entirely. They’re the men and women who take the hits so others don’t have to.

Growing up, we called them “goons” — a word Hollywood later turned into slapstick with the movie Goon. But anyone who really understands the role knows the truth: these men weren’t clowns or caricatures. They were Enforcers — the protectors, the shields, the ones who stepped into the fire so the rest of the team could breathe.

The Spirit of the Enforcer

Being an Enforcer was never about being the biggest or the baddest. It was about standing between your people and the danger they couldn’t see. It’s spine, heart, and a willingness to taste your own blood if it meant keeping someone else safe.

Enforcers always knew:

• they weren’t going to get the glory

• they weren’t going to be on magazine covers

• they weren’t going to be the hero in a highlight reel

But they strapped up anyway. Because that’s the code.

The enforcers who made our childhoods legendary

Gen-X grew up on a diet of raw, unapologetic hockey grit. We didn’t watch for the pretty plays — we watched for the warriors who turned the rink into a battlefield. These were the names spoken with reverence:

BOB PROBERT — THE TITAN WITH A BROKEN HALO

Bob Probert gripping an opponent’s jersey and winding up for a punch in a heated NHL on-ice fight.

Career Stats:

• 16 NHL seasons (Red Wings, Blackhawks)

• 3,300+ penalty minutes

• All-Star Game appearance (as an Enforcer — unheard of)

• 162 fights recorded

Iconic Fights:

• Probert vs. Domi — Round 1 (career-defining)

• Probert vs. McSorley

• Probert vs. Wendel Clark (pure nuclear energy)

Legacy Moment:
The night of his All-Star Game.
No fists, no violence — just pure hockey skill.
Probert smiled like a kid who’d finally been seen for something more than the chaos.

Behind the Scenes:
Teammates called him “Probie.”
He was known for giving the shirt off his back — literally.
He’d check on rookies after fights, buy them dinner, talk them through the nerves.

Dark Truth:
Probert’s demons were as fierce as any opponent.
He battled addiction, arrests, rehab, depression.
But he never stopped trying to claw his way back.

Quote:
“You play the cards you’re dealt.” — Probert

Why he matters:
Probert wasn’t tough for fame.
He was tough because he had to be to survive.

TIE DOMI — THE LITTLE BIG MAN WHO LAUGHED IN THE FACE OF GIANTS

Tie Domi gripping an opponent’s jersey and pulling back for a punch and throwing down on the ice.

Career Stats:

• 1,020 NHL games

• 3,515 penalty minutes

• Most fighting majors in NHL history

• Played for Jets, Rangers, Maple Leafs

Iconic Fights:

• Domi vs. Probert Round 1 & 2 — VHS tape legend

• Domi vs. Rob Ray

• Domi vs. Chara (the moment everyone gasped)

Legacy Moment:
That time Domi knocked a Flyers fan into the penalty box after the guy tried to climb in.
Domi caught him, held him gently, and said:

“You okay, buddy?”
THAT was Tie Domi — equal parts savage and sweetheart.

Behind the Scenes:

• Known for intense gym discipline

• Great father (his son Max Domi is an NHL star)

• Loved by teammates

• Infamous smile before every fight

Quote:
“I’m only 5’10”, but I’ve never lost a fight because of size.” — Domi

Why he matters:
Domi fought giants and did it with charisma.
He’s a symbol of Gen-X fearlessness.

MARTY McSORLEY — DEFENDER OF THE GREAT ONE

Marty McSorley preparing to engage in a fight during an NHL game.

Career Stats:

• 961 NHL games

• 3,375 penalty minutes

• Played for: Oilers, Kings, Penguins, Bruins, Sharks

Protective Highlights:

• Gretzky specifically requested McSorley on his team

• Opposing players skated differently when McSorley was out

• Gretzky’s freedom to create is partially thanks to McSorley’s presence

Iconic Fights:

• McSorley vs. Dave Brown (two titans)

• McSorley vs. Probert

• McSorley vs. Brashear (controversial, emotional legacy moment)

Legacy Moment:
The Kings’ 1993 playoff run — Gretzky’s magic + McSorley’s shield = Hollywood hockey.
LA became a hockey town because of these two men.

Behind the Scenes:

• Fiercely loyal

• Intimidating presence

• Known for leadership in the room

• Soft-spoken away from the rink

Quote:
“My job was simple: protect my team.” — McSorley

Why he matters:
McSorley embodied the protector archetype.
His legacy is complicated, human, and real.

DONALD BRASHEAR — THE WARRIOR WHO REFUSED TO BREAK

Donald Brashear preparing to fight during an NHL game

Career Stats:

• 1,009 NHL games

• 2,634 penalty minutes

• Played for: Canadiens, Canucks, Flyers, Capitals, Rangers

Iconic Fights:

• Brashear vs. Laraque — two modern-era beasts

• Brashear vs. Probert — power vs power

• Brashear vs. McSorley — emotional, defining moment

Legacy Moment:
One of the first Black enforcers to dominate in a league that wasn’t always welcoming.
He faced hell — and earned respect through toughness and heart.

Behind the Scenes:

• Practiced martial arts

• Trained like a machine

• Quiet and thoughtful off-ice

• Known for helping teammates through personal struggles

Trauma:
Brashear came from a violent childhood.
Literally fought his way out of darkness.
His resilience is unmatched.

Quote:
“I don’t need people to like me. I just need them to respect the work.” — Brashear

Why he matters:
Brashear represents the survivor spirit.
He’s proof that toughness isn’t born — it’s forged.

DAVE “THE HAMMER” SCHULTZ — GODFATHER OF THE BROAD STREET BULLIES

Dave Shultz preparing to jack somebody up on the ice.

Career Stats:

• 535 NHL games

• 2,294 penalty minutes

• Stanley Cup Champion (Flyers, 1974 & 1975)

Iconic Fights:

• Schultz vs. Dale Rolfe — an infamous moment of raw power

• Schultz vs. Gary Howatt

• Schultz vs. the entire league in the 70s

Legacy Moment:
The Flyers’ back-to-back Stanley Cups.
They didn’t just win — they intimidated the entire NHL.
Schultz was the heart of that identity.

Behind the Scenes:

• Intelligent

• Charismatic

• Wrote a book: The Hammer

• Advocated for player safety later in life

The Record:
472 PIM in a single season
A number that will NEVER be touched again
The league changed rules because of him

Quote:
“If you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us.” — Schultz

Why he matters:
Schultz changed the sport.
He is the blueprint for raw Gen-X toughness.

These men weren’t perfect. They weren’t saints. They weren’t villains. They were human beings carrying the weight of a role that demanded strength beyond fists — strength of character, loyalty, and sacrifice. They didn’t just fight for their team… they fought for their identity.

But the real enforcers walk among us

We grew up admiring the warriors on the ice… But life taught us something deeper: The hardest hits aren’t always thrown with fists. They’re carried by:

• Veterans who fight invisible battles long after the war

• First responders who walk into burning buildings

• Truckers who keep America moving through storms and loneliness

• Nurses and paramedics who bleed empathy until they’re empty

• The father working three jobs so his kids never miss a meal

• The mother who protects her family like a lioness

• The friend who checks on you when everyone else disappears

These are the real enforcers. The ones without helmets or gloves or crowd applause. The ones who sit in life’s penalty box every single day.

The Silent Penalty Box

Here’s the truth nobody likes to say out loud: Being an enforcer takes a piece of you. The world expects you to be steel. But steel bends. Steel breaks. Steel rusts. And when you’re the one everyone leans on — who do you lean on? That’s the burden. Behind every protector is a story of:

• isolation

• exhaustion

• trauma

• anxiety

• depression

• loss

Some of the toughest people you’ll ever meet have entertained the darkest thoughts. Because warriors don’t always die in battle — sometimes they collapse in silence.

This is a call to every Enforcer reading this

You’re not invisible. You’re not alone. You are NOT weak for being tired. You are NOT broken for reaching your limit. You are human. And humanity is stronger than fists, fights, or frozen knuckles.

The CommonX Mission

At CommonX, we aren’t here to glorify violence or the old-school “suck it up” mentality. We’re here to honor courage, and courage is often quiet. We believe in:

• mental health

• unity

• brotherhood

• community

• truth

• vulnerability

• purpose

We’re standing up for the Enforcers — on the ice, in the streets, in the homes, in the battlefields, and in the hearts of the people who keep our world spinning. And we’re building something bigger.

Woodstock 2030 isn’t just an idea — it’s a movement.
A gathering of music, love, community, awareness, and a united stand against the silent battles too many of us are fighting alone. If you’re reading this… You are part of that movement now. Join us in the movement now to make Woodstock 2030 happen.

Take a breath. Stay in the fight. And remember:

The penalty box is temporary. Your story is not.

Why Woodstock 2030 Matters: Giving People a Real 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.

Do You Remember Talking Like This? 90s Slang vs Today’s TikTok Talk

By Ian Primmer — CommonX Podcast

If you ever shouted “Take a chill pill!” out a rolled-down car window while Stone Temple Pilots blasted from the stereo, congratulations — you survived an era where you could say “bogus,” “rad,” and “home skillet” in the same sentence and nobody questioned your grip on reality. Meanwhile, the youth today are apparently communicating through a combination of Fortnite dances, soundboard memes, and words that sound like rejected Pokémon names.

Language evolves. We evolved with it — usually with a beer in one hand and a look of deep confusion in the other.

Let’s break down the slang then vs. now, and laugh at how gloriously weird it all is.

THEN: The 80s/90s Slang That Raised Us

Rad

Translation: “I approve of this thing with my entire soul.”

Usage: “Those JNCOs are rad, bro.”

Bonus: Still acceptable — especially when spoken in the presence of a skateboard.

Gnarly

Translation: Could mean everything from “awesome” to “oh God, that was traumatic.”

Usage: “Dude, that fall was gnarly.”

“Dude, that wave was gnarly.”

Outcome: Confusion for anyone born after 2005.

Take a Chill Pill

Translation: You’re losing your mind and need to relax before someone calls your mom.

Usage: Every parent in 1994.

Talk to the Hand

Translation: “I no longer acknowledge your existence.”

Usage: Practically every teenage girl at least once.

Side effect: Nobody ever actually shut up because of this phrase.

As If!

Translation: A weaponized version of “Nope.”

Usage: Perfected by Alicia Silverstone. Forever iconic.

Bogus

Translation: “This situation is unacceptable and I blame the universe.”

Certified by Bill & Ted, therefore eternal.

NOW: The Slang That Makes Us Rub Our Eyes and Stare at the Ceiling

Rizz

Translation: “Charisma,” shortened for people too exhausted to say the full word.

Usage: “Dude has mad rizz.”

Reaction: Us: “Rizz? Riz? Risotto?”

No Cap

Translation: “I’m telling the truth.”

Usage: “Pizza is the best food, no cap.”

Reaction: Us: “Son… I am wearing a hat. What exactly do you mean?”

Bet

Translation: “Okay.”

Usage: “You coming over?” “Bet.”

Reaction: Us: “Bet WHAT? Money? Beer? Are we gambling?”

Ghosting

Translation: Disappearing without explanation.

Usage: Dating apps. Job interviews. Your cousin who said he’d help you move.

Our translation: “We just never called people back.”

Drip

Translation: Style. Fashion. Fit.

Usage: “His fit has drip.”

Reaction: Us: “Drip used to mean your roof had a problem.”

Skibidi

Translation: No one knows. Not even Gen Z.

Usage: Something involving a toilet-sound meme and dancing characters.

Reaction: Sliding down in a chair whispering, “Make it stop…”

WHY SLANG EVOLVES

Slang is culture. Slang is rebellion. Slang is evolution.

We perfected sarcasm, deadpan humor, and the ability to say “whatever” without moving a single facial muscle. The next generations added:

• Internet speed

• Viral memes

• TikTok

• Emojis

• Sound effects

• Entire languages made of abbreviations

We walked so the kids today could yeet.

THE COMMON-X TAKE

At Common-X, we celebrate language because it keeps conversations real, messy, human, and hilarious.

Whether you’re saying:

• “Dope”

• “No cap”

• “Rad”

• “Bet”

You’re speaking your generation’s truth — and honestly, it’s all ridiculous in the best possible way.

CLOSING

If you still say “sweet,” “killer,” or “awesome,” don’t worry — we do too.

We don’t age out.

We just get better playlists.

Jared Ball: The Voice Breaking Through the Noise

Every once in a while, a voice enters the room and changes the temperature. Not by volume, not by theatrics — but by substance. Professor Jared Ball is one of those voices.

When he joined us on CommonX, it wasn’t just an interview. It was a masterclass in clarity, contradiction, accountability, and raw honesty. Ball talks like a man who has seen the system from the inside, understood its gears, and still chooses to challenge it — not for fame, not for followers, but because he believes in truth.

And that matters.

It matters in an age where information travels faster than understanding. It matters when algorithms reward outrage instead of integrity. It matters when Gen X — our people — are looking around the digital landscape and asking, “Who can we trust?”

Jared Ball is one of the few who can answer that question with his work, not his words alone.

The Genius Behind “I Mix What I Like!”

Ball’s podcast “I Mix What I Like!” is a perfect reflection of the man himself:

• unapologetically intelligent

• culturally grounded

• politically fearless

• historically aware

• creatively bold

The show doesn’t spoon-feed. It doesn’t pander. It challenges listeners to think, to interrogate narratives, to understand power, media, and culture from angles most people never see.

Supporting this show isn’t just supporting Jared Ball. It’s supporting critical thinking. It’s backing the kind of media that refuses to let anyone off the hook — not the government, not corporate media, not us as individuals.

This is the kind of content that makes people better.

A Conversation That Hit Home for CommonX

Our audience felt it.

We felt it.

Jared felt it too.

The chemistry was undeniable — two Gen X hosts hungry for depth, a guest armed with decades of research and lived experience, and a conversation that mattered. The episode reminded us why CommonX exists in the first place:

to explore the overlooked corners of humanity, culture, and truth with courage and compassion. Ball brought that out of us.

Honoring a Voice the World Needs

So today, we stand with Jared Ball.

We support his message.

We amplify his podcast.

We encourage our audience to seek out voices that challenge the mainstream narrative — voices that push us to think harder, dig deeper, and grow.

And in a media landscape built on clickbait and conformity, Ball’s authenticity is a rare and powerful thing.

The Woman Who Speaks Shark: Ocean Ramsey’s Dance With Fear

Ocean Ramsey swimming alongside a shark in open water — marine conservationist and freediver.

By Ian Primmer – CommonX Podcast

In a world that teaches us to run from what we fear, Ocean Ramsey swims toward it. Not out of recklessness, not for fame, but for understanding. Her quiet grace beneath the waves tells a story older than language itself — one between predator and prey, fear and trust, chaos and calm.

For many of us who grew up in the shadow of Jaws, sharks were the ultimate symbol of danger. They were the monsters that lurked beneath the surface, proof that nature was something to conquer or control. But for Ocean Ramsey, they were never monsters. They were misunderstood.

The Deep Calls Back

Ocean Ramsey is a marine biologist, conservationist, and free diver based in Hawai‘i. She co-founded One Ocean Diving, a research and education program built on the radical idea that the best way to protect sharks is to know them. To look them in the eye. To share their space without dominance or fear.

Her work defies every narrative we were raised with. No cages. No panic. No music to build suspense. Just her heartbeat, her breath, and the slow rhythm of creatures that have ruled the oceans for millions of years. She studies how they communicate — not with words, but with presence. A tilt of the head. A change in direction. The subtle body language of survival.

And somehow, she’s earned their trust.

Listening Instead of Controlling

What makes Ocean’s story resonate so deeply isn’t the danger — it’s the discipline. She doesn’t conquer the ocean; she respects it. There’s something humbling about watching her reach out and rest her hand against the rough skin of a shark larger than her own body, not as an act of dominance, but connection.

She reminds us that power isn’t always about control. Sometimes it’s about stillness — the kind that comes from learning to listen.

There’s a quiet rebellion in that.

Because in a time when so many people are shouting over each other — online, in politics, in everyday life — Ocean Ramsey’s example is a reminder that empathy can silence the noise. That peace isn’t weakness. That courage isn’t about being fearless, but feeling the fear and showing up anyway.

The CommonX Connection

At CommonX, we talk about real people — the doers, the dreamers, the ones who live with both grit and grace. Ocean fits that mold in every way. She’s a modern-day explorer, but also a mirror. Her story asks all of us: What are the sharks in our own lives?

Maybe it’s failure. Maybe it’s judgment. Maybe it’s the fear of speaking truth when the world’s not listening. Whatever it is, Ramsey’s message echoes beyond the water — the monsters aren’t always real. Sometimes they’re just misunderstood.

A Legacy in Motion

Every dive she takes pushes back against the myths that have fueled centuries of misunderstanding. Every photograph, every educational session, every hook she removes from a shark’s mouth rewrites the story.

She’s building a legacy not through self-promotion, but through stewardship — a trait that feels rare in a world obsessed with spectacle.

Ocean Ramsey doesn’t just whisper to sharks. She whispers to all of us — be brave, stay kind, and never let fear decide who you are.

The Final Word

It’s easy to dismiss people like Ocean Ramsey as outliers — the brave few who live extraordinary lives while the rest of us watch from the shore. But maybe what makes her story so powerful is how ordinary her courage really is. It’s the same courage it takes to start something from nothing, to love when it’s hard, to speak when your voice shakes.

That’s what CommonX has always stood for. That’s what Gen-X was built on — showing up, even when the world misunderstands you.

So the next time you see Ocean Ramsey drift into the blue, surrounded by creatures the world told us to fear, remember this:

She’s not just swimming with sharks. She’s teaching the rest of us how to live among them.

Ocean Ramsey doesn’t just swim with sharks—she swims against fear itself. Her courage invites us to look beyond headlines and hashtags, to listen instead of shout, to understand instead of react. It’s the same current that runs through every story we share here at CommonX: the belief that empathy still matters, that understanding is strength, and that connection—whether above the surface or beneath it—is what keeps the world breathing.

Tune in and listen to the CommonX Podcast — Available Everywhere

Click here to see our cause to support Mental Health and suicide prevention.

O’Neill brand logo — surfwear and performance swim gear.

Model wearing Curb Fail Productions / CommonX branded bikini — official CommonX swimwear

Ocean Ramsey resting on the seafloor surrounded by sharks — marine biologist and conservation advocate.

Rudy Sarzo: Bass Lines, Faith, and the Power of Resilience

By Ian Primmer | CommonX Podcast

Every generation has a few musicians who aren’t just players — they’re pillars. For Gen X, Rudy Sarzo stands tall among them.

From the roaring stages of Ozzy Osbourne’s early tours to the anthemic grit of Quiet Riot, Rudy’s bass lines shaped the soundtrack of a generation. But what makes his story truly powerful isn’t the fame — it’s his faith, his discipline, and the way he continues to live with intention long after the spotlight fades.

When Rudy joined us on the CommonX Podcast, he didn’t just tell road stories. He shared life lessons. The kind of wisdom you only get after decades of chasing purpose through chaos.

He talked about the late Randy Rhoads — a friend and musical soulmate whose impact still guides his spirit. He opened up about surviving the wildest years of metal and finding peace in balance, humility, and spirituality. You could hear it in his voice: this is a man who knows who he is, and who’s grateful for every note he’s played.

Rudy’s journey mirrors what we stand for here at CommonX — resilience, reflection, and real talk. He’s proof that greatness doesn’t come from ego; it comes from gratitude.

And even now, he’s still pushing boundaries, performing, writing, and giving back to the craft that made him. For Gen Xers who grew up with “Bang Your Head” blaring from their speakers, hearing Rudy talk about purpose hits harder than ever.

Because in the end, the groove doesn’t fade. It evolves. It deepens. It reminds us that every stage — from arenas to quiet reflection — matters.

🎸 #CommonXPodcast #RudySarzo #QuietRiot #OzzyOsbourne #GenX #XFiles

🎬 Why Kevin Smith’s Voice Still Matters — and Always Will

By Ian Primmer | CommonX Podcast

When you talk about storytelling that truly means something, Kevin Smith’s name always comes up.

He didn’t just make movies — he built conversations. Clerks, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, Clerks III — they’re all love letters to the people who exist between dreams and deadlines.

For us at CommonX, that message hits deep.

We built our podcast with the same raw DNA — a mix of coffee, grit, and a promise to stay genuine even when it’s not easy. Every episode is a reflection of the same kind of heart Kevin’s films captured: imperfect, hilarious, and real.

Smith’s influence is still everywhere. He’s podcasting, directing, touring, and connecting — proving that creativity doesn’t retire, it just reinvents itself. He’s the walking embodiment of the Gen-X spirit: resilient, self-made, and never afraid to laugh through the chaos.

We’ve been lucky enough to host incredible guests like Rudy Sarzo (Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot), Chris Ballew (Presidents of the United States of America), and Richard Karn (Home Improvement). Each one reminded us that the best stories come from people who’ve lived, struggled, and kept showing up.

Inviting Kevin Smith to join us isn’t about chasing names — it’s about connecting with someone who helped shape the creative fire we carry. Because whether it’s behind a mic, a camera, or a counter at Quick Stop, that same Gen-X pulse keeps beating through every story worth telling.

Kevin Smith showed a generation that you don’t need permission to make something meaningful. You just need passion, purpose, and the guts to hit “record.”

So yeah, we sent the invite. Because the CommonX mission has always been the same — amplify real voices, champion authentic creators, and remind the world that truth, humor, and heart still matter.

🎙️ The mic’s open, Kevin. Anytime.

🎧 #CommonXPodcast #KevinSmith #GenX #Clerks #Storytelling #XFiles

The Big Dogs Are Done Paying for Gridlock

By CommonX | The X-Files

Every time Congress stalls, regular Americans pay the price. Government workers miss paychecks, air-traffic controllers hold the line, and families watch leaders argue while bills pile up. Enough’s enough.

CommonX is calling for accountability. If the government can’t keep itself open, it shouldn’t be taking our tax dollars. Period.

Our new petition demands a Shutdown Accountability & Essential Worker Protection Act — a plan that protects the people who keep the country running and puts pressure where it belongs: on the decision-makers.

👉 Sign the Petition Here Help us make it loud — share it, tag your reps, and tell them:

“No pay for political failure. Protect the people who actually work.”

The Iron Claw: When Strength Becomes a Burden

“The Von Erichs didn’t wrestle opponents. They wrestled fate — and it always fought back harder.”

There’s a moment in The Iron Claw where Zac Efron’s Kevin Von Erich stares into nothing, his face carved by exhaustion and quiet grief. It’s not acting — it’s witnessing. You see a man holding the weight of a bloodline built on strength, success, and tragedy. You see every generation of men who were told to take the hit and keep standing.

A Family That Built an Empire on Pain

Before the movie lights, before the glitz of Texas stadiums, there was Jack Adkisson — known to the world as Fritz Von Erich. He was a powerhouse in wrestling’s golden age and the architect of a dynasty. But what he really built wasn’t a brand; it was a burden.

Fritz raised his sons to be champions, not children. He gave them muscles before mercy, fame before freedom. Wrestling wasn’t a choice — it was the family business, and the business came with blood.

What followed was heartbreak so relentless it became legend.

• David Von Erich died mysteriously in Japan.

• Mike, devastated by injury and pressure, took his own life.

• Chris, frail and broken, followed him.

• Kerry, beloved by fans, ended his life in 1993.

Four sons, gone. One father left behind, and one brother — Kevin — forced to carry their ghosts into every sunrise.

The Curse: Not Superstition, but Expectation

People called it the Von Erich curse, like it was some cosmic punishment. But what The Iron Claw shows us is that the real curse wasn’t mystical at all — it was cultural. It was the curse of men who were taught that emotion is weakness, that winning redeems pain, and that silence is strength.

In every flex of Efron’s performance, you can feel it — the strain of holding in tears that never had permission to fall.

“We were raised to be strong,” Kevin says in the film.

“But maybe strong just means you can’t ask for help.”

That line cuts right to the Gen X core — to every man who learned to swallow failure, bury pain, and smile through breakdowns.

The Weight of Myth

Sean Durkin’s direction is merciless and beautiful. He films the Von Erichs like gods and ghosts at the same time — always illuminated, always doomed. The camera lingers on every bruise, every smile hiding exhaustion, every locker-room prayer that feels like a goodbye.

And Holt McCallany as Fritz? Pure power and heartbreak. He isn’t a villain; he’s a product of his own myth — a man who believed that if you pushed hard enough, love could be forged out of discipline.

But the truth The Iron Claw exposes is simple: you can’t out-train pain.

And you can’t out-wrestle grief.

The Last Man Standing

Kevin Von Erich — the real man, not just the character — lives in Hawaii now. Surrounded by his children and grandchildren, he’s found peace in nature, love, and distance from the ring. But he’ll tell you himself — peace wasn’t free.

He watched every brother fall, watched the empire burn down, and still carried the name. The movie ends not with victory, but survival. That’s what makes it powerful — it’s not about champions. It’s about endurance.

“Survivors don’t win,” Kevin once said in an interview. “They just keep going.”

That’s the gospel of The Iron Claw. The Von Erichs gave everything — their bodies, their youth, their sanity — to an industry that cheered while they broke.

Why It Hits So Hard for Our Generation

For Gen X, The Iron Claw feels like looking in a mirror that doesn’t lie. We grew up in a world that worshipped toughness — latchkey kids turned into relentless adults, hustling, grinding, hiding pain under sarcasm and work ethic.

The Von Erich story asks the question most of us avoid: What if strength is the very thing that’s killing us?

That’s not weakness — that’s revelation. It’s the moment you realize that vulnerability isn’t surrender. It’s healing.

🎙️The CommonX Takeaway

The legacy of the Von Erichs isn’t about fame or failure — it’s about the cost of inherited pain. And The Iron Claw doesn’t just resurrect their story; it redeems it. It shows what happens when a family tries to build forever out of flesh and willpower. It shows that love without permission to be human turns into tragedy.

And most of all, it reminds us that silence — the thing we were taught to call strength — can destroy everything we love if we let it. “Maybe the Von Erichs weren’t cursed,” the article closes.

“Maybe they were just the first to show us what the curse really looks like.”

Shaun White — The Last of the Wild Ones

Shaun White soaring high above a snow-covered halfpipe, performing a snowboard trick under a bright winter sky — symbolizing motion, rebellion, and Gen-X energy.

X-Files by CommonX | Winter Feature Presented with Alpinestars + 32 Degrees

Before the hashtags and highlight reels, there was just snow, speed, and attitude. Shaun White didn’t follow the culture — he built it. As the first flakes start flying, Common-X takes a look at the man who turned gravity into an opinion.

❄️ The Cold Calls You Back

Every winter pulls us toward something familiar. The bite in the air. The sound of boards carving and engines warming up before dawn. For Gen-X, that feeling isn’t nostalgia — it’s identity.
Shaun White was the kid who never stopped chasing it. From plywood half-pipes behind his parents’ house to Olympic podiums, he became the proof that rebellion, when paired with discipline, can conquer mountains.

🔥 Fire in the Snow

White’s story mirrors our own timeline: the VHS-tape era of discovery, the garage-band grind of figuring it out without a manual, and the slow climb from chaos to craft.
He fell hard, got back up harder. Broken bones, failed runs, critics calling him done — and then another gold medal.

That’s not hype; that’s Gen-X fuel. It’s the same thing that keeps tradesmen on the job site in the snow, truckers on the road at 3 a.m., and creators in the studio when everyone else clocks out.

🧥 Gear That Keeps Up

When the cold hits, the mission doesn’t stop.
That’s why we ride with 32 Degrees for warmth that works, and Alpinestars for the edge-tested protection built for motion.
No fluff, no flash — just gear that performs while you do the hard part. From the job site to the slopes, comfort isn’t weakness — it’s strategy.

🎧 Soundtrack of the Rebels

You can almost hear it: Rage Against the Machine cutting through the mountain air, The Offspring echoing off frozen ramps.
Snowboarding wasn’t just a sport — it was a mixtape. Shaun rode with the rhythm of a generation that refused to blend in.

32 Degrees logo — black and white minimalist design featuring the number 32 followed by the word Degrees in bold modern font, symbolizing performance, warmth, and everyday comfort.

Legacy in Motion

He didn’t just land tricks; he landed perspective. Age didn’t slow him down — it sharpened him.

“The trick isn’t the jump; it’s sticking the landing.”
That line could hang above every garage, gym, and workbench in the world. It’s the Common-X creed: stay moving, keep learning, don’t coast.

Shaun White is more than a headline; he’s a blueprint for momentum. As the snow falls and the world slows down, remember that motion is medicine. Whether you’re welding, driving, building, or creating — keep chasing altitude.

Stay Warm with 32 Degrees

I Want My CommonX Wears My X Gear? Alpine Stars What is CommonX? Listen

Read Next:

🎬 The Smashing Machine Review — The Rock’s Rawest Role Yet ❄️ Stay Warm, Stay Working — The Gen-X Winter Code (32 Degrees Feature)

Man wearing Alpinestars gear sitting in the back of a pickup truck with sunglasses on.

GenX Chill Keeper can koozie from Curb Fail Productions, featuring the Common-X aesthetic — durable, black-and-red design built to keep drinks cold during workdays, podcasts, or post-gym hangs.

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.

Riverside logo – the remote recording platform trusted by the CommonX Podcast for high-quality audio and video interviews.

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.