CommonX Podcast

Ian Primmer & Jared Mayzak

The CommonX Podcast is a Gen-X media platform built for listeners who are done with manufactured narratives and shallow debates. Hosted by Jared Mayzak and Ian Primmer, CommonX explores music, culture, identity, work, resilience, and the systems that shape everyday life—through long-form conversations with people who’ve actually lived it. Past guests include Ivan Doroschuk (Men Without Hats), Rudy Sarzo (Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot), veterans, creators, entrepreneurs, and small-town innovators —voices rarely heard but deeply felt. Balanced. Independent. Human. visit CommonX — A Gen-X Media Platform to learn more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 1H AGO

    The System Is Glitching (According to us Geezers)

    In Episode 73, we’re joined by the crazy minds behind Geezer Magazine Laura LeBleu and Paul Von Zielbauer — a publication built by and for Gen X — and let’s just say… we’ve got thoughts. The economy feels weird. Politics feels weird. Culture feels weird. And apparently Gen X is now officially old enough to have a magazine. So we ask the question: Is everything falling apart… Or are we just seasoned enough to see the cracks? We talk about: • Why institutions feel unstable • The “middle child” generation perspective • Scarcity mindset vs abundance thinking • Whether Gen X is uniquely positioned to lead • Why chaos might actually be transition Plus — what happens when the generation raised on latchkeys, MTV, and “figure it out yourself” becomes the adults in the room. No doom spirals. No yelling. Just perspective — with a little humor. If you’ve ever thought, “Is it just me…?” It’s not just you. Check out Geezer Magazine - www.geezermagazine.com Check out CommonX - www.commonxpodcast.com The CommonX Podcast features long-form conversations with musicians, cultural voices, veterans, entrepreneurs, and independent thinkers who bring lived experience to the table. Hosted by Jared Mayzak and Ian Primmer, CommonX explores music, culture, work, identity, resilience, and the systems that shape everyday life—without talking points or manufactured outrage. From iconic artists and creative pioneers to everyday people with extraordinary stories, each episode prioritizes honesty, curiosity, and meaningful dialogue. This is a Gen-X–driven show for listeners who value depth over noise and conversation over clicks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 19m
  2. 1D AGO

    Moral Courage in a Broken World with Dame Claire Bertschinger

    In Episode 72 of the Common-X Podcast, we sit down with Dame Claire Bertschinger — humanitarian nurse, global advocate, and a woman whose life has been defined by moral courage. From war zones and famine crises to the failures of global systems, Claire shares what it means to witness suffering firsthand — and still choose compassion. We explore: What real humanitarian work looks like behind the scenesWhy bureaucracy often slows lifesaving actionThe emotional cost of caringMoral courage in a world increasingly driven by self-interestHow ordinary people can still make extraordinary impact This episode is not about politics. It’s about humanity. And the question: Have we lost our sense of responsibility to each other? 🎧 Listen. Reflect. Share. The CommonX Podcast features long-form conversations with musicians, cultural voices, veterans, entrepreneurs, and independent thinkers who bring lived experience to the table. Hosted by Jared Mayzak and Ian Primmer, CommonX explores music, culture, work, identity, resilience, and the systems that shape everyday life—without talking points or manufactured outrage. From iconic artists and creative pioneers to everyday people with extraordinary stories, each episode prioritizes honesty, curiosity, and meaningful dialogue. This is a Gen-X–driven show for listeners who value depth over noise and conversation over clicks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    56 min
  3. 6D AGO

    Unit 731, Internment & Cold War Silence

    In Episode 71 of the Common-X Podcast, Jared and Ian sit down with researcher Jenny Chan to explore the overlooked history of World War II in the Pacific. We discuss: • The incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans under Executive Order 9066 • The Supreme Court decision in Korematsu v. United States • The biological warfare atrocities of Unit 731 • The Cold War immunity granted to figures like Shiro Ishii • The Soviet Khabarovsk trials • Why parts of WWII history are widely known — and others are barely discussed This episode examines fear, civil liberties, wartime propaganda, and the difficult moral tradeoffs governments make during global conflict. History is rarely simple. And sometimes what we don’t learn says as much as what we do. 🎧 Listen now. 🔥 Subscribe for more conversations that challenge the narrative. The CommonX Podcast features long-form conversations with musicians, cultural voices, veterans, entrepreneurs, and independent thinkers who bring lived experience to the table. Hosted by Jared Mayzak and Ian Primmer, CommonX explores music, culture, work, identity, resilience, and the systems that shape everyday life—without talking points or manufactured outrage. From iconic artists and creative pioneers to everyday people with extraordinary stories, each episode prioritizes honesty, curiosity, and meaningful dialogue. This is a Gen-X–driven show for listeners who value depth over noise and conversation over clicks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    44 min
  4. FEB 17

    Grief, Guilt, and Redemption | The Story Behind Guardian AIngels

    In this powerful episode of the Common-X Podcast, we sit down with John Kammer of Guardian AIngels to talk about something deeper than technology — grief. After losing three of his closest friends, including one to suicide and another in a tragic accident, John spiraled into years of substance-fueled avoidance. What followed was guilt, emotional shutdown, and a reckoning that forced him to confront who he had become. This is a raw conversation about: Suicide and survivor’s guiltAddiction in high-functioning environmentsLosing your inner circleFatherhood and responsibilityTurning pain into purposeWhy Guardian Angels AI was built This episode isn’t about hype. It’s about what happens when life shatters you — and you decide to build something meaningful anyway. If you’ve ever lost someone, numbed yourself to cope, or wondered how to rebuild after rock bottom… this one’s for you. Our site: www.commonxpodcast.com Guardian AIngels site: www.guardianaingels.ai SEO: guardian angels ai, suicide loss story, grief and addiction recovery, pain to purpose entrepreneur, founder story after tragedy, coping with guilt after death, high functioning addiction, fatherhood and grief, rebuilding after rock bottom, common x podcast episode 70 The CommonX Podcast features long-form conversations with musicians, cultural voices, veterans, entrepreneurs, and independent thinkers who bring lived experience to the table. Hosted by Jared Mayzak and Ian Primmer, CommonX explores music, culture, work, identity, resilience, and the systems that shape everyday life—without talking points or manufactured outrage. From iconic artists and creative pioneers to everyday people with extraordinary stories, each episode prioritizes honesty, curiosity, and meaningful dialogue. This is a Gen-X–driven show for listeners who value depth over noise and conversation over clicks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    45 min
  5. What the Constitution Actually Says About Guns

    FEB 13

    What the Constitution Actually Says About Guns

    Episode 69 – The Constitution, Gun Rights & the Edge of Crisis In the wake of a fatal shooting involving federal agents and a lawfully armed citizen, the national conversation moved fast. Accusations. Statements. Counterstatements. But what does the law actually say? In this episode of Common-X, we sit down with constitutional law professor Adam Winkler to separate political rhetoric from legal reality. As a leading expert on the history of gun rights and gun regulation in America, Winkler explains how the Second Amendment has always existed alongside firearm laws — and why that balance is foundational to the American system. We discuss: What the Second Amendment truly protectsHow courts interpret gun rightsThe tension between individual liberty and public safetyWhether America is facing a constitutional crisisWhat happens if executive power defies judicial authorityThis conversation moves beyond headlines and into the structural foundations of American governance. If you care about rights, regulation, and the future of constitutional order — this is one you don’t want to miss. The CommonX Podcast features long-form conversations with musicians, cultural voices, veterans, entrepreneurs, and independent thinkers who bring lived experience to the table. Hosted by Jared Mayzak and Ian Primmer, CommonX explores music, culture, work, identity, resilience, and the systems that shape everyday life—without talking points or manufactured outrage. From iconic artists and creative pioneers to everyday people with extraordinary stories, each episode prioritizes honesty, curiosity, and meaningful dialogue. This is a Gen-X–driven show for listeners who value depth over noise and conversation over clicks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    54 min
  6. Comedy, Algorithms, and the Collapse of Context | Victor Varnado

    FEB 5

    Comedy, Algorithms, and the Collapse of Context | Victor Varnado

    This week on Common-X, we sit down with comedian, writer, and cultural observer Victor Varnado for a wide-ranging conversation on comedy, algorithms, and why modern life feels increasingly absurd. We dig into how comedy has shifted in the age of short clips and viral incentives, why context keeps collapsing in media and public discourse, and how algorithms reward reaction over understanding. Victor breaks down how comedians are forced to adapt—not just creatively, but structurally—when jokes are stripped of nuance and redistributed without intent. The conversation also touches on creative tools, including Victor’s work with Magic Bookifier, and the broader question of whether technology is flattening human expression—or simply revealing the systems that already were. This episode isn’t about cancel culture or tech panic. It’s about incentives, attention, and why absurdity might be the most honest response left. The CommonX Podcast features long-form conversations with musicians, cultural voices, veterans, entrepreneurs, and independent thinkers who bring lived experience to the table. Hosted by Jared Mayzak and Ian Primmer, CommonX explores music, culture, work, identity, resilience, and the systems that shape everyday life—without talking points or manufactured outrage. From iconic artists and creative pioneers to everyday people with extraordinary stories, each episode prioritizes honesty, curiosity, and meaningful dialogue. This is a Gen-X–driven show for listeners who value depth over noise and conversation over clicks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    57 min
  7. Spotify, Censorship, and the Illusion of “Open Platforms” | Common-X Rant

    FEB 4

    Spotify, Censorship, and the Illusion of “Open Platforms” | Common-X Rant

    In Episode 67 of the Common-X Podcast, Jared and Ian go off-script and straight to the core. This episode is a raw, unfiltered rant sparked by growing concerns around Spotify, platform power, and who really controls speech in the so-called “creator economy.” After facing threats of removal, we ask the uncomfortable questions: Are platforms still neutral, or are they quietly becoming gatekeepers?What happens when algorithms, advertisers, and corporate optics decide what’s allowed?Is “free speech” just a marketing slogan now?This isn’t a polished debate — it’s frustration, honesty, and a reality check about how centralized platforms shape culture, conversation, and dissent. If you’re a creator, a listener, or someone who still believes the internet was supposed to be free — this one’s for you. The CommonX Podcast features long-form conversations with musicians, cultural voices, veterans, entrepreneurs, and independent thinkers who bring lived experience to the table. Hosted by Jared Mayzak and Ian Primmer, CommonX explores music, culture, work, identity, resilience, and the systems that shape everyday life—without talking points or manufactured outrage. From iconic artists and creative pioneers to everyday people with extraordinary stories, each episode prioritizes honesty, curiosity, and meaningful dialogue. This is a Gen-X–driven show for listeners who value depth over noise and conversation over clicks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    20 min
  8. When Everything Turns Corporate, Punk Fights Back

    FEB 4

    When Everything Turns Corporate, Punk Fights Back

    Is authenticity dead in a world run by algorithms, branding, and corporate culture? In this episode of the Common-X Podcast, we sit down with John Becker, aka We Knew Nothing — a veteran of LA’s punk scene who’s spent decades pushing back against fake culture, manufactured rebellion, and art stripped of meaning. This isn’t a political episode. It’s a culture and music conversation about: What happens when art becomes contentHow punk was absorbed, monetized, and dilutedThe difference between rebellion and brandingWhy authenticity still matters — and where it survivesPower, control, and the illusion of choice in modern cultureIf you’ve ever felt like everything around you looks polished but feels hollow, this conversation will hit home. Punk isn’t dead — it’s just uncomfortable. The CommonX Podcast features long-form conversations with musicians, cultural voices, veterans, entrepreneurs, and independent thinkers who bring lived experience to the table. Hosted by Jared Mayzak and Ian Primmer, CommonX explores music, culture, work, identity, resilience, and the systems that shape everyday life—without talking points or manufactured outrage. From iconic artists and creative pioneers to everyday people with extraordinary stories, each episode prioritizes honesty, curiosity, and meaningful dialogue. This is a Gen-X–driven show for listeners who value depth over noise and conversation over clicks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    55 min

Trailers

About

The CommonX Podcast is a Gen-X media platform built for listeners who are done with manufactured narratives and shallow debates. Hosted by Jared Mayzak and Ian Primmer, CommonX explores music, culture, identity, work, resilience, and the systems that shape everyday life—through long-form conversations with people who’ve actually lived it. Past guests include Ivan Doroschuk (Men Without Hats), Rudy Sarzo (Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot), veterans, creators, entrepreneurs, and small-town innovators —voices rarely heard but deeply felt. Balanced. Independent. Human. visit CommonX — A Gen-X Media Platform to learn more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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