EPISODE · Mar 24, 2026 · 55 MIN
He Drove Across America to Prove We're Not as Divided as You Think | Adam Mizel
from CommonX Podcast · host Ian Primmer
What if America isn't as divided as the news makes it look? Adam Mizel left a successful finance career to find out — hitting the road in a purple and white pickup truck, talking to thousands of everyday Americans from parking lots to state fairs, and filming a documentary along the way.Adam is the founder of Us United, a national unity movement built around one core idea: you can't sympathize with a label, only a person. In this conversation, he shares what he actually found on the road (spoiler: people are more united than you think), why Generation X needs to stop sitting on the fence, and the surprisingly simple things each of us can do to change the culture starting today.We also dig into his unlikely friendship with Sheriff Chris Swanson — the Flint, Michigan sheriff who famously took off his body armor and walked arm-in-arm with protesters in 2020 — and how that moment sparked the creation of Us United.--Chapters:00:00 — Intro & welcome01:00 — Why Adam walked away from finance03:00 — Meeting Sheriff Chris Swanson & the Flint march06:00 — How Us United was born08:00 — Sheriffs as community unifiers13:00 — The cross-country road trip16:00 — What Adam found: America isn't that divided20:00 — Gen X needs to get off the fence22:00 — What's fueling the divide (it's not just politics)28:00 — The power of storytelling: the redlining conversation32:00 — Shaq's one-word definition of unity33:00 — National Unity Day, December 1338:00 — Simple things every American can do right now41:00 — If you were president for a day...45:00 — Jared's Five50:00 — Adam's personal story: success built from collapse--Learn more about Us United: https://www.usunited.orgFind all CommonX episodes at CommonXPodcast.comIf this episode resonated, please like, subscribe, and share — it helps more people find conversations like this one.#CommonX #Unity #AdamMizel #UsUnited #GenerationX #America #PodcastThe 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.
What this episode covers
What if America isn't as divided as the news makes it look? Adam Mizel left a successful finance career to find out — hitting the road in a purple and white pickup truck, talking to thousands of everyday Americans from parking lots to state fairs, and filming a documentary along the way.Adam is the founder of Us United, a national unity movement built around one core idea: you can't sympathize with a label, only a person. In this conversation, he shares what he actually found on the road (spoiler: people are more united than you think), why Generation X needs to stop sitting on the fence, and the surprisingly simple things each of us can do to change the culture starting today.We also dig into his unlikely friendship with Sheriff Chris Swanson — the Flint, Michigan sheriff who famously took off his body armor and walked arm-in-arm with protesters in 2020 — and how that moment sparked the creation of Us United.--Chapters:00:00 — Intro & welcome01:00 — Why Adam walked away from finance03:00 — Meeting Sheriff Chris Swanson & the Flint march06:00 — How Us United was born08:00 — Sheriffs as community unifiers13:00 — The cross-country road trip16:00 — What Adam found: America isn't that divided20:00 — Gen X needs to get off the fence22:00 — What's fueling the divide (it's not just politics)28:00 — The power of storytelling: the redlining conversation32:00 — Shaq's one-word definition of unity33:00 — National Unity Day, December 1338:00 — Simple things every American can do right now41:00 — If you were president for a day...45:00 — Jared's Five50:00 — Adam's personal story: success built from collapse--Learn more about Us United: https://www.usunited.orgFind all CommonX episodes at CommonXPodcast.comIf this episode resonated, please like, subscribe, and share — it helps more people find conversations like this one.#CommonX #Unity #AdamMizel #UsUnited #GenerationX #America #PodcastThe 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.
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He Drove Across America to Prove We're Not as Divided as You Think | Adam Mizel
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