Fishing Without Bait: A Full Impact Mindfulness Podcast

Political Differences Without Losing Each Other | Episode 524

July 21st, 2026  |  26 mins 6 secs

active listening, ad-free podcast, bipartisan friendship, bridging political divides, civil discourse, compassion, critical thinking, curiosity, doomscrolling, echo chambers, emotional regulation, empathy, forgiveness, friends across the aisle, friendship, healthier habits, hostile comments, jim ellermeyer, kindness, listening to learn, mental wellness, mindful communication, mindfulness, mindfulness journal, mindfulness podcast, missy sorg, online arguments, pause before reacting, personal growth, physical books, political conversations, political differences, political identity, political polarization, recency bias, recovery, reducing screen time, relationships, respectful disagreement, screen time, sleep hygiene, social media, social media echo chambers, stimulus and response, understanding, wellness

In the third and final part of their conversation, Jim Ellermeyer and Missy Sorg explore how active listening, critical thinking and a mindful pause before reacting can help people move beyond political labels and social-media echo chambers. Missy shares a personal story about revealing her political affiliation to a longtime friend and explains how their disagreement became a conversation rather than the end of their friendship. The episode closes with a challenge to become more open, informed and willing to understand people across the political aisle.

Beyond the Party Line | Episode 523

July 14th, 2026  |  23 mins 54 secs

abortion discussion, accountability, adoption, bipartisan conversation, civic engagement, communication, community, compassion, critical thinking, difficult conversations, emotional intelligence, family support, forgiveness, foster care, infertility, jim ellermeyer, lifelong caregiving, listening to learn, mental health, mindful living, mindfulness, mr. rogers, personal responsibility, political dialogue, political representation, producer mike, recovery, representative democracy, republican perspective, respect, respectful disagreement, social media echo chambers, special needs care, teenage pregnancy, voter education, wellness, wise mind

In Part 2 of our conversation with Missy Sorg, we explore difficult questions surrounding abortion, adoption, foster care, family support, voter education, and personal responsibility. Missy and Jim Ellermeyer also examine how political labels and social media echo chambers interfere with our ability to listen, learn, and treat one another with respect.

Eamon & Merlin on Faith, Curiosity, and Healing | Episode 520

June 23rd, 2026  |  26 mins 48 secs

a gay and his enby, authentic conversations, compassion, curiosity, deconstruction, eamon, emotional wellness, faith, forgiveness, healing, hope, identity, jim ellermeyer, meditation, mental health, merlin, mindfulness, mindfulness podcast, personal growth, recovery, resilience, self awareness, self reflection, sorgatron media, spirituality, trauma recovery, wellness

In Part 3 of our conversation, Eamon and Merlin explore the power of curiosity, challenging deeply held beliefs, and finding healing through honest self-reflection. They share personal experiences around faith, identity, trauma, and spiritual growth while encouraging listeners to embrace compassion—for themselves and others.

The Stories We Carry — and the Ones We Release with Santina Grace | Episode 497

January 6th, 2026  |  19 mins 39 secs

choice and freedom, clairvoyant perspectives, compassion, emotional regulation, emotional wellness, empathy, fishing without bait, healing conversations, inner peace, intentional living, jim ellermeyer, letting go, life stories, listening skills, mental clarity, mental health podcast, mindfulness, mindfulness and recovery, mindfulness podcast series, mindfulness practice, non judgment, personal growth, recovery podcast, recovery support content, santina grace, self awareness, spiritual growth

In Part 4 of our conversation with returning guest Santina Grace, we explore listening, compassion, and the stories we carry — and the ones we’re ready to release. This episode reflects on mindfulness, choice, and letting go of mental noise in order to live with greater clarity and freedom.

A Culture Of Guilt Imposed By Religious Structure | Episode 491

November 18th, 2025  |  15 mins 34 secs

12-step recovery, acceptance, behavior health, compassion, emotional healing, fishing without bait, healing journey, intentional living, jim ellermeyer, letting go, mental health, mindfulness, mindfulness podcast, personal development, recovery, recovery podcast, resilience, self-discovery, self-growth, spiritual wellness, stress management, surrender

In this episode of Fishing Without Bait, Jim Ellermeyer guides listeners through one of the most transformative practices in mindfulness and recovery: letting go. Whether it’s old fears, expectations, resentments, or the emotional weight we’ve carried for years, Jim explains how release is not weakness—it’s liberation.

Fishing Without Bait 490: What Would Jesus Say to Today’s World Leaders?

November 3rd, 2025  |  16 mins 44 secs

behavioral health, compassion, emotional awareness, empathy, empathy in leadership, faith, fishing without bait, forgiveness, good samaritan, honesty, hope, humility, inspiration, integrity, jesus of nazareth, jim ellermeyer, justice, kindness, leadership, mental health, mike sorg, mindfulness, mindfulness podcast, moral courage, moral responsibility, motivation, peace, personal growth, podcast, positivity, reconciliation, self compassion, self improvement, self reflection, servant leadership, spiritual growth, spirituality, truth

In Episode 490, Jim Ellermeyer and producer Mike Sorg explore what leadership truly means through the lens of Jesus of Nazareth. From the radical humility and servant leadership he modeled 2,000 years ago to his timeless call for justice and compassion, Jim examines how these teachings apply to the world’s political and social climate today.

Stochastic Rhetoric: The Scary Trick Politicians Use to Manipulate Minds | Episode 489

October 28th, 2025  |  20 mins 19 secs

anxiety reduction, behavioral health, choose kindness, cognitive bias, compassion, critical thinking, dog whistle politics, emotional intelligence, fear and awareness, fishing without bait, free thinking, information overload, jim ellermeyer, kindness, media literacy, media manipulation, mental health, mike sorg, mindful communication, mindfulness, mindfulness podcast, misinformation, obfuscation, plausible deniability, podcast, political language, politics and psychology, random acts of kindness, self awareness, social awareness, stochastic rhetoric

In this episode of Fishing Without Bait, Jim Ellermeyer and producer Mike Sorg wade into some deep—and dangerous—waters. Together, they explore how stochastic rhetoric and obfuscation have become the most powerful tools in modern political communication.

What do those words mean? In short, they describe how leaders and media use vague, coded, or confusing language to manipulate emotions, create division, and dodge accountability. From “dog whistles” to “plausible deniability,” Jim explains how these tactics quietly shape behavior and beliefs—without ever saying things outright.

Mindfulness & Impermanence with Clairvoyant Santina Grace | Episode 434

August 20th, 2024  |  21 mins 42 secs

ancestor wisdom, buddhist philosophy, clairvoyant, collective consciousness, compassion, duality, fishing without bait, impermanence, jim ellermeyer, medium, mindfulness, reincarnation, respect, santina grace, spiritual growth, spirituality

In this episode of Fishing Without Bait, host Jim Ellermeyer welcomes back the insightful and highly requested guest, Santina Grace, a clairvoyant medium. Together, they dive deep into profound spiritual concepts, focusing on the Buddhist philosophy of impermanence and its role in releasing anxiety and stress. Santina shares her unique perspective on duality, reincarnation, and the eternal nature of the soul’s journey, offering guidance on how embracing impermanence can lead to personal growth and freedom. The discussion also explores the significance of collective consciousness, the wisdom of ancestors, and the importance of respect and compassion in our daily lives. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in mindfulness, spiritual exploration, and the deeper meanings of life. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that encourages listeners to celebrate their uniqueness and live authentically.

Classic Fishing Without Bait 350: Jesus the Socialist

July 2nd, 2024  |  17 mins 52 secs

compassion, fishing without bait, jim ellermeyer, mental health, mindfulness, podcast, political ideologies, producer mike, social awareness, sorgatron media.

Join behavioral health therapist Jim Ellermeyer and producer Mike in this episode of “Fishing Without Bait.” They explore the power of words, discussing how often we label others without understanding the true meaning. Delving into the confusion around political ideologies like fascism, socialism, and communism, they highlight the importance of basing beliefs on facts, not misconceptions. The hosts also address the misuse of “wokeness” and emphasize the values of compassion, love, and forgiveness. Jim and Mike encourage listeners to pass their words through three gates: truth, kindness, and necessity. Visit Fishing Without Bait for more episodes and insights.

Lessons from the Brink | Episode 403

January 2nd, 2024  |  18 mins 31 secs

12-step programs, addiction recovery, behavioral health, compassion, empathy, facing death, fishing, honesty, integrity, letting go, life lessons, mindful living, nature, personal growth, podcast, prescription for living, spirituality

Jim Ellermeyer and Mike discuss life, death, spirituality, and recovery. Jim shares his recent brushes with death and how he faced them without fear due to his spiritual grounding and making amends through recovery. They talk about the importance of living fully in the present moment rather than worrying about the future or past. Jim stresses the value of empowering oneself, identifying fears, always telling the truth, treating people with respect, and carrying positive messages to help others.