Fishing Without Bait: A Full Impact Mindfulness Podcast

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.

Are You Being Fooled by Media? The Truth About Manipulation & Identity Loss | Episode 488

October 21st, 2025  |  20 mins 19 secs

advertising influence, algorithmic persuasion, anxiety, behavioral health, celebrity endorsements, comparison culture, consumerism, critical thinking, digital detox, emotional advertising, emotional intelligence, fishing without bait, fomo, identity loss, influencer culture, insecurity, jim ellermeyer, marketing psychology, media literacy, media manipulation, mental health, mike sorg, mindfulness, mindfulness podcast, recovery podcast, self-awareness, self-discovery, self-reflection, social media addiction, targeted ads

In this eye-opening episode of Fishing Without Bait, host Jim Ellermeyer is joined once again by producer Mike Sorg to explore how modern media shapes our identities, fuels our purchases, and even distorts our sense of self-worth.

From emotional manipulation in advertising to influencer culture and data-driven targeting, Jim and Mike unpack the psychological tactics behind today’s media and tech. How does a Power Glove from the ’80s connect to the viral influencer culture of today? Are we in control of our choices—or are we reacting without realizing it?

Fishing Without Bait 448: From Suppressed Anger to Self-Attunement: A Therapist’s Journey with Bronwyn Schweigerdt

December 3rd, 2024  |  23 mins 55 secs

anger management, boundaries, emotional intelligence, emotional well-being, healing, mental health, mindfulness, self-attunement, shame, suppressed anger, therapy

Dive into an enlightening conversation on Fishing Without Bait with host Jim Ellermeyer as he welcomes Bronwyn Schweigerdt, a psychotherapist, licensed marriage and family therapist, and anger expert. Together, they unravel the complexities of anger, its role in mental health, and its connection to emotions like shame and validation. Bronwyn shares her personal journey through depression, revealing how suppressed anger and societal conditioning shaped her path to becoming a therapist.