Fishing Without Bait: A Full Impact Mindfulness Podcast

From Wrestling Fan to Broadcaster with Austin Cairns | Episode 531

September 14th, 2026  |  18 mins 22 secs

austin cairns, avoiding burnout, being present, broadcasting, burnout, career development, ccac, celebrating accomplishments, celebrating success, confidence vs arrogance, family, following your passion, full impact mindfulness, gratitude, independent wrestling, internships, jim ellermeyer, life balance, living your dream, mental wellness, mindful living, mindfulness, personal growth, pittsburgh podcast, podcast, point park university, pro wrestling commentator, professional wrestling, recovery, self confidence, self worth, sports broadcasting, sports media, storytelling, time management, trusted relationships, wellness, work life balance, wrestling commentary

In Part 2 of our conversation with sportscaster Austin Cairns, we explore the value of trusted relationships, making time for family, and learning to recognize your own accomplishments. Austin shares how his path through sports broadcasting and professional wrestling helped him realize that sometimes you're already living the dream before you stop long enough to notice it.

Subscribe to Fishing Without Bait on your favorite podcast player, support ad-free episodes at https://www.patreon.com/c/fishingwithoutbait, and pick up “Learn to Fish Without Bait: A 365-Day Mindfulness Journal and Adult Coloring Book” at https://www.lulu.com/shop/james-ellermeyer-lpc-ma-ncc-lpc/learn-to-fish-without-bait/paperback/product-6n9rd8.html?page=1&pageSize=4

Finding Your Voice: Austin Cairns on Taking the First Opportunity | Episode 530

September 8th, 2026  |  17 mins 33 secs

action and effort, alby oxenreiter, broadcasting, career development, comfort zone, confidence, covid 19 pandemic, creating yourself, family support, finding your voice, full impact mindfulness, honest feedback, jim ellermeyer, media career, mental wellness, mentorship, mindfulness, motivation, overcoming fear, pandemic isolation, perseverance, personal development, personal growth, pittsburgh broadcasting, pittsburgh media, podcasting, point park university, practice, professional wrestling, recovery, resilience, self doubt, self improvement, social isolation, sports broadcasting, sports media, wellness, young professionals

Jim Ellermeyer begins a new conversation with Pittsburgh broadcaster Austin Cairns about finding direction during the uncertainty and isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Austin shares how encouragement from his father, early announcing opportunities, supportive mentors, repeated practice, and a willingness to hear difficult feedback helped a shy young man begin finding his voice behind a microphone.

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Support Fishing Without Bait on Patreon for ad-free episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/fishingwithoutbait

Pick up “Learn to Fish Without Bait: A 365-Day Mindfulness Journal and Adult Coloring Book”:
https://www.lulu.com/shop/james-ellermeyer-lpc-ma-ncc-lpc/learn-to-fish-without-bait/paperback/product-6n9rd8.html?page=1&pageSize=4

Be More Awake: Lessons From the Buddha | Episode 526

August 11th, 2026  |  26 mins 16 secs

12 step recovery, acceptance, being awake, boundaries, buddhism, buddhist philosophy, compassion, compassion with boundaries, emotional regulation, emotional wellness, expectations, healthy habits, intentional living, jim ellermeyer, letting go, living in the present, meditation, mental health, mental wellness, michael sorg, mindfulness, mindfulness podcast, non attachment, personal growth, positive habits, producer mike, recovery, recovery podcast, self awareness, self improvement, spirituality, wellness, wise mind

What does it actually mean to “be like the Buddha”? Jim Ellermeyer and Producer Mike explore how being more awake, compassionate, intentional, and less attached to outcomes can help us participate more fully in the life happening right now.

Vic Costik’s Love Letter to Pittsburgh | Episode 526

August 3rd, 2026  |  35 mins 50 secs

12-step recovery, accepting flaws, accountability, authentic living, authenticity, belonging, community building, compassion, emotional wellness, empathy, healthy boundaries, jim ellermeyer, kindness, lgbtq community, lgbtq inclusion, local podcasts, love letter to pittsburgh, making amends, mental wellness, mind of awareness, mindfulness, mindfulness podcast, neutral inquiry, new rust pittsburgh, new rust pittsburgh podcast, overcoming fear, people-pleasing, perfectionism, personal growth, pittsburgh artists, pittsburgh community, pittsburgh culture, pittsburgh makers, pittsburgh podcast, pittsburgh small businesses, pittsburgh weird, privilege, queer pittsburgh, recovery, self-acceptance, social awareness, toxic relationships, trans visibility, transgender community, transgender safety, vic costik, wellness podcast

In Part 2 of our conversation with Vic Costik of the New Rust Pittsburgh Podcast, we explore community-building, LGBTQ+ belonging, authentic living and the importance of approaching unfamiliar experiences with curiosity instead of contempt. Vic also shares how Pittsburgh’s artists, makers, local businesses and unexpected corners inspired a podcast that serves as a love letter to the city.

Subscribe to Fishing Without Bait in your favorite podcast player, support ad-free episodes at https://www.patreon.com/c/fishingwithoutbait, and pick up “Learn to Fish Without Bait: A 365-Day Mindfulness Journal and Adult Coloring Book” at https://www.lulu.com/shop/james-ellermeyer-lpc-ma-ncc-lpc/learn-to-fish-without-bait/paperback/product-6n9rd8.html?page=1&pageSize=4.

Vic’s Story: Identity, Transition & Finding Community | Episode 525

July 28th, 2026  |  18 mins 20 secs

acceptance, authentic self, authenticity, belonging, community, community advocacy, connection, curiosity, empathy, found family, human connection, identity, jim ellermeyer, lgbtq community, life transitions, mental wellness, mindfulness, mindfulness podcast, new rust, new rust podcast, overcoming judgment, personal growth, personal transformation, pittsburgh, pittsburgh community, pittsburgh creatives, pittsburgh culture, pittsburgh lgbtq, pittsburgh podcast, queer community, recovery, self acceptance, self discovery, trans identity, trans masculine, transgender community, understanding, ux design, vic costik, wellness

Fishing Without Bait welcomes Vic Costik, creator of the New Rust podcast, for the first part of a conversation about Pittsburgh, community, identity, and finding the freedom to live authentically. Vic shares how moving from New York City to Pittsburgh helped him discover found family, embrace his community, and ultimately begin meeting himself for the first time.

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.

Joanna Lowe on Grief, Art, and Learning to Live Again | Episode 516

May 19th, 2026  |  16 mins 41 secs

bereavement, depression support, edinburgh fringe festival, emotional honesty, emotional resilience, emotional wellness, grief, grief support, healing, jim ellermeyer, joanna lowe, mental health, mental wellness, mindfulness, mindfulness and grief, mindfulness podcast, parenting through grief, podcast interview, recovery, self help podcast, sorgatron media, suicide awareness, surviving loss, trauma, trauma recovery, wellness podcast, widow, widowhood

In Part 3 of our conversation with Joanna Lowe, we explore the complicated reality of grief, anger, survival, and support after devastating loss. Joanna shares deeply personal reflections on widowhood, parenting through trauma, and what people can truly do to support someone who is grieving.

Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast player and support ad-free episodes on Patreon.

Joanna’s work:

The Occasional Epiphany by Joanna Lowe
Cup A Joe Productions Facebook

Support us on Patreon for ad-free episodes:
Fishing Without Bait Patreon

Pick up the book:
Learn to Fish Without Bait: A 365-Day Mindfulness Journal and Adult Coloring Book

Joanna Lowe on Grief That Changes You Forever | Episode 515

May 12th, 2026  |  23 mins 40 secs

coping with grief, emotional trauma, grief, grief support, healing, joanna lowe, life after loss, loss, mental health, mental wellness, mindfulness podcast, mindfulness practice, podcast interview, prolonged grief disorder, ptsd, recovery journey, self discovery, trauma recovery, wellness

In Part 2 of our conversation with Joanna Lowe, we explore the deeply personal and life-altering impact of grief after the sudden loss of her husband. Joanna shares how trauma reshaped her identity, faith, and ability to feel, offering an unfiltered look at prolonged grief and recovery. This episode is a powerful reflection on loss, survival, and rediscovery.

Fishing Without Bait 513: Gratitude, High-Frequency Living & Letting Go

April 27th, 2026  |  19 mins 7 secs

12 step recovery, addiction recovery, avoiding negativity, behavior change, boundaries, emotional intelligence, gratitude, gratitude practice, high frequency people, jim ellermeyer, life coaching, mental health, mental wellness, mike sorg, mindfulness, mindfulness podcast, mindset, personal development, personal growth, positivity, recovery, self awareness, self improvement, wellness

In episode 513 of Fishing Without Bait, Jim Ellermeyer and Mike explore the power of gratitude, mindfulness, and surrounding yourself with high-frequency people. They break down how avoiding comparison, criticism, and complaint can transform your mindset and relationships. This episode offers practical tools for setting boundaries, redirecting negativity, and living with intention.

Zeke Mercer: Sacrifice, Identity & Self-Discovery | Episode 503

February 17th, 2026  |  22 mins 59 secs

authenticity, ethical living, expectations, fishing without bait, fishing without bait podcast, fwb503, identity, integrity, mental health, mental wellness, mindfulness, personal growth, recovery, resilience, sacrifice, self discovery, self worth, transition, zeke mercer

In Part 2 of our conversation, Zeke Mercer reflects on sacrifice, expectations, and the emotional realities of chasing dreams. She shares deeply personal insights about identity, integrity, and her transition journey. A thoughtful discussion on self-worth, resilience, and living authentically.