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

Family, Storytelling, austin cairns, avoiding burnout, being present, broadcasting, burnout, career development, ccac, celebrating accomplishments, celebrating success, confidence vs arrogance, 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, 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.

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Respect Across Political Lines | Episode 522

July 7th, 2026  |  26 mins 28 secs

Social Media, abortion discussion, birth control, common ground, contempt prior to investigation, difficult conversations, emotional wellness, fertility treatments, friendship, full impact mindfulness, jim ellermeyer, mental health, mindfulness, mindfulness podcast, missy sorg, patriotism, personal growth, podcast, polarization, political differences, recovery, recovery podcast, respectful disagreement, wellness, women’s health

In Fishing Without Bait 522, Jim Ellermeyer welcomes Missy Sorg for Part 1 of a thoughtful conversation about political differences, friendship, respect, and the search for common ground. Together, they discuss how people can move beyond labels, assumptions, and anger to have more honest conversations about difficult topics.

Knowing Which Weeds to Pull with Zeke Mercer | Episode 505

March 3rd, 2026  |  16 mins 28 secs

change, critical thinking, identity, life transitions, mindfulness, personal growth, podcast, recovery, self awareness, sorgatron media, wellness, zeke mercer

In Part 4 of our conversation with Zeke Mercer, we explore growth, identity, and recognizing when something no longer serves you. Zeke reflects on stepping back from wrestling, the role of critical thinking, and the balance between individuality and belonging. A thoughtful discussion on change, awareness, and self-respect.

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

November 3rd, 2025  |  16 mins 44 secs

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

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

Compassion, Emotional Intelligence, Kindness, anxiety reduction, behavioral health, choose kindness, cognitive bias, critical thinking, dog whistle politics, fear and awareness, fishing without bait, free thinking, information overload, jim ellermeyer, 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.

Fishing Without Bait 487: Navigating Anxiety and Uncertainty with Mr. Rogers’ Wisdom

October 14th, 2025  |  20 mins 56 secs

Kindness, Motivational, Therapy, anxiety, behavioral health, being present, depression, emotional resilience, fred rogers, full impact mindfulness, helpers, inspirational podcast, leveling up, mental health, mindfulness, mr. rogers quotes, personal growth, pittsburgh podcast, podcast, self-acceptance, self-awareness, self-compassion, self-love, substance abuse recovery, uncertainty

Jim Ellermeyer and Mike Sorg explore the wisdom of Fred Rogers to help us navigate fear, overwhelm, and uncertainty through mindfulness and kindness. With reflections on self-acceptance, emotional resilience, and “leveling up” in life, this episode reminds us: “I like you just the way you are.”

Crafting Space Sounds: The Making of LUNR ECCOS with Tim Vitullo & Mike Dawson | Episode 441

October 15th, 2024  |  31 mins 28 secs

Creativity, album production, album release, brian eno, club cafe, experimental music, fishing without bait, frippertronics, improvisation, instrumental music, jim ellermeyer, live performance, looping techniques, lunr eccos, mike dawson, music collaboration, pittsburgh music, podcast, robert fripp, space-inspired music, tim vitullo

In this episode of Fishing Without Bait, host Jim Ellermeyer sits down with musicians Tim Vitullo and Mike Dawson to discuss their first collaboration album, LUNR ECCOS, ahead of their release party at Club Cafe on November 10. The duo shares their journey of creating the album, which centers around experimental and space-inspired instrumental music. They explore themes of internal validation, the struggles of balancing creativity with day jobs, and the importance of commitment in their art. Tim and Mike reflect on their creative process, from improvisation to looping techniques, and how collaboration helped them push boundaries. The episode dives into their inspirations, including Brian Eno and Robert Fripp, and how they applied these influences in crafting their unique sound. If you’re a fan of music innovation, this episode offers an intimate look into the mindset of these artists as they prepare to launch their groundbreaking album. Don’t miss this deep dive into the creative minds behind LUNR ECCOS.

Finding Harmony: kidmental Talks Music, Life, and Mindfulness | Episode 439

October 1st, 2024  |  18 mins 33 secs

Creativity, Fatherhood, artistic freedom, balance in life, breaking free, creative process, custom theme songs, event coordination, fishing without bait, jim ellermeyer, kid mental, kidzilla, life challenges, live artist, mental health, mindfulness, music journey, music production, personal growth, podcast, spirituality

In this episode of Fishing Without Bait, host Jim Ellermeyer continues an insightful conversation with multi-talented artist and live performer, Kid Mental. Kid Mental shares his personal journey of balancing life as a father, artist, and event coordinator while seeking to reignite his passion for creating music. He reflects on the spiritual aspects of breaking free from limiting environments and the importance of mindfulness and questioning the status quo. Kid Mental also discusses his collaborative project “Kidzilla” and the challenges he’s faced in finding time to work on new music due to life’s demands. Throughout the episode, Kid Mental emphasizes his desire to create custom theme songs for individuals and brands as part of his effort to raise funds and reconnect with his artistic roots. Listen in to hear about the struggles, triumphs, and creative insights that define his path. Support Kid Mental by visiting his website at kidmental.com.

The Power of Choice and Small Victories with Kid Mental | Episode 438

September 24th, 2024  |  17 mins 43 secs

Creativity, artistic expression, creative passion, fan interactions, fishing without bait, freedom of choice, inspirational stories, jim ellermeyer, kid mental, mental health, mindfulness, music, personal freedom, personal growth, podcast, self-discovery, small victories, spiritual journey, spirituality, spoken word artist, streaming

In this episode of Fishing Without Bait, host Jim Ellermeyer welcomes back Kid Mental, a spiritual spoken word artist, for an inspiring conversation about choice, personal freedom, and artistic expression. Kid Mental discusses his unique journey, from growing up with a pastor father and minister mother to discovering the power of choosing his own path. He shares moving stories about reconnecting with fans who recognize him by his voice rather than his appearance, and how those interactions have rekindled his passion for music and streaming. The episode delves into the significance of small victories, the impact of planting seeds through art, and the importance of living authentically. Kid Mental also reflects on the spiritual and personal growth that has shaped his life and creative work.

Exploring Spiritual Energy with Clairvoyant Santina Grace | Episode 436

September 3rd, 2024  |  25 mins 16 secs

Meditation, afterlife, celestial events, clairvoyant, energy reading, fear of death, fishing without bait, jim ellermeyer, mediumship, mindfulness, podcast, santina grace, spiritual connection, spiritual guidance, spirituality

In this episode of “Fishing Without Bait,” hosted by Jim Ellermeyer, the discussion delves into the mystical world of clairvoyance with the insightful Santina Grace. As a clairvoyant medium, Santina shares her journey of perceiving and interpreting energy fields, offering profound insights into the human experience. The conversation touches on themes of spirituality, the impact of celestial events, and the deep connection between energy and our emotional and physical states. Santina provides an intimate look at how she conducts readings, focusing on what people need in the present moment, and discusses her experiences with clients facing loss and fear of death. Listeners will gain a unique perspective on how spirituality and energy awareness can bring peace and clarity, especially in times of uncertainty. For those curious about connecting with Santina or exploring spiritual development, she offers classes and private readings, encouraging everyone to trust their intuition.