Fishing Without Bait: A Full Impact Mindfulness Podcast

In Part 3 of our conversation with Monica Ruiz of Casa San José , Jim Ellermeyer continues an important discussion about human dignity, community, misinformation and what each of us can do to help create a better world. Monica reflects on the progress Pittsburgh has made while discussing the work that still needs to be done, including language accessibility and the challenges faced by immigrant an...

In Fishing Without Bait Episode 535 , Jim Ellermeyer continues his conversation with Monica Ruiz of Casa San José for Part 2 of their discussion about human dignity, immigration, fear, and community support in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Monica describes the concerns she hears from immigrant families and the ways fear can affect everyday activities such as going to work, attending school, shopping,...

In Part 1 of this special conversation, Fishing Without Bait host Jim Ellermeyer sits down with Monica Ruiz of Casa San Jose to talk about advocacy, community, human dignity, and what it means to truly listen to the people you are trying to serve. Monica discusses her path as a social worker and how her work eventually brought her to Casa San Jose. She shares the organization’s beginnings with Sis...

What if you aren’t broken and don’t need to be “fixed”? In Fishing Without Bait Episode 533, host Jim Ellermeyer welcomes Melissa Carey for Part 1 of a four-part conversation about mindfulness, anxiety, self-awareness, and reconnecting with ourselves. Melissa begins with a powerful reflection on learning to love who she is today. From there, she and Jim explore her belief that we are already whole...

In Part 3 of our conversation with Austin Cairns , host Jim Ellermeyer explores what Austin has learned from working in professional wrestling and sports broadcasting—and how those experiences connect with the mindfulness principles at the heart of Fishing Without Bait. Austin opens up about the colorful personalities he has encountered in independent wrestling, along with a less glamorous side of...

Sometimes the hardest accomplishment to recognize is your own. In Part 2 of Jim Ellermeyer's conversation with sportscaster Austin Cairns, Austin opens up about learning to slow down and appreciate the people, experiences, and accomplishments already in his life. Austin talks about the trusted circle of family and longtime friends who have been there for him and how, especially during college, con...

In Part 1 of our conversation with Austin Cairns , Jim Ellermeyer explores how a shy kid who wasn't sure what he wanted to do began creating a path toward broadcasting. Austin grew up in Carnegie, Pennsylvania, attending a small high school where opportunities could be limited. Then the COVID-19 pandemic arrived during his high school years. Remote learning, isolation, uncertainty, fear for his fr...

Why are we revisiting this episode now? As students head back to school, conversations around social media, young people, screen time, online identity, and mental health are once again dominating the news. Recent legal action involving major social media platforms has also renewed questions about how these spaces are designed and how they affect the people using them. That makes this conversation...

What does it actually mean to fish without bait? In Episode 529 of Fishing Without Bait , behavioral health therapist Jim Ellermeyer sits down with Producer Mike for a return to the fundamental ideas that have shaped the podcast through more than 500 episodes. At the center of the conversation is a simple relationship between expectations and serenity: “The greater your expectations, the lower you...

What does it actually mean when someone tells us to “be like the Buddha”? In Fishing Without Bait Episode 527, Jim Ellermeyer sits down with longtime co-host and Producer Mike to explore Buddhism not as an unreachable ideal, but as a practical way of approaching everyday life. Being awake doesn't mean being perfect. It means noticing what is happening around us, recognizing what is happening withi...

In Fishing Without Bait 526 , we continue our conversation with Vic Costik of the New Rust Pittsburgh Podcast . In Part 2, Vic joins Jim Ellermeyer for a thoughtful discussion about identity, community, safety, recovery and the daily work of becoming a more compassionate person. Vic explains why they try to approach ignorance through “neutral inquiry,” beginning with questions rather than immediat...

In Episode 525 of Fishing Without Bait , Jim Ellermeyer welcomes Vic Costik for Part 1 of a conversation about community, authenticity, connection, and finding the courage to become more fully yourself. Vic is a designer, community advocate, and the creator of New Rust , a podcast exploring Pittsburgh’s transformation through the individual stories of people doing interesting things throughout the...

Fishing Without Bait 524 presents the third and final part of Jim Ellermeyer’s conversation with Missy Sorg about political differences, social-media behavior and the possibility of maintaining meaningful relationships with people who do not share our beliefs. Rather than trying to win a debate, Jim and Missy examine what happens when people listen to respond instead of listening to learn. They di...

In Episode 523 of Fishing Without Bait , we continue our conversation with Missy Sorg in Part 2 of a thoughtful and challenging discussion about politics, responsibility, family support, and respectful disagreement. Missy and Jim Ellermeyer begin by examining the complicated realities surrounding abortion and the question of what happens after a child is born. Their conversation moves beyond polit...

In Fishing Without Bait 522 , Jim Ellermeyer begins a new conversation with Missy Sorg about one of the most difficult challenges many people face today: how to stay connected when political differences feel personal, painful, and divisive. Missy shares why she wanted to return to the show and talk openly about strained friendships, lost connections, and the fear of being reduced to a political la...

In Fishing Without Bait 521 , we conclude our four-part conversation with returning guests Eamon and Merlin , hosts of A Gay and His Enby . This final part brings the discussion into questions of faith, culture, identity, queer history, personal freedom, and the importance of community. Jim, Eamon, and Merlin talk about the many ways people interpret the divine, how history and education shape und...

Part 3 of our conversation with returning guests Eamon and Merlin continues an honest and thoughtful discussion about curiosity, personal growth, and the courage to question long-held beliefs. The conversation explores how choosing facts over assumptions can lead to greater understanding, why asking "What if I'm wrong?" creates opportunities for growth, and how embracing uncertainty can become a p...

In Part 2 of our conversation with returning guests Eamon and Merlin, we continue exploring the intersection of mindfulness, acceptance, personal growth, and human connection. The discussion moves through deeply personal experiences involving family relationships, coming out, marriage, forgiveness, faith, and the challenges of overcoming long-held beliefs. Eamon and Merlin share how authentic rela...

Returning guests Eamon and Merlin are back on Fishing Without Bait for Part 1 of a deeply personal and timely conversation about identity, community, and creating a life that aligns with your values. Several years after their first appearance on the show, Eamon and Merlin reflect on the events that led them to leave Texas and build a new life in Pittsburgh. They discuss the importance of feeling s...

In Part 4 of our continuing conversation, returning guest Joanna Lowe joins host Jim Ellermeyer for an emotional and deeply honest discussion about grief, creativity, healing, and reclaiming life after devastating loss. Joanna shares how the death of her husband transformed her life and ultimately inspired her one-woman performance piece Widow. Through poetry, storytelling, humor, and raw vulnerab...

In Part 3 of our continuing conversation, Jim Ellermeyer welcomes back returning guest Joanna Lowe for an unfiltered discussion about grief, anger, trauma, survival, and the complicated reality of healing after profound loss. Joanna opens up about the experience of widowhood, the emotional isolation of grief, and the well-meaning things people say that often miss the mark. She discusses the import...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Joanna Lowe, we move into a deeply personal and profound discussion about grief, trauma, and what it means to rebuild a life after devastating loss. Joanna shares the story of losing her husband just months after their marriage—a loss that didn’t just take a partner, but reshaped her entire world. She opens up about experiencing prolonged grief disorder, losing y...

In Fishing Without Bait 514 (Part 1), we welcome back Joanna Lowe for the beginning of a powerful and personal conversation. Joanna shares the unexpected story of how she became a spoken word artist—born from a moment of fear, vulnerability, and the decision to take control. From stepping on stage terrified to finding her voice through performance, this episode explores how courage isn’t the absen...

In this episode of Fishing Without Bait, Jim Ellermeyer and Mike dive into the transformative power of gratitude and what it means to live as a “high-frequency” person. Drawing from principles rooted in 12-step recovery and mindfulness, Jim explains how shifting your mindset—away from comparison, criticism, and complaint—can fundamentally change your thinking, relationships, and even your brain ch...