Jim Ellermeyer

Fishing Without Bait 495: Creating Yourself Through Choice Points with Santina Grace

December 9th, 2025  |  23 mins

pittsburgh, podcast

In this episode of Fishing Without Bait, we welcome back our imaginative, energetic returning guest Santina Grace for Part 2 of a deeply insightful conversation about mindfulness, self-awareness, grounding practices, and the inner battles so many of us face every day. Together, Santina and Jim dive into themes of anchoring thoughts, depersonalization, perspective shifts, emotional resilience, and reclaiming personal agency.

Fishing Without Bait 494: The Myth of Productivity & the Path to Real Joy with Santina Grace

December 2nd, 2025  |  27 mins 49 secs

anxiety relief, clairvoyant medium, coping skills, emotional healing, emotional resilience, fear and anxiety, finding joy, gratitude practice, grounding techniques, inner peace, joy, mental health, mental wellness, mindfulness, mindfulness journey, mindfulness podcast, mindfulness tips, overcoming fear, personal growth, present moment awareness, recovery tools, santina grace, self-compassion, self-worth, spiritual guidance, spirituality, stress management, trauma healing

Clairvoyant medium Santina Grace returns for a powerful conversation about finding joy in a chaotic world. Jim and Santina explore the myth of productivity, how fear shapes anxiety, how to anchor yourself through gratitude and memories, and how to reclaim your inner peace—even when life feels overwhelming.

Wrestling Mayhem Show 985: Hangman Bleeds, Dom Believes, and Sorg Can Take the Train Now

November 26th, 2025  |  1 hr 31 mins

pittsburgh, podcast

In Wrestling Mayhem Show 984, the crew gathers for a Thanksgiving edition filled with AEW chaos, Survivor Series debate, nostalgia, and community stories.

Sorg returns from Defy Wrestling with fresh notes from the Seattle scene—including Sting’s son’s first indie match, The Righteous, and Vert Vixen—before diving into AEW Full Gear’s biggest moments: Samoa Joe’s cage match victory, Hook joining the Ops, Swerve’s return, and the Continental Classic block breakdown featuring Okada.

Fishing Without Bait 493: Why So Many Struggle With Guilt — The Religion Effect Explained

November 25th, 2025  |  15 mins 28 secs

pittsburgh, podcast

In Episode 493 of Fishing Without Bait, we continue our powerful two-part conversation on the lifelong impact of religiously reinforced guilt, shame, and fear. Building on the foundation set in Episode 492, Jim Ellermeyer and host Mike Sorg peel back the layers of how religious structures shape personal identity, relationships, sexuality, and self-worth.

Fishing Without Bait 492: A Culture Of Guilt Imposed By Religious Structure

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 491: Discover Your Inherent Truths: The Secret to Confidence & Self-Worth

November 11th, 2025  |  17 mins 48 secs

breathing techniques for anxiety, confidence building, creating your own life, daily gratitude practice, emotional resilience, emotional wellness, fear of judgment, identity and values, inherent truths, inner peace practices, jim ellermeyer, letting go of fear, living without expectations, mental health podcast, mindful living, mindfulness exercises, mindfulness podcast, overcoming self-doubt, personal development tools, personal growth, positive affirmations, recovery and mindfulness, self-awareness techniques, self-discovery, self-worth

In this episode of Fishing Without Bait, counselor and mindfulness guide Jim Ellermeyer takes listeners on a thoughtful and practical journey into the world of inherent truths—the deep personal values and qualities that define who we really are beneath expectations, judgment, and fear.

Jim opens the conversation by reminding us that self-discovery isn’t about finding a ready-made identity—it’s about creating ourselves with honesty, open-mindedness, and a willingness to try. He introduces the idea that inherent truths are fundam

AwesomeCast 756: How ChatGPT Helped Plan a Dream Trip to Japan (+ AI Life Hacks You Can Try Now!)

November 4th, 2025  |  1 hr 1 min

pittsburgh, podcast

In this week’s episode, Sorg and Dudders get geeky about AI in everyday life — from redesigning homes with ChatGPT to tracking calories with conversational AI. Then guest Brian Crawford takes us on a deep dive through Japan’s advanced transit tech, immersive art museums, and cultural quirks.
We also preview Pittsburgh’s AI & Robotics Demo Day and catch up with Chachi’s gaming news minute.

Perfect for fans of AI tools, travel tech, and real-world innovation.

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.

Fishing Without Bait 489: Stochastic Rhetoric: The Scary Trick Politicians Use to Manipulate Minds

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.

Fishing Without Bait 488: Are You Being Fooled by Media? The Truth About Manipulation & Identity Loss

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 487: Navigating Anxiety and Uncertainty with Mr. Rogers’ Wisdom

October 14th, 2025  |  Season 11  |  20 mins 56 secs

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

AwesomeCast 752: We Built a Livestream Studio in a U-Haul at an Off-Road Motorsport Event!

October 8th, 2025  |  Season 11  |  1 hr 5 mins

ai video generation, alba colon, amazon prime login, awesomecast, baja sae, cancer survivor surfing, dave podnar, event livestreaming, first descents, game pass price increase, gopro crash, hendrick motorsports, katie dudas, meta ai editing, michael sorg, microsoft game pass, minecraft climate change game, mini baja rc, missy sorg, mobile livestream setup, off-road racing, openai sora, podcasting, production tips, romcom sabotage, sae international, santa cruz surfing, sidekick media services, slice on broadway, sorgatron media, streaming cautionary tale, tech podcast, u-haul studio, video production, wireless camera setup, women in motorsports

Surfboards, Baja Cars & Broken GoPros — This Week on AwesomeCast!

Katie returns with stories from the waves as she shares her inspiring First Descents surf adventure in Santa Cruz, designed for cancer survivors. Meanwhile, the team gives a full behind-the-scenes breakdown of their latest wild production at Baja SAE Carolina — from broadcasting out of a U-Haul van to dealing with dusty terrain, wireless camera chaos, and even a GoPro that didn’t survive.

Fishing Without Bati 486: “Not Today”: The One Phrase That Will Change Your Life

October 7th, 2025  |  Season 11  |  15 mins 58 secs

pittsburgh, podcast

Fishing Without Bait 485: Feeling Stuck? You Might Be Living on Autopilot

September 29th, 2025  |  Season 11  |  17 mins 1 sec

behavioral therapy, daily mindfulness, digital detox, fishing without bait, human being vs human doing, i choose mindset, intentional living, jim ellermeyer, journaling, life balance, mental health, mindfulness, mindfulness podcast, personal growth, podcast wellness, self-awareness, self-discovery, self-help, self-reflection, stress relief

In this episode, Jim Ellermeyer invites you to reflect on one of the most fundamental shifts you can make in life: choosing to live intentionally rather than simply existing.

Together with producer Mike Sorg, Jim explores the concept of being a human being rather than a human doing, and how small mindful changes—like replacing “I have to” with “I choose to”—can radically transform your daily experience.

Fishing Without Bait 484: Reclaim Your Emotional Sovereignty Today

September 23rd, 2025  |  Season 11  |  17 mins 34 secs

pittsburgh, podcast

In this episode of Fishing Without Bait, Jim Ellermeyer and producer Mike explore the powerful concept of cognitive clarity—the antidote to anxiety and the constant mental noise of modern life.

Learn how to manage racing thoughts, move from fear-based reactivity to logical clarity, and reclaim your emotional sovereignty by choosing your own narrative over external expectations.

Fishing Without Bait 483: World Religions Agree on THIS… Why Can’t We?

September 16th, 2025  |  Season 11  |  13 mins 30 secs

christianity vs islam vs buddhism, compassion and faith, core values of religion, ethics in religion, interfaith dialogue, mindfulness podcast, religious tolerance, shared values of religions, spiritual podcast, world religions

In this thought-provoking episode of Fishing Without Bait, Jim Ellermeyer and co-host Mike Sorg engage in a profound exploration of the core values shared by the world’s major faiths—from Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Sikhism, Confucianism, to Taoism.