Sorgatron Media Master Feed

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.

Classic Fishing Without Bait 350: Jesus the Socialist

July 2nd, 2024  |  Season 11  |  17 mins 52 secs

compassion, fishing without bait, jim ellermeyer, mental health, mindfulness, podcast, political ideologies, producer mike, social awareness, sorgatron media.

Join behavioral health therapist Jim Ellermeyer and producer Mike in this episode of “Fishing Without Bait.” They explore the power of words, discussing how often we label others without understanding the true meaning. Delving into the confusion around political ideologies like fascism, socialism, and communism, they highlight the importance of basing beliefs on facts, not misconceptions. The hosts also address the misuse of “wokeness” and emphasize the values of compassion, love, and forgiveness. Jim and Mike encourage listeners to pass their words through three gates: truth, kindness, and necessity. Visit Fishing Without Bait for more episodes and insights.