Fishing Without Bait: A Full Impact Mindfulness Podcast

Humility Health and Wellness LLC.
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A mindful exercise. A look at ourselves. We recommend rest and relaxation. One way you can do this is to take up fishing. And for a truly mindful experience, try fishing without bait.

  1. 1 day ago

    When Motherhood Feels Overwhelming w/ Melissa Carey | Episode 537

    Can you love your children deeply and still struggle with being a parent? Can you find peace with your past without wishing you could change it? And what happens when you finally start trusting your own decisions instead of everyone else's expectations? In Part 2 of his conversation with Melissa Carey, behavioral health therapist Jim Ellermeyer explores these questions and more on Fishing Without Bait. Melissa begins by discussing her introduction to Reiki and other energy-based practices, tracing her interests back to her education in music therapy and the mentors who helped shape her path. She explains her approach to Reiki, the importance of personal intention, and why she does not promise specific outcomes from a session. The conversation takes a deeply personal turn when Melissa discusses raising four children, including the additional demands that can come with special needs. She speaks openly about loving her children while struggling with the responsibilities and expectations of motherhood. For Melissa, an important turning point came when she realized she was allowing parenting books, family members, teachers, and society to determine how she should raise her children. By deciding to trust her own choices, she began to experience motherhood differently. Jim and Melissa also examine the expectations placed on women, the importance of self-concept and self-esteem, and the challenge of recognizing what we deserve in relationships. Jim asks a powerful question: What are the requirements someone must meet to be with you? Melissa adds an important perspective: How can someone recognize respect, autonomy, or healthy relationships if they've never experienced them? This episode invites listeners to consider how mindfulness, honesty, self-trust, and personal responsibility can help us build a life that reflects our own values. Connect with Melissa Carey Explore Melissa's work at Into the Spirit Healing: https://intothespirithealing.life Support Fishing Without Bait Subscribe to Fishing Without Bait on your favorite podcast player so you never miss an episode. Enjoy ad-free episodes and support our ongoing conversations about mindfulness, recovery, and personal growth on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/fishingwithoutbait Continue your mindfulness journey with Jim's book, 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 Learn more about the podcast: https://www.fishingwithoutbait.com/

    When Motherhood Feels Overwhelming w/ Melissa Carey | Episode 537

  2. 20 Oct

    Fishing Without Bait 536: Building a Better World Through Human Dignity with Monica Ruiz

    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 and marginalized communities. The conversation examines misconceptions surrounding public assistance, the importance of education, affordable housing, fair wages and the need to look beyond headlines and have meaningful conversations with real people. Monica also explains some of the practical ways people can become involved with Casa San José. Volunteering doesn't necessarily require an enormous commitment. Whether someone can donate time, provide a space, assist with an event or simply become better informed, there are opportunities to contribute. One of Monica's central messages is simple: meaningful interaction matters. Rather than being afraid of someone who looks, speaks or lives differently, she encourages listeners to talk with people, listen to their experiences and learn from one another. When Jim asks what continues to give her hope, Monica offers one of the defining ideas of this conversation: she knows a better world can exist, and she wants to be part of creating it. Learn more about Casa San José, its resources, volunteer opportunities and ways to help Pittsburgh's Latino and immigrant communities: www.casasanjose.org Subscribe to Fishing Without Bait on your favorite podcast player. Support Fishing Without Bait on Patreon and receive 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 And remember the Fishing Without Bait prescription: fruits, nuts and vegetables, unplug your television and take up fishing. For a truly mindful experience, fish without bait.

    Fishing Without Bait 536: Building a Better World Through Human Dignity with Monica Ruiz

  3. 13 Oct

    You Shouldn’t Be Afraid of Your Neighbor with Monica Ruiz | Episode 535

    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, or participating in community life. She also discusses one of the biggest barriers Casa San José encounters: language access. The conversation explores the practical work Casa San José provides, including helping people understand documents and forms, connecting families with culturally responsive mental-health services, supporting families dealing with detention and bond proceedings, providing Know Your Rights education, and helping families prepare for emergencies. Monica also explains how Casa San José works with other immigrant-serving organizations and volunteer attorneys to connect people with legal assistance and reduce some of the financial barriers families can face. At the center of the conversation is a simple question: How do we continue seeing one another as neighbors and human beings when fear is being used to divide communities? As Jim puts it, character can come down to a few basic questions: Can you tell the difference between right and wrong? Can you be dependable? Can you tell the truth? Can you treat people with courtesy and respect? Support Casa San José Learn about Casa San José, volunteer opportunities, community resources, and ways to help: https://casasanjose.org Support Fishing Without Bait Subscribe to Fishing Without Bait on your favorite podcast player. Get ad-free episodes and support the show on Patreon: 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 Do a kindness for yourself. Do a kindness for another. Forgive yourself and forgive another.

    You Shouldn’t Be Afraid of Your Neighbor with Monica Ruiz | Episode 535

  4. 6 Oct

    Building Community With Casa San Jose With Monica Ruiz | Episode 534

    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 Sister Janice Vanderneck and its growth from a small operation working out of a church basement into an organization with more than 35 staff members serving communities in Allegheny County and beyond. The conversation explores an important distinction in Casa San Jose’s mission: advocating not simply “for” the Latino community, but “with” the community. Monica explains why people need the opportunity to speak for themselves and why assumptions about what others need can get in the way of meaningful change. Jim and Monica also discuss belonging, racism, fear-based thinking, privilege, immigration narratives, and the challenge of deciding when a difficult conversation is worth having. Monica reflects on being both proudly Latina and proudly American, the importance of having a seat at the table, and why changing systems requires people from affected communities to be part of the decisions. Throughout the conversation, the themes return to ideas at the heart of Fishing Without Bait: human dignity, openness, listening, compassion, and finding ways to move from frustration toward meaningful action. This is Part 1 of our conversation with Monica Ruiz. Programming note: We’ll return to the rest of Melissa Carey’s interview in the following weeks. Subscribe to Fishing Without Bait on your favorite podcast player and join us each week for conversations about mindfulness, recovery, wellness, and creating a more positive life. Support Fishing Without Bait on Patreon and receive ad-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/fishingwithoutbait Continue your mindfulness practice with “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

    Building Community With Casa San Jose With Monica Ruiz | Episode 534

  5. 29 Sept

    You Are Already Whole w/ Melissa Carey | Episode 533

    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, even when layers of experience, relationships, expectations, and our own self-talk make that wholeness difficult to recognize. Melissa discusses the anxiety and life transitions that often bring people looking for support and explains why listening is at the heart of her approach. Drawing from her background in music therapy and her work with sound, meditation, breathwork, and energy practices, she shares one deceptively simple starting point: notice your breath. Jim and Melissa also discuss mindfulness during both difficult and positive moments, learning from obstacles, practicing coping tools before a crisis arrives, and why sometimes the most helpful next step is simply encouraging someone to seek an impartial ear through counseling or therapy. This is Part 1 of our conversation with Melissa Carey. Learn more about Melissa and her work with Into the Spirit Healing at: intothespirithealing.life Subscribe to Fishing Without Bait on your favorite podcast player. Support Fishing Without Bait on Patreon and receive 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

    You Are Already Whole w/ Melissa Carey | Episode 533

  6. 22 Sept

    Beyond the Comfort Zone with Austin Cairns | Episode 532

    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 the business: tribalism. He discusses the tension that can develop between promotions, the pressure of navigating different groups, and why he believes collaboration can ultimately make wrestling better. The conversation then moves beyond the wrestling ring and into Austin’s expanding broadcasting career. He shares his experience contributing Pittsburgh Steelers reports for radio, reflects on interviewing established Pittsburgh sports broadcasters, and talks about his long-term goal of traveling and working in broadcasting on a larger stage. Jim and Austin also explore changes in sports culture, including NIL, fantasy sports, sports gambling, and the increasingly common sight of fans watching their phones instead of the event happening directly in front of them. That observation leads directly back to mindfulness. Austin describes himself as someone who wants to live in the moment, and when Jim asks what advice he would give someone pursuing a dream, Austin’s answer is simple: put yourself out there. Growth rarely happens by waiting for the perfect opportunity or remaining completely comfortable. Austin reflects on going from a shy student to working across sports, wrestling, radio, television, and journalism by accepting opportunities that pushed him beyond what felt familiar. It’s a conversation about ambition without losing awareness of where you are right now—and having the courage to enter uncomfortable spaces in order to discover what you can become. Subscribe to Fishing Without Bait on your favorite podcast player. Support Fishing Without Bait and receive ad-free episodes on Patreon: 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

    Beyond the Comfort Zone with Austin Cairns | Episode 532

  7. 14 Sept

    From Wrestling Fan to Broadcaster with Austin Cairns | Episode 531

    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, constantly trying to “go, go, go” could quickly lead to burnout. More recently, he has learned to put down the phone, step away from the computer, spend time with his family, and remember that time may be more valuable than money. The conversation also follows Austin's educational and professional journey from CCAC to Point Park University and into the world of sports broadcasting. He recalls helping create a live charity event at Point Park that combined sports, entertainment, media, and professional wrestling and ultimately raised more than $365,000. But even after accomplishing something that significant, Austin admits that being proud of himself didn't come naturally. Jim and Austin discuss the difference between arrogance and confidence and why recognizing your own progress doesn't mean putting yourself above anyone else. For Austin, that lesson also meant realizing that the kid who grew up watching professional wrestling was now calling matches, working in sports, creating content, and meeting people he once watched on television. Austin also shares how an internship with an independent wrestling promotion gave him a foot in the door, what he learned from experienced broadcasters, and why storytelling is such an important part of professional wrestling commentary. It's a conversation about gratitude, purpose, family, ambition, burnout, confidence, and giving yourself permission to acknowledge how far you've already come. Subscribe to Fishing Without Bait wherever you listen to podcasts. Listen without the ads and support the show through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/fishingwithoutbait Continue your mindfulness practice with “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

    From Wrestling Fan to Broadcaster with Austin Cairns | Episode 531

  8. 8 Sept

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

    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 frontline-worker parents, and spending most of his time at home left Austin feeling increasingly complacent and unsure about what came next. A seemingly ordinary moment with his father changed his perspective. While watching ESPN together, Austin's father told him he could imagine his son working in television. Austin didn't immediately believe him. At the time, he considered himself shy and struggled to imagine speaking comfortably into a microphone, much less appearing on camera. But Austin tried. He started looking for opportunities wherever he could find them. His first announcing experience came introducing his high school's marching band during football halftime. That small opportunity connected him with his first mentor in broadcasting and eventually led to announcing more school sports. Austin also began creating his own practice. He muted television broadcasts and attempted play-by-play himself. He practiced wrestling commentary. He cut mock promos. He recorded his voice and listened back, even when hearing himself made him cringe. That discomfort became part of the education. Jim and Austin discuss the importance of repetition, getting outside the comfort zone, learning through failure, and being willing to ask, “How can I improve this?” Austin also reflects on the people who helped him move forward, including his family and Pittsburgh broadcasting mentor Alby Oxenreiter. A relationship that began with Austin listening closely to an experienced broadcaster eventually developed into a moment where Austin was asked to take the lead himself. Underlying the entire conversation is something central to Fishing Without Bait: we don't have to wait until we feel completely ready before taking action. Sometimes the first step is simply trying. Subscribe to Fishing Without Bait on your favorite podcast player and follow the conversation as Austin Cairns continues sharing how he got here from there. Support the podcast and receive ad-free episodes on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/fishingwithoutbait Continue your own mindfulness practice with “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

    Finding Your Voice: Austin Cairns on Taking the First Opportunity | Episode 530
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A mindful exercise. A look at ourselves. We recommend rest and relaxation. One way you can do this is to take up fishing. And for a truly mindful experience, try fishing without bait.

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