About Fishing Without Bait: A Full Impact Mindfulness Podcast
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.
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 (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 (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 (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.
6 Oct 2026
Building Community With Casa San Jose With Monica Ruiz | Episode 534
29 Sept 2026
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 (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 (https://www.lulu.com/shop/james-ellermeyer-lpc-ma-ncc-lpc/learn-to-fish-without-bait/paperback/product-6n9rd8.html?page=1&pageSize=4)
Who has been a guest on Fishing Without Bait: A Full Impact Mindfulness Podcast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Nick Jonsson
Rubina Chadha
Tara
Missy Sorg
Chris Maverick
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
7 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 61 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
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