Love and Life with Dr. Karin and Pastor Elliott

Latest Episodes:

Deepen Intimacy with this Pro Tip from Counseling 101! Ep. 355 May 01, 2025

Show notes

When you want to get to know someone better, you ask them a lot of questions, right?
Maybe not . . .
This week, we pick up on an important point Elliott made last episode about avoiding questions to facilitate effective, authentic communication.
It seems counterintuitive, but we can actually gather MORE information and cultivate DEEPER intimacy by communicating with statements.
So, how exactly do we do this?
Elliott and I share a foundational technique from Carl Rogers’ Client Centered Therapy—reflective listening.
It’s a simple adjustment that dramatically alters communication.
You can try it today and immediately experience the difference!
Your friends, family, and romantic partners will feel seen, heard, and validated. They’ll know how much you care about them through your reflections of what they’re expressing.
The best part? You don’t have to try to figure out the right words to say or the right questions to ask.
Because, as we noted above, it’s NOT about questions at all!
If you’re ready to level up your communication skills to deepen understanding and intimacy, join us for some Counseling 101!
Citation: Behavior Expert, Chase Hughes, from Steve Bartlett’s Facebook page.
Sponsor:
The Wellness Company
Website: ⁠https://www.twc.health/lovelife
⁠Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!
Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson
Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/
Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook
Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson

The Power of Partnership Language in Romantic Relationships Ep. 354 Apr 24, 2025

Show notes

Today Elliott and Tim explore the significance of language in relationships and how to avoid potential pitfalls in communication. They discuss how communication styles, gender roles, and temperament influence interactions, especially during conflicts. Elliott shares the importance of using 'we' language to foster unity and understanding in the context of relationships with significant others.

We hope today’s conversation will empower you with tools to practice effective communication in your relationships.

Sponsor:

The Wellness Company

Website: ⁠https://www.twc.health/lovelife⁠

Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!

Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson

Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/

Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook

Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson

Sarah Knott's Story: Trauma Recovery Through Words & Beliefs Ep. 353 Apr 17, 2025

Show notes

We are joined on today’s episode by Sarah Knott. Sarah has been an avid listener of the podcast and has done counseling with Elliott. She shares with all of us her profound healing journey that started with some physical manifestations but as she explored things deeper found that there were emotional and spiritual elements at play as well.
She is also a mom and her little ones were excited to be on the podcast too! So you may hear them in the background from time to time. But just as you’ll hear in her story everything about today’s episode is raw and real.

Sarah is also an artist and has a singer/songwriter group with her husband called Acoustic Truth. You can find her website below.

We hope this episode will encourage you and we are so thankful for Sarah’s willingness to share her story so openly with our community.

Sponsor:

The Wellness Company

Website: ⁠https://www.twc.health/lovelife⁠

Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!

Sarah Knott / Acoustic Truth

Website | https://www.acoustictruthofficial.com

Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson

Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/

Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook

Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson

The Collective Trauma of COVID, Part 2 with Jenna McCarthy Ep. 352 Apr 10, 2025

Show notes

Join us for part two of my conversation with Jenna McCarthy, author of, Yankee Doodle Soup for the Fringy, Tin-Foil Hat Wearing, Conspiracy Theorist’s Soul and The War on Ivermectin with Dr. Pierre Kory.

We process our parallel journies as COVID dissidents —including the lingering trauma so many of us continue to experience (well, maybe me more than Jenna!)

Full disclosure—this episode was a bit of a therapy session for me ☺️. Jenna shared her unrelenting optimism despite all she endured thanks to her COVID dissident stance.

Yes, she lost Hollywood contacts and movie deals. Yes, her friendships remain strained. Yes, her family initially resisted her anti-jab position.

But she persevered and now Jenna’s is THANKFUL for the COVID trials. She believes her response to the pandemic allowed her to find her life’s purpose and mission.

Join us to be blessed by Jenna’s uplifting energy and spirit!

Sponsor:

The Wellness Company

Website: ⁠https://www.twc.health/lovelife⁠

Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!

Jenna McCarthy

Website: https://jennamccarthy.com/

Substack: https://jennasside.rocks/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennamccarthyisback/

X: https://x.com/jennawrites

Jenna’s Book - Yankee Doodle Soup: https://yankeedoodlesoup.com/

Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson

Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/

Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook

Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson

The Collective Trauma of COVID with Jenna McCarthy Ep. 351 Apr 08, 2025

Show notes

Elliott and I have been doing a series on trauma—which got me thinking about the thing I’m pretty much always thinking about—COVID.

Talk about a traumatizing event!

Since we all—as in, the entire world—endured the pandemic, it certainly qualifies as what psychologists call a “collective trauma.”

Because we went through it together, right?

Well no, we didn’t. The “collective trauma” wasn’t a unifying experience. Some complied with the proclamations from “experts” on high. Others resisted the authoritarianism.

The COVID event fractured society and pitted us against each other. Friendships broke down. Family members viewed each other with suspicion and disdain.

We should have rallied together, yet we remained—and remain—polarized.

How do we heal from “collective trauma” that has so splintered and divided?

I’m still trying to figure it all out.

To this end, we’re launching a series on COVID trauma.

I’m thrilled to introduce our first COVID trauma guest, Jenna McCarthy. She’s the author of Yankee Doodle Soup for the Fringy, Tin Foil Hat-Wearing Conspiracy Theorist’s Soul and The War on Ivermectin: The Medicine that Saved Millions and Could Have Ended the Pandemic with Dr. Pierre Kory.

Jenna shares her COVID journey—and yes, her career tanked and friends turned against her. Oh, and that screenplay she wrote—the one Hollywood producers were so excited about? It got tossed once she publicly challenged “the official” COVID narrative.

If, like me, you’re not over COVID—or, even if you are—this episode is for you! Dissidents will feel heard and validated. Those who went along with the program will gain a greater understanding as to why some of your friends and loved ones didn’t.

Sponsor:

The Wellness Company

Website: ⁠https://www.twc.health/lovelife⁠

Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!

Jenna McCarthy

Website: https://jennamccarthy.com/

Substack: https://jennasside.rocks/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennamccarthyisback/

X: https://x.com/jennawrites

Jenna’s Book - Yankee Doodle Soup: https://yankeedoodlesoup.com/

Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott AndersonWebsite: http://loveandlifemedia.com/Substack: https://loveandlifemedia.substack.com/Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBookInstagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson

Are You Sabotaging Yourself with Your Words? Ep. 350 Apr 03, 2025

Show notes

Take charge of your thoughts, take charge of your life!

Elliott reminds us to take charge of our words, too!

What are you speaking over yourself? Do you talk in defeatist terms? Do you make All-or-Nothing statements?

I CAN’T do ___________.
This is going to be HORRIBLE!
I’ll NEVER be _________.
I’ll ALWAYS struggle with __________.

Our thoughts matter. Our words matter. They have an impact on our mood, our behavior, and our ability to thrive in love and life!

Join us for practical strategies for challenging negativity and victim mentality!

My Husband Gets Mad b/c My Parents Want to Hang Out with Us All the Time—Help! Ep. 349 Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

Question:

I’m listening to your boundary podcast about family and newlyweds. My husband and I have been married for 6 months and I come from a very close, tight knit family. He from a family who isn’t as close. He is struggling with the involvement my parents have and the constant plans they make to see me and my sister who lives in the same town as me. She has a 1 year old who is the first grand-baby and my parents want to be involved as much as possible.

I am struggling trying to find the balance between my family, while putting my marriage first. I told my parents we love them and enjoy spending time with them but we would only like to host occasionally and we may not be able to attend every family plan/event.

Join us to hear our thoughts on this difficult situation. Spoiler Alert: Our listener is on the right track!

Sponsor:

The Wellness Company

Website: ⁠https://www.twc.health/lovelife⁠

Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!

Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson

Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/

Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook

Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson

3 Active Movements to Holistic Healing Ep. 348 Mar 27, 2025

Show notes

For the last few weeks we’ve been going through a series on Trauma Recovery. How do we heal from trauma? How do we get unstuck and move towards healing?

Last week we dove into Dr. Caroline Leaf’s book, Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess, and we continue the series today with work by trauma recovery expert Bessel van der Kolk. Inspired by Bessel’s work we discuss 3 more additional movements in healing from trauma by expounding on the role of safety, imagination, and synchrony.

As always we look at these topics through a mind, body, and spirit lens and hope that you will be equipped and empowered to move through any trauma in your life.

Sponsor:

The Wellness Company

Website: ⁠https://www.twc.health/lovelife⁠

Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!

Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson

Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/

Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook

Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson

5 Steps for Cleaning up Our Mental Mess Ep. 347 Mar 20, 2025

Show notes

The recovery process often feels nebulous and unclear. Of course, we want to heal from trauma, but how do we do so?

Elliott’s recently been inspired by Dr. Caroline Leaf’s book, Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess: 5 Simple, Scientifically Proven Steps to Reduce Anxiety, Stress, and Toxic Thinking. He immediately began introducing Dr. Leaf’s steps to his clients—many of whom are working through trauma.

We’ve invited Dr. Leaf to appear on the podcast and we certainly hope we’ll be able to interview her soon.

In the meantime, please join us to hear about Dr. Leaf’s 5 steps and how Elliott integrates them into his sessions with individuals and couples.

Sponsor:

The Wellness Company

Website: ⁠https://www.twc.health/lovelife⁠

Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!

Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson

Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/

Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook

Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson

Recovery Mindset: Elliott’s 3 Perspectives on Moving Through Trauma Ep. 346 Mar 13, 2025

Show notes

Have you ever been through a traumatic moment or event? With decades of experience helping individuals recover from trauma Elliott wanted to share 3 of his perspectives on how we can have a recovery mindset. Specifically, how do we move through the traumas we face throughout our lives?

How do we stay present?
How do we deal with feeling unsafe?
Is it possible to live abundantly despite our traumas?

Join us as we explore how these perspectives can help us all navigate through pain, fear, and uncertainty, ultimately leading to emotional and spiritual growth and healing.

Sponsor:

The Wellness Company

Website: ⁠https://www.twc.health/lovelife⁠

Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!

Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson

Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/

Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook

Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson