Love and Life with Dr. Karin and Pastor Elliott

Freedom is one of our culture’s most celebrated ideals—but what if we’ve misunderstood what freedom actually means? In this episode, Dr. Karin and Pastor Elliott explore the profound connection between truth and freedom through the words of Jesus: “The truth will set you free.” Together they discuss why genuine freedom is never simply the ability to do whatever we want, but the ability to live in...

What does it really mean to be free? As America celebrates it’s 250th anniversary, this conversation looks beyond political freedom to explore a much deeper question: What does genuine freedom look like in everyday life? In this episode, Elliott kicks off a new series on freedom by examining the difference between being free from something and being free for something. Drawing from Scripture, psyc...

Dr. Karin and Pastor Elliott are traveling this week so we are throwing it back to episode 292: How Conflict Cultivates Intimacy. We hope this episode from the Love & Life archives will encourage you in this season of life!  __________________________ We all know conflict is unavoidable. And, it’s certainly inherent to marriage. In the fourth session of Elliott’s premarital curriculum, couples...

What do we do with the wounds left by our fathers? Father’s Day can be beautiful, meaningful, and full of gratitude. But for many, it can also stir up pain, absence, anger, grief, and longing. Not everyone had a father who was present, protective, tender, emotionally available, or safe. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Michelle Watson Canfield to discuss the critical importance of the emotional...

What if many of the struggles we face aren’t determined by our circumstances—but by the beliefs we’ve built around them? In this thought-provoking conversation, Elliott and Tim explore the fascinating connection between neuroscience, faith, and everyday life through insights from Dr. Clint Steele’s book 101 Brain Hacks to Prevent and Even Reverse Dementia . What begins as a discussion about brain...

Today we are getting back to basics! One of the reasons I started Love & Life was to share my journey to finding love, not settling along the way, and building a community to support other women in similar situations. So here to discuss her own journey finding love later, I'm joined by Dr. Michelle Watson Canfield. What do you do when the thing you’ve prayed for never seems to arrive? For...

How much influence did your siblings really have on the person you became? Most of us spend years examining the impact our parents had on our lives, but what about our sibling dynamics or lack thereof for only children? How much of your identity, your confidence, your relationships, your career choices, and even your marriage were shaped by the siblings who grew up alongside you? In this follow-up...

In this conversation, Karin and Elliott’s oldest brother, Dr. Warren Anderson, joins Elliott and Producer Tim for a personal discussion about family dynamics and birth order primarily from the viewpoint of firstborns.  Elliott, Warren, and Producer Tim unpack the psychology behind birth order theory, sibling identity formation, and the different ways children adapt to pressure, conflict, expectati...

Why do we compare ourselves to other people so constantly? Why do some relationships inspire us while others leave us feeling anxious, defeated, insecure, or exhausted? In this episode, we unpack the psychology of comparison, competition, conformity, and identity—and how these forces quietly shape the way we move through everyday life. Drawing from Elliott’s sermon this past Sunday, which explored...

Today we dive into what is commonly known as the “placebo effect” and the power our brain has to shape our beliefs and reality.   And of course the way we experience our reality shapes our identity, relationships, and the stories we tell ourselves. What happens when your expectations begin shaping your reality? Can the mind actually influence pain, healing, confidence, and even the way we experien...

We’ve all been there. Done the work. Completed the hard thing. Only to find that it seemingly didn’t matter. The outcome we hoped for fell short.  It can be devastating.  I did all the right things, didn’t I? We can feel shame or even anger. So what do you do when the pursuit for success, influence, and affirmation becomes a trap feeding ego, pride, and control? How do we stay rooted in truth—and...

I think we can all agree that things feel heavy right now.  Wars. Culture Wars. The politicization of our health and, well, everything! It never stops. And when things feel heavy and like there’s chaos all around us it can feel disempowering.  What can I actually do? What do I have the power to change? What can I turn to? In today’s episode Karin and Elliott wrestle with these questions we all fac...

Wrestling with addictions is a part of the human experience we all face — to our phones, screens, routines, and even good things. In this episode, we explore the neurological, spiritual, and psychological roots of addiction, revealing how everything from our experiences, wiring, culture, faith (or lack of it) can shape our lives, minds, and who we are. Join us as we unpack the science behind behav...

Elliott and I reflect on Easter and how we can integrate the miracle of Christ’s resurrection into our daily lives. We talk about the freedom that comes from surrendering to Christ’s calling and how we can submit to His expectations of us. Spoiler alert:  this surrendering and submitting stuff goes against our natural urges—which is why we need supernatural help! We then move into sharing real-lif...

Take charge of your thoughts—even when it feels like you can’t change them. Elliott and Karin unpack the powerful belief that keeps so many of us stuck: “I can’t change my thinking.” They explore how our brains are wired with a negative bias—and how that wiring can quietly shape our beliefs, relationships, and sense of hope. What are you telling yourself on repeat? • I can’t change. • I’ll never g...

After a few months off, Elliott is back! And he's just released his newest novel: When Love Transforms Today we discuss insights on marriage, crisis management, and the transformative power of faith. We go in depth on his latest novel, personal challenges, and the importance of surrendering to God's plan in life's trials. You can purchase Elliott's new book When Love Transforms her...

We’re back with The Smart Stepmom, Laura Petherbridge! We continue our discussion about stepfamily life by picking up where we left off in part 1. Specifically, Laura and I discuss the following:  Current trends with stepfamilies. For example, the term “bonus mom” is now commonly used instead of “stepmother.” Is this helpful or hurtful? Custody changes—moving from mothers having full custody to 50...

I’m so pleased to introduce my personal stepmom coach, Laura Petherbridge, to the Love & Life family! Laura is an author, speaker, and coach. She specializes in supporting clients as they navigate the complexities of modern relationships. She works with couples, women, and single adults sharing with them what God has taught her as a childless stepmom. Laura shares truth from Scripture, along w...

I’m thrilled to welcome back to Love & Life, Jenna McCarthy. Her newest book was just released and is co-authored with Dr. Pierre Kory called: The War on Chlorine Dioxide: The Medicine That Could End Medicine . She’s also 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 En...

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. It’s a holiday that brings up a lot of emotions for people whether you’re single or not.  Elliott is back today to discuss various strategies and modalities for approaching Valentine’s Day that honors our past and encourages us to embrace growth and change regardless of our relationship status.   He specifically shares his experiences working with both s...

Today I’m speaking with Rob Pikula, who I met at the Indiana Children’s Health Defense. Rob is an advocate for medical freedom and shares his experience dealing with many personal trials and how he overcame those hardships through the power of shifting his mindset, understanding his triggers, and learning to live presently.   Rob shares how his health freedom advocacy began with a life-altering ev...

Today I’m joined again by Dr. M. Nathaniel Mead and Dave Wayne as we continue the conversation Dr. Mead and I began in Ep. 391 Covid: Find out What REALLY Happened on The Covid Index.  In this conversation, we dive into the ways censorship, corporate influence, and technological manipulation have distorted evidence-based medicine, suppressed free speech, and accelerated societal fragmentation. We...

We are continuing to discuss what real change looks like in 2026.  We start off in the middle of a Midwest snowstorm, which takes out Karin’s power mid-recording, but Elliott and Tim pick up the conversation and continue to discuss how Elliott’s clients have embraced his A.C.E. acronyms from Ep. 390. The conversation leads into what do we do when life happens? How do we stay present and grounded i...

Last November, I attended the Children's Health Defense Annual Conference in Austin, and I was able to connect with so many medical freedom activists and dissidents and so many people who are still concerned about COVID. Yes, even 6 years later - we need answers! At the conference, I got connected with The Covid Index, founded by researcher M. Nathaniel Mead, MSc, PhD. Since the late 1990s, Dr...

On the heels of last week’s episode, we are continuing to discuss how to thrive in 2026!  Today, Elliott and Karin dive into various modalities to help us strategize and take charge.  They explore the importance of concrete planning in areas like sleep, nutrition, and personal habits, emphasizing the power of self-control and conscientiousness.  Elliott takes us through two acronyms that he uses i...