Love & Life with Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott
By Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott
Love & Life with Dr. Karin & Pastor ElliottMar 09, 2020
Save Women’s Sports! with Former UPenn Swimmer Paula Scanlan Ep. 303
When Your In-Laws Step Over the Line: Help for Newlyweds (and Others!) in Establishing Boundaries Ep. 302
In the midst of newlywed bliss, we often overlook the importance of presenting ourselves to our families and friends as a united front.
That is, until our in-laws begin to meddle and make inappropriate demands . . .
Of course, we remain respectful of our parents and in-laws. Of course, we want to avail ourselves of their wisdom and guidance.
But, a young couple (or not-so-young couple) must demonstrate to their families (and to themselves) that their primary allegiance is to each other–NOT to their families of origin.
It’s a complex, difficult process which involves grieving the loss of former alliances. For example, a father and daughter may have always had a special bond–which is wonderful–but now, the daughter’s primary connection needs to be with her husband.
Learn how to grieve these losses while simultaneously establishing healthy, appropriate boundaries with our families of origin.
Elliott and I discuss all this and more in today’s episode!
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 Sex is Bad but I Don’t Plan On Leaving. Now What? Ep. 301
You have questions. We’ve got answers!
As part of our series on Elliott’s premarital counseling curriculum, we shared 2 episodes about how to cultivate true sexual intimacy and fulfillment.
We received some feedback from listeners whose sex lives are extremely difficult. They don’t intend to leave their marriages for various reasons–there are children involved, or they love each other deeply despite the physical disconnectedness, or they don’t believe sexual incompatibility warrants divorce–but obviously, they’re very unhappy with the status quo.
Specifically, listeners asked us:
1. What if my spouse is emotionally abusive? I’m not going to leave because we have children and I don’t want to disrupt their home. But, it’s brutal having sex with someone who’s cruel, demeaning, and volatile. Any thoughts?
2. Our sex life isn’t going well, but my spouse refuses to go to counseling. How can I make things better?
3. feel like our sexual relationship is one sided in that my husband always gets his needs met, but mine rarely are. How can I address this without feeling like I'm begging?
Join us to hear Elliott’s advice for these difficult issues around sex, emotional abuse, and incompatibility.
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
Couples Who Pray Together Stay Together. The Importance of Spiritual Intimacy in Relationships Ep. 300
A 2016 Pew Research Poll found that just 44% of respondents consider shared religious beliefs to be key to a successful marriage.
Therefore, 66% of us aren’t too worried about aligning spiritually with our partner.
But, is it wise to minimize this?
Actually, according to multiple studies, couples who pray together DO stay together. In fact, marital satisfaction is highly correlated with religious affiliation and committed practice.
Join us for our responses to this data—and other research findings which highlights the importance of aligning spiritually with your partner.
Citations:
Effects of Religious Practice on Marriage
What Couples May Not Realize About Relgion and Marriage
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
From “Nurse of the Year” to Fired for Refusing the Jab: Live Med Free with Dave Wayne, Part 2 Ep. 299
Dave Wayne had found his passion and purpose in life. As a psychiatric nurse, he’d gained the respect of both his peers and superiors–so much so, that he won a prestigious award at his hospital!.
Not long after receiving this accolade, Dave was fired.
Why? He declined to take an injection of an experimental product.
But as so often happens in life, our darkest moments propel us in a new direction–one that’s more aligned with our values and better suited to who we’re meant to become!. And, in Dave’s case, his skepticism around Big Pharma had already made him realize a profession grounded in pharmaceutical interventions wouldn’t be a fit for him long term.
Dave now serves as a holistic health coach. He emphasizes the importance of nutrition, lifestyle, and mindset on our emotional well-being as he helps clients “describe” from medications.
Join us to learn how you can thrive free of Pharma!
Sponsor: The Wellness Company
Website: https://www.twc.health/lovelife
Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!
David Wayne
Website: https://www.describe.health
Instagram: @david.wayne.rn
Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson
Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/
Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook
Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson
Citations:
Undisclosed financial conflicts of interest in DSM-5-TR: cross sectional analysis, BMJ 2024; 384 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2023-076902 (Published 10 January 2024)
https://www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj-2023-076902/rapid-responses
From Pro Pharma Psychiatric Nurse to Holistic Health Coach! Live Med Free with David Wayne, Part 1 Ep. 298
We started an occasional series a while ago called, “Empowered Evolving” in part, because I saw so much shifting all around us. Beliefs that had once been considered integral to folks with certain philosophical ideology, now seem to be embraced by those on the opposite side of things.
Furthermore, over the last several years, we’ve witnessed the abolition of core American rights I thought we all valued.
Very strange times, indeed.
I called the series, “Empowered Evolving” as a way to remind myself—and anyone else who might have been feeling unsettled, as I’ve felt over the last several years—that evolving IS empowered.
We used to encourage people to question authority and do our own research and think for ourselves and ask for second, third, and fourth opinions. We warned each other to resist tribalism and group-think.
Americans were pioneers, independent minded. We read Thorough’s Civil Disobedience in high school and lived by Shakespeare’s “To thine own self be true”
Naturally, when you live out such principles, you often evolve.
Evolving can feel lonely. You may lose friends, your community, even your identity.
This all happened to today’s guest, former psychiatric nurse turned holistic health coach, Dave Wayne.
Sponsor: The Wellness Company
Website: https://www.twc.health/lovelife
Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!
David Wayne
Website: https://www.describe.health
Instagram: @david.wayne.rn
Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson
Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/
Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook
Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson
Are Family Entanglements Preventing You from Enjoying Healthy Romantic Partnership? Ep. 297
Sometimes, even when we’re well into adulthood, dynamics from our family of origin continue to impact us and our relationships.
We may be physically distant, but still emotionally enmeshed!
Oftentimes, we remain entangled in family drama, which consumes our time and energy. What’s worse—it robs us of the emotional bandwidth necessary to pursue healthy, romantic partnership.
We may not actually be available for love—even though we deeply desire it and long to meet our person.
Join us to learn 2 key principles from Family Systems Theory which will greatly enhance your ability to relate to your family of origin with emotional maturity.
As an added bonus, healthier family relationships lead to healthier relationships with EVERYONE in your life—including with yourself, your friends, and your romantic partner!
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
Let’s Talk About Sex—Again! How to Cultivate Deep Physical Intimacy Ep. 296
In Elliott’s final session of his premarital curriculum, he delves into a topic which all too often proves incredibly difficult for couples to discuss—sex. We began this conversation in episode 295 but, because there’s obviously a lot to talk about, we broke it up into 2 parts.
Elliott shares Biblical wisdom to help couples cultivate deep, meaningful sexual connections. He also provides practical steps for every stage of marriage—whether you’re newlyweds hoping to establish a firm foundation or you’ve been together for years and years but have lost that spark.
No matter where you are in your love journey, this episode is for you!
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
Let’s Talk About Sex! How to Experience True Sexual Intimacy and Fulfillment Ep. 295
In the final session of Elliott’s premarital curriculum, he helps couples develop habits and dynamics necessary for cultivating sexual intimacy and fulfillment.
Step one—you need to be able to talk about it! As Elliott notes, many couples struggle to discuss this most important element of their relationship.
Elliott shares the key questions he poses to couples to assist them in establishing a solid foundation for the physical expression of their love and commitment.
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
COVID Trauma: How to Move Through Post COVID Stress Disorder Ep. 294
Four years after “2 weeks to stop the spread” and I’m still reeling.
They say, “Get over it. Move on! COVID’s done.”
Of course, I’d like to forget about it. But, it doesn’t feel “done” to me. I’m still trying to get my bearings.
Elliott says it’s Post COVID Trauma. We all feel it to some degree. And, we all deal with it differently.
How could we NOT be traumatized? We’d never experienced anything like it!
- The world shut down.
- We lived in fear.
- People died. We couldn’t say goodbye.
- Kids stuck at home.
- Masks and 6 feet of separation destroyed human connection.
- Alpha, Delta, Omicron, what’s next?
- From a bat? Lab leak? Who’s telling the truth!?!?
- Don’t ask questions. Fauci’s the boss.
- NOTHING to be done—just wait for the “vaccine.”
- Skeptical of an experimental shot? What are you, a grandma killer?
I could go on and on . . .
If you’re feeling some Post COVID Stress Disorder, please join us for what amounts to a therapy session☺️ Elliott helps me move through the emotional fallout of being a COVID dissident. If you’re still disoriented from the last 4 years, this episode is for you!
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
How to Navigate Money & Power Dynamics Ep. 293
In the fifth session of Elliott’s premarital curriculum he discusses the relationship dynamics related to money and power.
Karin is out of town this week so Elliott and Tim tackle this topic and address the following issues:
- How do we communicate with our partner about finances?
- What role do you play with your partner in relationship to money?
- How do money and power co-exist in the context of a partnership?
- What does the Bible say about money?
We can live empowered lives in relationship with our finances!
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
How Conflict Cultivates Intimacy Ep. 292
We all know conflict is unavoidable. And, it’s certainly inherent to marriage.
In the fourth session of Elliott’s premarital curriculum, couples take a deep dive into all aspects of conflict. We know it’s inevitable, but can conflict actually strengthen our bond and cultivate intimacy?
Specifically we address:
- Why does conflict happen?
- When is it most likely to occur?
- When disputes arise, what’s really going on beneath the surface?
- Methods for disagreeing with fairness and maturity.
- Working with your own conflict style and that of your partner.
- How conflict CAN bring comfort!
Learn how our differences CAN strengthen your connection!
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
Is Your Relationship Out of Order? Ep. 291
As we all know, if something is “out of order,” it’s not working.
So, too, in marriage!
In session 3 of his premarital curriculum, Elliott discusses the importance of “order” in marriage. He shares key verses in Ephesians 5 with which some couples struggle. Elliott asserts a deeper understanding reveals how husbands and wives are empowered by these Biblical instructions.
He reminds us that although we’re not all wired for structure and order, we need to find a God ordained rhythm that works for us as a couple.
I share some examples from our marriage roles which, though traditional, feel authentic and empowering.
Join us to keep your relationship in order!
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
Is Love Enough? Ep. 290
We’re continuing our series on engagement by sharing Elliott’s premarital curriculum with you 💍
In session 2, Elliott asks couples if they believe love is enough. If we’re madly in love, can we be guaranteed a happy, solid, fulfilling marriage?
He goes into depth regarding the Bible’s instructions (I Peter 3:1-7) for how husbands are to treat their wives and vice versa. Elliott unpacks the meaning of the Greek to reveal the true intimacy God designed for us in marriage.
Spoiler alert: women will be quite pleased with God’s directions for how their husbands should love them!
We delve into the following:
- What authentic intimacy looks like.
- How love is given and received differently by men and women.
- How husbands are to “honor” their wives (an incredibly radical notion at the time!) and the blessing they receive when they do so!
Join us for a deeper understanding of love and how this applies to relationships, intimacy, and marriage!
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
"That’s Awkward!" The Power of Words and Labels on Your Relationship to Self and Others Ep. 289
Elliott sent me this Key and Peele clip the other day: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wOBNm_8zw4I
I immediately texted back, “We need to record an episode about this!” The bit starts with Key sharing an unpopular opinion about a movie. Peele responds with a phrase we hear all the time these days, “That’s awkward!” Key is confused. What’s awkward about an opinion? He protests but Peele continues to shut him down with dismissive phrases like, “Okay . . . ” and “All right . . .” It’s a funny sketch that reveals a great deal about our current social environment. The terms and phrases we use are powerful—they reflect current norms while also framing how we experience our interactions and relationships. Meaning, when we perceive common day-to-day conversations as “awkward,” we respond accordingly i.e. we tell ourselves to be uncomfortable and hence increase the likelihood we’ll feel anxious. Think about it. We could just as easily label common day-to-day conversations as “normal—maybe surprising, maybe confusing, but normal” and thereby respond in kind. Elliott and I discuss the psychological implications of using common phrases—like, “That’s awkward” and, “I have anxiety about that!”—and how these impact our emotional wellbeing.
Specifically, we consider:
- The societal norms which make the clip funny.
- How labeling a situation informs our emotional response.
- The harm of labeling ourselves in a fixed, immutable manner e.g., “I have anxiety.”
- The influence of constant phone usage on our friendships, psychological health, and humanity in general.
- How to decrease disempowered self-talk and replace it with empowered self-talk.
Join us as we examine what’s really going on behind phrases like, “That’s awkward!” and “I have anxiety!”
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
What if Your Relationship Isn’t Easy at All? Then What? Ep. 288
Last week, Producer Tim and I discussed the joys of an easy marriage.
But we know, of course, this isn’t everyone’s experience!
We definitely wanted Elliott to share how he helps couples in difficult marriages improve their connection so they can enjoy each other more—and maybe even find that ease and fluidity they’ve been lacking!
Specifically, we discuss:
- Semantics around the word, “easy.” Why Elliott thinks it’s often more about a secure connection, as opposed to an “easy” one.
- The fact that couples with avoidant attachment styles might have what seems to be an easier marriage, but how this could reflect a lack of depth in their connection.
- When an easy marriage might actually be in trouble!
- Strategies for couples struggling with a difficult marriage—your marriage CAN get easier!
No matter the dynamics of your relationship, please join us!
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
Can Relationships Actually Be Easy? Ep. 287
The Love & Life family is a diverse bunch—from singles, to those exclusively dating, to engaged couples, to marrieds, to divorced folks back on the scene again.
We’re all at different places in our love journey.
As we thought about what we wanted to share for Valentine’s Day, Producer Tim suggested we grapple with the following:
- Are relationships doomed to be a constant struggle?
- Do they have to be SO hard?
- Could marriage actually be easy?
Since it was Tim’s idea, I asked him to share his thoughts and experience with the topic.
Specifically, we delve into the following:
- What makes a relationship easy?
- Do opposites attract and if so, won’t this eventually lead to strife?
- If we marry someone similar to us, won’t things get boring?
- How do conflict styles factor in?
- What role does attachment style play in terms of relationship ease?
We then take a look at the psych research, of course!
We also weave in clips from a song I wrote for Dan called Breathing—“It’s like breathing, so easy, loving you couldn’t come more naturally, it’s like breathing.”
You can listen to Breathing on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/track/5M6UjeGH1dyNPs05CPRpeN?si=19f3d9b189bc4341
Happy Valentine’s Day from Love & 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
Sources:
https://www.gottman.com/blog/truth-expectations-relationships/
Trauma: How it Impacts Our Relationship to Self and Others Ep. 286
We interrupt our series on engagement to bring you Elliott’s presentation on trauma, which he shared recently at his church.
- How do we define trauma?
- What experiences leave a trauma wound?
- How do these wounds impact our relationships?
- What does the Bible have to say about trauma?
- Is there hope for healing?
- If so, how do we heal?
We’ve all experienced some level of trauma—Big T or Little t. Perhaps you never fought in a war zone or were the victim of a violent attack, but we all recently endured a global pandemic and, as Elliott explains, COVID response measures certainly traumatized us individually and collectively.
Join us for a word of hope and strategies for healing!
P.S. Elliott wanted us to include the hymn I sang at the end of the service. 🙏
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
Let's Talk About It: Almost 25% of American Women are Depressed! Why? Ep. 285
As anyone who’s experienced depression can tell you, it’s brutal. And, with almost 1 in 4 American women taking antidepressants, it’s clear many of us are suffering.
What’s going on? What’s to be done?
In this latest episode of our “Love & Life: Let’s Talk About It” series, Miriam Conner and I explore depression in America—especially as it relates to women.
Specifically, we consider:
- How depression is conceptualized.
- The evidence that debunks the “chemical imbalance” explanation.
- Why antidepressants don’t work.
- Lifestyle factors that contribute to depression. Spoiler alert: pretty much everything in the standard American lifestyle contributes to it!
- Research based strategies to liberate us from the clutches of depression!
Join us to learn how to break free from the grip of depression!
N.B. Please DO NOT quit taking antidepressants without the consultation and guidance of a professional trained in how to taper off SSRIs safely. Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome can result when abruptly terminating SSRIs.
This conversation does not prescribe medical or psychological advice and should not be taken as such.
Sponsor The Wellness Company
Website: https://www.twc.health/lovelife
Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!
Miriam Conner
Podcast: aParently Speaking
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aParentlySpeakingPodcast/
Dr. Karin
Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/
Instagram: @dr.karin
Sources:
Our conversation was based on Dr. Joseph Mercola’s article, “Gross Misconduct—The Final Nail in the Coffin for Antidepressants.”
Mercola, J. (2024, January 29). Gross misconduct—The final nail in the coffin for antidepressants. Substack.
Moncrieff, J., Cooper, R.E., Stockmann, T. et al. (2023). The serotonin theory of depression: A systematic umbrella review of the evidence. Molecular Psychiatry 28, 3243–3256. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-022-01661-0
https://www.madinamerica.com/2023/09/the-stard-scandal-scientific-misconduct-on-a-grand-scale/
Let’s Talk About It! All the Hot Takes We’re Not Supposed to Touch Ep. 282
Welcome to Love & Life: Let’s Talk About It!
So, what exactly are we talking about? All the hot topics we’re not supposed to touch—the subjects that get you censored, shadow-banned, and canceled when you broach them.
Censorship, shadow-banning, cancelation . . . How could this happen? This is America, the “land of the free!”
Or, so we thought . . .
Are we actually free if we’re not permitted to challenge assertions and dissent from dictates?
How is it we now live in a society in which social media platforms—which essentially serve as our “public square”—can determine what discourse may be discussed and which topics are considered unacceptable?
Maybe you’re okay with the censorship. After all, there’s a lot of disinformation and hate speech out there!
But, who establishes what is and what isn’t “disinformation”? And who decides when speech is nasty enough to constitute “hate”?
If censorship enrages you and the questions above infuriate you, Love & Life “Let’s Talk About It” episodes are for you!
Sponsor The Wellness Company
Website: https://www.twc.health/lovelife
Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!
Miriam Conner
Podcast: aParently Speaking
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aParentlySpeakingPodcast/
Dr. Karin
Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/
Instagram: @dr.karin
Do THIS When You’re Engaged to Establish a Strong, Healthy Marriage Ep. 284
We continue our series on engagement with the next segment of Elliott’s premarital counseling curriculum. Today’s episode delves into Session 1, Part 2.
Elliott discusses the themes couples should address when they’re engaged—along with the exercises and activities he employs to help generate conversations around these important topics.
If you’re engaged—or expect to be someday—this episode is for you! And actually, even if you’re married, you’ll find much value in this conversation.
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 Key Patterns for Your Engagement to Ensure a Healthy, Fulfilling Marriage Ep. 283
You’re engaged! Time for wedding planning!
But, what about marriage planning? Because a strong, fulfilling marriage starts long before your wedding day!
In fact, our engagement serves as a crucial time for us to address key concerns and establish healthy patterns which will set us up for a strong, fulfilling marriage.
With over 30 years counseling engaged and married couples, Elliott has a wealth of recommendations to help you utilize this important time in your relationship.
Join us to explore 5 key concerns to address when you’re engaged to optimize your future marriage!
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
We’re Engaged! But, Should We Actually Get Married? Part 2 Ep. 281
Building a strong marriage starts long before the wedding day and with 30+ years of working with couples, Elliott has plenty of solid advice for anyone newly engaged or contemplating engagement!
But, first things first—it’s thrilling to accept a proposal and begin wedding planning, but we need to be sure we’re doing all this with the right person for us!
Too often, premarital counseling focuses on household chores and budget, extended family relationships, etc. And yes, these are important, of course.
But, all these will be exponentially more difficult to manage if you marry the wrong person in the first place.
As a former runaway bride, I see engagement a little differently. I know what it’s like to try to make it work with someone who wasn’t the best fit for me.
It was a good relationship. But, is “good enough” good enough?
I remember being so confused throughout my first engagement. I looked all over for resources to help me sort through my conflicting emotions.
A conversation like this one would have helped me tremendously!
Elliott and I provide 4 aspects to consider as you ascertain whether your wedding jitters are just nervous energy or, if your cold feet are trying to tell you something you may not be currently willing to acknowledge to yourself and others.
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
We’re Engaged! But, Should we Actually Get Married? Part 1 Ep. 280
You’re engaged! So in love! It’s exhilarating!
Except, when you have cold feet. Are these just wedding jitters? Or, do you need to rethink your decision?
As a former runaway bride, this topic hits home to me.
Elliott and I decided to kick off our series on premarital counseling by asking a very important first question, “What if you’re engaged, but you’re feeling uncertain and unsure?”
In this episode, I share the confusion and angst I experienced when engaged to my first fiancé. Elliott and I discuss the difficulty of sorting through complex cold feet emotions—especially when your fiancé is a wonderful person and you can’t really pinpoint what feels “off.”
We provide concrete recommendations for figuring out if your engagement is meant to go the distance, or if calling things off would be the better choice for you and your fiancé.
Join us—whether you’re feeling jittery or not, our conversation highlighting the important elements of engagement will help you build your marriage on a firm foundation!
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
Family Roles Part II: Which Role Do You Play? Ep. 279
Family Roles: How They Impact Us During the Holidays—and Beyond! Ep. 278
Three’s a Crowd: How Triangulation Destroys Healthy Relationships Ep. 277
Mind, Body, Spirit: Reflections on 2023 and Intentions for 2024 Ep. 276
Family Rules: Should You Follow Them Now That You’re an Adult? Ep. 275
The Pure Fat Loss Challenge with Justin Savich Ep. 274
Should You Cut Off Your Toxic Family? Individuate in a Healthy Manner to Improve Every Relationship in Your Life! Ep. 273
Last week we talked about the importance of maintaining boundaries with our family during holiday gatherings.
But what if boundaries aren’t enough? What if we simply can’t get along with our family? We no longer agree on anything and we can’t find common ground. Should we completely cut them off?
Or, is there a better way?
Today, Elliott and I discuss the Family Systems construct of Individuation and explain why it’s an incredibly important process to move through in young adulthood—whether you’re single or married. We provide concrete steps for healthy individuating and explain how your levels of closeness and separateness to your family of origin directly impact every other relationship in your life—even in adulthood! We leave you with 3 takeaways to help you interact with your family authentically, maturely, and in an individuated manner throughout the holidays.
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
Got Boundaries? Why They’re Necessary for Holiday Family Gatherings Ep. 272
Holiday family gatherings should bring us closer, but sometimes they do the exact opposite! All too often, we get together only to grow apart.
Help is here! Implementing principles from Family Systems Therapy allows us to cultivate true intimacy while reducing family drama.
In today’s episode, Elliott and I delve into boundaries. We share concrete strategies for establishing boundaries with family members—even those who pry into your business with questions like:
- “Are you seeing anyone special?”
- “When are two going to make me a grandma?”
- “You’re not voting for _____________ next year, are you???”
We provide examples of how to:
- respond to invasive interrogation you don’t care to address.
- remain committed to your values and principles without alienating family members whose beliefs differ from yours.
- mindfully move through difficult conversations.
Join us for a timely conversation designed to prepare you for upcoming family gatherings. Spoiler alert: you CAN maintain boundaries while growing closer!
Sponsor The Wellness Company
Website: https://www.twc.health/lovelife
Black Friday/Cyber Monday: TWC sale begins on Friday 11/24 through Monday 11/27 end of day!
Sale Details:
25% OFF Supplements
20% OFF Monthly Memberships
15% OFF Emergency & Covid Kits (USA RESIDENTS ONLY)
Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson
Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/
Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook
Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson
3 Ways to Avoid Family Drama Over the Holidays! Ep. 271
The holidays are upon us and in efforts to make the season as bright as possible, Elliott and I want to share principles from one of our favorite therapeutic orientations—Family Systems Theory and Therapy.
And yes, siblings can get under our skin in ways no one else can. And sure, in-law interactions may be strained. And of course, blended families present us with unique challenges, but still—we CAN remain joyful at parties and gatherings and we CAN minimize the drama by keeping 3 key principles in mind.
Join us for this first episode in our series on how to dial down family drama this holiday season!
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
Money, Values, & Love: “Dear Fellow Spender” with Emily Burnett Ep. 270
In fact, we’re taught to avoid talking about finances because it’s considered a bit gauche—especially when you don’t know someone very well.
Furthermore, what if you’re not all that proud of your relationship with money? Maybe your bank account refuses to grow and “retail therapy” is your go-to coping mechanism! Or, it seems you just can’t get ahead no matter how much you save!
Emily Burnett can relate. She’s a self-proclaimed “money mess” and “budget loather” who was thousands of dollars in debt. But then, she dramatically changed her relationship with money and found freedom in fiscal responsibility!
She shares her journey in her new book, Dear Fellow Spender: Enjoy Using Your Money to Get Out of Debt, Build Savings, and Create a Life You Love.
And no, we don’t need to have our finances completely sorted out in order to have healthy partnerships, but we do need to have an understanding of our relationship with money—because, research shows it’s a factor that greatly influences marriages.
Elliott and I have often discussed the reality that conflict about finances always ranks very high as a factor in why couples get divorced.
Our spending habits reflect our values—and you know we’re all about values on Love & Life!
So whether you stick to a firm budget or you’re a “money mess” as Emily used to be, we welcome you to this conversation about money, love, and values with Emily Burnett of Moso Money.
Sponsor The Wellness Company
Website: https://www.twc.health/lovelife
Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!
Emily Burnett
Website: https://www.mosomoney.com/
Dear Fellow Spender: https://www.mosomoney.com/book
Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson
Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/
Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook
Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson
Citations:
https://www.gottman.com/blog/arguments-money-arent-money/
Papp L., Cummings, E., Goeke-Morey, M. (2009). For richer, for poorer: Money as a topic of marital conflict in the home. Family Relations, 58(1), 91-103.
3 Ways NOT to Stray Ep. 269
I asked Elliott the other day, “We’ve been talking about cheating and recovery, but what can we do to try to prevent affairs from happening in the first place?”
And yes, healing is possible and, as Elliott continues to stress, we may even find deeper intimacy after infidelity. But of course, wouldn’t we prefer to grow closer to our spouse without going through a marital breakdown?
In this conversation, we present 3 strategies for keeping your marriage solid and connected! We can’t control our partner, but we CAN take steps ourselves to strengthen our bond and increase the likelihood of remaining faithful to each other.
Elliott and I share examples of what we do personally to keep the fire burning (REO reference for our fellow GenXers 🙂) in our marriages–along with research and Elliott’s clinical expertise gleaned from over 30 years of working with couples.
We leave you with 3 practical, actionable steps to take today to help you NOT to stray!
Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson
Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/
Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook
Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson
Cheating: What's the First Step Towards Healing? Ep. 268
After posting episodes 265 and 266, Karin and I continue to see a need to continue the discussion about cheating. So today we continue our cheating series by responding additional concerns and discuss how to start the healing process.
Specifically, we address:
- What's the first step in the healing process?
- How to navigate forgiveness and grief
- What to do if children are involved
- What rebuilding trust looks like after betrayal
Join us for this third segment in our series on cheating. And please, let us know if you have any questions!
Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson
Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/
Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook
Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson
Is Watching Porn Cheating? Ep. 267
After posting episode 265, Elliott and I received additional questions about infidelity, so we wanted to continue our cheating series by responding to these concerns.
Specifically, we address:
- What exactly is cheating?
- Is flirting too much a violation?
- What about porn?
- Connecting with an old flame on Facebook?
- Close friendships with coworkers?
- What are the first steps to take if one of us has broken our vows?
- Can we ever rebuild trust?
- What if the betrayer won’t acknowledge the indiscretion?
- How can we ever forgive?
- When is separation necessary?
- What can we do when we’re single to prepare ourselves for a strong marriage—one in which neither partner is likely to stray?
- Spoiler alert: there’s actually a LOT we can do when we’re single to set ourselves up for an affair-proof future marriage!
Join us for this second segment in our series on cheating. And please, let us know if you have any questions!
Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson
Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/
Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook
Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson
Let’s Talk About It: What’s the Big Deal About Masks? Ep. 266
Just Wear the Mask. It’s Not a Big Deal! Or, is It? A Developmental Psychologist’s Concerns Regarding Masks on Children—and All of Us!
We’re bringing you another segment of our “Love & Life: Let’s Talk About It” series.
These are topics that can be hard to broach and in some cases, conversations around these issues have been censored—either by social media platforms, or by social agreement—because,”Let’s not talk about it. We’ll just get into a fight.”
But avoiding subjects to preserve harmony doesn’t foster true intimacy—and because Elliott and I are all about deep, meaningful, intimate relationships, we’re going to speak honestly about those issues which are most important to us.
Today’s “Love and Life: Let’s Talk About It!” topic? Masks.
Over the past several years of the pandemic, masks have become an insanely contentious topic. The debate has waged for 3, almost 4 years now, so I’m sure you have your opinion and I’m not trying to change anyone’s mind.
I just want to bring up some relevant factors that I’ve rarely heard expressed in the debate.
I’m approaching this from my vantage point as a developmental psychologist because there are several theories I learned about in my grad work which have implications for masks on children—and on all of us!
Join us to learn the research suggesting masking IS a big deal. Children have suffered and research shows there may be lasting effects to this experiment we all entered in by covering our faces over the last several years.
Citations
COVID rules are blamed for 23% dive in young children's development: Disturbing study shows scores in three key cognitive tests slumped between 2018 and 2021, with face mask rules among possible culprits
https://www.dailymail.co.
uk/news/article-10247315/Face-masks-harm-childrens-development-Study-blames-significantly-reduced-development.html
Early maternal mirroring predicts infant motor system activation during facial expression observation
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-12097-w
Early origins of mental disorder - risk factors in the perinatal and infant period
https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-016-0982-7
EQ vs. IQ Which is Most Important in the Success or Failure of a Student?
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042812021477?ref=pdf_download&fr=RR-2&rr=813ff5c13d7c140a
Imitation in Infancy: A Critical Review
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0065240708604176
The Mask of Ignorance
https://www.city-journal.org/article/the-mask-of-ignorance
Mothers with a mask or… the still-face experiment?
https://eipmh.com/mothers-with-mask-or-the-still-face-experiment/
Possible toxicity of chronic carbon dioxide exposure associated with face mask use, particularly in pregnant women, children and adolescents – A scoping review
https://www.cell.com/heliyon/pdf/S2405-8440(23)01324-5.pdf
Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson
Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/
Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook
Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson
Cheating: 4 Types of Affairs and 3 Reasons They Happen Ep. 265
No one walks down the aisle on their wedding day expecting to cheat on their spouse. But sadly, it happens all too often.
What happens? Why do couples stray?
Elliott and I discuss 4 types of affairs (Pittman) and 3 reasons why they happen (Balswick & Balswick).
Join us for part 1 in our series on infidelity. Learn how to protect your marriage from an affair and/or recover from the pain if infidelity has already occurred.
Citation:
https://hackspirit.com/infidelity-statistics/
Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson
Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/
Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook
Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson
Eat Better to Feel Better! Eliminate the Hateful 8 with Dr. Cate Shanahan, Part 2 Ep. 264
We’ve all heard it a million times—you are what you eat. And, of course it’s true—every cell in our body relies on and is sustained by the nutrients we ingest. So on a physical level, this reality is obvious.
But, the more research I do, the more I realize how much this adage—you are what you eat—pertains to our mental health as well.
In some ways, I think about all the work I’ve done as a psychologist—as many of you know, I’ve found so much power in cognitive techniques. When we take charge of our thoughts, we take charge of our lives—and, I absolutely stand by cognitive strategies. More importantly though, research substantiates the effectiveness of CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), as we’ve discussed in many episodes of Love & Life.
That being said, how much easier is it for us to take charge of our thoughts if we’re fueling our bodies in a way that supports our thinking and emotions?
That’s why Elliott and I focus on MIND and BODY and SPIRIT.
Today’s episode is part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Cate Shanahan. If you haven’t had the chance to listen to the beginning of our interview, be sure to check out episode 263.
Dr. Cate describes why industrial seed oils are one of the worst—if not the absolute worst—substances we can put in our bodies. And of course, because our physical wellbeing and mental wellbeing are inextricably connected, when we eliminate the hateful 8, we’ll feel much better emotionally, too!
Learn how to eliminate the Hateful 8 to level up your psychological health!
Dr. Cate Shanahan
Website: http://drcate.com/
Books: https://drcate.com/books/
Instagram: @drcateshanahan
Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson
Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/
Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook
Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson
Tired, Depressed, Overweight? These Dietary Fats Could be to Blame! with Dr. Cate Shanahan - Part 1 Ep. 263
About a year ago, I started hearing a term that was new to me—seed oils. Apparently, they’re everywhere—in virtually all processed foods. And, recent research links them to horrible health outcomes.
So, I did a lot of reading and found that much of what I’d understood about dietary fats was completely off base. For years, I’d been making food choices I thought were healthy but in fact, they were the exact opposite of nutritious!
One book that deeply impacted me—and Dan, too, because I immediately started cooking with different ingredients—was The FatBurn Fix by Dr. Cate Shanahan. I reached out to her to see if she’d be willing to appear on the program.
Today, Dr. Shanahan joins us to unpack the deleterious effects of industrial seed oils—along with the remarkable benefits of eliminating them from our diets! Stay tuned for Part 2, which releases next week!
Dr. Cate Shanahan
Website: http://drcate.com/
Books: https://drcate.com/books/
Instagram: @drcateshanahan
Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson
Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/
Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook
Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson
The Mental Health War: How to Fight It! Ep. 262
We’re in the midst of a mental health war. Over the last 50 years, we’ve raised awareness and developed abundant treatment options, yet Americans’ rates of depression and anxiety continue to skyrocket (Whitaker, 2015).
Today, Elliott and I discuss my reflections on his recent messages about the epidemics of anxiety, depression, loneliness, and addiction.
We conceptualize the current mental health landscape as a war for two reasons: (1) because so many Americans battle psychological concerns and (2) professionals are in the midst of deeply contentious disputes regarding how to best treat clients’ emotional distress.
Pharmaceutical corporations and many psychiatrists view this issue through a medical model i.e. patients are diagnosed with psychiatric illnesses and are prescribed pills to manage symptoms. But despite an exponential increase in the use of psychotropic medications, the number of Americans filing disability claims due to mental conditions has tripled over the last two decades (Whitaker, 2015).
Elliott and I argue that a “medicalized” framework pathologizes reasonable responses to trauma and pain; this frameworks also disempowers clients—which is both an unintended and unfortunate consequence. Furthermore, and very importantly, most pharmaceutical interventions for psychological conditions simply don’t work as promised—if at all (Brogan, 2016, 2019; Whitaker, 2015).
Join our conversation to learn the necessary tactics for engaging in this mental health war!
Works Cited
Brogan, K. (2016). A mind of your own: The truth about depression and how women can heal their bodies to reclaim their lives. Harper Wave.
Brogan, K. (2019). Own yourself: The surprising path beyond depression, anxiety, and fatigue to reclaiming your authenticity, vitality, and freedom. Hay House.
Spielmans, G., Spence-Sing, T., & Parry, P. (2020). Duty to warn: Antidepressant black box suicidality warning is empirically justified. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 20. ttps://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00018/full
Whitaker, R. (2015). Anatomy of an epidemic. Broadway Books.
Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson
Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/
Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook
Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson
Addiction in America Ep. 261
Elliott’s mental health series continues with a message about addiction. Sadly, addictions have touched us all—whether we’ve struggled ourselves or we’ve endured the pain of watching a loved one wrestle with the grip of addiction.
Elliott shares an understanding of addiction through a Biblical lens. He tackles questions surrounding the grip of addiction and the hope and healing we can find in Christ.
Download Elliott’s PowerPoint here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6pku0usfyr8cz8enz2dyi/Altering-Addictions.pptx?rlkey=t1p3y55dyo1gjhdvzzs4q82l1&dl=0
Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson
Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/
Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook
Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson
How to Diminish Depression’s Hold on Your Life! Ep. 260
Depression. No one can escape it. Yes, some of us struggle more than others, but sadness, despondency, and despair are part of life. Of course, we’d prefer to skip over the valleys. We’d rather stay on the mountaintops but that’s not how life works.
- Can we accept depression as a normal part of the human condition?
- Does despondency serve a purpose—other than making us miserable?
- What does Scripture tell us about depression?
One of the reasons Elliott and I take issue with the “disease model” of mental health and the tendency to medicalize our emotions is that it assumes that depression and anxiety are bad.
And of course, they’re uncomfortable and undesirable. But don’t our emotions provide us with important information? Might we benefit from paying attention to what our feelings are trying to tell us, as opposed to masking them and covering them up with a drug?
Elliott discusses all this and much more in this week’s message, “Diminishing Depression.”
Download Elliott’s PowerPoint here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/o0iict7yabpm2d71iym00/Diminishing-Depression.pptx?rlkey=ydfqnlp1fk9m5mhyh9mq1y8sd&dl=0
Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson
Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/
Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook
Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson
Abating Loneliness Ep. 259
Abating - something becomes smaller and less intense.
Did you know we are dealing with an epidemic of loneliness in our culture today? More than ever people are asserting feelings of loneliness in their lives.
Today we continue Pastor Elliott’s series on mental health on the topic of loneliness. He covers the following topics:
- What is loneliness?
- How we emotionally and physically respond to it
- 3 ways we are most vulnerable to loneliness
- 3 ways to abate loneliness
Thank you for listening!
Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson
Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/
Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook
Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson
Attacking Anxiety with Action! Ep. 258
Do you struggle with anxiety? Have you felt disempowered on how to address it in your life?
In today’s episode Elliott shares a presentation he gave on the topic of anxiety and how we can proactively attack it with action!
Elliott discusses the following:
- The Top 8 Causes of Anxiety
- Mental and Physical Manifestations
- The Root of Anxiety
- And Steps to Overcome Anxiety Through: Situational Awareness, Positive Self-Talk, Physiological Regulation, and Sleep
Download Pastor Elliott’s Power Point Presentation: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/jzozv331w2s96z9n51tqy/Attacking-Anxiety-with-Action-7.23.23.pptx?rlkey=fum0rh3sojqita7rg59o2azv9&dl=0
Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson
Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/
Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook
Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson
7 Steps for Empowered Dating—Even When You’ve Been Single Longer Than You Expected! with Roshini Rajkumar Ep. 257
How can we remain empowered when we’ve been on the dating scene for SO long?
As you know, I spent 27 years dating—from age 15 until I married at 42. It can be exhausting, demoralizing, and heartbreaking.
How then, do we remain happy, hopeful, and positive on our journey to love?
Today’s guest, Roshini Rajkumar, also dated for many years before meeting her now husband. Fun fact: they fell in love at first sight!
Here's some more about Roshini. Roshini Rajkumar is a crisis strategist, C-suite advisor, and media insider. Core clients include Fortune 500 brands and their leaders. In her public life, Roshini is a media commentator and host of The Crisis Files podcast, which is also in pitch phase as a television pilot. She draws upon 25 years on air—first as a TV reporter. Then after starting her business in 2006, as host of REAL Talk with Roshini, which aired Sundays on WCCO Radio from 2012 through 2021.
Roshini shares the 7 important steps she discovered as she navigated relationships in her twenties and thirties. And actually, these same principles prove helpful not only for empowered dating, but also for empowered living!
Roshini and I discuss our journeys—including marrying later to a man with children—and the 7 concrete steps we can take to keep our head in the game, while following our heart.
Roshini Rajkumar
Website: http://ownyourwow.com/
Twitter: @RoshiniR and @TheCrisisFiles
Instagram: @RoshiniRajkumar and @TheCrisisFiles
YouTube: @TheCrisisFiles
Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson
Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/
Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook
Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson
Does The Pill Impact Your Mental Health? with Dr. Leah Gordon Ep. 256
According to a recent KFF poll, 77% of women would like birth control pills to be available without a prescription—assuming they’re safe and effective.
But are they?
Effective? Okay. But, safe? Not so much.
Among the many side effects of using hormonal birth control is an increased risk of breast cancer.
According to a study by Dr. Marilyn Althuis of the University of Maryland, “Women under 35 years old who are using contraceptive drugs have a 91% higher risk for developing breast cancer than women who use hormone-free contraception.”
And sadly, the risk of breast cancer is just the tip of the iceberg!
Dr. Leah Gordon specializes in helping women “break up with birth control” and balance their hormones naturally which allows them to optimize their fertility to prepare for pregnancy, if that’s their goal.
Join us to hear why a switch from hormonal birth control—including, The Pill, progestin-laced IUDs, vaginal rings, implants, and injections—will help you take charge of your emotional health and level up in love and life!
Citations:
Wadia-Ellis, S. (2020). Busting breast cancer: Five smple steps to keep breast cancer out of your body. Busting Breast Cancer.
Althius, M.D. et al., (2003). Hormonal content and potency of oral contraceptives and breast cancer risk among young women. British Journal of Cancer, 8, (1), 50-57.
Dolle, J. et al. (2009). Risk factors for Triple-Negative breast cancer in women under the age of 45 years. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, 18, (4), 413-439.
Dr. Leah
Website: https://www.drleahgordon.com/
Instagram: @drleahgordon
Womanhood Wellness: https://www.womanhoodwellness.com/
Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson
Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/
Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook
Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson
Best of Love & Life: Help! I Keep Dating Men with Avoidant Attachment Style! with Elliott Anderson, M.A. Ep. 255
Psychotherapist Elliott Anderson is back to continue our series on Attachment Styles. This week we unpack Avoidant Attachment and consider the question, “Is it actually possible to have a relationship with someone with an avoidant attachment style?”
Specifically, we address:
- Why avoidant men may initially appear very excited about the relationship and interested in commitment, but then later, they pull away.
- The internal struggle of Avoidant Attachment.
- The Pursuer-Distancer cycle—if you’ve dated someone with an Avoidant Attachment style, you’ve likely experienced this, especially if you have an Anxious Attachment style.
- When he marries you, but is still avoidant!
- Why it’s imperative to maintain your self-respect—and how to do so!
- Ways to bring up concerns about emotional intimacy with an avoidant partner.
- How to figure out if his Avoidant Attachment is something you can work with or if he’s completely emotionally unavailable.
- How to determine if you’re experiencing Avoidant Attachment yourself or, if you’re simply with the wrong person.
- Cultivating intimacy with someone with Avoidant Attachment—it is possible!
If you’ve dated someone with an Avoidant Attachment style, you know how confusing it can be. Join us to gain clarity around attachment and acquire specific strategies to help build a healthy connection!
Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson
Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/
Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook
Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson
Best of Love & Life: Anxious Attachment on Dating and Relationships with Elliott Anderson, M.A. Ep. 254
Join us today as we revisit Love & Life's most popular episode to date: Anxious Attachment on Dating and Relationships with Elliott Anderson, M.A. Ep. 165
I hear this question from women in my community all the time—“I have an anxious attachment style. Will I ever be able to be in a secure relationship?”
To address this concern, psychotherapist Elliott Anderson and I take a deep dive into anxious attachment and how it impacts dating and relationships.
Specifically, we discuss:
- Anxious attachment and our desire for intimacy.
- Trauma bonds and anxious attachment.
- When feeling anxiety in a relationship is a GOOD thing!
- How the hookup culture has impacted attachment.
- Masculine and feminine energy as they relate to attachment.
Elliott shares insights from his 30 years of working with clients and couples. Join us to gain a greater understanding of anxious attachment and how it may influence your dating patterns and relationship dynamics.
Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott Anderson
Website: http://loveandlifemedia.com/
Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBook
Instagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson