Love & Life with Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott

Recently, I was invited to appear on a podcast called "We Need to Talk with Dr. Darcy Sterling". On that podcast, we got into a lot of dating topics that I used to cover on Love & Life before Elliott joined. - what to look for in the early days- the dynamic of the dating relationships- what red flags to notice- what flag may not be all that red (but we should still pay attention to them)- and more!All these kinds of issues are things that Elliot and I are very passionate about. So we asked Dr. Sterling if we could share my interview on her program with you, the Love and Life family. We hope you enjoy my conversation with Dr. Darcy Sterling!__________________________________I’ve worked with so many smart, successful people who keep finding themselves in relationships that just don’t work. They’re self-aware, they’ve done the therapy, and on paper, they’re a catch. So why do they keep picking partners who can’t meet them where they are?In this episode, I’m joined by psychologist and “Love & Life” podcast host Dr. Karin Anderson Abrell to talk about why high-functioning people so often end up in low-quality relationships—and what to do about it.We’re breaking down:Why emotionally intelligent people sometimes ignore red flags.The role fantasy and projection play in choosing the wrong partners.How to tell the difference between chemistry and compatibility.What “dating at your level” really looks like.How to stop mistaking potential for actual partnership.If you’ve ever thought, “Maybe I’m the common denominator,” this conversation is for you. Because sometimes, you’re not the problem—you’re just dating one.🎧 Hit play. Let’s talk about it.Xxoo DarcyREFERENCES/RESOURCESwww.alternativescounseling.comStat on DSMhttps://www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj-2...CREDITS“We Need To Talk With Dr. Darcy Sterling” is a Sterling Standard Production. Editing and sound engineering by Bart Migal. Our theme music is by Trending Music. Special thanks to Amanda Cristiani and Robyn Jaenchen.  DISCLAIMERhttps://www.askdrdarcy.com/disclaimer/Instagram:@drdarcysterling   / drdarcysterling  Facebook:Dr.Darcy Sterling  / drdarcysterling  Tik Tok:@doctordarcysterling    / doctordarcysterling  X:@DrDarcySterling   https://x.com/DrDarcySterlingYouTube:@DarcySterling      / @darcysterling  Threads:@drdarcysterlinghttps://www.threads.net/@drdarcysterling

Summer is in full swing and that means while Dr. Karin and Pastor Elliott are out we are going back in time to Ep. 262 and replay one of our more popular episodes on mental health! We believe this topic is just as relevant today as it was back in 2023. Whether you're hearing this episode again or for the first time we hope it will empower you! 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 CitedBrogan, 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/fullWhitaker, R. (2015). Anatomy of an epidemic. Broadway Books.Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott AndersonWebsite: http://loveandlifemedia.com/Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBookInstagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson

We’ve been a series for the past month, taking a counter-cultural approach to the mainstream use of medications. These medications have been normalized by medical professionals and big businesses for decades, and those who experience negative side effects are often demoralized and shunned.In today’s episode, Elliott offers his response to this series and helps us continue unpack these topics. He also shares with us his LOVE approach, which gives us some practical application to a subject that affects us on so many levels. These topics can be heavy and may impact us personally or our closest relationships with family and friends. We hope you find encouragement and practical tools you can incorporate into your daily life. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions or comments about these topics! Sponsor:The Wellness CompanyWebsite: ⁠https://www.twc.health/lovelife⁠Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott AndersonWebsite: http://loveandlifemedia.com/Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBookInstagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson

Over the last 10 years, there’s been an exponential growth in the number of children diagnosed with gender dysphoria.“Gender affirming care” prescribes puberty blockers to keep children from developing naturally. Doctors often claim puberty blockers merely “pause” physical development—suggesting children can “un-pause” the process and resume puberty at will.Nothing could be further from the truth.Psychiatric nurse, Dave Wayne, joins us to continue our series about commonly prescribed medications which may have detrimental side effects.We discuss the realities of puberty blockers, including:• the fact they’re used to chemically castrate sex offenders in Europe• the irreversible physical damage they cause• the resulting cognitive impairmentThe research is clear—puberty blockers cause irreparable harm to children’s emotional, physical, and cognitive development.It’s high time we adults start protecting children, as opposed to “affirming” their delusions.Citationshttps://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05.14.25327614v1https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/dec/17/johanna-olson-kennedy-doctor-won-release-transgend/Sponsor:The Wellness CompanyWebsite: ⁠https://www.twc.health/lovelife⁠Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!David WayneWebsite: ⁠https://www.describe.health⁠Instagram: @david.wayne.rnDr. Karin & Pastor Elliott AndersonWebsite: http://loveandlifemedia.com/Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBookInstagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson

Psychiatric nurse and Love & Life favorite David Wayne returns to the show today as we continue our series examining drugs that most of us consider completely safe, effective, and harmless. In this conversation, we discuss one of the most commonly prescribed drugs: antidepressants.David witnessed firsthand how these drugs had profound impacts on the health of his patients…Spoiler alert: it wasn’t good.More than the negative impacts of these drugs, however, David believes the public has not been informed about the dangerous side effects and at times lifelong impact these drugs can cause.As a result, patients are not being provided proper informed consent.Whether you agree, disagree, or have never heard this side of the position before, we hope this episode will encourage you to think critically and conduct your own research as you start to question the status quo that has infused our cultural for decades regarding these medications.To learn more about David’s story, please check out the other Love & Life appearances he has made over the years here:Ep. 298 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/4jHUtoWp04Bqw8fjjYjmoR?si=2TCsg4ATTyqrM3uzsNW-gw Ep. 299 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/0rBQyYgzQ8PJZlkhVG3f1o?si=gQrDg-5VQR6F7804f6ohrQ Ep. 316 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/58PblFM1gvijGfx8DF8Yrp?si=QnzwREsBQqCE8-z84ayg3QEp. 321 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5rOU5CwPeS38aRpgIh1p7D?si=QfKkO9TIRaqFdSbfhEbkwAEp. 324 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3rkQJAXYiyxDSIKzAilSQh?si=wgcOiuQ8TLaTLarLtCjbTw Sponsor:The Wellness CompanyWebsite: ⁠https://www.twc.health/lovelife⁠Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!David WayneWebsite: ⁠https://www.describe.health⁠Instagram: @david.wayne.rnDr. Karin & Pastor Elliott AndersonWebsite: http://loveandlifemedia.com/Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBookInstagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson

Today we continue my conversation with Lori Wold as we discuss how Lori's daughter Dana's world was turned upside after taking just 6 pills of a routine antibiotic. In Part 2, we talk about ways Dana was able to regain parts of her life back as well as providing support for those who have experienced similar injuries. This episode is the second installment in a new series examining drugs most of us consider completely safe, effective, and harmless.If you or anyone you know has a similar story please go to loveandlifemedia.com and share your story with us by clicking on the "Contact" tab. Resources: ⁠https://mountainsandmustardseedssite.wordpress.com/2017/03/18/this-antibiotic-will-ruin-you/⁠Sponsor:The Wellness CompanyWebsite: ⁠⁠https://www.twc.health/lovelife⁠⁠Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott AndersonWebsite: http://loveandlifemedia.com/Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBookInstagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson

Dana was a 29-year-old musician living in Chicago—perfectly fit and healthy. Until she took a routinely prescribed antibiotic for a urinary tract infection.After taking just 6 pills, she began to feel horribly ill. Her limbs tingled and went numb—to the point where Dana had to pull over to the side of Lake Shore Drive using her knees to guide the steering wheel.Her life was never the same.She moved back home to live with her parents because she couldn’t possibly continue to work or care for herself. She could barely get out of bed. They had to wash her hair. She became an invalid.All because of an antibiotic.The doctors didn’t believe them. It was just an antibiotic. No way could the drug be the cause of Dana’s illness!This episode serves as the first in a new series examining drugs most of us consider completely safe, effective, and harmless.Lori Wold joins us to share her daughter’s journey to healing. She’s spreading the word in hopes others will avoid these toxic medications! Resources: https://mountainsandmustardseedssite.wordpress.com/2017/03/18/this-antibiotic-will-ruin-you/Sponsor:The Wellness CompanyWebsite: ⁠https://www.twc.health/lovelife⁠Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott AndersonWebsite: http://loveandlifemedia.com/Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBookInstagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson

As a first time mom, Dani couldn’t wait for her bundle of joy to arrive!She expected a huge transition, of course. But then again, she couldn’t full prepare for some elements she’d experience. For example, their baby was born with a heart condition which, obviously, complicated matters.She and her husband also had to adjust their marital dynamics to accommodate the demands of caring for an infant—as do all new parents.How did they move through the transition from husband and wife to mother and father—especially given their first born’s physical concerns?We’re so grateful for Dani’s willingness to get real about those first months of parenting—how it impacted her identity as a woman and as a wife.Three children and 20 years later, Dani shares what worked for her and her husband—along with what didn’t! Join us for real talk on the truth about welcoming a newborn into your marriage!Sponsor:The Wellness CompanyWebsite: ⁠https://www.twc.health/lovelife⁠Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!Dani SchurmanInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dschur2 LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/danielleschurmanDr. Karin & Pastor Elliott AndersonWebsite: http://loveandlifemedia.com/Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBookInstagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson

Elliott was talking to his wife, Angie, about our series for new parents.As a mom of four babies within two years, Angie had plenty of thoughts around this topic!She suggested some themes we could explore in today’s episode:How to embrace your brand new identity of “mother” and “father.”Recognizing your self-concept may alter in ways you didn’t expect. How to ask for help—even when you’ve always been self-sufficient and independent. Conversations husbands and wives need to have BEFORE baby arrives. M3 intimacy crushers.3 intimacy enhancers.Keep your marriage strong while welcoming your little one! Join us for part 2 of our New Parenting series 👶Sponsor:The Wellness CompanyWebsite: ⁠https://www.twc.health/lovelife⁠Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott AndersonWebsite: http://loveandlifemedia.com/Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBookInstagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson

This July, Elliott and I will welcome our niece’s first baby—a boy named after our father, Simon. We are over the moon!My stepson’s wife is also pregnant; their boy, Max (named after Dan’s dad), is due in June. So we’re blessed with two babies coming into the family!Plus, one of my dearest friends just had a boy in January. I started thinking about what a beautiful gift—and also, what a major life transition—the birth of a baby brings to a couple. I told Elliott I wanted to do a series to help new parents navigate their dual roles as both mother & father AND husband & wife!Elliott shares two crucial recommendations for new parents to help them keep their marriages strong in the midst of “blessed chaos!”Join us for part 1 of our New Parenting series 👶Sponsor:The Wellness CompanyWebsite: ⁠https://www.twc.health/lovelife⁠Code: LOVELIFE for 15% off your order!Dr. Karin & Pastor Elliott AndersonWebsite: http://loveandlifemedia.com/Empowered Dating Playbook: smarturl.it/EmpoweredDatingBookInstagram: @dr.karin | @pastorelliottanderson