The Elsa Kurt Show

A lot of people talk about “finding purpose” after the military. Dana Corriveau (https://www.mantlechallenge.org/events) actually had to fight for it. Dana served eight years in the United States Air Force in Security Forces, deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, and came home with the kind of accelerated maturity that doesn’t always fit neatly back into small-town life. Later, he builds a new career as a firefighter in Connecticut, but the deeper battle hits off the job: a divorce, a season of spiritual darkness, and the uncomfortable work of owning his choices instead of blaming everyone else. 

We talk through what veteran transition really feels like when the tribe is gone and your identity is in flux. Dana shares how faith shifted from “I know who Jesus is” to “I’m following Christ,” why a study Bible and real conviction mattered, and the practical tools he reaches for when life is on the edge, including fasting, prayer, and rebuilding discipline when lust and pornography have rewired the way you think. If you care about veteran mental health, marriage under pressure, and the long road back to integrity, this conversation goes there without pretending it’s simple. 

Then we get into Mantle Challenge, the mission Dana founded to support members of the Air Force Special Warfare community and their families. He tells the story of “Operation Hike for the House,” a 114-mile prayer hike on the Connecticut stretch of the New England Trail that included exhaustion, cramps, and more than one bear encounter. We also share details for the upcoming free fundraising event on September 26 and 27 at Windsor Locks High School, plus why the invitation is broad: come as you are, whether you’re strong, struggling, curious about faith, or just ready to support a community that has carried a heavy load. 

If this story moves you, subscribe, share the episode with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find these conversations. What part of Dana’s journey hits closest to home for you?

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Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels. 

Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units .  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...

The calendar forces two heavy anniversaries into the same week, and we can feel it. We start by naming what a lot of people avoid saying out loud: 9/11 is not just a memory, it’s a measuring stick. Twenty-five years later, we’re still asking what the United States actually learned about security, culture, civic duty, and the cost of pretending warning signs do not exist. We talk about how we personally handle the day, why some of us cannot watch the memorial programming, and why the emotions can flip from grief to fury when public life feels like it’s mocking the lessons. 

Then we shift into the mechanics of power and competence, starting with Secretary Hegseth and the growing sense of instability across military leadership. We break down the churn of firings, resignations, acting roles, and blocked promotions, plus the controversy around military-wide testosterone testing and why messaging and trust matter as much as policy. If you care about readiness, morale, and civil-military leadership, this part connects the dots fast. 

From there, we dig into the Lindsay Clancy mistrial and what an 11 to 1 jury split means in real life: venue fights, media pressure, the insanity defense debate, and how hard it is to find an unbiased jury when social media turns tragedy into team sports. We also hit the international front with Iran refusing IAEA inspections, the UN Security Council implications, and how sanctions escalate when the whole UN system gets pulled in. We close with midterms strategy, Europe’s backlash to mass migration, a remembrance of Charlie Kirk’s legacy, and a lighter landing on football, the NFL’s shifting tone, and the market reality behind “go woke, go broke.” 

If this conversation challenges you, share it with a friend who will argue in good faith, subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next, and leave a review telling us what we got right or wrong.

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Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels. 

Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units .  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...

Support the show

Elsa's AMAZON STORE
Elsa's FAITH & FREEDOM MERCH STORE

Elsa's BOOKS
Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels. 

Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units .  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...

The fastest way to spot real resilience is to listen to someone who had every reason to quit and chose to build anyway. We’re joined by Veronica Ventura, a Puerto Rican entrepreneur, mother, and author of *Working for Her: Puerto Rican Entrepreneur, Making It With No Excuse*, and her story is equal parts raw and actionable.

We talk about what “no excuses” actually means when the stakes are high: miscarriage, infertility, single motherhood, financial stress, and relationships that leave scars. Veronica shares how she draws the line between acknowledging pain and letting it become an identity, and why she believes the hardest seasons can shape character if we keep moving forward. We also dig into the power of telling the truth, including family secrets, and how putting things in the light can take their power away.

A major turning point comes from a toxic workplace that threatened her peace and her confidence. Veronica explains how walking away felt like failure until she realized it was growth, and how that moment helped spark her book. From there, we shift into faith and purpose, and why her Catholic faith isn’t a label but a daily practice that keeps her grounded.

We also get practical about entrepreneurship: becoming a certified health coach, building a candle business with her family, taking on small business loans, looking for grants, and using modern tools like AI to learn faster. If you feel stuck, her advice is clear: stay in your lane, start smaller than you think, and don’t stop. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share this with someone who needs a push today, and leave a review with the one “excuse” you’re ready to drop. Find Veronica's book here: https://amzn.to/3UcuJ1J

INTERVIEW DISCLOSURE & BOOKING:
This is a sponsored interview on The Elsa Kurt Show. Paid interview opportunities are available on a limited basis.

Authors, experts, public figures, and other prospective guests who are represented by a publicist, marketing agency, PR firm, publisher, or professional representative are welcome to have their representative contact us regarding interview opportunities and current packages.

Professional booking inquiries: [email protected]

Support the show

Elsa's AMAZON STORE
Elsa's FAITH & FREEDOM MERCH STORE

Elsa's BOOKS
Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels. 

Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units .  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...

Some stories don’t just inspire you, they steady you. Curline Matthews joins us with the kind of wisdom you only earn through time: 45 years of marriage, raising four children, loving eleven grandchildren, and learning how faith holds up when life breaks your heart. Her memoir, *Where Faith Meets Family*, began as a way to keep her late husband’s memory alive, but it became something more a practical guide for anyone trying to build a family legacy that lasts. 

We talk honestly about what tests a marriage in the real world: money stress, two imperfect people learning each other’s habits, and the quiet damage of expecting a spouse to “just know” what you need. Curline shares why cultivating your own happiness matters, how clear communication can prevent resentment, and what forgiveness looks like when you refuse to keep reopening old arguments. If you’ve been searching for Christian marriage advice that feels doable, this conversation stays practical without losing depth. 

Parenting brings its own pressure, especially when kids demand attention and couples feel stretched thin. We dig into balancing marriage and children without turning the home into a competition for affection, plus what children truly need most: consistent love, patience, and parents who let them have a voice in their own future. Curline also pushes back on the prestige trap, reminding us that every honest job matters and a child’s calling deserves respect. 

The heart of the episode is trust in God during grief. Curline shares how she redirected her mind toward gratitude, leaned on Scripture, and kept showing up for others even while mourning. If you need hope for your family, your faith, or your next season, press play, then subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find it. Find Curline's book here: https://amzn.to/3UIyLin

INTERVIEW DISCLOSURE & BOOKING:
This is a sponsored interview on The Elsa Kurt Show. Paid interview opportunities are available on a limited basis.

Authors, experts, public figures, and other prospective guests who are represented by a publicist, marketing agency, PR firm, publisher, or professional representative are welcome to have their representative contact us regarding interview opportunities and current packages.

Professional booking inquiries: [email protected]

Support the show

Elsa's AMAZON STORE
Elsa's FAITH & FREEDOM MERCH STORE

Elsa's BOOKS
Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels. 

Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units .  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...

A chef’s story can be inspiring, but Chef Franco Lania’s story goes far beyond the kitchen. He is an award-winning master chef, culinary educator, and entrepreneur who has cooked at the highest levels, from elite restaurants to luxury cruise lines. He’s also a 9/11 survivor who was evacuated from Tower Two, and he shares what that morning felt like from the inside, including the chaos, the noise, and the long, frightening hours it took to get home to his pregnant wife with no way to contact anyone.

We talk about why he chose to write a memoir, “Cooking Inspired: Design Your Dish, Design Your Life,” instead of a cookbook, and how cooking can become a practical way to care for your mind when stress, anxiety, or depression pulls you off track. Franco takes us back to the unlikely start of his career, when his dad pushed him into a job at a gourmet supermarket after a painful family divorce, and how that early structure led to the discipline and accountability he later learned in Michelin-level kitchens.

From there, we get honest about purpose, legacy, and faith. Franco explains how trauma can shake your beliefs, what helped him find his way back through church community, and how his “Design Your Dish, Design Your Life” mindset connects food to a life built with intention. We also dig into the differences between American and European food culture, ingredients, and portion sizes, plus his boutique Italy culinary travel experiences through Tavola Tours.

If you care about resilience, mindful cooking, culinary storytelling, and finding meaning after hardship, you’ll want this conversation in your ears. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review so more people can find it.

Find Franco: https://www.francolania.com/

INTERVIEW DISCLOSURE & BOOKING:
This is a sponsored interview on The Elsa Kurt Show. Paid interview opportunities are available on a limited basis.

Authors, experts, public figures, and other prospective guests who are represented by a publicist, marketing agency, PR firm, publisher, or professional representative are welcome to have their representative contact us regarding interview opportunities and current packages.

Professional booking inquiries: [email protected]

Support the show

Elsa's AMAZON STORE
Elsa's FAITH & FREEDOM MERCH STORE

Elsa's BOOKS
Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels. 

Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units .  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...

Support the show

Elsa's AMAZON STORE
Elsa's FAITH & FREEDOM MERCH STORE

Elsa's BOOKS
Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels. 

Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units .  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...

She starts as one of the only women in her engineering program, builds a career in telecommunications, becomes a single mom, then pivots again into a classroom where she spends 20 years helping kids learn math and find their footing. That alone is a story worth hearing. But what happens next is where the imagination kicks in: she turns a painful family season and the loss of her mother into a children’s book series that helps kids laugh, feel seen, and believe in themselves. 

We talk about her 10-book bug series and why “small, overlooked creatures” are the perfect way to teach big ideas like self-acceptance, resilience, friendship, and being different on purpose. She shares the meaning behind The Bug Who Wanted To Be A Bird, a story about a self-doubting ladybug who learns that chasing dreams starts with accepting who you are. We also dig into how her teaching experience shaped her approach to social-emotional learning, why reading works better when it’s joyful, and what she hopes families discuss after the last page. 

You’ll also hear about publishing in multiple languages, collaborating on bright, vivid illustrations, and navigating parenting in a world full of screens and early social media. If you’re searching for inspiring career change stories, women in STEM paths, or children’s books that build confidence without preaching, this conversation delivers. Subscribe, share this with a parent or teacher, and leave a review with the biggest pivot you’ve made or want to make next. Find Ozlem's Books Here: https://amzn.to/4huQymH

INTERVIEW DISCLOSURE & BOOKING:
This is a sponsored interview on The Elsa Kurt Show. Paid interview opportunities are available on a limited basis.

Authors, experts, public figures, and other prospective guests who are represented by a publicist, marketing agency, PR firm, publisher, or professional representative are welcome to have their representative contact us regarding interview opportunities and current packages.

Professional booking inquiries: [email protected]

Support the show

Elsa's AMAZON STORE
Elsa's FAITH & FREEDOM MERCH STORE

Elsa's BOOKS
Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels. 

Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units .  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...

If you’ve ever looked at an election result and thought, “I guess we just have to trust it,” this conversation is for you. I sit down with Mark Gotz, known as the election expert, who has spent more than 20 years monitoring elections and wrote a practical guide on how to inspect, validate, audit, and enforce federal elections. We get specific about where modern elections feel weakest, especially as we’ve shifted from a single Election Day to a longer election month shaped by vote by mail.

We dig into what accountability actually looks like on the ground: signature verification, tracking how many vote-by-mail envelopes come in, and making sure those totals match the vote counts reported by election officials. Mark explains his “election umpire” idea, why being physically present matters, and why an audit isn’t an abstract concept. It can be as basic as reconciling the paper trail so the numbers make sense.

We also talk about voter roll maintenance, inactive voters, and what federal election laws say about enforcement. Mark points to the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act, and he explains why “a person” can have the right to take action when something looks wrong. If you’re tired of online complaints that go nowhere, you’ll walk away with a clearer sense of what to learn, what to watch, and what steps can be taken quickly.

Subscribe for more honest, practical conversations, share this with a friend who cares about election integrity, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one election process you’d want explained step by step? Get the book here: https://amzn.to/4xlpQl3

INTERVIEW DISCLOSURE & BOOKING:
This is a sponsored interview on The Elsa Kurt Show. Paid interview opportunities are available on a limited basis.

Authors, experts, public figures, and other prospective guests who are represented by a publicist, marketing agency, PR firm, publisher, or professional representative are welcome to have their representative contact us regarding interview opportunities and current packages.

Professional booking inquiries: [email protected]

Support the show

Elsa's AMAZON STORE
Elsa's FAITH & FREEDOM MERCH STORE

Elsa's BOOKS
Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels. 

Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units .  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...

A border gate opens, a crowd floods in, and suddenly a small Spanish enclave is dealing with mass chaos, deaths, and looted businesses, all supercharged by viral TikTok rumors. That’s where we start, because it captures the bigger theme Elsa Kurt and Clay Novak keep circling back to: the headline is never the whole story. The real story is the pattern that repeats when leaders dodge hard tradeoffs, media downplays inconvenient footage, and social platforms move faster than any institution can respond.

From there we shift to women’s sports and the trans athlete debate, sparked by WNBA player Sophie Cunningham refusing to back down. We talk plainly about fairness, safety, and why “protecting girls” keeps getting reframed as a moral failure. We also dig into whether athletes like Caitlin Clark have any obligation to take political stances, and why professional leagues often drift into activism that alienates fans who simply want the game played well.

The episode then hits public safety and the gun control conversation through the Idaho In N Out shooting, where armed responders return fire and prevent more deaths, followed by a legal showdown over New York trying to regulate masks and identification for federal immigration officers and a judge invoking the Constitution’s supremacy clause. We close with the darker edges of modern media, including Perez Hilton’s disturbing TikTok live stream and the urgent need for better live content safeguards, plus a rapid scan of Democratic Party fractures, Cuba’s national blackouts under socialism, and massive Iran funding requests without a clear endgame.

If you value clear thinking over hot takes, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review. What pattern do you want us to connect next?

Support the show

Elsa's AMAZON STORE
Elsa's FAITH & FREEDOM MERCH STORE

Elsa's BOOKS
Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels. 

Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units .  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...