In this episode of Navigating a Broken Vessel, host Dave Harris steps away from childhood reflections to give an honest, "here and now" look into his current daily life, personal struggles, and the unique frameworks he uses to manage them.

Dave opens up about his busy dual callings within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—serving as a Stake Technology Specialist and as a Service Missionary alongside his wife at the St. George Tabernacle. Drawing from his 35-year background in audio and video production, he explains the logistics of setting up live events from scratch and how a lifetime on the road taught him the critical value of a good checklist.

The conversation goes much deeper than microphones and cables, however. Dave dives into how his neurodiversity—navigating both autism and ADHD—shapes his daily habits and spiritual journey. While religious counsel often warns against treating faith like a mindless checklist, Dave explains why rigid structure is exactly what his brain requires to fight procrastination and actively "do" the things that bring him closer to God. From his robotic morning routines to breaking scripture study down to just one single verse to get started, this episode offers a refreshing look at adapting spiritual habits to the way your brain is wired.

Inside this episode:

• Behind the Scenes at the Tabernacle: What it takes to run audio production for community performances and large stake conferences.

• The Neurodiverse Balancing Act: How Dave manages the structure-loving needs of autism alongside the novelty-seeking tendencies of ADHD.

• The Power of the "Bare Minimum" Checklist: Why micro-goals are a highly effective workaround for chronic procrastination.

• "Bring Everything for Anything": Taking a golden rule from an old production boss and applying it directly to mental health and spiritual preparation.

• Connect with the Podcast:

  Website: Explore the full back-catalog of episodes at navigatingabrokenvessel.com.

• • Email: Reach out directly at dave@navigatingabrokenvessel.com.

  • Social Media: Find the community on Facebook and Instagram by searching Navigating a Broken Vessel.

  Task completed. Enjoy the episode!

In this episode of Navigating a Broken Vessel, host Dave Harris sits down with Eric Dyches to discuss a topic that is too often shrouded in silence: postpartum depression, anxiety, and maternal mental health.

Eric opens up about his late wife, Emily, who developed severe postpartum anxiety and depression following the traumatic birth of their fifth child. He candidly shares the confusion of navigating her diagnosis, the heartbreaking loss of Emily, and his subsequent journey through grief, faith, and rebuilding a life. Now remarried to his wife, Leslie—who also lost a spouse to mental illness—Eric talks about the beautiful, complex reality of blending a family of eight children and finding joy after trauma.

This episode is a powerful testament to resilience, the critical importance of maternal mental health resources, and the reality that there is always hope, even in the darkest valleys.

Key Topics Covered in This Episode:

• The Reality of Postpartum Anxiety & OCD: Understanding that maternal mental health struggles can look like hyper-vigilance, panic, and worry, rather than just sadness.

• Grief as a Lifelong Journey: Eric shares how he handles the ongoing process of healing without trying to "move on" from Emily’s memory.

• The "Tossed Salad" of Blended Families: Navigating the shifting identities and challenges of blending five children and three children into one household.

• Post-Traumatic Growth & Empathy: How experiencing profound loss completely shifts how we view human suffering and extend compassion to others.

• Advocacy & Action: Turning pain into purpose through foundations and clinics dedicated to women's maternal and hormonal health.

Resources & Support Mentioned This Episode:

If you or a loved one are struggling with postpartum mood disorders, please know you are not alone. Reach out to the professional resources discussed by Eric:

• The Emily Effect: A foundation dedicated to raising awareness, erasing the stigma of maternal mental health dysphoria, and letting mothers know they are not alone.

• Serenity – A Healing Center for Moms: Offering intensive outpatient and general therapy support tailored specifically for mothers in Utah (Draper & Provo locations).Website: serenityrw.com

  Auri Medical: A clinic co-founded by Eric and his sister (a nurse practitioner) focusing heavily on women’s health, hormone replacement therapy, and perimenopause/menopause care.Website: ⁠aurimedicalutah.com

  
  

• Connect with Navigating a Broken Vessel:

• • Website: navigatingabrokenvessel.com

  • Email Dave: Dave@navigatingabrokenvessel.com

  • Social Media: Find us on Facebook and Instagram at NavigatingaBrokenVessel

  Disclaimer: The host and guest of this podcast are not medical professionals. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency or severe postpartum symptoms, please consult a licensed medical professional or contact the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline.

Dave sits down with his lifelong friend of 35 years, Rowdy Reeve, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CMHC). Rowdy shares his fascinating career pivot from law enforcement and owning an indoor shooting range to dedicating his life to community mental health and suicide prevention.

Together, they dive into the complex realities of mental health, unpacking what it really means to find a way out when life feels entirely overwhelming.

Key Topics Covered in This Episode:

• The Power of Pivoting: Rowdy opens up about how a tragic suicide at his indoor shooting range, Rowdy’s Range, served as a profound turning point that ultimately led him into clinical therapy.

• Conquering Imposter Syndrome: Even professionals feel like phonies sometimes. Rowdy discusses his own battles with imposter syndrome and explains how the DBT skill "Check the Facts" can ground you when you feel like you don't fit the mold.

• De-stigmatizing Suicide Prevention: Dave and Rowdy bust common myths surrounding suicide—including the false belief that talking openly about it plants the idea in someone's head. Rowdy explains that suicidal ideation is rarely about wanting to end life, but rather a desperate desire to end unbearable pain.

• Crucial Advice for Parents: How to establish a non-judgmental, open-door policy with your children so they never feel "stuck" or isolated in their struggles.

• Healing with Equine Therapy: A fascinating look into Rowdy's current work using horses to help clients process deep-seated emotional challenges, alongside an exciting preview of his private practice, Reevive Counseling.

Important Note: If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges or thoughts of suicide, please know that you are not stuck and you are not alone. Reach out to a professional, talk to someone you trust, or contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline immediately at 988.

Help is always available.