Navigating a Broken Vessel

Host Dave Harris sits down with his cousin-in-law, Kim Delis, for an intimate and vulnerable conversation about navigating profound grief, unexpected tragedy, and the evolution of faith.In December 2002, just days before Christmas, Kim’s world was completely upended when a sudden car accident during a Utah snowstorm claimed the lives of four of her immediate family members—her mother, her father, and her two younger brothers, Bryson and Tyler.Kim opens up about the raw aftermath of experiencing a multiple loss, learning that it is okay to "grieve unequally," and how a powerful priesthood blessing freed her from the paralyzing question of "Why?" She also shares how she navigated the years that followed, finding unexpected moments of spiritual elation amidst heartbreak and eventually "flipping the script" to focus on the blessings she still had.Whether you are currently walking through your own valley of grief or looking for inspiration on how to keep your testimony anchored during life's hardest storms, Kim’s story is a beautiful testament to resilience, grace, and hope.Connect with the Show:Website: navigatingabrokenvessel.comFacebook: NavigatingABrokenVesselInstagram: @NavigatingABrokenVesselEmail: dave@navigatingabrokenvessel.comReminder: Those on this podcast are sharing personal experiences and are not professional therapists or psychiatrists. If you are struggling with severe grief or trauma, please seek professional medical or psychological advice.

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.comAuri 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.comConnect with Navigating a Broken Vessel:Website: navigatingabrokenvessel.comEmail Dave: Dave@navigatingabrokenvessel.comSocial Media: Find us on Facebook and Instagram at NavigatingaBrokenVesselDisclaimer: 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.

In this highly requested episode of Navigating a Broken Vessel, host Dave Harris is joined by his absolute favorite guest—his wife, co-adventurer, and the show's producer, Shelly Harris!Instead of our usual deep-dive interviews, Dave and Shelly are pulling back the curtain to answer listener-submitted questions. Together, they open up about the raw, day-to-day realities of managing mental health, neurodivergence, and relationships.Inside the Episode:The Secret to a Resilient Marriage: How they have navigated decades of stress, anxiety, and depression together while staying happily married (hint: it’s all about communication).Practicing Metacognition: Dave shares a powerful perspective shift from his therapist on how to look at yourself from the outside in to stop a negative downward spiral before it starts.Social Anxiety vs. Outgoing Personality: How Dave manages social anxiety (even around family) and why "faking it till you make it" is sometimes part of the journey.The ADHD Revelation: Shelly breaks down how discovering Dave's ADHD and utilizing tools like "body doubling" completely transformed how they support each other.What a "Bad Mental Health Day" Actually Looks Like: Dave shares a powerful metaphor of what depression feels like and how he relies on "treading water" routines to make it through.A Sneak Peek at What's Next: Shelly previews upcoming, deeply powerful episodes featuring Dave's best friend Rowdy, Eric Dyches, and Kim Dellis.A note from Dave: "Life is not designed to be easy or perfect. By experiencing these trials, we become better people. Trust your past self, take it one day at a time, and remember—you are doing better than you think you are."Connect with Us!We want to hear from you! If you have a question or a topic you want us to unpack in Part 2, reach out:Email: Dave@navigatingabrokenvessel.comWebsite: navigatingabrokenvessel.com (Listen to all past episodes here!)Socials: Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @navigatingabrokenvesselWatch on YouTube: Prefer video? Subscribe and watch our full studio video podcast!Disclaimer: We are not medical or mental health professionals. This podcast is based entirely on our personal perspectives and lived experiences and should not be taken as medical advice.

Dave Harris sits down with Lennon Jones, a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety, to tackle one of the most confusing intersections of mental health and religion: Scrupulosity.Have you ever found yourself paralyzed, wondering if a thought was a prompting from the Spirit or just an intrusive, obsessive doubt? This conversation dives deep into how Religious OCD manifests as an extreme intolerance of uncertainty, often turning faith into a cycle of fear rather than a source of peace.In this episode, we explore:Why OCD is less about perfectionism and more about a relentless cycle of intrusive thoughts and temporary relief through compulsions.Scrupulosity: How members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints might struggle with black-and-white thinking regarding commandments and repentance.Spirit vs. OCD: Learning to distinguish between the calm, encouraging nature of the Spirit and the negative, relentless, obsessive thoughts that come from some other source.The Reassurance Trap: Why telling someone to "just stop worrying" doesn't work and why seeking constant reassurance can actually feed the OCD cycle.Tools for Recovery: An introduction to Exposure Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as paths to reclaiming your mental and spiritual well-being.Living with OCD can feel like trying to have a meaningful conversation while a smoke alarm is blaring in the background. Join us as we discuss how to turn down the noise and find genuine peace.Connect with Navigating a Broken Vessel:Website: navigatingabrokenvessel.comSocials: @navigatingabrokenvesselEmail: Dave@navigatingabrokenvessel.comNote: This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional healthcare or therapy.

What happens to a marriage when the foundational beliefs of one spouse begin to shift? Following our conversation with Tifani Holt, we sit down with her husband, Kody Holt, to hear the other side of the story. In this episode of Navigating a Broken Vessel, host Dave Harris explores the emotional and spiritual journey of a husband navigating his wife’s faith crisis within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Kody opens up about the moment he realized Tifani’s questions were moving beyond simple curiosity into a deep-seated crisis of faith. He shares the struggle of fighting his natural "fixer" instinct and how he learned to replace judgment with unconditional love.The "Toolbox" vs. the "Trash Can": Why Kody had to stop trying to "fix" Tifani’s doubts and start simply listening.A Stake President’s Profound Advice: The specific counsel Kody received during a temple recommend interview that sustained him through the darkest months.Parenting Through Transition: How the Holts navigated church attendance and spiritual education for their three children while holding different beliefs.Setting Boundaries with Love: The difficult conversations regarding lifestyle changes, new social circles, and maintaining the sanctity of their home.The Turning Point of Counseling: Why taking divorce "off the table" was the most critical step in their healing process."If I would have tried to control that situation, we would not be together today. She needed to go through this... and if I would have tried to control the situation, it would have pushed her away 100%." — Kody HoltKody’s story is a testament to the idea that a marriage can not only survive a faith transition but emerge stronger, more honest, and more deeply rooted in love than ever before.Our web site: https://www.navigatingabrokenvessel.comSocials:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/navigatingabrokenvesselInstagram: @navigatingabrokenvesselDisclaimer: I am not a mental health professional, and this should not be taken as any kind of medical advice. If you need assistance, I highly recommend working with mental health professionals. I use many myself.

Dave Harris takes us back to 1995 to explore a peculiar personal challenge: the "wall" between public confidence and private connection.Dave recounts a trip from Logan, Utah, to an extended family reunion—the "Butt Reunion"—in Idaho. Despite driving two hours to get there and seeing his parents' car in the driveway, Dave found himself unable to walk into the backyard. Confronted by the prospect of one-on-one interactions with relatives he didn't know, he chose to turn around and drive all the way back home without ever saying hello.Key Themes in This Episode:Public vs. Private Anxiety: Dave discusses the irony of being perfectly comfortable speaking to a stadium of 100,000 people or appearing on live television, yet feeling paralyzed by the intimacy of a one-on-one conversation.The Mission Challenge: Hear about Dave’s time as a missionary in New Zealand, where the requirement to approach strangers ("GQing") triggered deep cycles of anxiety and depression.A Prophecy of Faith: Dave shares a powerful memory of a dinner with his Mission President, who offered a specific "prophecy" regarding Dave's future activity in the Church and the role of home teaching (now ministering).The Power of Workarounds: Now 30 years later, Dave reveals the practical strategies he uses to overcome his social walls, including the vital support of his wife, Shelly, and the importance of "just doing the first step".Spirit Over Mortal Body: A reflection on the purpose of life’s mental health challenges, suggesting that these struggles are a design to help our spirits learn to master our mortal bodies through the Atonement.Join Dave as he reflects on how vulnerability and persistence help us navigate our own "broken vessels" and find strength in our weaknesses.Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/navigatingabrokenvesselInstagram: @navigatingabrokenvesselDisclaimer: I am not a mental health professional, and this should not be taken as any kind of medical advice. If you need assistance, I highly recommend working with mental health professionals. I use many myself.

Have you ever felt the crushing weight of unmet expectations? In this episode of Navigating a Broken Vessel, host Dave Harris dives deep into a phrase that has echoed throughout his life since seventh grade: "Capable of doing better".Dave shares a vulnerable and honest look at his journey from being a "study hall" regular in elementary school to struggling with a 1.87 GPA in high school. He reflects on the psychological toll of perfectionism and how setting the bar at "perfect" can lead to a cycle of perpetual disappointment.The Mid-Term Trauma: How four simple words from a teacher in 1990 became a lifelong internal critic.The "Study Hall" Cycle: Memories of Mr. Oldoerp and the fear of falling short in the fourth grade.The Perfectionist’s Trap: A look at Dave’s career in live television and the stress of "post-mortem" meetings where anything less than flawless was a failure.Finding the "Game": How Dave learned to navigate higher education—earning multiple degrees by turning the challenge into a competition with himself rather than a quest for perfection.Be Ye Therefore Perfect... Eventually: A reflection on Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s 2017 talk and learning to embrace the "eventually" in personal growth.Dave offers practical, grounded advice for anyone struggling to get out of bed or feeling "stuck" in their career or mental health journey. Learn why celebrating minuscule successes and "turning off the brain" to let the body take over can be the first step toward becoming unstuck."If we set the bar at perfection, we will always be disappointed because every single one of us is capable of doing better." — Dave HarrisListen now to reframe your failures and find peace in the pursuit of "better."Link to talk by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland:Be Ye Therefore Perfect -- EventuallyConnect with the Show:Our web site: https://www.navigatingabrokenvessel.comListen to Navigating a Broken VesselYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NavigatingABrokenVesselApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/navigating-a-broken-vessel/id1871965350Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AhjZOhsDA97bJkUjLUuI9Amazon/Audible: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8044ee2c-27fd-49af-b3e4-deac81905161/navigating-a-broken-vesseliHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-navigating-a-broken-vessel-319371772/Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/navigatingabrokenvesselInstagram: @navigatingabrokenvesselDisclaimer: I am not a mental health professional, and this should not be taken as any kind of medical advice. If you need assistance, I highly recommend working with mental health professionals. I use many myself.

Links to references in the episode:The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/Ether 12:27 (Book of Mormon scripture): https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/ether/12?lang=eng&id=p27#p27 Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk titled "Like a Broken Vessel": https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2013/10/like-a-broken-vessel?lang=engWelcome to the maiden voyage of Navigating a Broken Vessel. In this introductory episode, host Dave Harris opens up about his lifelong journey with mental health, including his experiences with Major Depressive Disorder, ADHD, and anxiety.Dave explores the complex intersection of faith and mental wellness, specifically within the context of being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He shares a pivotal story from his mission in New Zealand, where he first realized that "healing" might not mean the total removal of a struggle, but rather learning how to sail through the storm.What to Expect from This SeriesNavigating a Broken Vessel isn't about finding a "cure" or waiting for clear skies. It is a candid, authentic look at:Real stories of struggle and success.Interviews with others to provide insights.Practical ways to "progress toward the port of your choice" even when your vessel feels like it's taking on water.Join the conversation! If you've ever felt like you're sailing a "broken vessel," you aren't alone. Subscribe to stay updated on future episodes.Listen to Navigating a Broken Vessel:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NavigatingABrokenVesselApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/navigating-a-broken-vessel/id1871965350Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1IU4OA2Cu0vPcJNUUYIxAt?si=jstc--6LSDyviJsW9OFxpwAmazon/Audible: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8044ee2c-27fd-49af-b3e4-deac81905161/navigating-a-broken-vesseliHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-navigating-a-broken-vessel-319371772/Disclaimer: I am not a mental health professional, and this should not be taken as any kind of medical advice. If you need assistance, I highly recommend working with mental health professionals. I use many myself.