A reader recently asked me a simple but powerful question:

Why do you write?

It made me stop and think about the journey that led me here.

For most of my life, I didn’t think of myself as a writer. I was serving in the military, working in rescue operations, protective assignments, and humanitarian missions around the world. Those environments are full of moments that shape a person—moments of courage, loss, faith, resilience, and quiet reflection.

Over time, I realized those experiences carried lessons worth sharing.

In this episode, I talk about how storytelling became a way to process life’s hardest moments, what kinds of stories I choose to tell, and why authenticity matters more than perfect writing.

Sometimes a story can do more than entertain.

Sometimes it helps someone see their own life more clearly.

Sometimes it even helps someone through a difficult season.

This episode is about the purpose behind the stories.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit davidburnell.substack.com/subscribe