What does it take to finally put your story into the world?

Fresh home from a writers' retreat in Knoxville, Denise shares what she learned about craft, publishing, and the courage it takes to let go of perfection. She and Tim explore the changing world of publishing, the difference between traditional and self-publishing, and why telling meaningful stories matters more than following someone else's definition of success.

Along the way, they reflect on career transitions, finding purpose after change, unexpected gratitude, and the stories that become family legends—including one unforgettable tale about Bigfoot that just might change the way you see every Yeti sticker.

Whether you're writing a book, navigating a career transition, or wondering if your own story is worth telling, this episode is an invitation to trust your voice and keep creating.

What are the moments that quietly change the course of our lives?

In this episode of Our Rough Draft, Denise and Tim reflect on the stories that have stayed with them long after they happened—from missed phone calls during deployment and terrifying bridge crossings to parenting teenagers, sunsets that stopped them in their tracks, and the everyday moments that slowly shape a marriage and a family.

Along the way, they talk about repair after conflict, finding gratitude in ordinary days, and why the memories that define us are often the ones we don't recognize until years later.

Sometimes the biggest turning points aren't dramatic at all—they're the quiet moments that stay with us.

What are you carrying that you haven't fully unpacked?

As Our Rough Draft returns from a break, Denise and Tim reflect on the transitions they've been navigating over the past few months—from new jobs and creative work to changing routines and the emotional baggage that sometimes lingers longer than we expect.

Together, they explore what it means to support each other through change, why gratitude is often found in small moments, and how looking honestly at what's weighing us down can become the first step toward moving forward.

Moving forward, they're asking deeper questions, sharing more of the stories behind the stories, and inviting you to do the same.

Welcome back.

Just days after graduating from Arizona State University, Thatcher sits down with Denise for a conversation about college, growing up, and stepping into whatever comes next.

Together they reflect on finding your own path, what it means to become an adult, and how our families continue to shape us long after we leave home.

This week's question: What chapter of your life is ending—and what are you hopeful comes next?

What traditions are worth keeping?

In this holiday conversation, Denise and Tim use their Connection Cards to reflect on the family traditions they've inherited, the ones they've created, and the new ones beginning to emerge as their children build lives of their own.

From Christmas morning pajamas and family photos to Thanksgiving, church services, and holiday meals, they explore what traditions really give us—and why the people around the table matter more than the table itself.

This week's question: What tradition tells the story of your family—and what do you hope the next generation will keep?

In this episode, Denise and Tim reflect on their very different college journeys, the unexpected turns that shaped their lives, and how the paths they didn't choose helped define the ones they did.

From Columbia to ASU, Bellevue College to the Army National Guard, they explore identity, belonging, higher education, and the surprising realization that the right path isn't always the one you planned.

This week's question: What's one decision that changed the direction of your life—and what did it make possible?

What changes in the middle of life?

In this conversation, Denise and Tim reflect on shifting identities, changing friendships, new jobs, moving houses, gratitude, and the surprising realization that stability has less to do with where you live than with the people you return to.

Together they explore what it means to keep growing while letting go of the pressure to have everything figured out.

This week's question: What part of your life are you learning to hold a little more loosely?

In this episode, Denise and Tim try out the first draft of their new connection cards—a collection of prompts designed to spark deeper conversations about gratitude, family, loss, work, and the small moments that shape our lives.

As they answer the questions themselves, they discover that meaningful conversations rarely begin with perfect answers. They begin with curiosity.

This week's question: What's one small thing you're grateful for today—and why does it matter more than you first realized?

Every family has stories they tell over and over again.

In this episode, Denise and Tim revisit the moments that turned two people into five—from surprise pregnancies and military deployments to difficult decisions, joyful arrivals, and the friendships that became family.

Together they reflect on how families are built not only through birth, but through resilience, shared experiences, and the people who choose to belong.

This week's question: What's one story your family tells over and over—and why does it still matter?

In this Veterans Day conversation, Denise and Tim reflect on why "thank you for your service" is only the beginning. They explore the importance of listening to veterans' stories, the challenges of returning home, the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day, and how meaningful conversations can replace simple gestures.

Along the way, they discuss the film Sheepdog, military identity, and the importance of seeing the human being behind the uniform.

This week's question: Who has served in your life, and what's one story you've never asked them to tell?