Our Rough Draft

What can a trip to Disney teach us about learning, curiosity, and family?

Recording from the lobby of Disney's Swan Resort, Denise and Tim begin by comparing Disneyland and Disney World before the conversation takes an unexpected turn. Inspired by watching Mason explore the parks in his own way, they reflect on how different people learn, why examples matter, and what it means to create space for curiosity instead of simply following the plan.

As Denise begins a five-week road trip with her mom, the conversation shifts to the challenge—and gift—of spending extended time with a parent as adults. Together, they explore the kinds of questions that deepen relationships, how families communicate across generations, and why the most meaningful journeys often happen through conversation.

Whether you're planning a vacation, raising a learner, or simply wondering what questions are worth asking the people you love, this episode is an invitation to stay curious.

What if the best part of summer isn't the vacation—it's the feeling that time doesn't matter?

In this episode of Our Rough Draft, Denise and Tim reminisce about the summers that shaped them: camping under towering trees, ferry rides, beach days, neighborhood adventures, and the simple freedom of being outside until the sun went down.

Along the way, they share favorite camping memories, dream about the perfect summer getaway, and reflect on why nature has a way of slowing us down and reminding us what matters most.

Whether your favorite place is the beach, the mountains, or a quiet campground under the stars, this conversation is an invitation to rediscover the wonder, freedom, and connection that make summer feel a little magical.

What makes a place finally feel like home?

As Denise prepares for a five-week road trip, she and Tim reflect on the many moves that have shaped their lives—from chaotic moving days and missing refrigerators to unpacking suitcases, settling into new spaces, and discovering the routines that help us feel grounded.

Along the way, they share funny moving stories, explore why some people unpack immediately while others take their time, and laugh about the little quirks that reveal where we're really from—including wild salmon, paper straws, and the surprisingly complicated question, "Where are you from?"

Whether you've moved across the country, settled into a new neighborhood, or are simply trying to create a place that feels like home, this conversation is about belonging, routines, and the stories we carry with us wherever we go.

What have twenty-five years of marriage taught us?

As Denise and Tim celebrate their silver anniversary, they look back on the moments that shaped their relationship—from their wedding day and military deployments to raising three boys, navigating career challenges, and learning how to support each other through life's hardest seasons.

Along the way, they share the lessons they wish every couple knew: how to argue without losing each other, why it's important to learn how your partner experiences love, and how putting your relationship first can strengthen your family.

Whether you've been together for twenty-five years, twenty-five months, or you're simply curious about what helps a relationship endure, this conversation is an honest reflection on choosing each other again and again.

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?