Laura Van Wormer: The Class of ’74 — Growing Up Before Cell Phones, Social Media & Computers

What was life like when teenagers had no cell phones, no social media, no computers—and parents had no idea where they were half the time?In this episode of Hidden Secrets in Books, Dominic sits down with bestselling novelist and creator Laura Van Wormer to step into a time machine and revisit the early 1970s through her serialized fiction podcast, The Class of ’74.Set in a Connecticut suburb beginning in September 1971, the story follows 15-year-old Cynthia Schuyler through friendship, first love, teenage rebellion, family drama, school life, and the unforgettable anxieties of adolescence—all against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, Nixon-era America, changing culture, and a world before smartphones and social media.Laura shares the remarkable story behind the podcast and how, after a devastating accident left her unable to write as she once had, an idea inspired by her high school reunion gave her a new way to tell stories—and brought her back to fiction.We also explore the difference between writing for print and serialized audio, why “writing what you know” can create powerful fiction, how stories can combat loneliness, and what modern listeners can learn from looking back at a very different America.Take a nostalgic journey back to September 8, 1971, meet the Class of ’74, and discover why sometimes looking backward can make us appreciate exactly where we are today.Listen to The Class of ’74Connect with Laura Van Wormer🌐 Website: 📘 Facebook: ▶️ YouTube: 💼 LinkedIn: