Margaret K. Nelson, author and researcher, explores the secrets families kept in the 1950s to protect themselves from shame and danger. She discusses hidden same-sex attractions, unwed pregnancies, suspicions of communism, and undisclosed Jewish ancestry. The podcast also explores the impact of family secrets on relationships and the importance of memoirs in understanding social worlds.

Dr. Margaret K. Nelson, a researcher interested in family secrets, discusses the hidden stories of same-sex attraction, unwed pregnancies, and adoption in memoirs from the 1950s. She explores the impact of family secrets on relationships and the search for missing family members. The guest also reflects on their personal connection to the topic and the use of memoirs for teaching and scholarship.