The thing is, the Tulsa experience that I wrote about in 'The

Host: The room was quiet, the soft hum of the air conditioning mixing with the faint sounds of the world outside. The evening had settled in, the light from the window now dimming as the night began to take hold. Jack sat in front of his desk, his fingers paused over his keyboard, lost in thought. Jeeny was sitting across from him, a book in her lap, but her focus was on him, sensing that something was weighing on his mind.

Jeeny: (breaking the silence, her voice gentle but inquisitive) “You know, S. E. Hinton once said, ‘The thing is, the Tulsa experience that I wrote about in ‘The Outsiders’ is closer to the universal experience than it would be if I wrote it from L.A. or New York. It’s an everyman story.’”

(She looked at Jack, a thoughtful expression on her face.) “Do you think that’s true? That stories from smaller places, from everyday experiences, resonate more universally than those from big cities?”

Jack: (looking up, his voice thoughtful but a little distant) “I think there’s truth in that. In a way, smaller places — places like Tulsa in her book — are more relatable because they reflect the struggles and experiences that many people, regardless of where they’re from, go through. They’re human stories, not just location-based.”

Jeeny: (nodding slowly) “Exactly. It’s not about the setting itself, but the human experience within it. When you tell a story about a specific place, it can still echo the feelings and struggles of people everywhere. Hinton found that in Tulsa, in a community of young people who were searching for identity, belonging, and purpose — things we can all relate to.”

Jack: (pausing, considering the idea) “And maybe that’s why The Outsiders resonates so deeply. The emotions of the characters are universal, even if the backdrop is something many people haven’t directly experienced. It’s not about the place, but about the people and their journey through life.”

Jeeny: (smiling gently) “Yes, it’s about making the personal feel universal. The struggles of friendship, family, belonging, and identity are things that everyone can connect with, no matter where they’re from. Hinton just happens to tell it through the lens of her small-town experience.”

Jack: (his voice a little lighter now, his thoughts clearer) “I think I get it now. Stories set in specific places, with specific experiences, can still tap into the universal truths of being human. That’s why stories like hers, or others with similar roots, stick with us. They feel like they could happen anywhere.”

Jeeny: (nodding) “Exactly. Because at the core, they are about us — about what it means to be human. Whether you’re in Tulsa, New York, or anywhere else, those emotions are shared by so many people. The setting is just the backdrop to something bigger.”

Host: The air in the room felt lighter now, the weight of their conversation shifting from the particularities of place to the universality of human experience. Jack sat back in his chair, his mind now aligned with the idea that the power of a story wasn’t bound by geography. The story’s heartbeat came from its characters, their struggles, and their triumphs — things that everyone could relate to, no matter where they were from.

Jack: (smiling, his voice soft with understanding) “It’s the human connection that matters, isn’t it? The more specific the story, the more universal it becomes. Because, in the end, we’re all connected by the same emotions, the same challenges.”

Jeeny: (smiling back, her voice warm) “Exactly. And the beauty of storytelling is that it shows us how our experiences, no matter how small or distant they may seem, are connected in ways we don’t always realize.”

Host: The world outside carried on, but inside, there was a quiet understanding — that stories from the heart of one place, however small or specific, could still speak to the hearts of many. Because at the core of every story was the same human experience, the same desire for connection, belonging, and understanding.

And in that realization, Jack felt the true power of storytelling: it wasn’t about where you were, but about what you had to say — and how it could resonate with everyone, everywhere.