When Boris Yeltsin came to the United States in 1989 to speak, visit with the President and see the Statue of Liberty, his entire outlook on the world changed in one :20 minute moment. But it wasn't NYC or Miami or President Bush. It was Randall's Grocery Store in Webster Texas.  This is the story of the history of that moment.  In this episode we cross paths with Marjorie Merriwether Post, IBM, Spectra-Physics, Wrigley's Gum, James J. Hill, Clarence Saudners, Williams Leslie Maxson, Boris Yeltsin and Grape Nuts.

When Boris Yeltsin came to the United States in 1989 to speak, visit with the President and see the Statue of Liberty, his entire outlook on the world changed in one :20 minute moment. But it wasn't NYC or Miami or President Bush. It was Randall's Grocery Store in Webster Texas. This is the story of the history of that moment. In this episode we cross paths with Marjorie Merriwether Post, IBM, Spectra-Physics, Wrigley's Gum, James J. Hill, Clarence Saudners, Williams Leslie Maxson, Boris Yeltsin and Grape Nuts.

When Boris Yeltsin came to the United States in 1989 to speak, visit with the President and see the Statue of Liberty, his entire outlook on the world changed in one :20 minute moment. But it wasn't NYC or Miami or President Bush. It was Randall's Grocery Store in Webster Texas.&nbsp; This is the story of the history of that moment.&nbsp; In this episode we cross paths with Marjorie Merriwether Post, IBM, Spectra-Physics, Wrigley's Gum, James J. Hill, Clarence Saudners, Williams Leslie Maxson, Boris Yeltsin and Grape Nuts.&nbsp;

Episode 78: Yeltsin's Grocery Revolution

Tracing The Path explores how ordinary people, products, ideas, and moments unexpectedly shaped the modern world. Every episode begins with something familiar—a word, a company, a song, an invention, a historical event, or a cultural phenomenon—and follows the surprising chain of connections that made it matter. Why did a grocery store change the course of the Cold War? How did a simple greeting become part of everyday life? What do advertising agencies, world leaders, musicians, inventors, and soft drink companies have in common? More than you might think. Hosted by award-winning storyteller Dan R. Morris, Tracing The Path uncovers the forgotten figures, unexpected decisions, and hidden connections behind the people, products, places, and ideas that shaped the 20th Century—and continue to influence our lives today. Inspired by the storytelling traditions of Paul Harvey, Charles Kuralt, Charles Osgood, and Garrison Keillor, each episode is crafted to leave you with that rare feeling: "I had no idea." Whether we're exploring world-changing inventions, iconic brands, cultural turning points, political upheavals, or everyday objects hiding extraordinary histories, you'll discover that history is far more connected than it first appears. Because the modern world didn't appear overnight. Someone built it. Something changed it. Every path has a beginning. New episodes monthly, plus bonus Addendum episodes featuring the stories that didn't make the final cut. Visit TracingThePath.com for episode transcripts, discussion questions, trivia, and additional resources.

History

Tracing The Path explores how ordinary people, products, ideas, and moments unexpectedly shaped the modern world. Every episode begins with something familiar—a word, a company, a song, an invention, a historical event, or a cultural phenomenon—and follows the surprising chain of connections that made it matter. Why did a grocery store change the course of the Cold War? How did a simple greeting become part of everyday life? What do advertising agencies, world leaders, musicians, inventors, and soft drink companies have in common? More than you might think. Hosted by award-winning storyteller Dan R. Morris, Tracing The Path uncovers the forgotten figures, unexpected decisions, and hidden connections behind the people, products, places, and ideas that shaped the 20th Century—and continue to influence our lives today. Inspired by the storytelling traditions of Paul Harvey, Charles Kuralt, Charles Osgood, and Garrison Keillor, each episode is crafted to leave you with that rare feeling: "I had no idea." Whether we're exploring world-changing inventions, iconic brands, cultural turning points, political upheavals, or everyday objects hiding extraordinary histories, you'll discover that history is far more connected than it first appears. Because the modern world didn't appear overnight. Someone built it. Something changed it. Every path has a beginning. New episodes monthly, plus bonus Addendum episodes featuring the stories that didn't make the final cut. Visit TracingThePath.com for episode transcripts, discussion questions, trivia, and additional resources.

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Episode 78: Yeltsin's Grocery Revolution

Episode 78: Yeltsin's Grocery Revolution

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