In the waning years of the Soviet Union, the U.S. Information Agency (USIA) mounted massive exhibitions about American culture throughout the USSR--with everything from fully equipped American kitchens to a car display featuring a little red Corvette. Roland Merullo managed one such exhibition, "Design USA," and had plenty of stories about it.

Roland Merullo's books are enjoyed worldwide. They blend close observations of regular life with humor and spiritual insight. Many are set in Revere, Massachusetts--the place he grew up. But others are set in far-off places like the former Soviet Union and Micronesia. There's a reason for that--and this episode explains it.

'SoftPower/FulStories' uses first-person stories to explore why U.S. engagement in the world matters. Through conversations with diplomats, aid workers, Peace Corps volunteers, authors and artists, influencers, businesspeople, and more, SP/FS highlights how soft power and foreign aid and assistance strengthen America's security, prosperity, and global standing. But forget politics, policy, or punditry; this is all about the stories.