#6 - Roland Merullo
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.
For more information about Roland Merullo, visit his website HERE. You can visit his author's page on Amazon HERE. His Substack page, which he writes with his daughter, is called "Hi Zan, Hi Pa."
(All photography below by Amanda S. Merullo.)
Roland Merullo
Roland with his Assistant Director overseeing exhibiton setup in Moscow in 1989
Line outside the Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) exhibit hall for "Design USA" (1989)
Leningrad (St. Petersburg), 1989
The popular fully outfitted American kitchen stand
Show Credits:
SP/FS Producer & Host: Christopher Wurst
Opening Voices: Dmitri Wurst, Elena Wurst, Kjara Wurst, Christopher Wurst
Show Artwork: Kate Furby
Voice of Dubious Aunt Deb: Cathy Zielske
Cold Open Music: BWM – The Brina Band
Dubious Ant Deb Music: Cass County Beauty Queen – Alan Singley
Episode Music:
Aourourou – Blue Dot Sessions
Building the Sled - Blue Dot Sessions
Chinese Umbrella Ragtime – The Piano Lady
Darklit Carpet – Blue Dot Sessions
In Paler Skies – Blue Dot Sessions
Interview date: March 21, 2025