Podcast
Tracing The Path: The Connected 20th Century
Hosted by Dan R. Morris - 20th Century Historian · EN
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.
24episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Episode 63: Classified: How the Library Built the FBI and How did J. Edgar Hoover Get Involved?
Mar 25, 202500:38:18Tap to summarizeIt all started in the 1500s with Sir Francis Bacon, and then in the 1700s with Carl Linnaeus. And along the way we run into Thomas Jefferson, President McKinley, Melvil Dewey, Elihu Root, Napoleon Bonaparte, Al Capone, Teddy Roosevelt, the Library of Congress, Ainsworth Rand Spofford and J. Edgar Hoover. All of them to birth the FBI.
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Episode 62: The Cheesy Results of WW II: Plus the Story of How Nachos Came to Be
Feb 26, 202500:33:02Tap to summarizeOne of the greatest products of World War II was "cheesy". And it's all Wisconsin's fault. In fact it's possible that without WW2 three of the greatest things in your daily life just wouldn't be there. In today's episode we cross paths with FDR, Ricos Nachos, Jean Nicolet, Cheetos, Fritos, Kraft, and would you believe . . . Care Packages.
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Episode 61: Every Episode Has 4
Jan 21, 202500:31:52Tap to summarizeThis is episode 61, the end of the first era and beginning of the second. In fielding your hundreds of ideas for shows, we decided to go over the 4 actual requirement that every story must have before becoming an episode of Tracing The Path. We look at old episodes and how they meet the requirements. We go over some unbelievable stories that haven't quite made it yet and preview what's in the works. Stay tuned.
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Episode 60: Roald Dahl: A Real Chocolate Spy (and Children's Book Author)
Dec 18, 202400:32:11Tap to summarizeThe fact that our most beloved children's author was a spy for the British isn't the twist. The twist comes when his greatest enemy becomes an important advisor. Along the way we run into Ian Fleming, FDR, Cadbury, Quaker Oats, Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway, Beatrix Potter, the Sopwith Camel Ace Flyer and C.S. Forrester
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