7 Minute Stories w/ Aaron Calafato

7 Minute Stories w/ Aaron Calafato

7 Minute Stories is Aaron Calafato’s extemporaneous, autobiographical storytelling podcast. This top short story podcast is quick, immersive, and tinged with nostalgia. Each story feels deeply personal and always leaves you with something to chew on—7MS sounds like if David Sedaris and Paul Harvey swapped notes over coffee at a Midwestern diner.

Episodes

Housekeeping, Where to Find Aaron Between Seasons & Storytelling University Sneak Peek

June 11, 2025 • 6 mins
With the Season 5 finale of 7 Minute Stories just around the corner, Aaron shares a special housekeeping update. In this episode, listeners get a rundown on where to find him during the offseason—including new short-form storytelling series on Instagram and YouTube, weekly live streams, and the launch of 7MS Presents: The Storytelling University. Plus, Aaron previews the first episode of the new series, featuring solo motorcycle ad...
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WWF and Shawn Michaels Taught Me About Trust—Then My Best Friend Betrayed Me

June 5, 2025 • 8 mins
Was it Shawn Michaels’ infamous superkick through the barbershop window? Or generations of Sicilian family wisdom that taught Aaron the true meaning of betrayal? In this nostalgic tale, Aaron explores childhood trust, sixth-grade backstabbing, and how wrestling lore and real life collided in a lesson he never forgot. * If you like 7MS, you'll love Aaron's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠7MS Presents: Live and Unscripted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. A live, audio-first show inspi...
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Why She Tried to Grab My Arm Every Sunday

May 29, 2025 • 9 mins
As a kid, Aaron was terrified of the trembling old woman who reached for him at church every Sunday. Years later, a simple handshake revealed the heartbreaking reason why—and left him with a memory that never faded. * If you like 7MS, you'll love Aaron's ⁠⁠⁠⁠7MS Presents: Live and Unscripted⁠⁠⁠⁠. A live, audio-first show inspired by classic late-night radio — it features raw reflections, spontaneous storytelling, and unexpected ...
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The Day I Met My Daughter (I Love You, Brosephina)

May 22, 2025 • 8 mins
On this deeply personal episode of 7 Minute Stories, Aaron reflects on the life-changing events of May 22nd—the day his daughter was born. From migraines and fear to awe and transformation, this story explores what it really means to become a parent for the first time. * If you like 7MS, you'll love Aaron's ⁠⁠⁠7MS Presents: Live and Unscripted⁠⁠⁠. A live, audio-first show inspired by classic late-night radio — it features raw ref...
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Big Updates, New Season, and What’s Next for 7 Minute Stories

May 18, 2025 • 8 mins
In this special Sunday Leftovers episode, Aaron shares exciting updates about the future of 7 Minute Stories—including a brand-new app, a weekly live radio-style storytelling stream, and the upcoming Storytelling University series. With just a few episodes left in Season 5, Aaron reflects and invites you into the next chapter. Tune in to Aaron’s new audio-first livestream — 7MS: Storystream LIVE & UNSCRIPTED — every Monday at 8:30...
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The Problem with Using '90s Commercials as a Sleep Aid

May 15, 2025 • 9 mins
Aaron Calafato thought he’d finally cracked the code on curing his late-night insomnia—with the help of a few nostalgic commercials from the 1980s and ’90s. But what worked like melatonin for him caused chaos in his wife’s sleeping habits. In this episode, Aaron unpacks how the jingles, voices, and toy ads of his youth became a soothing balm for anxiety… and how imagination—not consumption—might be the real trick to falling asleep....
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Statue of Limitations

May 8, 2025 • 10 mins
A few days before Valentine’s Day, Aaron realizes he still hasn’t found a gift for his wife. Not for lack of effort—he’s been looking. But what she wants is oddly specific: a concrete lawn goose. What follows is a story about love, small towns, gift anxiety, and what it means to really try—even if you’re probably going to fail. * If you like 7MS, you'll love Aaron's ⁠⁠7MS: Storystream — Live and Unscripted⁠⁠. 7MS Storystream is a...
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The Scooter Man Incident (Or: How I Became Larry David)

May 1, 2025 • 7 mins
When a fast-talking salesman on a motorized scooter invades Aaron's Saturday peace, things spiral into a hilarious—and nearly hostile—driveway showdown. In this episode, Aaron recounts the moment he transformed into the fictional version of Larry David, wrestling with his own patience, boundaries, and a stranger’s relentless sales script. It’s a story about personal space, emotional restraint, and why no really means no. * If you ...
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How to Plan for Everything (Except a Paper Cut)

April 24, 2025 • 8 mins
Aaron has been preaching the same piece of advice to his kids for years: give a gift to your future self. It’s great advice—until it isn’t. In this episode, a public library talk goes sideways fast, and Aaron learns the hard way that even the best-laid plans can’t stop a surprise bloodbath. * If you like 7MS, you'll love Aaron's 7MS: Storystream — Live and Unscripted. 7MS Storystream is a live, audio-first show inspired by cla...
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Sunday at Nonna's

April 17, 2025 • 8 mins
Aaron shares the story of his great-grandmother—“Little Grandma”—and the Sunday tradition she passed down that became the heartbeat of his family. This deeply personal episode explores the power of food, memory, and how culture gets preserved one simmering pot of sauce at a time. *Shout out to artist Frank Oriti for helping inspire this story! https://frankoritijr.com/ *We’re creating bonus 7MS-themed content delivered to your i...
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Spring Fever (And Why I Don’t Have It) | 7MS Cinema

April 10, 2025 • 10 mins
As the rest of the world thaws out and rushes outside to soak in the first rays of spring, Aaron heads the opposite direction—back into the basement. In this episode, he reflects on why warmer days fill him with unease, why solitude has become sacred, and how the quiet chill of winter might offer something we’re all starving for: the right to turn off and just be. A story about temperature, temperament, and tuning out. Make sure y...
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A Man, a Sunset, and the Cleanest Hands in Ohio

April 3, 2025 • 8 mins
Aaron finds himself stuck in a suburban parking lot, overwhelmed by logistics and burnout after a long weekend of supporting his daughter's performance. But as dusk falls and a chaotic van interrupts a perfect sunset, he’s reminded of perspective, connection, and the small beauty of clean hands and second chances. *We’re creating bonus 7MS-themed content delivered to your inbox, but only exclusively for 7MS listeners who sign up f...
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Gene Hackman's Final Days: The Story We’ll Never Know

March 27, 2025 • 7 mins
When Aaron learns of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy’s tragic deaths, he can’t stop thinking about what really happened in those final days. In this intimate reflection, Aaron explores the space between facts and truth—and the power of storytelling to fill in what logic alone never could. *We’re creating bonus 7MS-themed content delivered to your inbox, but only exclusively for 7MS listeners who sign up for our quarterly newslette...
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The Death of Super Kmart… But What About the Seagull Zoo? (7MS Cinema)

March 20, 2025 • 10 mins
This special 7 Minute Stories Cinema collaboration takes you to a small-town Super Kmart, a once-thriving hub that slowly faded into obscurity—only to be reclaimed by an unexpected new population. In this episode, Aaron reflects on a childhood filled with late-night runs, hypnotic store music, and one final transformation that turned an abandoned parking lot into something truly unforgettable. Soundscape Design & Direction: Isaac ...
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Trapped in Nostalgia: When Loving the Past Goes Too Far

March 13, 2025 • 8 mins
Aaron reflects on the fine line between nostalgia and delusion, questioning whether his love for the past is keeping him grounded or pulling him into a time warp. Through a mix of humor and introspection, he explores how memories shape us—without letting them define us. *We’re creating bonus 7MS-themed content delivered to your inbox, but only exclusively for 7MS listeners who sign up for our quarterly newsletter. Join the waitlis...
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Can You Be Ruthless? A Rent-A-Center Story by Shannon Cason

March 9, 2025 • 9 mins
What really happens behind the scenes at a Rent-A-Center? In this 7 Minute Stories: Sunday Leftovers episode, Aaron features master storyteller Shannon Cason, host of Homemade with Shannon Cason, as part of a special story swap. Shannon shares a brutally honest and darkly funny story from his summer working at Rent-A-Center—where the true business wasn’t furniture, but selling payments. From repo runs to ruthless managers, this sto...
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The Face That Reminded Me to Reach Out

March 6, 2025 • 9 mins
This episode features a 7MS Cinema collaboration with audio producer Isaac Gehring. After years of chasing a dream in New York, Aaron looks back on the unlikely connections and formative moments that shaped his journey—including a family tie to a professional character actor many of you have seen in films over the last few decades. But when a chance reminder from Henry Winkler jogs a long-buried memory, he realizes there's somethi...
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How Many Trash Cans Does It Take to Save the World?

February 27, 2025 • 8 mins
On a freezing winter morning, Aaron stepped outside to complete the simplest of tasks—bringing in his trash cans. But what started as a mundane chore quickly spiraled into an existential crisis, leading him to question generosity, obligation, and just how many trash cans one man can really take in. *We’re creating bonus 7MS-themed content delivered to your inbox, but only exclusively for 7MS listeners who sign up for our quarterly...
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The Fixer: From School Detention in Venezuela to Disrupting AI for Everyone (7MS Sunday Leftovers)

February 23, 2025 • 12 mins
In Venezuela, when something breaks, you don’t just replace it—you figure out how to fix it with whatever you have. That’s the mindset Julio Viera (CEO of kluster.ai) grew up with, one that led him to discover programming in a school detention hall, code by hand in a notebook, and eventually build a company making AI more accessible to the world. As AI models like DeepSeek and ChatGPT dominate the conversation—sparking both excite...
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Two Escapes: A Bird, A Barbecue, and a Moment That Lingers

February 19, 2025 • 9 mins
On a late summer night, Aaron and Cori set out for barbecue, but what should have been a simple dinner takes an unexpected turn. First, they find an unlikely hitchhiker—a panicked bird trapped in their car’s grill. Then, just as they’re leaving the restaurant, a much more unsettling scene unfolds in the parking lot—a woman struggling to escape a car, a man refusing to let her go. In this episode, Aaron recounts two escapes: one wit...
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