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 Jean Shepard, Spalding Gray and Paul Harvey swapped notes at a Midwestern diner.
Episodes
July 24, 2025 • 8 mins
While sitting beside his grandmother before heart surgery, Aaron witnesses a moment of prayer that transforms his understanding of vulnerability, faith, and human connection. What began as a simple hospital visit becomes an unexpected chorus of hope echoing down the hallway.
🎙️ Listen to Aaron tell stories live during Night Stories on his YouTube Channel— these late-night sessions can happen anytime, so be sure to subscribe and ...
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What if storytelling isn’t just communication—but the original form of intelligence?
Angus Fletcher, story scientist and Ohio State professor (featured on Malcolm Gladwell's Revisionist History Podcast), explains why narrative thinking is more powerful than data, logic, or AI. From neurons to Shakespeare to U.S. Special Ops, this conversation reveals how stories help us plan, survive, and imagine a better future.
Angus Fletch...
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July 17, 2025 • 7 mins
After college, Aaron spent a quiet summer in rural Ohio, preparing for a new life in New York. But one Saturday on a sunbaked soccer field, he joined a league of migrant workers—and they gave him a name he’d never forget. They called him America. But watching them play, celebrate, and return to the fields, he realized—they were the dream all along.
🎙️ Listen to Aaron tell stories live during Night Stories on his YouTube chann...
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July 10, 2025 • 8 mins
In 1993, a 10-year-old Aaron Calafato got the opportunity of a lifetime: to race a killer whale named Shamu at SeaWorld in front of a roaring crowd. What started as a dream moment turned into public humiliation—and a soaking wet lesson he never forgot. But decades later, that memory sparked a deeper question: What did Shamu feel like in that same spotlight?
*If you like 7MS, you’ll love 7MS Presents: Live and Unscripted — a live,...
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July 3, 2025 • 8 mins
In 2005, Aaron and his college friend Jon were just two undergrads trying to pull off a film festival with a $3,000 budget. Their goal? Land a special guest who would leave a lasting impact. After a series of wild long shots, they found the perfect fit — The Sandlot’s Art LaFleur, the actor who played Babe Ruth. This episode is about what happened next: a weekend of laughter, inspiration, and unexpected campus fame. It's also about...
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June 26, 2025 • 8 mins
At a Holiday Inn off the Garden State Parkway (or as Aaron mistakenly called it, “the Jersey Parkway” — what can we say, he’s from Ohio), a late‑night room service shift becomes an unexpected lesson in grit, perseverance, and chasing a dream. From an awkward encounter with a strange guest to a $300 VIP assignment that felt like a wink from the universe, this is the story of how a moment with Olivia Newton‑John reaffirmed one aspiri...
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June 21, 2025 • 40 mins
Noraly Schoenmaker—creator of Itchy Boots—joins Aaron Calafato on 7MS Presents: The Storytelling University for a deep dive into the art of storytelling, the kindness of strangers, and what it means to document real experiences while living them. She reflects on how her solo motorcycle travels around the world transformed her outlook on life, and discusses her New York Times bestselling book, Free Ride: Heartbreak, Courage, and the...
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June 19, 2025 • 9 mins
What happens when you meet someone pretending to be Elvis… in a small-town restaurant? In this Season 5 Finale of 7 Minute Stories, Aaron shares a story about nachos, a tribute act, and an unexpected moment of connection. What started as a kitschy Elvis performance turns into something unforgettable—a moving reflection on art, risk, and the courage to chase your dream, even if only twelve people are watching.
* If you like 7MS, y...
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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