7 Minute Stories w/ Aaron Calafato

Aaron Calafato
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7 Minute Stories is Aaron Calafato’s extemporaneous, autobiographical storytelling podcast. This top award-winning 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 a Millennial swapped stories with Jean Shepard, Spalding Gray and Paul Harvey at a Midwestern diner.

  1. Brad Roberts (Crash Test Dummies): “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm,” Songwriting, Philosophy & The Stories That Saved Lives | The Storytelling University

    1H AGO · BONUS

    Brad Roberts (Crash Test Dummies): “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm,” Songwriting, Philosophy & The Stories That Saved Lives | The Storytelling University

    Brad Roberts, lead singer and songwriter of Crash Test Dummies, sits down with Aaron for a wide-ranging conversation about songwriting, philosophy, and the unexpected afterlife of a hit song. From the improvisational process behind “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” to the outsider themes that shaped his lyrics, Brad shares how studying philosophy and English literature influenced the questions embedded in his music. This bonus episode of 7MS Presents: The Storytelling University explores 90s alternative rock, lyrical storytelling, and the deeply personal stories fans have carried with them for decades. *The Storytelling University is part of the 7 Minute Stories Universe Created & Produced by Aaron Calafato & Brooks Borden Love 7MS & TSU? Here's how to support: Follow the pod wherever you're listening Tap 5 Stars Text one person you love a link to your favorite episode.

    12 min
  2. Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust

    3D AGO

    Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust

    This week on 7 Minute Stories, Aaron reflects on loss, legacy, and the fragile weight of being human. From the passing of cultural icons like James Van Der Beek and Robert Duvall to the deeply personal grief of losing his uncle and cousin—both Cleveland firefighters who ran toward danger for a living—this episode explores the difference between distant loss and the kind that reshapes you. Recorded on Ash Wednesday, “Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust” wrestles with mortality, memory, and a question Aaron first asked at age 12: When the body stops, does everything stop? Or are we more like radios—receivers of something that continues beyond us? 👇 📬⁠⁠ Join the 7 Minute Stories Newsletter⁠⁠ Each month, Aaron shares a select edition of Stories in a Snap — a written short story adapted from this 7 Minute Stories podcast and thoughtfully reimagined for the page. Subscribers also receive storytelling insights, behind-the-scenes reflections, and exclusive bonus content. All delivered straight to their inbox. 📰 ⁠Stories in a Snap (Weekly Edition)⁠ is the weekly written adaptation of 7 Minute Stories. A distilled short story you can read in just a few quiet minutes, delivered straight to your inbox every week. 📻 If you like 7 Minute Stories, you’ll love⁠⁠⁠ 7 Minute Stories Radio⁠⁠⁠ — a 24/7 stream of Aaron’s stories you can tune into anytime. Let it run in the background while you walk, work, cook, or wind down. It’s not an episode feed. It’s a digital storytelling radio companion with an analog feel, built to keep you company. 🌙 If you like 7MS, make sure you follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Night Stories LIVE! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠— Aaron’s late-night radio show where he shares stories and talks with special guests in real time. Streamed live Thursdays at 9:30PM EST on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ and delivered as ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠a podcast on-demand⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! The 7MS Team: Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ken Wendt ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Additional vocals: Cori Calafato Artist in Residence: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pete Whitehead ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Original Theme Music: thomas j. duke Additional Soundscape Design:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Isaac Gehring & Story Sounds Media LLC ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *Image: "Fleeing a dust storm". Farmer Arthur Coble and sons walking in the face of a dust storm, Cimmaron County, Oklahoma. Arthur Rothstein, photographer, April, 1936. (Library of Congress) *Music: Scotland the Brave Roie Shpigler, Ziggy Used under paid license via Artlist.io. Special Thanks: Shannon Baker Rob Montague Jr Kyle McCarthy Dania Khalife

    7 min
  3. The Floating Hospital | Short Stories of Hope

    FEB 15 · BONUS

    The Floating Hospital | Short Stories of Hope

    In a remote community along the Amazon River, a man lives for two years in quiet, crippling pain. The nearest hospital is not down the road. It is a journey away. Then one day, something white appears on the water. In this episode of 7MS Presents: Short Stories of Hope, Aaron tells the true story of a floating hospital that docks where roads do not reach, and of one Brazilian farmer whose life changed the morning he stood upright again. This is a story about dignity, skilled hands arriving by water, and the kind of hope that does not announce itself. It simply docks. *Look more about the Pope Francis Hospital Boat HERE

    4 min
  4. An American Buffet and the Trouble with Nostalgia

    FEB 12

    An American Buffet and the Trouble with Nostalgia

    An American buffet leaves an impression on you. Sometimes good. Sometimes bad. Maybe it was a Chinese Buffet with your high school friends. Maybe it was Ponderosa. Maybe it was a frozen yogurt flavor you’ve been chasing for decades. But what happens when you go back? In this 7 Minute Story, Aaron revisits a core memory from the 90s and begins to question something deeper: Can you trust nostalgia? Does memory tell the truth? Or does time change the taste of everything? This is a story about abundance, aging, perspective, and the strange moment when the past doesn’t feel the way you remembered it. And the uncomfortable question that follows... Which version of the memory do you trust? 👇 📬⁠ Join the 7 Minute Stories Newsletter⁠ Each month, Aaron shares a select edition of Stories in a Snap — a written short story adapted from this 7 Minute Stories podcast and thoughtfully reimagined for the page. Subscribers also receive storytelling insights, behind-the-scenes reflections, and exclusive bonus content. All delivered straight to their inbox. 📰 Stories in a Snap (Weekly Edition) is the weekly written adaptation of 7 Minute Stories. A distilled short story you can read in just a few quiet minutes, delivered straight to your inbox every week. 📻 If you like 7 Minute Stories, you’ll love⁠⁠ 7 Minute Stories Radio⁠⁠ — a 24/7 stream of Aaron’s stories you can tune into anytime. Let it run in the background while you walk, work, cook, or wind down. It’s not an episode feed. It’s a digital storytelling radio companion with an analog feel, built to keep you company. 🌙 If you like 7MS, make sure you follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Night Stories LIVE! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠— Aaron’s late-night radio show where he shares stories and talks with special guests in real time. Streamed live Thursdays at 9:30PM EST on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ and delivered as ⁠⁠⁠⁠a podcast on-demand⁠⁠⁠⁠! The 7MS Team: Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ken Wendt ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Additional vocals: Cori Calafato Artist in Residence: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pete Whitehead ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Original Theme Music: thomas j. duke Additional Soundscape Design:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Isaac Gehring & Story Sounds Media LLC ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Special Thanks: Shannon Baker Rob Montague Jr Kyle McCarthy Dania Khalife

    9 min
  5. A Lesson from the Gumball Philosopher

    FEB 5

    A Lesson from the Gumball Philosopher

    In this episode of 7 Minute Stories, Aaron tells the story of a broken gumball machine, a chance driveway encounter, and a man who chose to live by an "unusual" philosophy... What begins as a simple attempt to clean out the garage turns into a conversation about boxes — the ones we live in, the ones we work in, and the ones we may spend our lives trying to escape. It’s a short story about freedom, sacrifice, and the unexpected teachers we meet when we think we’re just throwing something away. 👇 📬 Join the 7 Minute Stories Newsletter Each month, Aaron shares a select edition of Stories in a Snap — a written short story adapted from this 7 Minute Stories podcast and thoughtfully reimagined for the page. Subscribers also receive storytelling insights, behind-the-scenes reflections, and exclusive bonus content. All delivered straight to their inbox. 📻 If you like 7 Minute Stories, you’ll love⁠ 7 Minute Stories Radio⁠ — a 24/7 stream of Aaron’s stories you can tune into anytime. Let it run in the background while you walk, work, cook, or wind down. It’s not an episode feed. It’s a digital l storytelling radio companion with an analog feel, built to keep you company. 🌙 If you like 7MS, make sure you follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Night Stories LIVE! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠— Aaron’s late-night radio show where he shares new stories and talks with special guests in real time. Streamed live Thursdays @ 9:30PM EST on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ and now delivered as ⁠⁠⁠a podcast on-demand⁠⁠⁠! The Team: Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ken Wendt ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Additional vocals: Cori Calafato Artist in Residence: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pete Whitehead ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Original Theme Music: thomas j. duke Additional Soundscape Design:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Isaac Gehring & Story Sounds Media LLC ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Special Thanks: Shannon Baker Rob Montague Jr Kyle McCarthy Dania Khalife

    9 min
  6. The Astronaut Who Couldn’t Live Alone

    JAN 29

    The Astronaut Who Couldn’t Live Alone

    What happens when survival means living your entire life in total isolation? Drawing from Interstellar, Aaron Calafato steps into the mind of Dr. Mann, an astronaut marooned on a frozen planet, and examines the fear, temptation, and moral cost of wanting to be saved. A personal story about loneliness, choice, and the human need for other people. 👇 📻 If you like 7 Minute Stories, you’ll love 7 Minute Stories Radio — a 24/7 stream of Aaron’s stories you can tune into anytime. Let it run in the background while you walk, work, cook, or wind down. It’s not an episode feed. It’s a digital l storytelling radio companion with an analog feel, built to keep you company. 🌙 If you like 7MS, make sure you follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Night Stories LIVE! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠— Aaron’s late-night radio show where he shares new stories and talks with special guests in real time. Streamed live Thursdays @ 9:30PM EST on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ and now delivered as ⁠⁠a podcast on-demand⁠⁠! 📖 If you like 7 Minute Stories, you’ll love Stories in a Snap — a weekly series of short, written stories by Aaron, adapted directly from the podcast. Each piece begins as a story told out loud and is reshaped for the page, so you can read it in just a few minutes. 📬 Join the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 7 Minute Stories Newsletter!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ It only goes out 4–6 times a year — short, sweet, and packed with value. Get exclusive bonus content, behind-the-scenes stories, and invites to special remote events, delivered straight to your inbox. The Team: Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ken Wendt ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Additional vocals: Cori Calafato Artist in Residence: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pete Whitehead ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Original Theme Music: thomas j. duke Additional Soundscape Design:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Isaac Gehring & Story Sounds Media LLC ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Special Thanks: Shannon Baker Rob Montague Jr Kyle McCarthy Dania Khalife

    10 min
  7. The GoFundMe He Never Asked For

    JAN 22

    The GoFundMe He Never Asked For

    A GoFundMe is started for the actor Mickey Rourke, and the internet responds as it so often does. Reading the comments anonymously, Aaron discovers something rather unexpected, especially given the state of 2026. What unfolds isn’t really a story about a fundraiser or a public figure shaped by past and perception. It’s a meditation on people, and the quiet hope that lingers when someone is seen in need. *Poster Art Jim Harris Designs 📻 If you like 7MS, make sure you follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Night Stories LIVE! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠— Aaron’s late-night radio show where he shares new stories and talks with special guests in real time. Streamed live Thursdays @ 9:30PM EST on ⁠YouTube⁠ and now delivered as ⁠a podcast on-demand⁠! 📬 Join the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 7 Minute Stories Newsletter!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ It only goes out 4–6 times a year — short, sweet, and packed with value. Get exclusive bonus content, behind-the-scenes stories, and invites to special remote events, delivered straight to your inbox. The Team: Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ken Wendt ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Additional vocals: Cori Calafato Artist in Residence: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pete Whitehead ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Original Theme Music: thomas j. duke Additional Soundscape Design:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Isaac Gehring & Story Sounds Media LLC ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Special Thanks: Shannon Baker Rob Montague Jr Kyle McCarthy Dania Khalife

    8 min
  8. The Restaurant With No Prices | Short Stories of Hope

    JAN 19 · BONUS

    The Restaurant With No Prices | Short Stories of Hope

    This is this January's bonus episode of Short Stories of Hope. In this story, Aaron shares a quiet and unexpected moment centered on a woman on the edge of hunger and a small restaurant in New Jersey that becomes an unlikely turning point. What makes the moment even more surprising is the person who helps set it in motion, someone you’d expect to see under arena lights at a rock concert, not connected to an act of everyday generosity. It is a story about dignity, timing, and the small human gestures that can restore hope when it feels nearly out of reach. Created, Performed & Produced by ⁠⁠Aaron Calafato⁠⁠ *⁠⁠Learn more about the person or place embodying this month’s Short Story of Hope⁠⁠ *Additional sounds on cleared list and used with paid license via artlist.io

    6 min
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About

7 Minute Stories is Aaron Calafato’s extemporaneous, autobiographical storytelling podcast. This top award-winning 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 a Millennial swapped stories with Jean Shepard, Spalding Gray and Paul Harvey at a Midwestern diner.

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