7 Minute Stories w/ Aaron Calafato

Aaron Calafato
  • 5.0 (161)
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7 Minute Stories is the #1 short-form extemporaneous storytelling podcast in the world. Aaron Calafato’s award-winning autobiographical pod is quick, immersive, and tinged with nostalgia. Each story feels deeply personal and always leaves you better that it found you. 7MS sounds like if a Millennial swapped stories with Jean Shepard, Spalding Gray and Paul Harvey at a Midwestern diner.

  1. Ani Zonneveld: Storytelling, Progressive Islam, and the Power of Music to Change Hearts

    1D AGO · BONUS

    Ani Zonneveld: Storytelling, Progressive Islam, and the Power of Music to Change Hearts

    In this episode of 7MS Presents: The Storytelling University, Aaron sits down with writer, activist, and Grammy-certified songwriter Ani Zonneveld, founder of Muslims for Progressive Values, an international human rights organization advocating for equality, freedom of expression, and inclusive interpretations of Islam. Ani shares the remarkable story of a moment that changed someone’s heart at a music festival, revealing how storytelling, music, and human connection can dissolve fear and misunderstanding. The conversation explores Ani’s global upbringing as the daughter of a Malaysian ambassador, the spiritual power of music, and how storytelling can create empathy across cultures, religions, and political divides. Along the way, Ani reflects on how narrative shapes faith, identity, and social change, and why stories often reach people in ways arguments never can. Ani is also the author of the memoir An Unlikely Social Justice Warrior: Making My Life Count as a Muslim Feminist. *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.

    13 min
  2. Coveralls, Coffee, and What His Dad Left Behind

    4D AGO

    Coveralls, Coffee, and What His Dad Left Behind

    One night, Chad Baxter heard a knock at the door and saw his mother standing in the hallway. In this listener-submitted 7 Minute Stories episode, Chad reflects on the man who raised him: early mornings riding home from the midnight shift, the smell of coffee and coveralls, lessons in the garage, and the complicated love between a father and son. A deeply personal story about memory, loss, and the quiet ways fathers live on through the lives of their children. *Story by Chad Baxter 👇 📬⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 ⁠⁠

    9 min
  3. From Kidnapped Child to Olympic Flag Bearer | Short Stories of Hope

    MAR 8 · BONUS

    From Kidnapped Child to Olympic Flag Bearer | Short Stories of Hope

    In this month’s 7MS Presents: Stories of Hope, Aaron Calafato tells the true story of a six year old boy taken during a church gathering in a small village in southern Sudan. Torn from his mother and thrown into the chaos of civil war, the boy would eventually escape and spend years growing up in a refugee camp far from home. But through everything, he kept running. Years later, that same boy would walk into the Olympic Stadium carrying the flag of the United States. Sometimes hope is something we find. Sometimes it is something we run toward. *Read the story form the man himself: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/running-for-my-life-lopez-lomong/1110791822

    5 min
  4. The Ritual of the Last Bar of Soap

    MAR 6

    The Ritual of the Last Bar of Soap

    In this episode of 7 Minute Stories, Aaron has a strange ritual he’s a little embarrassed to admit. It happens quietly at the end of every season. A small moment that most people would overlook, but one he’s come to treat with surprising care. At first it seems odd. Maybe even a little obsessive. But the deeper you go, the more it begins to feel familiar. Because beneath the surface is something deeply human... 👇 📬⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 ⁠⁠

    9 min
  5. Are Aliens Real? Obama, UFOs, and the Night We Thought We Saw One

    FEB 26

    Are Aliens Real? Obama, UFOs, and the Night We Thought We Saw One

    After Barack Obama recently clarified his comments about aliens, UFOs, UAPs, and Area 51, the question resurfaced: Are we alone in the universe? In this episode replay, Aaron shares a strange midnight encounter under the stars that, for a moment, felt like a UFO. Or maybe a UAP? What he and his wife saw in the sky sparked thoughts of alien life, pop culture fascination, and the mathematics of the cosmos before revealing what it actually was. 👇 📬⁠⁠⁠ 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 ⁠⁠

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

    FEB 22 · 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
  7. Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust

    FEB 19

    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
  8. 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
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About

7 Minute Stories is the #1 short-form extemporaneous storytelling podcast in the world. Aaron Calafato’s award-winning autobiographical pod is quick, immersive, and tinged with nostalgia. Each story feels deeply personal and always leaves you better that it found you. 7MS sounds like if a Millennial swapped stories with Jean Shepard, Spalding Gray and Paul Harvey at a Midwestern diner.

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