7 Minute Stories w/ Aaron Calafato

Aaron Calafato

5.0 (150)
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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.

3D AGO

Sunday at Nonna's

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 inbox, but only exclusively for 7MS listeners who sign up for our quarterly newsletter. Join the waitlist! https://www.7minutestoriespod.com/newsletter *Follow Aaron on... Instagram IG Threads YouTube Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer: Ken Wendt Additional Vocals: Cori Calafato Resident Artist: Pete Whitehead Original Music: thomas j. duke Content & Editorial Assistant: Brooks Borden Content Associate: Isaac Gehring

8 min
APR 10

Spring Fever (And Why I Don’t Have It) | 7MS Cinema

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 you're following the podcast—just tap the plus (+) button in the top right corner of the show page on Apple Podcasts. Soundscape Design & Direction: Isaac Gehring *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 waitlist! https://www.7minutestoriespod.com/newsletter *Want to watch one of Aaron’s free live storytelling lectures? The Storytelling University *Dive deeper into the 7MS Universe and connect with Aaron on... Instagram IG Threads YouTube Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer: Ken Wendt Additional Vocals: Cori Calafato Resident Artist: Pete Whitehead Original Music: thomas j. duke Content & Editorial Assistant: Brooks Borden Content Associate: Isaac Gehring

10 min
APR 3

A Man, a Sunset, and the Cleanest Hands in Ohio

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 for our quarterly newsletter. Join the waitlist! https://www.7minutestoriespod.com/newsletter *Watch Aaron’s live storytelling lectures and conversations on our new sister show! The Storytelling University *Dive deeper into the 7MS Universe and connect with Aaron on... Instagram IG Threads YouTube Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer: Ken Wendt Additional Vocals: Cori Calafato Resident Artist: Pete Whitehead Original Music: thomas j. duke Content & Editorial Assistant: Brooks Borden Content Associate: Isaac Gehring

9 min
MAR 27

Gene Hackman's Final Days: The Story We’ll Never Know

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 newsletter. Join the waitlist! https://www.7minutestoriespod.com/newsletter *Watch Aaron’s live storytelling lectures and conversations on our new sister show! The Storytelling University *Dive deeper into the 7MS Universe and connect with Aaron on... Instagram IG Threads YouTube Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer: Ken Wendt Additional Vocals: Cori Calafato Resident Artist: Pete Whitehead Original Music: thomas j. duke Content & Editorial Assistant: Brooks Borden Content Associate: Isaac Gehring

8 min
MAR 20

The Death of Super Kmart & the Seagull Zoo (7MS Cinema)

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 Gehring *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 waitlist! https://www.7minutestoriespod.com/newsletter *Want to watch one of Aaron’s free live storytelling lectures? The Storytelling University *Dive deeper into the 7MS Universe and connect with Aaron on... Instagram IG Threads YouTube Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer: Ken Wendt Additional Vocals: Cori Calafato Resident Artist: Pete Whitehead Original Music: thomas j. duke Content & Editorial Assistant: Brooks Borden Content Associate: Isaac Gehring

10 min
MAR 13

Trapped in Nostalgia: When Loving the Past Goes Too Far

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 waitlist! https://www.7minutestoriespod.com/newsletter *Watch Aaron’s live storytelling lectures and conversations on our new sister show! The Storytelling University *Dive deeper into the 7MS Universe and connect with Aaron on... Instagram IG Threads YouTube Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer: Ken Wendt Additional Vocals: Cori Calafato Resident Artist: Pete Whitehead Original Music: thomas j. duke Content & Editorial Assistant: Brooks Borden Content Associate: Isaac Gehring

8 min
MAR 9 · BONUS

Can You Be Ruthless? A Rent-A-Center Story by Shannon Cason

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 story pulls back the curtain on an industry built on high-interest survival. Follow Shannon's Storytelling: https://www.shannoncason.com/ *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 waitlist! https://www.7minutestoriespod.com/newsletter *Dive deeper into the 7MS Universe and connect with Aaron on... Instagram IG Threads YouTube Thanks to my amazing team who've made 7 Minute Stories a top storytelling podcast: Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer: Ken Wendt Additional vocals: Cori Calafato Original Music: autopolitan Art: Pete Whitehead

10 min
MAR 6

The Face That Reminded Me to Reach Out

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 something important he’s been putting off for too long. *We’re creating bonus 7MS-themed content delivered to your inbox, but only exclusively for 7MS listeners who sign up for our quarterly newsletter. https://www.7minutestoriespod.com/newsletter *Want to watch one of Aaron’s free live storytelling lectures? The Storytelling University *Dive deeper into the 7MS Universe and connect with Aaron on... Instagram IG Threads YouTube Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer: Ken Wendt Additional Vocals: Cori Calafato Resident Artist: Pete Whitehead Original Music: thomas j. duke Content & Editorial Assistant: Brooks Borden Content Associate: Isaac Gehring

10 min

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TRAILER

Welcome to 7 Minute Stories!

A lot can happen in 7 minutes… and luckily, that’s how long it takes me to tell a story. I’m Aaron Calafato, and on this podcast, I’ll take you on crazy roller-coaster rides through my very normal yet very complicated life using my extemporaneous storytelling style. Each episode will help you connect with your own cherished memories. And together, we’ll try to make sense of the world, all in approximately 7 minutes.

Jan 10

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1 min

5

out of 5

150 Ratings

Life in a House

07/19/2024

Cooking with Karl

This episode hit home in so many ways! Fantastic ⚡️
Phenomenal podcast

04/30/2024

ghettohobbit67

Not much else to say other than this was really enjoyable
Best ever!

07/21/2023

Capw620

This is a great podcast from beginning to end!
Mrs Brown

07/20/2023

Lane restoration

The sound track was amazing and the story as all are is moving. Great job.

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.