7 Minute Stories w/ Aaron Calafato

Aaron Calafato
  • 5.0 (163)
  • IMPROV
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

7 Minute Stories is the leading short-form autobiographical storytelling podcast in the world, reaching over 30 million listeners through weekly unscripted personal narratives. Each episode delivers a true story from Aaron Calafato’s extremely normal yet deeply relatable life in Ohio, told in about seven minutes with no script. This show is quick, immersive, and tinged with nostalgia. Each story feels deeply personal, fits into your day, and leaves you better than it found you. 7MS sounds like a Millennial swapping stories with Jean Shepherd, Spalding Gray, and Paul Harvey at a Midwestern diner. New episodes every week.

  1. Walter: The Story of an Elegant Man

    5D AGO

    Walter: The Story of an Elegant Man

    On a routine trip to a Northeast Ohio institution, a simple checkout line becomes something more... In this story, Aaron reflects on the quiet shift from living transactionally to truly seeing the people around us, sparked by his daughter’s instinct to imagine a life behind a stranger’s eyes. What begins as a quick stop at Discount Drug Mart turns into a meditation on dignity, attention, and the small stories we almost miss. *Dive deeper into the 7MS Universe and connect with Aaron on... Instagram Facebook YouTube IG Threads 📬⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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.

    9 min
  2. David Moulton: On Storytelling, Cybersecurity, and Why Story Moves Business Forward

    APR 13 ·  BONUS

    David Moulton: On Storytelling, Cybersecurity, and Why Story Moves Business Forward

    In this bonus episode of 7 Minute Stories Presents: Storytelling University, Aaron Calafato sits down with David Moulton to explore the unexpected intersection of storytelling and cybersecurity. At first glance, cybersecurity feels purely technical. But underneath it? It is a story as old as time. As Senior Director of Content and Thought Leadership at Palo Alto Networks and host of the Threat Vector podcast, David works at the center of how complex cybersecurity ideas are translated into stories that leaders, teams, and organizations can actually understand and act on. He breaks down how storytelling transforms invisible threats into something tangible, helping influence decisions from the SOC to the C suite. From product strategy to executive communication, this conversation reveals how narrative becomes the bridge between technical reality and human behavior. You will hear: Why cybersecurity is fundamentally a human story, not just a technical one How storytelling helps organizations make better decisions under pressure The difference between facts that inform and stories that move people A powerful framework for telling effective stories in business Special Guest: David Moulton | https://www.davidrmoulton.com/ Team: *Audio Engineer: Ken Wendt *The Storytelling University is part of the 7 Minute Stories Universe Created, Produced and Edited 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.

    29 min
  3. Pretending to Be Pacino or The Speech You Wish You’d Given

    APR 9

    Pretending to Be Pacino or The Speech You Wish You’d Given

    What if the words you never said still have somewhere to go? In this episode, Aaron revisits one of the most powerful monologues in film and turns it into something unexpected, a way to process the moments in life where we stayed silent but wish we hadn’t. Excerpt from Scent of a Woman (1992)Produced and distributed by Universal PicturesDirected by Martin BrestScreenplay by Bo GoldmanBased on the novel Il buio e il miele by Giovanni ArpinoColonel Frank Slade portrayed by Al Pacino 👇 * Aaron on Instagram 📬⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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. 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
  4. Finding Success in Taco Bell Sauce Packets

    APR 2

    Finding Success in Taco Bell Sauce Packets

    A strange package shows up at Aaron’s door, filled with Taco Bell hot sauce and a message that didn’t quite survive the journey. But what starts as a bizarre delivery turns into something else entirely: a reflection on memory, connection, and the unexpected ways we measure success. Want to hear the story that inspired Taco Bell Sauce - Gate? LISTEN HERE 📬⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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. The Receipts She Never Threw Away

    MAR 26

    The Receipts She Never Threw Away

    In this 7 Minute Stories, Aaron shares a story that was passed down to him about a boy who grows up believing his mother chose work over him. Years later, a quiet Thanksgiving visit reveals the truth behind those early mornings, and what she was holding onto all along. 📬⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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. The Meteor Nobody Saw Coming

    MAR 19

    The Meteor Nobody Saw Coming

    A meteor explodes over Medina, Ohio—shaking homes, lighting up the sky, and turning an ordinary morning into something unforgettable. As Aaron retraces the moment and the story behind it, a deeper question begins to surface about the systems we trust and the assumptions we carry. In this episode of 7 Minute Stories, a once-in-a-lifetime event points toward a realization you might not expect. 👇 📬⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 ⁠⁠

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

    MAR 15 ·  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
  8. Coveralls, Coffee, and What His Dad Left Behind

    MAR 12

    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
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5
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163 Ratings

About

7 Minute Stories is the leading short-form autobiographical storytelling podcast in the world, reaching over 30 million listeners through weekly unscripted personal narratives. Each episode delivers a true story from Aaron Calafato’s extremely normal yet deeply relatable life in Ohio, told in about seven minutes with no script. This show is quick, immersive, and tinged with nostalgia. Each story feels deeply personal, fits into your day, and leaves you better than it found you. 7MS sounds like a Millennial swapping stories with Jean Shepherd, Spalding Gray, and Paul Harvey at a Midwestern diner. New episodes every week.

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