This week, 7 Minute Stories transforms into a courtroom drama—well, sort of. In this courtroom-style story, Aaron Calafato takes on the role of defense attorney, arguing not against cynicism but for hope. As the prosecution condemns Hallmark movies as “brain rot,” Aaron makes a case for why these small-town stories, full of clichés and Christmas lights, might be exactly what our overstimulated culture needs. A clever, heartfelt reflection on repetition, ritual, and why the simplest stories can still teach us the most about being human. 📻 If you like 7MS, make sure you follow ⁠⁠⁠Night Stories LIVE! ⁠⁠⁠— Aaron’s late-night storytelling show where he shares new stories and talks with special guests in real time. Streamed on its⁠⁠⁠⁠ new YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠, these nostalgic, radio-style sessions go live every Thursday at 9:30PM EST and roll deep into the night. 📬 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 *Additional sounds on cleared list and used with paid license via artlist.io

The first-ever Super Kmart in America once stood in Aaron’s hometown of Medina, Ohio—a place where he grew up under blue light specials and late-night wanderings with friends. Years after the store shut down, seagulls claimed the empty parking lot, and his daughter renamed it the “Seagull Zoo.” Now that the building has been torn down and replaced by Meijer, Aaron is left wondering—stores may change, but do the memories, and the moments we share in them, ever really fade? 📻 If you like 7MS, make sure you follow ⁠⁠Night Stories LIVE! ⁠⁠— Aaron’s late-night storytelling show where he shares new stories and talks with special guests in real time. Streamed on its⁠⁠⁠ new YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠, these nostalgic, radio-style sessions go live every Thursday at 9:30PM EST and roll deep into the night. 📬 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 *Additional sounds on cleared list and used with paid license via artlist.io

In this debut Short Stories of Hope bonus episode, Aaron shares the true story of a young boy who was told he’d never walk again. What follows is a moving journey of determination, faith, and the resilience of the human spirit. By the end, you’ll discover who this person was—and how one child’s courage turned shattered records all the way to the Olympics. Created & Performed by Aaron Calafato Edited by Rob Montague *Learn more about the person embodying this month's Short Story of Hope *Additional sounds on cleared list and used with paid license via artlist.io

In this Halloween episode of 7 Minute Stories, Aaron shares a true story about getting lost deep in the woods with no phone, no compass, and a rising sense of panic. What begins as a peaceful evening walk turns into a confrontation with fear itself—and a rediscovery of the real meaning behind Halloween. By the end, you’ll see how an ancient story about courage and transformation helped him find his way back home.

In this week's 7 Minute Story, Aaron’s night starts simple, dinner with the family and a quick trip for Advil before his son’s band concert. But what unfolds is a comedy of errors that turns a small headache into a full-blown odyssey. By the end, the story takes a turn that proves even the most frustrating nights can carry an unexpected lesson. 🎙️ Listen to Aaron tell stories and talk with special guests live during Night Stories on its new ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠—these late-night sessions go live every Thursday starting @ 9:30PM EST and going into the late night hours... And as a 7 Minute Stories listener, you get first dibs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠skip the ads on YouTube and unlock VIP access to Aaron’s audio-only private studio! ⁠⁠⁠⁠It’s like having your own radio feed in your pocket. Get year-round, commercial-free access to Night Stories—and join the amazing community we’re building—just by subscribing to the 7MS Newsletter. 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 ⁠ Special Thanks: Shannon Baker Rob Montague Jr Kyle McCarthy Dania Khalife *Additional sounds on cleared list and used with paid license via artlist.io

When Aaron received a text that said, “I think it’s dead—and it’s in your backyard,” he didn’t expect it to lead to one of the most unexpectedly moving encounters of his life. What began as a grim discovery turned into a quiet reflection on empathy, loss, and the humanity that can show up in the most unlikely places. In this 7-minute true story, Aaron meets a man whose job is to remove what’s been left behind—but whose heart reveals something much deeper. 🎙️ Listen to Aaron tell stories and talk with special guests live during Night Stories on its new ⁠⁠⁠YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠—these late-night sessions go live every Thursday starting @ 9:30PM EST and going into the late night hours... And as a 7 Minute Stories listener, you get first dibs: ⁠⁠⁠skip the ads on YouTube and unlock VIP access to Aaron’s audio-only private studio! ⁠⁠⁠It’s like having your own radio feed in your pocket. Get year-round, commercial-free access to Night Stories—and join the amazing community we’re building—just by subscribing to the 7MS Newsletter. 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 Special Thanks: Shannon Baker Rob Montague Jr Kyle McCarthy Dania Khalife *Additional sounds on cleared list and used with paid license via artlist.io

In 1993, five bucks at a drive-thru could feed a family. Today, it barely covers a soda. In this story, Aaron Calafato takes us through the chaos of the modern fast-food experience—wrong orders, long waits, and the creeping perfection of AI drive-thrus. What starts as a rant about overpriced combo meals becomes something deeper: a meditation on imperfection, nostalgia, and what we lose when machines get everything right. 🎙️ Listen to Aaron tell stories and talk with special guests live during Night Stories on its new ⁠⁠YouTube Channel⁠⁠—these late-night sessions go live every Thursday starting @ 9:30PM EST and going into the late night hours... And as a 7 Minute Stories listener, you get first dibs: ⁠⁠skip the ads on YouTube and unlock VIP access to Aaron’s audio-only private studio! ⁠⁠It’s like having your own radio feed in your pocket. Get year-round, commercial-free access to Night Stories—and join the amazing community we’re building—just by subscribing to the 7MS Newsletter. 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 Special Thanks: Shannon Baker Rob Montague Jr Kyle McCarthy Dania Khalife

In this episode of 7 Minute Stories, Aaron takes listeners back to one unforgettable day at his Grandpa Joe’s house. From a roadside McMuffin breakfast and legendary Air Force fight story, to stacks of bargain-bin movies, tuna sandwiches on rye, and homemade pasta and meatballs—every detail becomes a core memory worth holding onto. Through his grandfather’s wisdom and humor, Aaron reminds us that even in life’s hardest moments, there are anchors—memories that keep us steady and remind us of who we are. 🎙️ Listen to Aaron tell stories and talk with special guests live during Night Stories on his ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠—these late-night sessions go live every Thursday starting @ 9:30PM EST and going into the late night hours. And... ...as a 7 Minute Stories listener, you get first dibs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠skip the ads on YouTube and unlock VIP access to Aaron’s audio-only private studio! ⁠⁠⁠⁠It’s like having your own radio feed in your pocket. Get year-round, commercial-free access to Night Stories—and join the amazing community we’re building—just by subscribing to the 7MS Newsletter. 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 Special Thanks: Shannon Baker Rob Montague Jr Kyle McCarthy Dania Khalife

In this episode of 7MS, Storyteller Aaron Calafato shares an encounter with a "fortune teller" at a Bob Evans that reshaped how he saw his future. At 18, he dismissed her vision that he’d trade rock-and-roll dreams for a life centered on home and family. Years later, over breakfast at the same restaurant, Aaron faces the question: did her vision come true? 🎙️ Listen to Aaron tell stories and talk with special guests live during Night Stories on his ⁠⁠⁠YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠—these late-night sessions go live every Thursday starting @ 9:30PM EST and going into the late night hours. And... ...as a 7 Minute Stories listener, you get first dibs: ⁠⁠⁠skip the ads on YouTube and unlock VIP access to Aaron’s audio-only private studio! ⁠⁠⁠It’s like having your own radio feed in your pocket. Get year-round, commercial-free access to Night Stories—and join the amazing community we’re building—just by subscribing to the 7MS Newsletter. 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 Special Thanks: Shannon Baker Rob Montague Jr Kyle McCarthy Dania Khalife

Season 6 of 7 Minute Stories opens in an empty Medina, Ohio barbershop where Saturday morning memories still linger in the air. Aaron Calafato reflects on childhood haircuts, family rituals, and the fear of familiar places fading away. But if we tell stories about these places, we may give them a chance to endure—and when those fears are confronted and embraced, we give ourselves a chance to create new space for new visions and futures.

In this Storytelling University conversation, Aaron sits down with songwriter Evan Bartels to explore the craft of turning life into song. From the haunting first lines of Montana to the overlooked “side characters” of history, Bartels reveals how noticing small details can unlock entire worlds of meaning. Together, they dig into the tension between art and craft, the dignity of ordinary lives, and why the most powerful stories often come from what’s left unsaid. *Stream Evan's New EP To Make You Cry

Aaron remembers the summer he spent in Washington, D.C.—a time of new independence, fast friendships, and an address book filled with names he swore he’d never lose. But as life moved forward, most of those connections faded, leaving behind a bittersweet lesson about memory and the limits of time. Plus, Aaron previews the Season 6 premiere of 7 Minute Stories, launching September 18. 🎙️ Listen to Aaron tell stories live during Night Stories on his⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠— these late-night sessions go live every Thursday evening @ 11:00PM EST, so be sure to subscribe and hit the notification bell to unwind with him whenever he goes live. 👉OR, if you’re a diehard 7 Minute Stories listener—skip the ads and unlock ⁠⁠VIP access ⁠⁠to Aaron’s audio-only private studio. Subscribe to the 7MS Newsletter for commercial-free Night Stories every Thursday, straight from your phone or computer.

In this episode of 7 Minute Stories, storyteller Aaron Calafato reflects on his lifelong clash with door-to-door salespeople—and the one unforgettable mix-up that tested his boundaries at home. With humor and humility, Aaron shows how one bad assumption turned into a lesson about forgiveness, stress, and the fine line between protecting your space and shutting out opportunity. 🎙️ Listen to Aaron tell stories live during Night Stories on his⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠— these late-night sessions go live every Thursday evening @ 11:00PM EST, so be sure to subscribe and hit the notification bell to unwind with him whenever he goes live. 👉OR, if you’re a diehard 7 Minute Stories listener—skip the ads and unlock ⁠VIP access ⁠to Aaron’s audio-only private studio. Subscribe to the 7MS Newsletter for commercial-free Night Stories every Thursday, straight from your phone or computer.

In this episode of 7 Minute Stories, Aaron Calafato takes a simple grocery store choice—paper or plastic—and spins it into a meditation on control, responsibility, and the ripple effects of everyday decisions. What begins with a floating blue plastic bag in a parking lot leads to staggering truths about pollution, a reckoning with personal accountability, and a realization that change starts with the next small choice. 🎙️ Listen to Aaron tell stories live during Night Stories on his⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠— these late-night sessions go live every Thursday evening @ 11:00PM EST, so be sure to subscribe and hit the notification bell to unwind with him whenever he goes live. 👉OR, if you’re a diehard 7 Minute Stories listener—skip the ads and unlock ⁠VIP access ⁠to Aaron’s audio-only private studio. Subscribe to the 7MS Newsletter for commercial-free Night Stories every Thursday, straight from your phone or computer.

Award-winning journalist and producer Soledad O’Brien — known from CNN, NBC, and HBO, and now the CEO of Soledad O’Brien Productions — joins Aaron to explore the enduring power of storytelling. From Hurricane Katrina to acclaimed documentaries, she shares why human stories resonate more than data and how details can transform the way we understand the world. See what stories Soledad is helping craft at: Soledad O'Brien Productions Love 7MS? Here's how to support: 1. Follow the pod wherever you're listening 2. Tap 5 Stars 3. Text one person you love a link to your favorite episode. 📺 Watch video versions of 7MS Presents: The Storytelling University now on Aaron’s YouTube Channel. Subscribe and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss new episodes. The Storytelling University is part of the 7 Minute Stories Universe Created & Produced by Aaron Calafato & Brooks Borden

At a funeral, Aaron froze in the aisle, unsure whether to go right or left. That moment carried him back to first grade, when Mrs. Brown—his teacher during a chaotic year at home—taught him how to tell right from left using memory and imagination. Years later, at her funeral, Aaron discovered her lesson was still guiding him in ways he never expected. 🎙️ Listen to Aaron tell stories live during Night Stories on his⁠⁠⁠ YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠— these late-night sessions go live every Thursday evening @ 11:00PM EST, so be sure to subscribe and hit the notification bell to unwind with him whenever he goes live. 👉OR, if you’re a diehard 7 Minute Stories listener—skip the ads and unlock VIP access to Aaron’s audio-only private studio. Subscribe to the 7MS Newsletter for commercial-free Night Stories every Thursday, straight from your phone or computer.”

A childhood without candy turned into an all-out Warheads binge — and a tongue injury Aaron Calafato kept secret just to eat them again. In this sweet-and-sour tale, he explores grocery store obsessions, 90s candy culture, and the lengths we go for what we crave. 🎙️ Listen to Aaron tell stories live during Night Stories on his⁠⁠⁠ YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠— these late-night sessions go live every Thursday evening @ 11:30PM EST, so be sure to subscribe and hit the notification bell to unwind with him whenever he goes live. 👉 While you're there, you can also watch video versions of 7MS Presents: The Storytelling University.

Aaron reflects on his growing inability to choose and enjoy movies in the age of endless streaming—and the unexpected documentary that finally broke his paralysis. It leads him to a powerful realization: the death of Blockbuster didn’t just end a store, it ended an experience. 🎙️ Listen to Aaron tell stories live during Night Stories on his⁠⁠ YouTube Channel⁠⁠— these late-night sessions go live every Thursday evening @ 11:30PM EST, so be sure to subscribe and hit the notification bell to unwind with him whenever he goes live. 👉 While you're there, you can also watch video versions of 7MS Presents: The Storytelling University.

When a missing person case hit Aaron’s community, he didn’t expect to get involved—until mozzarella sticks at Arby’s made it personal. In this story, Aaron shares how an ordinary craving turned into an extraordinary connection and an ending no one saw coming. 🎙️ 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 hit the notification bell to unwind with him whenever he goes live. 👉 While you're there, you can also watch video versions of 7MS Presents: The Storytelling University.

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 hit the notification bell to unwind with him whenever he goes live. 👉 While you're there, you can also watch video versions of 7MS Presents: The Storytelling University.