Every Christmas, a short story makes its return—one without a known author, but with a lasting impact. The Man and the Birds was famously shared each holiday season by Paul Harvey on the radio, and for years, it’s become an annual tradition on 7 Minute Stories. In this special holiday episode, Aaron revisits the quiet, timeless parable about belief, humility, and what it means to truly see one another. Recorded live during Night Stories Live! this retelling invites listeners to slow down, listen closely, and carry a simple truth with them into Christmas. A story passed hand to hand, voice to voice—now shared once again. 📱Try not to doom scroll, but if you do, at least scroll through Aaron’s micro shorts called ⁠⁠⁠7MS Haikus⁠⁠⁠. 📬 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

In this Storytelling University bonus episode, Aaron sits down with John Telich, who spent four decades shaping how Northeast Ohio experienced sports on television. Together, they explore the quiet craft behind covering wins, losses, heartbreak, and hope—and why sports stories, at their best, are rarely just about the score. *Special thanks to the Medina UCC for hosting! *Learn more about the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame *Follow John Telich on X 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: 1. Follow the pod wherever you're listening 2. Tap 5 Stars 3. Text one person you love a link to your favorite episode.

As the year comes to a close, Aaron returns to a childhood memory sparked by The Polar Express—a quiet library, falling snow, and a sound he still can’t explain. What begins as a story about believing in Santa becomes something larger: a reflection on why belief itself is real, necessary, and enduring. Through a timeless response to an 8-year-old’s question published in The New York Sun, this episode explores why the most important things in life may exist beyond what we can see. Credits & Citations “Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus” Written by Francis P. Church Published in The New York Sun, September 21, 1897 Originally written in response to a letter from Virginia O’Hanlon Music “Elevare” by Daniel CataláUsed with a paid license via Artlist.io 📱Try not to doom scroll, but if you do, at least scroll through Aaron’s micro shorts called ⁠⁠7MS Haikus⁠⁠. 📻 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 Thursday at 9:30PM EST on YouTube. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📬 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

It’s Christmas Eve, 1987, and a 4-year-old Aaron suddenly realizes he has nothing to give. No money, no store to run to, and a desperate need to feel part of the Christmas magic. What follows involves a Glow Worm toy, a stash of odd “treasures,” and two parents who choose wonder over reality. This is the story of how a child’s small act of giving kept the magic alive and saved Christmas in the most unexpected way.

This is December’s bonus episode of Short Stories of Hope. In this month’s story, Aaron shares the quiet and powerful tale of the Wind Phone in Ochi, Japan, and the man who placed a silent rotary phone on a hillside for anyone carrying words they never had the chance to say. It is a story about grief, healing, and the small human acts that help us keep moving toward hope. Created, Performed & Produced by ⁠Aaron Calafato⁠ *⁠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 special holiday episode, Aaron breaks down the surprising origin of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” a song that was almost far too bleak for the movie it was written for. He explores how Judy Garland rejected the original lyrics, why Hugh Martin rewrote them, and how the shift turned the tune into one of the most emotional Christmas standards of all time. Aaron also compares the Garland and Sinatra versions, highlighting the lyric changes that shaped each performance. This short deep dive blends music history and storytelling to remind listeners what the holidays mean when life is heavy, hopeful, and real. *Here's your lyric guide! 📱Try not to doom scroll, but if you do, at least scroll through Aaron’s micro shorts called ⁠7MS Haikus⁠. 📻 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 Thursday at 9:30PM EST on YouTube. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📬 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 *Songwriters: Irving Berlin / Jule Styne / Sammy Cahn / Ralph Blane / Hugh Martin / Richard B. Smith / Felix Bernard Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas lyrics © Berlin Irving Music Corp., Emi Feist Catalog Inc.

In this 7 Minute Story, Aaron (inspired by the NOVA Humans docuseries from PBS) discovers an unexpected kinship with his Neanderthal ancestors — not as cartoon cavemen, but as real people whose lives shaped our own. Through humor, identity, and deep-time storytelling, he explores what survives, what disappears, and why a tiny percentage of ancient DNA still carries meaning today. A funny and surprisingly emotional journey into who we are, who we come from and 'who' is still a part of us!

Aaron tells the story of the day he tried—truly tried—to run away at age five, fueled by righteous anger over a forbidden episode of GI Joe and a backpack full of peanut-butter crackers. What begins as a funny childhood rebellion slowly reveals a deeper truth about grief, confusion, and a kid trying to make sense of a family unraveling. This is a story about the moment you realize running away isn’t the answer—and why coming home matters more than you knew. 📻 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

Brett Anderson, formerly the lead singer of the groundbreaking band The Donnas, sits down with Aaron for a deeply personal conversation about aging, identity, and the power of reinvention. Now following a new path in the world of Gerontology, Brett shares how her journey through music, personal grief, palliative care, and end-of-life work reshaped her understanding of longevity and mental health. This bonus episode of 7MS Presents: The Storytelling University episode explores the branching paths of a human life and why no single narrative can ever define what it means to grow older. 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: 1. Follow the pod wherever you're listening 2. Tap 5 Stars 3. Text one person you love a link to your favorite episode.

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