7 Minute Stories w/ Aaron Calafato

In the final episode of Season Six, Aaron tells a story in three parts. First, he remembers a boy from elementary school who seemed effortlessly ahead of the curve. The kind of kid who wore the right shoes before anyone knew they were cool, introduced him to Smashing Pumpkins, and left an impression that somehow lasted for decades. Then, Aaron tells another story of a young man searching for purpose who walked into a Byzantine Catholic church in Cleveland and eventually found himself pulled toward a monastic life at the Abbey of Gethsemani. The question is: how are these two stories connected? What follows is a reflection on memory, vocation, friendship, and the mystery of who we are in the eyes of others, who we become, and who we may have been called to be all along. *This episodes includes an adaptation and retelling of Brother Joseph's true story. You can read his original written story HERE. *Learn more about the Abbey of Gethsemani at monks.org 👇 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📬⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Be a part of the 7 Minute Stories Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Once a month, you’ll receive a thoughtful note with storytelling insights, behind the scenes reflections, and exclusive bonus content. You’ll also have access to Stories in a Snap, his weekly short written adaptations of the 7 Minute Stories you love, reimagined for the page and delivered straight to your inbox via Substack with no algorithm in between. ⁠⁠⁠📻 Listen to 7 Minute Stories Radio! ⁠⁠⁠ With 7MS Radio you don’t have to choose an episode or wait a week for the next one to be released. You can tune in once and let it run in the background while you do chores, take a walk, work out, or wind down for the night. It’s designed to feel more like a small digital radio companion, No scrolling. No decision fatigue. Just press play and let the stories keep you company, 7 Minute Stories–style! The 7MS Team: Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ken Wendt ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Additional vocals: Cori Calafato Original Theme Music: thomas j. duke Additional Soundscape Design:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Isaac Gehring⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Special thanks to Brooks Borden, Dania Khalife and Pete Whitehead

In this 7 Minute Stories episode, Aaron reflects on a season of life that felt like too many trains trying to squeeze through one tunnel, and the small decision that helped him step off the track for a moment. What he found at Roxboro Elementary School in Cleveland Heights was a young poet named Kody, an orange poem, and a reminder that some of the best stories are the ones we almost miss. 👇 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📬⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Be a part of the 7 Minute Stories Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Once a month, you’ll receive a thoughtful note with storytelling insights, behind the scenes reflections, and exclusive bonus content. You’ll also have access to Stories in a Snap, his weekly short written adaptations of the 7 Minute Stories you love, reimagined for the page and delivered straight to your inbox via Substack with no algorithm in between. ⁠⁠📻 Listen to 7 Minute Stories Radio! ⁠⁠ With 7MS Radio you don’t have to choose an episode or wait a week for the next one to be released. You can tune in once and let it run in the background while you do chores, take a walk, work out, or wind down for the night. It’s designed to feel more like a small digital radio companion, No scrolling. No decision fatigue. Just press play and let the stories keep you company, 7 Minute Stories–style! The 7MS Team: Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ken Wendt ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Additional vocals: Cori Calafato Original Theme Music: thomas j. duke Additional Soundscape Design:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Isaac Gehring⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Special thanks to Brooks Borden, Dania Khalife and Pete Whitehead

After witnessing the devastation of a 1971 oil spill in San Francisco Bay, one person made a simple decision: he would stop riding in cars. But when people kept arguing that one person’s choice could never change the world, he made an even stranger decision. He stopped talking. In this month’s Stories of Hope, Aaron shares the true story of a quiet act of conviction, and how 17 years of silence revealed something deeply hopeful about listening, understanding, and what it really means to communicate. Here’s some links to learn more about the person we’re highlighting for this month’s Stories of Hope: About ⁠ Planetwalk

After recording a conversation with Rainn Wilson for the 7MS bonus series: The Storytelling University, Aaron reveals the anxiety he felt before the interview: wanting to make a meaningful connection without making the moment feel transactional. That anxiety somehow got wrapped up in a gift bag from Aaron’s hometown of Medina, Ohio, and a candle he suddenly worried might be a strange thing to give someone he had just met. What follows is a reflection on hometown pride, human connection, and the quiet realization that where we come from has stories worth carrying into the room. 👇 ⁠⁠⁠⁠📬⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Be a part of the 7 Minute Stories Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Once a month, you’ll receive a thoughtful note with storytelling insights, behind the scenes reflections, and exclusive bonus content. You’ll also have access to Stories in a Snap, his weekly short written adaptations of the 7 Minute Stories you love, reimagined for the page and delivered straight to your inbox via Substack with no algorithm in between. ⁠📻 Listen to 7 Minute Stories Radio! ⁠ With 7MS Radio you don’t have to choose an episode or wait a week for the next one to be released. You can tune in once and let it run in the background while you do chores, take a walk, work out, or wind down for the night. It’s designed to feel more like a small digital radio companion, No scrolling. No decision fatigue. Just press play and let the stories keep you company, 7 Minute Stories–style! The 7MS Team: Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ken Wendt ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Additional vocals: Cori Calafato Original Theme Music: thomas j. duke Additional Soundscape Design:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Isaac Gehring⁠⁠⁠⁠ Special thanks to Brooks Borden, Dania Khalife and Pete Whitehead

In this bonus episode of 7 Minute Stories Presents: The Storytelling University, Aaron sits down with Rainn Wilson, the award-winning actor, New York Times bestselling author, and host of the Soul Boom podcast, for a conversation about storytelling, spirituality, anxiety, faith, and the inner narratives that shape our lives. From vivid childhood memories in Nicaragua to Alice in Wonderland, The Office, the meaning of suffering, and the search for God, Rainn reflects on creativity, the soul, and whether storytelling might be one of humanity’s oldest ways of finding meaning. Team: Created & Hosted by: Aaron Calafato Audio Engineer & Lead Editorial: Ken Wendt Produced and Edited by Brooks Borden & Aaron Calafato Guest Coordinator: Dania Khalife Here’s the 7 Minute Stories Universe schedule, so you know what’s on the feed and when to expect new episodes! 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. Partner with us and reach millions! Become a sponsor of TSU. ⁠Reach out to us!

When Aaron discovers a robin’s nest outside his sliding glass door, a simple backyard moment turns into a daily ritual of wonder, worry, and unexpected responsibility. But when a murder of crows attacks the nest, Aaron finds himself stepping into nature’s drama, becoming an unlikely defender of three baby robins and learning something funny, humbling, and strangely beautiful about parenthood, protection, and letting go. 👇 ⁠⁠⁠📬⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Be a part of the 7 Minute Stories Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Once a month, you’ll receive a thoughtful note with storytelling insights, behind the scenes reflections, and exclusive bonus content. You’ll also have access to Stories in a Snap, his weekly short written adaptations of the 7 Minute Stories you love, reimagined for the page and delivered straight to your inbox via Substack with no algorithm in between. 📻 Listen to 7 Minute Stories Radio! With 7MS Radio you don’t have to choose an episode or wait a week for the next one to be released. You can tune in once and let it run in the background while you do chores, take a walk, work out, or wind down for the night. It’s designed to feel more like a small digital radio companion, No scrolling. No decision fatigue. Just press play and let the stories keep you company, 7 Minute Stories–style! The 7MS Team: Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ken Wendt ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Additional vocals: Cori Calafato Original Theme Music: thomas j. duke Additional Soundscape Design:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Isaac Gehring⁠⁠⁠ Special thanks to Brooks Borden, Dania Khalife and Pete Whitehead

More than a decade after his grandfather passed away, Aaron still sees the green light appear next to his grandfather’s old Gmail account. What began years ago as one of the most beloved stories in 7 Minute Stories has evolved into an ongoing phenomenon and meditation on grief, memory, connection, and the invisible ways people continue to say hello long after they’re gone. It’s also a reminder of why making an impact while you’re alive on earth is something worth aspiring to. 👇 ⁠⁠📬⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Be a part of the 7 Minute Stories Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Once a month, you’ll receive a thoughtful note with storytelling insights, behind the scenes reflections, and exclusive bonus content. You’ll also have access to Stories in a Snap, his weekly short written adaptations of the 7 Minute Stories you love, reimagined for the page and delivered straight to your inbox via Substack with no algorithm in between. *Dive deeper into the 7MS Universe and connect with Aaron on... ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The 7MS Team: Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ken Wendt ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Additional vocals: Cori Calafato Original Theme Music: thomas j. duke Additional Soundscape Design:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Isaac Gehring⁠⁠ Special thanks to Brooks Borden, Dania Khalife and Pete Whitehead

7MS Presents: The Storytelling University returns with a heartfelt and deeply human conversation about storytelling, purpose, creativity, and the moments that quietly shape our lives. This week, Randall Kenneth Jones joins Aaron Calafato for a special dual-release episode shared across both podcast feeds. Randall is the host of On the Knows and the author of books including Show Me and Ruby. Together, Aaron and Randall explore the deeper architecture of story through unforgettable encounters with icons like Pat Benatar, Norman Lear, Erin Brockovich, Stedman Graham, Jenifer Lewis, Suze Orman, and more. You’ll hear: The unbelievable story of how Randall met Pat Benatar in 1982 Why a former Ringling Bros. clown performing for 20 people changed Randall’s life Aaron’s story about nearly canceling a performance for an audience of two Lessons from Olympia Dukakis on reverence, teaching, and receiving knowledge Why the smallest stories often carry the greatest meaning Reflections on aging, reinvention, authenticity, and creative purpose At its heart, this episode is about paying attention. To stories. To people. To moments that could easily pass us by. *The Storytelling University is part of the 7 Minute Stories Universe Team:Created & Hosted by: Aaron Calafato Produced and Edited by Aaron Calafato & Brooks BordenAudio Engineer: Ken Wendt Guest Coordinator: Dania Khalife 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. Want to become a sponsor of TSU? Reach out to us!

An exhausting night in the emergency room pushes Aaron to make an impulsive wish: what if healthcare workers were replaced by AI? But when a quiet moment with a triage nurse changes everything, he’s forced to reconsider what efficiency might cost us. A story about frustration, humanity, technology, and the unexpected comfort of being cared for by another person. 👇 ⁠📬⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Be a part of the 7 Minute Stories Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Once a month, you’ll receive a thoughtful note with storytelling insights, behind the scenes reflections, and exclusive bonus content. You’ll also have access to Stories in a Snap, his weekly short written adaptations of the 7 Minute Stories you love, reimagined for the page and delivered straight to your inbox via Substack with no algorithm in between. *Dive deeper into the 7MS Universe and connect with Aaron on... ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The 7MS Team: Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ken Wendt ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Additional vocals: Cori Calafato Original Theme Music: thomas j. duke Additional Soundscape Design:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Isaac Gehring⁠ Special thanks to Brooks Borden, Dania Khalife and Pete Whitehead

In this month’s 7MS Presents: Stories of Hope, Aaron tells the true story of one woman risked everything to smuggle children out of the Warsaw Ghetto during WWII—keeping their real identities buried in jars beneath an apple tree. This is a true story of courage, loss, and the quiet hope that survived. *Learn more about the heroic woman who inspired this month's short story of hope

Aaron reflects on the enduring power of Field of Dreams, weaving together baseball, memory, and the quiet bond between fathers and sons. As listener stories echo a universal longing for one more "catch", this nostalgic 7 Minute Story from years past explores why some scenes, movies and dreams never leave us. 👇 📬⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Be a part of the 7 Minute Stories Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Once a month, you’ll receive a thoughtful note with storytelling insights, behind the scenes reflections, and exclusive bonus content. You’ll also have access to Stories in a Snap, his weekly short written adaptations of the 7 Minute Stories you love, reimagined for the page and delivered straight to your inbox with no algorithm in between. *Dive deeper into the 7MS Universe and connect with Aaron on... ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The 7MS Team: Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ken Wendt ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Additional vocals: Cori Calafato Original Theme Music: thomas j. duke Additional Soundscape Design:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Isaac Gehring Special thanks to Brooks Borden, Dania Khalife and Pete Whitehead