The Prayer: What I Heard in the Hospital Changed Me Forever
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.
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Angus Fletcher (Story Scientist, OSU): Why Storytelling Is More Powerful Than Data, AI, or Logic
What if storytelling isn’t just communication—but the original form of intelligence?
Angus Fletcher, story scientist and Ohio State professor (featured on Malcolm Gladwell's Revisionist History Podcast), explains why narrative thinking is more powerful than data, logic, or AI. From neurons to Shakespeare to U.S. Special Ops, this conversation reveals how stories help us plan, survive, and imagine a better future.
Angus Fletcher's new book available for pre-order!
The Storytelling University is part of the 7 Minute Stories Universe
Created & Produced by Aaron Calafato & Brooks Borden
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They Called Me “America” — But They Were the Dream
After college, Aaron spent a quiet summer in rural Ohio, preparing for a new life in New York. But one Saturday on a sunbaked soccer field, he joined a league of migrant workers—and they gave him a name he’d never forget. They called him America. But watching them play, celebrate, and return to the fields, he realized—they were the dream all along.
🎙️ 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.
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I Raced Shamu at SeaWorld—and Missed the Real Story Unfolding
In 1993, a 10-year-old Aaron Calafato got the opportunity of a lifetime: to race a killer whale named Shamu at SeaWorld in front of a roaring crowd. What started as a dream moment turned into public humiliation—and a soaking wet lesson he never forgot. But decades later, that memory sparked a deeper question: What did Shamu feel like in that same spotlight?
*If you like 7MS, you’ll love 7MS Presents: Live and Unscripted — a live, audio‑first show inspired by classic late‑night radio. It features raw reflections, spontaneous storytelling, unexpected conversations with guests, and a live chat with you, the listener.
👉 Catch it live every Monday at 8:30 PM ET on Aaron’s YouTube channel — and while you’re there, you can watch video versions of 7MS Presents: The Storytelling University too!
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
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The Sandlot Star Who Changed Our Lives: A College Story About Art LaFleur
In 2005, Aaron and his college friend Jon were just two undergrads trying to pull off a film festival with a $3,000 budget. Their goal? Land a special guest who would leave a lasting impact. After a series of wild long shots, they found the perfect fit — The Sandlot’s Art LaFleur, the actor who played Babe Ruth. This episode is about what happened next: a weekend of laughter, inspiration, and unexpected campus fame. It's also about creative dreams, the power of nostalgia, and the regret of waiting too long to reconnect. A tribute to a beloved character actor — and a reminder that legends never die.
*If you like 7MS, you’ll love 7MS Presents: Live and Unscripted — a live, audio‑first show inspired by classic late‑night radio. It features raw reflections, spontaneous storytelling, unexpected conversations with guests, and a live chat with you, the listener.
👉 Catch it live every Monday at 8:30 PM ET on Aaron’s YouTube channel — and while you’re there, you can watch video versions of 7MS Presents: The Storytelling University too!
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
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 Jean Shepard, Spalding Gray and Paul Harvey swapped notes at a Midwestern diner.
Listen to 7 Minute Stories w/ Aaron Calafato, Candlelit Tales Irish Mythology Podcast and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app