7 Minute Stories w/ Aaron Calafato
257 episodes - English - Latest episode: 1 day ago - ★★★★★ - 125 ratingsAward-winning storyteller Aaron Calafato uses 7-minute story vignettes to share his memories, explore his psyche and attempt to make sense of the world.
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Episodes
Episode 57 - Special Guest: Bill Squire
October 17, 2019 10:00 - 8 minutesIn 2018, I did an interview with comedian and radio personality Bill Squire. In this 7 minute segment from that conversation, we discuss how comedy can be a vital platform to explore racism in America. More about Bill at https://billsquire.com/
Fan Favorite (Episode 16 - Lady of Maine)
October 10, 2019 10:00 - 9 minutesPlease enjoy this fan favorite from early on in the 7 minute Story podcast series! How much do I love storytelling? Well, it was 2012 and I was booked to perform one of my monologues at a theater in Portland, Maine. The only catch was I had to drive nearly 16 hours and endure one of the most unsettling nights of my life.
Episode 55 - Sunday Sauce
October 03, 2019 10:45 - 8 minutesA tasty Italian-American tradition triggers an identity crisis.
Episode 54 - Dream until your dream comes true
September 26, 2019 11:00 - 9 minutesA story that starts with a dream of becoming an actor in New York City, and ends with a surprise twist involving an unexpected guardian angel...
Episode 53 - My way on the highway
September 19, 2019 10:00 - 9 minutesA story spanning three generations, guided by the sounds of Frank Sinatra and Eric Clapton, all culminating with an emotional tirade at a local coffee establishment.
Episode 52 - Guest Storyteller: Dennis Kucinich
September 12, 2019 10:00 - 12 minutesIn 2018, Dennis Kucinich was running to become the next Governor of Ohio. During that busy campaign, I sat down with him for an interview. This special episode of 7ms features the most compelling 7 minutes from that conversation. In it, Mr. Kucinich talks with me about growing up in the inner city, his views on the military industrial complex, and a specific moment in his life that he’ll never forget.
Episode 51: Barnes & Noble: A Love Story
September 05, 2019 10:00 - 9 minutesWhy do the places where we spend our time mean so much to us? In this story, I explain how a trip to a local Barnes & Noble with my girlfriend became a launching pad for our love story.
Special 50th Episode
August 29, 2019 10:00 - 24 minutesThis episode breaks format a bit & features a 21 minute conversation between my girlfriend & life partner Cori Birce and I. We reflect back on the last 49 stories, a growing audience, our life together, and looking to the future. You may recognize Cori’s wonderful voice at the beginning of every 7 Minute Story. She has been with me since the start of this journey and I think you’ll agree that she’s the perfect guest for our first retrospective.
Episode 49 - Jump on the roof
August 22, 2019 10:00 - 8 minutesThis story is about an intriguing man named Ernie. I met him in the summer of 2000 while working a summer job. Our chance meeting gave me insight into his tragic past, helped me overcome a secret fear and would ultimately impact both our lives forever.
Episode 48 - Me, Paul Harvey and the Farmer
August 15, 2019 10:00 - 8 minutesAfter a turbulent few weeks in America, I took a long drive to search for answers. What I discovered rejuvenated my faith in mankind.
Episode 47 - That's not my friend anymore
August 08, 2019 10:00 - 7 minutesStanding over a friend’s casket triggers an internal struggle about consciousness and the soul. Enjoy 7 minute Stories? Keep the story going. https://www.7minutestoriespod.com/support
Episode 46 - Remember his face
August 01, 2019 10:00 - 7 minutesAfter crossing paths with a homeless man, a chance conversation leaves us both changed forever. Full transcript of 7ms Episode 46: www.7minutestoriespod.com/episode-transcripts/46
Episode 45 - Special Guest: okPANTS
July 25, 2019 10:00 - 11 minutesDuring this 7 minute segment, the artist & creative okPANTS, talks about what motivates him to make a life out of making art. Find out more about okPANTS and his work here: http://www.okpants.com
Episode 44 - Where do the memories go?
July 18, 2019 10:00 - 8 minutesWhere do our memories go after we die? To navigate this question, I explore two very personal memories and then speculate where they may exist outside my own brain.
Episode 43 - Stories in a Box
July 11, 2019 10:00 - 8 minutesA drawer full of written stories reveal something about my grandfather I never knew… Enjoy 7 Minute Stories? You can support it here: https://www.7minutestoriespod.com/support
Episode 42 - Guest Storyteller: Van Jones
July 04, 2019 10:00 - 12 minutesFor this special 4th of July episode, i’m sharing a 7 minute segment from an interview I did with Van Jones in 2017. I thought it was compelling because the crux of our conversation still speaks to the current state of division we find ourselves in as Americans. But more importantly, Van speaks passionately to the importance of coming back together as we draw closer to the 2020 general election. Van Jones is a CNN political contributor, and the host of the Van Jones Show and The Redemption Pr...
Episode 41 - The Crayon Emergency
June 27, 2019 10:00 - 9 minutesThe story of a how boy’s curiosity and love of crayons ended in a medical mystery that bewildered an entire emergency room. Help keep the story going by supporting 7ms at https://www.7minutestoriespod.com/support
Episode 40 - Guest Storyteller: Nina Domingue
June 20, 2019 10:00 - 10 minutesIn this 7 minute segment I talk with actor, director, playwright & educator Nina Domingue. In it, Nina investigates how the beginning of her artistic journey triggered an experience of self-discovery. Follow Nina on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ninadomingue/
Episode 39 - The Lockout
June 13, 2019 10:00 - 8 minutesOne moment it was a beautiful Fall day, the next, my two-year-old daughter was trapped inside our house. It was a day that would defy logic and define me as a father…
Episode 38 - Special Delivery
June 06, 2019 10:00 - 9 minutesA wasp attack, the morning of 9/11 and an anthrax scare. This was just my first few weeks of college and my initiation into the real world... Help keep the story going. Support 7ms at https://www.7minutestoriespod.com/support
Episode 37 - TCBY: A Love Story
May 30, 2019 10:00 - 8 minutesThe story of how a journey to find a rare frozen yogurt flavor gave me another chance at love. Support 7 Minute Stories at https://www.7minutestoriespod.com/support
Episode 36 - Guest Storyteller: Shannon Cason
May 23, 2019 10:00 - 10 minutesThis episode features the first official guest to the 7ms Podcast. During this 7 minute segment I talk with fellow storyteller Shannon Cason. We dive into Shannon’s creative process, what inspires some of his stories and something we hope the storytelling art form can adopt in future. Make sure to check out Shannon's own podcast: Shannon Cason’s Homemade Stories.
Episode 35 - Mumford's Son
May 16, 2019 10:00 - 8 minutesThe tale of how a hazardous storytelling performance and a chance intersection with a popular musical group taught me how to connect with an audience. Help keep the story going and become a patron of 7 Minute Stories: https://www.7minutestoriespod.com/support
Episode 34 - The Pale Blue Dot
May 09, 2019 10:00 - 8 minutesAfter finding out the Milky Way Galaxy and the Andromeda Galaxy are on a collision course, I nearly panicked. But then, after some serendipitous inspiration from the great Carl Sagan, I made a discovery I had to share with one of the most important people on earth... Become a supporter of 7 Minute Stories https://www.7minutestoriespod.com/support
Episode 33 - The Yellow Bird
May 02, 2019 10:00 - 9 minutesThe story of how a little yellow bird taught me life lessons about mortality, perseverance and grace. Please remember to subscribe and rate 7 Minute Stories Thanks to this episode's special musical guest: Frank Ivy https://www.frankivy.com/music Help us keep the story going! Support 7 Minute Stories at https://www.7minutestoriespod.com/support Thanks to our podcast partners at Evergreen Podcasts https://evergreenpodcasts.com/7-minute-stories
Episode 32 - The Backseat
April 25, 2019 09:00 - 8 minutesA broken family. The backseat of a car. No control. Sometimes, during a difficult transition, an unlikely hero will emerge to help you see it through.
Episode 31 - The Hunter
April 18, 2019 11:00 - 8 minutesThousands of years ago, humans explored uncharted terrain as hunters and gatherers. Now, in the year 2019, I come face to face with an equally daunting task…
Episode 30 - Me and Gary V
April 11, 2019 12:00 - 9 minutesI looked down at my phone and saw that Gary Vaynerchuk's account liked one of my comments on Instagram. What happened next would send me into a spiral of excitement, regret and reflection. Learn more about 7 Minute Stories at https://www.7minutestoriespod.com
Episode 29 - The Guitar God
April 04, 2019 11:00 - 8 minutesA quest to become the greatest rock guitar player on the planet all culminates into one life-altering audition.
Episode 28 - The Injury
March 28, 2019 11:00 - 9 minutesWhat started out as an exceptional day on the basketball court ended in a hilarious trip the to the emergency room...
Episode 27 - We are all Witnesses
March 21, 2019 13:00 - 8 minutesWhat started out as a heated religious debate between two kids on an elementary school playground, turned into an attack from an unusual suspect... More at https://www.7minutestoriespod.com/
Episode 26 - Becoming Donatello
March 14, 2019 16:00 - 8 minutesIt was 1990, I was 7 years old and I was anticipating the release of greatest film ever made: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Not only this, but I actually believed I was a turtle and had every intention to reveal my true identity to an elementary school crush... Be sure to RATE & REVIEW this podcast! More at https://www.7minutestoriespod.com/
Episode 25 - The Train Incident
March 07, 2019 17:00 - 9 minutesOn a bright Fall day in 2009, what started out as usual train commute from Eatontown, New Jersey to Manhattan, transformed into a crime scene. I had always loved being on trains. On this day, I would have rather been anywhere else… More at https://www.7minutestoriespod.com/
Episode 24- Chinatown
March 01, 2019 00:00 - 8 minutesWhen I got a call from Jack Nicholson’s executive assistant at 1:00am in the morning, It felt like a “surreal” experience... More at: https://www.7minutestoriespod.com/
Episode 23- The Tryout
February 21, 2019 20:54 - 7 minutesYears of commitment and preparation led me to this moment. What started as a tryout for my middle school basketball team, transformed into an experience that would shape my entire career. More at: https://www.7minutestoriespod.com
Episode 22- The Lineup
February 14, 2019 16:33 - 8 minutesWhen I was 10 years old I spent a summertime at a makeshift daycare. One afternoon there, while playing Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out on NES, I committed an unintentional crime which was followed by a memorable interrogation. *Note: This episode is a throwback. In fact, it was the first “7 minute story” I ever recorded. My producer Ken helped re-purpose it for this format. Enjoy! If you are enjoying #7minutestories we would value your support! https://www.7minutestoriespod.com/support
Episode 21 - The Fish
February 07, 2019 15:04 - 7 minutesAt the age of 5 I watched a BBC documentary about the life of fish in the ocean. Days later, I witnessed what I can only describe as a ghost appear in my bedroom. Both experiences united to form an existential crisis that would shape my future… If you are enjoying #7minutestories consider we would value your support! https://www.7minutestoriespod.com/support/
Episode 20 - The Night-Night Rules
January 31, 2019 02:21 - 7 minutesI don’t know if it was divine intervention or just coincidence, but whatever it was, it gave me the strength to make a promise to my daughter that I don’t intend on breaking… If you are enjoying #7minutestories consider supporting us with a donation: https://www.7minutestoriespod.com/support/
Episode 19 - The Gun
January 24, 2019 18:12 - 8 minutesWhen I was 13 years old I went to visit a new friend. Before going out to play in the woods he took out a gun. What happened next felt life and death… Story created & performed by Aaron Calafato Original art by Pete Whitehead https://www.petewhitehead.com/ Intro & Outro: Cori Birce Audio Production: Ken Wendt http://filmmyart.com/ More at: https://www.7minutestoriespod.com
Episode 18 - The Dream
January 18, 2019 00:45 - 8 minutesThe night my grandfather slipped into a coma, he came to me in a profound dream… More at: https://www.7minutestoriespod.com
Episode 17 - The Blizzard
January 09, 2019 01:49 - 9 minutesIt was the early 90s and I was a pre-teen. I was in sitting in my grandparents car and the weather outside started to change in a way I had never seen. As we started our drive from Columbus to Cleveland I knew the odds were not in our favor… More at: https://www.7minutestoriespod.com
Episode 16 - Lady of Maine
December 20, 2018 02:14 - 9 minutesHow much do I love storytelling? Well, it was 2012 and I was booked to perform one of my monologues at a theater in Portland, Maine. The only catch was I had to drive nearly 16 hours and endure one of the most unsettling nights of my life. More at: https://www.7minutestoriespod.com
Episode 15 - Over the River
December 13, 2018 14:09 - 8 minutesI looked at the world differently when I was a child. But when did things change? I remember it was the mid 90s and I went to visit my grandmother in rural Ohio. Her only rule was that I didn’t ride my bike past the gray house… More at: https://www.7minutestoriespod.com
Episode 14 - The Ice Cream Sandwich
December 07, 2018 01:12 - 8 minutesThe second grade. An elementary lunch room. A purple silk shirt. A blossoming new love. History would be made as I courted an older woman for the first time… More at: https://www.7minutestoriespod.com
Episode 13 - The Cherry Tree
November 29, 2018 00:35 - 8 minutesThe myth of George Washington and the cherry tree made an big impression on my life. But as a young boy, when a police officer caught me vandalizing a house in my neighborhood, the impact of that myth would be put to the test. More at https://www.7minutestoriespod.com/
Episode 12 - The Amish
November 22, 2018 00:39 - 8 minutesI sat at a traffic light and looked at the world falling apart around me. So, I turned my car around and drove until all I saw was corn fields and the Amish. I had found a new possibility. Maybe even a new home. More at: https://www.7minutestoriespod.com
Episode 11 - The Phone Call
November 14, 2018 03:49 - 8 minutesI was 30 years old when my daughter was born. Shortly after, I received a phone call from my dad that forecast what the next 30 years may be like. Story created & performed by Aaron Calafato Intro & Outro: Cori Birce Audio Production: Ken Wendt
Episode 10 - The Fight
September 25, 2018 00:12 - 7 minutesWhen I was younger I fought a lot. This time, however, felt different than the rest. I was in over my head and would experience the true power, utility and lasting effect of violence.
Episode 9 - The Perfect Day
September 05, 2018 23:28 - 7 minutesI woke up and something was different. From the moment I opened my eyes it seemed like it would be one of those days where nothing could go wrong. Was I right? Or, was this all a dream?
Episode 8 - The Nest
August 27, 2018 23:57 - 7 minutesIt was the largest yellow jacket nest I've ever come across. It was man versus nature and I had to protect my home...