7 Minute Stories w/ Aaron Calafato

A 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.

In 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 for...

Why 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.

This 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’...

This 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.

After a turbulent few weeks in America, I took a long drive to search for answers. What I discovered rejuvenated my faith in mankind.

Standing 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

After 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

During 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

Where 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. 

A 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

For 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. V...

The 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

In 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/

One 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… 

A 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

The 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

This 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.

The 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

After 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

The 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 h...

A 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.

Thousands 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…

I 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

A quest to become the greatest rock guitar player on the planet all culminates into one life-altering audition.