03/09/2024
Season 5 of 7 Minute Stories
Aaron Calafato
- Home
- Aaron Calafato
šļøI broadcast weekly extemporaneous 7 Minute Stories to a global audience & help brands like Glassdoor scale their content marketing efforts.
Aaron's work specifically deals with using storytelling as a tool to instigate conversation, civil discourse, and social change.
27/08/2024
A little coffee and treat before recording a special episode of 7 Minute Stories at Keller Market and Cafe Bistro āļø
26/08/2024
šļø As soon as we pulled up to the apartment complex, I got that sinking feeling, like I was about to walk into a haunted house but without the fun. There I was, with my fiancĆ©e and her whole family, trying to look confident. We moved from Ohio out East to chase my acting dreams, and she got into grad school nearby. But I hadnāt exactly planned it well. I clicked on a link, signed a lease, and here we wereāmy dream of stardom, parked outside a dump. We pull upā¦
ā¦and thereās a welcoming committee of five guys just hanging out in front of our door. These guys were nice enough, but as we unpacked, I discovered they, plus their wives, kids, all lived above us. And let me tell you, living under twelve people who run a 24-hour restaurant? Itās like living under a drum circle. To top it off, one morning I find my PlayStation 2 goneāvanished into thin air through an unlocked window. The next day, I find a note on my carā¦
.Itās says: āBang, bang, youāre dead,ā complete with a stick-figure masterpiece. Naturally, I assume a serial killer has targeted us because, why not? The police? Not interested. So I turn detective, staking out my own apartment with a baseball bat for a monthh. Finally, some good newsāthe upstairs crew is moving out. But relief was short-lived. Their fumigation drove every cockroach in the building into our place. There I was, in the fetal position, chanting, āThereās no place like homeā¦āš
Art by Pete Whitehead
22/08/2024
Today on 7MS: Little did Aaron know that a delicious potato bar would be the setting for one of the most formative experiences in his high school career.
19/08/2024
In honor of so many kids starting school today, I thought Iād share a memory I wish I could forget..
There I was, in the bustling high school cafeteria - the air thick with the smell of freshly baked potatoes and a hint of nervous energy. It was one of those rare moments where everything seemed to alignāpotato bar day and the perfect opportunity to impress my long-time crush. I had been too shy to say anything, but today felt different.
Today, I was going to make my move.
As I stood in line, heart pounding in my chestā¦
I couldnāt help but notice the small details: the way the steam curled off the golden potatoes, the clatter of trays as students shuffled through, and the light chatter that filled the room. My focus was entirely on my crush, who was just a few steps ahead of me. When it was her turn, I watched as the lunch ladyālooking a bit frazzledāplaced an unusually small potato on her tray, then drowned it in an absurd amount of cheese sauce. It was almost comical howā¦
ā¦the tiny potato seemed to disappear under the thick, yellow goo. This was my chance. The perfect icebreaker to maybe start a conversation that would lead to something more. āHey," I whispered, trying to sound casual but feeling every bit the awkward teenager I was, "you want a potato with that cheese sauce?"
Then, with a monotone and annoyed response, she said, "Yeah, thatās why I ordered one." š„
The silence? Deafening.
The result? A crushing defeat.
15/08/2024
These are our caricatures, but you can join the real versions of my co-hosts, Matt Sunbulli, and me every week on ās The Lonely Office.
This weekās topic: Fake Job Postings š
15/08/2024
This Week on 7MS: A story about a broken family, Americaās pastime and how an iconic 90s film and its star became a reoccurring motif in my life.
Plus listener shoutouts!
12/08/2024
My dad always wanted me to be a left-handed pitcher. As a kid in we spent countless hours practicingāoutside in the Ohio summer, and in the basement in winter. But when my parents divorced, everything changed and movies became my escape to cope. One movie stood outā¦
ā¦ Rookie of the Year. š„ - A 90s film about a kid named Henry, who, after a freak accident, could pitch at 100 mph. As a 9-year-old, I was obsessed. Iād even try to fall on my left arm, hoping itād heal in a way that made me a star pitcher like Henry. Fast forward to 2016, when the Cubs beat Cleveland in the World Series. I was crushed. But seeing the actor Thomas Ian Nicholas who portrayed Henry ā cheering for the Cubsā¦
ā¦ did provide a temporary balm and solace. ā¾ Two years later, I was working for a media agency and was assigned to interview celebrities for a charity event. And there he was āThomas Ian Nicholas. I had so much I wanted to tell him about how his movie inspired me, but I stayed professional, asked my questions, and didnāt tell him my story. Iām not sure why. I guess sometimes, life doesnāt mirror the movies, but maybe thatās why we watch themā¦ ā¤ļøš¤²
08/08/2024
He thought he was in a world of trouble. Norm, an 80-year old Veteran lost his wallet on the side of the road and it seemed like he may never get it back.
Untilā¦.
Find out what happens on this weekās 7 Minute Stories.
Where ever you get podcasts š§
05/08/2024
š® Have you ever had a bite of something that took you back in time? š°ļø I wish you could taste what Iām eating right now. The warm, crunchy shell, the cold cheese and lettuce, and the hot, savory meat. It's a transformational experience š¤¤. For me, Taco Bell isn't just fast food; it's a gateway to cherished memories from my Ohio suburban youth. In highschoolā¦
š T-Bell was our suburban haven after 9 PM. š My friends and I would pile into my old minivan and head to the neon beacon of hope. Inside, we shared laughs, deep conversations, and dreams about changing the world. Those moments, being ridiculous teenagers, telling jokes and having deep talks, are crystallized in my memory. T-Bell was our version of the Parisian cafĆ© for the impressionist painters. šØ But my love for Taco Bell goes deeper. It all startedā¦
ā¦ with my grandfather. When I was six, he promised me a taco for every goal I scored in a soccer game. ā½ One day I scored 13 goals! We went to Taco Bell, and I remember him smiling proudly as I devoured each one. That moment, in the sunlight, with the beautiful wrappers, is a cherished memory - even years after he's passed - it's still with me. I think if Norman Rockwell were alive, I'd like to think he'd paint that scene of us together. š®ā¤ļø
01/08/2024
Donāt listen if youāre hungry! In this weekās episode of 7MS, Aaron takes a journey back to the ā90s and discovers that Taco Bell š is inextricably linked to some of his most important memories.
29/07/2024
šThis is how hardcore NFL fans are... My wife and I were driving back to the US from a wonderful honeymoon in Niagara Falls, just over the Canadian border. We pulled up to the border, handed over our passports, and waited.
š® The officer started looking long and hard at my information. It started making me nervous. Then he said, "You're from the Cleveland area?" I replied, "Yeah."
š He goes, "Browns fan?" I nodded, "I'm a Browns fan." He smirked, "I'm a Bills fan." I thought, great, just my luckā¦
šThen he pauses again. He looks at me and asks, "Was it wise for the Browns to spend 3 years in a row, 1st round picks on Deshaun Watson? What are they, idiots?"
š¤ I said, "You have a point," but right as I was about to respond, I thought, wait a second. Depending on what I say next, this guy might not let me back into the country!
So I decided to begrudgingly nod my head in agreement.
Then, he finally let us back in!
šŗšø The last thing Iād ever imagine was that a tense 15-minute conversation about the Brownsā trade strategy with a Bills fan would be the only thing standing in my way of my family crossing the border back into the United States. But then again, itās just another day in the life of a Cleveland Browns fan trying to navigate the world. š
25/07/2024
Today on 7 Minute Stories
Larry King, FDR and Other Ghosts
An unexpected visit to my grandmotherās house conjures the ghost of Larry King and reshapes the memory of the woman I thought I knew.
Listen whenever you get podcasts š§
22/07/2024
*Trigger warning
Not all stories start happy, but we can always hope for a happy ending.
A few years ago, my family and I were walking out of a restaurant when a car screeched in front of the entrance. A young woman was clearly trying to get out of the car.
The guy driving grabbed her hand and pulled her back in. The door shut, and they sped off. My family and I took a picture of the license plate.
We called the cops, and they said they were on it. But it's one of those moments where I always think about the ending of the storyāa story that I'll never know. And that kinda gnaws at me, you know?
It's not lost on me that there are so many people, so many instances of folks who are trapped in a situation like that.
The only thing I can hope for is that that woman found a way to get out of that car..
And that she stays out forever.š¤²
18/07/2024
āHey, itās Aaron. I just wanted to check in.
After such a strange week in America, it got me thinking about how important and how much I value this space that we have. Iām sure youāve got a lot of noise in your life. At work, your social media feed (if you do that), and the news cycle.
Iāll let the pundits do what they do. The media platforms do what they do, running the stuff 24 hours a day, trying to get everybody riled up and raise temperatures and all that kind of stuff. And Iām sure thereās important stuff that youāre paying attention to. You may have some passions and some points of view that are valid and important.
I know I do.
But the thing about this space that I love is that it kind of leaves that stuff in the rearview and focuses, I think, on whatās important, which is just connecting in a way that unifies the human experience. Look, Iām not good at a lot of stuff, but I know this:
The shortest distance between two souls is a story.
What better place to be, especially if you donāt have a lot of time, than 7 Minute Stories? So I wanted to share a story from Season 1, keeping this summer theme of going back to the best of Season 1.
Todayās episode is about the stuff that really matters. And I think when you listen, youāll hear what I mean.ā
7 Minute Stories
July 18th 2024
15/07/2024
In 1965, an orca was captured and brought to a theme park in San Diego. This orca became a star but sadly died in 1971 after six years in captivity. As more parks were buildt, they kept this name for other orcas performing similar shows across the country.
Fast forward to 1993, I was ten and at this park in Aurora, Ohio, with my family. The excitement was real ā cotton candy, popcorn, and the main event: seeing this famous orca. I was mesmerized by the orcaās power and grace.
The name of the park? SeaWorld.
The namesake of this and all previous captive orcas? Shamu.
During the show they asked for a volunteer to race this famous orca. I was picked! So, I ran as fast as I could, thinking I was winning. But at the finish line, the orca splashed me so hard I was drenched, with the crowd laughing. I know I should have thought it was funny, but at the time, I actually felt humiliated. Like the joke was on me. It was in that moment that I began to imagine what "Shamu" must have felt like.
Over the years, I wasn't the only one. Public perception began to change around the country. Protests and documentaries like "Blackfish" shined a spotlight on how these orcas were treated.
By 2016, in the face of public pressure, SeaWorld officially ended orca shows, shifting to what they deemed to more ānatural encountersā.
11/07/2024
This week on 7MS: Looking for Jesus
When Aaron looked in the rearview mirror, all he could see was the car about to hit him. The next thing he knew, he was caught somewhere between a spiritual experience and a reality television show.
04/07/2024
I remember a years ago when my daughter was just two or three.
It was one of those times where you have to drive and park miles away from the fireworks display. The humidity was so intense, but my excited little girl walked with me all the way to the fireworks. šāØHowever, before the fireworks even ended she was exhausted and asked me to carry her home. As I held her on our long walk back to the carā¦ š
ā¦she fell asleep on my chest, the humidity rose so much that we literally began to stick together š . By the time we reached the car, I had to wake her up & literally peel the two of us apart. We both laughed & cringed at the discomfort! We looked up one more time to see the last flickers of colorful lights in the night sky. This morning, I asked my now 11-year-old daughter if she remembered that moment. She responded, āI think so?ā I said, āDonāt worry, Iāll carry the memory for you.ā š„¹
27/06/2024
āForget it Jake, Itās Chinatown.ā
This week on 7MS: A mysterious late-night call promises the chance of a lifetime, but reality may have another twist... Join Aaron on a "surreal" journey from his podcast studio to the hills of L.A.
26/06/2024
Earlier this month, I shared a special presentation of ā7 Minute Storiesā that started catching peopleās attention. In it, I follow filmmaker Rob Montagueās decade-long journey to create āSecret Identity,ā a film honoring the creators of Superman and its lasting global impact. š½ļøāØ
Today, Cleveland Magazine featured a story on Montague and the challenges he faces before the filmās release. Check it out!
21/06/2024
This weekās 7 Minute Story: The Injury
What started out as an exceptional day on the basketball court ended in a hilarious trip to the emergency roomā¦
Art by Pete Whitehead
20/06/2024
š Season 4 of 7 Minute Stories is a wrap! While we gear up for the Season 5 premiere this September, join us every Thursday this summer for the best of Season 1. Telling and sharing these stories makes me happy, and I hope they do the same for you! šāØ
17/06/2024
He always told me: āSomeone giving you their attention is a gift. They donāt owe you their attention. That is something you have to earn.ā
Then, he would have me stand in front of him and his wife with copies of his old speeches from his days in marketing at the former East Ohio Gas Company. He would say, āNow, make us care about what youāre saying.ā As I read each line, he would give me notes on how to use tone, inflection, and purpose in my speech.
Recently, on a podcast, I was asked if I had any specific training in storytelling. I responded: starting at the age of 11, I attended MasterClasses in communication with one of the best public speakers in the world.
The interviewer asked: āWho was your teacher?ā
I showed them this picture of my grandfather.ā¤ļø
14/06/2024
šHey Facebook, wanted to share a big win.
Today was the Season 4 finale of my podcast 7 Minute Stories.
In this show, I've found my form as an extemporaneous storyteller. A place where I can share a piece of my soul.
In all, Iāve told over 260 extemporaneous 7 minute stories about my very normal but full life.
I hoped & dreamed for a tiny audience whoād listen.
Now, stories from this little show have been heard over 30 million times. ļæ¼
Thanks to Ken Wendt (audio) , Cori Collier & Pete Whitehead for being part of something special.
I couldnāt be more grateful. š„¹
Every Thursday this summer, weāll be curating a āBest of 7MS Season 1ā. Then all new stories in September for Season 5!
13/06/2024
Today is the Season 4 Finale of 7 Minute Stories! Thanks to my brilliant daughter for the original art for this one ā¤ļø
About: In this episode, Aaron takes a nostalgic journey back to the early '90s. Join him as he pretends to be a priest, watches his grandmother order an unthinkable dish at Friendly's restaurant, and helps track down a mysterious soccer coach named Mr. Sheep š
š§Listen wherever podcasts are found.
Also, Stay tuned every Thursday all summer long for - 7MS: The Best of Season 1
10/06/2024
Shortly after 1990, I received one of the best gifts of my life. It was a VHS tape of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. While the movie was incredible, what I didnāt expect was potentially the greatest commercial Iāve ever seen. It was a story about a lackluster right fielder on a city league baseball team, a magical moment, and a trip with friends and family to one of the greatest American institutions weāve ever known: Pizza Hut. For those who know, I hope this makes you smile. For those that donāt. Letās just say itās summertime. Let us remember āBook Itā and personal pan pizzas forever.
āThatās why I play in right field. Way out where the dandelions grow!ā š¶ š„²
06/06/2024
This week on a new 7MS - Is it Aaron Calafato or Tony Robbins? Either way, enjoy this special message for our 7MS listeners. ā¤ļø
04/06/2024
I couldnāt believe it. We were lost. It was my brotherās fault. He thought he knew the way. He was nine going on ten and insisted he could find his soccer team among the dozens at the field. But as soon as we arrived, he realized he didnāt remember where they were. My grandmother (who was watching us that week), determined, asked him, āWhatās your coachās name?ā He replied confidently, āMr. Sheep.ā We spent the next five minutes walking around, calling out, āMr. Sheep! Mr. Sheep!ā Finally, my grandmother tapped a coach on the shoulder and asked, āAre you Mr. Sheep?ā He looked confused and said, āExcuse me?ā Just then, my brother came running, waving his arms frantically and shouting, āGrandma, I was wrong! Itās not Mr. Sheep, itās Mr. Lamb! His name is Mr. Lamb!ā š¤Ŗ
This is a short vignette from a new 7 Minute Story podcast episode releasing this week . I asked my daughter Lu to do the art for this episode. My favorite part of the drawing is her rendition of my 80 + year-old grandmother in high heels š šš
30/05/2024
Full story OUT NOW! A special 7MS presentation (linked in comments) and must-listen for any superhero fan. Follow a Cleveland filmmakerās decade-long journey to create a film honoring the creators of Superman. The only question is, will DC ās James Gunn hear it in time?
28/05/2024
Thereās a filmmaker who for 10 years has been trying to create a film about the creators of Superman, and this may be his last chance to do soā¦
When I first met Rob Montague ( )
I was struck by his passion and dedication. Years ago, he shared his vision for a unique project called āSecret Identity.ā Itās a story that intertwines an animated narrative, a live-action comic book, and a documentary about three Superman fans ( )on a pilgrimage to Cleveland, the birth city of the worldās first superhero.
Robās drive is fueled by the spirit of Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster, the creators of Superman, who started with nothing but a dream and sheer determination. Their story, much like Robās, is one of resilience and the power of imagination.
Robās been carrying this torch for a decade, and now, the news is out that the new Superman movie will be filmed in Cleveland this summer. Thereās an urgency to capture this moment in Cleveland, a once-in-a-lifetime nexus of magic and inspiration. But thereās a problem. Jerry and Joe may have created Superman, but the rights to Superman are owned by DC Comics, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Entertainment. And as of now, the doors seem to be closed for Montague to see his dream realized.
This Thursday on a new special presentation of my podcast 7 Minute Stories (follow wherever you get pods), I share a story about Rob and the film project Secret Identity, with the hope that the two people ( and Peter Safran ) who can make this possible will hear it. This journey has deeply moved me, reminding me of why I started telling stories in the first place. Robās story inspired me to follow and document his journey.
Stay tuned as we follow Robās journey and see if we can bring Secret Identity to life. This is more than just a filmāitās a testament to dreaming big and never giving up.
Secret Identity Cover Art -
Address
Alerts
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Aaron Calafato posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Contact The Business
Send a message to Aaron Calafato:
Videos
Every small town has one of theseā¦ #podcast #america #storyteller
One more month and an 80-year-old veteran who lost his wallet. #storytelling #podcast
You ate what at Friendlyās?
She told me I had to give up the most important thing for my art. #family #creative
Being a āCreativeā isnāt easy. When you believe passionately in a story, you must have the courage to share it with the world. Even if at first nobody seems to care, you have to keep going. My 7MS podcast audience is used to my 7-minute extemporaneous stories from my life. But occasionally, a story comes along thatās so compelling, I have to break format, chase it down and share it. Today, Iām excited to release a special podcast episode documenting the incredible journey of Cleveland filmmaker Rob Montague. For the past decade, Rob has been working tirelessly to make a film about the creators of Superman. But hereās the twist: Robās final chance may depend on DC Comics CEO James Gunn hearing his story. Check out the full trailer for the film and listen to the podcast episode that documents the journey thus far in the comments. š¬š§ To all the creatives out there: Never give up on your dreams. No matter what! Up, up, and away! ā¤ļøšš
ā„ļøššOUT NOW! A special 7MS Podcast presentation (š§link in my bio OR find @7minutestories on your favorite podcast app) A must-listen for any superhero fan! Follow a Cleveland filmmakerās decade-long journey to create a film honoring the creators of Superman. The only question is, will DC ās @jamesgunn hear it in time? #superman #dccomics #movies #reels #film #podcast #story #cleveland #comics #art
A Cleveland filmmaker has spent the past decade attempting to make a movie about Supermanās creators, and his final opportunity to do so may hinge on @jamesgunn hearing his story. When I first met Rob Montague ( @latemorningfilms ) I was struck by his passion and dedication. Years ago, he shared his vision for a unique project called āSecret Identity.ā Itās a story that intertwines an animated narrative, a live-action comic book, and a documentary about three Superman fans ( @thegeekofsteel @theaspiringkryptonian @kiblaahmedart ) on a pilgrimage to Cleveland, the birth city of the worldās first superhero. Tomorrow on a new special presentation of my podcast 7 Minute Stories, I share a story about Rob and the film project @secretidentitymovie Stay tuned as I document Robās journey and see if he and his team can bring Secret Identity to life. This is more than just a filmāitās a testament to dreaming big and never giving up. #superman #upupandaway #film #reels #instagram #podcast #cleveland #superhero #comicbooks #ohio #reelsinstagram #dccomics #documentary #movie
šTravel sports can get weird. If youāre not careful, youāll end up like the character Coach Jack Riley in the 90s hits āThe Mighty Ducksā š¦ #sports #90s #storytelling #podcast
Iām becoming Gordon Bombay.
š Star for a day? I was wrong š¤¦š»āāļø #celebrity #movie #actor #story #storyteller #shorts
š³This puts things in perspective š - In honor of Carlā¦ #outerspace #story #animations #art #artist #illustration #earth #carlsagan #science #inspirational #cosmos #storytelling
Itās impossible to calculate meaning ā¤ļø #podcast #story #family
š³THIS destroyed his bedroom š#mom #homesweethome #grandma #family
I think a lot of us have experienced THIS: Being in a job interview that could change your whole life but the interviewer doesnāt seem care less š¤¦š»āāļø
šÆTrain came to screeching halt, didnāt expect THIS. ā¢ ā¢ ā¢ ā¢ ā¢ ā¢ ā¢ ā¢ #life #story #compassion #shorts #reels #storyteller #truestory #mylife #train #work #nyc #newjersey #storytellers #storytelling #humanity #people #kindness
š¤Being āavailableā, not always a good thing. #mentalhealthawareness #storytelling #podcasting #springiscoming
Trapped in a MRI machine, and then..š #storytelling #humor #shortstories #funnyclips
š¤ A little bird gave me THIS gift š„². #loveanimals #pet #kindness #birdlovers
Sometimes we tell ourselves stories when we feel guilty š¤¦š»āāļø
ā¤ļøWhen youāre young and in loveā¦ sometimes you have to take your shot šø #nostalgia #storytelling #love
Shortcuts
- Address
- Alerts
- Contact The Business
- Videos
- Claim ownership or report listing
-
Want your business to be the top-listed Media Company?
Share
