7 Minute Stories w/ Aaron Calafato

What happens when a childhood Halloween adventure becomes a real-life nightmare?

In fifth grade, Aaron Calafato couldn't wait to experience his elementary school's legendary haunted house. But once inside, the excitement turned to terror, leaving him trapped in the darkness and desperate to escape.

What happened next became a moment Aaron would never forget.

Thanksgiving Giveaway: Enter for a chance to win one of two personalized memory book projects from Meminto Stories. Visit meminto.com/7minutestories to enter before the end of November.

The Team:

Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato

Senior Audio Engineer: ⁠⁠⁠Ken Wendt ⁠⁠⁠

Original Scores & Sound Design by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Echo Finch

Original Theme Music: ⁠⁠⁠thomas j. duke ⁠⁠⁠

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Some of the most overlooked contributors to medical science have sacrificed more than we realize, and they're probably not who you think.

When Aaron's 13-year-old daughter asks a surprising question about the lab rats used in scientific research, an ordinary car ride becomes an unexpected conversation about sacrifice, compassion, and the value of life.

👉⁠⁠More about Meminto Stories, our partnership, giveaway details, deadlines, and entry instructions are below!⁠⁠

The Team:

Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato

Senior Audio Engineer: ⁠⁠Ken Wendt ⁠⁠

Additional vocals: Cori Calafato

Art: LuxArtXD

Original Theme Music: ⁠⁠thomas j. duke ⁠⁠

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⁠⁠⁠⁠👉⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore Aaron's Storytelling & Podcast Projects ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

A locked desk drawer. Hundreds of short stories. A side of his grandfather Aaron Calafato never knew.

Growing up, Aaron’s grandfather taught him how to captivate a room, turning old speeches into storytelling lessons around the living room. Years later, a discovery shared by Aaron’s father revealed a hidden collection of stories, decades of rejection letters, and a creative dream that connected three generations.

Plus, Aaron welcomes Meminto Stories as the presenting sponsor for the remainder of season seven of 7 Minute Stories. Meminto helps turn personal memories into printed books through guided questions. To celebrate, two winners will receive a free Meminto book to preserve their own stories in a Thanksgiving giveaway.

The Team:

Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato

Senior Audio Engineer: Ken Wendt

Additional vocals: Cori Calafato

Art: Pete Whitehead

Original Theme Music: thomas j. duke

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Some words have a way of traveling through generations and turning up in unexpected places.

For Aaron, the phrase “No matter where you go, there you are” first appeared in the 1984 cult classic The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension.

But where else has this quote appeared in pop culture and throughout history? And why has it endured?

In this episode of 7 Minute Stories, Aaron traces the surprising journey of a simple phrase and explores why its meaning continues to resonate across generations.

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A new chapter is coming to this feed. Aaron shares why 7 Minute Stories will become Shortwave Stories in January 2027, what’s changing, and why listeners can stay right here for a new story every week.

Then, hear “The Secret Antenna,” a story about Aaron's childhood dream behind it all. Previously aired this Summer on public radio, it makes its debut in this feed as a preview of what’s coming in January.

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On a scorching Ohio summer day, Aaron and Corey pull into a shady corner of a movie theater parking lot to eat lunch. What they find there is hard to explain, and even harder to fit into its surroundings. In this 7 Minute Stories episode, an ordinary stop becomes a reflection on beauty, disorder, and the surprises hiding in everyday life.

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Can a fish rise from the dead? Aaron has seen it happen. In the Season 7 premiere of 7 Minute Stories, a family aquarium, a fish named Poop, and one unforgettable mystery become a strange and surprisingly moving story about life, death, and second chances.

Aaron’s wife and business partner, Cori, hijacks the microphone for one final summer bonus episode with a simple message: keep the main thing the main thing.

Before season seven of 7 Minute Stories premieres, Aaron and Cori share why the feed is returning to its roots and what nearly six years of stories and listener connections have meant to them. Naturally, Taco Bell sauce packets make an appearance.

New stories begin next week. Starting then, our episode descriptions will include all the links to where you can find the bonus shows this fall.

In this classic episode from Season 3, Aaron joins the elementary school orchestra and discovers the thrill of making music. Then the sheet music gets harder, the other violinists race ahead, and he falls back on the one musical skill he can trust: his memory. Before long, he isn’t reading the notes at all. He’s performing something else entirely. A funny, painfully honest story about getting caught, repeating old patterns, and finally discovering the instrument he was meant to play.

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One summer in the late 1990s, a weeklong camping trip brought Aaron face-to-face with the kind of teenage connection that makes the rest of the world disappear. In this 7 Minute Story, he looks back on summer love, an unanswered letter, and the small regret he carried with him for decades.

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Get access to Aaron's Stories in a Snap series. A weekly series of written adaptations of the 7 Minute Stories you love, reimagined for the page and delivered straight to your inbox via Substack. Plus, once a quarter, you’ll receive a thoughtful note with storytelling insights, behind the scenes reflections, and exclusive bonus content.