A childhood without candy turned into an all-out Warheads binge — and a tongue injury Aaron Calafato kept secret just to eat them again. In this sweet-and-sour tale, he explores grocery store obsessions, 90s candy culture, and the lengths we go for what we crave.

Aaron reflects on his growing inability to choose and enjoy movies in the age of endless streaming—and the unexpected documentary that finally broke his paralysis. It leads him to a powerful realization: the death of Blockbuster didn’t just end a store, it ended an experience.

When a missing person case hit Aaron’s community, he didn’t expect to get involved—until mozzarella sticks at Arby’s made it personal. In this story, Aaron shares how an ordinary craving turned into an extraordinary connection and an ending no one saw coming.

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.

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

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.

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...

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

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...

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

At a Holiday Inn off the Garden State Parkway (or as Aaron mistakenly called it, “the Jersey Parkway” — what can we say, he’s from Ohio), a late‑night room service shift becomes an unexpected lesson in grit, perseverance, and chasing a dream. From an awkward encounter with a strange guest to a $300 VIP assignment that felt like a wink from the universe, this is the story of how a moment with Olivia Newton‑John reaffirmed one aspiring actor’s path. Sometimes, amid the cheeseburgers and long elevators, all you need is a sign.

*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!

*Follow Aaron on...

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

Noraly Schoenmaker—creator of Itchy Boots—joins Aaron Calafato on 7MS Presents: The Storytelling University for a deep dive into the art of storytelling, the kindness of strangers, and what it means to document real experiences while living them. She reflects on how her solo motorcycle travels around the world transformed her outlook on life, and discusses her New York Times bestselling book, Free Ride: Heartbreak, Courage, and the 20,000-Mile Motorcycle Journey That Changed My Life, which pulls back the curtain on the stories behind her extraordinary adventure.

The Storytelling University is created and produced by Aaron Calafato & Brooks Borden