Podcast Episodes
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The Polar Express, Belief, and Why Santa Is Real
As the year comes to a close, Aaron returns to a childhood memory sparked by The Polar Express—a quiet library, falling snow, and a sound he still ca…
6 months, 2 weeks ago
The Glowworm That Saved Christmas
It’s Christmas Eve, 1987, and a 4-year-old Aaron suddenly realizes he has nothing to give. No money, no store to run to, and a desperate need to feel…
6 months, 3 weeks ago
The Wind Phone Story: A Reflection on Loss, Healing, and the Voices We Carry | Short Stories of Hope
This is December’s bonus episode of Short Stories of Hope. In this month’s story, Aaron shares the quiet and powerful tale of the Wind Phone in Ochi,…
6 months, 3 weeks ago
The Real Story Behind “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
In this special holiday episode, Aaron breaks down the surprising origin of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” a song that was almost far too …
6 months, 4 weeks ago
A Love Letter to My Neanderthal Family
In this 7 Minute Story, Aaron (inspired by the NOVA Humans docuseries from PBS) discovers an unexpected kinship with his Neanderthal ancestors — not …
7 months ago
The GI Joe Incident: Why I Thought I Ran Away… and the Truth I Didn’t See
Aaron tells the story of the day he tried—truly tried—to run away at age five, fueled by righteous anger over a forbidden episode of GI Joe and a bac…
7 months, 1 week ago
Aging Is Not One Story: Brett Anderson on Reinvention, Longevity & Growing Older | The Storytelling University
Brett Anderson, formerly the lead singer of the groundbreaking band The Donnas, sits down with Aaron for a deeply personal conversation about aging, …
7 months, 2 weeks ago
In Defense of Hallmark Movies: A Closing Argument for Small-Town Magic
This week, 7 Minute Stories transforms into a courtroom drama—well, sort of. In this courtroom-style story, Aaron Calafato takes on the role of defen…
7 months, 2 weeks ago
Super Kmart, Meijer, and a Flock of Seagulls: What Never Fades
The first-ever Super Kmart in America once stood in Aaron’s hometown of Medina, Ohio—a place where he grew up under blue light specials and late-nigh…
7 months, 3 weeks ago
He Was Told He’d Never Walk Again — So He Ran | Short Stories of Hope
In this debut Short Stories of Hope bonus episode, Aaron shares the true story of a young boy who was told he’d never walk again. What follows is a m…
8 months ago