Aaron Calafato Returns to RISK! for Halloween Special!

Storyteller Aaron Calafato's "The Riddler" is featured in a new collaboration with the acclaimed storytelling podcast RISK!, just in time for Halloween.

October 27, 2026 | Storyteller and creator of Shortwave Stories, Aaron Calafato, is returning to RISK!, the popular storytelling podcast created and hosted by Kevin Allison, for its latest Halloween installment, Scary Stories #18: Spine-tingling!

The episode features an adapted version of Calafato's short story, "The Riddler," originally released on his 7 Minute Stories podcast in 2023.

The story begins with a mysterious text message from a delivery driver that sets off a strange series of events for Aaron and his wife, Cori. What starts as an ordinary evening quickly turns into a mystery that feels like something out of a Batman comic book.

The Halloween feature marks Calafato's second collaboration with RISK!. In December 2023, the podcast featured an adapted version of his story "The Gun" in its episode Coming of Age. That autobiographical story explored a disturbing childhood experience involving another boy and a firearm.

Known for sharing deeply personal, funny, and sometimes unsettling true stories, RISK! provides a natural home for Calafato's autobiographical storytelling.

Calafato currently hosts Shortwave Stories, a short storytelling series airing on public radio and launching as a podcast January 2027.

Listen to the full episode below!

7 Minute Stories to Become Shortwave Stories in January 2027

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Popular storytelling podcast will unite with growing public radio series under one name, creating a single home for Aaron Calafato’s weekly autobiographical stories

MEDINA, Ohio, October 2026 — 7 Minute Stories, the long running autobiographical storytelling podcast created and hosted by Ohio storyteller Aaron Calafato, will officially become Shortwave Stories beginning in January 2027.

Season 7 of 7 Minute Stories will continue through December 2026. Beginning in January, the existing podcast feed will transition to the Shortwave Stories name, bringing Calafato’s podcast audience and growing public radio presence together under one storytelling series.

The transition comes as Shortwave Stories continues to expand across public radio. This fall, the series can be heard on 14 public radio stations, with additional stations being added and further syndication opportunities being explored.

The move creates a singular destination for Calafato’s short form autobiographical storytelling across both podcasting and public radio.

For current 7 Minute Stories subscribers, no action is required. The existing podcast feed will remain in place and listeners will continue to receive a new story each week. The complete archive of previous 7 Minute Stories seasons will also remain available in the feed.

Beginning in 2027, new episodes will be released as Shortwave Stories, featuring expanded sound design and original scoring from sonic storytelling partner Echo Finch.

The transition represents the next stage in the evolution of a storytelling project that began as an independent podcast and has since expanded across podcasting, digital platforms, social media and public radio.

About Shortwave Stories

Shortwave Stories is a short form autobiographical storytelling series created and hosted by Aaron Calafato. The series is distributed through podcasting and public radio and combines true stories with immersive sound design and original scoring. Its guiding idea is simple: the shortest distance between us is a story.

Rainn Wilson Joins Storyteller Aaron Calafato in Conversation

Brooks Borden | 7MS Editorial

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rainn Wilson Joins Storyteller Aaron Calafato

Actor, author, and podcaster Rainn Wilson recently joined Aaron Calafato for a live, in-person podcast conversation.

Their chat took place after one of Wilson’s events at Bowling Green State University, Calafato’s alma mater, and before Wilson continued on to his next stop at Notre Dame.

Together, Wilson and Calafato explored story, spirituality, meaning, creativity, and the strange, beautiful space in between. The result is a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation about how stories shape the way we understand ourselves, each other, and the lives we are trying to live.

The audio episode will be released on May 24th 2026 only on the 7 Minute Stories feed wherever podcasts are found.

A curated YouTube version of the conversation will be released later this year.

Aaron Calafato and Father James Martin Explore Why Story May Be the Most Powerful Way to Understand Faith

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aaron Calafato and Father James Martin Explore Why Story May Be the Most Powerful Way to Understand Faith

Medina, Ohio — April 14, 2026 — In a conversation that moves beyond belief and into the structure of story itself, storyteller and podcaster Aaron Calafato sits down with Father James Martin for a deeply reflective episode of 7 Minute Stories Presents: The Storytelling University.

At the center of the discussion is a simple but provocative idea:
If you look at faith purely through a narrative lens, some stories demand an explanation.

Referencing the transformation of the early disciples after the resurrection, Father Martin offers a striking perspective:

“From a storytelling point of view, it makes no sense… to go from terrified to fearless without something real happening.”

That idea becomes a throughline for the episode. Not as an argument to convince, but as an invitation to consider the story more seriously.

The conversation is framed through Martin’s NYT Best-Selling book Work in Progress, which traces his journey through a series of formative roles, from busboy and paperboy to corporate employee and ultimately Jesuit priest. But what emerges in this exchange is something deeper than career reflection.

It becomes a conversation about the stories we tell ourselves and the moments when those stories break.

Calafato connects personally to this idea, reflecting on his own path through work, ambition, and meaning. At one point, the conversation turns to a universal question:

When does someone realize they are living the wrong story?

For Martin, the answer was not abstract. It was physical. Stress, migraines, and a growing sense that something wasn’t aligned.

“I have to get out of this,” he recalls thinking.

From there, the episode expands into a broader exploration of narrative itself, including one of the most compelling ideas in the conversation:

That Jesus didn’t just teach with stories — but is the story.

“Jesus is the story that God tells,” Martin explains, framing faith not as a set of rules or arguments, but as an encounter with narrative.

This insight lands directly in Calafato’s world, where storytelling is not just craft, but a form of service.

“I want to make sure my stories don’t end with me,” Calafato shares in the episode. “If they end with someone else… then I’ve told a meaningful story.”

The conversation also explores:

• Why stories open people up in ways arguments never can

• How identity is shaped at the intersection of internal and external narratives

• The role of lived experience in changing hearts and perspectives

• And how storytelling continues to shape conversations around belonging and faith today

The full episode of the conversation will be released on April 26, 2026 as part of 7 Minute Stories Presents: The Storytelling University, a bonus series available exclusively on the 7 Minute Stories feed.

Brad Roberts of Crash Test Dummies Joins Aaron Calafato in Conversation

by Brooks Borden - 7MS Editorial

Brad Roberts first rose to international prominence as the unmistakable baritone voice behind Crash Test Dummies, the band whose breakout hit “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” became one of the most recognizable songs of the 1990s. With its unconventional storytelling, haunting tone, and melodic depth, the song stood apart from everything else on the radio. It was strange, poetic, and unforgettable.

But Brad’s career has never been defined by one song.

Over decades of songwriting and performing, he has quietly built a body of work rooted in curiosity, narrative, and philosophical exploration. His music has often wrestled with big questions—faith, mystery, human fragility, and the unseen forces that shape our lives. There’s always been something searching beneath the surface.

Aaron sat down with Brad for a conversation on Storytelling University to explore that searching spirit. They spoke about songwriting as a form of inquiry, the role of mystery in creativity, and how storytelling through music differs from storytelling through spoken word. The conversation moves beyond nostalgia and into craft—into what it means to chase truth through art.

It’s a thoughtful, reflective exchange between two storytellers from different mediums, both fascinated by the same thing: the human desire to make meaning out of the unknown.

Full conversation available HERE.

Brett Anderson (Formerly of The Donnas) Joins Aaron Calafato in Conversation

by Brooks Borden - 7MS Editorial

Brett Anderson first broke through as the lead singer of The Donnas, the all-female rock band that helped shape the sound and attitude of the late 90s and early 2000s. Her voice, her presence, and the band’s energy left a mark on a whole generation of young musicians who were finally seeing something different and exciting onstage.

After years of touring and creating music that defined an era, Brett felt called to a different kind of work. Today she’s an Associate Clinical Social Worker and Gerontologist who’s rethinking aging, longevity, and mental health. Her focus is helping people and families navigate some of the most complex moments of life with clarity, compassion, and real support.

Aaron sat down with Brett for a conversation for Storytelling University, and they spoke about her path, her purpose, and the way she’s chosen to use her gifts now.

Full conversation available below

Aaron Calafato Talks Story with Julie Shapiro on Storytelling University

by Brooks Borden - 7MS Editorial

Production continues on Storytelling University, the new conversation series created and hosted by award-winning storyteller Aaron Calafato. The show explores the philosophy, phenomenon, and architecture of storytelling — and how creators across disciplines catch stories and shape them into meaning, identity, and culture.

The latest recording features a rich and insightful conversation with audio executive and consultant Julie Shapiro. In their exchange, Calafato and Shapiro delve into her early audio inspirations, the magic of record stores, her approach to curating audio collaborations, and her evolving concept of Audio Flux — a fluid framework for thinking about how we listen and engage with sound.

The episode is slated for release in late July and will be dual-published as bonus content on Calafato’s YouTube channel and his award-winning podcast, 7 Minute Stories.

Shortly after the time of this post, Shapiro is will be speaking on Audio Flux at the EBU’s Audio Storytelling Festival in Vilnius, taking place May 24–28.

More conversations — and more brilliant minds — to come as Storytelling University continues to grow.

How 'Stories in a Snap' Took Aaron Calafato from Podcast to Print

📷 Whitney Revere Sherman / Take This Photography

by Brooks Borden - 7MS Editorial

Since January, 7 Minute Stories creator Aaron Calafato has been telling quick, vivid stories in an unexpected place: the local newspaper. His column, "Stories in a Snap," appears each week in the Medina Weekly and brings his extemporaneous storytelling style to the printed page.

What began and continues as a short-form storytelling podcast with millions of listens has now expanded into the world of print—proof that storytelling transcends platforms. With each edition, Aaron captures quick, heartfelt moments from everyday life in Medina, Ohio, showing that the power of narrative works just as well on paper as it does in audio.

Each Thursday, readers in Medina and surrounding areas pick up the Weekly and discover a moment—sometimes funny, sometimes poignant, always human.

This new chapter is a reminder that while digital storytelling continues to evolve, there’s something timeless about words on a page. Columnist Karl Gerhard and Editor Kevin McManus encouraged Aaron to bring his stories to print, and while he was initially hesitant—unsure how his audio-first narratives would translate—he quickly realized it opened up a whole new vector and audience for his work.

Whether it’s longtime readers who’ve never put down the paper, or younger audiences rediscovering the joy of holding the news in their hands each Thursday—Stories in a Snap proves there’s still magic in print. As the podcast continues to grow and evolve, Stories in a Snap is proof that good storytelling doesn’t just adapt—it expands. And for Aaron, it’s just one more way to connect.

This Conversation with Soledad O’Brien Hit Home for Aaron Calafato

Running to the Noise Podcast

by Brooks Borden - 7MS Editorial

Aaron Calafato has built his brand around the belief that storytelling is the most powerful tool for authentic connection—and in his latest consulting work on Oberlin College’s podcast Running to the Noise, particularly the episode featuring acclaimed journalist Soledad O’Brien, that philosophy is on full display.

The podcast, hosted by Oberlin President Carmen Twillie Ambar, explores the kinds of conversations that resist soundbites and lean into complexity. Fueled by the intellectual curiosity and creative energy of Oberlin itself, Running to the Noise delivers nuanced dialogue that reflects the college’s legacy of forward-thinking leadership.

The latest episode features acclaimed journalist and producer Soledad O’Brien, whose career has been defined by asking hard questions and telling stories that matter. For Calafato, one moment in particular resonated deeply. During the episode, O’Brien says, “Storytelling is often the thing that helps you begin to care.” It’s a quote that aligns seamlessly with Calafato’s approach—and his mission to help brands and institutions tell stories that cut through the white noise.

His work behind the scenes on this podcast continues to highlight what happens when you bring clarity, strategy, and empathy to the table. With Running to the Noise, Calafato isn’t just consulting—he’s helping craft conversations that matter.

Listen to the full episode of Running to the Noise featuring Soledad O’Brien wherever you get your podcasts.

And be sure to check out Soledad’s latest project, Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien, a series that dives deep into the issues shaping our world—one story at a time.

Charting New Territory: 7 Minute Stories Hits Personal Journals Top 50

by Brooks Borden - 7MS Editorial

This past week, 7 Minute Stories, reached #45 on Apple Podcasts in the Personal Journals category—its highest position to date.

The show had long found a home in Apple’s Performing Arts charts, where it performed consistently over the years. But last month, Calafato and his team made a strategic decision to reclassify the podcast into the Personal Journals category—a space known for its high competition and visibility. It’s the same territory occupied by heavyweight shows like TEDxShorts, The Martha Stewart Podcast, and S-Town.

The decision came with a level of risk. Entering a category filled with major players meant more competition for listener attention. But the team felt that the stories being told—personal, reflective, and intimate—belonged there. And this week’s charting seems to affirm that instinct.

For a show built on organic growth, word of mouth, and the power of simple storytelling, this is a meaningful milestone. It signals not just growth in numbers, but resonance with a wider audience.

Aaron Calafato and his team now hope to maintain that presence in the Top 50 and continue building momentum in the months and years ahead—one story at a time.

Aaron Calafato Told a Story That Hit 17 Million Views—Here’s What He Learned From It

by Brooks Borden

7MS Editorial

Preface:

Last week, I emailed Aaron to ask about one of his viral short stories—now at 17 million views. I wanted to know what he learned from the experience.

He wrote back with his thoughts, and I’ve organized them below.

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Story Matters

The approach was simple: find a new way to connect with an audience through my storytelling. Instead of overcomplicating things, I told and recorded a one-minute adaptation of an episode from my audio podcast 7 Minute Stories and put it out there. No elaborate setup, no gimmicks—just me, a camera, and a story.

The result? A new platform to share my storytelling with and an undeniable truth—it’s not about the platform, it’s about the story. When you focus on authenticity, your audience will find you. It might take 7 minutes, 7 days, or 7 years—but they will.

The “What”

The short story I shared on YouTube has now accumulated over 17 million views. The video itself is just over a minute long, but what stands out is that over 90% of viewers watched it all the way through.

It was a simple story I titled: “He Laughed After He Ate This”—about my grandfather and me, a dandelion salad, and a memory from his childhood. No gimmicks, just a family story, a camera, and my spoken word.

Why Numbers Matter—and Why They Don’t

It’s easy to let views, likes, and shares dictate what you create, but don’t let surface-level metrics drive your decisions.

These platforms? They have their own interests. They are just an intermediary between you and your audience, shaping how content is seen and consumed. Just because a story, video, or piece of content doesn’t take off ( Trust me I have hundreds of videos and stories that don’t hit or go viral) on one platform doesn’t mean it won’t connect elsewhere.

But here’s where numbers do matter—under the hood. Look at consumption rate, retention, and watch time. If people stick around until the end, even if it’s a small audience, that’s a good sign. It means you’ve created something worth staying for.

The Forgotten Truth

I feel like in a world full of expert strategists, marketers, jargon, and know-it-alls telling creatives how to do it 'correctly,' things can get overwhelming. Advice can be useful—but also confusing. As a storyteller—naturally, originally, just a storyteller—I think I’m uniquely positioned to remind creatives of one simple truth: beneath all the noise, there’s just story. How you think of it, how you catch it, how you craft it, how you frame it, and ultimately, how you tell it. Only then should strategy come into play—helping to frame messaging, drive communication, and uplift products or services across different platforms.

I say this bluntly because it’s a truth that gets lost. And the little story I’m referencing in this blog? It’s proof that if story is the priority in your creative strategy, you’re in a good spot.

Aaron Calafato Brings Viral Storytelling to the Work-Life Conversation on Glassdoor

by Brooks Borden

7MS Editorial

In just two months, Aaron Calafato has amassed over 1M + views on the Glassdoor app with his short storytelling videos—each just a minute long. These videos, sourced from The Lonely Office Podcast & grounded in careful storytelling, explore work-life balance issues that regularly surface in Glassdoor’s anonymous community forums. The overwhelming response highlights the power of storytelling—not just as entertainment, but as a meaningful way to connect real workplace challenges to the people living them every day.

Aaron’s journey with Glassdoor began as a co-creator and co-host of The Lonely Office podcast, a show that explores the realities of modern work. The success of both the podcast and these short videos has led Glassdoor to feature Aaron as a Work-Life Pro on their app. Now, each week, he’ll be sharing stories, reflections, and advice designed to help people navigate their careers with more clarity and confidence.

Glassdoor’s Growing Influence and the Rise of Storytelling-Driven Content

Glassdoor has long been a trusted resource for job seekers and employees, offering a transparent look inside workplaces through anonymous company reviews, salary insights, and discussion forums. But beyond raw data, Glassdoor has evolved into a workplace storytelling hub—a space where people don’t just research jobs, but engage in real conversations about professional identity, burnout, toxic cultures, and finding purpose in work.

The Glassdoor app now makes these conversations even more accessible, and Aaron’s videos fit perfectly into this ecosystem. In a sea of industry jargon and corporate buzzwords, his storytelling approach brings clarity and emotion to complex workplace dynamics, offering a refreshing and engaging alternative.

Why These Short Videos Resonate with Glassdoor Users

Unlike traditional career advice, Aaron’s videos aren’t about résumé tips or networking hacks. Instead, they dive into the human side of work—office politics, remote work struggles, job satisfaction, mental health, and the ever-blurring line between work and personal life. By focusing on the emotional truths of work, these videos have struck a chord with thousands of viewers looking for a sense of recognition and validation in their professional journeys.

For Aaron—an audio-first storyteller and consultant—the success of these videos was an unexpected but exciting shift. Initially uncertain whether short-form video would resonate with viewers, the overwhelming response has not only broadened his partnership with Glassdoor but also reinforced the idea that great storytelling has a place in every medium.

Now, alongside The Lonely Office and 7 Minute Stories, Aaron’s weekly Glassdoor content has become an essential part of his storytelling repertoire. If you haven’t yet, check out his videos on the Glassdoor app (just search for Aaron Calafato) and join the conversation. Your comments help shape the stories he tells—stories that reflect the most pressing and personal realities of today’s workforce.

A Storytelling Crossover You Didn’t See Coming: Aaron Calafato & Shannon Cason Swap Stories

by Brooks Borden

7MS Editorial

Aaron Calafato and Shannon Cason—two acclaimed storytellers known for their raw, personal narratives—are teaming up for a storyteller-swap that brings their distinct voices to new audiences. One of Aaron’s stories will appear on Shannon’s podcast Homemade, while one of Shannon’s stories will be featured on Aaron’s 7 Minute Stories. This unique crossover gives listeners the chance to experience two solo-storytellers through two different perspectives.

Both Aaron and Shannon are award-winning storytellers with deep Midwestern roots, but they come from different backgrounds and points of view. Aaron, an extemporaneous storyteller known for his cinematic and emotionally charged narratives, tells stories that feel like you’re stepping into a vivid memory. Shannon, celebrated for his work on Snap Judgment and The Moth, delivers his stories with a signature mix of grit, warmth, and unfiltered honesty. While their styles differ, they share a passion for solo storytelling—a rare craft in the podcasting world, where they perform without co-hosts or interviews, relying solely on their voices to captivate audiences.

This collaboration offers a fresh experience for both fan bases. Be on the lookout for the storyteller-swap the week of March 9th, 2025, wherever you get your podcasts. And if you haven’t yet, check out 7 Minute Stories and Homemade to witness two masterful storytellers at their craft.

Aaron Calafato Partners in Shaping CyberArk's Security Matters Podcast

by Brooks Borden

7MS Editorial

In the ever-evolving digital threat landscape, staying ahead of cybersecurity challenges is more critical than ever. That’s why CyberArk’s Security Matters, the newly rebranded podcast, is stepping up to provide expert insights and actionable strategies for securing identities, protecting hybrid and multi-cloud environments, and defending against emerging attack methods.

As a partner in shaping this podcast, Content & Story Architect Aaron Calafato has played a key role in refining its editorial vision, ensuring that Security Matters delivers engaging, thought-provoking conversations with frontline security experts. Through his expertise in storytelling and podcast production, Aaron has helped craft a format that not only informs but captivates audiences—bringing complex cybersecurity topics to life in a way that resonates with professionals across the industry.

Hosted by David Puner, CyberArk’s Security Matters continues the legacy of CyberArk’s first foray in the podcast space (Trust Issues) now with an even sharper focus on proactive security. With each episode, listeners are encouraged to think like an attacker, gaining deeper insights into the ever-changing world of cybersecurity.

CyberArk’s Security Matters launched in mid-February 2025 across major podcast platforms.

Tune in for impactful discussions that prove why how you approach security truly matters!

From Startup to Standout: How The Lonely Office Became a Top Career Podcast in Less Than a Year

by Brooks Borden

7MS editorial

Less than a year ago, The Lonely Office launched with a simple but powerful vision: to explore the realities of modern work in a way no other podcast had. Today, it’s a top career podcast in the country, consistently ranking in the top 50 and resonating with a growing audience of professionals navigating the ever-changing workplace.

Co-created by Aaron Calafato (7 Minute Stories) and Matt Sunbulli (Serial Entrepreneur, Co-Founder Fishbowl & Found @ First Draft) , The Lonely Office released its first episode in February 2023. Shortly after, Leah Ova, a viral TikTok star and advertising executive, joined as a permanent co-host, bringing her unique insights and energy to the show.

Momentum skyrocketed when TLO became an official Glassdoor podcast….

Every week, the show fuels conversations across the Glassdoor audience tackling the workplace topics professionals are actually talking about.

With a loyal and expanding audience, The Lonely Office is now setting its sights on even bigger moves—expanding into video, deepening engagement with job seekers, and continuing to capture the raw, unfiltered realities of today’s work culture.

Want to be part of the conversation? Follow TLO wherever you get podcasts and Download the Glassdoor app and dive into the discussions shaping the future of work.

Aaron Calafato’s Workshop at GWU: The Human Story Behind the Pitch

By Brooks Borden - 7MS Editorial

Last week, Aaron Calafato brought his lecture series back to Professor Bill Collier’s class, “Introduction to Venture Capital,” at the George Washington University Investment Institute. In this recurring workshop, Aaron shares how storytelling techniques elevate entrepreneurs’ pitches to investors, showing students how to build and deliver a narrative rather than only try to impress potential investors.

One of Aaron’s lessons this week was to use the “human story” – the passion that inspired the entrepreneurial endeavor to begin with – to drive the pitch and all of its data forward. When aware of the human story, the entrepreneur becomes engrossing and inspiring as a person – someone whom potential investors believe in. The data, the numbers, the growth potential, the value propositions, all necessary parts of the pitch, are delivered compellingly by the entrepreneur and presented as incremental parts of their entrepreneurial (and human) story. 

Finding the human story involves uncovering the human vulnerability that’s buried within entrepreneurial endeavor. Vulnerability, when used well, elevates the pitch, the presentation, and the entrepreneur. Crafting a pitch this way, as a storyteller, allows the entrepreneur to leverage all of the essential data and balance it with authenticity. Capturing an audience’s attention, whether it be investors or a crowd in a theater, cannot happen without coming from that deeper spark of true human passion. 

Bill Collier, himself a Principal at Noblis Ventures, and his students were “second to none” according to Aaron in everything they did during the workshop. This class at GW has become a favorite stop of Aaron’s, and he’s pumped to keep coming back every semester! 

Hear My Story 'The Gun' on the Acclaimed Podcast RISK!

One of my original short stories, "The Gun," can now be heard on the acclaimed storytelling podcast, RISK!

“The Gun” first found its voice on my award-winning extemporaneous podcast, 7 Minute Stories, and has now evolved for its debut on RISK!

In this extended version, I delve deeper into the complexities of growing up in a single-parent household, the challenges children face when divorced parents start new relationships, the critical issue of gun violence, and the intricacies of mental health.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with RISK! A heartfelt thank you goes to the RISK! team and creator Kevin Allison for embracing my story and extemporaneous storytelling style, Taj Easton for his exceptional direction & production work, and Shannon Cason for introducing me to the RISK! crew. Additionally, I want to extend a thanks to Ken Wendt (Audio Engineer / 7 Minute Stories), the original audio engineer for "The Gun," whose audio expertise played a pivotal role in bringing the story to life.

This extended version of "The Gun" will be available today Tuesday, December 5th, 2023 on all RISK! platforms and wherever podcasts are found.

Additionally, you can listen to the original version that appeared early in Season 1 of 7 Minute Stories.

For more stories like this one, subscribe to 7 Minute Stories wherever you listen to podcasts!

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Viral Dandelion Story Adaptation to be Featured in Portuguese Mag "Cais"

Last season on my podcast 7 Minute Stories, I released an episode titled "Dandelion Salad." Prior to the audio version, I shared a one-minute video adaptation on my YouTube channel. The "Dandelion Salad" YouTube Short quickly gained traction, accumulating over 17 million views. This caught the attention of Pedro Moura, a talented comics scriptwriter from Lisbon, Portugal. Pedro contributes a two-page comics section for the magazine "Cais" every month. "Cais" is a heartwarming initiative, as it is sold by either homeless individuals or those undergoing rehabilitation, with all proceeds directly benefiting them and the institution.

After stumbling upon the "Dandelion Salad" short on YouTube, Pedro reached out to me via email. He expressed interest in adapting the story, which left me deeply honored and eager to see his creative interpretation. Pedro collaborated with the incredibly talented artist, Nani Brunini, for the illustrations. What they crafted was nothing short of exquisite.

The comic is set to be published in the early months of 2024 within the pages of "Cais" magazine. However, Pedro kindly requested that I share this story and rendition with the dedicated listeners of the 7 Minute Stories podcast and those familiar with my storytelling work. Below, you'll find the series of images I was able to cobble together from a PDF doc. I’ll post here again once the magazine is published.

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7 Minute Stories Pod Back for a 4th Season!

You won't believe the ride we're about to embark on in Season 4 of the 7 Minute Stories Podcast. It's Aaron Calafato here, and let me tell you, the enthusiasm is coursing through my veins like never before…

Every year, I'm left in awe as our listenership swells, connecting with more souls hungry for real, raw stories. It's humbling, really. To think that a simple idea—to share authentic snippets of life in just seven minutes—would resonate so deeply.

This time around, I’m pushing more boundaries. I’m delving into those personal tales that I've held close, stories that whisper in the corners of my mind. It's nerve-wracking, I won't lie. But it's also liberating. There's a certain magic in shedding those layers, in exposing the vulnerabilities that make us human. It's about baring our truths, scars and all, in the hopes that someone out there finds solace, finds resonance.

The first story of the season is titled For Profit: An Origin Story. For half a decade, I embarked on a nationwide tour, performing a personal monologue titled "For Profit." It delved into the pressing issue of the American student debt crisis. The tour was a wild adventure and really was the start of my professional storytelling career. But what was the pivotal moment that started it all? That’s the origin story I share to kick off Season 4.

Also, this season 7 Minute Stories is stepping onto a new stage. This November, a popular and controversial story from 7MS Season 1 “The Gun” will be featured and adapted for the podcast RISK! I’ll post the details in this blog once it does. Honestly, the chance to reach even more hearts, to share our narratives with a wider audience—it's a privilege I don't take lightly. So buckle up, Season 4 is about to take you on a journey, and I can't wait to have you along for the ride!

I told a story that got over 1 MILLION views and here's what I've learned so far...

I told a story that got over 1 MILLION views and here's what I've learned so far...

✅Surround yourself with smart and supportive people

For a couple of years now, my friends Kyle McCarthy, Rob Montague, and Rich Vallejos have been urging me to create more video content, but I've always been a bit hesitant. A few months ago Luke Gibbons & my partners at Evergreen Podcasts reiterated the same thing. Now, even though I trained as an actor, turning the camera on myself has (and still does) feel a bit odd to me. But last month I gave it a shot; what happened is something I never saw coming.

Staying in line with the theme of my podcast 7 Minute Stories, I decided to film myself performing minute-long versions of the 7 Minute Stories that I've already released or stories that have yet to be released. I wrestled with what platform to release them on but narrowed it down to two: TikTok or YouTube Shorts. I flipped a coin and went with YouTube Shorts. My first few stories averaged about 2-6K views. I was pleasantly surprised. The next few stories garnered 15k, 30k, and 100k views. Then, a few weeks ago I shared a story about my brother finding (and returning) a wallet of an 80-year-old veteran. As of today, that story alone has received over 1.1M views and counting.

*You can hear the original 7 Minute version of this story on Season 1 of my podcast. It's titled "The Wallet".

In less than a month, I went from having 50 subscribers on YouTube to over 3,000K and growing. Now, YouTube Shorts has become another viable platform for my storytelling work. (This is part where I say THANK YOU to my smart and supportive friends/colleagues Kyle, Rob, Rich and Luke. I'm truly grateful.)

✅Nothing beats a good story

When I was deciding what content to create, I decided to keep it simple. I decided to tell a good story. It's the same approach I take with the 7 Minute Stories Pod. In this case, instead of trying to tell a good story in 7 minutes, it's trying to tell a good story in approximately 70 seconds. No tricks, no fancy camera work, no trending sounds or dances. Just stories that are close to my heart and that I think people can relate to. This alone is responsible for the 98% retention rate I got on my most popular story and the over 85% retention rate for all the stories I've posted thus far on YouTube Shorts.

For me, this experience has made it extremely clear. No matter what you're creating, what platform you're creating on. If you keep connecting with people through authentic storytelling as your North Star - your people will find you. It may take 7 minutes, 7 days or 7 years - but they will. There's always time for strategy and upgrades but you can't get around the fact that nothing beats a good story.

✅There are a lot of good people out there

When my stories started trending on YouTube Shorts, I was certain the majority of comments and responses would be nasty, negative, and hateful. However, in this case, it's been the opposite. The vast majority of people have left thoughtful, kind, and encouraging comments and stories of their own. Of course, there are the assholes. But it's been a 90/10 ratio. Maybe this is just unique to my little experience, but a 90/10 ratio of good vibes on social media is something that I would never have expected.

✅We live in a fragmented reality

I've always been skeptical of the social media landscape. There is a lot of good that has come out of it. But there's been a lot of bad too. Oftentimes our digital landscape is confusing and has made me question the nature of many of my fellow humans.

Despite the overwhelming positivity of the thousands of comments on my stories, what surprised me was the comments where viewers didn't think my story was real. There were many people who thought that I purposely conjured and falsified my (true) stories just for likes and followers. The truth is, while my podcast isn't journalism, the 7 Minute Stories that I tell via podcasting and now on YouTube Shorts are all autobiographical and true to my life. With just one click anyone could satiate their suspicion and figure that out.

Initially, I was a little surprised at some of the suspicion and cynicism. But then I thought, “WHY?” While I may not troll people online, aren't I a bit cynical too? Isn't that partly the reason why I didn't want to share my stories on social media to begin with? While their assessment of my work/art was wrong, don't they have good reason to be cynical? The fact is, we live in a moment of history where many people don't know what's real and what's not. Some of that is their fault. But much of that isn't. There's a lot of garbage out there. People are struggling to determine what's real news or fake news. Whether they are being hustled or helped. People are always on defense. And while this makes me sad, through this experience I found myself empathizing more with the nature of their cynicism rather than being angered by it. For me, the deeper and more profound question that emerged is: How did we get here, and can we get out? The best thing I have to offer as a personal solution is my storytelling. So, I'll just continue creating and telling authentic stories and throwing them out into the void.

This act alone has helped me see more clearly through the digital haze. It's helped me keep things in perspective. It’s helped me see that beyond and behind the distracting digital haze are mostly decent people navigating their lives as best they can.

If you’re interested, you can subscribe to my YouTube page for new short stories every week.