
In the final episode of Season Six, Aaron tells a story in three parts. First, he remembers a boy from elementary school who seemed effortlessly ahead of the curve. The kind of kid who wore the right shoes before anyone knew they were cool, introduced him to Smashing Pumpkins, and left an impression that somehow lasted for decades. Then, Aaron tells another story of a young man searching for purpose who walked into a Byzantine Catholic church in Cleveland and eventually found himself pulled toward a monastic life at the Abbey of Gethsemani. The question is: how are these two stories connected? What follows is a reflection on memory, vocation, friendship, and the mystery of who we are in the eyes of others, who we become, and who we may have been called to be all along. *This episodes includes an adaptation and retelling of Brother Joseph's true story. You can read his original written story HERE. *Learn more about the Abbey of Gethsemani at monks.org 👇 📬 Be a part of the 7 Minute Stories Newsletter Once a month, you’ll receive a thoughtful note with storytelling insights, behind the scenes reflections, and exclusive bonus content. You’ll also have access to Stories in a Snap, his weekly short written adaptations of the 7 Minute Stories you love, reimagined for the page and delivered straight to your inbox via Substack with no algorithm in between. 📻 Listen to 7 Minute Stories Radio! With 7MS Radio you don’t have to choose an episode or wait a week for the next one to be released. You can tune in once and let it run in the background while you do chores, take a walk, work out, or wind down for the night. It’s designed to feel more like a small digital radio companion, No scrolling. No decision fatigue. Just press play and let the stories keep you company, 7 Minute Stories–style! The 7MS Team: Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer: Ken Wendt Additional vocals: Cori Calafato Original Theme Music: thomas j. duke Additional Soundscape Design: Isaac Gehring Special thanks to Brooks Borden, Dania Khalife and Pete Whitehead
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