Award-winning journalist and producer Soledad O’Brien — known from CNN, NBC, and HBO, and now the CEO of Soledad O’Brien Productions — joins Aaron to explore the enduring power of storytelling. From Hurricane Katrina to acclaimed documentaries, she shares why human stories resonate more than data and how details can transform the way we understand the world.
Julie Shapiro on the Creative Pulse of Audio Storytelling
The podcasting landscape is in flux. With industry shake-ups like Amazon’s restructuring of Wondery, many audio creators are asking: Where does storytelling go from here?
In this episode of 7 Minute Stories Presents: The Storytelling University, Aaron talks with Julie Shapiro—legendary audio producer behind Radiotopia / PRX, Third Coast, and now Audio Flux—to explore how audio storytelling can thrive even in uncertain times.
Julie shares how Audio Flux taps directly into the creative pulse the industry needs right now, offering a space where storytellers—veterans and newcomers alike—can experiment, collaborate, and produce three-minute audio pieces sparked by imaginative prompts. It’s a love letter to the artistry of sound and a subtle pushback against formulaic content.
TSU Created & Produced by Aaron Calafato & Brooks Borden
Angus Fletcher (Story Scientist, OSU): Why Storytelling Is More Powerful Than Data, AI, or Logic
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. The Storytelling University is part of the 7 Minute Stories Universe
Angus Fletcher's new book available for pre-order!
TSU Created & Produced by Aaron Calafato & Brooks Borden
Noraly Schoenmaker (Itchy Boots): Storytelling, Travel, and Her New NYT Bestselling Book
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. Noraly shares how her global solo motorcycle travels shifted her perspective on life, and how her New York Times bestselling book, Free Ride, pulls back the curtain on the stories behind her worldwide adventure.
Noraly's New Book, Free Ride
Itchy Boots on YouTube:
The Storytelling University is created and produced by Aaron Calafato & Brooks Borden