Rainn Wilson on The Stories We Tell Ourselves | From Nicaragua to The Office to Soul Boom

In this bonus episode of 7 Minute Stories Presents: The Storytelling University, Aaron sits down with Rainn Wilson, the award-winning actor, ⁠New York Times bestselling author,⁠ and host of the ⁠Soul Boom podcast⁠, for a conversation about storytelling, spirituality, anxiety, faith, and the inner narratives that shape our lives.

From vivid childhood memories in Nicaragua to Alice in Wonderland, The Office, the meaning of suffering, and the search for God, Rainn reflects on creativity, the soul, and whether storytelling might be one of humanity’s oldest ways of finding meaning.

*The Storytelling University is part of the 7 Minute Stories Universe

Team:
Created & Hosted by: Aaron Calafato
Audio Engineer & Lead Editorial: Ken Wendt
Produced and Edited by Brooks Borden & Aaron Calafato
Guest Coordinator: Dania Khalife

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Randall Kenneth Jones: Pat Benatar, Storytelling as Purpose, and Why You Should “Save the Turtle”

7MS Presents: The Storytelling University returns with a heartfelt and deeply human conversation about storytelling, purpose, creativity, and the moments that quietly shape our lives.

This week, ⁠Randall Kenneth Jones⁠ joins Aaron Calafato for a special dual-release episode shared across both podcast feeds. Randall is the host of On the Knows and the author of books including ⁠Show Me and Ruby⁠.

Together, Aaron and Randall explore the deeper architecture of story through unforgettable encounters with icons like Pat Benatar, Norman Lear, Erin Brockovich, Stedman Graham, Jenifer Lewis, Suze Orman, and more.

You’ll hear:

  • The unbelievable story of how Randall met Pat Benatar in 1982

  • Why a former Ringling Bros. clown performing for 20 people changed Randall’s life

  • Aaron’s story about nearly canceling a performance for an audience of two

  • Lessons from Olympia Dukakis on reverence, teaching, and receiving knowledge

  • Why the smallest stories often carry the greatest meaning

  • Reflections on aging, reinvention, authenticity, and creative purpose

At its heart, this episode is about paying attention. To stories. To people. To moments that could easily pass us by.

*The Storytelling University is part of the 7 Minute Stories Universe

Team:
Created & Hosted by: Aaron Calafato
Produced and Edited by Aaron Calafato & Brooks Borden
Guest Coordinator: Shannon Baker

Love 7MS & TSU? Here's how to support:

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Rev. James Martin: Why Stories Change Everything, What Points to the Resurrection, and the Story That Blew His Mind

Today on 7MS Presents: The Storytelling University, Aaron talks with Rev. James Martin, Jesuit priest, New York Times bestselling author, an editor at large at America Magazine, consultant to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication and host of The Spiritual Life Podcast.

Martin’s new memoir, ⁠Work in Progress⁠, praised by Stephen Colbert as “funny, charming, inspiring, and wise,” becomes the doorway into a deeper conversation about storytelling, faith, and the search for meaning.

They explore Martin’s journey from corporate America to the priesthood, sparked by a moment of unexpected clarity through the story of a Trappist monk. Along the way, this episode examines what it means to see life not just as a series of decisions, but as a story unfolding with purpose.

This conversation also dives into:
• How storytelling shapes belief, identity, and transformation
• Why stories open minds where arguments often fail
• Martin’s advocacy for LGBTQ Catholics and the power of elevating lived experiences
• The idea that storytelling is not just communication, but ministry

The episode opens with a compelling reflection on the Resurrection, viewed not through doctrine, but through the radical transformation in the behavior of those who witnessed it.

If you’ve ever wondered how stories influence faith, purpose, and the direction of a life, this is a conversation that stays with you.

⁠Link to Buy Work in Progress⁠

⁠Follow The Spiritual Life Podcast ⁠

⁠American Magazine⁠

*The Storytelling University is part of the 7 Minute Stories Universe
Team:
Created & Hosted by: Aaron Calafato
Produced and Edited by Aaron Calafato & Brooks Borden
Audio Engineer: Ken Wendt
Guest Coordinator: Dania Khalife

Love 7MS & TSU? Here's how to support:

*Follow the pod wherever you're listening

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David Moulton: On Storytelling, Cybersecurity, and Why Story Moves Business Forward

In this bonus episode of 7 Minute Stories Presents: Storytelling University, Aaron Calafato sits down with⁠ David Moulton⁠ to explore the unexpected intersection of storytelling and cybersecurity.

At first glance, cybersecurity feels purely technical.

But underneath it? It is a story as old as time.

As Senior Director of Content and Thought Leadership at ⁠Palo Alto Networks⁠ and host of the ⁠Threat Vector⁠ podcast, David works at the center of how complex cybersecurity ideas are translated into stories that leaders, teams, and organizations can actually understand and act on.

He breaks down how storytelling transforms invisible threats into something tangible, helping influence decisions from the SOC to the C suite. From product strategy to executive communication, this conversation reveals how narrative becomes the bridge between technical reality and human behavior.

You will hear:

  • Why cybersecurity is fundamentally a human story, not just a technical one

  • How storytelling helps organizations make better decisions under pressure

  • The difference between facts that inform and stories that move people

  • A powerful framework for telling effective stories in business

Special Guest:

David Moulton

Team:

*Audio Engineer: Ken Wendt

*The Storytelling University is part of the 7 Minute Stories Universe Created, Produced and Edited by Aaron Calafato & Brooks Borden

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Brad Roberts (Crash Test Dummies): “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm,” Songwriting, Philosophy & The Stories That Saved Lives | The Storytelling University

Brad Roberts⁠, lead singer and songwriter of ⁠Crash Test Dummies⁠, sits down with Aaron for a wide-ranging conversation about songwriting, philosophy, and the unexpected afterlife of a hit song. From the improvisational process behind “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” to the outsider themes that shaped his lyrics, Brad shares how studying philosophy and English literature influenced the questions embedded in his music. This bonus episode of 7MS Presents: The Storytelling University explores 90s alternative rock, lyrical storytelling, and the deeply personal stories fans have carried with them for decades.

*The Storytelling University is part of the 7 Minute Stories Universe Created & Produced by Aaron Calafato & Brooks Borden

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Sports Are Human Stories: John Telich on Storytelling, Legacy & Northeast Ohio | The Storytelling University

In this Storytelling University bonus episode, Aaron sits down with John Telich, who spent four decades shaping how Northeast Ohio experienced sports on television. Together, they explore the quiet craft behind covering wins, losses, heartbreak, and hope—and why sports stories, at their best, are rarely just about the score.

The Storytelling University is part of the 7 Minute Stories Universe

Created & Produced by Aaron Calafato & Brooks Borden

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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, identity, and the power of reinvention. Now following a new path in the world of Gerontology, Brett shares how her journey through music, personal grief, palliative care, and end-of-life work reshaped her understanding of longevity and mental health. This bonus episode of 7MS Presents: The Storytelling University episode explores the branching paths of a human life and why no single narrative can ever define what it means to grow older.

The Storytelling University is part of the 7 Minute Stories Universe

Created & Produced by Aaron Calafato & Brooks Borden

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Evan Bartels: Songs, Stories, and the Art of Noticing

In this Storytelling University conversation, Aaron sits down with songwriter Evan Bartels to explore the craft of turning life into song. From the haunting first lines of Montana to the overlooked “side characters” of history, Bartels reveals how noticing small details can unlock entire worlds of meaning. Together, they dig into the tension between art and craft, the dignity of ordinary lives, and why the most powerful stories often come from what’s left unsaid.

*Stream Evan's New EP To Make You Cry

The Storytelling University is part of the 7 Minute Stories Universe

Created & Produced by Aaron Calafato & Brooks Borden

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Soledad O’Brien: From Covering Katrina to Shaping Stories for Netflix

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.

The Storytelling University is part of the 7 Minute Stories Universe

Created & Produced by Aaron Calafato & Brooks Borden

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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!

The Storytelling University is part of the 7 Minute Stories Universe

Created & Produced by Aaron Calafato & Brooks Borden

Love 7MS & TSU? Here's how to support:

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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.

The Storytelling University is part of the 7 Minute Stories Universe

Created & Produced by Aaron Calafato & Brooks Borden

Love 7MS & TSU? Here's how to support:

1. Follow the pod wherever you're listening

2. Tap 5 Stars

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