A Lesson from the Gumball Philosopher
Thu Feb 05 2026
In this episode of 7 Minute Stories, Aaron tells the story of a broken gumball machine, a chance driveway encounter, and a man who chose to live by an "unusual" philosophy...
What begins as a simple attempt to clean out the garage turns into a conversation about boxes — the ones we live in, the ones we work in, and the ones we may spend our lives trying to escape.
It’s a short story about freedom, sacrifice, and the unexpected teachers we meet when we think we’re just throwing something away.
👇
📻 If you like 7 Minute Stories, you’ll love 7 Minute Stories Radio — a 24/7 stream of Aaron’s stories you can tune into anytime. Let it run in the background while you walk, work, cook, or wind down. It’s not an episode feed. It’s a digital l storytelling radio companion with an analog feel, built to keep you company.
🌙 If you like 7MS, make sure you follow Night Stories LIVE! — Aaron’s late-night radio show where he shares new stories and talks with special guests in real time. Streamed live Thursdays @ 9:30PM EST on YouTube and now delivered as a podcast on-demand!
📖 If you like 7 Minute Stories, you’ll love Stories in a Snap — a weekly series of short, written stories by Aaron, adapted directly from the podcast. Each piece begins as a story told out loud and is reshaped for the page, so you can read it in just a few minutes.
📬 Join the 7 Minute Stories Newsletter! It only goes out 4–6 times a year — short, sweet, and packed with value. Get exclusive bonus content, behind-the-scenes stories, and invites to special remote events, delivered straight to your inbox.
The Team:
Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato
Senior Audio Engineer: Ken Wendt
Additional vocals: Cori Calafato
Artist in Residence: Pete Whitehead
Original Theme Music: thomas j. duke
Additional Soundscape Design: Isaac Gehring & Story Sounds Media LLC
Special Thanks:
Shannon Baker
Rob Montague Jr
Kyle McCarthy
Dania Khalife
More
In this episode of 7 Minute Stories, Aaron tells the story of a broken gumball machine, a chance driveway encounter, and a man who chose to live by an "unusual" philosophy... What begins as a simple attempt to clean out the garage turns into a conversation about boxes — the ones we live in, the ones we work in, and the ones we may spend our lives trying to escape. It’s a short story about freedom, sacrifice, and the unexpected teachers we meet when we think we’re just throwing something away. 👇 📻 If you like 7 Minute Stories, you’ll love 7 Minute Stories Radio — a 24/7 stream of Aaron’s stories you can tune into anytime. Let it run in the background while you walk, work, cook, or wind down. It’s not an episode feed. It’s a digital l storytelling radio companion with an analog feel, built to keep you company. 🌙 If you like 7MS, make sure you follow Night Stories LIVE! — Aaron’s late-night radio show where he shares new stories and talks with special guests in real time. Streamed live Thursdays @ 9:30PM EST on YouTube and now delivered as a podcast on-demand! 📖 If you like 7 Minute Stories, you’ll love Stories in a Snap — a weekly series of short, written stories by Aaron, adapted directly from the podcast. Each piece begins as a story told out loud and is reshaped for the page, so you can read it in just a few minutes. 📬 Join the 7 Minute Stories Newsletter! It only goes out 4–6 times a year — short, sweet, and packed with value. Get exclusive bonus content, behind-the-scenes stories, and invites to special remote events, delivered straight to your inbox. The Team: Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato Senior Audio Engineer: Ken Wendt Additional vocals: Cori Calafato Artist in Residence: Pete Whitehead Original Theme Music: thomas j. duke Additional Soundscape Design: Isaac Gehring & Story Sounds Media LLC Special Thanks: Shannon Baker Rob Montague Jr Kyle McCarthy Dania Khalife