Aaron Calafato thought he’d finally cracked the code on curing his late-night insomnia—with the help of a few nostalgic commercials from the 1980s and ’90s. But what worked like melatonin for him caused chaos in his wife’s sleeping habits. In this episode, Aaron unpacks how the jingles, voices, and toy ads of his youth became a soothing balm for anxiety… and how imagination—not consumption—might be the real trick to falling asleep.

* If you like 7MS, you'll love Aaron's ⁠⁠7MS: Storystream — Live and Unscripted⁠⁠. 7MS Storystream is a live, audio-first show inspired by classic late-night radio — it features raw reflections, spontaneous storytelling, and unexpected conversations with guests and listeners. It also serves as the creative StoryLab for the award-winning 7 Minute Stories, and offers a behind-the-scenes look at how stories are tested, shaped, and brought to life in real time. Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠Aaron’s YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠ and tune in every Monday!

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Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato

Senior Audio Engineer: Ken Wendt

Additional Vocals: Cori Calafato 

Resident Artist: Pete Whitehead 

Original Music: thomas j. duke

Content & Editorial Assistant: Brooks Borden

Content Associate: Isaac Gehring