A Short Story Podcast Series

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- Episodes vary in duration from 30 seconds to 8 minutes.
- All episodes are royalty free in their entirety—except for #509.
- If you have an idea for an episode, please reach out to our team and we’ll happily schedule the topic for a future recording.
- Priority is given to homeschooling parents, teachers, educators, and lifelong learning professionals.
- Select episodes now include free curriculum materials at the bottom of the episode page, designed to support open education initiatives, teachers, classrooms, and homeschool use. These materials are aligned to multiple educational standards globally.
- The podcast is currently in common carriage on the Podcast Radio Network.
- In London, you can listen to the Podcast Radio Network over the air on DAB+ and access its variety of podcasts and audio content directly through your DAB+ radio.
- In the USA, you can listen to "Interesting Things with JC" on Podcast Radio US over the air in various cities: in Detroit on 93.5 FM and WCSX-94.7 HD2, in Tampa on 1010 WHFS-AM, in Charlotte on 94.7 FM and WSOC-HD3, and in Ft. Myers/Naples on 96.5 FM, 101.5 FM, 105.1 FM, and WXKB-HD2.
Curriculum Summary for Educators, Homeschoolers, and Lifelong Learners
Interesting Things with JC now features free curriculum materials to go with select episodes, created for teachers, homeschool families, and curious learners of all ages.
Each episode includes a modular micro-lesson designed to support a 30 to 45 minute class. Curriculum content appears at the bottom of the episode page in easy-to-use expandable sections.
Each lesson includes:
- Lesson overview (title, grade level, subject area, learning objectives)
- Key vocabulary with phonetic spelling and plain-language definitions
- Core story content based on the Precise Storytelling Framework
- Full podcast transcript
- Student worksheet with comprehension and writing prompts
- Teacher guide with pacing, strategies, and discussion tools
- Quiz and assessment rubric
- Standards alignment across multiple global frameworks
We are currently piloting lesson alignment to:

Approved Standards – High-Level List
- NGSS – Next Generation Science Standards
- CCSS – Common Core State Standards (ELA and Math)
- C3 Framework – College, Career & Civic Life (Social Studies)
- ISTE Standards – Technology and Digital Literacy
- NCAS – National Core Arts Standards
- CTE Career Clusters – U.S. Career & Technical Education
- ACRL Framework – Higher Ed Information Literacy
- Bloom’s Taxonomy – Cognitive Learning Objectives
- UDL – Universal Design for Learning (Accessibility Support)
International Academic Equivalents (Content-Only)
- UK National Curriculum – Key Stages 3–5 (England)
- AQA / OCR / Edexcel – UK Exam Board Specifications
- IB (International Baccalaureate) – PYP, MYP, DP (academic subjects only)
- Cambridge International – IGCSE, AS/A-Level (non-political content areas)
All lessons are open educational resources (OER) and designed with homeschool flexibility in mind.
- To review examples, visit episode #1235 and #1237 and scroll down
- If you intend to feature the series on your podcast or use it in your broadcast feed as interstitial content, please tag us on social media and/or send us an email.

JC 6/13/22 JC 6/13/22

302: "Pepsi's Navy"

Interesting Things with JC #302 "Pepsi's Navy" - A soda pop company owning the 6th largest navy in the world sounds absurd, but through barter with the former Soviet Union, this private company became a military superpower.

JC 6/11/22 JC 6/11/22

300: "Lobsterman Swallowed by Hump Back Whale and Lived"

Interesting Things with JC #300: On Friday June 11th, 2021, a commercial Lobster Diver was swallowed by a humpback whale off the coast of Massachusetts, and lived to tell the story!

JC 6/10/22 JC 6/10/22

299: "Juliana and the Blue Cross"

Interesting Things with JC #299: "Juliana and the Blue Cross" - A Great Dane saved her family from imminent death in WW2, earning her the prestigious Blue Cross medal.

JC 6/9/22 JC 6/9/22

298: "Ceiling Fan Direction"

Interesting Things with JC #298 "Ceiling Fan Direction" should be changed in the summer and winter to give you more comfort and spend less on your heating and cooling needs!

JC 6/8/22 JC 6/8/22

297: "Fork Tines"

Interesting Things with JC #297: "Fork Tines" - The different number of tines in the forks can be attributed to a change in habits and customs at the table.

JC 6/7/22 JC 6/7/22

296: "Dendrochronology"

Interesting Things with JC #296: "Dendrochronology" is an interdisciplinary science that focuses on the practical application of the study of tree rings. American Astronomer A.E. Douglass developed the method around 1900.

JC 6/6/22 JC 6/6/22

295: "D-Day"

Interesting Things with JC #295 "D-Day" - June 6th, 1944. Allied forces launched a combined naval, air and land assault on Nazi-occupied France. The D in D-Day doesn t actually stand for anything, officially.

JC 6/5/22 JC 6/5/22

294: "Pentecost"

Interesting Things with JC #294: "Pentecost" is a Greek word meaning "50th day" and it's an important religious holiday celebrated by both Jewish and Christian people alike.

JC 6/4/22 JC 6/4/22

293: "Heavy Cream"

Interesting Things with JC #293: "Heavy Cream" - also known as heavy whipping cream, doesn't come from fat cows. It's the thick part of the milk that rises to the top, if it hasn't been homogenized, due to its high fat content.

JC 6/3/22 JC 6/3/22

292: "Margarete Von Waldeck - The real Snow White"

Interesting Things with JC #292 - While the life of the real snow white "Margarete Von Waldeck" appears to be a derivative of the fairy tale, facts remain between stories!

JC 6/2/22 JC 6/2/22

291: "Budapest"

Interesting Things with JC #291: "Budapest" known as the city of diversity and as the city of a thousand baths. This beautiful Capitol has a rich history officially dating back to 896. Let's visit Budapest together!

JC 6/1/22 JC 6/1/22

290: "Zhengzhou, China"

Interesting Things with JC #290: "Zhengzhou, China" is the capital of Henan Province, and is called the Green City for the vast number of trees here years ago. From Mount Song to the Shaolin Temples, Yellow River Scenic Area to the Henan Museum, and more! Take a journey with me to this historic land.

JC 5/31/22 JC 5/31/22

289: "JP-8 Jet Fuel"

Interesting Things with JC #289 "JP-8" is a kerosene based jet fuel that contains additives to improve its properties for military use, with the exception of aircraft on naval carriers where JP-5 is required.

JC 5/30/22 JC 5/30/22

288: "Baking Soda"

Interesting Things with JC #288: "Baking Soda" - Sodium bicarbonate, is a white crystalline fine powder made of salt, that reacts when it comes into contact with acids. It's frequently used as a leavening agent in baked goods, it causes dough to rise by producing carbon dioxide.

JC 5/29/22 JC 5/29/22

287: "BEEFALO"

Interesting Things with JC #287: "Beefalo" is a cross between domestic cows and the North American Bison.A full- blood Beefalo does not contain less than 3/8 Bision. Beefalo was developed in the early 1970’s by a Californian producer who successfully interbreed American Bison with domesticated cattle. After nearly 150 years of selective breeding, the perfect balance was found. Please visit AmericanBeefaloAssociation.com for more information!

JC 5/28/22 JC 5/28/22

286: "Roeselare”

Interesting Things with JC #286: "Roeselare" is a Belgian city in the Flemish province of West Flanders. From the legendary Rodenbach brewery, to the amazing Leie Canal, the inspiration and creativity found here has influenced legendary artists for centuries. To include modern experimental artists like Vaafs Liquid Art!

JC 5/27/22 JC 5/27/22

285: "Nitrogen Chip Packaging"

Interesting Things with JC #285: "Nitrogen Chip Packing" - When exposed to air packaged potato chips or snacks could go stale easier, or grow mold or mildew. To overcome this problem chip bags are filled with nitrogen gas and then sealed.

JC 5/26/22 JC 5/26/22

284: "Pineapples”

Interesting Things with JC #284: "Pineapples” - Historians believe that the pineapple originated in Brazil and South America. It was later imported to Europe. Originally, "pineapple" was a name used for pinecones, but a pineapple is not an apple or a pine cone, it is actually a berry! From European fascination to global export dominance, let's dig into this amazing wonder!

JC 5/25/22 JC 5/25/22

283: "Monestary at Petra"

Interesting Things with JC #283: "Monestary at Petra" is one of the largest monuments in all of Petra. It stands 47m/154ft wide by 48.3m/158ft high. That's 6 inches taller than the Washington monument and about the same height as the sculptures at Mount Rushmore.

JC 5/24/22 JC 5/24/22

282: "Yogurt"

Interesting Things with JC #282: "Yogurt" consumed as food dates back to 10,000 BC. Food historians believe that yogurt was accidentally discovered by storing milk in warm climates. Let's discuss the long history of yogurt, briefly!