A Short Story Podcast Series
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Interesting Things with JC is free to use for teaching and learning under fair use. Educators, homeschooling parents, librarians, and lifelong learners have broad rights to use the episodes and curriculum in any instructional setting. One exception applies to Episode #509: “Harry Chapin and Jim Connors”, which is not covered under this open educational permission.
Full curriculum support begins at Episode #1235: “Three Turns to Freedom”. Any earlier episode without curriculum can be prioritized by request. Educators may contact JimConnors LLC directly, and a matching curriculum module will be created and added to the site.
Teachers and homeschooling families are welcome to use, play, share, print, and adapt all eligible episodes and curriculum materials for lesson planning, instruction, student assignments, LMS uploads, and any other direct educational activity. No special approval is required for everyday classroom use. Crediting the show is appreciated when possible.
This permission does not extend to commercial activity. The episodes and curriculum may not be repackaged, resold, redistributed as a standalone program, or presented as original work by any third party. Any commercial or branded use requires prior written consent from JimConnors LLC. Episode #509: “Harry Chapin and Jim Connors” follows its own restrictions and is excluded from open educational use.
Educators may freely use the content in classrooms, homeschools, co-ops, tutoring programs, library settings, and adult education. They may revise or adapt curriculum pages, print transcripts, share episode links, or integrate materials into their lessons as needed. What is not allowed is turning the work into a paid course, selling derivatives, posting content under another brand, or redistributing the series as a separate product.
Summary:
Free for education.
Not for resale.
Not for commercial repackaging.
Episode #1235: “Three Turns to Freedom” and onward includes full curriculum.
Older episodes can receive curriculum by request.
Episode #509: “Harry Chapin and Jim Connors” is excluded.
All rights reserved © JimConnors LLC. -
Interesting Things with JC is available on the Podcast Radio format in the United Kingdom and the United States. Listeners can tune in on the radio in select cities or stream the station online from anywhere.
United Kingdom – Podcast Radio (UK)
Podcast Radio is a 24-hour all-podcast station based in London. It broadcasts on DAB+ digital radio across London and several other supported UK regions, with full worldwide access through its online stream.
Interesting Things with JC is included in Podcast Radio’s curated programming lineup.
Listeners in the United Kingdom can hear the station on DAB+ receivers in covered areas, through the Podcast Radio website, or through the station’s online and mobile streaming platforms.
United States – Podcast Radio US
In the United States, Interesting Things with JC airs as part of Podcast Radio US across four regional markets. The format is carried on HD Radio channels and FM translators.
Detroit, Michigan: WCSX 94.7 HD2 and 93.5 FM
Tampa Bay, Florida: 1010 WJBR AM
Charlotte, North Carolina: 94.7 FM and WSOC HD3
Fort Myers and Naples, Florida: WXKB HD2, 96.5 FM, 101.5 FM, and 105.1 FMNationwide listening is available through the station’s website at PodcastRadioUS.com.
Streaming Access
Podcast Radio UK and Podcast Radio US both offer live streaming through their official websites and mobile platforms, allowing listeners worldwide to hear Interesting Things with JC as part of the network’s curated programming.
The show is also available across major podcast and audio platforms, including Podcast Radio, Podverse, Headliner, Amazon, Apple, Audacy, Audible, Castbox, Deezer, fyyd, GoodPods, iHeartRadio, JioSaavn, Listen Notes, Pandora, PlayerFM, PocketCasts, Podcast Republic, Podchaser, Spotify, Stitcher, and YouTube.
In addition to audio platforms, listeners can follow and stream content on social media through Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), TikTok, and YouTube.
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Start class with a short, clear story your students can follow from the first sentence. Play an episode of Interesting Things with JC and use the free curriculum to guide a full lesson with questions, activities, and applied learning.
Every episode from #1235 forward includes a modular micro lesson designed for a 30 to 45 minute class period. At the bottom of each episode page, you will find expandable sections that organize all curriculum materials for teachers, parents, and homeschool families.
Each lesson includes:
Lesson overview with title, grade band, subject area, and learning objectives
Key vocabulary with phonetic spelling and plain language definitions
Core story content created through the Precise Storytelling Framework
Full podcast transcript
Student worksheet with comprehension and writing activities
Teacher guide with pacing notes, strategies, and discussion tools
Quiz or quick check assessment with a scoring rubric
Standards alignment across multiple national and international frameworks
ADA compliant alt text for all instructional media
Links to approved primary sources used for fact checking
Guidance for homeschool adaptation and flexible scheduling
All curriculum materials are created through the Narrative Intelligence System to ensure accuracy, accessibility, and age-appropriate delivery. Lessons stay free of ideological frameworks and focus on academic content only.
Standards Alignment
Interesting Things with JC aligns each micro lesson with the following approved educational standards:
United States National Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in English Language Arts and Mathematics
College, Career, and Civic Life Framework for Social Studies (C3 Framework)
International Society for Technology in Education Standards (ISTE Standards)
National Core Arts Standards (NCAS)
Career and Technical Education Career Clusters (CTE Career Clusters)
Association of College and Research Libraries Framework for Information Literacy (ACRL Framework)
Bloom’s Taxonomy for Cognitive Learning Objectives
Universal Design for Learning Guidelines (UDL Guidelines)
Additional United States Alignment Areas
Alignment to state and provincial academic standards when content applies
Media and Information Literacy standards
Social Emotional Learning and 21st Century Skills frameworks
Financial Literacy and Employability Skills standards
English as a Second Language and World Language vocabulary support when applicable
International Academic Equivalents (Content-Based Alignment Only)
United Kingdom National Curriculum, Key Stages 3 to 5
AQA, OCR, and Edexcel Examination Board Specifications
International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and Diploma Programme (IB PYP, MYP, DP)
Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education and Advanced Subsidiary/Advanced Level (Cambridge IGCSE and AS/A Level)
Access, Use, and OER Licensing
All lessons are published as Open Educational Resources and may be used, printed, or shared for teaching and learning in classrooms, homeschools, and tutoring environments. Materials are provided for educational use under fair use and may not be resold or distributed commercially.
Episodes from #1235 forward include complete curriculum materials. If you find an older episode without a micro lesson, reach out and it will be moved to the front of the build queue. Starting with Episode #1307, each MP3 page in the RSS feed includes open text at the bottom of the page for quick access to transcripts and curriculum notes.
Teacher and homeschool feedback is always welcome to help improve clarity and layout.
614: "C-5M Super Galaxy"
Interesting Things with JC #614: "C-5M Super Galaxy" - Experience the power of the C-5M Super Galaxy, the largest plane in the US Air Force fleet! With a maximum payload of 135 tons and a range of over 5,000 miles, it's an engineering marvel.
611: "April 1513 - Florida"
Interesting Things with JC #611: "April 1513 - Florida" - Discover the daring story of Juan Ponce de León, the Spanish explorer who claimed Florida for his king in 1513. From encountering native tribes to seeking the legendary Fountain of Youth, his legacy lives on today.
610: "Trans-Siberian Railway"
Interesting Things with JC #610: "Trans-Siberian Railway" - The Trans-Siberian Railway is the longest railway in the world, spanning 9,289 km from Moscow to Vladivostok. It was built between 1891 and 1916, and its construction required the labor of tens of thousands of workers, many of whom were prisoners. Today, the Trans-Siberian Railway is a popular tourist attraction, offering stunning views of Russia's diverse landscapes and cultures.
605: "LexisNexis"
Interesting Things with JC #605: "LexisNexis" - Discover the fascinating history of legal research and business information service, which was launched April 2nd, 1973. From revolutionizing legal research to playing a role in high-profile cases, and over 10 billion accessible documents making it one of the largest collections of legal and business information in the entire world.
604: "Selkies"
Interesting Things with JC #604: "Selkies" - Selkies are creatures that are half-fish and half-human. They are mentioned in Celtic and Scottish mythology. It's believed they shed their skin and become humans when they land. They seem to always be looking for people who are missing something. Selkie legend lives on in remote coastal areas and on islands.
603: "The Green Man"
Interesting Things with JC #603: "The Green Man" - a mythical figure with a face made entirely of leaves, branches, and foliage. He symbolizes nature's regenerative power and the cycle of life and death. The Green Man's significance is multifaceted, representing nature's enduring power, spiritual and mystical connections to the natural world, cultural heritage and identity, and environmental awareness and conservation.
602: " The Phoenix Lights"
Interesting Things with JC #602: " The Phoenix Lights" incident of 1997 remains a topic of fascination and discussion among UFO enthusiasts. Were they aliens or military flares?
601: "Jackson, Mississippi"
Interesting Things with JC #601: "Jackson, Mississippi" - Discover the rich history of Jackson, Mississippi, from its Choctaw roots to the Woolworth's sit-in of 1963. Explore the museums, art galleries, and cultural institutions of this prosperous metropolis in the heart of the American South.
600: "In the year 600"
Interesting Things with JC #600: "In the year 600" - Discover the triumphs and turmoil of the Byzantine Empire under Emperor Maurice and his successor Heraclius, as they battled Sassanid Persia and established a unified legal system.
598: "The Largest Living Organism"
Interesting Things with JC #598: "The Largest Living Organism" - From towering Redwood trees to the massive blue whale, the natural world never ceases to amaze us. Did you know that the world's largest living thing is a gigantic honey fungus in the Oregon Blue Mountains!
594: "Voyager's Record-Breaking Non-Stop Flight Around the World"
Interesting Things with JC #594: "Voyager's Record-Breaking Non-Stop Flight Around the World" - Did you know that in 1986, Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager made history by circumnavigating the globe in the Voyager without refueling? Their nine-day journey faced storms and mechanical issues, but they persevered.
593: "Escaping Alcatraz"
Interesting Things with JC #593: "Escaping Alcatraz" - In 1962 by three convicts - Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin, who were linked by previous prison sentences, began planning their escape after being assigned adjacent cells. Morris, known for his intelligence, was in charge of the planning, and the escape was executed using makeshift tools and dummy heads in their beds to fool the night guards. The men's whereabouts and survival remain unknown, and despite numerous attempts to prove their survival, the case remains closed.
592: "Alcatraz: A Story of Maximum Security and Mystery"
Interesting Things with JC #592: "Alcatraz: A Story of Maximum Security and Mystery" - Alcatraz Island, in the middle of San Francisco Bay, was one of the most secure prisons in the world. Despite this, 36 inmates attempted 14 escapes, with nearly all being captured or dying as a result. The prison closed March 21st, 1963 after 29 years of operation due to high costs, and the island became a popular tourist destination managed by the National Park Service.
590: "Lev Landau"
Interesting Things with JC #590: "Lev Landau" - He was born in Azerbaijan in 1908. Despite facing adversity due to tuberculosis as a child and a car accident later in life that left him permanently injured, Landau made groundbreaking contributions to theoretical physics and quantum mechanics. He received numerous honors for his innovative solutions to complex scientific questions, including the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1962. Landau's work in areas such as superconductivity, quantum mechanics, and liquid theory had a lasting impact on our understanding of matter and energy at the most fundamental level
589: "Crimea"
Interesting Things with JC #589: "Crimea" - Discover the cultural and historical significance of Crimea, from ancient Greek origins to the Tatar population. A fascinating region with a complex past and present. Crimea is a peninsula in the Black Sea with a complex history and cultural significance. It was part of various empires throughout history, including the Greeks, Romans, and Ottoman Turks.
588: "St Patrick Blue"
Interesting Things with JC #588: “St Patrick Blue” - The earliest depictions of St. Patrick show him dressed in blue garments rather than green, and when George III established the Order of St. Patrick for the Kingdom of Ireland, its official color was azure blue, known as "St. Patrick's Blue."
587: “St Patrick and the Shamrock”
Interesting Things with JC #587: “St Patrick and the Shamrock” - Saint Patrick is said to have used the three-leaf shamrock to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity, but did he?
586: “St Patrick got rid of the Snakes”
Interesting Things with JC #586: “St Patrick got rid of the Snakes” - One of the legends surrounding St. Patrick is that he stood atop an Irish hillside and expelled all snakes from Ireland, causing all serpents to slither away into the sea.
585: "Saint Patrick"
Interesting Things with JC #585: "Saint Patrick" - Discover the fascinating life of Saint Patrick, the man behind the legend. From captive to missionary, his journey is one of hardship, faith, and triumph.
582: "Steak"
Interesting Things with JC #582 "Steak" - Did you know that steak is a great source of protein and contains essential amino acids, B vitamins, and iron? Recent studies show that a carnivore diet that includes steak can be very healthy.