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.
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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.
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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 ListNGSS – 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.
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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.
548: "Copernicium"
Interesting Things with JC #548: "Copernicium" - Discover the fascinating story of Copernicium, the radioactive element synthesized in a lab by Victor Ninov and Sigurd Hoffmann. Uncover its unique properties & journey from discovery to periodic table inclusion.
546: "Venus and Uranus"
Interesting Things with JC #546: "Venus and Uranus" - Two unique planets - Find out what it is about "Venus and Uranus" that makes it so special. Two planets that are out of this world and not like any others.
543: "Stratospheric Balloons"
Interesting Things with JC: #543 "Stratospheric Balloons" offer a unique platform for scientific discovery and capture stunning images of Earth. They are marvels of engineering and symbolize human determination.
542: "Datil Pepper"
Interesting Things #542: "Datil Pepper" - Sweet, fruity, tangy chili from Florida. Unique flavor, slightly hotter than Jalapeno, staple in St. Augustine cuisine.
541: "Punxsutawney Phil"
Interesting Things with JC #541: "Punxsutawney Phil" - the most famous groundhog in the world, from one of the worlds most charming towns, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
538: "Collagen Age Reversing Therapy"
Interesting Things with JC #538: "Collagen age reversing therapy" - Scientists use naturally occurring cell carriers for new mRNA protein therapy.
536: "Basenji Don't Bark"
Interesting Things with JC #536: "Basenji Don't Bark" - They're a dog breed known for its unique yodel-like vocalization and playful nature.
535: "Disc of Sabu"
Interesting Things with JC #535: "Disc of Sabu" - a mysterious 5000-year-old artifact in Cairo's antiquities museum, discovered by British Egyptologist Walter Bryan Emery.
534: "The Underground City of Mardin Turkey"
Interesting Things with JC #534: "The Underground City of Mardin Turkey" - A 2,000-year-old underground city has been discovered, and ongoing excavations have revealed the home of an ancient civilization.
531: "Bananas Glow Blue Under Black Light"
Interesting Things with JC #531: "Bananas Glow Blue Under Black Light" - Ripening bananas reveal secrets of cell death under UV light.
530: "Age Perception"
Interesting Things with JC #530: "Age Perception" - Do people just seem younger? Perceptions of aging change as we age, leading to more fulfillment & positive attitudes. Thank you to Jodi Yosko from TikTok for inspiring today’s topic!
529: "Taste Buds"
Interesting Things with JC #529: "Taste Buds" change from birth to adulthood, influencing flavor preference & sensitivity!
528: "Antarctic Meteorite"
Interesting Things with JC #528: "Antarctic Meteorite" - International scientists discover 5 meteorites, including one weighing 16.7 pounds, in Antarctica using satellite imagery.
Ref - https://actus.ulb.be/fr/actus/recherche/mission-en-antarctique-decouverte-dune-meteorite-de-7-6-kg
526: "Bending Light with Air"
Interesting Things with JC #526: "Bending Light with Air" - The greater the density of the medium, the more light is bent!
522: "Sir Edmund Halley"
Interesting Things with JC #522: "Sir Edmund Halley" who calculated the famous comet's orbit, died January 14th, 1742, leaving legacy in science and astronomy.
520: "Cracking your Knuckles"
Interesting Things with JC #520: "Cracking your Knuckles" is not proven to cause harm but may lead to discomfort and can develop into a habit resulting in grip loss, but no studies have linked it to arthritis.
Ref - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28699710/
519: "Posture"
Interesting Things with JC #519:"Posture" - Maintaining good posture is crucial for overall health and well-being. It can can help improve self-confidence and mood and prevent injuries.
518: "Edge of the Milky Way"
Interesting Things with JC #518: "Edge of the Milky Way" - Astronomers find stars in the Milky Way's halo that are more than a million light years away, nearly halfway to the Andromeda galaxy.
516: "Hippos Sweat Red"
Interesting Things with JC #516: "Hippos Sweat Red" - they secrete a reddish fluid, mistakenly believed to be sweat or blood, that has antibiotic and sunscreen properties. Some biologists say it could be a great lip balm for people. Thank you to Haley at Applebees in Cheektowaga, New York, for suggesting the topic for today.
515: "Turtles Can Breathe Through Their Butt"
Interesting Things with JC #515: "Turtles can breathe through their butts." It's less efficient than normal breathing, but it helps in winter!