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.
507: "New Year's Danish Plate Smashing"
Interesting Things with JC #507: "New Year's Danish Plate Smashing" - The tradition of plate-smashing on New Year's Eve is a popular and beloved custom in Denmark, where people throw unwanted plates and dishes at the front doors of friends and family for good luck. The tradition is believed to have originated in the 19th century as a way to let go of old grudges and start the new year with a clean slate, and has evolved from an older tradition of ringing bells on New Year's Eve to ward off evil spirits.
506: "Fat Dogs"
Interesting Things with JC #506: "Fat Dogs" - Overweight dogs are more likely to become obese, which can lead to inflammation and disease. Overweight or obese dogs account for 59% of dogs in the United States and 63% of dogs in the United Kingdom.
505: "Buddha Tooth Relic Temple”
Interesting Things with JC #505: “The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple” and Museum in Singapore is a popular tourist destination known for its intricate design and displays of Buddhist art and history. The temple is named after the left canine tooth of the Buddha, which is considered a symbol of his teachings and is believed to have special powers.
504: ".38 Special"
Interesting Things with JC #504: The ".38 Special" was developed in 1898 as an improvement on the .38 Long Colt, and is known for its accuracy, moderate recoil, and superior means of self defense.
503: "38-Minute War"
Interesting Things with JC #503: "38-Minute War" - was a brief but decisive conflict between the United Kingdom and the Zanzibar Sultanate, lasting just 38 minutes
502: "Largest Recorded Snowflake"
Interesting Things with JC #502: "Largest Recorded Snowflake" fell in Montana in 1887 and was reportedly 15 inches wide and 8 inches thick. (38x20cm)!!!
501: "Candy Canes"
Interesting Things with JC #501: "Candy Canes" - The candy cane was created in the 17th century in Germany and popularized in the early 1900s with added red stripes.
500: "Silent Night"
Interesting Things with JC #500: "Silent Night" - First performed on Christmas Eve 1818 at the St. Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, written as a collaboration between Father Joseph Mohr and Organist Franz Xaver Gruber, in Mariapfarr, Austria.
499: "Holiday Garland"
Interesting Things with JC #499: "Holiday Garland' - Deck the Halls and Hang the Garland! Just be careful where you put your baubles!!
498: "Theatre Royal Drury Lane"
Interesting Things with JC #498 - The Theatre Royal Drury Lane has been in operation for over 350 years. It has seen famous premieres, shows that stole the show, and its own dramas, both on and off stage!
497: "World's Largest Schnitzel"
Interesting Things with JC #497: "World's Largest Schnitzel" - 3,700 gallons of oil were needed to fry the huge meat mound.
496: "Microwaved Grapes"
Interesting Things with JC #496: "Microwaved Grapes" - grapes literally explode in the microwave.
495: "Sled Dog Racing"
Interesting Things with JC #495: "Sled Dog Racing" - Sled dogs are bred and trained for racing, and different breeds are better suited to different racing conditions. Alaskan Huskies, Siberian Huskies, and Samoyeds are among the most popular breeds for sled dog racing.
494: "Genomics and AI"
Interesting Things with JC #494: "Genomics and AI" - An exciting development in genomics has been the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze and interpret large amounts of genomic data.
493: "Nutrition and the Aging Process"
Interesting Things with JC #493: "Nutrition and the Aging Process" - proper nutrition is an important factor in reversing the aging process and improving the overall health of our bodies. By making healthy eating choices and incorporating a variety of nutrient-rich foods into our diet.
492: "Telomeres and Aging"
Interesting Things with JC #492: "Telomeres and Aging" - We might be able to control aging through gene therapy in the near future.
491: "New Caledonia"
Interesting Things with JC #491: "New Caledonia" is a beautiful archipelago located in the South Pacific. It's the ideal place to get a "break from the ads" and enjoy nature.
490: "Heart Disease and Gray Hair"
Interesting Things with JC #490: "Heart Disease and Gray Hair" - An observational study found that the amount of gray hair in adult men is associated with an increased risk of heart disease.
489: "Fortune Cookies"
Interesting Things with JC #489: "Fortune Cookies" - the fortune cookie is technically not from China!
488: "Koalas & Eucalyptus"
Interesting Things with JC #488: "Koalas & Eucalyptus" - Koalas survive on eucalyptus which contains toxins that will poison almost all other living things. Thank you to Rachael Nelson for suggesting today’s topic!