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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, check out any episode from #1235 to today, just 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 4/20/25 JC 4/20/25

1258: "The History of Peeps!"

Interesting Things with JC #1258: "The History of Peeps!" – They’re soft, sweet, and seemingly simple, but beneath the sugar lies a story of postwar innovation, seasonal tradition, and quiet cultural dominance.

JC 4/7/25 JC 4/7/25

1245: "A Simple Riddle 11"

Interesting Things with JC #1245: "A Simple Riddle 11" – It sounds obvious. It isn’t. This one-line riddle hides its real trick behind what you think you already know. Can you catch what others miss?

JC 4/6/25 JC 4/6/25

1244: "Operation Midnight Climax: The CIA's Covert Safehouses"

Interesting Things with JC #1244: "Operation Midnight Climax: The CIA's Covert Safehouses" – Behind a one-way mirror, the CIA drugged Americans in secret safehouses, searching for a new kind of control. The truth leaked decades later, but not before the bourbon was poured.

JC 4/2/25 JC 4/2/25

1240: “Opossum vs Possum”

Interesting Things with JC, Episode #1240: “Opossum vs Possum” – A silent "o" hides a massive biological and cultural divide. From death-fainting opossums in North America to the tree-hugging possums of Australia, this episode breaks down the myth, the history, and the science behind these marsupials.

JC 3/27/25 JC 3/27/25

1234: "Yuri Gagarin - The First Human in Space"

Interesting Things with JC #1234: "Yuri Gagarin" - He soared into space, ejected at 23,000 feet, and landed in a field, then changed history forever. This is the wild, true story of the first man in space.

JC 3/20/25 JC 3/20/25

1227: "The Plastic Recycling Myth”

Interesting Things with JC #1227: "The Plastic Recycling Myth" - You’ve been told the same story for years. But what if it was never true? Get ready for a revelation that changes everything.

JC 3/17/25 JC 3/17/25

1224: "Ghost in the Coffee Shop – How Nearby Hackers Hijack Your Phone in Real Time"

Interesting Things with JC #1224: "Ghost in the Coffee Shop – How Nearby Hackers Hijack Your Phone in Real Time" - You’re at a café, scrolling your phone. You don’t see the hacker nearby, but they see you. Loved ones, friends, strangers, they could all be hackers looking to steal your data in public places, without ever touching your phone. The hidden dangers of IMEI skimming and device tracking are all too real.

JC 3/11/25 JC 3/11/25

1218: "5000 Year Battery"

Interesting Things with JC #1218: "5000 Year Battery" - A battery that lasts for millennia without ever needing a recharge sounds impossible but the nuclear diamond battery could make it a reality. Using carbon-14 from nuclear waste encased in diamond this technology could revolutionize energy storage for medical implants satellites and remote sensors.

JC 3/10/25 JC 3/10/25

1217: "ADHD A Hunters Edge or Desk Job Disorder?"

Interesting Things with JC #1217: "ADHD A Hunters Edge or Desk Job Disorder?" - Once an asset for survival ADHD traits helped early humans stay alert and adaptable But in today's rigid world they are seen as a disorder Is ADHD really a flaw or just an evolutionary mismatch.

JC 3/9/25 JC 3/9/25

1216 "American Shipbuilding"

Interesting Things with JC #1216 "American Shipbuilding" - From colonial frigates to nuclear-powered carriers US shipbuilding shaped history. But decades of decline left the nation reliant on foreign-built ships until now.

JC 3/8/25 JC 3/8/25

1215: "Apollo and Daphne - The Chase of Immortal Desire"

Interesting Things with JC #1215: "Apollo and Daphne - The Chase of Immortal Desire" - What happens when the god of light falls for a nymph who wants nothing to do with him?

JC 3/7/25 JC 3/7/25

1214: "The Leshy"

Interesting Things with JC #1214: "The Leshy" - Was it just a folktale, or did something truly lurk in the depths of Eastern Europe’s forests?

JC 2/26/25 JC 2/26/25

1205: "How do Automated Car Wash Tiers Work?"

Interesting Things with JC #1205: "How do Automated Car Wash Tiers Work?" - How does a Car Wash know what service your car should get Sensors solenoids and millisecond timing make it happen Learn how the system ensures perfect results.

JC 2/21/25 JC 2/21/25

1200: "The Dark Factor Behind Human Behavior"

Interesting Things with JC #1200: "The Dark Factor Behind Human Behavior" – Psychologists say the D, or "Dark Factor," drives traits like deceit and greed. How much D is in you—and what happens when you find out?

JC 2/18/25 JC 2/18/25

1197: "The 133rd Seabees – Built on Sacrifice, Deserving of Honor"

Interesting Things with JC #1197: "The 133rd Seabees – Built on Sacrifice, Deserving of Honor" – Seabees of the 133rd were memorialized by their shipmates through the dedication of a chapel on Iwo Jima.

They gave their lives in service and never came home.

Their names are engraved on the chapel’s plaque, but their unit was not included in the Presidential Unit Citation awarded to those they fought beside. This episode reflects on their sacrifice and asks that their service be fully recognized.

JC 2/16/25 JC 2/16/25

1195: "Pineapple Cucumber Salad"

Interesting Things with JC #1195: "Pineapple Cucumber Salad" – Crisp cucumber and juicy pineapple combine with a tangy dressing for a salad bursting with flavor. Fast, fresh, and perfect for any table—discover the taste sensation.

JC 2/14/25 JC 2/14/25

1193: "What are Reciprocal Tariffs and Sovereign Wealth Funds?"

Interesting Things with JC #1193: "What are Reciprocal Tariffs and Sovereign Wealth Funds?" – Reciprocal tariffs could reshape global trade and stabilize America’s economy. Learn how this approach might protect U.S. industries, reduce deficits, and attract global investment.

JC 2/10/25 JC 2/10/25

1189: "Marilyn vos Savant"

Interesting Things with JC #1189: "Marilyn vos Savant" – With an IQ of 228, Marilyn vos Savant held the highest recorded IQ in Guinness World Records. But her real legacy was solving the Monty Hall Problem and challenging the mathematical community. Discover how she reshaped our understanding of probability and logic.

JC 2/4/25 JC 2/4/25

1183: "Spintronics"

Interesting Things with JC #1183: "Spintronics" - What if computers ran on spin instead of charge? Discover how spintronics is revolutionizing computing and data storage.

JC 2/2/25 JC 2/2/25

1181: "Groundhogs"

Interesting Things with JC #1181: "Groundhogs" – Forget Groundhog Day. These resilient rodents have been shaping ecosystems for millions of years! Learn how they construct massive underground tunnels, survive deep hibernation, and play a crucial role in the wild.