Interesting Things with JC #992: "The Myth of Code 420" - This episode delves into the actual origins of "420", a term mistakenly believed to be a police code for marijuana but actually coined by a group of high school friends in California during the 1970s. Discover how their inside joke spread through the Grateful Dead's community, becoming a global symbol of cannabis culture.

Interesting Things with JC #806: "Monster Pumpkin" - Minnesota's horticulture teacher smashes the world record with a colossal 2,749-pound jack-o'-lantern in California. Embrace the journey from a vibrant pumpkin garden to this horticultural marvel, and discover the passion that fueled this remarkable feat.

Interesting Things with JC #676: "The Winchester Mystery House - An Architectural Enigma" - Step into the world of the iconic Winchester Mystery House, an architectural marvel nestled in San Jose. Explore its labyrinthine corridors, peculiar staircases, and rooms that defy logic, while delving into the supernatural tales that surround it. Brace yourself for a captivating journey through an enigmatic mansion that will leave you spellbound!

Interesting Things with JC #563: "Battle for Los Angeles - 1942" - Discover the untold story of the Battle of Los Angeles during World War II, where a weather balloon triggered a city-wide blackout and anti-aircraft fire, leading to confusion and chaos. To this day some people believe aliens were involved, while others blame meteorologists.

Interesting Things with JC #521: "Folsom Prison Blues" - Johnny Cash records a live album inside Folsom State Prison in 1968, becomes a country music legend, and sheds light on prison realities.

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.

Interesting Things with JC #449: "International Sandwich Day"—Every year on November 3, the unofficial holiday commemorates the birthday of John Montagu and the naming of the Sandwich!

Interesting Things with JC #430: "Disney Brothers Studio" - On October 16, 1923, Walt and his brother Roy opened a cartoon studio in Hollywood, California, called the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio.

Interesting Things with JC #364: “The Burbank Aviation Museum” is located in the Portal of the Folded Wings, in Valhalla Cemetery. It's open the first Sunday of each month unless it's a holiday or a rainy day. Free admission 1-3 PM. The Portal of Folded Wings, is a 75-foot-tall "Shrine to Aviation" and is the final resting place of fifteen aviation pioneers.

Interesting Things with JC #335: "Point Bonita Lighthouse" sits near the end of Bonita Cove in the Marin Headlands, just 20 minutes from the southern end of the Golden Gate Bridge. It's a historic location and the only lighthouse in the United States that is reached by a suspension bridge!

Interesting Things with JC #333: "Garden Joy" - Born from a one-acre plot on Main Street in Ripon, California, this volunteer organization provides thousands of pounds of organic vegetables for the community as well as offers classes, tours, and facilitates field trips for hundreds of local youth.

By encouraging home gardening and providing educational programs to promote positive social contact and recreation, they are making a long-lasting impact on the community's nutritional knowledge and the people's eating habits.

Please visit gardenjoyca.com for more information.

Interesting Things with JC #332: "Modesto" - The Central Pacific Railroad established the city of Modesto in the 1860s. William Chapman Ralston, a railway director, was meant to be honored by having the city bear his name, but he graciously rejected it. Workers who spoke Spanish and attended the naming ceremony for the city found this quite humble of him. The city was thus given the name Modesto.

Interesting Things with JC #331: "California Wine" - Join me as I take you on a journey through the history of this legendary region, beginning in 1769 and continuing to the present day.

Interesting Things with JC #328: "The Great Valley Museum" encourages action toward learning about, enjoying, and maintaining our natural history and environment. It also opens minds and touches hearts. Located on Blue Gum Ave, in Modesto California inside the Modesto Junior College…and their planetarium is amazing!

Interesting Things with JC #326: "Great Valley Farming & Drought" Almond growers are worried about how this may impact the quality of their product over the coming years because the Sacramento Valley has also been affected hard. The Valley is laid out such that water may move from one area to the next, like a series of stairs. As a result, water is utilized very effectively, with almost all of it going toward sustaining life, whether it be plant or animal production. Retaining water during rainy years to help during drought, creating more water storage, such as the proposed Sites Reservoir, could be critically helpful.

Interesting Things with JC #325: "The Great Valley of California" is a 20,000-square-mile structural depression that is one of the world's most notable. The Valley is approximately 50 miles wide and 400 miles long, stretching northwest from the Tehachapi Mountains to Redding. More than 250 different crops, worth an estimated $17 billion, are grown here annually.

Interesting Things with JC #324: "Catching Grapes" - It's not easy to catch grapes in your mouth, but today we look at the world record holder who caught a grape over a distance of 108 meters, as well as holders of other impressive grape catching world records!

Interesting Things #320: "Anaheim Peppers" - These peppers have the name of the US city of Anaheim, California. They were first grown by a farmer called Emilio Ortega in New Mexico. In 1894, he brought the peppers to Anaheim, California, where he started to grow them for profit. The pepper continues to enjoy widespread popularity and they also go by the names of California chile and Magdalena.

Interesting Things with JC #311: "Self Closing Drawer Slides" include a stationary housing, a slider, and a latch. While the housing is coupled to a cabinet or drawer, dampers are used to slow the movement of the drawer, while engaging a latch towards closure.

Interesting Things with JC #257: "Mud Daubers” - they are commonly known in the southern part of the United States as dirt daubers. They are truly fascinating insects. If you have ever seen a tube-shaped nest made with mud on the outside walls of your house or possibly inside your garage, then you know what a mud dauber is. One of the most interesting things about these creatures is that….(go ahead click play!)