Jim Connors (JC)
Award-Winning Host, Producer, Voice Talent, Broadcast Strategist, and Educational Media Leader
Legacy & Origins – Learning from the Original JC
Before anyone called him JC, he was simply young Jimmy, the kid with the front-row seat to one of radio’s sharpest minds. His father, Jim Connors, known on-air and in the industry as JC, was a nationally respected radio personality with a voice that carried across markets and generations. At home, he didn’t leave the job at the door, he built a studio in the basement.
It wasn’t a toy setup. It was a functioning broadcast workspace where his gold records lined the walls, microphones were calibrated, and air checks were part of the daily rhythm. Jimmy learned early, not from textbooks, but from tone dials, cue marks, and the way his dad handled silence on the mic.
There were days his father would pull him out of school, not for rest, but for the real classroom, the radio station. There, Jimmy watched his dad craft shows, connect with audiences, take live calls, write copy on the fly, and manage the full operation from behind the board. Before he was old enough to drive, he understood how to edit tape, run levels, time music blocks, and read cold copy with control.
That time wasn’t training. It was transmission.
From JC to young Jimmy, broadcast wasn’t just a career path, it was a language, a discipline, a calling.
“My dad was JC. Always was. I didn’t get into broadcasting, I was brought into it. And I’ve never left.”
United States Marine Corps – Foundational Years
Before launching a professional broadcasting career, JC served in the United States Marine Corps, where he developed the precision, presence, and discipline that shaped his approach to media.
Assigned to the 2nd Marine Division, JC was selected to serve as ceremonial emcee for official military events, including retirements, promotions, change-of-command ceremonies, and award presentations. These were high-stakes, high-discipline events attended by Senior officers, formation troops, military families, and in the case of some retirement ceremonies, high profile administration level leaders & representatives. JC delivered the narration and order of events live, with no room for error.
This role sharpened his vocal delivery and taught him how to hold a room, measure timing, and convey meaning with clarity. That ability to speak with weight and control became his calling card in both live events and audio storytelling. His presence on stage and behind the mic was forged in uniform.
Podcasting & Creative Achievement
Jim Connors, professionally known as JC, is an award-winning podcast host, voice talent, and broadcast strategist recognized for precision storytelling, lifelong learning advocacy, and excellence in educational media. He is the creator and host of Interesting Things with JC. An independent, fact-driven micro-learning podcast delivering tightly structured, high-impact narratives designed to educate and inspire in under five minutes. With a background rooted in broadcasting and content strategy, JC has built a platform that fuses historical depth with cultural relevance, one story at a time.
JC is the sole creator, writer, and producer of Interesting Things with JC, a globally distributed series that has earned consistent acclaim for its clarity, brevity, and intellectual depth. Each episode is independently researched and produced, reflecting JC’s commitment to accessible education and editorial independence.
Bronze Telly Award - Series | Education & Discovery
Communicator Award of Excellence - Series | Educational
Communicator Award of Distinction - Series | Educational Co-Host - HR Lady Wendy Sellers Podcast
Gold Davey Award – Podcast Series | Educational
Gold Muse Creative Award – Audio | Podcast
Gold Hermes Creative Award – Podcast Episode #1235: “Three Turns to Freedom”
Gold AVA Digital Award – Podcast Series
NYX Awards Gold Winner - Audio & Podcasts | Education
Gold Viddy Award - Creativity | Script Writing
Silver Vega Digital Award – Podcast Campaign | Education
Silver NY Digital Award - Audio & Podcasts | Education
These accolades reflect JC’s leadership in micro learning, narrative clarity, and his ongoing commitment to accessible, lifelong education through audio storytelling.
Further highlighting his impact, JC is a featured contributing author in the 2025 best-selling collaborative authorship book, The Art of Connection: 365 Days of Abundance Quotes by Entrepreneurs, Business Owners, and Influencers, with a full-page entry on May 21st dedicated to his thoughts aimed at inspiring others.
Broadcasting Leadership & ThinkBright
JC began at WNED Buffalo-Toronto (now BTPM Buffalo Toronto Public Media) in the early 2000s, starting in the tape library before working directly under legendary VP of Broadcasting Ron Santora and Program Manager Goldie Gardner. Promoted to Program Coordinator, JC led public outreach during the FCC-mandated digital television transition, educating the public on HDTV access, spectrum reallocation, and the future of free broadcast media.
After Gardner’s retirement, JC became Program Manager, taking responsibility for programming acquisition, digital rights licensing, FCC compliance, and strategic planning across WNED’s PBS and NPR dual license.
ThinkBright – North America’s Largest Educational Interconnect (2008)
Under the leadership of WNED, VP of Broadcasting Ron Santora, VP of Education and Outreach Pam Johnson, Goldie Gardner, JC, and the operations team launched ThinkBright TV. A 12-hour, daily educational broadcast block distributed across every major PBS station in New York State and the most populous parts of Canada.
Supported by a $2.5 million grant from the John R. Oishei Foundation, ThinkBright was carried on:
WNED (Buffalo) – reaching into Southern Ontario and the Toronto metro
WXXI (Rochester)
WCNY (Syracuse)
WMHT (Albany) – extending into Western Massachusetts and Southern Vermont
WSKG (Binghamton) – spilling into Northern Pennsylvania
Mountain Lake PBS (Plattsburgh) – broadcasting into Montreal and Southern Quebec
WNET & WLIW (New York City & Long Island) – serving the largest media market in the U.S.
By 2008, ThinkBright reached an estimated 12.5 million households and over 30 million viewers, making it the largest independent educational broadcast footprint in North America aside from PBS itself. JC oversaw the statewide programming structure, coordinated interconnect scheduling, handled licensing, interfaced and worked seamlessly with emerging technology, built lifelong bonds with the master control and engineering teams, and ensured cross-border content alignment—a role unmatched in scope by any other PBS affiliate at the time. His early leadership in blending educational television with emerging digital media positioned ThinkBright as a forerunner in what would later become the standard for award-winning educational video content. Long before the rise of branded content and online-first series now recognized by honors like the Telly Awards, JC’s work was already setting the benchmark for digital transition, cross-platform strategy, and public media innovation.
Creative Jury Work & Industry Involvement
In 2025, JC was invited to join the Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts (AIVA), serving as a juror for:
Communicator Awards
Davey Awards
W³ Awards
In 2008, he also served as a juror for the ACE Film Festival, evaluating emerging American filmmakers on behalf of ThinkBright TV and the Public Television media community of Buffalo-Toronto and New York Statewide partners.
Live Events & Voice Talent
Building on his Marine Corps ceremonial experience, JC has become a trusted live event host for conferences, fundraisers, and DISRUPT HR events across the country. His voice-over credits include hundreds of public service announcements, educational narrations, promos for TV and radio in Western New York and Southern Ontario, and commercial scripts.
In 2011, JC collaborated with BAM Studios for a special segment with WLS Chicago, further shaping his delivery style and sharpening his storytelling process.
With a strong technical background, JC has consulted for television and radio stations around the world on content programming, strategic leadership planning, automation workflows, and voice-over production. His voice has been featured in hundreds of on-air campaigns, from promos and station IDs to educational narrations and commercial reads.
Independent Distribution & Platform Reach
Interesting Things with JC is distributed independently and available on over 20 global platforms, including:
A full list is maintained one the homepage at JimConnors.net.
JC also co-hosts The HR Lady Wendy Sellers Podcast and the Aurora Training Advantage HR Empowerment Podcast. His long-form series with USMC Brother Ricky Baez, HR Talk! Podcast, remains archived and influential within the human resources and leadership development community.
Winning a Bronze Telly Award in the 46th Annual Competition is a meaningful recognition of Interesting Things with JC and its dedication to clarity, curiosity, and lifelong learning. With over 13,000 global entries, this honor in the Series – Education & Discovery category affirms the show’s editorial merit, educational value, and public impact.
As an independent production with no sponsors, no agency, and no presenting station, this award proves that strong writing, fact-based storytelling, and a clear vision can rise to the top. In a media landscape often driven by trends, this recognition celebrates something rare…content that informs, inspires, and holds its ground through substance alone.
Winning the 2025 Communicator Award for Interesting Things with JC in the Series, Educational category is a powerful affirmation of the mission behind this show: to spark curiosity, deliver depth, and make lifelong learning accessible to all.
As an independent creator, this recognition from the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts validates the long hours, independent research, and relentless pursuit of truth that goes into every episode.
It’s not just an award, it’s proof that meaningful storytelling still matters.
With 1,300 episodes and counting, the series remains committed to making micro-learning accessible, inspiring curiosity, and elevating digital education for students, educators, and lifelong learners worldwide.
Winning a 2025 Communicator Award for The HR Lady Podcast in the Series, Educational category marks a powerful and heartfelt close to an impactful run.
As Technical Producer, Editor, and Co-Host, it’s been an honor to support Wendy Sellers in bringing her bold, unfiltered vision to reality, helping professionals navigate the complexities of modern work with straight talk and real solutions.
As of May 2025, the podcast is officially retired, and this award stands as a lasting tribute to the voice, values, and vision that made it resonate.
Winning the 2024 Gold Davey Award for Interesting Things with JC marked the beginning of everything—it was the first major recognition for a show built from the ground up, self-funded, and fueled by a passion for lifelong learning.
That moment proved that a small, independent voice could earn a place alongside global media.
A heartfelt thanks goes to Gerard Edwards and Podcast Radio in both the UK and USA, whose early support brought this series to broader audiences and helped spark a movement that continues to grow.
Being honored with the 2025 Gold MUSE Creative Award for Interesting Things with JC is a celebration of imagination, originality, and craftsmanship. This isn’t just about information—it’s about making education feel alive through storytelling that captures attention and sparks curiosity. The gleaming MUSE trophy, with its graceful design and commanding presence, is a powerful reminder that creativity, even from a small independent studio, can stand tall on the world stage.
Presented by the International Awards Associate (IAA), the MUSE Creative Awards recognize excellence in media, design, and communication. This win places Interesting Things with JC among the world’s top independent productions, validating its unique approach to microlearning—delivering history, science, and cultural narratives in tightly crafted, highly factual episodes.
Winning the 2025 Hermes Creative Award for “Interesting Things with JC” for Episode number 1235 means more than just recognition, it’s a reminder of the power of listener connection.
This award winning episode, “Three Turns to Freedom,” was inspired by a message from Maxine in Ripon, California, who shared her passion for the history of barrel racing.
Without her thoughtful suggestion and genuine enthusiasm for the topic, this episode, and this award, would not have been possible.
Winning the 2025 Gold AVA Digital Award for Interesting Things with JC in the Educational Podcast category is a profound honor that underscores the podcast's commitment to delivering insightful, accessible content.
This recognition from the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals validates the dedication and creativity invested in each episode.
As an independent creator, this award inspires continued exploration and sharing of knowledge with a global audience.
Interesting Things with JC has been named a Gold Winner in the Audio & Podcasts – Education category at the 2025 NYX Awards. This international honor recognizes the show’s innovative micro-learning format, research-driven storytelling, and meaningful impact on global education. Selected from among thousands of submissions across more than 30 countries, the podcast stood out for its ability to deliver historically accurate, culturally relevant content in under five minutes per episode.
Hosted by educator and broadcaster Jim Connors, the series remains independently produced and sponsor-free, offering free curriculum-aligned content to support teachers, students, and lifelong learners worldwide.
Interesting Things with JC was awarded the Gold Viddy Award in the Non-Broadcast Creativity | Script Writing category, a distinction reserved for exceptional writing that elevates non-broadcast storytelling.
This recognition underscores the precision and originality behind each episode’s script, designed to inform, inspire, and provoke curiosity within a concise format. Every script is crafted to deliver factual integrity, narrative clarity, and educational value without compromise, reflecting a rare blend of intellectual rigor and creative expression.
Receiving this honor affirms the show’s standing as a benchmark in short-form educational writing and reinforces its role as a leader in independent content creation.
Interesting Things with JC has been honored with the 2025 Silver Vega Digital Award in the Podcast Campaign, Education category for its first season.
As a self-funded educational series with a curriculum pilot focused on supporting under-served learners, the recognition affirms the value of independent, purpose-driven storytelling.
Blending concise storytelling with free, standards-aligned curriculum, the show continues to grow thanks to our fantastic dedicated daily listeners!
Interesting Things with JC has been awarded the 2025 Silver NY Digital Award for excellence in web and digital presence.
This recognition is more than a trophy, it validates the time, detail, and technical precision that goes into every part of this independently produced podcast. Competing against major agencies and industry-backed productions, this win proves that clarity, consistency, and storytelling still matter, and that independent creators can stand toe to toe with the big players.
To every listener, every visitor to JimConnors.net, and every supporter who helped bring this vision to life, thank you.
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