A Short Story Podcast Series
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Interesting Things with JC is free to use for teaching and learning under fair use. Educators, homeschooling parents, librarians, and lifelong learners have broad rights to use the episodes and curriculum in any instructional setting. One exception applies to Episode #509: “Harry Chapin and Jim Connors”, which is not covered under this open educational permission.
Full curriculum support begins at Episode #1235: “Three Turns to Freedom”. Any earlier episode without curriculum can be prioritized by request. Educators may contact JimConnors LLC directly, and a matching curriculum module will be created and added to the site.
Teachers and homeschooling families are welcome to use, play, share, print, and adapt all eligible episodes and curriculum materials for lesson planning, instruction, student assignments, LMS uploads, and any other direct educational activity. No special approval is required for everyday classroom use. Crediting the show is appreciated when possible.
This permission does not extend to commercial activity. The episodes and curriculum may not be repackaged, resold, redistributed as a standalone program, or presented as original work by any third party. Any commercial or branded use requires prior written consent from JimConnors LLC. Episode #509: “Harry Chapin and Jim Connors” follows its own restrictions and is excluded from open educational use.
Educators may freely use the content in classrooms, homeschools, co-ops, tutoring programs, library settings, and adult education. They may revise or adapt curriculum pages, print transcripts, share episode links, or integrate materials into their lessons as needed. What is not allowed is turning the work into a paid course, selling derivatives, posting content under another brand, or redistributing the series as a separate product.
Summary:
Free for education.
Not for resale.
Not for commercial repackaging.
Episode #1235: “Three Turns to Freedom” and onward includes full curriculum.
Older episodes can receive curriculum by request.
Episode #509: “Harry Chapin and Jim Connors” is excluded.
All rights reserved © JimConnors LLC. -
Interesting Things with JC is available on the Podcast Radio format in the United Kingdom and the United States. Listeners can tune in on the radio in select cities or stream the station online from anywhere.
United Kingdom – Podcast Radio (UK)
Podcast Radio is a 24-hour all-podcast station based in London. It broadcasts on DAB+ digital radio across London and several other supported UK regions, with full worldwide access through its online stream.
Interesting Things with JC is included in Podcast Radio’s curated programming lineup.
Listeners in the United Kingdom can hear the station on DAB+ receivers in covered areas, through the Podcast Radio website, or through the station’s online and mobile streaming platforms.
United States – Podcast Radio US
In the United States, Interesting Things with JC airs as part of Podcast Radio US across four regional markets. The format is carried on HD Radio channels and FM translators.
Detroit, Michigan: WCSX 94.7 HD2 and 93.5 FM
Tampa Bay, Florida: 1010 WJBR AM
Charlotte, North Carolina: 94.7 FM and WSOC HD3
Fort Myers and Naples, Florida: WXKB HD2, 96.5 FM, 101.5 FM, and 105.1 FMNationwide listening is available through the station’s website at PodcastRadioUS.com.
Streaming Access
Podcast Radio UK and Podcast Radio US both offer live streaming through their official websites and mobile platforms, allowing listeners worldwide to hear Interesting Things with JC as part of the network’s curated programming.
The show is also available across major podcast and audio platforms, including Podcast Radio, Podverse, Headliner, Amazon, Apple, Audacy, Audible, Castbox, Deezer, fyyd, GoodPods, iHeartRadio, JioSaavn, Listen Notes, Pandora, PlayerFM, PocketCasts, Podcast Republic, Podchaser, Spotify, Stitcher, and YouTube.
In addition to audio platforms, listeners can follow and stream content on social media through Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), TikTok, and YouTube.
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Start class with a short, clear story your students can follow from the first sentence. Play an episode of Interesting Things with JC and use the free curriculum to guide a full lesson with questions, activities, and applied learning.
Every episode from #1235 forward includes a modular micro lesson designed for a 30 to 45 minute class period. At the bottom of each episode page, you will find expandable sections that organize all curriculum materials for teachers, parents, and homeschool families.
Each lesson includes:
Lesson overview with title, grade band, subject area, and learning objectives
Key vocabulary with phonetic spelling and plain language definitions
Core story content created through the Precise Storytelling Framework
Full podcast transcript
Student worksheet with comprehension and writing activities
Teacher guide with pacing notes, strategies, and discussion tools
Quiz or quick check assessment with a scoring rubric
Standards alignment across multiple national and international frameworks
ADA compliant alt text for all instructional media
Links to approved primary sources used for fact checking
Guidance for homeschool adaptation and flexible scheduling
All curriculum materials are created through the Narrative Intelligence System to ensure accuracy, accessibility, and age-appropriate delivery. Lessons stay free of ideological frameworks and focus on academic content only.
Standards Alignment
Interesting Things with JC aligns each micro lesson with the following approved educational standards:
United States National Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in English Language Arts and Mathematics
College, Career, and Civic Life Framework for Social Studies (C3 Framework)
International Society for Technology in Education Standards (ISTE Standards)
National Core Arts Standards (NCAS)
Career and Technical Education Career Clusters (CTE Career Clusters)
Association of College and Research Libraries Framework for Information Literacy (ACRL Framework)
Bloom’s Taxonomy for Cognitive Learning Objectives
Universal Design for Learning Guidelines (UDL Guidelines)
Additional United States Alignment Areas
Alignment to state and provincial academic standards when content applies
Media and Information Literacy standards
Social Emotional Learning and 21st Century Skills frameworks
Financial Literacy and Employability Skills standards
English as a Second Language and World Language vocabulary support when applicable
International Academic Equivalents (Content-Based Alignment Only)
United Kingdom National Curriculum, Key Stages 3 to 5
AQA, OCR, and Edexcel Examination Board Specifications
International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and Diploma Programme (IB PYP, MYP, DP)
Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education and Advanced Subsidiary/Advanced Level (Cambridge IGCSE and AS/A Level)
Access, Use, and OER Licensing
All lessons are published as Open Educational Resources and may be used, printed, or shared for teaching and learning in classrooms, homeschools, and tutoring environments. Materials are provided for educational use under fair use and may not be resold or distributed commercially.
Episodes from #1235 forward include complete curriculum materials. If you find an older episode without a micro lesson, reach out and it will be moved to the front of the build queue. Starting with Episode #1307, each MP3 page in the RSS feed includes open text at the bottom of the page for quick access to transcripts and curriculum notes.
Teacher and homeschool feedback is always welcome to help improve clarity and layout.
1482: "The First Thanksgiving Game"
Interesting Things with JC #1482: "The First Thanksgiving Game" – A cold Ohio field. A rising league. A fight for pride that shaped a holiday tradition. The roots of Thanksgiving football still echo with grit and stubborn joy.
1474: "Do Hard Things"
Interesting Things with JC #1474: "Do Hard Things" – When you face one tough task, the mind shifts from threat to control. Hard work shrinks imagined problems and restores the world to its real size.
1429: "Alternate and Special Uniforms in the NFL"
Interesting Things with JC #1429: "Alternate and Special Uniforms in the NFL" – From leather helmets to chrome facemasks, football’s look has mirrored America’s own evolution. This episode traces how nostalgia, marketing, and meaning collide every time a team takes the field in something new, or something old.
1398: "American Paint Horse"
Interesting Things with JC #1398: "American Paint Horse" – Paint horses stood out on the open plains. From Spanish explorers to Comanche warriors to modern ranchers, their bold coats and strong build made them unforgettable.
1370: "Fly Fishing"
Interesting Things with JC #1370: "Fly Fishing" – Mist rises, the line arcs, and history rides the cast. Two thousand years of craft aiming for one perfect break on the water.
1361: "The Metric Crescent Wrench"
Interesting Things with JC #1361: "The Metric Crescent Wrench" – Long before torque specs, there was legend. A vanished tool from 1743. The truth slips… one adjustment at a time.
1357: "Hulk Hogan"
Interesting Things with JC #1357: "Hulk Hogan" – He slammed giants, wore red and gold, and called you brother. But behind the legend was Terry Bollea. Loyal, flawed, and full of heart.
1350: "The Kiss Cam"
Interesting Things with JC #1350: "The Kiss Cam" – What began as a quiet camera cue at Dodger Stadium became a global spotlight of truth, tenderness, and sometimes betrayal.
1346: "Napoleon's Rabbit Hunt Gone Wrong!"
Interesting Things with JC #1346: "Napoleon's Rabbit Hunt Gone Wrong!" – He defeated Europe’s armies...but not a swarm of bunnies. A celebration turned stampede reveals the absurdity hiding behind power.
1322: "Chevy Corvette C2"
Interesting Things with JC #1322: "Chevy Corvette C2" – It wasn’t just a car, it was America’s muscular rebuttal to European speed. When the Sting Ray hit, the road culture roared.
1303: "Clock It"
Interesting Things with JC #1303: "Clock It" – A phrase that started on the stopwatch now signals everything from impact to instinct. What does it really mean to clock something?
1295: "Get Out and Move"
Interesting Things with JC #1295: "Get Out and Move" – A simple walk does more than stretch your legs. It grows your brain, lowers your stress, and resets your rhythm. The science is moving.
1293: "Traditions of the Indy 500"
Interesting Things with JC #1293: "Traditions of the Indy 500" – Before the engines roar, 300,000 people stand still. Milk is chosen. Bricks are kissed. A race becomes ritual. A track becomes sacred.
1292: "Corvette ZR1"
Interesting Things with JC #1292: "Corvette ZR1" – It began in silence, surfaced in power, and kept evolving, each version redefining what a Corvette could be. ZR1 isn't a trim. It's a line in the pavement.
1281: "Wild Horse Hooves Explained"
Interesting Things with JC #1281: "Wild Horse Hooves Explained" – No blacksmith, no stable, just hooves hardened by motion, rock, and time. Discover how wild horses stay sound while domesticated ones require constant care.
1278: "1965 Buick Riviera Gran Sport"
Interesting Things with JC #1278: "1965 Buick Riviera Gran Sport" – It didn’t rumble. It resonated. Buick’s Riviera Gran Sport arrived with European elegance and left a dent in American bravado. Not a muscle car...an answer to them.
1264: "Pick 33 – The First of the Forgotten"
Interesting Things with JC #1264: "Pick 33 – The First of the Forgotten" – One slot after the spotlight fades, a different kind of greatness begins. It's where overlooked talent becomes legacy, and where silence fuels the fire.
1263: "The Malibu Secret"
Interesting Things with JC #1263: "The Malibu Secret" – Born from rivalry, built for reinvention. Chevy’s Malibu began as a decoy, survived as a strategy, and now exits with no fanfare. Some names don’t fade they vanish
1250: "Great Loop Boating"
Interesting Things with JC #1250: "Great Loop Boating" – It’s not a race, it’s a rhythm. Across 7,500 miles of rivers, canals, and coastlines, the Great Loop offers a journey where tide, patience, and memory steer the way.
1235: “Three Turns to Freedom”
Interesting Things with JC #1235: “Three Turns to Freedom” – This episode gallops through the untold history of barrel racing—a sport born from rebellion. It wasn’t always about speed. It was once a pageant. But through three turns and a cloverleaf path, women rode their way from sideline spectacles to national champions.
A special thank you to Maxine from Ripon, California, for inspiring this story!