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.
To review examples, check out any episode from #1235 to today, just scroll down.
Beginning with Episode #1307 we’re shifting to an open text format at the bottom of every MP3 page in the RSS. This should allow greater ease of access.
If you are using the curriculum your feedback is greatly appreciated, that’s how iterations like this continue to drive changes in the layout, and useability.
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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.
1149: "The Hidden Language of the Brain: Intrinsic Traveling Waves"
Interesting Things with JC #1149: "The Hidden Language of the Brain: Intrinsic Traveling Waves"
Did you know your brain has its own hidden ripples that shape how you experience the world?
In this episode, we dive into the groundbreaking research on intrinsic traveling waves—patterns of neural activity that prime your senses and may hold the key to new therapies for neurological disorders.
This episode was inspired by “AJ”
Ref: Davis ZW, Busch A, Steward C, Muller L, Reynolds J. Horizontal cortical connections shape intrinsic traveling waves into feature-selective motifs that regulate perceptual sensitivity. Cell Rep. 2024 Sep 24;43(9):114707. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114707. Epub 2024 Sep 6. PMID: 39243374; PMCID: PMC11485754.
1087: "The Lady in Red: The Haunting of Chicago’s Drake Hotel"
Interesting Things with JC #1087: "The Lady in Red: The Haunting of Chicago’s Drake Hotel" - On New Year’s Eve, 1920, heartbreak turned deadly at Chicago’s Drake Hotel, leaving behind the ghostly legend of The Lady in Red.
1086: "The Greenbrier Ghost: A Murder Solved from Beyond the Grave"
Interesting Things with JC #1086: "The Greenbrier Ghost: A Murder Solved from Beyond the Grave" - In 1897, Greenbrier County, West Virginia saw a ghost story cross into the courtroom as a ghost’s testimony contributed to one of the strangest convictions in American legal history.
1021: "Faking or Forcing Joy"
Interesting Things with JC #1021: "Faking or Forcing Joy" - Explore the psychological and social effects of faking joy and why it's important to embrace authenticity in your emotions.
100: “Series Introduction”
Introducing "Interesting Things with JC" - a podcast that tackles a wide range of fascinating topics while combining historical accuracy, insight, and compelling narrative. Each episode is intended to inspire thought and promote learning. Tune in for a journey of discovery and unending curiosity.
975: "April 4th, 2024"
Interesting Things with JC #975: "April 4th, 2024" - This story delves into the profound transformative energies of the day, highlighting its significance in terms of stability, protection, and spiritual growth. As individuals harness the cosmic resonance, they're invited to embark on a journey of personal evolution and manifestation.
327: "The Sites Reservoir"
Interesting Things with JC #327: "The Sites Reservoir" The California Department of Water Resources intends to construct the $5.2-billion off-stream Sites Reservoir west of Colusa in the Sacramento Valley of northern California, presenting an untapped opportunity to store significant amounts of water generated by stormwater and flood flows. Further strengthening the backbone of this world renown agricultural region.