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.
706: "Saharan Dust Storms"
Interesting Things with JC #706: "Saharan Dust Storms" - Discover the incredible journey of Saharan dust as it travels thousands of kilometers, impacting air quality worldwide. Learn about the health effects, climate impact, and fascinating facts surrounding these dust storms.
641: "VE DAY"
Interesting Things with JC #641: "VE DAY" - May 8th, 1945: VE Day marks the end of WWII in Europe. On this day, Nazi Germany surrendered to the Allies. Let's remember the sacrifices made and celebrate the peace that followed.
617: "Metallica"
Interesting Things with JC #617: "Metallica" - Trace the rise of heavy metal band Metallica, from their beginnings as a jam session between James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich in Los Angeles, to their success as one of the most influential bands in the history of music.
603: "The Green Man"
Interesting Things with JC #603: "The Green Man" - a mythical figure with a face made entirely of leaves, branches, and foliage. He symbolizes nature's regenerative power and the cycle of life and death. The Green Man's significance is multifaceted, representing nature's enduring power, spiritual and mystical connections to the natural world, cultural heritage and identity, and environmental awareness and conservation.
549: "General Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren"
Interesting Things with JC #549: "General Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren" - Discover the fascinating love story of General Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren, two legendary American performers who rose to the heights of fame in the late 1800's United States and around the world.
540: "The Shard"
Interesting Things with JC #540: "The Shard" - a 310m tower in London, opened on Feb 1, 2013 with 72 floors. Designed by renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano, The Shard is a mixed-use structure that includes offices, residential apartments, a hotel, restaurants, and a three-story observation deck. This true work of art was inspired by the spires of London's historic churches and the masts of tall ships as painted by Canaletto in the 18th century.
443: “The True Story of Hansel and Gretel”
Interesting Things with JC #443: “The True Story of Hansel and Gretel” is based on real events that happened in the Baltic countries between 1314 and 1322.
431: "Wireless Telegraph Service"
Interesting Things with JC #431: Marconi starts the first commercial "Wireless Telegraph Service" across the Atlantic Ocean, linking Nova Scotia and Ireland.
284: "Pineapples”
Interesting Things with JC #284: "Pineapples” - Historians believe that the pineapple originated in Brazil and South America. It was later imported to Europe. Originally, "pineapple" was a name used for pinecones, but a pineapple is not an apple or a pine cone, it is actually a berry! From European fascination to global export dominance, let's dig into this amazing wonder!
253: "Lamb vs Mutton"
Interesting Things with JC #253: "Lamb vs Mutton". Both are domestic sheep, just at different times of their life cycles. Lamb is a sheep that is typically less than 1 year old. Mutton refers to an adult sheep that is over one year old, but preferably 3 years of age. Lamb is popular premium meat in the US, Europe, and the Middle East. In remote parts of the world, thin strips of fatty mutton can be cut into a substitute for bacon, called macon.
209 - Interesting Things: Daylight Savings & William Willet
Countries to the north and south of the tropics, see sunrise much earlier and sunsets much later in summer, than these regions do in winter. On most farms, this isn't a problem. People and animals just shift their habits as the hours of daylight shift. In most cities, the amount of energy used to make artificial light and heat becomes costly, if they don't shift their routines. This is where William Willett, the godfather of Daylight Savings comes in.