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.
1408: "The Imperial Castle"
Interesting Things with JC #1408: "The Imperial Castle" – Crown jewels locked in vaults. A well that swallowed light. A tower that survived firestorms. This was Europe’s throne in stone.
1101: "The Schwabenland Expedition"
Interesting Things with JC #1101: "The Schwabenland Expedition" - Nazi Germany’s 1938 Antarctic mission blended resource acquisition, geopolitical goals, and scientific exploration. It's a fascinating historical account of this mysterious, controversial, and often forgotten expedition.
116: “The Christmas Tree” (Re-Released 2023)
Interesting Things with JC #116: “The Christmas Tree” - Celebrated around the world, this icon of the holiday season days back quite some time. Let's look back at the history of the Christmas tree. Why is it done, where does the tradition come from, how many bugs are on real trees, aluminum trees and more!
832: "Hamburg, Germany"
Interesting Things with JC #832: "Hamburg, Germany" unfolds a rich narrative of maritime grandeur, from the bustling port to the UNESCO Speicherstadt. Discover the city's literary ties, architectural marvels, and a commitment to sustainability, inviting exploration beyond its canals.
548: "Copernicium"
Interesting Things with JC #548: "Copernicium" - Discover the fascinating story of Copernicium, the radioactive element synthesized in a lab by Victor Ninov and Sigurd Hoffmann. Uncover its unique properties & journey from discovery to periodic table inclusion.
521: "Folsom Prison Blues"
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.
501: "Candy Canes"
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.
497: "World's Largest Schnitzel"
Interesting Things with JC #497: "World's Largest Schnitzel" - 3,700 gallons of oil were needed to fry the huge meat mound.
460: "Scientists Create a Miniature Universe"
Interesting Things with JC #460: "Scientists Create a Miniature Universe" - A group of physicists utilized a "quantum field simulator" to model an expanding ultracold atom cosmos, in a lab.
Viermann, Celia & Sparn, Marius & Liebster, Nikolas & Hans, Maurus & Kath, Elinor & Parra-López, Álvaro & Tolosa-Simeón, Mireia & Sánchez-Kuntz, Natalia & Haas, Tobias & Strobel, Helmut & Floerchinger, Stefan & Oberthaler, Markus. (2022). Quantum field simulator for dynamics in curved spacetime. Nature. 611. 260-264. 10.1038/s41586-022-05313-9.
439: "The Headless Horseman"
Interesting Things with JC #439: "The Headless Horseman" - The story of the Headless Horseman starts in Sleepy Hollow, New York, and is based on some real events.
362: "Rudolph Diesel"
Interesting Things with JC #362: "Rudolph Diesel" - Diesel worked hard to create his engine, not just to improve the fuel efficiency of steam engines but also to allow small businesses to compete with industrial conglomerates. Interestingly, Diesel's death has been treated as a mystery, surrounded by suspicion.
317: "In Bavaria, Beer is Food"
Interesting Things with JC #317: "In Bavaria, Beer is Food" - Bavarians view beer not as a drink but as liquid bread, and they honor the food as their national beverage. Here, the average person drinks around 150 liters of beer per year, that's just about 40 gallons!!
311: "Self Closing Drawer Slides"
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.
292: "Margarete Von Waldeck - The real Snow White"
Interesting Things with JC #292 - While the life of the real snow white "Margarete Von Waldeck" appears to be a derivative of the fairy tale, facts remain between stories!
268: "Neuschwanstein Castle”
Interesting Things with JC #268: "Neuschwanstein Castle” - Schloss Neuschwanstein means "New Swan Castle", it's a long standing wonder and landmark on a rugged hill, rising majestically above the village of Hohenschwangau in the Southwest Bavaria of Germany. Neuschwanstein Castle was built in the 19th century by the desires of Ludwig II of Bavaria. The Castle is tremendous, at approximately 6,039square meters / 65,000 square feet, and is said to have inspired Sleeping Beauty's castle in Disneyland!
263: "Germanic Stare"
Interesting Things with JC #263: "Germanic Stare Down" - In Germany, intense eye contact is a daily occurrence, but it's very subjective though. Staring could be the result of daydreaming, personal problem solving, admiration, inquisitiveness, and even aggression. In certain cultures staring becomes a form of non verbal communication, which could be just as unique as a dialect!
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.
207 - Interesting Things: Restaurant Chiggeri
If you visit the Restaurant Chiggeri in the city of Luxembourg, you can take your pick from more than 2,200 different wines. A professional connoisseur is on-site to guide you with what food is best paired with each wine. The majority of the wines on the menu having been there for more than six months. The wine menu is said to resemble a telephone book!
149 Interesting Things - Juan Pujol Garcia
Juan Pujol Garcia, was a Spanish spy who acted as a double agent loyal to Great Britain against Nazi Germany during World War II, and a key figure in the Allied invasion of Normandy in 1944.
116: “The Christmas Tree”
Interesting Things with JC #116: “The Christmas Tree” - Celebrated around the world, this icon of the holiday season days back quite some time. Let's look back at the history of the Christmas tree. Why is it done, where does the tradition come from, how many bugs are on real trees, aluminum trees and more!