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A Short Story Podcast Series

"Interesting Things with JC" text on black radial background

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    • Episodes run 30 seconds to 8 minutes.

    • Send us your episode ideas, we’ll work the topics into future recordings, and credit you.

    • Homeschooling parents, teachers, and lifelong learners get priority.

    • Many episodes include free curriculum materials aligned to global standards.

    Legal Disclaimer

    All episodes of Interesting Things with JC are provided free of charge for educational purposes under fair use, with the exception of Episode #509. The series, including its associated curriculum and materials, may not be copied, resold, redistributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written agreement and consent from JimConnors LLC. Unauthorized commercial use, reproduction, or distribution is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved © JimConnors LLC.

    • 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 in these cities:

      Detroit – WCSX 94.7 HD2

      Tampa – 1010 WJBR-AM

      Charlotte – 94.7 FM and WSOC-HD3

      Fort Myers / Naples – 96.5 FM, 101.5 FM, 105.1 FM, and WXKB-HD2

      You can also stream it nationwide at PodcastRadioUS.com

  • Kick off class with a quick boost. Play an episode of Interesting Things with JC to get your students interested right off the bat. The short stories are easy to follow, and the free curriculum gives you everything you need to turn that spark into a full lesson with questions, activities, and real learning.

    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 List

    • NGSS – 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.

    Disclaimer:Interesting Things with JC and its companion curriculum are provided for educational purposes under fair use. They are free to access and share for teaching and learning, but not for resale or commercial distribution.

    • Examples: Browse any episode from #1235 to the present.

    • Format Update: Starting with Episode #1307, each MP3 page in the RSS includes open text at the bottom for easier access.

    • Feedback: Curriculum users, your input helps improve layout and usability. Your feedback is welcomed.

    • Older Episodes: If you find one without curriculum, drop me a line. I’ll prioritize building it out. The goal is for every episode to have full resources.

History, Podcast, Social, Science JC History, Podcast, Social, Science JC

987: "Astronaut Beach House"

Interesting Things with JC #987: "Astronaut Beach House" - Delve into the quiet story of the Astronaut Beach House, a place where astronauts find solace before their space journeys. Located at the Kennedy Space Center, this house serves as a personal and historic retreat. It symbolizes the human aspect of space exploration, hosting pre-launch gatherings and private reflections.

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History, News, Science, Podcast JC History, News, Science, Podcast JC

845: "Deep Space Optical Communications"

Interesting Things with JC #845: "Deep Space Optical Communications" - NASA's DSOC, a marvel in space innovation, achieves "first light," beaming a near-infrared laser with test data 10 million miles to the Hale Telescope. This milestone, aboard the Psyche spacecraft en route to the asteroid belt, paves the way for high-data-rate communications supporting humanity's dream of reaching Mars.

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Podcast, Science, History, News JC Podcast, Science, History, News JC

776: "Parker Solar Probe"

Interesting Things with JC #776: "Parker Solar Probe" - Embark on the epic journey of the Parker Solar Probe, the fastest human-made object ever, as it unravels the Sun's mysteries through cosmic exploration. Discover the awe-inspiring tale of human curiosity, scientific discovery, physicist Eugene Parker, and the boundless wonders of space.

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Science, Podcast JC Science, Podcast JC

770: "DMSO vs DMS"

Interesting Things with JC #770: "DMSO vs DMS" - Dive into the world of DMSO, a synthetic solvent with diverse applications, and its celestial counterpart, DMS, found in marine ecosystems. From medical treatments to space exploration, these 'DMS' compounds offer intriguing insights into science's multifaceted realm.

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History, Science, Podcast JC History, Science, Podcast JC

729: "Phoenix - August 4th, 2007"

Interesting Things with JC #729: "Phoenix - August 4th, 2007" - Follow the journey of the U.S. space probe Phoenix, launched on a daring mission to Mars. A year later, after a 680-million-kilometer journey, it landed on the red planet, making an incredible discovery of water ice beneath the Martian surface. The probe's findings sparked excitement among scientists and opened up new possibilities for future space exploration.

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621: "The Resilience and Growth of Florida's Space Coast"

Interesting Things with JC #621: "The Resilience and Growth of Florida's Space Coast"

The story of Florida's Space Coast is one of resilience and growth, with the region's GDP reaching $24.1 billion and a workforce of 282,000 people. Despite setbacks and challenges, the Space Coast continues to thrive, with significant job growth and a diverse mix of industries including aerospace, defense, technology, and tourism.

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History, Podcast, Science, Social, News JC History, Podcast, Science, Social, News JC

475: "2 New Minerals Discovered in Meteorite"

Interesting Things with JC #475: "2 New Minerals Discovered in Meteorite" - The minerals were discovered within a slice of the ninth-largest meteorite ever discovered, the El Ali meteorite, which crashed in Somalia in 2020.

Ref - https://www.ualberta.ca/folio/2022/11/new-minerals-discovered-in-massive-meteorite-may-reveal-clues-to-asteroid-formation.html

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248: "The Space Coast"

Interesting Things with JC #248: "The Space Coast" is a region in the U.S. state of Florida around the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. One reason rockets are launched in Florida has to do with the Earth's rotation. From rockets to surfing, salt to searching for the fountain of youth, the SpaceCoast of Florida is a treasure to behold. Click to Listen!

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