A Short Story Podcast Series
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Link to Podcast Library or Scroll for Daily Feed
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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.
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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 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
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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 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.
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.
1416: "Water on Mars"
Interesting Things with JC #1416: "Water on Mars" – In 1999, light from a distant planet revealed something Earth-shaking: Mars once held oceans. The data was dry. The discovery was not.
084: "The Golden Record"
Interesting Things with JC #084: "The Golden Record" - Dive into the story of the Golden Record, a snapshot of Earth's life and culture sent into space aboard Voyager 1 and 2 in 1977. What secrets does it hold? Explore with us!
027: "Professor Autry and the Alien Life Debate"
Interesting Things with JC #027: "Professor Autry and the Alien Life Debate" - In a revealing interview on GB News, Professor Greg Autry, a former White House liaison at NASA, shared his perspectives on the possibility of extraterrestrial life and the competitive nature of the current space race.
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.
910: "NASA X-59"
Interesting Things with JC #910: "NASA X-59" - Explore NASA's X-59 Quiets Sonic Boom Technology Demonstrator, paving the way for quieter supersonic flight and revolutionizing aviation!
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.
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.
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.
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.
658: “Man on the Moon”
Interesting Things with JC #658: “Man on the Moon” - May 25th, 1961: President John F. Kennedy announced the goal of sending a man to the moon by the end of the decade. The Apollo program eventually achieved the goal and became a significant milestone in space exploration.
630: "Dr. Lonnie Johnson and the Birth of the Super Soaker"
Interesting Things with JC #630: "Dr. Lonnie Johnson and the Birth of the Super Soaker" - Check out the incredible story of Dr. Lonnie Johnson, the brilliant inventor and NASA Scientist who created the beloved Super Soaker!
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.
543: "Stratospheric Balloons"
Interesting Things with JC: #543 "Stratospheric Balloons" offer a unique platform for scientific discovery and capture stunning images of Earth. They are marvels of engineering and symbolize human determination.
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.
381: "SLS & Artemis"
Interesting Things with JC #381: "SLS & Artemis" - The most powerful rocket in the world, designed to send humans to deep space, will be headed back to the moon.
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!