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.
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!