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.
1280: "The Sword in the Stone of Saint Galgano"
Interesting Things with JC #1280: "The Sword in the Stone of Saint Galgano" – A knight lays down his weapon, not in battle, but in surrender. Eight centuries later, the blade still stands. What if the greatest strength is choosing to let go?
1279: "The World’s Smallest Army"
Interesting Things with JC #1279: "The World’s Smallest Army" – They wear Renaissance colors, they carry halberds, but behind the pageantry is something real, a small, sworn force that once saved a Pope, and still might.
1278: "1965 Buick Riviera Gran Sport"
Interesting Things with JC #1278: "1965 Buick Riviera Gran Sport" – It didn’t rumble. It resonated. Buick’s Riviera Gran Sport arrived with European elegance and left a dent in American bravado. Not a muscle car...an answer to them.
1277: "Insulin’s Legacy - The Untold Stories"
Interesting Things with JC #1277: "Insulin’s Legacy: The Untold Stories" – A miracle drug born of compassion, then swallowed by conflict. This is the story behind the needle, and the price we still pay for what was once meant to be free.
1273: "What are Organoids?"
Interesting Things with JC #1273: "What are Organoids?" – They pulse, they grow, they even send signals. But they’re not fully human. Organoids are reshaping medicine, ethics, and our sense of what biology can do, on its own.
1225: "The Infamous Gardner Museum Heist"
Interesting Things with JC #1225: "The Infamous Gardner Museum Heist" - Two men. Police uniforms. A museum filled with priceless art. They walked in. They walked out. 500 million dollars gone. No alarms. No arrests. No answers. Where is the art? Who pulled off the greatest art heist in history?
1207: "Mystery of the Twelfth Imam"
Interesting Things with JC #1207: "Mystery of the Twelfth Imam" - One of the greatest mysteries in Islamic history—did the Twelfth Imam truly disappear, or is he waiting to return? For over a thousand years, this belief has shaped religious movements, political structures, and global conflicts.
Please note: I’ve done my best to pronounce all names as accurately as possible. If I’ve mispronounced anything, I sincerely apologize in advance and appreciate your understanding.
1199: "The Battle of Edinburgh 1547 – The Rough Wooing War"
Interesting Things with JC #1199: "The Battle of Edinburgh 1547 – The Rough Wooing War" – England’s aggressive campaign to force Scotland into union led to devastation, but it also strengthened Scotland’s ties to France.
1187: "Who Were the Ancient North Eurasians?"
Interesting Things with JC #1187: "Who Were the Ancient North Eurasians?" - Nearly 24,000 years ago, a boy near Lake Baikal was buried with mammoth ivory carvings. His DNA reveals a surprising link between Ancient North Eurasians and populations across the Americas, Europe, and South Asia. Explore how their migrations shaped human genetics, languages, and technologies.
1186: "Chevrolet K10"
Interesting Things with JC #1186: "Chevrolet K10" – The Chevy K10 wasn’t just another pickup; it was a symbol of rugged durability. From its early days in the 1960s to the iconic square-body design of the 1970s and 80s, this truck built a legacy on farms, job sites, and off-road trails. Discover how the K10 evolved and why it remains a sought-after classic today.
1184: "National Girls and Women in Sports Day"
Interesting Things with JC #1184: "National Girls and Women in Sports Day" – From running secret marathons to making history in horse racing, these lesser-known female athletes redefined what’s possible. Discover the untold stories of trailblazers who changed the game forever.
1163: "AI in IVF"
Interesting Things with JC #1163: "AI in IVF" – Can AI deliver miracles? Learn about the woman who achieved a “miracle pregnancy” through AI-enhanced IVF after years of heartbreak. Learn how this tech is reshaping fertility treatments and bringing hope to countless families.
1155: "The Scent of Apples Eases Claustrophobia"
Interesting Things with JC #1155: "The Scent of Apples Eases Claustrophobia" – Trapped in fear? Unlock the surprising power of apples to bring calm in confined spaces. A quick listen could change how you see anxiety forever.
1154: "Pronoia"
Interesting Things with JC #1154: "Pronoia" - Is the world secretly on your side? Discover the electrifying concept of pronoia and how it might transform your outlook on life.
1152: "Antikythera Mechanism"
Interesting Things with JC #1152: "Antikythera Mechanism" – Hidden for centuries in a shipwreck, this 2,000-year-old device could predict eclipses, track planets, and model the heavens. The Antikythera Mechanism showcases a level of innovation that reshaped our understanding of ancient Greek science.
1141: "The Christmas Eve Escape of the S.S. Vega"
Interesting Things with JC #1141: "The Christmas Eve Escape of the S.S. Vega" - On Christmas Eve 1944, the S.S. Vega arrived in the Channel Islands, bringing relief after years of German occupation. Discover the powerful story of survival, aid, and hope in the midst of war.
1138: "Shared Existence"
Interesting Things with JC #1138: "Shared Existence" - What does it mean to be truly seen? This episode explores the depth of human connection, vulnerability, and how recognition transforms the way we see ourselves.
1136: "Everything is Connected"
Interesting Things with JC #1136: "Everything is Connected" - Explore the profound idea that everything in our world is interlinked. Discover how ancient philosophies and modern science align to reveal a universe bound together in surprising ways.
1107: "White Ship Disaster"
Interesting Things with JC #1107: "White Ship Disaster" - A maritime catastrophe in 1120 that changed England forever. Discover how this tragedy shaped medieval history.
1087: "The Lady in Red: The Haunting of Chicago’s Drake Hotel"
Interesting Things with JC #1087: "The Lady in Red: The Haunting of Chicago’s Drake Hotel" - On New Year’s Eve, 1920, heartbreak turned deadly at Chicago’s Drake Hotel, leaving behind the ghostly legend of The Lady in Red.