A Short Story Podcast Series
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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.
1473: "Can a Thought Move Faster than Light?"
Interesting Things with JC #1473: "Can a Thought Move Faster than Light?" – When nerve signals crawl at human speeds yet decisions feel instant, the mystery isn’t distance but design.
1439: "Shenzhou 5 – China’s First Human Spaceflight"
Interesting Things with JC #1439: "Shenzhou 5 – China’s First Human Spaceflight" – One man. One orbit. A nation’s arrival in space. Discover how a single rocket launched China into the spacefaring elite.
1433: "The James Webb Space Telescope"
Interesting Things with JC #1433: "The James Webb Space Telescope" – A grain of sand held at arm’s length reveals thousands of galaxies in the dark, light that began before Earth existed. The James Webb Space Telescope proves human hands can reach back to the dawn of time.
1430: "Richard Dedekind Redefining Number Theory"
Interesting Things with JC #1430: "Richard Dedekind Redefining Number Theory" – He didn’t invent numbers. He defined what they are. From infinite sets to algebraic ideals, Dedekind gave mathematics its solid ground, and changed how we measure everything.
1428: "Jane Goodall"
Interesting Things with JC #1428: "Jane Goodall" – She began as a girl with a dog and a dream, and left as the voice of a planet. At 91, Jane Goodall’s story is still unfinished, because it lives in us.
1386: "Water Can Boil and Freeze at the Same Time"
Interesting Things with JC #1386: "Water Can Boil and Freeze at the Same Time" – Fire and ice at once? At the triple point, water boils, freezes, and steams in a single breath. It's a scientific paradox that defies expectation.
1372: "James Lovell - Commander of Apollo 13"
Interesting Things with JC #1372: "James Lovell – Commander of Apollo 13" – From launching homemade rockets in Milwaukee fields to leading a crippled spacecraft safely home, James Lovell’s life was a flight plan written in courage. His steady hand turned near-certain disaster into one of history’s greatest rescues.
1331: "The Sheep That Stopped the Bite"
Interesting Things with JC #1331: "The Sheep That Stopped the Bite" – When venom struck and hospitals were too far, one animal quietly changed the odds. It didn’t bite back. It built the cure.
1317: "Do You Drink More Through a Straw?"
Interesting Things with JC #1317: "Do You Drink More Through a Straw?" – A simple straw changes everything. From soda cups to hospital beds, it silently drives us to drink more faster, sweeter, and without even noticing.
1293: "Traditions of the Indy 500"
Interesting Things with JC #1293: "Traditions of the Indy 500" – Before the engines roar, 300,000 people stand still. Milk is chosen. Bricks are kissed. A race becomes ritual. A track becomes sacred.
1288: "Don't Put Dawn in the Dishwasher!"
Interesting Things with JC #1288: "Don't Put Dawn in the Dishwasher" – It’s iconic, beloved, even lifesaving. But the moment Dawn dish soap enters the wrong machine, all that trust turns into foam and costly regret.
1266: "The Secret Life of a Single Note"
Interesting Things with JC #1266: "The Secret Life of a Single Note" – A single note is never just one sound. Dive into the hidden harmonies that shape how we hear, feel, and understand music itself.
809: "Standing Wave Flame Tube"
Interesting Things with JC #809: "Standing Wave Flame Tube" - Explore the mesmerizing science of sound waves, resonance, and acoustics through the captivating Rubens' Tube demonstration. Witness the visual representation of standing waves and delve into the educational world of physics.
693: "Harmful Algae Blooms"
Interesting Things with JC #693: "Harmful Algae Blooms" - Learn about harmful algal blooms and their impact on our waters, health, and environment. Discover how these excessive algae growths can harm aquatic life, contaminate drinking water, and why it's important to avoid contact with them.
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!