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.
975: "April 4th, 2024"
Interesting Things with JC #975: "April 4th, 2024" - This story delves into the profound transformative energies of the day, highlighting its significance in terms of stability, protection, and spiritual growth. As individuals harness the cosmic resonance, they're invited to embark on a journey of personal evolution and manifestation.
963: "Rare Versatility - Football Linemen"
Interesting Things with JC #963: "Rare Versatility - Football Linemen" - Explore the exceptional adaptability of football linemen who excel in playing multiple positions on the line, showcasing their versatility and intelligence in the game. A story inspired by Ashten Cheatham.
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.
500: "Silent Night"
Interesting Things with JC #500: "Silent Night" - First performed on Christmas Eve 1818 at the St. Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, written as a collaboration between Father Joseph Mohr and Organist Franz Xaver Gruber, in Mariapfarr, Austria.
499: "Holiday Garland"
Interesting Things with JC #499: "Holiday Garland' - Deck the Halls and Hang the Garland! Just be careful where you put your baubles!!
497: "World's Largest Schnitzel"
Interesting Things with JC #497: "World's Largest Schnitzel" - 3,700 gallons of oil were needed to fry the huge meat mound.
496: "Microwaved Grapes"
Interesting Things with JC #496: "Microwaved Grapes" - grapes literally explode in the microwave.
495: "Sled Dog Racing"
Interesting Things with JC #495: "Sled Dog Racing" - Sled dogs are bred and trained for racing, and different breeds are better suited to different racing conditions. Alaskan Huskies, Siberian Huskies, and Samoyeds are among the most popular breeds for sled dog racing.
494: "Genomics and AI"
Interesting Things with JC #494: "Genomics and AI" - An exciting development in genomics has been the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze and interpret large amounts of genomic data.
493: "Nutrition and the Aging Process"
Interesting Things with JC #493: "Nutrition and the Aging Process" - proper nutrition is an important factor in reversing the aging process and improving the overall health of our bodies. By making healthy eating choices and incorporating a variety of nutrient-rich foods into our diet.
492: "Telomeres and Aging"
Interesting Things with JC #492: "Telomeres and Aging" - We might be able to control aging through gene therapy in the near future.
491: "New Caledonia"
Interesting Things with JC #491: "New Caledonia" is a beautiful archipelago located in the South Pacific. It's the ideal place to get a "break from the ads" and enjoy nature.
490: "Heart Disease and Gray Hair"
Interesting Things with JC #490: "Heart Disease and Gray Hair" - An observational study found that the amount of gray hair in adult men is associated with an increased risk of heart disease.
489: "Fortune Cookies"
Interesting Things with JC #489: "Fortune Cookies" - the fortune cookie is technically not from China!
488: "Koalas & Eucalyptus"
Interesting Things with JC #488: "Koalas & Eucalyptus" - Koalas survive on eucalyptus which contains toxins that will poison almost all other living things. Thank you to Rachael Nelson for suggesting today’s topic!
487: "Belonging"
Interesting Things with JC #487: "Belonging" is a distinct and personal experience that stems from a want to connect with others, and a need for positive esteem.
486: "A Few Fast Facts About Sea Otters"
Interesting Things with JC #486: "A Few Fast Facts About Sea Otters" - The fur of the sea otter is the densest of any mammal.
485: "Rocky and Benihana"
Interesting Things with JC #485: "Rocky and Benihana" - Teppanyaki restaurants originated in Japan in the late 1940s and were brought to the rest of the world by one man's vision.
Ref - https://www.benihana.com/
484: "An Earth-Like Mars"
Interesting Things with JC #484: "An Earth-Like Mars" - Paul Smith of the University of Bristol has laid out the foundation for establishing a thriving, contained ecosystem on Mars.
Ref - Smith, P. (2022). Extraterrestrial nature reserves (ETNRs). International Journal of Astrobiology, 1-39. doi:10.1017/S1473550422000398
483: "A Story Written by ChatGPT"
Interesting Things with JC #483: "A Story Written by ChatGPT" - ChatGPT is a prototype of an AI chatbot made by OpenAI. It focuses on being easy to use and communicating. The chatbot is built on the GPT-3.5 architecture and uses a huge language model that it learned through reinforcement learning. This story about a woman named Alice and her flying machine was written by ChatGPT on 6 Dec 2022. This is a Royalty Free Educational/Informational recording available for fair use.
Please visit https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt/ to learn more about this revolutionary breakthrough in AI development.