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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.

    • 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.

  • 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 List

    • NGSS – 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.

    • 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.

1149: "The Hidden Language of the Brain: Intrinsic Traveling Waves"

Interesting Things with JC #1149: "The Hidden Language of the Brain: Intrinsic Traveling Waves"

Did you know your brain has its own hidden ripples that shape how you experience the world?

In this episode, we dive into the groundbreaking research on intrinsic traveling waves—patterns of neural activity that prime your senses and may hold the key to new therapies for neurological disorders.

This episode was inspired by “AJ”

Ref: Davis ZW, Busch A, Steward C, Muller L, Reynolds J. Horizontal cortical connections shape intrinsic traveling waves into feature-selective motifs that regulate perceptual sensitivity. Cell Rep. 2024 Sep 24;43(9):114707. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114707. Epub 2024 Sep 6. PMID: 39243374; PMCID: PMC11485754.

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Podcast, Science, Social JC Podcast, Science, Social JC

922: "Voice Attraction"

Interesting Things with JC #922: "Voice Attraction" - Delve into the science behind why men are attracted to women with higher-pitched voices, exploring its connection to femininity and evolutionary psychology. Discover how voice attractiveness influences interpersonal dynamics and mate selection.

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Podcast, Science JC Podcast, Science JC

904: "Understanding the Electrostatic Field"

Interesting Things with JC #904: "Understanding the Electrostatic Field" - Explore the captivating dynamics of electrostatic fields, from the intricate dance of particles within atoms to their practical applications in everyday life. Discover how charges attract and repel, shaping phenomena like static electricity and magnetic fields, and unlocking innovations in technology and science.

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Science, Podcast JC Science, Podcast JC

771: "4 Types of Ocean Waves"

Interesting Things with JC #771: "4 Types of Ocean Waves" - Dive into the captivating world of ocean waves, from the rhythmic dance of Wind Waves to the graceful ballet of Swell Waves. Explore the destructive power of Tsunamis and the rebellious spirit of Tidal Waves. Experience nature's beauty and might in this oceanic journey.

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News, Podcast, Science, Social JC News, Podcast, Science, Social JC

682": "100mph Sneeze"

Interesting Things with JC #682": "100mph Sneeze" - In a groundbreaking study, researchers at the University of Bristol delved into the airborne survival of bacteria from coughs and sneezes.

Their findings revealed that an average sneeze can unleash a staggering army of approximately 100,000 contagious germs into the air, reaching speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. These astonishing numbers highlight the microscopic battles fought around us and emphasize the importance of practicing good hygiene and preventive measures to safeguard our health.

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Podcast, Science, Social JC Podcast, Science, Social JC

476: "When 2 Hearts Beat as 1"

Interesting Things with JC #476: "When 2 Hearts Beat as 1" - When long-term, devoted partners are in close proximity, their heartbeats synchronize.

Ref: Ogolsky, B.G., et al. (2021) Spatial proximity as a behavioral marker of relationship dynamics in older adult couples. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. doi.org/10.1177/02654075211050073

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JC JC

456: "Tongue Prints"

Interesting Things with JC #456: "Tongue Prints" - Like fingerprints, each person has a unique tongue print. The tongue is an important organ inside the mouth that is well protected from the outside world. It has unique parts that are different for each person, even between identical twins.

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JC JC

429: "Human Brain and Memory"

Interesting Things with JC #429: "Human Brain and Memory," unconscious brain activity likely drives the vast majority of our actions and behaviors.

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History, Podcast, Social, Science JC History, Podcast, Social, Science JC

329: "Mt. Diablo"

Interesting Things with JC #329: "Mt. Diablo” is one of the most prominent landforms in northern California, located in the San Francisco Bay Area to the east of Walnut Creek. In 1851, it was chosen as the starting point for the Mount Diablo Base Line and Meridian, which were used to measure land in two-thirds of California and all of Nevada. At the top of the mountain, there are amazing views in all directions.

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