Interesting Things with JC
History
About
Interesting Things with JC is a new podcast mini series, with highlight on some of the more interesting historical stories, current events as well as under-told stories.
Episodes
- 1649: "Ernst Stuhlinger"
This episode features NASA engineer Ernst Stuhlinger discussing the importance of Mars missions and his work on ion propulsion. He explains why space exploration matters while people are starving on Earth.
- 1648: "Why Are Manhole Covers Round?"
This episode of Interesting Things with JC discusses why manhole covers are round. The reasons include preventing them from falling into the access hole, distributing traffic force, and allowing workers to roll them.
- 1647: "Fermilab"
This episode of Interesting Things with JC discusses Fermilab, a particle physics laboratory where scientists send neutrinos through solid rock and underground machines recreate conditions from moments after the Big Bang.
- 1646: "Electrostatic Propulsion"
This episode discusses electrostatic propulsion, a technology that uses electric fields to generate thrust. It is currently used in spacecraft and is being explored for applications such as quiet drones and high-altitude platforms.
- 1645: "The Gulf of Tonkin"
This episode discusses the Gulf of Tonkin incident. U.S. destroyers reported a second North Vietnamese attack, which became the legal basis for expanding the Vietnam War, though there were no confirmed targets or enemy vessels found.
- 1644: “Krafft Ehricke”
Episode 1644 of Interesting Things with JC focuses on Krafft Ehricke, a rocket engineer who proposed concepts like lunar mining and space-based solar power decades ago. His work on the V-2 and Atlas rocket programs influenced current space…
- 1643: “Why Are Stop Signs Octagons?”
This episode of Interesting Things with JC explains why stop signs are octagons, tracing their origin to the chaos of early American roads and the symbol's recognition.
- 1642: “Nedra Talley”
This episode of Interesting Things with JC features Nedra Talley, a founding member of The Ronettes. It discusses the girl group era, Phil Spector’s “Wall of Sound,” and the impact of “Be My Baby.” Talley’s harmonies are explored as part o…
- 1641: "Operation Northwoods"
The US military planned fake terrorist attacks and civilian deaths in 1962 as part of Operation Northwoods, intending to provoke a war with Cuba. Declassified documents later revealed the plan was real.
- 1640: "David Allan Coe"
David Allan Coe's music resonated across America, appearing in various venues and playlists for decades, even though his style differed from Nashville's mainstream.
- 1639: "Eberhard Rees"
Episode 1639 features Eberhard Rees, who focused on the technical details of the Saturn V rocket, including welds, tolerances, and manufacturing flaws, ensuring mission safety.
- 1638: "Route 66 Turns 100"
Route 66, originally a collection of trails, became America's first fully paved transcontinental highway. A century later, it continues to influence the towns and landscapes bypassed by the interstate system.
- 1637: “Norbert aka Tony Pork”
Episode 1637 features Norbert, a 175-pound pig nicknamed Tony Pork, who skateboarded down a street using his back legs and set a Guinness World Record.
- 1636: "AM Radio as the Last Mass-Mind Medium"
Episode 1636 of Interesting Things with JC discusses AM radio’s role as a mass-mind medium. A 50,000-watt AM station can broadcast to multiple states simultaneously, reaching millions with the same signal, unlike fragmented modern media.
- 1635: "Nahanni: The River That Refused to Be Touched"
Episode 1635 discusses the Nahanni River, a remote river with no dams, which drops nearly twice the height of Niagara Falls. The surrounding terrain, unaffected by glaciers, influences the river and creates a challenging journey for those…
- 1634: "Chernobyl Explodes and Igor Khiryak Goes Back In"
Episode 1634 of Interesting Things with JC details the construction of a pontoon bridge during the Chernobyl disaster. The episode highlights the challenges of unknown radiation levels and the critical role of the bridge in facilitating ev…
- 1633: "Alfred Adler & Happiness"
Episode 1633 discusses Alfred Adler's therapeutic approach, which diverges from Freud by focusing on future direction. This perspective suggests that directly pursuing happiness can be counterproductive, while focusing on contribution in v…
- 1632: "Double Slit Experiment at the Quantum Level"
Episode 1632 of Interesting Things with JC discusses the Double Slit Experiment. It explains how a single photon passing through two slits creates a single dot on a screen, despite behaving as a wave, even when conditions suggest otherwise.
- 1631: "We Stopped Talking Without Noticing"
Episode 1631 of Interesting Things with JC discusses the phenomenon of 'We Stopped Talking Without Noticing,' where individuals in close proximity fail to truly communicate, relying on missed cues and fabricated memories.
- 1630: "The 392 HEMI"
Episode 1630 of Interesting Things with JC focuses on the 392 HEMI engine. It explores how the engine's hemispherical design improves cylinder filling and its historical significance in Chrysler racing, persisting in modern 6.4-liter V8s t…
- 1629: "The Sacking of the Libraries of Alexandria and Cleopatra"
Episode 1629 of Interesting Things with JC discusses the destruction of the Libraries of Alexandria and Cleopatra. The library
- 1628: "Shooting Drones with an F-35"
Episode 1628 of Interesting Things with JC discusses the complexities of an F-35 pilot engaging drones. The pilot must slow down from supersonic speeds to engage, while facing challenges like multiple drones appearing simultaneously and a…
- 1627: "British Columbia Tree Seed Centre"
Episode 1627 of Interesting Things with JC discusses the British Columbia Tree Seed Centre. This facility stores millions of tree seeds, meticulously labeled by their precise origin, to aid in reforestation efforts. New tree plantings are…
- 1626: "Can You Hear Electricity?"
This episode of Interesting Things with JC discusses whether electricity can be heard. It explains that the snapping sounds associated with electrical phenomena like sparks, lightning, and power lines are caused by the sudden expansion of…
- 1625: "Radiation Experiments on Civilians"
Episode 1625 of Interesting Things with JC covers radiation experiments performed on civilians, detailing a procedure where a subject received an injection before injury treatment, with ongoing measurements.
- 1624: "Cord Meyer"
Episode 1624 of Interesting Things with JC discusses Cord Meyer's methods of routing hidden CIA funding into various organizations. These groups, including magazines and student organizations, presented themselves as independent, while the…
- 1623: "The Whiskey Rebellion and the Power to Tax"
Episode 1623 of Interesting Things with JC discusses the Whiskey Rebellion. It highlights the resistance to a federal tax, where rifles appeared before coins, ultimately prompting the dispatch of 13,000 troops.
- 1622: "The Morgan Horse"
Episode 1622 of Interesting Things with JC features the Morgan Horse. This episode describes the breed as a compact stallion with efficient movement that surpasses larger competitors. The consistent build is noted to appear unchanged in it…
- 1621: "The Blue Room"
Episode 1621 of Interesting Things with JC discusses "The Blue Room," a sealed room at Wright-Patterson. The room is mentioned in records despite not officially existing, and its descriptions, which do not match, contain materials that sho…
- 1620: "The Danger of Media Spin"
Episode 1620 of Interesting Things with JC discusses the danger of media spin. It highlights how a video clip showing a broken window, which spreads rapidly online, can shape public perception before other reactions occur.
- 1619: "Deer Island"
Podcast episode 1619 discusses Deer Island, where vulnerable populations were left without shelter during winter. The island's proximity to Boston meant the suffering was visible but unaddressed, leading to deaths from exposure.
- 1618: "Signals Intelligence in Commercial Radio"
This episode of Interesting Things with JC, titled "Signals Intelligence in Commercial Radio," discusses how fading AM signals can indicate interference from unauthorized use of the frequency.
- 1617: "Catfish Have Venom"
This episode of Interesting Things with JC discusses the venomous nature of catfish and the painful physical reactions that can occur after contact with them. It draws inspiration from Stephen Fultz.
- 1616: “Robins Island"
This episode discusses Robins Island, a mysterious strip of sand that appears and is used by people but never fully claimed. The island is presented as a place where time moves without change, and once visible, it may be too late to leave.
- 1615: "Why Dogs Can't Have Chocolate"
In episode 1615 of Interesting Things with JC, the host explains why dogs cannot have chocolate. Even if a dog appears fine after eating chocolate, it can still be fatal.
- 1614: "Lunar Sphere of Influence"
The Moon's sphere of influence is the point where its gravity surpasses Earth's. For the Artemis II spacecraft, this boundary marks a transition from decelerating to accelerating without engine power, as the Moon's gravity now dominates th…
- 1613: "Victor Glover Jr.”
Victor Glover Jr. shares his journey from combat missions to space travel, including his flight around the Moon. He reflects on the internal drive that influenced his perspective.
- 1612: "Artemis Doesn’t Have a Fridge"
Episode 1612 of Interesting Things with JC discusses the challenges of space travel, specifically how the Artemis mission must carry all necessary food because resupply is not an option. Survival in this closed environment is dependent on…
- 1611: "Who Is Bob Lazar?"
Episode 1611 of Interesting Things with JC delves into the enigma of Bob Lazar. Was he a physicist, a fraud, a whistleblower, or simply a storyteller? His claims, though unprovable, were deemed too significant to dismiss.
- 1610: "Hidden Toxins, Wasted Money, True Longevity: The Subtraction Revolution"
This episode of Interesting Things with JC discusses the 'Subtraction Revolution' in health, suggesting that removing hidden toxins and interference, rather than adding more, is key to true longevity and better health outcomes. The episode…
- 1609: "What If the Earth Actually Doesn’t Spin?"
Episode 1609 of Interesting Things with JC explores the hypothetical question of what would happen if the Earth did not spin. It touches on how our perception of movement influences our understanding of the universe.
- 1608: "Inside a Patriot Battery"
Episode 1608 of Interesting Things with JC, titled "Inside a Patriot Battery," discusses the critical role of precision and the absence of instinct in such a high-stakes environment.
- 1607: "Why Do You Itch?"
This episode of Interesting Things with JC, inspired by Dr. Igo, discusses the biological basis of itching. It explains how the body signals and responds to itch sensations, even when there is no apparent external cause.
- 1606: "Louise Fitzpatrick: The Only Student of Albert Pinkham Ryder"
Episode 1606 of Interesting Things with JC features Louise Fitzpatrick, the only known student of artist Albert Pinkham Ryder. Ryder shared with her a unique way of seeing, emphasizing silence and patience.
- 1605: "The Complexity of Midair Refueling"
Episode 1605 of Interesting Things with JC discusses the complexities of midair refueling. It highlights the process as one of precision, pressure, and trust, emphasizing the high stakes involved where even small errors can lead to failure.
- 1604: "What Is Time Dilation?"
This episode of Interesting Things with JC discusses time dilation, detailing how both motion and gravity can alter the passage of time, leading to a perception of a less stable universe.
- 1603: "Remembering Ted Nichols"
This episode remembers Ted Nichols, focusing on his disciplined life, commitment to service, and strong convictions. It touches upon his experiences in military bands and ministry, noting his positive impact.
- 1602: "Redstone Arsenal"
Episode 1602 of Interesting Things with JC discusses Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. This facility was crucial for early rocket development, using test failures to improve designs for space exploration.
- 1601: "Muhammad Ali vs. Chuck Wepner"
Episode 1601 of Interesting Things with JC covers the Muhammad Ali vs. Chuck Wepner fight. It highlights a moment when Ali was knocked down, testing his resilience and creating a lasting impact.
- 1600: "Wernher von Braun"
Episode 1600 of Interesting Things with JC focuses on Wernher von Braun, a figure pivotal to space travel. His journey involved immense brilliance and ambition, but was also intertwined with war and human suffering.