1645: "The Gulf of Tonkin"

1645: "The Gulf of Tonkin"

Author: JC May 7, 2026 Duration: 3:39
Interesting Things with JC #1645: "The Gulf of Tonkin" – U.S. destroyers fired into the dark after reporting a second North Vietnamese attack, but the ships had no confirmed targets, pilots found no enemy vessels, and the disputed incident became the legal basis for expanding the Vietnam War.

Curiosity often leads us down the most rewarding paths, and that's the spirit behind Interesting Things with JC. Each episode is a compact dive into a story that makes you pause and think, hosted by JC. You'll find a mix here: forgotten chapters from our past that explain the present, nuanced looks at cultural shifts happening now, and those remarkable tales that simply never got the spotlight they deserved. This isn't a dry lecture but a conversation about the threads connecting history, society, and our everyday lives. The focus is on depth over breadth, making each installment of this podcast a self-contained exploration. Whether it's an obscure historical event with surprising modern echoes or a fresh perspective on a current topic, the aim is to feed that curiosity with something substantive. Tune in for a thoughtfully researched and engagingly presented look at the world's fascinating corners.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Interesting Things with JC
Podcast Episodes
1647: "Fermilab" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:10
Interesting Things with JC #1647: "Fermilab" – Scientists send neutrinos through solid rock from Illinois to distant detectors without a tunnel, while bison graze above one of America’s major particle physics laboratorie…
1646: "Electrostatic Propulsion" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:40
Interesting Things with JC #1646: "Electrostatic Propulsion" – A fixed-wing aircraft flies with no propeller, no combustion, and no exhaust while electric fields push ionized air across its wings; the same thrust pattern…
1644: “Krafft Ehricke” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:57
Interesting Things with JC #1644: “Krafft Ehricke” - He is the rocket engineer who proposed lunar mining, orbital fuel depots, and space based solar power decades before modern commercial spaceflight. From the V-2 rocket…
1643: “Why Are Stop Signs Octagons?” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:59
Interesting Things with JC #1643: “Why Are Stop Signs Octagons?” - Engineers choose an eight-sided stop sign for a reason! This episode explores the rise of automobiles, the chaos of early American roads, and how the oct…
1642: “Nedra Talley” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:30
Interesting Things with JC #1642: “Nedra Talley” — She helped create one of the most recognizable sounds in American pop music history as a founding member of The Ronettes. This episode explores the rise of the girl grou…
1641: "Operation Northwoods" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:35
Interesting Things with JC #1641: "Operation Northwoods" – In 1962, America’s top military leaders signed off on plans to fake terrorist attacks, stage civilian deaths, and make it look like Cuba shot down a passenger pl…
1640: "David Allan Coe" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:27
Interesting Things with JC #1640: "David Allan Coe" – David Allan Coe never looked or sounded like the kind of artist Nashville usually pushed, but his songs kept showing up in jukeboxes, truck stops, biker bars, and out…
1639: "Eberhard Rees" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:49
Interesting Things with JC #1639: "Eberhard Rees" – Eberhard Rees is checking welds, tolerances, tests, and manufacturing flaws while von Braun sells the Moon rocket vision; the public sees Saturn V, but Rees stays with…
1638: "Route 66 Turns 100" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:56
Interesting Things with JC #1638: "Route 66 Turns 100" – Route 66 was stitched together from wagon trails, trading paths, and desert camel routes before becoming the first fully paved transcontinental highway in America.…
1637: “Norbert aka Tony Pork” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:37
Interesting Things with JC #1637: “Norbert” – They call him Tony Pork. He’s a 175 pound pig that pushed himself down a suburban Illinois street on a skateboard using his back legs while steering with his front trotters,…