1646: "Electrostatic Propulsion"

1646: "Electrostatic Propulsion"

Author: JC May 8, 2026 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 is already moving spacecraft through vacuum and spreading into quiet drones, high-altitude platforms, and long-duration electric space missions.

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
1606: "Louise Fitzpatrick: The Only Student of Albert Pinkham Ryder" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:06
Interesting Things with JC #1606: "Louise Fitzpatrick: The Only Student of Albert Pinkham Ryder" – Albert Pinkham Ryder never taught anyone else. But for Louise Fitzpatrick, he made one quiet exception, passing along not…
1605: "The Complexity of Midair Refueling" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:44
Interesting Things with JC #1605: "The Complexity of Midair Refueling" – Two aircraft meet in unstable air at high speed, separated by feet and failure. Midair refueling is not just engineering. It is precision, pressure…
1604: "What Is Time Dilation?" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:44
Interesting Things with JC #1604: "What Is Time Dilation?" – Two perfect clocks start together, then reality pulls them apart. Motion changes time. Gravity changes time. And once you see how, the universe feels far less…
1603: "Remembering Ted Nichols" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:42
Interesting Things with JC #1603: "Remembering Ted Nichols" – He lived with discipline, service, and conviction. From military bands to ministry, Ted Nichols carried a lifelong commitment to doing things the right way, l…
1602: "Redstone Arsenal" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:00
Interesting Things with JC #1602: "Redstone Arsenal" – Before rockets carried Americans into space, they were built to fail on purpose in Huntsville, Alabama. At Redstone Arsenal, every rupture, misfire, and crash became…
1601: "Muhammad Ali vs. Chuck Wepner" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:16
Interesting Things with JC #1601: "Muhammad Ali vs. Chuck Wepner" – The greatest fighter alive hit the canvas, and for a moment, everything changed. A man built to bleed refused to fall, stretching time itself to the bri…
1600: "Wernher von Braun" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:36
Interesting Things with JC #1600: "Wernher von Braun" – He helped build the road to the Moon, but that road began in war and human suffering. This episode follows the brilliance, ambition, and cost behind one of the most…
1599: "Remembering Chuck Norris" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:20
Interesting Things with JC #1599: "Remembering Chuck Norris" – A young man from Oklahoma served his country, became a world champion, and built a career in film and television. He carried those lessons into teaching and…
1598: "Lewis Latimer and the Globe-Supporter for Electric Lamps" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:38
Interesting Things with JC #1598: "Lewis Latimer and the Globe-Supporter for Electric Lamps" - Everybody talks about the bulb. Almost nobody talks about the small fix that helped keep electric light alive out in the real…
1597: "Albert Pinkham Ryder" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:30
Interesting Things with JC #1597: "Albert Pinkham Ryder" – He spent more than twenty years on a single painting, building it up until it started to crack under its own weight. While others aimed for clean and finished, R…