Math Therapy

The rumours are true!  (The rumours that Vanessa has been spreading herself.)  Season 6 of Math Therapy launches March 28th!To get you hyped while we get this batch of episodes ready for you, here are some brief thoughts she recorded immediately after we finished a marathon 10 interviews over 4 days.  What themes did she cover? Will she or her guests get cancelled this season?  How much did she annoy her producer David?  You be the judge ...Make sure you're subscribed to the podcast feed, and tell a friend about Math Therapy!

Don't worry, Math Therapy isn't going anywhere ... but here's a fun bonus episode as we look back on an incredible 5th season!  It was a total success in every possible way, except one: for whatever reason, Vanessa lost the ability to simply say "goodbye" at the end of the interviews.This hadn't been an issue in previous seasons but she somehow got very in her head about it, and when her producer David recently listened back to them he thought they were hilarious and had to be shared our listeners.If you have any advice for how Vanessa can deal with her sudden onset "goodbye anxiety", you can hit her up as always on socials @themathguru - feel free to let her know what topics/guests we should consider for next season!Thank you so much for listening - BYE! ;)

In Vanessa's masters thesis titled "Imagining a World Where Paris Hilton Loves Math", there was nobody quoted more frequently than today's guest, Stanford professor Dr. Jo Boaler.  On the season 5 finale of Math Therapy, Vanessa sits down with her math ed hero to discuss how limiting beliefs vs a growth mindset impact the brain, how struggle and mistake-making benefit learning, and the extremely personal resistance she's faced in a career dedicated to making math more equitable and accessible.About Jo: (Website, Twitter)Stanford Professor Dr Jo Boaler is author of 18 books, numerous articles, and a White House presenter on women and girls. Her latest book is called: Limitless Mind: Learn, Lead and Live without Barriers. She co-founded www.youcubed.org, is currently one of the writing team creating a new Mathematics Framework for the state of California, co-leading a K-12 Data Science Initiative and was named as one of the 8 educators “changing the face of education” by the BBC.  Links mentioned:App: StrugglyWebsite: www.youcubed.orgBook: Limitless MindStandford study by Jo's colleague Lang Chen finding growth mindset helps student successStory of Nicholas Letchford - written off as a child with learning disabilities who went on to get a PhD in applied mathConnect with us:Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)

Peter Liljedahl is literally changing the math classroom.  His book "Building Thinking Classrooms" has taken the educational world by storm with a simple message: instead of teaching students to memorize, we have to teach them to think.  Sounds trite, but if you ... think about it, traditional classrooms are not designed that way!Today, Peter explains to Vanessa how a "thinking classroom" swaps out tables for vertical whiteboards to reduce barriers for student interaction in problem-solving, and how small randomized groups foster collaboration that lifts the whole class.  He also shares what his time as an Olympic athlete (yep!) taught him about the difference between focusing on the rewarding work of process vs the perilous trap of focusing on outcomes.About Peter: (Website, Twitter)Dr. Peter Liljedahl is a Professor of Mathematics Education in the Faculty of Education and an associate member in the Department of Mathematics at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada.  He consults regularly with schools, school districts, and ministries of education on issues of teaching and learning, assessment, and numeracy.Connect with us:Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)

Should mistake-making be encouraged in math class? Or should mistakes be shamed because “in the real world” you can get fired from your job from making a mistake? You can probably guess how Vanessa feels, but a fellow educator recently disagreed … so of course she took to Twitter and a spirited convo ensued!On today's episode she further outer-processes her thoughts on this topic, and shares two classroom exercises that encourage constructive mistake-making and help normalize growth from failure.Connect with us:Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)

Today's guest literally entered the chat wearing a t-shirt that read "TRUTH MATTERS”, and that sure set the tone for this wide-ranging episode!  Crystal M. Watson is an educator who firmly believes in centering student voices in the classroom, and she also advocates for empowering students by making math practical and meaningful to their life experience.  Throw in some discussion on defining success, different approaches to grading, and a simple but thorough explanation of what "critical race theory" is and what it definitely isn't, and we've got an astonishingly jam-packed episode that left Vanessa with even more questions than she came in with!About Crystal: (Website, Twitter, Instagram) Crystal M. Watson, Ed.M is an innovative, passionate mathematics educator and life long learner who you can count on to always ask “What do the students think?” Her work is centered around providing space for student voice and identity development in order for everyone, particularly those from marginalized and historically excluded backgrounds, to experience high quality, deep, and personal mathematics.Links referenced:Book: Unearthing Joy by Dr. Gholdy MuhammadTool: Pear DeckName-drops: Nolan Fossum (grades), Dr. Kristopher J. Childs (rich tasks), Kimberlé Crenshaw & Derrick Bell (CRT), Ibram X. Kendi (anti-racism)Connect with us:Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)

In today's episode, Vanessa explores the dangers of narrowly defining success and argues that contrary to popular belief, failure and success are actually BFF, not opposites (looking at you, Merriam-Webster!).  She also shares a practical classroom tool for teachers and students to collaborate on shared definitions of success to support everyone's learning.Connect with us:Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)

In honour of Pride Month, we're taking a mid-season 5 break to re-air one of our all-time fave episodes featuring mathematician / drag queen Kyne Santos.  Drag has been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons, so we wanted to share Kyne's inspiring story of breaking stereotypes and defying the haters. If you're new to the podcast we also highly recommend going back and listening to the season 4 finale with Dr. Anthony Bonato which dove further into the fraught relationship between academia and the queer community and the trailblazers working to change the status quo every day.*this interview first aired Apr 8th 2021*Links mentioned:S4E10: Queering math w/ Dr. Anthony BonatoVanessa's interview on Kyne's new podcast "Think Queen"Kyne on socials: @onlinekyne (Insta, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube)Kyne's websiteConnect with us:Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)

Think of this week's episode as a kind of reverse palate cleanser ... Vanessa and today's guest Robert Kaplinsky more than make up for the lack of swearing last week!  What got them fired up?  Oh, just the systemic barriers to educational reform and the lack of support for both teachers and students when it comes to working through math anxiety ... But don't worry, it's not all doom and gloom; Robert is certain that if we make math more practical to daily life and more welcoming to a diversity of learners, we still have hope.About Robert:  (Twitter, Website)Robert Kaplinsky has been an educator since 2003 as a classroom teacher, teacher specialist for Downey Unified School District, instructor for UCLA) and presenter at conferences around the world. He co-founded the website Open Middle, has been published in Edutopia and Education Week, and created the #ObserveMe movement.  He's also the founder and president of Grassroots Workshops.Links referenced:Robert's Book: Open Middle Math: Problems That Unlock Student ThinkingOpen Middle on Twitter: @openmiddle & #whyopenmiddleGrassroots Workshops: Twitter, WebsiteConnect with us:Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)Topics discussed:01:28 What is "Open Middle"?07:13 Diversity of learners11:01 What kind of math do we actually need?18:43 Rethinking assessment23:09 The benefits of struggle26:04 Normalizing mistakes31:57 Rethinking professional development

Last week's episode featured a deep dive with Vanessa into math trauma: what it is and how to avoid it. Today, brain expert Liesl McConchie joins her to explain the neurological science of trauma, debunk the myth of the "math gene", and discuss the hopeful promise of neuroplasticity.  And not to be all clickbaity, but Vanessa ends up sharing some pretty intense math trauma of her own...About Liesl:  (Twitter, Website)Liesl McConchie is an international expert on how the brain learns, and co-author of best-selling book Brain-Based Learning with Dr. Eric Jensen. With over 20 years of experience in education, Liesl bridges her knowledge of how the brain best learns with her experience of teaching math to create tangible strategies to support teachers and schools across the globe.Links referenced:Past episode: What even is math trauma? (S5E03)Past episode: Pi Day in Prison (S5 bonus)Book: Dear Math By Sarah Strong and Gigi Butterfield Rosenthal effect (teacher expectations affecting student performance)Connect with us:Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)Topics discussed:1:52 What is brain-based learning?12:31 Neuroplasticity: a message of hope15:05 Myth of the “math gene”20:21 Epigenetics22:26 How math trauma actually works31:42 Classroom strategies for teachers

Each episode, Vanessa discusses the impacts that math trauma can have on our collective relationship with math.  But she realized she's never explained what it is!  In this episode she defines what math trauma actually is, unpacks why traumatic educational experiences happen more often in math than in other subjects, and lists 8 common causes of math trauma for educators to be aware of.The tweet that started it allFree webinar by Dr. Kasi Allen: Math Trauma: Healing Our Classrooms, Our Students, and Our DisciplineConnect with us:Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)

You know how readers read and writers write?  Well one day Deborah Peart decided that math should also be a verb, so she created the Mather movement.  She and Vanessa discuss the difference between a "mather" and a "mathematician", how numeracy and literacy are basically the same thing, and how bringing a mindfulness approach to her classrooms led to her being known by her students simply as "Peace Lady".  Shake up your glitter jar (yep, that's a thing) and settle in for this hilarious and uplifting ep!About Deborah: (Website, Twitter)Deborah Peart is the founder and CEO of My Mathematical Mind. She speaks on a variety of topics related to math identity, elementary math content and instruction, and literacy connections to mathematics. She is the Director of Elementary Learning at UnboundEd and the lead author for second grade for the Illustrative Mathematics K-5 curriculum. Links mentioned in this episode:Mather merchLayla's Curve#BlackWomenRockMath on TwitterGlitter jar: instructional videoGrounded Kids Yogamindfulschools.orgBook: How We Are Smart by W. Nikola-LisaBook: Mindfulness for Teachers by Patricia JenningsBook: Clementine by Sara PennypackerConnect with us:Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)

When Vanessa crossed paths with Dan Meyer at a math conference, she sensed some pushback on her concept of math therapy. So naturally, she invited him on the podcast to get into it!  The ensuing rollercoaster interview blurred lines between clearing the air and settling the score, as they hilariously debated hot topics ranging from the need for student-centred educational reform ... to which of them holds the most impressive Guinness World Record.  You be the judge!About Dan: (Twitter, Substack)Dan Meyer taught high school math to students who didn't like high school math. He has advocated for better math instruction on CNN, Good Morning America, Everyday With Rachel Ray, and TED.com. Dan earned his doctorate from Stanford University in math education and is a Director of Research at Amplify where he explores the future of math, technology, and learning.Links mentioned in this episode:Dan's 2010 Ted Talk: "Math Class Needs a Makeover" Movie: Cheaters with Jeff DanielsMovie: Stand and Deliver with Jaime EscalanteBlue ZonesConnect with us:Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)

We have some serious A-list math celebs coming at your podcast feeds over the next 10 weeks - here's a little sample until season 5 launches this Thursday!

Longtime listeners will remember Season 2's Jill Waddell who shared her inspiring decision to switch careers at age 40 and go back to school for power engineering - facing down her lifelong math anxiety along the way!  Vanessa caught up with her after graduation to find out how things turned out (spoiler alert - she was class valedictorian!) and hear what advice she'd give her younger self.   Jill's epic story can show everyone that it's never too late in life to face your fears ... even if one of them is math!Listen to Jill's Season 2 episode: How “Math Therapy” changed my life w/ Jill WaddellAnd exciting news - Season 5 of Math Therapy is dropping next week!  Tell a friend!  Share an ep!  Rate the pod!  You do you.Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)

There's no other way to say this: we went to prison for Pi Day this year.  Longtime listeners will remembers Vanessa's fascinating and inspiring interview with Christopher Havens, an inmate serving a 25-year sentence for murder who has rehabilitated himself with math and founded the Prison Mathematics Project (Season 3, Episode 10).  Vanessa helped with the virtual Pi Day celebration last year, but this year was a first: PMP was able to host an in-person event at Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility in Michigan, and Christopher asked Vanessa to MC!She brought along the OG Math Therapy team, producers Sabina and David, and they recorded their thoughts from the road both en route and immediately after leaving the unforgettable event.  Vanessa also unpacks some of the many complex reflections she's had since the trip, and shares the ways Pi Day in prison was ultimately no different from the math events she's facilitated at countless schools and conferences - further proof that the capacity to embrace math is truly universal.Find more about the Prison Math Project at prisonmathproject.org, where you can:donatevolunteer as a mentor for an inmatesign up an inmate interested in the programinfo and history of Christopher and the Prison Math ProjectIf you have any questions Vanessa didn't cover about our trip, or any thoughts on this episode at all, please get in touch:comment on this episode on YouTube (@maththerapypodcast)tweet @maththerapy / @themathgurucomment on Instagram @themathguru

Math Therapy is (briefly) back!  We've been hard at work on a new season which I can't wait for you to hear soon, but I had to share an excerpt of one of the interviews I just did - you'll see why.  Stanford professor Jo Boaler is one of my math heroes, I referenced her all through my master's thesis, and her work in trying to make math education more equitable has been an inspiration to literally millions of people.But there are some who disagree with her vision so much that they have taken things far beyond the classroom, from accusing her of academic dishonesty to media attacks which have led to threats of violence towards her and her family.  So I wanted to share her story of the renewed attacks that she's currently dealing with - if she has helped/inspired you in your math journey please let her know!Jo's recent letter on her Stanford site detailing her storyYoucubed.org - Stanford-backed platform she leads with tons of free resources for students and teachersMy fave book of hers: Limitless Mind Connect with us:Jo Boaler: (Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok)Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Instagram, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy on TwitterWatch on YouTube: full episode at @maththerapypodcast

In our final episode of the season, Vanessa chats with math professor Dr. Anthony Bonato about what it means to be queer in - let's face it - the historically snobby and closed-minded field that is math. But as soon as you hear Anthony in today's episode, you'll understand there will be no silencing his advocacy for diversity & inclusion in math … or for that matter his insistence that Adele's album titles actually form a unique prime-numbers based mathematical sequence?!  Anthony discusses how pop culture can be a tool to make math education more fun, and also how the richest mathematical problem solving that is needed to solve our world's great challenges can only reach its full potential if we are involving EVERY person in the process.*This episode was recorded in December 2021; Anthony mentions a potential invasion of Ukraine by Russia, which was being discussed as a possibility in the news at the time, but no invasion had begun yet.About AnthonyDr. Anthony Bonato is a professor in the Department of Mathematics at Toronto Metropolitan University. His research interest is in graph theory, with applications to real-world complex networks and graph searching games such as Cops and Robbers. He is on the Editorial Board of Contributions to Discrete Mathematics, and was Editor-in-Chief of the journal Internet Mathematics. He serves on the Canadian Mathematical Society Board of Directors as Director-Ontario, the BIRS Board of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and the NSERC Mathematics and Statistics Liaison Committee.Show notes:Read Anthony's article about Adele's mathematical sequence for naming her albumsCheck out the On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences Read Anthony's blog post: On being a gay mathematician Check out LGBTQ+ math dayCheck out LGBTQ+ STEM dayRead Anthony's article about making math funRead Anthony's latest book, “Limitless Minds: Interviews with Mathematicians.”Read Anthony's blog: The Intrepid Mathematician Connect with us:Anthony Bonato: (Twitter)Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)

Did you know that the infamous math movie Mean Girls was actually inspired by Rosalind Wiseman's non-fiction book called Queen Bees and Wannabes? Today Vanessa talks to Rosalind about why we need to change the media and messaging that girls get about how it's not “cool” to be good at math. How can we teach students that they can be good at more than one thing? How can we help them embrace who they are individually in the face of the completely insane pressures of high school!?!  Well, don't despair; Rosalind has a whole career's worth of inspiring answers to those questions, and provides hope that we can fix our messed up education system.About RosalindRosalind Wiseman is the founder of Cultures of Dignity, an organization that shifts the way communities think about our physical and emotional wellbeing by working in close partnership with the experts of those communities–young people, educators, policy makers, and business and political leaders.  She is the author of multiple New York Times Best Sellers including Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and the New Realities of Girl World, and is also a co-author of the Distance Learning Playbook for Parents: How to Support Your Child's Academic, Emotional and Social Learning in Any Setting and the Owning Up Curriculum, a comprehensive social and emotional learning program for grades 4-12 which is in widespread use across the world.Show notes:Pre-order Rosalind's new book co-written with Shanterra McBride: Courageous Discomfort: How to Have Important, Brave, Life-Changing Conversations about Race and Racism: 20 Questions and Answers for Becoming a Better AdvocateThe article that Vanessa wrote with Michole Washington about police brutality techniques used in math class Connect with us:Rosalind Wiseman: (Twitter, Insta)Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)

You're probably thinking “what the F*CK is a dude wall?!”, and today Vanessa talks to the incredible Katie Hafner to find out.  Katie is an author, journalist, and host of the podcast “Lost Women of Science,” whose mission is to tell the stories of female scientists who history has inconveniently forgotten. But how do we prevent this from happening in the future? How do we encourage more girls and women to go into STEM, and how do we ensure their portraits aren't left off the walls of our academic institutions?About KatieKatie Hafner is host and executive producer of Lost Women of Science. She is a longtime reporter for the New York Times, where she continues to be a frequent contributor, writing on healthcare and technology. Hafner is uniquely positioned to tell these stories. Not only does she bring a skilled hand to complex narratives, but she has been writing about women in STEM for nearly 30 years. The author of six books of nonfiction, she is currently host and executive producer of Our Mothers Ourselves, an interview podcast that celebrates extraordinary mothers.Show notes:If you see a dude wall, please email: lostwomenofscience@gmail.comListen to Lost Women of ScienceListen to Our Mothers, Ourselves, Katie's other podcastPre-order “The Boys,” Katie's book coming out in July (where the main character and his mom talk in Fortran!)Read the study from Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences about interest and perceived interest in computer scienceConnect with us:Katie Hafner: (Twitter, Website)Lost Women of Science: (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook)Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)

One of the missions of this podcast is challenging stereotypes, and on today's episode we tackle a big one: Asians and math. Steven Tran grew up with Asian parents, and the pressures and expectations from his family, community, and society as a whole affected his perception of his own math ability.  Getting caught cheating in high school could have led him down a very different educational path if not for a teacher that treated him with genuine care and compassion, and, most importantly, believed in Steven and told him so.  Steven tells Vanessa about how that experience informed his own approach to teaching his students math as a tutor at The Math Guru.About StevenSteven Tran is an undergraduate student at Ryerson in the Biomedical Sciences program, working as a tutor and in a startup.Show notes:Visions of Science, where Steven worked and had his great mentor, Cam!Connect with us:Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)

This one's for all the adults out there who are like “hmmm maybe it's not too late to learn a little math…”! On today's episode Vanessa talks to journalist A.K. Whitney, who went back to school at 38 to learn math and chronicled it in Cosmopolitan, The Washington Post, and her own podcast/website delightfully titled “The Mathochism Project”. She is basically the definition of overcoming math trauma and making it less of a stigma - but how did she do it? Why don't more people do it? And how can we make math less traumatic for women and girls?About A.K.A.K. Whitney is a journalist with 25 years of experience in print and online. Her work has appeared in the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times Magazine, The Atlantic, Cosmopolitan and more. She was a regular contributor to Noodle, an educational website, writing mostly about society's fraught relationship with math, which is the subject of her website, The Mathochism Project.Show notes:A.K.'s article for Cosmopolitan: How I Finally Got Over My Fear of MathA.K's article for The Washington Post: Why did I give up on math? Ask my mom.The Ohio State MOOC calculus course that A.K. recommendsAn article about “the cult of genius” from the mathematician, Jordan Ellenberg, who coined the termThe CBC article explaining why saying “it's not rocket science” isn't fair to other professionsConnect with us:A.K. Whitney: (Twitter)The Mathochism Project: (Twitter, Website)Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)

Nothing shows how important teacher-student relationships can be than actually being friends with some of your students over a DECADE later, as is the case with Vanessa and Sophie Soberano. Sophie was one of Vanessa's first tutoring students, long before The Math Guru even existed! Sophie went from daily math meltdowns in high school to becoming a math teacher who leads her class with compassion and creativity, and today she shares how she uses a mindfulness approach to get her students ready for learning before class. Whether you're a teacher, a student, a parent, or you just want to hear some hope and optimism about overcoming math anxiety, this episode is for you.About SophieSophie Soberano has a passion for early childhood education. With almost 10 years experience as an ECE and a Masters of Primary Education, Sophie uses her experience from daycares, nursery schools and elementary schools, to provide an individualized play-based approach to learning. She is currently teaching private pods in family homes in addition to senior nursery at a community school. 

Today's guest has a dream: to dance on the moon.  With a robot.  The craziest part?  This is actually an attainable goal for Dr. Merritt Moore, better known as the “Quantum Ballerina”! Merritt has a PhD in Atomic & Laser Physics and is also a professional ballerina, and if that's not enough for one resumé, she was recently selected for astronaut training. She went viral during a pandemic lockdown with a video of her dancing with an actual robot as her partner. Today, Merritt tells Vanessa about her fascinating journey, how all her interests intersect, and the inspiring role her parents played early on in fostering an environment in which learning was not just encouraged but celebrated.About MerrittDr. Merritt Moore calls herself the “quantum ballerina.” She has a PhD in Atomic and Laser Physics from the University of Oxford AND has pursued a professional ballet career, previously with the Zurich Ballet, Boston Ballet, English National Ballet, and Norwegian National Ballet. She was recently awarded Forbes 30 Under 30, and she was one of the 12 selected candidates to undergo rigorous astronaut training on BBC Two "Astronauts: Do You Have What It Takes?" She is featured in the bestseller "Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls".Show notes:Check out Merritt dancing with her robot!Connect with us:Merritt Moore: (Insta, Twitter, LinkedIn)Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)

Today's guest is an actual celeb in the math-world. We're talking A-list, we're talking literally MILLIONS OF FANS. Grant Sanderson explains very high level math on his YouTube channel, 3Blue1Brown, in a way that is accessible for anyone to tune in and learn from!  Vanessa and Grant discuss how he makes math so appealing and unintimidating, how a feeling of discovery or usefulness can help students develop a sense of ownership over a topic, and how teachers can motivate their students to pay attention offline in the classroom.About GrantGrant Sanderson is the creator behind the very popular math YouTube channel, 3Blue1Brown (over 4 million subscribers!). He has collaborated with places like Quanta, Udacity and the Julia Lab at MIT on math education and outreach projects, as well as with other YouTubers, such as Numberphile, Stand-up Maths and Physics Girl.  You can listen to Grant's own podcast, The 3b1b Podcast.Show notes:Grant's bitcoin video that Vanessa referencesGrant's video about colliding blocks computing piSunil Singh (who Grant and Vanessa spoke about) was a guest on Math Therapy season 2 - listen to his episode here and learn lots of juicy mathematician gossip!Connect with us:3blue1brown: (YouTube, Twitter)Grant Sanderson's personal YouTubeVanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)

We're not the only ones who binge-watched Netflix's The Circle over the pandemic, and one reason we were OBSESSED was the breakout star of the show: Terilisha, a math teacher AND musician, who stole our hearts with her IDGAF attitude! Today Vanessa chats with Terilisha about her experience on the show, how the media (and society) struggle to accept that people can be multifaceted, how the educational system fails us early by not prioritizing practical math skills like personal finances, and how she's determined to defy the stereotype of who/what a “math person” can be.About TerilishaTerilisha is a songstress, songwriter, actress and native of Dallas, Texas. She was featured on Season 2 of Netflix's The Circle, and her latest EP, “The Blue Heart” is available on Spotify, Pandora, Google Play, iTunes/Apple Music and all digital & streaming locations.Show notes:Watch The Circle Season 2 on Netflix to see Terilisha!Listen to Terilisha's “The Blue Heart” EP on all digital & streaming platformsConnect with us:Terilisha: (Insta, Twitter, Spotify)Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)

Will you be watching the Oscars this Sunday, comparing the winners with your predictions? Well one person who definitely will be is our first guest of season 4 - Ben Zauzmer, author of Oscarmetrics!  Ben, who is also the director of baseball analytics for the New York Mets, uses stats from past and present awards to try to predict this year's winners, and we also discuss representation and diversity among award winners and across all media, as well as the classic Math Therapy debate: can math and pop culture truly be BFF?Show notes:Buy Ben's Book: “Oscarmetrics: The Math Behind the Biggest Night in Hollywood”The article Ben co-wrote for The Hollywood Reporter about diversity in the Oscars: Is the Oscars' Inclusion Push Working? Breaking Down the Surprising Academy NumbersCheck out Ben's predictions for the 2022 OscarsConnect with us:Ben Zauzmer: (Twitter)Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)Transcript for today's episode: www.maththerapypodcast.com

We are BACK!  We've got 10 incredible and inspiring guests lined up for the new season of Math Therapy, each with a totally different history and relationship with math.Season 4 launches March 24th and because that's a few days before the Oscars, we're starting with a fascinating chat with Ben Zauzmer, author of Oscarmetrics - he uses statistics to try to predict this year's winners!  We discuss some juicy topics like representation and diversity in the media & among award-winners, and how math and pop culture can totally be BFF, so I can't wait for you to hear it. Until then, you can:Make sure you're subscribed to the podcast wherever you listenCatch up on past episodesShare the show with a friendRate/review the podcastFollow me, Vanessa, @themathguru on Instagram or Twitter

When this podcast started, interviewing a convicted murderer - while he was still in prison, no less - was admittedly not on Vanessa's “Math Therapy guest” bingo card. But then we heard how Christopher Havens discovered math in solitary confinement halfway through a 25-year sentence, and committed the rest of his life to rehabilitating himself and repaying his debt to society.  On today's season 3 finale of Math Therapy, Vanessa chats with Christopher about how a lack of purpose in his youth and the misguided desire to be “cool” led him down a very dark road, how math gave him a sense of spirituality and purpose in prison, and how his own rehabilitation led him to withdraw from the stereotypical “prison game” and devote the rest of his life to developing programs and resources for other prisoners to do the same.About Christopher Christopher Havens is a mathematician & president/cofounder of the Prison Mathematics Project, a nonprofit program that uses the transformative powers of mathematics to lead prisoners to a life of desistance from crime. While his current focus is in cryptography and the theory of groups, he works to popularize mathematics and redefine what productivity looks like in prison. He is a researcher in number theory and has recently published his first academic paper in the journal or Research in Number Theory, while serving out his sentence. Show notesPopular Mechanics profile on Christopher's life storyPrisonMathProject.orgHumanMe.org blog feat. inmates committed to rehabilitationConnect with us:Prison Mathematics Project: (Twitter, Insta, Facebook)Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)Transcript for today's episode: www.maththerapypodcast.com

The year was 2020. A tweet went viral on the interwebs and Vanessa damn near lost her mind. Somewhere in the UK, Bex had tweeted that the best part of being an adult was “opting out” of math; online mag Bustle picked it up and next thing we know Bex was on our podcast - turns out she's even more hilarious over Zoom than she is on Twitter! On today's episode she describes how dyscalculia (number dyslexia) influenced her rocky relationship with math, how she learned to cope and ended up working in the financial industry, and how things could have been different if she had better educational support at school.  And as a bonus, she shares how her give-no-f*cks attitude helps her ignore the haters on social media - get ready to laugh, cry, and contemplate all your life choices!About BexBex is a 26 year old, living in London. Despite working in financial services, she struggles with numbers. Outside of avoiding basic mathematical problems between 9-5, she is a prolific tweeter, at-home karaoke extraordinaire and dog admirer.Show notes1:06 - Bustle's Instagram post with Bex's tweet2:02 - Bex's tweet about opting out of math2:08 - Vanessa and Bex's Twitter back-and-forth7:04 - Drama re: Gracie Cunningham's viral TikTok asking about the origins of mathConnect with us:Bex: (Twitter, Insta)Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)Transcript for today's episode: www.maththerapypodcast.com

Alright teachers, this one’s for you! Today Vanessa chats with Dr. Roger Fischer, an educator from Montana who is not just a hardcore fan of the podcast but also a natural math therapist himself! Roger explains how small instances of math trauma can lead to long-term effects on students, how he incorporates mindfulness and compassion into his lesson plans, and how there is absolutely no such thing as a stupid question.About RogerDr. Roger Fischer loves math. He hasn’t always loved it, though - it took a really good math tutor to show him how passionate he is about making sense of problems and helping others do the same. He has been teaching math for 16 years and developed a unique way to engage learners by first making them feel safe, heard, and validated. You can follow him on YouTube at Dr. Roger Fischer, connect with him on LinkedIn or visit his website compassionatemathtutoring.com.Show notes11:53 - “The Teaching Gap”, the book that talks about teaching as a cultural activity12:45 - Vanessa’s interview this season with teacher/mathfluencer Esther Brunat14:26 - “Becoming the Math Teacher You Wish You Had” by Tracy Zager, the book Roger gave to his student to help her become a math teacher27:25 - The John Mighton episode from Math Therapy season 2 that Roger and Vanessa can't stop talking aboutConnect with us:Roger Fischer: @rfischeresq (Twitter)Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)Transcript for today’s episode: www.maththerapypodcast.com

We all hate harmful stereotypes, but have you ever thought of breaking stereotypes … by simply fulfilling them?! Being an Indian woman who doesn’t like STEM carries many consequences, and on today’s episode, Vanessa talks to South Asian comedian Abby Govindan about how women are pressured to either resist or conform to social and cultural expectations, and how she’s navigated that struggle through humour - especially through provocative tweets which is how Vanessa found her in the first place!About AbbyAbby Govindan is a comedian.  (ed. note - this is literally the bio she gave us :)Show notes1:49 - Abby’s viral tweet about women in STEMConnect with us:Abby Govindan: (Twitter, Insta)Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)Transcript for today’s episode: www.maththerapypodcast.com

Forget Uber Eats - get some math delivered to your doorstep! Yep, that’s a thing, and it’s all thanks to Brittany Rhodes, the founder of math-activity subscription-box company Black Girl MATHgic! Vanessa chats with Brittany about why she saw a need for representation in math education, how consistency is the key to kids building confidence in their skills, and how her quest to show Black girls that they belong in the world of math has been so successful that she’s even received a shoutout from Beyonce!About BrittanyBrittany Rhodes is a math tutor, former GED Math Instructor, and Founder and General MATHager of Black Girl MATHgic (BGM). BGM is a movement dedicated to increasing math confidence, awareness, enthusiasm, identity, fluency and persistence in children, with a focus on girls and black children. BGM's flagship product is the Black Girl MATHgic Box, which is the first and only monthly subscription box designed to increase math confidence and decrease math anxiety in girls on a 3rd-8th grade math level. Black Girl MATHgic has been featured on BEYONCE.com, Forbes, National Math & Science Initiative, and more, and named STEM Toy Expert's 2020 Best STEM Subscription Box for Kids: Best for GRL PWR and one of Hello Subscription's 2020 Best Subscription Boxes for Kids.Show notes15:10 - Black Girl MATHgic on Beyonce's website!15:21 - Black Owned Everything, where you can shop from Black-owned businesses, curated by Beyoncé’s stylist, Zerina AkersConnect with us:Black Girl Mathgic: (Insta, Twitter, Facebook)Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)Transcript for today’s episode: www.maththerapypodcast.com

Late last year AT&T ran a full-page ad in the New York Times depicting a mother and daughter in despair over math homework, and Vanessa was NOT impressed.  Whether we realize it or not (and we usually don’t), the media plays a massive role in shaping everything from our collective social values to our individual self-worth.  So what if brands acknowledged that responsibility and used marketing not just to sell products but to also promote positive change in the world?  Today Vanessa speaks with Candace Borland about how she is doing exactly that as president of Anomaly Canada, one of North America’s leading creative agencies.  Together they explore the power of marketing to dismantle stereotypes instead of perpetuating them, and they discuss how consumers can constructively hold brands accountable.About CandaceCandace Borland is the President and a Partner at Anomaly Toronto. At Anomaly, she has worked across pillar clients such as AB InBev, MINI, Nike, BRP, Hershey, CTC & Diageo.  You can follow Candace and Anomaly’s work at Anomaly.com.Show notes:1:45 - AT&T ad depicting women in STEM 5:52 - “Underplayed” documentary about female DJs sponsored by Bud Light12:58 - Gillette ad about sensitive men13:07 - Barbie ad about girls being intelligent 15:02 - Nike ad about Colin Kaepernick15:18 - Hijabi Ballers campaign with Nike that Candace and Anomaly worked onConnect with us:Anomaly: @anomaly (Instagram, Twitter)Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)Transcript for today’s episode: www.maththerapypodcast.com

Yep, you read that right: mathfluencers are the future of education and today’s guest is leading the way! Esther Brunat and The Squadratics (think Mean Girls but like, if Mean Girls somehow had even MORE math) are on a mission to market math to Gen Z, and they’re gaining mad momentum. Today Vanessa talks to Esther about how teachers can embrace new technology, genuinely connect with their students, and even learn valuable marketing lessons from hideous footwear trends. See you on the 'gram!About EstherEsther Brunat is a high school math teacher in sunny South Florida. She prides herself on building relationships with her students through laughter and "staying hip." Her resources offer a fresh take on presentation and engaging visuals in the math classroom. You can find teaching resources on her Teachers Pay Teachers account: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Esther-BrunatShow notes:26:50 - kentai.haven, the kid on TikTok who hilariously and brilliantly guesses people's height with something in their hand using math32:40 - The article that Vanessa and Season 2 guest Michole Washington (who studies the common Black experience in math class) wrote about how math class mimics police brutality for Black kidsConnect with us:Esther Brunat: @estherbrunat (Instagram, YouTube, TikTok)Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)Transcript for today’s episode: www.maththerapypodcast.com

This season's interviews were all done remotely over Zoom with our producer Sabina Wex and technical producer David Kochberg listening in, and the conversations were so much fun that we often kept chatting after the actual interviews were over!  Vanessa's convo last week with astrologer Anthony Perrotta got us all especially fired up, and since she and Sabina are super into astrology and tarot, and David is super NOT, we wanted to share a little bonus episode diving further into the overlap of science and spirituality. Have you had any spicy discussions like this?  Tweet us @maththerapy about them!  And we'll be back on Thursday with our next full episode featuring a real life mathfluencer - yes seriously a MATH INFLUENCER!!!

If you follow Vanessa on Instagram, you may know that a) she has really gotten into astrology, and b) that is slightly controversial for an aspiring mathfluencer**.  So today Vanessa is joined by modern astro-celeb Anthony Perrotta to discuss how his background in architecture and love of math led him to exploring patterns in the movements of our universe and the use of sacred geometry through history.  Together they explore how spirituality and science can coexist and even complement each other, why younger generations are pulled more towards tools like astrology than religion for spiritual comfort, and how Vanessa’s birth chart reading explained why she won’t ever STFU ... so whether you’re a believer, a skeptic, or maybe just a bit astro-curious, there’s something for everyone in today’s convo!(** btw, “mathfluencer” is totally a real thing as we learned this season - do not miss next week’s episode because we interviewed one!)About AnthonyAnthony Perrotta is a Modern Astrologer with 13 years of experience. He has spent the last few years looking at historical correlations to astrological events and sharing his knowledge on the subject. He conducts personal chart readings and teaches the subject in his off time. His background is in Fashion, Interior Architecture, and Marketing prior to his work in Astrology. He lives in New England with his partner, rabbit, and cat. You can visit his website at www.perrotta.co.Connect with us:Anthony Perrotta: @ap_astrology (Instagram)Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)Transcript for today’s episode: www.maththerapypodcast.com

It is no exaggeration to say that this podcast (and Vanessa’s entire career in math education) would not exist if she hadn't crossed paths with superhero math teacher Ewa Kasinska in high school. Today, Ewa spills the tea on what Vanessa was like as a 17-year-old, how she managed to turn a math-hater into a Math Guru, and what the media gets wrong about teachers, and she also shares her fave tips for teachers on how to engage, inspire, and excite even the most skeptical students.  Ewa also came VERY prepared, and the conversation starts out basically like an episode of Ellen with a blast from Vanessa’s past!About EwaEwa Kasinska is a mathematics tutor, teacher, and principal who provides support in ways which ensure each student's success. Whether a student wishes to maintain high results, or has often struggled with the subject, Ewa knows how to help. She explains “how” and “why”, not simply guides towards solutions. You can find her at www.mathwitheva.caConnect with us:Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)Transcript for today’s episode: www.maththerapypodcast.com

Season 3 of Math Therapy kicks off today with a brand new theme: math in the media! Historically, media representations of math have left a LOT to be desired, but change is in the air and we are HERE for it.Today Vanessa chats with / fangirls over Kyne Santos - a true trailblazer when it comes to showing how complex and multi-dimensional we can be if we give ourselves permission! From fierce competition on Canada’s Drag Race to taking math viral on TikTok, they discuss how Kyne has been redefining stereotypes and courageously breaking down boundaries in both the Queer and math communities.About KyneKyne Santos is a world-class drag queen and mathematics communicator.  He graduated high school with the prestigious Schulich Leader Scholarship to study at the University of Waterloo, where he is a candidate for a Bachelor of Mathematics with a major in Mathematical Finance.  Kyne’s short-form math videos, delivered in full high-glamour drag, have gone viral on TikTok and YouTube, where she tells riddles, gives lessons on history’s greatest mathematicians, and teaches her followers how to spot misleading statistics in the media. Fusing her two passions together, Kyne brings STEM education to the queer community and queerness to STEM.Show notes:Kyne's official (and super glam) website10:48 - Buzzfeed article about Kyne14:10 - NBC article about Kyne using math for good and not evilConnect with us:Kyne Santos: @onlinekyne (Insta, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube)Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)Transcript for today’s episode: www.maththerapypodcast.com

Season 3 starts April 8th, and for the next 10 weeks Vanessa Vakharia, aka The Math Guru, will be exploring the relationship between math and the media with a diverse range of guests.   Subscribe now!Follow Vanessa @themathguru on Instagram or TwitterMath Therapy is also on Twitter: @maththerapyTranscript for this episode can be found at www.maththerapypodcast.com

We're back!!  Well, we'll be back for real April 8th when Season 3 of Math Therapy officially launches.   To get in the zone, today Vanessa is sharing a few short stories we received from some teachers who are determined to be part of the education solution after their own brushes with math trauma.If any of these stories resonated with you, let Vanessa know @themathguru on Instagram or Twitter, and follow our brand new Twitter account @maththerapy!If you have a story you want us to consider for future mailbag episodes, here are instructions:You can record with your phone's voice note app1-2 minutes longRecommended: write your story down and read it outSpeak clearly & record in a quiet space (no background noise)Listen back to your recording before sending to make sure it's not noisy or muffledEmail it to vanessa at themathguru dot ca with your name and locationStay tuned to the feed and you might hear your story!Transcript for this episode can be found at www.maththerapypodcast.com

It’s a Math Therapy holiday miracle!! After bawling her eyes out watching the groundbreaking Netflix Christmas movie Jingle Jangle and raving about it to literally everyone in earshot, Vanessa had the most festive chat in the history of the podcast with the film’s creators! Writer/director David E. Talbert & producer Lyn Sisson-Talbert discuss representation on screen and why they chose to make math such an integral (didn’t you miss the math puns?!) element to this magical story. Connect with the film and it’s creators: Lyn: @LynSissonTalbert (Instagram) and @lyntalbert (Twitter) David: @DavidEtalbert (Instagram & Twitter) @jinglejanglenetflixfilm (Instagram) and #JingleJangle (Twitter) @netflix (Instagram & Twitter) And find Vanessa @themathguru on all socials. Happy holidays and stay tuned for Season 3 of Math Therapy coming in 2021!

This season of Math Therapy might be over, but not before Vanessa meets her own personal mathematical hero, Canada’s very own Dr. John Mighton. Brace yourself for a season finale filled with joy, laughter, and tears (shockingly, NOT Vanessa’s) as Vanessa and Dr. Mighton dig deep into the way in which math, the most divisive subject of all, could actually be the key to achieving social & systemic equity if we only knew how to help teachers and students unlock its powers, once and for all. Spoiler: you’re going to want to have kleenex nearby for this one! About John Dr. John Mighton is a playwright turned mathematician and author who founded JUMP Math as a charity in 2001. His work in fostering numeracy and in building children's self-confidence through success in math has been widely recognized. He has been named a Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur of the Year, an Ernst & Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year for Canada, an Ashoka Fellow, an Officer of the Order of Canada, and has received six honorary doctorates. John is also the recipient of the 10th Annual Egerton Ryerson Award for Dedication to Public Education. Follow John on Twitter @johnmighton Follow JUMP Math on Twitter @jump_math and Instagram @jump_math Today’s show notes & links: themathguru.ca/maththerapy/johnmighton Reach Vanessa on all socials: @themathguru

This week Vanessa goes out on a limb and does something she’s never done before on the pod: she talks to real, actual children (and their mom, of course)! Despite her rocky relationship with math growing up, Tamara Rebick chats with Vanessa about her determination to show her two daughters that math ability isn’t genetic, and that anyone - even MOMs, can do math. Her two kids Eden and Nomie also share their very different feelings about math class, math teachers, and well, math in general! About Tamara Tamara is Founder and Chief Experience Officer of CORIPHERY Holistic Consulting Solutions, a boutique consulting firm that promotes respectful disruption in organizational culture and systems by challenging the status quo with audacious authenticity. Tamara is an eternal optimist, a community catalyst, a night owl and most importantly, mom and role model to her two daughters, Eden & Nomie. Follow Tamara / Coriphery on Instagram @coriphery and twitter @CORIPHERYcanada And follow Eden’s baking business on Instagram @obsessed_cupcakesbyeden (which definitely requires a lot of math!) Today’s show notes & links: themathguru.ca/maththerapy/tamararebick Reach Vanessa on all socials: @themathguru

Ever wonder what it would be like if your math teacher was like, the editor of TMZ and like, if your textbook was filled with juicy goss about all of those seemingly-boring-actually-scandalous mathematicians that plagued your high school existence? Today Vanessa talks to Sunil Singh about how different our relationship to math would be if we humanized mathematics through storytelling, and - he spills the TEA, bigtime! About Sunil Sunil Singh was a high school math and physics teacher for 19 years and has taught every grade level in places from Canada to Switzerland. He is the author of Pi of Life: The Hidden Happiness of Mathematics and Math Recess: Playful Learning in an Age of Disruption. He is also a co-editor at Q.E.D., a very popular blog for "disruptive" math writing, and was also a regular writer for The New York Times Numberplay section. Follow Sunil on Twitter @Mathgarden Today’s show notes & links: themathguru.ca/maththerapy/sunilsingh Reach Vanessa on all socials: @themathguru

You’d think by 2020 we’d finally be done with the archaic views society has traditionally held on women and math ... um, not quite. Today Vanessa chats with Feminist Book Club founder Renee Powers about the different ways that boys and girls perceive mathematical intelligence, why women get a bad rep when it comes to reading maps, and how feeling confident with math might actually be the secret to tackling economic equality. About Renee Renee M. Powers is a feminist speaker, podcaster, and entrepreneur who founded Feminist Book Club in 2018, named one of the best book subscription boxes by Oprah Magazine, Shondaland, Glamour, and Forbes. As a PhDropout, she leans on her academic training in feminist theory to create and cultivate this monthly subscription box and podcast. She lives, thrives, and topples the patriarchy in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Learn more about Feminist Book Club on Instagram @feministbookclubbox and feministbookclub.com, and find Renee at reneempowers.com. Today’s show notes & links: themathguru.ca/maththerapy/reneepowers Reach Vanessa on all socials: @themathguru

Have you ever had the feeling that you might have peaked too early? Meet Mike: a math-dropout-turned-software-cloud-architect. He chats with Vanessa about faking it til’ you make it, learning that it’s ok to admit you don’t know everything, and that #selflove can sometimes be way harder than #SOHCAHTOA. About Mike Mike is a big phony who is somehow able to achieve all of his dreams and is waiting for it all to come crashing down. Is it luck? Is he just so innocently charming that you can't help but give him a shot? Is the bar for his dreams shockingly low? All of the above. He didn't pass grade 12 math and yet he can still afford to pay his rent. Mike is a Cloud Consultant working at one of the coolest tech companies in the world. How is that even possible?! Today’s show notes & links: themathguru.ca/maththerapy/mikes Reach Vanessa on all socials: @themathguru

Welcome to our most intense (and successful!) math therapy session yet! Has your inability to fit into that mythical “math person” category haunted you for your entire life? Today Vanessa talks to Tamica Marcano about how being labelled ADHD led to mega feelings of inadequacy, especially when it comes to math, and they discover what’s truly possible when we leap out of the boxes we once forced ourselves into. Ready to hear math therapy legit transform Tamica’s life? Let’s do this! About Tamica Follow Tamica on Instagram @tamicatoutlemonde and Twitter @TamicaMarcano Today’s show notes & links: themathguru.ca/maththerapy/tamicamarcano Reach Vanessa on all socials: @themathguru

Ever dream of quitting your job and starting over again? Today Vanessa talks to Jill Waddell, a nutritionist who decided to finally face her fear of math to become a friggin POWER ENGINEER! AT 40!! Crazy, right?! From crying in the bathroom, to melting down in front of her husband, to doing everything in her power to keep her eye on the prize - this episode has it all so BUCKLE UP KIDS. About Jill At the age of 40, with three children at home and following a lengthy career in the fitness and nutrition field, Jill did a complete 180. She dove in head first to the world of Power Engineering, spending countless hours practicing math, seeking out her daughters high school math tutor for help, watching YouTube videos, and shedding more than a few tears! With her newfound confidence in math and herself, Jill wants to play a big role in the power generation industry in New Brunswick. Follow Jill on Instagram @theunstoppablemama. Today’s show notes & links: themathguru.ca/maththerapy/jillwaddell Reach Vanessa on all socials: @themathguru

What would you do if your high school math teacher told you that the only thing you were capable of doing was flipping burgers? Ummm ... become the king of the kitchen, of course! Today Vanessa talks to Miguel about how he went from killing it in the restaurant industry to a career 180 as a stats analyst rockstar with the Ontario government, all while battling some deep math trauma and persistent imposter syndrome. If you’re ready to turn your fear of failure into your greatest motivator, then this episode is for you! About Miguel Miguel Escobar is a Senior Business Analyst with the Government of Ontario and is a graduate of George Brown College where he completed the Hospitality Management program with honours. Miguel has had a love/hate relationship with math going all the way back to high school. From failing many, many times to being told he’d never get it, he struggled with numbers and avoided them at all costs. Now, some 20+ years later, he has embraced math and uses it almost every single day in his job. The fear and anxiety that came with being labeled “not a math person” is in the past and he now looks for every opportunity to help others who might struggle through the same things he did. Follow Miguel on Instagram at @TheAgeingMillennial. Today’s show notes & links: themathguru.ca/maththerapy/miguelescobar Reach Vanessa on all socials: @themathguru

Last week we brought you a discussion about the need for greater diversity in math education, and today we have a conversation about how to lift up marginalized voices if you are in a position of privilege. Vanessa talks to Canadian thought leader Dr. Imogen Coe about what it’s like to advocate for equality in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), fields traditionally dominated by white men, and what it actually means to use your privilege for good. About Imogen Dr. Imogen R. Coe was the founding dean of the Faculty of Science from 2012 to 2018 at Ryerson University in Toronto. She is currently a professor of Chemistry and Biology at Ryerson. She is also an affiliate scientist at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, where her research group studies the proteins responsible for the import of anti-cancer drugs. In addition to her work as a research scientist, Dr. Coe is internationally recognized as a Canadian thought leader in the area of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). You can find Imogen on Instagram @drimogencoe and on Twitter @ImogenRCoePhD Today’s show notes & links: themathguru.ca/maththerapy/imogencoe Reach Vanessa on all socials: @themathguru