Math Therapy Thu, 10 Sep 2026 12:12:05 -0400 http://www.maththerapypodcast.com en © 2026 Math Therapy yes ff4d9ea7-c1fc-518e-815b-ae922668c648 Vanessa Vakharia, aka The Math Guru episodic true Math Therapy explores the root causes of math trauma, and the empowering ways we can heal from it.  Each week host Vanessa Vakharia, aka The Math Guru, dives into what we get right and wrong about math education, and chats with some of today’s most inspiring and visionary minds working to make math more accessible, diverse, and fun for students of all ages. Whether you think you’re a "math person" or not, you’re about to find out that math people don’t actually exist – but the scars that math class left on many of us, definitely do. And don’t worry, no calculators or actual math were involved in the making of this podcast ;)

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) math, education, self-help, self-improvement, therapy, math anxiety, math trauma Vanessa Vakharia, aka The Math Guru https://storage.buzzsprout.com/paj9ij0j7hkcquat3qjb57sqoikr?.jpg Math Therapy http://www.maththerapypodcast.com Vanessa Vakharia Before & After Pt. 2: How Math Therapy changed Lauren Keeling's life (4 months later) Before & After Pt. 2: How Math Therapy changed Lauren Keeling's life (4 months later) Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Last week we shared a full Math Therapy session with lifelong "not-a-math-person" Lauren Keeling, which was recorded as part of Imagine Learning's "Heart Work" podcast series on math anxiety.  

And as promised, today Vanessa follows up with Lauren 4 months later to learn the domino effect that session had on her whole life!  They discuss:

  • How her story around math impacted her ENTIRE identity
  • How Duolingo Math made learning fun & low-stakes (131-day streak & counting!)
  • The key to healing math trauma: build trust & remove shame

Links mentioned:

About Lauren:

Lauren Keeling is a National Curriculum Consultant with Imagine Learning and the host of Heart Work, a podcast exploring the work of America's educators. A literacy leader with more than 15 years of experience supporting public education systems, she has served as a teacher, principal, curriculum strategist, and educational leader, helping districts navigate meaningful instructional change. Lauren is passionate about the intersection of learning, leadership, and the
human side of educational transformation.  She is also completing doctoral research on collaborative leadership and curriculum change.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Last week we shared a full Math Therapy session with lifelong "not-a-math-person" Lauren Keeling, which was recorded as part of Imagine Learning's "Heart Work" podcast series on math anxiety.  

And as promised, today Vanessa follows up with Lauren 4 months later to learn the domino effect that session had on her whole life!  They discuss:

  • How her story around math impacted her ENTIRE identity
  • How Duolingo Math made learning fun & low-stakes (131-day streak & counting!)
  • The key to healing math trauma: build trust & remove shame

Links mentioned:

About Lauren:

Lauren Keeling is a National Curriculum Consultant with Imagine Learning and the host of Heart Work, a podcast exploring the work of America's educators. A literacy leader with more than 15 years of experience supporting public education systems, she has served as a teacher, principal, curriculum strategist, and educational leader, helping districts navigate meaningful instructional change. Lauren is passionate about the intersection of learning, leadership, and the
human side of educational transformation.  She is also completing doctoral research on collaborative leadership and curriculum change.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia aka The Math Guru Buzzsprout-19725146 Thu, 10 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0400 4022 Makeover, healing, growth, self-improvement, math anxiety full true Before & After Pt. 1: How Math Therapy changed Lauren Keeling's life (May 2026) Before & After Pt. 1: How Math Therapy changed Lauren Keeling's life (May 2026) Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Today we bring you part 1 of 2 of our first ever Math Therapy Makeover "Before & After"!

When Vanessa first met Lauren Keeling earlier this year, being "not a math person" defined her entire life.  Visiting Vanessa's tutoring centre in Toronto with her team from Imagine Learning's Heart Work podcast, Lauren was dreading her IRL math therapy session - literally terrified that Vanessa would ask her to do math with the mics on and cameras rolling!

But what actually happened was magic; the two unpacked the roots of her icky feelings around math and talked through how to flip the script.  The 2nd episode of Heart Work's 3-part series on math anxiety included portions of that session, but Imagine Learning graciously allowed us to share the FULL convo with Math Therapy listeners!

And what makes this EXTRA special is that Vanessa interviewed Lauren 4 months later to find out what changed - and we'll be airing THAT episode NEXT week!

Links mentioned:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Today we bring you part 1 of 2 of our first ever Math Therapy Makeover "Before & After"!

When Vanessa first met Lauren Keeling earlier this year, being "not a math person" defined her entire life.  Visiting Vanessa's tutoring centre in Toronto with her team from Imagine Learning's Heart Work podcast, Lauren was dreading her IRL math therapy session - literally terrified that Vanessa would ask her to do math with the mics on and cameras rolling!

But what actually happened was magic; the two unpacked the roots of her icky feelings around math and talked through how to flip the script.  The 2nd episode of Heart Work's 3-part series on math anxiety included portions of that session, but Imagine Learning graciously allowed us to share the FULL convo with Math Therapy listeners!

And what makes this EXTRA special is that Vanessa interviewed Lauren 4 months later to find out what changed - and we'll be airing THAT episode NEXT week!

Links mentioned:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia aka The Math Guru Buzzsprout-19725009 Thu, 03 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0400 2154 full false What to do when your math class needs an intervention w/ Juliana Tapper What to do when your math class needs an intervention w/ Juliana Tapper Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Have you ever felt like math education needs to take a good long look at itself in the mirror and make some major changes before everything goes off the rails?  Like one of those Hollywood interventions - but for math class?

Well today's guest, Juliana Tapper, is a math interventionist!  She steps in to help students before they slip through the cracks.

Today they discuss:

  • what a math intervention is and how it works
  • the keys to a successful intervention
  • small shifts teachers can try that really make a difference

The conversation also gets emotional when Juliana reads out some of her student “mathographies” (their personal math stories), showing how powerful it can be when students are able to voice their deepest feelings and fears around math.

Links mentioned:

About Juliana: (Website, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn)

Juliana Tapper is living proof that your worst subject can become your superpower. After healing her own early math trauma, she dedicated her life to ending the cycle of math trauma for other kids and to empowering teachers with strategies and tools that actually work for students who have been historically unsuccessful in math. She works with schools, districts, state departments of education, and juvenile justice systems to make math accessible for all. She is the bestselling author of Teaching 6-12 Math Intervention: A Practical Framework to Engage Students Who Struggle and the host of the K-12 Math Intervention Summit.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Have you ever felt like math education needs to take a good long look at itself in the mirror and make some major changes before everything goes off the rails?  Like one of those Hollywood interventions - but for math class?

Well today's guest, Juliana Tapper, is a math interventionist!  She steps in to help students before they slip through the cracks.

Today they discuss:

  • what a math intervention is and how it works
  • the keys to a successful intervention
  • small shifts teachers can try that really make a difference

The conversation also gets emotional when Juliana reads out some of her student “mathographies” (their personal math stories), showing how powerful it can be when students are able to voice their deepest feelings and fears around math.

Links mentioned:

About Juliana: (Website, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn)

Juliana Tapper is living proof that your worst subject can become your superpower. After healing her own early math trauma, she dedicated her life to ending the cycle of math trauma for other kids and to empowering teachers with strategies and tools that actually work for students who have been historically unsuccessful in math. She works with schools, districts, state departments of education, and juvenile justice systems to make math accessible for all. She is the bestselling author of Teaching 6-12 Math Intervention: A Practical Framework to Engage Students Who Struggle and the host of the K-12 Math Intervention Summit.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia aka The Math Guru Buzzsprout-19677628 Thu, 27 Aug 2026 05:00:00 -0400 3040 full true 3 things every math teacher should do from day one 3 things every math teacher should do from day one Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Some of you have already started school, while the rest are just counting down the days ... so Vanessa is back this week with 3 easy & actionable strategies you can bring to your math class RIGHT now, to set the tone that each of your students belongs in your classroom this year and has the ability to build a better relationship with math.

  1. Collect: find out what baggage kids might be bringing into class
  2. Co-Create: make ALL voices valued, heard, and respected (including yours!)
  3. Connect: break down the student-teacher barrier, even in a big class

For more, download the FREE Math Therapy Toolkit here and let us know how it goes - you've got this!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Some of you have already started school, while the rest are just counting down the days ... so Vanessa is back this week with 3 easy & actionable strategies you can bring to your math class RIGHT now, to set the tone that each of your students belongs in your classroom this year and has the ability to build a better relationship with math.

  1. Collect: find out what baggage kids might be bringing into class
  2. Co-Create: make ALL voices valued, heard, and respected (including yours!)
  3. Connect: break down the student-teacher barrier, even in a big class

For more, download the FREE Math Therapy Toolkit here and let us know how it goes - you've got this!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia aka The Math Guru Buzzsprout-19661726 Thu, 20 Aug 2026 06:00:00 -0400 2190 full true Taking my own advice Taking my own advice Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Things have been a little crazy over here so Math Therapy is going to take a couple weeks off to catch our breath, but we will be back later this month to get you fired up for back to school!

In the meantime, here are a few ways you can get your Math Therapy fix:

  • Vanessa was recently featured in episode 2 of the 3-part series on math anxiety called Heart Work by Imagine Learning
  • She was also just interviewed on the Modern Math Teacher podcast
  • Math Therapy Roulette!  Go to the podcast feed in your app, scroll way back and randomly pick an episode to listen to - we've been podcasting since 2019 so there are a lot of gems back there!

Enjoy the rest of your summer and we'll be back soon - and make sure to take care of yourself too if you need it!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Things have been a little crazy over here so Math Therapy is going to take a couple weeks off to catch our breath, but we will be back later this month to get you fired up for back to school!

In the meantime, here are a few ways you can get your Math Therapy fix:

  • Vanessa was recently featured in episode 2 of the 3-part series on math anxiety called Heart Work by Imagine Learning
  • She was also just interviewed on the Modern Math Teacher podcast
  • Math Therapy Roulette!  Go to the podcast feed in your app, scroll way back and randomly pick an episode to listen to - we've been podcasting since 2019 so there are a lot of gems back there!

Enjoy the rest of your summer and we'll be back soon - and make sure to take care of yourself too if you need it!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia aka The Math Guru Buzzsprout-19608506 Thu, 06 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -0400 300 full false Fluency & Flexibility aren't the math F-bombs you think they are w/ Christina Tondevold Fluency & Flexibility aren't the math F-bombs you think they are w/ Christina Tondevold Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

One of the most misunderstood words in math ed right now is "fluency", so Vanessa invited an expert on the podcast to demystify it: educator Christina Tondevold.  Christina calls herself a "recovering traditionalist" - she committed to stop teaching students in the same ineffective ways she was taught as a student.

They discuss a ton of practical strategies you can bring to your classroom, such as:

  • showing students how connected math is (in class and in their lives)
  • building fluency on 3 balanced pillars: efficiency, accuracy, and flexibility
  • teaching students to learn math by teaching them to be problem solvers

If you enjoy this conversation, sign up for Christina's free 3-day virtual summit August 10-12, 2026 featuring Vanessa and a ton of other incredible speakers!

About Christina: (Website)

Christina Tondevold is a Recovering Traditionalist - she previously taught mathematics traditionally and expected the students to parrot back what she taught them.  Now she gets to work with teachers in developing students’ mathematical understandings in a balanced way by developing conceptual understanding while working on procedural fluency through her site BuildMathMinds.com where you can get PD at Your Fingertips.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

One of the most misunderstood words in math ed right now is "fluency", so Vanessa invited an expert on the podcast to demystify it: educator Christina Tondevold.  Christina calls herself a "recovering traditionalist" - she committed to stop teaching students in the same ineffective ways she was taught as a student.

They discuss a ton of practical strategies you can bring to your classroom, such as:

  • showing students how connected math is (in class and in their lives)
  • building fluency on 3 balanced pillars: efficiency, accuracy, and flexibility
  • teaching students to learn math by teaching them to be problem solvers

If you enjoy this conversation, sign up for Christina's free 3-day virtual summit August 10-12, 2026 featuring Vanessa and a ton of other incredible speakers!

About Christina: (Website)

Christina Tondevold is a Recovering Traditionalist - she previously taught mathematics traditionally and expected the students to parrot back what she taught them.  Now she gets to work with teachers in developing students’ mathematical understandings in a balanced way by developing conceptual understanding while working on procedural fluency through her site BuildMathMinds.com where you can get PD at Your Fingertips.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia aka The Math Guru Buzzsprout-19570474 Thu, 30 Jul 2026 06:00:00 -0400 3043 full true Math Therapy Masterclass Part 2: How to start next year with confidence Math Therapy Masterclass Part 2: How to start next year with confidence Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Today we bring you part 2 in Vanessa's two part Math Therapy Masterclass on how to start the coming school year with renewed confidence - for yourself and for your students!

In part 1 she shared 4 exercises/experiences you can try this summer (check it out here ICYMI), and she's back with 4 more:

5) practice being bad at something
6) find a mindset/psychology book/podcast (suggestions below)
7) try Duolingo Math
8) face your math trauma as a grown up

Let us know if you tried any of these and what happened!

Books/podcasts mentioned:

  • Mel Robbins Podcast
  • Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
  • The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
  • The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz
  • Atomic Habits by James Clear
  • How Minds Change by David McRaney
  • Mindset by Carol Dweck
  • Daring Greatly by Brené Brown

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Today we bring you part 2 in Vanessa's two part Math Therapy Masterclass on how to start the coming school year with renewed confidence - for yourself and for your students!

In part 1 she shared 4 exercises/experiences you can try this summer (check it out here ICYMI), and she's back with 4 more:

5) practice being bad at something
6) find a mindset/psychology book/podcast (suggestions below)
7) try Duolingo Math
8) face your math trauma as a grown up

Let us know if you tried any of these and what happened!

Books/podcasts mentioned:

  • Mel Robbins Podcast
  • Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
  • The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
  • The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz
  • Atomic Habits by James Clear
  • How Minds Change by David McRaney
  • Mindset by Carol Dweck
  • Daring Greatly by Brené Brown

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia aka The Math Guru Buzzsprout-19500630 Thu, 23 Jul 2026 06:00:00 -0400 1742 full true Math Therapy Masterclass Part 1: How to start next year with confidence Math Therapy Masterclass Part 1: How to start next year with confidence Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Summer is a great time for some much needed rest after the school year, but it also provides some rare quiet time for reflection and personal projects.  For many of us, that includes preparing for an even better year ahead - and that often starts with feeling more confident about math.

So Vanessa assembled this 2-part mini-masterclass to walk you through 8 tiny exercises you can try this summer, starting today with:

  1. don't do it alone - find a math friend
  2. replace "proving" with "improving"
  3. build an evidence folder of your successes
  4. collect your moments of math confidence

You don't have to do them all!  But you do have to text us if you try any :) And tune in next week for 4 more!

*SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED* This episode is sponsored by Texas Instruments!  Listen to the episode for instructions to enter to win an "Oh My Math" box featuring:

  • the new TI-84 Evo graphing calculator + 4-yr license
  • an adorable plushie TI calculator keychain!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Summer is a great time for some much needed rest after the school year, but it also provides some rare quiet time for reflection and personal projects.  For many of us, that includes preparing for an even better year ahead - and that often starts with feeling more confident about math.

So Vanessa assembled this 2-part mini-masterclass to walk you through 8 tiny exercises you can try this summer, starting today with:

  1. don't do it alone - find a math friend
  2. replace "proving" with "improving"
  3. build an evidence folder of your successes
  4. collect your moments of math confidence

You don't have to do them all!  But you do have to text us if you try any :) And tune in next week for 4 more!

*SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED* This episode is sponsored by Texas Instruments!  Listen to the episode for instructions to enter to win an "Oh My Math" box featuring:

  • the new TI-84 Evo graphing calculator + 4-yr license
  • an adorable plushie TI calculator keychain!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia aka The Math Guru Buzzsprout-19500216 Thu, 16 Jul 2026 06:00:00 -0400 2362 full true Why math class might be more stressful than air travel w/ Cathy Marks Krpan Why math class might be more stressful than air travel w/ Cathy Marks Krpan Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Prior to spontaneously recording this convo between sessions at CAMT in Fort Worth, TX recently, Vanessa and today's guest Cathy Marks Krpan had only really spent time together while frantically travelling through airports trying to make their connections.  

And in between panicked pleas to airport golf carts and documenting every detail on Instagram, one thing kept coming up - how the stress and uncertainty of air travel held so many parallels with the anxiety we feel in math class.

Cathy has an incredibly warm & empathetic approach to teaching and shares inspiring insights on:

  • sitting with the unknown
  • empowering people with choice & agency
  • treating students like the complex, emotional humans they are

About Cathy: (Website, Instagram)

​An award-winning author and former classroom teacher, Cathy Marks Krpan is a professor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, at the University of Toronto, where she teaches graduate courses in mathematics education. She works with classroom teachers and school districts across North America and internationally on effective teaching and learning strategies in mathematics.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Prior to spontaneously recording this convo between sessions at CAMT in Fort Worth, TX recently, Vanessa and today's guest Cathy Marks Krpan had only really spent time together while frantically travelling through airports trying to make their connections.  

And in between panicked pleas to airport golf carts and documenting every detail on Instagram, one thing kept coming up - how the stress and uncertainty of air travel held so many parallels with the anxiety we feel in math class.

Cathy has an incredibly warm & empathetic approach to teaching and shares inspiring insights on:

  • sitting with the unknown
  • empowering people with choice & agency
  • treating students like the complex, emotional humans they are

About Cathy: (Website, Instagram)

​An award-winning author and former classroom teacher, Cathy Marks Krpan is a professor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, at the University of Toronto, where she teaches graduate courses in mathematics education. She works with classroom teachers and school districts across North America and internationally on effective teaching and learning strategies in mathematics.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia aka The Math Guru Buzzsprout-19427198 Thu, 09 Jul 2026 06:00:00 -0400 2109 full true What 3 viral trends tell us about math trauma in 2026 What 3 viral trends tell us about math trauma in 2026 Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

As her Screen Time app will confirm, Vanessa spends way too much time online - so when trends involving math pop up, you can be sure she has commented, shared, ranted, and made her own version.

Sadly, most of these “trends” involve negative stereotypes around math ability.  These cliches are also extremely gendered, specifically directed at women and girls.

So today she discusses 3 recent viral trends and what we can do to flip the script (click the links for examples):

  1. “I'm creative ... bc I suck at math"
  2. "I'm just pretending to do math - you’re the smart one"
  3. "I'm too pretty to do math"

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

As her Screen Time app will confirm, Vanessa spends way too much time online - so when trends involving math pop up, you can be sure she has commented, shared, ranted, and made her own version.

Sadly, most of these “trends” involve negative stereotypes around math ability.  These cliches are also extremely gendered, specifically directed at women and girls.

So today she discusses 3 recent viral trends and what we can do to flip the script (click the links for examples):

  1. “I'm creative ... bc I suck at math"
  2. "I'm just pretending to do math - you’re the smart one"
  3. "I'm too pretty to do math"

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia aka The Math Guru Buzzsprout-19425675 Thu, 02 Jul 2026 06:00:00 -0400 2526 full true Math in prison, chaotic podcast energy, and the legend of Sister Beth (summer mailbag) Math in prison, chaotic podcast energy, and the legend of Sister Beth (summer mailbag) Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Summer is officially ON, so it's a great time to hear from YOU in another mailbag episode where Vanessa reads the texts you've sent us! 

This batch pulls together a few threads from episodes we've released over the last few months - some will make you laugh, and some might make you tear up just as Vanessa did when reading them out.

And if you want to send us a message about the podcast or about something you'd like Vanessa to discuss over the summer - just tap the link right above/below!

Episodes mentioned:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Summer is officially ON, so it's a great time to hear from YOU in another mailbag episode where Vanessa reads the texts you've sent us! 

This batch pulls together a few threads from episodes we've released over the last few months - some will make you laugh, and some might make you tear up just as Vanessa did when reading them out.

And if you want to send us a message about the podcast or about something you'd like Vanessa to discuss over the summer - just tap the link right above/below!

Episodes mentioned:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia aka The Math Guru Buzzsprout-19385184 Thu, 25 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0400 1056 full true Math anxiety, vulnerability, and the secrets to building student confidence w/ Amy Johnston Math anxiety, vulnerability, and the secrets to building student confidence w/ Amy Johnston Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Today's episode truly puts the "therapy" in Math Therapy!  Vanessa chats with her friend Amy Johnston, a psychotherapist and empathic deep thinker, to discuss how trauma takes root in us, how it transfers through generations, and how being vulnerable about our own experiences can help us inspire students to rewrite their own narratives.

This is a truly heartfelt conversation exploring questions like:

  • Why your own math trauma is actually your greatest teaching superpower
  • How to use strategies like narration real-time in the classroom
  • How intergenerational trauma is like a snowball rolling downhill - and how to finally stop it

About Amy: (Website, Instagram)

Amy Johnston, MSW, is an Integrative Therapist specializing in inner world explorations with her clients.  She lives in a magical forest up in Northern Ontario, Canada.

*CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED* This episode is sponsored by Texas Instruments!  Listen to the episode for instructions to enter to win an "Oh My Math" box featuring:

  • the new TI-84 Evo graphing calculator + 4-yr license
  • an adorable plushie TI calculator keychain!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Today's episode truly puts the "therapy" in Math Therapy!  Vanessa chats with her friend Amy Johnston, a psychotherapist and empathic deep thinker, to discuss how trauma takes root in us, how it transfers through generations, and how being vulnerable about our own experiences can help us inspire students to rewrite their own narratives.

This is a truly heartfelt conversation exploring questions like:

  • Why your own math trauma is actually your greatest teaching superpower
  • How to use strategies like narration real-time in the classroom
  • How intergenerational trauma is like a snowball rolling downhill - and how to finally stop it

About Amy: (Website, Instagram)

Amy Johnston, MSW, is an Integrative Therapist specializing in inner world explorations with her clients.  She lives in a magical forest up in Northern Ontario, Canada.

*CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED* This episode is sponsored by Texas Instruments!  Listen to the episode for instructions to enter to win an "Oh My Math" box featuring:

  • the new TI-84 Evo graphing calculator + 4-yr license
  • an adorable plushie TI calculator keychain!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia aka The Math Guru Buzzsprout-19363326 Thu, 18 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0400 2984 full true How to get fired up about teaching (even if the system has crushed your spirit) w/ Chase Orton How to get fired up about teaching (even if the system has crushed your spirit) w/ Chase Orton Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Vanessa recently took one step closer to her dream of hosting a Netflix show, recording the first ever live Math Therapy interview!  

For her session last week at Leander ISD's annual Math Joy Conference in Texas, she interviewed self-proclaimed "chaos-driven non-compliant educator" Chase Orton - and you can now hear their extremely unfiltered conversation in front of a room full of teachers whose gasps are VERY audible throughout!

Chase and Vanessa share a fearlessness in calling out the education as it is, and in this convo they cover hot topics like:

  • how teachers can stay motivated in a broken system
  • who standardized testing benefits (hint: not students or teachers!)
  • how to follow the rules while rebelling against the status quo

About Chase: (Website, YouTube)

As an accomplished facilitator of lesson study for K-12 math teachers, Chase Orton partners with districts who are interested in taking a teacher-centered, teacher-directed approach to professional development. Chase is also the author of The Imperfect and Unfinished Teacher of Mathematics.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Vanessa recently took one step closer to her dream of hosting a Netflix show, recording the first ever live Math Therapy interview!  

For her session last week at Leander ISD's annual Math Joy Conference in Texas, she interviewed self-proclaimed "chaos-driven non-compliant educator" Chase Orton - and you can now hear their extremely unfiltered conversation in front of a room full of teachers whose gasps are VERY audible throughout!

Chase and Vanessa share a fearlessness in calling out the education as it is, and in this convo they cover hot topics like:

  • how teachers can stay motivated in a broken system
  • who standardized testing benefits (hint: not students or teachers!)
  • how to follow the rules while rebelling against the status quo

About Chase: (Website, YouTube)

As an accomplished facilitator of lesson study for K-12 math teachers, Chase Orton partners with districts who are interested in taking a teacher-centered, teacher-directed approach to professional development. Chase is also the author of The Imperfect and Unfinished Teacher of Mathematics.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia aka The Math Guru Buzzsprout-19320956 Thu, 11 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0400 2886 full true 3 essential study skills to make exams less stressful for everyone w/ Deena Kara Shaffer 3 essential study skills to make exams less stressful for everyone w/ Deena Kara Shaffer Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Exam season is upon us, but NOBODY PANIC!  Today's guest, learning strategist Dr. Deena Kara Shaffer, joined Vanessa to share some simple but game-changing study tips to help you get through exams without breaking a sweat.

They discuss:

  • what actually is learning, and what does and does not count as studying
  • why we get trapped trying to perfect to-do lists & how to prioritize better
  • how we can all use AI tools ethically to support our learning (not replace it)

This episode is for anyone (students, teachers, parents) who find exam season stressful and need a pep talk about practical & effective ways to learn better!

About Deena: (Website, Instagram, Facebook)

For over 20 years, Dr. Deena has dedicated her career to promoting more equity and justice in learning and enabling the success of more than 5,000 students, educators, and business leaders through learning strategies.  As a keynote speaker, mentor, training facilitator, and founder of Awakened Learning Inc., she looks forward to any opportunity to connect with individuals and organizations who are ready to feel happier, healthier, and more at peace.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Exam season is upon us, but NOBODY PANIC!  Today's guest, learning strategist Dr. Deena Kara Shaffer, joined Vanessa to share some simple but game-changing study tips to help you get through exams without breaking a sweat.

They discuss:

  • what actually is learning, and what does and does not count as studying
  • why we get trapped trying to perfect to-do lists & how to prioritize better
  • how we can all use AI tools ethically to support our learning (not replace it)

This episode is for anyone (students, teachers, parents) who find exam season stressful and need a pep talk about practical & effective ways to learn better!

About Deena: (Website, Instagram, Facebook)

For over 20 years, Dr. Deena has dedicated her career to promoting more equity and justice in learning and enabling the success of more than 5,000 students, educators, and business leaders through learning strategies.  As a keynote speaker, mentor, training facilitator, and founder of Awakened Learning Inc., she looks forward to any opportunity to connect with individuals and organizations who are ready to feel happier, healthier, and more at peace.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia aka The Math Guru Buzzsprout-19280840 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0400 3154 full true The unexpected text that turned my day around (and may turn yours around too) The unexpected text that turned my day around (and may turn yours around too) Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Last week Vanessa ended her episode saying the podcast would be taking this week off while she was on vacation, but it might not surprise you that she is not exactly "good" at vacation .. so while she's definitely taking some much needed time off, she also could not resist recording this short episode after receiving a very unexpected and beautiful text from Timothy Jones, an inmate with the Prison Mathematics Project.

Our podcast is available through prisons across the US, and Timothy was moved to write in to Vanessa through their messaging system after listening to her recent "tax season meltdown" episode.  He shared some beautiful words of affirmation that we can all tell ourselves daily, which stem from his own journey getting to know his true self and rewriting the false stories he was told about himself in childhood.

Links mentioned:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Last week Vanessa ended her episode saying the podcast would be taking this week off while she was on vacation, but it might not surprise you that she is not exactly "good" at vacation .. so while she's definitely taking some much needed time off, she also could not resist recording this short episode after receiving a very unexpected and beautiful text from Timothy Jones, an inmate with the Prison Mathematics Project.

Our podcast is available through prisons across the US, and Timothy was moved to write in to Vanessa through their messaging system after listening to her recent "tax season meltdown" episode.  He shared some beautiful words of affirmation that we can all tell ourselves daily, which stem from his own journey getting to know his true self and rewriting the false stories he was told about himself in childhood.

Links mentioned:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia aka The Math Guru Buzzsprout-19237954 Thu, 28 May 2026 06:00:00 -0400 551 full true How I talked my way out of an anxiety spiral How I talked my way out of an anxiety spiral Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Vanessa reflects on her recent self-described "meltdown episode" in which she talked herself down from a panic spiral.  She was nervous to share something so messy & vulnerable, but the response was incredible - so many of you identified completely with her feelings. (Turns out tax season is a real trigger for us all!)

Today, she shares some of her own observations once she had de-escalated, as well as some of the feedback and perspective she received - and most importantly she details what helped her actually get organized as opposed to just spiralling over the fear of being disorganized.

Also, we got over 100 entries for last week's Texas Instruments "Oh My Math" Box giveaway!  The winner has already been contacted, but if you didn't hear from us don't despair - we'll be giving away one box every month for the rest of the summer, so stay subscribed to Math Therapy so you don't miss your next chance to win.

Links mentioned:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Vanessa reflects on her recent self-described "meltdown episode" in which she talked herself down from a panic spiral.  She was nervous to share something so messy & vulnerable, but the response was incredible - so many of you identified completely with her feelings. (Turns out tax season is a real trigger for us all!)

Today, she shares some of her own observations once she had de-escalated, as well as some of the feedback and perspective she received - and most importantly she details what helped her actually get organized as opposed to just spiralling over the fear of being disorganized.

Also, we got over 100 entries for last week's Texas Instruments "Oh My Math" Box giveaway!  The winner has already been contacted, but if you didn't hear from us don't despair - we'll be giving away one box every month for the rest of the summer, so stay subscribed to Math Therapy so you don't miss your next chance to win.

Links mentioned:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia aka The Math Guru Buzzsprout-19210530 Thu, 21 May 2026 06:00:00 -0400 1872 full true Anxious about math? You may be the best person to teach it w/ Heidi Sabnani Anxious about math? You may be the best person to teach it w/ Heidi Sabnani Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Everyone's finally talking about math anxiety - in students, parents, and anyone that goes into a panic at the mere mention of the word "math".  But one group is often overlooked: math teachers!

Many teachers find themselves having to teach math whether they planned to or not, and often without even being trained on the material themselves.  But don't panic!  Today's guest, teaching coach Heidi Sabnani, has a step by step process to turn that math anxiety into a classroom strength.  She joined Vanessa to discuss:

  • Is math anxiety contagious?
  • Consistency - the secret to longterm change
  • How to overcome math anxiety at any age

About Heidi: (Website, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube)

Heidi Sabnani, EdD, has been an educator in math and literacy for over 25 years. She regularly presents at regional and national conferences in the United States and has been invited to speak at conferences in Guatemala and Ecuador. She is the co-host and co-author, with Molly Vokey, of the Math 4 All Show and Math Activators for Reasoning about Fractions, Decimals and Integers.

*CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED* This episode is sponsored by Texas Instruments!  Listen to the episode for instructions to enter to win an "Oh My Math" box featuring:

  • the new TI-84 Evo graphing calculator + 4-yr license
  • an adorable plushie TI calculator keychain!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Everyone's finally talking about math anxiety - in students, parents, and anyone that goes into a panic at the mere mention of the word "math".  But one group is often overlooked: math teachers!

Many teachers find themselves having to teach math whether they planned to or not, and often without even being trained on the material themselves.  But don't panic!  Today's guest, teaching coach Heidi Sabnani, has a step by step process to turn that math anxiety into a classroom strength.  She joined Vanessa to discuss:

  • Is math anxiety contagious?
  • Consistency - the secret to longterm change
  • How to overcome math anxiety at any age

About Heidi: (Website, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube)

Heidi Sabnani, EdD, has been an educator in math and literacy for over 25 years. She regularly presents at regional and national conferences in the United States and has been invited to speak at conferences in Guatemala and Ecuador. She is the co-host and co-author, with Molly Vokey, of the Math 4 All Show and Math Activators for Reasoning about Fractions, Decimals and Integers.

*CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED* This episode is sponsored by Texas Instruments!  Listen to the episode for instructions to enter to win an "Oh My Math" box featuring:

  • the new TI-84 Evo graphing calculator + 4-yr license
  • an adorable plushie TI calculator keychain!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia aka The Math Guru Buzzsprout-19166334 Thu, 14 May 2026 06:00:00 -0400 2521 full true Why smart people still feel out of control (and what to do about it) Why smart people still feel out of control (and what to do about it) Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Ever feel like you don't know how to take your own advice?  Like you've learned all the strategies but can't seem to actually use them?  Like no matter how hard you try to get your life in order, it just seems to get more complicated?!

Well Vanessa certainly does, and (at the encouragement of her producer) she hopped on the mic and let it all out in one of her most honest and vulnerable episodes yet.

With the help of her calculator stuffie and her trademark stream of consciousness outer processing, she talks herself down from a panicked state and explores:

  • what an anxiety spiral looks like and what's actually behind it
  • negativity bias + confirmation bias = catastrophization!
  • how therapy tools like a gratitude practice can help
  • what this all has to do with math education

If you can relate, or just want to give Vanessa a pep talk, send us a text!  And share this episode with a friend who needs to hear it.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Ever feel like you don't know how to take your own advice?  Like you've learned all the strategies but can't seem to actually use them?  Like no matter how hard you try to get your life in order, it just seems to get more complicated?!

Well Vanessa certainly does, and (at the encouragement of her producer) she hopped on the mic and let it all out in one of her most honest and vulnerable episodes yet.

With the help of her calculator stuffie and her trademark stream of consciousness outer processing, she talks herself down from a panicked state and explores:

  • what an anxiety spiral looks like and what's actually behind it
  • negativity bias + confirmation bias = catastrophization!
  • how therapy tools like a gratitude practice can help
  • what this all has to do with math education

If you can relate, or just want to give Vanessa a pep talk, send us a text!  And share this episode with a friend who needs to hear it.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia aka The Math Guru Buzzsprout-19129272 Thu, 07 May 2026 06:00:00 -0400 1836 full true Math is a spiritual practice & here's the proof w/ Edward Doolittle Math is a spiritual practice & here's the proof w/ Edward Doolittle Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

500 BC: Pythagoras may not have even existed, but a number-worshipping / bean-hating (yet vegetarian?!) cult definitely did.

1600 AD: Johannes Kepler lays the mathematical foundation for Newton's theory of gravity while innovating in both astronomy and astrology (and also inventing the genre of sci-fi in his spare time).

April 2026: Vanessa learns these stories and more watching Dr Edward Doolittle deliver a fascinating keynote in Saskatoon and impulsively convinces him to be on Math Therapy!  So they sat down the next day to discuss topics like:

  • how spirituality (in any form) can help us bring our whole selves to math
  • what the whole world can learn from Indigenous understandings of math
  • the power of storytelling in learning

About Edward:

Dr. Edward Doolittle, (Kanyenkehake [Flint Nation = Mohawk] from Six Nations in southern Ontario) is Associate Professor of Mathematics at First Nations University of Canada, a federated college of the University of Regina.  His interests range from probability (particularly in relation to partial differential operators) to Indigenous mathematics and the educational possibilities afforded by those different views of mathematics.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

500 BC: Pythagoras may not have even existed, but a number-worshipping / bean-hating (yet vegetarian?!) cult definitely did.

1600 AD: Johannes Kepler lays the mathematical foundation for Newton's theory of gravity while innovating in both astronomy and astrology (and also inventing the genre of sci-fi in his spare time).

April 2026: Vanessa learns these stories and more watching Dr Edward Doolittle deliver a fascinating keynote in Saskatoon and impulsively convinces him to be on Math Therapy!  So they sat down the next day to discuss topics like:

  • how spirituality (in any form) can help us bring our whole selves to math
  • what the whole world can learn from Indigenous understandings of math
  • the power of storytelling in learning

About Edward:

Dr. Edward Doolittle, (Kanyenkehake [Flint Nation = Mohawk] from Six Nations in southern Ontario) is Associate Professor of Mathematics at First Nations University of Canada, a federated college of the University of Regina.  His interests range from probability (particularly in relation to partial differential operators) to Indigenous mathematics and the educational possibilities afforded by those different views of mathematics.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia aka The Math Guru Buzzsprout-19100695 Thu, 30 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0400 2870 full false It’s never too late to change your relationship with math It’s never too late to change your relationship with math Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Ever since we introduced the above link to text the podcast, Vanessa has been obsessed with getting listeners to do so.  And guess what - tons of you have!  So today she reads a bunch of them on a range of topics like:

  • the problem with labels like "gifted"
  • gaining math confidence later in life
  • neuroplasticity and thinking processes
  • who is Sister Beth?! (seriously, we need to send her a book)

Also, you can now not only text us but leave us a voicenote!  Just hit the link at the top of this description and we may include your text/voicenote on a future episode.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Ever since we introduced the above link to text the podcast, Vanessa has been obsessed with getting listeners to do so.  And guess what - tons of you have!  So today she reads a bunch of them on a range of topics like:

  • the problem with labels like "gifted"
  • gaining math confidence later in life
  • neuroplasticity and thinking processes
  • who is Sister Beth?! (seriously, we need to send her a book)

Also, you can now not only text us but leave us a voicenote!  Just hit the link at the top of this description and we may include your text/voicenote on a future episode.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-19055358 Thu, 23 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0400 1665 full true This will change the way you think about calculators w/ Curtis Brown This will change the way you think about calculators w/ Curtis Brown Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

We cover many hot button topics in math education, but today we're taking on the most literal one ... calculators! Why are they so controversial? When are they helpful and when should we use other tools?

On today's episode, Vanessa chats with Curtis Brown from Texas Instruments about those questions and more:

  • How students can take ownership of their learning
  • The relationship between cognitive load and math anxiety
  • How handheld tools can fuel learning (and focus!)

Have you got strong feelings on calculators or know someone who does?  Let us know below and share this episode!

Episode links:

About Curtis:

Curtis Brown is a former high school math and AP Statistics teacher who spent five years with the National Math and Science Initiative as a Statistics Curriculum Coordinator. He’s now the Math Segment Manager at Texas Instruments, where he leads content development and serves as a voice for educators in product design. Curtis is a frequent speaker at math conferences and co‑hosts the education podcast Room to Grow. Outside of work, he enjoys kayak fishing, mountaineering with his sons, and spending time with his family.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

We cover many hot button topics in math education, but today we're taking on the most literal one ... calculators! Why are they so controversial? When are they helpful and when should we use other tools?

On today's episode, Vanessa chats with Curtis Brown from Texas Instruments about those questions and more:

  • How students can take ownership of their learning
  • The relationship between cognitive load and math anxiety
  • How handheld tools can fuel learning (and focus!)

Have you got strong feelings on calculators or know someone who does?  Let us know below and share this episode!

Episode links:

About Curtis:

Curtis Brown is a former high school math and AP Statistics teacher who spent five years with the National Math and Science Initiative as a Statistics Curriculum Coordinator. He’s now the Math Segment Manager at Texas Instruments, where he leads content development and serves as a voice for educators in product design. Curtis is a frequent speaker at math conferences and co‑hosts the education podcast Room to Grow. Outside of work, he enjoys kayak fishing, mountaineering with his sons, and spending time with his family.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia aka The Math Guru Buzzsprout-18984372 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0400 3198 full false Why we haven't fixed math education (even though we know how) w/ Steve Leinwand Why we haven't fixed math education (even though we know how) w/ Steve Leinwand Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

If you listen to this podcast, chances are you believe not only that we can fix math education but that we know how to do it.  So WHY haven't we yet?!

Today's guest Steve Leinwand is a true legend in this space, known for his radical honesty and authenticity in fighting for a better system for all.  He joined Vanessa from his vacation (because he can never resist a good rant!) to discuss:

  • accepting people's full selves in math so they don't have to code-switch
  • how to make PD truly effective for teachers and supervisors
  • how students can learn from each other as much as from teachers

About Steve: (Website)

Steven Leinwand has been a driving force in math education for nearly 50 years, shaping policy, curriculum, and teaching practices at the highest levels. He's held major leadership roles with organizations like NCTM (National Council for Teachers of Mathematics), and NCSM (National Council for Supervisors of Mathematics). He has advised on national initiatives like the National Assessment of Educational Progress, and worked with organizations like the American Institute for Research, earning multiple national awards along the way.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

If you listen to this podcast, chances are you believe not only that we can fix math education but that we know how to do it.  So WHY haven't we yet?!

Today's guest Steve Leinwand is a true legend in this space, known for his radical honesty and authenticity in fighting for a better system for all.  He joined Vanessa from his vacation (because he can never resist a good rant!) to discuss:

  • accepting people's full selves in math so they don't have to code-switch
  • how to make PD truly effective for teachers and supervisors
  • how students can learn from each other as much as from teachers

About Steve: (Website)

Steven Leinwand has been a driving force in math education for nearly 50 years, shaping policy, curriculum, and teaching practices at the highest levels. He's held major leadership roles with organizations like NCTM (National Council for Teachers of Mathematics), and NCSM (National Council for Supervisors of Mathematics). He has advised on national initiatives like the National Assessment of Educational Progress, and worked with organizations like the American Institute for Research, earning multiple national awards along the way.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-18941595 Thu, 02 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0400 2154 full true This will change how you show up as a leader w/ Alison Mello This will change how you show up as a leader w/ Alison Mello Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Leadership.  Feedback.  Professional Development. 

Terms that get thrown around a lot - but what do they actually mean?  More importantly, how do we develop those tools so they actually make a difference in the classroom?!

Thankfully, educator Alison Mello is an expert on leadership in math education, and she joined Vanessa to discuss:

  • why PD often fails teachers and what to do about it
  • how to be a great leader - both for teachers and administrators
  • how to give and receive effective feedback

And as mentioned in the episode, you can still register for Alison's Get Your Workshop On 2026 (early bird pricing ends March 31st so don't wait!)

About Alison: (Website, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook)

Alison J. Mello has been in education for 30 years as a classroom teacher, author, national speaker, and math consultant. Alison enjoys developing practical strategies to address issues that districts and teachers face in their schools and classrooms every day. She uses her understanding of leadership, curriculum and best practices to inspire and assist leaders and teachers in elevating and transforming math instruction.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Leadership.  Feedback.  Professional Development. 

Terms that get thrown around a lot - but what do they actually mean?  More importantly, how do we develop those tools so they actually make a difference in the classroom?!

Thankfully, educator Alison Mello is an expert on leadership in math education, and she joined Vanessa to discuss:

  • why PD often fails teachers and what to do about it
  • how to be a great leader - both for teachers and administrators
  • how to give and receive effective feedback

And as mentioned in the episode, you can still register for Alison's Get Your Workshop On 2026 (early bird pricing ends March 31st so don't wait!)

About Alison: (Website, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook)

Alison J. Mello has been in education for 30 years as a classroom teacher, author, national speaker, and math consultant. Alison enjoys developing practical strategies to address issues that districts and teachers face in their schools and classrooms every day. She uses her understanding of leadership, curriculum and best practices to inspire and assist leaders and teachers in elevating and transforming math instruction.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-18908755 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0400 2729 full true The way you talk about math matters, even if you don’t teach it w/ Kylie Fraser The way you talk about math matters, even if you don’t teach it w/ Kylie Fraser Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Back in 2020, math teacher (with math trauma) Kylie Fraser found herself in Vanessa's Math Therapy session at the Mighty Peace Teachers Convention in Grand Prairie, Alberta and was stunned how much she saw of herself in Vanessa's story.

Flash forward to earlier this month when Vanessa returned to Grand Prairie to deliver the keynote, and 30 minutes before hitting the stage they reunited and impulsively decided to record this convo about what Kylie has been up to in her math journey in the last 6 years!

They discussed:

  • the math trauma Kylie saw in herself and her students and what she did about it
  • how language around math influences our self-worth
  • how to heal from math trauma through shared stories

On that note - if you know someone that should hear this story, share it!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Back in 2020, math teacher (with math trauma) Kylie Fraser found herself in Vanessa's Math Therapy session at the Mighty Peace Teachers Convention in Grand Prairie, Alberta and was stunned how much she saw of herself in Vanessa's story.

Flash forward to earlier this month when Vanessa returned to Grand Prairie to deliver the keynote, and 30 minutes before hitting the stage they reunited and impulsively decided to record this convo about what Kylie has been up to in her math journey in the last 6 years!

They discussed:

  • the math trauma Kylie saw in herself and her students and what she did about it
  • how language around math influences our self-worth
  • how to heal from math trauma through shared stories

On that note - if you know someone that should hear this story, share it!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-18868299 Thu, 19 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0400 1426 full true Refresher: Predicting the Oscars with math w/ Ben Zauzmer (Oscarmetrics) Refresher: Predicting the Oscars with math w/ Ben Zauzmer (Oscarmetrics) Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

The Oscars are this Sunday, and to be completely transparent, Vanessa hasn't seen any of the nominations.  BUT, she is always ready to hand out an award to anyone blending pop culture and math, so today we are bringing you our 2022 interview with Ben Zauzmer, who has been using statistical analysis every awards season to predict the Oscar winners with math!  

Ben is also Assistant General Manager for the NY Mets baseball team after spending years in MLB baseball analytics - that's right, he is Moneyball IRL!  You can check out his predictions for this year below, and you can try to send Vanessa movie recommendations but we all know if they aren't Christmas romcoms they probably won't make her top 10.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

The Oscars are this Sunday, and to be completely transparent, Vanessa hasn't seen any of the nominations.  BUT, she is always ready to hand out an award to anyone blending pop culture and math, so today we are bringing you our 2022 interview with Ben Zauzmer, who has been using statistical analysis every awards season to predict the Oscar winners with math!  

Ben is also Assistant General Manager for the NY Mets baseball team after spending years in MLB baseball analytics - that's right, he is Moneyball IRL!  You can check out his predictions for this year below, and you can try to send Vanessa movie recommendations but we all know if they aren't Christmas romcoms they probably won't make her top 10.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-18798846 Thu, 12 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0400 1856 full false The best scientists follow the data AND their hearts w/ Imogen Coe The best scientists follow the data AND their hearts w/ Imogen Coe Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Vanessa's mentor and friend, Dr. Imogen Coe, holds many distinctions: Professor of Critical Thinking in Biomedical Sciences, award-winning scholar-activist, former Dean of Science, STEM thought leader, and all-around academic badass.  But her finest achievement yet?  Being the first returning guest on Math Therapy!

Imogen joined us in 2020 to talk about breaking systemic barriers in STEM fields, and she returns today to explore pressing topics like:

  • how our "math identity" impacts our entire self-worth
  • how our sense of belonging relates to representation
  • should scientists be emotional or creative?
  • how questioning one's beliefs is actually very scientific

About Imogen: (Website, Instagram, LinkedIn)

Dr. Imogen Coe is a scientist, advocate, and founding dean of the Faculty of Science at Toronto Metropolitan University. She is internationally recognized for her research in cell biology and for her leadership in equity, diversity, and inclusion in STEM.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Vanessa's mentor and friend, Dr. Imogen Coe, holds many distinctions: Professor of Critical Thinking in Biomedical Sciences, award-winning scholar-activist, former Dean of Science, STEM thought leader, and all-around academic badass.  But her finest achievement yet?  Being the first returning guest on Math Therapy!

Imogen joined us in 2020 to talk about breaking systemic barriers in STEM fields, and she returns today to explore pressing topics like:

  • how our "math identity" impacts our entire self-worth
  • how our sense of belonging relates to representation
  • should scientists be emotional or creative?
  • how questioning one's beliefs is actually very scientific

About Imogen: (Website, Instagram, LinkedIn)

Dr. Imogen Coe is a scientist, advocate, and founding dean of the Faculty of Science at Toronto Metropolitan University. She is internationally recognized for her research in cell biology and for her leadership in equity, diversity, and inclusion in STEM.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia, aka The Math Guru Buzzsprout-18785128 Thu, 05 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0500 2564 full true How a music studio is just like math class w/ Devon Lougheed How a music studio is just like math class w/ Devon Lougheed Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

For the last month, Vanessa and Math Therapy producer David have been in the studio working on their band's next album, and Vanessa couldn't help observing many parallels between making music in the studio and learning math.  If you're reading this like "huh?!" ... then today's episode is a must listen!

After a day in the studio with our good friend & producer Devon Lougheed, Vanessa sat down with him to discuss:

  • what risk-taking in the studio can teach us about learning math
  • the difference between process and outcome
  • imposter syndrome - we all feel it!
  • the secret to progress - celebrate the wins, no matter the size

About Devon: (Instagram, Website)

Devon Lougheed is a JUNO-winning songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist, creative mad scientist and musical schemer, and co-founder of alt-rock band Altered By Mom.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

For the last month, Vanessa and Math Therapy producer David have been in the studio working on their band's next album, and Vanessa couldn't help observing many parallels between making music in the studio and learning math.  If you're reading this like "huh?!" ... then today's episode is a must listen!

After a day in the studio with our good friend & producer Devon Lougheed, Vanessa sat down with him to discuss:

  • what risk-taking in the studio can teach us about learning math
  • the difference between process and outcome
  • imposter syndrome - we all feel it!
  • the secret to progress - celebrate the wins, no matter the size

About Devon: (Instagram, Website)

Devon Lougheed is a JUNO-winning songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist, creative mad scientist and musical schemer, and co-founder of alt-rock band Altered By Mom.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-18732996 Thu, 26 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500 1642 full false How to change your life by changing your story w/ Gorav Menon How to change your life by changing your story w/ Gorav Menon Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Today's episode is about storytelling.  So much of our self-worth and perceived ability come from internal narratives that have been shaped by stories we've either been told or that we tell ourselves - but we have the power to change them!

Gorav Menon joins Vanessa to discuss the impact these stories have on our lives, and offers three simple steps to take control of them and unlock our full potential - both in and out of the classroom.  They cover topics like:

  • What makes someone a great storyteller?
  • How storytelling connects to therapy
  • How labels affect us
  • How we can change our stories

About Gorav: (LinkedIn)

Gorav Menon is a tech strategist and co-host of Linen Suit & Plastic Tie, a podcast that explores the power of storytelling in all corners of our lives.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Today's episode is about storytelling.  So much of our self-worth and perceived ability come from internal narratives that have been shaped by stories we've either been told or that we tell ourselves - but we have the power to change them!

Gorav Menon joins Vanessa to discuss the impact these stories have on our lives, and offers three simple steps to take control of them and unlock our full potential - both in and out of the classroom.  They cover topics like:

  • What makes someone a great storyteller?
  • How storytelling connects to therapy
  • How labels affect us
  • How we can change our stories

About Gorav: (LinkedIn)

Gorav Menon is a tech strategist and co-host of Linen Suit & Plastic Tie, a podcast that explores the power of storytelling in all corners of our lives.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-18709319 Thu, 19 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500 2794 full true 9 surprising reasons math scores are dropping 9 surprising reasons math scores are dropping Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Everyone’s always ranting and raving about why student math scores are dropping, but are they focusing on the wrong reasons?  

In today's episode, Vanessa details some factors that often get overlooked:

  1. Kids are raised differently now
  2. Kids are more distracted now
  3. Math anxiety has never been stronger
  4. Mental health challenges are more common
  5. Math feels irrelevant
  6. The value of grades has changed
  7. Learned helplessness
  8. Adults are more anxious too
  9. School hasn't caught up to reality

Did she miss any? Let us know below!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Everyone’s always ranting and raving about why student math scores are dropping, but are they focusing on the wrong reasons?  

In today's episode, Vanessa details some factors that often get overlooked:

  1. Kids are raised differently now
  2. Kids are more distracted now
  3. Math anxiety has never been stronger
  4. Mental health challenges are more common
  5. Math feels irrelevant
  6. The value of grades has changed
  7. Learned helplessness
  8. Adults are more anxious too
  9. School hasn't caught up to reality

Did she miss any? Let us know below!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-18666740 Thu, 12 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500 2013 full true How math can help prison inmates turn their lives around w/ Christopher Havens How math can help prison inmates turn their lives around w/ Christopher Havens Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Christopher Havens is a mathematician with published research in number theory, but what makes him unique among fellow scholars is his entire career in math has taken place in prison where he is serving a 25-year murder sentence.  Math was the catalyst and ongoing foundation for his rehabilitation, and along the way he founded the Prison Mathematics Project which provides resources to inmates across the US.

In recognition of his years of rehabilitation, mathematical research, and community building, the Washington State Pardons & Clemency board unanimously recommended his sentence be reduced last year, but last month the request was denied by the state governor.  So we thought we'd bring you Vanessa's 2021 interview with Christopher which remains just as thought-provoking and inspiring today.

Links:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Christopher Havens is a mathematician with published research in number theory, but what makes him unique among fellow scholars is his entire career in math has taken place in prison where he is serving a 25-year murder sentence.  Math was the catalyst and ongoing foundation for his rehabilitation, and along the way he founded the Prison Mathematics Project which provides resources to inmates across the US.

In recognition of his years of rehabilitation, mathematical research, and community building, the Washington State Pardons & Clemency board unanimously recommended his sentence be reduced last year, but last month the request was denied by the state governor.  So we thought we'd bring you Vanessa's 2021 interview with Christopher which remains just as thought-provoking and inspiring today.

Links:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-18627703 Thu, 05 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500 2416 full true What neuroscience actually says about gender & math w/ Sarah McKay What neuroscience actually says about gender & math w/ Sarah McKay Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

A lot of brain-related questions often come up on this podcast, like:

  • Is there a difference in math ability between genders?
  • Is there even such a thing as a "math brain"?
  • What about the left brain right brain / math vs creativity debate?

And every time, Vanessa says "I need to speak to an expert about this!" Well, when she heard today's guest on the Mel Robbins Podcast talking about brain science and gender, she knew she had found her neuroscientist.

Dr. Sarah McKay joins Math Therapy to debunk some common myths around our brains and math abilities, and offers science-backed advice on how to amplify the message that everyone has equal potential to learn math.

Links mentioned:

About Sarah: (Website, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook)

Dr. Sarah McKay is an Oxford-educated neuroscientist, author, and science communicator specializing in women’s brain health, hormones, and lifespan brain development. She’s the author of The Women’s Brain Book and founder of The Neuroscience Academy. She’s passionate about debunking popular myths about the brain—especially when it comes to gender and intelligence.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

A lot of brain-related questions often come up on this podcast, like:

  • Is there a difference in math ability between genders?
  • Is there even such a thing as a "math brain"?
  • What about the left brain right brain / math vs creativity debate?

And every time, Vanessa says "I need to speak to an expert about this!" Well, when she heard today's guest on the Mel Robbins Podcast talking about brain science and gender, she knew she had found her neuroscientist.

Dr. Sarah McKay joins Math Therapy to debunk some common myths around our brains and math abilities, and offers science-backed advice on how to amplify the message that everyone has equal potential to learn math.

Links mentioned:

About Sarah: (Website, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook)

Dr. Sarah McKay is an Oxford-educated neuroscientist, author, and science communicator specializing in women’s brain health, hormones, and lifespan brain development. She’s the author of The Women’s Brain Book and founder of The Neuroscience Academy. She’s passionate about debunking popular myths about the brain—especially when it comes to gender and intelligence.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-18587502 Thu, 29 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0500 2825 full false How believing in someone can change their life w/ Jo Boaler’s first student Sue Besant How believing in someone can change their life w/ Jo Boaler’s first student Sue Besant Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Have you ever been so convinced you were bad at something that you didn’t even question it anymore? Not just as an insecurity, but like it was your full identity: “I’m not a math person.” End of conversation.

Well, this episode is about what happens when that story gets completely rewritten.

Sue Besant was a directionless student who was literally & repeatedly told that she would amount to nothing, and math was ground zero for this crushing message.

But one day a new teacher walked into her math class - none other than Jo Boaler.  Yes, before teaching at Stanford & writing bestsellers about growth mindset and neuroplasticity, Jo Boaler had her first day in class too!

Jo gave Sue and her classmates something they'd never had before - a teacher who believed in them and told them so.  The rest of the story spans decades and time zones, so join Vanessa today as Sue shares how finally learning math gave her the confidence to believe that she was capable of anything she dreamed of.

Related episode:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Have you ever been so convinced you were bad at something that you didn’t even question it anymore? Not just as an insecurity, but like it was your full identity: “I’m not a math person.” End of conversation.

Well, this episode is about what happens when that story gets completely rewritten.

Sue Besant was a directionless student who was literally & repeatedly told that she would amount to nothing, and math was ground zero for this crushing message.

But one day a new teacher walked into her math class - none other than Jo Boaler.  Yes, before teaching at Stanford & writing bestsellers about growth mindset and neuroplasticity, Jo Boaler had her first day in class too!

Jo gave Sue and her classmates something they'd never had before - a teacher who believed in them and told them so.  The rest of the story spans decades and time zones, so join Vanessa today as Sue shares how finally learning math gave her the confidence to believe that she was capable of anything she dreamed of.

Related episode:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-18548785 Thu, 22 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0500 2796 full true Don’t let math define your entire self-worth w/ Shelby Strong Don’t let math define your entire self-worth w/ Shelby Strong Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Whenever Vanessa talks to math educator and coach Shelby Strong, they end up saying "why didn't we record that, it was basically a podcast!"  So today we bring you an actual podcast with Shelby, exploring an absolutely bonkers range of provocative questions like:

  • What’s the danger of defining your self-worth by being good at one thing?
  • When does enthusiasm/passion cross the line into gatekeeping?
  • Why are we vilifying algorithms right now?
  • Why do we shame teachers for just trying their best?
  • Why is systemic change so hard to enact and adapt to?
  • What does rock star Dave Grohl teach us about math?
  • And finally, is a hot dog a sandwich?!

If these question spark something in you, let us know below - and share this episode with someone else that needs to hear it!

Things mentioned:

About Shelby: (Website, Bluesky, Facebook, LinkedIn)

Shelby Strong (Stronger Math) is a math educator and coach who believes math belongs to everyone. She has presented at school districts, regional organizations, and national conferences, including delivering an IGNITE at NCTM in 2024 called "Professional Development Doesn't Have to Suck".

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Whenever Vanessa talks to math educator and coach Shelby Strong, they end up saying "why didn't we record that, it was basically a podcast!"  So today we bring you an actual podcast with Shelby, exploring an absolutely bonkers range of provocative questions like:

  • What’s the danger of defining your self-worth by being good at one thing?
  • When does enthusiasm/passion cross the line into gatekeeping?
  • Why are we vilifying algorithms right now?
  • Why do we shame teachers for just trying their best?
  • Why is systemic change so hard to enact and adapt to?
  • What does rock star Dave Grohl teach us about math?
  • And finally, is a hot dog a sandwich?!

If these question spark something in you, let us know below - and share this episode with someone else that needs to hear it!

Things mentioned:

About Shelby: (Website, Bluesky, Facebook, LinkedIn)

Shelby Strong (Stronger Math) is a math educator and coach who believes math belongs to everyone. She has presented at school districts, regional organizations, and national conferences, including delivering an IGNITE at NCTM in 2024 called "Professional Development Doesn't Have to Suck".

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-18508685 Thu, 15 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0500 2959 full true Can asking for help backfire? Can asking for help backfire? Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

As you may know, Vanessa and producer David are in a band together, and they're currently writing songs for a new album. The path through writer’s block and their ups and downs as a collaborative team led to some unexpected debates about the creative process that share surprising parallels with the greater discussion around mathematical thinking.

So they hopped on the mic to debate a range of topics like:

  • When do tools help vs. hinder?
  • Does process matter if the outcome is good?
  • Are mathematical and creative thinking similar?
  • What is the ultimate core purpose of education?
  • Is AI making us more productive or more lazy?

Finally, Vanessa calls up friend and tech-forward educator Jamie Mitchell (without warning to either him or David) to have him chime in on the debate, and it actually was the most coherent part of the episode.  Enjoy and let us know if you want to hear a part 2!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

As you may know, Vanessa and producer David are in a band together, and they're currently writing songs for a new album. The path through writer’s block and their ups and downs as a collaborative team led to some unexpected debates about the creative process that share surprising parallels with the greater discussion around mathematical thinking.

So they hopped on the mic to debate a range of topics like:

  • When do tools help vs. hinder?
  • Does process matter if the outcome is good?
  • Are mathematical and creative thinking similar?
  • What is the ultimate core purpose of education?
  • Is AI making us more productive or more lazy?

Finally, Vanessa calls up friend and tech-forward educator Jamie Mitchell (without warning to either him or David) to have him chime in on the debate, and it actually was the most coherent part of the episode.  Enjoy and let us know if you want to hear a part 2!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-18470892 Thu, 08 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0500 2860 full true 2026: The Year of Student Engagement! 2026: The Year of Student Engagement! Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Happy new year!  To get in the mindset for a great 2026, here's a motivating episode about one of last year's hottest topics in math ed: student engagement. 

Why is it so hard to get students to really engage in the classroom?  What does engagement even mean?  What can we try differently this year?

In this episode, Vanessa explores four reasons students might not engage in class (and offers tips for each):

  1. They don't feel heard (democratize engagement)
  2. They don't know how to engage (explain what it is)
  3. They think there's no point (create more entry points)
  4. Their needs aren't met (don't take it personally)

Let us know if these resonate with you or if there are any that we missed, and most importantly have a great start to the school year!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Happy new year!  To get in the mindset for a great 2026, here's a motivating episode about one of last year's hottest topics in math ed: student engagement. 

Why is it so hard to get students to really engage in the classroom?  What does engagement even mean?  What can we try differently this year?

In this episode, Vanessa explores four reasons students might not engage in class (and offers tips for each):

  1. They don't feel heard (democratize engagement)
  2. They don't know how to engage (explain what it is)
  3. They think there's no point (create more entry points)
  4. Their needs aren't met (don't take it personally)

Let us know if these resonate with you or if there are any that we missed, and most importantly have a great start to the school year!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-18427060 Thu, 01 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0500 2326 full true How Netflix saved both Christmas and math How Netflix saved both Christmas and math Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Five years ago, Vanessa fell head over heels in love with a Christmas movie.  The plot twist? This wasn't one of the countless Hallmark romcoms she actually consumes throughout the year - this was a movie about a little girl who literally saves Christmas with math!

Back then she interviewed Producer Lyn Sisson-Talbert and Writer/Director David E. Talbert about their groundbreaking Netflix film Jingle Jangle, so we’re resharing the conversation today as Christmas approaches.

On that note, we'll be taking a break next week but will be back in your feed Jan 1st to give you some inspiration to make 2026 a great year in the classroom.  Until then, happy holidays!!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Five years ago, Vanessa fell head over heels in love with a Christmas movie.  The plot twist? This wasn't one of the countless Hallmark romcoms she actually consumes throughout the year - this was a movie about a little girl who literally saves Christmas with math!

Back then she interviewed Producer Lyn Sisson-Talbert and Writer/Director David E. Talbert about their groundbreaking Netflix film Jingle Jangle, so we’re resharing the conversation today as Christmas approaches.

On that note, we'll be taking a break next week but will be back in your feed Jan 1st to give you some inspiration to make 2026 a great year in the classroom.  Until then, happy holidays!!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-18374046 Thu, 18 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0500 1998 full true How to make "show your thinking" less anxiety-inducing How to make "show your thinking" less anxiety-inducing Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Getting students to think is a hot topic - but what does it actually mean?  When kids are asked to "show their thinking", can we really blame them for being like "WTF?!?!"

Today on Math Therapy, Vanessa explores the surprising number of ways we can define & interpret "thinking", and shares 5 strategies to demystify it in the classroom:

  1. Explain what thinking actually means
  2. Normalize that the thought process isn't always quick
  3. Give prompts that invite students into a conversation
  4. Outer process - talk it out before writing it down
  5. Model your own thinking as a teacher

How do YOU define thinking?  Let us know below!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Getting students to think is a hot topic - but what does it actually mean?  When kids are asked to "show their thinking", can we really blame them for being like "WTF?!?!"

Today on Math Therapy, Vanessa explores the surprising number of ways we can define & interpret "thinking", and shares 5 strategies to demystify it in the classroom:

  1. Explain what thinking actually means
  2. Normalize that the thought process isn't always quick
  3. Give prompts that invite students into a conversation
  4. Outer process - talk it out before writing it down
  5. Model your own thinking as a teacher

How do YOU define thinking?  Let us know below!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia, aka The Math Guru Buzzsprout-18333565 Thu, 11 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0500 1995 full true Math Therapy's 100th (& most manic) episode! Math Therapy's 100th (& most manic) episode! Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Since our humble (and as you'll find out, quite disorganized) start in 2019, Math Therapy has come a long way ... and today we celebrate our 100th episode!

Join host Vanessa Vakharia and producer David Kochberg (with a cameo from OG MT producer Sabina Wex) as they reminisce and argue about:

  • The (mostly) true origin story of Math Therapy
  • Where the “final 2 questions” came from
  • Fave past episodes
  • Dream future guests
  • If ChatGPT listens to our show

Whether you've been listening from the start or just finding this show now, thank you for listening and being part of the change we all want to see in math education.

And please please please SHARE this podcast with someone that needs to hear it, and let US know what you want to hear in the next 100 episodes!

Past episodes mentioned:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Since our humble (and as you'll find out, quite disorganized) start in 2019, Math Therapy has come a long way ... and today we celebrate our 100th episode!

Join host Vanessa Vakharia and producer David Kochberg (with a cameo from OG MT producer Sabina Wex) as they reminisce and argue about:

  • The (mostly) true origin story of Math Therapy
  • Where the “final 2 questions” came from
  • Fave past episodes
  • Dream future guests
  • If ChatGPT listens to our show

Whether you've been listening from the start or just finding this show now, thank you for listening and being part of the change we all want to see in math education.

And please please please SHARE this podcast with someone that needs to hear it, and let US know what you want to hear in the next 100 episodes!

Past episodes mentioned:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-18296195 Thu, 04 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0500 2920 full true How to believe in yourself when nobody else will w/ Taylor Telfer-Thompson How to believe in yourself when nobody else will w/ Taylor Telfer-Thompson Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Today we follow-up last week's episode with unfiltered celeb moms Cat and Nat (listen here) by interviewing Nat's daughter Taylor!  Currently in Grade 11, she's a wealth of hard-earned wisdom, having taken her education into her own hands to overcome a system that literally told her not to bother even trying.

This ep is overflowing with real lessons right from a student who's been through it all.  Taylor describes:

  • how being "bad" at math really felt & how she decided to rewrite her narrative
  • small supports that made a huge difference, like teachers/tutors talking to her like a real person or literally getting down to her level instead of standing over her in class
  • how she wished it hadn't taken so long in her educational journey for adults to simply tell her they believed in her

Teachers, parents, and students can all learn so much from Taylor's story, so share this ep with someone who needs to hear it and get in touch below to let us know how it resonated with you!

About Taylor: (Instagram, TikTok)

Taylor Telfer-Thompson is a high school student who has faced significant struggles with math throughout her education, but has never given up.  Her story shows what it looks like to persevere in the face of difficulty, to wrestle with identity, and to keep trying even when math feels impossible.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Today we follow-up last week's episode with unfiltered celeb moms Cat and Nat (listen here) by interviewing Nat's daughter Taylor!  Currently in Grade 11, she's a wealth of hard-earned wisdom, having taken her education into her own hands to overcome a system that literally told her not to bother even trying.

This ep is overflowing with real lessons right from a student who's been through it all.  Taylor describes:

  • how being "bad" at math really felt & how she decided to rewrite her narrative
  • small supports that made a huge difference, like teachers/tutors talking to her like a real person or literally getting down to her level instead of standing over her in class
  • how she wished it hadn't taken so long in her educational journey for adults to simply tell her they believed in her

Teachers, parents, and students can all learn so much from Taylor's story, so share this ep with someone who needs to hear it and get in touch below to let us know how it resonated with you!

About Taylor: (Instagram, TikTok)

Taylor Telfer-Thompson is a high school student who has faced significant struggles with math throughout her education, but has never given up.  Her story shows what it looks like to persevere in the face of difficulty, to wrestle with identity, and to keep trying even when math feels impossible.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-18258489 Thu, 27 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0500 2108 full true Hard truths teachers need to hear from parents w/ Cat and Nat Hard truths teachers need to hear from parents w/ Cat and Nat Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

From the moment Vanessa met bestselling authors/podcasters Cat and Nat on Breakfast Television, where the 2 moms proudly professed to hate math ... she knew she had to have them on Math Therapy to dig deeper and find out why.  They are the definition of unfiltered, so they are a perfect fit!

This interview may be uncomfortable for teachers to hear - honestly, it was difficult for Vanessa at times to not be defensive.  But the fact is, we need to know what students and parents are really going through; not just in the classroom but in their entire, completely chaotic modern lives.

About Cat and Nat: (Website, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube)

Between the two of them, bestselling authors & podcasters Cat & Nat have seven kids, zero down time, and an unshakable belief that motherhood shouldn’t feel like solitary confinement. 

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

From the moment Vanessa met bestselling authors/podcasters Cat and Nat on Breakfast Television, where the 2 moms proudly professed to hate math ... she knew she had to have them on Math Therapy to dig deeper and find out why.  They are the definition of unfiltered, so they are a perfect fit!

This interview may be uncomfortable for teachers to hear - honestly, it was difficult for Vanessa at times to not be defensive.  But the fact is, we need to know what students and parents are really going through; not just in the classroom but in their entire, completely chaotic modern lives.

About Cat and Nat: (Website, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube)

Between the two of them, bestselling authors & podcasters Cat & Nat have seven kids, zero down time, and an unshakable belief that motherhood shouldn’t feel like solitary confinement. 

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-18221400 Thu, 20 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0500 2564 full true Why we can’t binge-learn math like Netflix w/ Rob Baier Why we can’t binge-learn math like Netflix w/ Rob Baier Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

*call-out before we get into today's ep* - If you or a colleague/parent/student has a story about incorporating the absurd 6-7 phenomenon into actual learning, we need you!  Seriously, send us a brief text or a voicenote via Instagram DM or email.  We've heard some stories and want to do an episode about enhancing learning by reaching kids through their interests (no matter how ridiculous we think they are...)

On today's episode w/ Rob Baier:

Vanessa often goes into our interviews with a thorough plan, and then as soon as we hit record she instead asks the first random thing that pops into her mind and never looks at the outline again.  Well, today's episode with trailblazer Rob Baier is one of those rollercoasters!  Some of the rabbit holes they end up in include:

  • how our assessment systems contribute to math anxiety/trauma
  • why we actually became so obsessed with getting every student into calculus
  • what student learning has in common with binging an entire season of Ginny and Georgia (spoiler alert: we have it all backwards)

About Rob: (LinkedIn)

Rob is passionate about inspiring the next generation of math enthusiasts! As a Growth Lead at Innovamat, Rob is dedicated to bringing innovative math education solutions to schools across three states. With a diverse background in education, including roles as a math teacher, curriculum director, and professional development leader, he is committed to empowering educators and students. He is also a co-host of the #DebateMath podcast and a frequent presenter at national and regional conferences.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

*call-out before we get into today's ep* - If you or a colleague/parent/student has a story about incorporating the absurd 6-7 phenomenon into actual learning, we need you!  Seriously, send us a brief text or a voicenote via Instagram DM or email.  We've heard some stories and want to do an episode about enhancing learning by reaching kids through their interests (no matter how ridiculous we think they are...)

On today's episode w/ Rob Baier:

Vanessa often goes into our interviews with a thorough plan, and then as soon as we hit record she instead asks the first random thing that pops into her mind and never looks at the outline again.  Well, today's episode with trailblazer Rob Baier is one of those rollercoasters!  Some of the rabbit holes they end up in include:

  • how our assessment systems contribute to math anxiety/trauma
  • why we actually became so obsessed with getting every student into calculus
  • what student learning has in common with binging an entire season of Ginny and Georgia (spoiler alert: we have it all backwards)

About Rob: (LinkedIn)

Rob is passionate about inspiring the next generation of math enthusiasts! As a Growth Lead at Innovamat, Rob is dedicated to bringing innovative math education solutions to schools across three states. With a diverse background in education, including roles as a math teacher, curriculum director, and professional development leader, he is committed to empowering educators and students. He is also a co-host of the #DebateMath podcast and a frequent presenter at national and regional conferences.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-18178456 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0500 2933 full true What the Blue Jays taught us about math education What the Blue Jays taught us about math education Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

This past weekend, hearts across North America shattered as the plucky underdog Toronto Blue Jays lost to the LA Dodgers in extra innings of the deciding Game 7 of the Major League Baseball World Series.  And if none of those words matter to you at all - then you and Vanessa have much in common!

However, as a self-admitted bandwagon jumper, even though she was down in the US on a math ed conference tour, she was all in on this series and sucked a bunch of colleagues into her orbit along the way.  While this is obviously not a sports podcast, she and her teacher friends couldn't help observe parallels between what they saw on the field & went through together as new fans, compared with what they see day to day in their students' journeys through the education system.

So Vanessa and David jumped on to discuss some of these parallels, share some voice memos from her teachers-turned-superfans group chat, and even call in a pinch hitter (a term she learned last week) to share the inside scoop on what might actually be going through these pro athletes' minds in the most high pressure situations imaginable and how a student can approach a math test the same way.

The dream team: (aka teachers Vanessa literally forced to watch the games)

Guest "analyst": (aka ex-Olympic athlete / current math ed rock star)

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

This past weekend, hearts across North America shattered as the plucky underdog Toronto Blue Jays lost to the LA Dodgers in extra innings of the deciding Game 7 of the Major League Baseball World Series.  And if none of those words matter to you at all - then you and Vanessa have much in common!

However, as a self-admitted bandwagon jumper, even though she was down in the US on a math ed conference tour, she was all in on this series and sucked a bunch of colleagues into her orbit along the way.  While this is obviously not a sports podcast, she and her teacher friends couldn't help observe parallels between what they saw on the field & went through together as new fans, compared with what they see day to day in their students' journeys through the education system.

So Vanessa and David jumped on to discuss some of these parallels, share some voice memos from her teachers-turned-superfans group chat, and even call in a pinch hitter (a term she learned last week) to share the inside scoop on what might actually be going through these pro athletes' minds in the most high pressure situations imaginable and how a student can approach a math test the same way.

The dream team: (aka teachers Vanessa literally forced to watch the games)

Guest "analyst": (aka ex-Olympic athlete / current math ed rock star)

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-18140055 Thu, 06 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0500 4159 full true How to turn anxiety into empowerment How to turn anxiety into empowerment Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Most episodes, Vanessa is chatting with colleagues about the root causes of math anxiety/trauma and exploring how math education can change to avoid causing them.

But as long as math remains a 4-letter word for some, we need some practical coping strategies!  So today, Vanessa details 5 ways you can flip anxious math moments into empowering ones - for teachers, parents, and students.

Learn how to:

  1. Trade control for curiosity
  2. Admit what you don't know
  3. Not be afraid to follow tangents in class
  4. Coregulate before you educate
  5. Heal your own math trauma

Other episodes mentioned:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Most episodes, Vanessa is chatting with colleagues about the root causes of math anxiety/trauma and exploring how math education can change to avoid causing them.

But as long as math remains a 4-letter word for some, we need some practical coping strategies!  So today, Vanessa details 5 ways you can flip anxious math moments into empowering ones - for teachers, parents, and students.

Learn how to:

  1. Trade control for curiosity
  2. Admit what you don't know
  3. Not be afraid to follow tangents in class
  4. Coregulate before you educate
  5. Heal your own math trauma

Other episodes mentioned:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-18091161 Thu, 30 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0400 1645 full true An unfiltered debate about "natural ability" An unfiltered debate about "natural ability" Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Sometimes an interview fires us up so much here at Math Therapy HQ, that we end up debriefing and debating it long after the guest has signed off - at which point producer David says to host Vanessa "we should have recorded THAT too!"

So today, we actually did!  We kept the mics rolling after interviewing last week's guest, Dr. Raj Shah, resulting in a discussion on the mechanics of memory & aptitude and a spirited debate as David pushed back against Vanessa's war on the words "natural ability".  

We would LOVE to have an expert in this field on the podcast, so if you have any suggestions let us know!

And we want to know what you think as well - are some people born better at some things than others?!  Let us know below!

Episodes referenced:

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Sometimes an interview fires us up so much here at Math Therapy HQ, that we end up debriefing and debating it long after the guest has signed off - at which point producer David says to host Vanessa "we should have recorded THAT too!"

So today, we actually did!  We kept the mics rolling after interviewing last week's guest, Dr. Raj Shah, resulting in a discussion on the mechanics of memory & aptitude and a spirited debate as David pushed back against Vanessa's war on the words "natural ability".  

We would LOVE to have an expert in this field on the podcast, so if you have any suggestions let us know!

And we want to know what you think as well - are some people born better at some things than others?!  Let us know below!

Episodes referenced:

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]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-18056203 Thu, 23 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0400 1173 full true Why math sucks and how to fix it w/ Raj Shah Why math sucks and how to fix it w/ Raj Shah Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

What is memory? Are different brains good at memorizing different things (like math vs music)? Is memorization even a good way to learn? Why don’t we teach math like we teach reading? Why do we love puzzles and escape rooms but hate math class? Is it possible to make math learning fun?? Will Vanessa ever learn how to explain how to text the podcast?!?! How does this all relate to math trauma?!?!?!

Ok.  Deep breaths.  Today's ep with Dr. Raj Shah was a rollercoaster, as every question spawned 10 more!  Connecting the big thorny debates of math education with the humanity and complexity of what students are actually experiencing in their minds and bodies, Vanessa and Raj laughed, cried, and one of them even broke out into song (probably not the one you expected!)

If you need a triple shot of inspiration, hope, and laughter today, this episode is for you.

Show notes:

About Raj: (Website, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook)

Dr. Raj Shah is the founder of Math Plus Academy, a founding member of the Global Math Project, and a leading voice in making math irresistible. Raj is passionate about creating math experiences that feel joyful and accessible, drawing inspiration from everything from video game design to human psychology. Beyond math, Raj is deeply interested in spirituality and therapy, seeing connections between how we approach math, how we heal shame, and how we make sense of the world.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

What is memory? Are different brains good at memorizing different things (like math vs music)? Is memorization even a good way to learn? Why don’t we teach math like we teach reading? Why do we love puzzles and escape rooms but hate math class? Is it possible to make math learning fun?? Will Vanessa ever learn how to explain how to text the podcast?!?! How does this all relate to math trauma?!?!?!

Ok.  Deep breaths.  Today's ep with Dr. Raj Shah was a rollercoaster, as every question spawned 10 more!  Connecting the big thorny debates of math education with the humanity and complexity of what students are actually experiencing in their minds and bodies, Vanessa and Raj laughed, cried, and one of them even broke out into song (probably not the one you expected!)

If you need a triple shot of inspiration, hope, and laughter today, this episode is for you.

Show notes:

About Raj: (Website, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook)

Dr. Raj Shah is the founder of Math Plus Academy, a founding member of the Global Math Project, and a leading voice in making math irresistible. Raj is passionate about creating math experiences that feel joyful and accessible, drawing inspiration from everything from video game design to human psychology. Beyond math, Raj is deeply interested in spirituality and therapy, seeing connections between how we approach math, how we heal shame, and how we make sense of the world.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-17997758 Thu, 16 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0400 3238 full true Math ed needs more conversations like this w/ Pam Harris Math ed needs more conversations like this w/ Pam Harris Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Today's ep ended up in a different place than Vanessa expected when she first sat down to chat with Pam Harris, founder of Math Is Figureoutable. Their first real interaction was on the DebateMath Podcast; Pam insisted that learning algorithms/shortcuts can actually hold students back from true learning, while Vanessa advocated for kids to learn however works for them.

Often, that's where it ends.  Worse, especially in the "everyone yell at each other" media landscape, the conversation never begins!  Which makes today's episode so refreshing - a debate that was more philosophical than ideological. Pam and Vanessa had the time to really go into depth about what they disagree on and where they see eye to eye ... spoiler alert, they're actually pretty aligned!

Links discussed:

About Pam: (Website, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook)

Pam Harris is a leading math educator, author, and speaker best known for her work on making math figure-out-able. Through her books, podcast, and teaching, she helps classrooms move away from rote memorization and answer-getting, and toward math as something students can sense-make, reason through, and truly understand. She’s passionate about showing that math isn’t about tricks or steps—it’s about thinking, starting with the knowledge students already bring to the table.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Today's ep ended up in a different place than Vanessa expected when she first sat down to chat with Pam Harris, founder of Math Is Figureoutable. Their first real interaction was on the DebateMath Podcast; Pam insisted that learning algorithms/shortcuts can actually hold students back from true learning, while Vanessa advocated for kids to learn however works for them.

Often, that's where it ends.  Worse, especially in the "everyone yell at each other" media landscape, the conversation never begins!  Which makes today's episode so refreshing - a debate that was more philosophical than ideological. Pam and Vanessa had the time to really go into depth about what they disagree on and where they see eye to eye ... spoiler alert, they're actually pretty aligned!

Links discussed:

About Pam: (Website, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook)

Pam Harris is a leading math educator, author, and speaker best known for her work on making math figure-out-able. Through her books, podcast, and teaching, she helps classrooms move away from rote memorization and answer-getting, and toward math as something students can sense-make, reason through, and truly understand. She’s passionate about showing that math isn’t about tricks or steps—it’s about thinking, starting with the knowledge students already bring to the table.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-17971155 Thu, 09 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0400 2783 full true The Comment Section w/ Mike Flynn The Comment Section w/ Mike Flynn Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

We're trying something new this week!  Last week's ep with Mike Flynn dove into some very murky debate waters: do students need to know the "why" of what their learning in order to truly understand material, or is it fine for them to just memorize things as long as they get the answers?  (If you missed, scroll back in your feed or click here to catch up.)

But the real drama took place over on TikTok, where Vanessa posted a clip from the ep and some viewers engaged in very polite and erudite discussion in the comments ... jk, people LOST THEIR MINDS.  But there were also a ton of great points that are often debated in math ed, so we invited Mike back on this week to respond to some comments real-time and clarify some of what he and Vanessa meant last week.  Enjoy - and either way, you know where to let us know what you think ;)

 Links discussed:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

We're trying something new this week!  Last week's ep with Mike Flynn dove into some very murky debate waters: do students need to know the "why" of what their learning in order to truly understand material, or is it fine for them to just memorize things as long as they get the answers?  (If you missed, scroll back in your feed or click here to catch up.)

But the real drama took place over on TikTok, where Vanessa posted a clip from the ep and some viewers engaged in very polite and erudite discussion in the comments ... jk, people LOST THEIR MINDS.  But there were also a ton of great points that are often debated in math ed, so we invited Mike back on this week to respond to some comments real-time and clarify some of what he and Vanessa meant last week.  Enjoy - and either way, you know where to let us know what you think ;)

 Links discussed:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-17942566 Thu, 02 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0400 2233 full true How to find the "why" in math class w/ Mike Flynn How to find the "why" in math class w/ Mike Flynn Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

When Mike Flynn started teaching, math was just one of many subjects he had to guide his students through.  The problem was, the way he was taught math made him hate it!  

But when a new career opportunity gave him the chance at a much deeper understanding of the concepts and a reason "why" they mattered in the real world, Mike realized that he wasn't confined to just teaching the way he was taught - he could give students and teachers the chance to value math right from the jump.

On today's episode he joins Vanessa to discuss:

  • Why making mistakes is essential to deep mathematical understanding
  • How shifting from “right answer” thinking to a focus on reasoning and flexible thinking can transform the way we approach math problems
  • Strategies for helping students (and adults!) overcome math anxiety and see themselves as capable, creative problem solvers

Links discussed:

About Mike Flynn: (Website, Twitter, Instagram)

Mike Flynn is an internationally recognized math educator, Director of Math Programs at Mount Holyoke College, and founder of Flynn Education. He has led professional development for teachers around the world, authored Beyond Answers: Exploring Mathematical Practices with Young Children, and served on the NCTM Board. His work focuses on helping teachers move beyond rigid instruction to curiosity-driven, identity-building math learning.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

When Mike Flynn started teaching, math was just one of many subjects he had to guide his students through.  The problem was, the way he was taught math made him hate it!  

But when a new career opportunity gave him the chance at a much deeper understanding of the concepts and a reason "why" they mattered in the real world, Mike realized that he wasn't confined to just teaching the way he was taught - he could give students and teachers the chance to value math right from the jump.

On today's episode he joins Vanessa to discuss:

  • Why making mistakes is essential to deep mathematical understanding
  • How shifting from “right answer” thinking to a focus on reasoning and flexible thinking can transform the way we approach math problems
  • Strategies for helping students (and adults!) overcome math anxiety and see themselves as capable, creative problem solvers

Links discussed:

About Mike Flynn: (Website, Twitter, Instagram)

Mike Flynn is an internationally recognized math educator, Director of Math Programs at Mount Holyoke College, and founder of Flynn Education. He has led professional development for teachers around the world, authored Beyond Answers: Exploring Mathematical Practices with Young Children, and served on the NCTM Board. His work focuses on helping teachers move beyond rigid instruction to curiosity-driven, identity-building math learning.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-17892692 Thu, 25 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -0400 2944 full true Mike Flynn Vanessa Vakharia Exclusive: Math Therapy audiobook sample for our listeners! Exclusive: Math Therapy audiobook sample for our listeners! Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

If you follow Vanessa on Instagram, you know the rollercoaster she went on to record the audiobook version of Math Therapy ... well, the hard work / literal sweat & tears paid off because it is now out!  You can find it on Audible/Amazon right now, and if you have never used Audible you can likely get it for a free credit with their new trial offer. (It will be on Spotify soon as well, let us know if there's any other platform it should be added to.)

We wanted to share an exclusive sample with our listeners, so this week's episode features the entire preface, which is also a great introduction to Vanessa's story and how she came up with Math Therapy in the first place!  And if you do end up getting the full audiobook please leave a rating/review and share it with a friend ❤️

Shop the Math Therapy collection:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

If you follow Vanessa on Instagram, you know the rollercoaster she went on to record the audiobook version of Math Therapy ... well, the hard work / literal sweat & tears paid off because it is now out!  You can find it on Audible/Amazon right now, and if you have never used Audible you can likely get it for a free credit with their new trial offer. (It will be on Spotify soon as well, let us know if there's any other platform it should be added to.)

We wanted to share an exclusive sample with our listeners, so this week's episode features the entire preface, which is also a great introduction to Vanessa's story and how she came up with Math Therapy in the first place!  And if you do end up getting the full audiobook please leave a rating/review and share it with a friend ❤️

Shop the Math Therapy collection:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia, aka The Math Guru Buzzsprout-17784329 Thu, 18 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -0400 1819 audiobook, math therapy, math anxiety, math ed, math education full true Why 1 + 1 isn't always 2 w/ Eugenia Cheng Why 1 + 1 isn't always 2 w/ Eugenia Cheng Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Have you ever felt like it's impossible to win an argument with someone, or even simply see eye to eye on anything?  On today's episode, mathematician Eugenia Cheng joins Vanessa to challenge the black-and-white thinking that often defines our world - especially in math class.

3 Key Topics Discussed:

  1. Why seemingly silly questions like "is math real?" or "when does 1 + 1 not equal 2?" are both valid and valuable
  2. How Eugenia works to help people overcome math trauma the way she overcame ... sports trauma!
  3. How emphasizing context, creativity, and nuance - not just right or wrong answers - can help students develop more flexible and creative thinking

Show notes:

About Eugenia Cheng: (Website, Twitter)

Dr Eugenia Cheng is a mathematician, educator, author, public speaker, columnist, concert pianist, composer and artist. Alongside her research and undergraduate teaching, her aim is to rid the world of “math phobia”.  Her first popular math book, How to Bake Pi, was published by Profile (UK)/Basic Books (US) in 2015 to widespread acclaim including from the New York Times, National Geographic, Scientific American, and she was interviewed around the world including on the BBC, NPR and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Have you ever felt like it's impossible to win an argument with someone, or even simply see eye to eye on anything?  On today's episode, mathematician Eugenia Cheng joins Vanessa to challenge the black-and-white thinking that often defines our world - especially in math class.

3 Key Topics Discussed:

  1. Why seemingly silly questions like "is math real?" or "when does 1 + 1 not equal 2?" are both valid and valuable
  2. How Eugenia works to help people overcome math trauma the way she overcame ... sports trauma!
  3. How emphasizing context, creativity, and nuance - not just right or wrong answers - can help students develop more flexible and creative thinking

Show notes:

About Eugenia Cheng: (Website, Twitter)

Dr Eugenia Cheng is a mathematician, educator, author, public speaker, columnist, concert pianist, composer and artist. Alongside her research and undergraduate teaching, her aim is to rid the world of “math phobia”.  Her first popular math book, How to Bake Pi, was published by Profile (UK)/Basic Books (US) in 2015 to widespread acclaim including from the New York Times, National Geographic, Scientific American, and she was interviewed around the world including on the BBC, NPR and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

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]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-17776785 Thu, 11 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -0400 3014 full true Eugenia Cheng Vanessa Vakharia 5 simple Math Therapy strategies for your classroom (weekly podcast launch!) 5 simple Math Therapy strategies for your classroom (weekly podcast launch!) Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Today we celebrate back to school week with ... the official launch of Math Therapy as a weekly podcast!  

On today's episode, Vanessa catches you up on everything going on in Math Therapy-land, and shares 5 very simple and quick strategies that teachers can employ to make this year's classroom more empowering - both for students and themselves.

5 low-lift Math Therapy strategies for the new school year:

  1. Watch your facial expressions
  2. Watch your language
  3. Ask students about their thinking process
  4. Get on your student's level - literally
  5. Ask students about their "math story"

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Today we celebrate back to school week with ... the official launch of Math Therapy as a weekly podcast!  

On today's episode, Vanessa catches you up on everything going on in Math Therapy-land, and shares 5 very simple and quick strategies that teachers can employ to make this year's classroom more empowering - both for students and themselves.

5 low-lift Math Therapy strategies for the new school year:

  1. Watch your facial expressions
  2. Watch your language
  3. Ask students about their thinking process
  4. Get on your student's level - literally
  5. Ask students about their "math story"

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-17781981 Thu, 04 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -0400 1735 full true How Math Therapy changed my entire life w/ Charizma Laughton How Math Therapy changed my entire life w/ Charizma Laughton Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

As long as Charizma Laughton can remember, her entire life was defined by a singular identity: she's bad at math, because she's not smart.  This self-image was rooted in deeply traumatic math class experiences that completely dismantled her self-confidence and made her feel like she was simply not capable of ... anything.

BUT THEN: she and Vanessa met after a yoga class in Bali recently, and after a mere two weeks of math therapy sessions together, Charizma had done a complete 180 (see what we did there?) and now has an entirely new outlook on not just math but on her entire life!  And she was brave and courageous enough to come on the podcast to tell the whole story.

Charizma's turbulent relationship with math will sound familiar, but what makes this episode one of a kind is her openness to rewriting her narratives, her commitment to confronting her fears, and the joy in her voice as she triumphantly declares herself not just a math person but a full-on mathematician!

Send this episode to the anyone in your life that recoils in fear at the word "math" - if Charizma can rewrite her story, anyone can.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

As long as Charizma Laughton can remember, her entire life was defined by a singular identity: she's bad at math, because she's not smart.  This self-image was rooted in deeply traumatic math class experiences that completely dismantled her self-confidence and made her feel like she was simply not capable of ... anything.

BUT THEN: she and Vanessa met after a yoga class in Bali recently, and after a mere two weeks of math therapy sessions together, Charizma had done a complete 180 (see what we did there?) and now has an entirely new outlook on not just math but on her entire life!  And she was brave and courageous enough to come on the podcast to tell the whole story.

Charizma's turbulent relationship with math will sound familiar, but what makes this episode one of a kind is her openness to rewriting her narratives, her commitment to confronting her fears, and the joy in her voice as she triumphantly declares herself not just a math person but a full-on mathematician!

Send this episode to the anyone in your life that recoils in fear at the word "math" - if Charizma can rewrite her story, anyone can.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru Buzzsprout-17397068 Thu, 26 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0400 3440 full true How to trust your intuition w/ Rebecca MacLeod How to trust your intuition w/ Rebecca MacLeod Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

First of all, big news: as of this fall, Math Therapy will be a weekly podcast!  This has long been a goal, so after 6 glorious 10-episode seasons and a bunch of bonus eps along the way, we'll be hitting your feed every single Thursday starting September.

For now, we are back this month with 2 special interviews we recorded earlier in the year with some friends we made in Bali, Indonesia. (Next week's episode will legit blow your mind!!) 

Today, Vanessa explores the power of intuition and its role in math education with Rebecca McLeod, an artist/designer, yogi/meditator, and all around chill vibe.  Rebecca shares how discovering sacred geometry as an adult led her to reconnect with math and examine the idea of a deep and inner sense of knowing.  They discuss how this kind of intuitive thinking can help students engage with math on a more personal (and, dare we say, spiritual!) level, and how that can help them build real confidence in their learning. They also share practical tips for both teachers and students to tap into their intuition, and highlight the importance of creating a loving and curiosity-driven math classroom.

If you've ever struggled with math anxiety or felt disconnected from math, this episode offers a fresh, grounded, and empowering outlook.

Show notes:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

First of all, big news: as of this fall, Math Therapy will be a weekly podcast!  This has long been a goal, so after 6 glorious 10-episode seasons and a bunch of bonus eps along the way, we'll be hitting your feed every single Thursday starting September.

For now, we are back this month with 2 special interviews we recorded earlier in the year with some friends we made in Bali, Indonesia. (Next week's episode will legit blow your mind!!) 

Today, Vanessa explores the power of intuition and its role in math education with Rebecca McLeod, an artist/designer, yogi/meditator, and all around chill vibe.  Rebecca shares how discovering sacred geometry as an adult led her to reconnect with math and examine the idea of a deep and inner sense of knowing.  They discuss how this kind of intuitive thinking can help students engage with math on a more personal (and, dare we say, spiritual!) level, and how that can help them build real confidence in their learning. They also share practical tips for both teachers and students to tap into their intuition, and highlight the importance of creating a loving and curiosity-driven math classroom.

If you've ever struggled with math anxiety or felt disconnected from math, this episode offers a fresh, grounded, and empowering outlook.

Show notes:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru Buzzsprout-17358782 Thu, 19 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0400 2246 full true Bonus: What's your sign? (Vanessa has no clue) Bonus: What's your sign? (Vanessa has no clue) Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Given how much Vanessa talks about astrology on the podcast, what do you think her success rate was for guessing the star signs of all the guests last season?  Today's episode (guest "hosted" by producer David) reveals all ... and also drops some hints about what to expect from this podcast in the coming months!

Show notes:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Given how much Vanessa talks about astrology on the podcast, what do you think her success rate was for guessing the star signs of all the guests last season?  Today's episode (guest "hosted" by producer David) reveals all ... and also drops some hints about what to expect from this podcast in the coming months!

Show notes:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-17281090 Thu, 05 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0400 601 outtake, astrology, math therapy, math, maths bonus true Get the politicians out of the classroom w/ David Kochberg Get the politicians out of the classroom w/ David Kochberg Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

If you're a fan of the podcast, you've often heard Vanessa mention our producer "David" in reference to him getting mad at her for yelling into the mic or hitting the mic or generally doing things that impact the quality of this AUDIO medium.  And if it isn't apparent, this is actually David typing, because I also handle publishing the episodes, so I'll stop referring to myself in the 3rd person because it's weird!

In September we released an episode in which I interviewed Vanessa about her career and about her new book Math Therapy, a resource for teachers to bring strategies in the classroom to help students build a better relationship with math.  (After a little digitial mix-up, it is now shipping on Amazon/Kindle so go grab it!)

Afterwards, she decided to interview me about my own math journey, what I enjoy about working on the pod, and what I really think as an outsider about how intense the "math wars" debate has gotten.

About David:
In addition to producing/editing this podcast, I work as a mechanical engineer (3D CAD modelling and drafting) and play guitar & sing in the band Vanessa and I started in 2011, Goodnight Sunrise.  I don't have any personal social media links but I'm usually the snarky one behind our Twitter, so connect with Vanessa at the usual places below!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

If you're a fan of the podcast, you've often heard Vanessa mention our producer "David" in reference to him getting mad at her for yelling into the mic or hitting the mic or generally doing things that impact the quality of this AUDIO medium.  And if it isn't apparent, this is actually David typing, because I also handle publishing the episodes, so I'll stop referring to myself in the 3rd person because it's weird!

In September we released an episode in which I interviewed Vanessa about her career and about her new book Math Therapy, a resource for teachers to bring strategies in the classroom to help students build a better relationship with math.  (After a little digitial mix-up, it is now shipping on Amazon/Kindle so go grab it!)

Afterwards, she decided to interview me about my own math journey, what I enjoy about working on the pod, and what I really think as an outsider about how intense the "math wars" debate has gotten.

About David:
In addition to producing/editing this podcast, I work as a mechanical engineer (3D CAD modelling and drafting) and play guitar & sing in the band Vanessa and I started in 2011, Goodnight Sunrise.  I don't have any personal social media links but I'm usually the snarky one behind our Twitter, so connect with Vanessa at the usual places below!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia / David Kochberg Buzzsprout-16087932 Thu, 14 Nov 2024 06:00:00 -0500 2107 6 bonus true We're not teaching content, we're teaching students w/ Kevin Dykema We're not teaching content, we're teaching students w/ Kevin Dykema Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Having attended and presented at the annual NCTM (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics) conference, Vanessa reached out to "famously nice guy" Kevin Dykema, the organization's President, to learn more about his journey to the top.  Along the way she was surprised to learn that even he battles imposter syndrome, and the way he's learned to deal with it is by "learning what he doesn't know" and not being afraid to reach out for help.

Today's conversation covered the pros and cons of professional development, advice on how teachers can adapt to changing education systems, and how perspectives on math anxiety have shifted in recent years.  Kevin has an incredibly inspiring and optimistic outlook on education and you're going to love this convo!

About Kevin: (Twitter)
Kevin Dykema is President of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), an international mathematics education organization with more than 30,000 members.  He has taught 8th grade mathematics for over 25 years and is currently at Mattawan Middle School in southwest Michigan. Kevin is a frequent speaker before mathematics education audiences and has co-authored Productive Math Struggle. 

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Having attended and presented at the annual NCTM (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics) conference, Vanessa reached out to "famously nice guy" Kevin Dykema, the organization's President, to learn more about his journey to the top.  Along the way she was surprised to learn that even he battles imposter syndrome, and the way he's learned to deal with it is by "learning what he doesn't know" and not being afraid to reach out for help.

Today's conversation covered the pros and cons of professional development, advice on how teachers can adapt to changing education systems, and how perspectives on math anxiety have shifted in recent years.  Kevin has an incredibly inspiring and optimistic outlook on education and you're going to love this convo!

About Kevin: (Twitter)
Kevin Dykema is President of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), an international mathematics education organization with more than 30,000 members.  He has taught 8th grade mathematics for over 25 years and is currently at Mattawan Middle School in southwest Michigan. Kevin is a frequent speaker before mathematics education audiences and has co-authored Productive Math Struggle. 

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia / The Math Guru Buzzsprout-15715908 Thu, 12 Sep 2024 06:00:00 -0400 2635 NCTM, education, math education, STEM, math, maths, math anxiety, math trauma, self-help full true Math Therapy is now a book! Vanessa tells all ... Math Therapy is now a book! Vanessa tells all ... Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

HUGE news - Math Therapy is now a book!  Vanessa has taken everything she's learned in her career helping students overcome math trauma, and all the insights from the 6 seasons of this podcast, and formulated a 5-step process to bring math therapy into classrooms and help all students develop a better relationship with math.

To celebrate, Math Therapy producer David Kochberg turned the mic around and interviewed Vanessa about how Math Therapy started in the first place, what gives her hope about the future of math education, and how she really feels about the provocative term "edu celeb"...

Show notes:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

HUGE news - Math Therapy is now a book!  Vanessa has taken everything she's learned in her career helping students overcome math trauma, and all the insights from the 6 seasons of this podcast, and formulated a 5-step process to bring math therapy into classrooms and help all students develop a better relationship with math.

To celebrate, Math Therapy producer David Kochberg turned the mic around and interviewed Vanessa about how Math Therapy started in the first place, what gives her hope about the future of math education, and how she really feels about the provocative term "edu celeb"...

Show notes:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia / The Math Guru Buzzsprout-15692243 Thu, 05 Sep 2024 06:00:00 -0400 2196 bonus true We are born to love math w/ Dan Finkel We are born to love math w/ Dan Finkel Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Dan Finkel is an author/educator who believes that humans are wired to be curious from birth, and that play is the secret to maintaining that joy of learning throughout childhood.  On today’s season 6 finale, he and Vanessa discuss how teaching kids about math can be so much more fun than we think; it can mean playing board games, counting on their fingers, anything that helps them develop an intuitive sense that there are patterns and structures in the world for them to discover. They also discuss how play-based approaches can even help grown-ups heal from math trauma!

About Dan (Website, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn)
Dan Finkel is the Founder and Director of Operations of Math for Love, a Seattle-based organization devoted to transforming how math is taught and learned. Dan is an author and game designer, develops curriculum, leads teacher workshops, and gives talks on mathematics and education. He contributes regularly to the New York Times Numberplay blog and hosts Seattle’s Julia Robinson Math Festival annually.

Show notes:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Dan Finkel is an author/educator who believes that humans are wired to be curious from birth, and that play is the secret to maintaining that joy of learning throughout childhood.  On today’s season 6 finale, he and Vanessa discuss how teaching kids about math can be so much more fun than we think; it can mean playing board games, counting on their fingers, anything that helps them develop an intuitive sense that there are patterns and structures in the world for them to discover. They also discuss how play-based approaches can even help grown-ups heal from math trauma!

About Dan (Website, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn)
Dan Finkel is the Founder and Director of Operations of Math for Love, a Seattle-based organization devoted to transforming how math is taught and learned. Dan is an author and game designer, develops curriculum, leads teacher workshops, and gives talks on mathematics and education. He contributes regularly to the New York Times Numberplay blog and hosts Seattle’s Julia Robinson Math Festival annually.

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]]> Vanessa Vakharia / Dan Finkel Buzzsprout-15159644 Thu, 30 May 2024 06:00:00 -0400 2564 math, education, teachers, childhood education, math education, play-based learning 6 10 full true Grit is your superpower w/ Dr. India White Grit is your superpower w/ Dr. India White Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Dr. India White learned grit and resilience the hard way: facing down obstacles throughout her life and deciding she wouldn’t back down.  Now she coaches teachers and students on developing their own gritty superpowers, and she joins Vanessa today for wide-ranging and inspiring conversation. They discuss her journey from a homeless shelter to a college dorm, how equity is about so much more than just race, and the power of lifting each other up as an antidote to fear.

About India:
(Website, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn)
As a TEDx speaker, I motivate students who are disadvantaged and at-risk of dropping out! As an educational consultant,  I help teachers understand equity and grit in a math classroom! As a speaker coach, I help leaders grow their speaking business! As a co-author for Big Ideas Learning, I provide a diverse lens on teaching math for all learners! As a #1 best-selling Published Author, I help aspiring authors thrive and finish writing their book!

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Dr. India White learned grit and resilience the hard way: facing down obstacles throughout her life and deciding she wouldn’t back down.  Now she coaches teachers and students on developing their own gritty superpowers, and she joins Vanessa today for wide-ranging and inspiring conversation. They discuss her journey from a homeless shelter to a college dorm, how equity is about so much more than just race, and the power of lifting each other up as an antidote to fear.

About India:
(Website, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn)
As a TEDx speaker, I motivate students who are disadvantaged and at-risk of dropping out! As an educational consultant,  I help teachers understand equity and grit in a math classroom! As a speaker coach, I help leaders grow their speaking business! As a co-author for Big Ideas Learning, I provide a diverse lens on teaching math for all learners! As a #1 best-selling Published Author, I help aspiring authors thrive and finish writing their book!

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]]> Vanessa Vakharia / Dr. India White Buzzsprout-15107713 Thu, 23 May 2024 06:00:00 -0400 2465 math, education, grit, resilience, math education, teaching 6 9 full true How to change someone's mind w/ Chris Luzniak How to change someone's mind w/ Chris Luzniak Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

What if the secret to winning a debate was actually listening to your opponent? What if you could build confidence and overcome anxiety through the practice of public speaking?  And HOW does someone go from dreams of Broadway fame to teaching debate in math class?!  Find out today as Vanessa chats with math educator/coach Chris Luzniak, host of The DebateMath Podcast!

About Chris (Website, Twitter, Instagram)
Chris Luzniak is an international math consultant and instructional coach. While teaching in New York City public schools he founded the Speech and Debate team, and through this combination of teaching and coaching Chris has developed debate routines that bring student voice and discussion into the math classroom. He coaches teachers in both math and science to develop real-world debate activities for students, hosts The DebateMath Podcast (Subscribe, Twitter, YouTube), and explores these themes further in his book Up for Debate!

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What if the secret to winning a debate was actually listening to your opponent? What if you could build confidence and overcome anxiety through the practice of public speaking?  And HOW does someone go from dreams of Broadway fame to teaching debate in math class?!  Find out today as Vanessa chats with math educator/coach Chris Luzniak, host of The DebateMath Podcast!

About Chris (Website, Twitter, Instagram)
Chris Luzniak is an international math consultant and instructional coach. While teaching in New York City public schools he founded the Speech and Debate team, and through this combination of teaching and coaching Chris has developed debate routines that bring student voice and discussion into the math classroom. He coaches teachers in both math and science to develop real-world debate activities for students, hosts The DebateMath Podcast (Subscribe, Twitter, YouTube), and explores these themes further in his book Up for Debate!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia / Chris Luzniak Buzzsprout-15073505 Thu, 16 May 2024 06:00:00 -0400 2328 math, math education, debate, mathematics, math anxiety, math trauma, classroom strategies 6 8 full true Math doesn't cause trauma, people do w/ Sean Nank Math doesn't cause trauma, people do w/ Sean Nank Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

When Vanessa saw today’s guest deliver a deeply personal talk at a recent math conference, she was left with more questions than answers; all she knew for certain was she had to get him on the podcast.  Sean Nank is a math educator who believes that the power of our students' stories is the most valuable tool we can harness in our math classrooms, and he illustrates this by sharing his own journey of growing up in an abusive environment, learning to understand and embrace his OCD, and the fateful day that math, for real, saved his own life.

On that note, a heads up that today’s episode involves a brief discussion early on about abuse and suicide.

About Sean (Website, Twitter)
Sean Nank, PhD, is an award-winning math educator and author.  He has worked in various positions with the United States Department of Education, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, National Science Foundation, and the California Department of Education.  Sean currently serves on the Executive Board at the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics (NCSM) and is the Associate Editor of their Journal of Mathematics Education Leadership (JMEL), and works at Amplify as a math content designer.

Show notes:

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When Vanessa saw today’s guest deliver a deeply personal talk at a recent math conference, she was left with more questions than answers; all she knew for certain was she had to get him on the podcast.  Sean Nank is a math educator who believes that the power of our students' stories is the most valuable tool we can harness in our math classrooms, and he illustrates this by sharing his own journey of growing up in an abusive environment, learning to understand and embrace his OCD, and the fateful day that math, for real, saved his own life.

On that note, a heads up that today’s episode involves a brief discussion early on about abuse and suicide.

About Sean (Website, Twitter)
Sean Nank, PhD, is an award-winning math educator and author.  He has worked in various positions with the United States Department of Education, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, National Science Foundation, and the California Department of Education.  Sean currently serves on the Executive Board at the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics (NCSM) and is the Associate Editor of their Journal of Mathematics Education Leadership (JMEL), and works at Amplify as a math content designer.

Show notes:

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]]> Vanessa Vakharia / Sean Nank Buzzsprout-15012873 Thu, 09 May 2024 06:00:00 -0400 2344 OCD, learning disability, education, math, math education, classroom, teaching strategies, teachers 6 7 full true Turns out some folks hate math w/ Jon Orr & Kyle Pearce Turns out some folks hate math w/ Jon Orr & Kyle Pearce Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Today’s another one for the teachers, featuring Jon Orr & Kyle Pearce of the Make Math Moments empire - they have a podcast, a framework, workshops & courses & virtual summits galore, and who knows probably even a cooking show at this point?!  They join Vanessa today to discuss the SHOCKING realization early in their career that not all students would be as excited about math as they were … which propelled them to adapt their teaching methods to fuel curiosity in kids so they don’t just get the right answers, but rather develop a true understanding of what they’re learning in class and beyond.

About Make Math Moments:
(Website, Podcast, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn)
Make Math Moments is on a mission to provide an opportunity for all mathematics educators around the world to access professional learning opportunities that will elevate their teaching practice and promote an equitable learning experience for all students.

Show notes:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Today’s another one for the teachers, featuring Jon Orr & Kyle Pearce of the Make Math Moments empire - they have a podcast, a framework, workshops & courses & virtual summits galore, and who knows probably even a cooking show at this point?!  They join Vanessa today to discuss the SHOCKING realization early in their career that not all students would be as excited about math as they were … which propelled them to adapt their teaching methods to fuel curiosity in kids so they don’t just get the right answers, but rather develop a true understanding of what they’re learning in class and beyond.

About Make Math Moments:
(Website, Podcast, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn)
Make Math Moments is on a mission to provide an opportunity for all mathematics educators around the world to access professional learning opportunities that will elevate their teaching practice and promote an equitable learning experience for all students.

Show notes:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia / Jon Orr & Kyle Pearce Buzzsprout-14970883 Thu, 02 May 2024 06:00:00 -0400 2437 make math moments, math, math education, math teacher, teaching, education 6 6 full true Teachers have trauma too w/ Brittany Hege Teachers have trauma too w/ Brittany Hege Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

We’re often talking about trauma from the student perspective: how it happens in the classroom, and how it follows them into adulthood.  But one group is often overlooked in this discussion - teachers! 

Today Vanessa chats with educator Brittany Hege about the challenges teachers often face in keeping up with changing pedagogies, while already being strapped for time and often struggling with math traumas of their own!  This is an honest and heartfelt discussion about how education can evolve without leaving either students or teachers behind, how shame in the classroom can lead to anxiety for both, and how curiosity and community can lay the path to healing.

About Brittany: (Website, Insta, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter)
Brittany Hege is a math educator who has worked with students and teachers in both upper elementary and middle grades. She holds a master's degree in Elementary Mathematics Education and is passionate about helping teachers grow their understanding of the math concepts they teach. Brittany believes in the power of experiencing math through hands-on work and uses her platform, Mix and Math, to equip upper elementary teachers with the knowledge and confidence to inspire a generation of empowered math learners.

Show notes:

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We’re often talking about trauma from the student perspective: how it happens in the classroom, and how it follows them into adulthood.  But one group is often overlooked in this discussion - teachers! 

Today Vanessa chats with educator Brittany Hege about the challenges teachers often face in keeping up with changing pedagogies, while already being strapped for time and often struggling with math traumas of their own!  This is an honest and heartfelt discussion about how education can evolve without leaving either students or teachers behind, how shame in the classroom can lead to anxiety for both, and how curiosity and community can lay the path to healing.

About Brittany: (Website, Insta, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter)
Brittany Hege is a math educator who has worked with students and teachers in both upper elementary and middle grades. She holds a master's degree in Elementary Mathematics Education and is passionate about helping teachers grow their understanding of the math concepts they teach. Brittany believes in the power of experiencing math through hands-on work and uses her platform, Mix and Math, to equip upper elementary teachers with the knowledge and confidence to inspire a generation of empowered math learners.

Show notes:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia / Brittany Hege Buzzsprout-14928816 Thu, 25 Apr 2024 06:00:00 -0400 2198 teaching, math, math education, education, educators, classroom, teachers 6 5 full true More clickbait in the classroom! w/ Howie Hua More clickbait in the classroom! w/ Howie Hua Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Of the truly infinite things Vanessa likes to rant about, few top the list like math’s marketing problem - which is why she was elated to chat with social media mathstar Howie Hua! 

Today Howie shares how his own experiences with math anxiety sucked the joy out of math when he was a student, and how he started to bring it back for both himself and his students when he became a teacher.  He’s built a massive following on TikTok and beyond by sharing quick and fun explainer videos and math memes, and his enthusiasm for learning is a true delight - enjoy!

About Howie (Website, Linktree, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube)
Howie Hua is a math instructor at Fresno State teaching math to future elementary school teachers. He has built a large following online, sharing short teaching tips, memes, and math explainer videos on TikTok and other social media platforms in a mission to make math more fun and accessible to all.

Show notes:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Of the truly infinite things Vanessa likes to rant about, few top the list like math’s marketing problem - which is why she was elated to chat with social media mathstar Howie Hua! 

Today Howie shares how his own experiences with math anxiety sucked the joy out of math when he was a student, and how he started to bring it back for both himself and his students when he became a teacher.  He’s built a massive following on TikTok and beyond by sharing quick and fun explainer videos and math memes, and his enthusiasm for learning is a true delight - enjoy!

About Howie (Website, Linktree, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube)
Howie Hua is a math instructor at Fresno State teaching math to future elementary school teachers. He has built a large following online, sharing short teaching tips, memes, and math explainer videos on TikTok and other social media platforms in a mission to make math more fun and accessible to all.

Show notes:

Contact us:

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]]> Vanessa Vakharia / Howie Hua Buzzsprout-14909975 Thu, 18 Apr 2024 06:00:00 -0400 1612 math, mathtok, tiktok, education, math education, math tiktok, teacher, math teacher 6 4 full true The spiritual side of math w/ Francis Su The spiritual side of math w/ Francis Su Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

When you picture a mathematician, what comes to mind?  Now … what about a “mathematical explorer”?  Well, that’s what Francis Su calls himself, and when Vanessa picked up his book Mathematics for Human Flourishing, she couldn’t put it down.

On today's episode they explore how mathematical discovery can unleash the wonder and curiosity innate within us all.  They also discuss some deep questions, like why do people have different emotional reactions to math compared to other fields?  How can humans cultivate the virtues we'll need to keep AI in check?  And why is change so hard, both in educational reform but also in our own lives?

About Francis (Website, Twitter)
Francis Su is an award-winning professor and author who writes about the dignity of human beings and the wonder of mathematical teaching.  The Benediktsson-Karwa Professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College and a former president of the Mathematical Association of America, his work has been featured in Quanta Magazine, Wired, and the New York Times.

Show notes: 

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]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

When you picture a mathematician, what comes to mind?  Now … what about a “mathematical explorer”?  Well, that’s what Francis Su calls himself, and when Vanessa picked up his book Mathematics for Human Flourishing, she couldn’t put it down.

On today's episode they explore how mathematical discovery can unleash the wonder and curiosity innate within us all.  They also discuss some deep questions, like why do people have different emotional reactions to math compared to other fields?  How can humans cultivate the virtues we'll need to keep AI in check?  And why is change so hard, both in educational reform but also in our own lives?

About Francis (Website, Twitter)
Francis Su is an award-winning professor and author who writes about the dignity of human beings and the wonder of mathematical teaching.  The Benediktsson-Karwa Professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College and a former president of the Mathematical Association of America, his work has been featured in Quanta Magazine, Wired, and the New York Times.

Show notes: 

Contact us:

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]]> Vanessa Vakharia / Francis Su Buzzsprout-14866996 Thu, 11 Apr 2024 06:00:00 -0400 2269 math, maths, mathematics, math education, education, self help, self improvement 6 3 full true Tell your students you trust them w/ Zak Champagne Tell your students you trust them w/ Zak Champagne Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Longtime listeners (like today’s guest, as you’ll discover…) will recall one name popping up in almost every interview last season, so Vanessa needed to find out for herself: who is Zak Champagne & why do people like him so much?! Through today’s rollercoaster episode she discovered a teacher with boundless enthusiasm for the joys of teaching, grounded in a deep respect for his students. 

They unpack what we really mean by terms like “student voice” and “building trust”, offer practical advice on how to actually integrate those ideas into the classroom when teachers are already so strapped for time, and discuss how giving students a sense of purpose and community doesn’t just help them learn - it could even save their lives.

About Zak (Website, Twitter)
Zak Champagne began his career as an elementary school teacher in Jacksonville, Florida, receiving many state and national awards including the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).  Zak then spent six years as a researcher at the Florida Center for Research in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (FCR-STEM) at FSU before serving as the Director of Teacher Leadership at the Jacksonville Public Education Fund.  Zak returned to the classroom in the fall of 2019 as a Lower Elementary Teacher (grades 3 and 4), Director of Mathematics, and Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) at The Discovery School.

Show notes:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

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Longtime listeners (like today’s guest, as you’ll discover…) will recall one name popping up in almost every interview last season, so Vanessa needed to find out for herself: who is Zak Champagne & why do people like him so much?! Through today’s rollercoaster episode she discovered a teacher with boundless enthusiasm for the joys of teaching, grounded in a deep respect for his students. 

They unpack what we really mean by terms like “student voice” and “building trust”, offer practical advice on how to actually integrate those ideas into the classroom when teachers are already so strapped for time, and discuss how giving students a sense of purpose and community doesn’t just help them learn - it could even save their lives.

About Zak (Website, Twitter)
Zak Champagne began his career as an elementary school teacher in Jacksonville, Florida, receiving many state and national awards including the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).  Zak then spent six years as a researcher at the Florida Center for Research in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (FCR-STEM) at FSU before serving as the Director of Teacher Leadership at the Jacksonville Public Education Fund.  Zak returned to the classroom in the fall of 2019 as a Lower Elementary Teacher (grades 3 and 4), Director of Mathematics, and Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) at The Discovery School.

Show notes:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia / Zak Champagne Buzzsprout-14802530 Thu, 04 Apr 2024 06:00:00 -0400 2534 student voice, classrooms, math, math education, education, teaching methods 6 2 full true The difference between equity & equality w/ Dr. Pamela Seda The difference between equity & equality w/ Dr. Pamela Seda Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

On the Season 6 premiere of Math Therapy, Vanessa chats with Dr. Pamela Seda, an expert in all things education and inspiration!  They dive deep into hot topics like how teachers can build trust in the classroom by modelling vulnerability, the benefits of cultivating community over competition, and a fascinating metaphor that illustrates what equity and accommodations truly mean in our schools.

About Pam (Website, Insta, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn)
Dr. Pamela Seda, Founder and CEO of Seda Educational Consulting, is the creator of the VANG Math Card Game and co-author of "Choosing to See: A Framework for Equity in the Math Classroom." Dr. Seda's career spans roles as a high school math teacher, instructional coach, college instructor, and district math supervisor. Dr. Seda is a prominent speaker on math equity, committed to transforming how marginalized students experience mathematics and advocates for mathematics instruction that develops all students as thinkers and problem-solvers.

Show notes:

Contact us:

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]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

On the Season 6 premiere of Math Therapy, Vanessa chats with Dr. Pamela Seda, an expert in all things education and inspiration!  They dive deep into hot topics like how teachers can build trust in the classroom by modelling vulnerability, the benefits of cultivating community over competition, and a fascinating metaphor that illustrates what equity and accommodations truly mean in our schools.

About Pam (Website, Insta, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn)
Dr. Pamela Seda, Founder and CEO of Seda Educational Consulting, is the creator of the VANG Math Card Game and co-author of "Choosing to See: A Framework for Equity in the Math Classroom." Dr. Seda's career spans roles as a high school math teacher, instructional coach, college instructor, and district math supervisor. Dr. Seda is a prominent speaker on math equity, committed to transforming how marginalized students experience mathematics and advocates for mathematics instruction that develops all students as thinkers and problem-solvers.

Show notes:

Contact us:

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]]> Vanessa Vakharia / Dr. Pamela Seda Buzzsprout-14752120 Thu, 28 Mar 2024 06:00:00 -0400 2598 math, math education, equity, self-help, self-improvement 6 1 full false Season 6 Trailer Season 6 Trailer Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Season 6 drops March 28th - here’s a sample of who and what you’ll hear!

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Season 6 drops March 28th - here’s a sample of who and what you’ll hear!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-14733920 Thu, 21 Mar 2024 06:00:00 -0400 247 Math, trailer, education, self help, self improvement 6 trailer true Refresher: Pi Day in Prison Refresher: Pi Day in Prison Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

It's March 14th, aka 3.14 ... so Happy Pi Day!  To help you get in the zone, we're re-airing an episode from last year recounting the Math Therapy team's Pi Day 2023 trip to Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility in Michigan.  This stemmed from Vanessa's Season 3, Episode 10 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.

Find out more about PMP at prisonmathproject.org where you can:

  • donate
  • volunteer as a mentor for an inmate
  • sign up an inmate interested in the program

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

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It's March 14th, aka 3.14 ... so Happy Pi Day!  To help you get in the zone, we're re-airing an episode from last year recounting the Math Therapy team's Pi Day 2023 trip to Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility in Michigan.  This stemmed from Vanessa's Season 3, Episode 10 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.

Find out more about PMP at prisonmathproject.org where you can:

  • donate
  • volunteer as a mentor for an inmate
  • sign up an inmate interested in the program

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-14686521 Thu, 14 Mar 2024 06:00:00 -0400 2928 6 bonus true The Awkward Return?! (S6 is coming) The Awkward Return?! (S6 is coming) Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-14639499 Thu, 07 Mar 2024 06:00:00 -0500 167 6 bonus false The Awkward Goodbye The Awkward Goodbye Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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! ;)

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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! ;)

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru Buzzsprout-13805305 Thu, 19 Oct 2023 06:00:00 -0400 596 5 bonus true Embracing your limitless mind w/ Jo Boaler Embracing your limitless mind w/ Jo Boaler Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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:

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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:

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]]> Vanessa Vakharia / Jo Boaler Buzzsprout-13247860 Thu, 20 Jul 2023 06:00:00 -0400 2513 growth mindset, math education, maths, math, jo boaler 5 10 full true Teaching students to ... think?! w/ Peter Liljedahl Teaching students to ... think?! w/ Peter Liljedahl Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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.

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]]> Vanessa Vakharia / Peter Liljedahl Buzzsprout-13214207 Thu, 13 Jul 2023 06:00:00 -0400 2612 5 9 full true Mistakes: Villains or Heroes? Mistakes: Villains or Heroes? Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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.

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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.

Contact us:

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]]> Vanessa Vakharia / The Math Guru Buzzsprout-13168142 Thu, 06 Jul 2023 06:00:00 -0400 1962 Math, math education, mistakes, education, growth mindset 5 8 full true Centering student voice in math class w/ Crystal Watson Centering student voice in math class w/ Crystal Watson Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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:

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]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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:

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]]> Vanessa Vakharia / Crystal Watson Buzzsprout-13126321 Thu, 29 Jun 2023 06:00:00 -0400 2622 5 7 full true Redefining "Success" Redefining "Success" Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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.

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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.

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]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-13085421 Thu, 22 Jun 2023 06:00:00 -0400 1689 math, math education, success, growth mindset, failure 5 6 full true Refresher: Drag queens & math class w/ Kyne Santos Refresher: Drag queens & math class w/ Kyne Santos Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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*

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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*

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]]> The Math Guru / Kyne Buzzsprout-13035167 Thu, 15 Jun 2023 06:00:00 -0400 2006 drag, math, math education, pride, pride month, queer 5 bonus true How struggle leads to growth w/ Robert Kaplinsky How struggle leads to growth w/ Robert Kaplinsky Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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:

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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:

Contact us:

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]]> Vanessa Vakharia / Robert Kaplinsky Buzzsprout-12997106 Thu, 08 Jun 2023 06:00:00 -0400 2301 struggle, growth mindset, math, math education, education, mistakes 5 5 full true How trauma affects the brain w/ Liesl McConchie How trauma affects the brain w/ Liesl McConchie Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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:

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]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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:

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]]> Vanessa Vakharia / Liesl McConchie Buzzsprout-12949358 Thu, 01 Jun 2023 06:00:00 -0400 2684 neuroscience, neuroplasticity, math education, math, math trauma, math therapy, epigenetics, brain science 5 4 full false What even is math trauma? What even is math trauma? Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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.

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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.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia Buzzsprout-12913348 Thu, 25 May 2023 06:00:00 -0400 1408 5 3 full true Mathers gonna math w/ Deborah Peart Mathers gonna math w/ Deborah Peart Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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:

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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:

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]]> Vanessa Vakharia / Deborah Peart Buzzsprout-12868918 Thu, 18 May 2023 06:00:00 -0400 2799 5 2 full true Teaching math as an act of protest w/ Dan Meyer Teaching math as an act of protest w/ Dan Meyer Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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:

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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:

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]]> Vanessa Vakharia / Dan Meyer Buzzsprout-12822903 Thu, 11 May 2023 06:00:00 -0400 2224 math, math education 5 1 full true Season 5 trailer Season 5 trailer Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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!

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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!

Contact us:

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]]> The Math Guru Buzzsprout-12803069 Mon, 08 May 2023 06:00:00 -0400 144 5 trailer false Exciting update w/ Jill from Season 2! Exciting update w/ Jill from Season 2! Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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!

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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!

Contact us:

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]]> Vanessa Vakharia / Jill Waddell Buzzsprout-12779928 Thu, 04 May 2023 06:00:00 -0400 827 bonus true Pi Day in Prison (Seriously) Pi Day in Prison (Seriously) Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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:

  • donate
  • volunteer as a mentor for an inmate
  • sign up an inmate interested in the program
  • info and history of Christopher and the Prison Math Project

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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:

  • donate
  • volunteer as a mentor for an inmate
  • sign up an inmate interested in the program
  • info and history of Christopher and the Prison Math Project

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Buzzsprout-12545361 Thu, 30 Mar 2023 07:00:00 -0400 2847 full true Math reform under attack w/ Jo Boaler Math reform under attack w/ Jo Boaler Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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!

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]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Vanessa Vakharia / Jo Boaler Buzzsprout-12500348 Thu, 23 Mar 2023 08:00:00 -0400 1107 math, education, math education, equity, EDI bonus true S4E10: Queering math w/ Dr. Anthony Bonato S4E10: Queering math w/ Dr. Anthony Bonato Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 Anthony: (Website)

Dr. 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:

Contact us:

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]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 Anthony: (Website)

Dr. 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:

Contact us:

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]]> The Math Guru Buzzsprout-10642920 Thu, 26 May 2022 06:00:00 -0400 1616 4 10 full true S4E09: Giving students the voice they deserve w/ Rosalind Wiseman S4E09: Giving students the voice they deserve w/ Rosalind Wiseman Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 Rosalind: (Twitter, Insta)

Rosalind 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.

Show notes:

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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 Rosalind: (Twitter, Insta)

Rosalind 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.

Show notes:

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]]> The Math Guru Buzzsprout-10642897 Thu, 19 May 2022 06:00:00 -0400 1901 4 9 full true S4E08: “Dude Walls” & the lost women of science w/ Katie Hafner S4E08: “Dude Walls” & the lost women of science w/ Katie Hafner Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

You may be 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 Katie (Twitter, Website)

Katie 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:

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You may be 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 Katie (Twitter, Website)

Katie 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:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru Buzzsprout-10510338 Thu, 12 May 2022 06:00:00 -0400 2218 4 8 full true S4E07: Defying Asian math stereotypes w/ Steven Tran S4E07: Defying Asian math stereotypes w/ Steven Tran Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 Steven

Steven Tran is an undergraduate student at Ryerson in the Biomedical Sciences program, working as a tutor and in a startup.

Show notes:

Contact us:

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]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 Steven

Steven Tran is an undergraduate student at Ryerson in the Biomedical Sciences program, working as a tutor and in a startup.

Show notes:

Contact us:

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]]> The Math Guru Buzzsprout-10510327 Thu, 05 May 2022 06:00:00 -0400 1722 4 7 full true S4E06: From mathochistic to mathcurious w/ A.K. Whitney S4E06: From mathochistic to mathcurious w/ A.K. Whitney Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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. (Twitter) & The Mathochism Project: (Twitter, Website)

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:

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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. (Twitter) & The Mathochism Project: (Twitter, Website)

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:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru Buzzsprout-10510293 Thu, 28 Apr 2022 06:00:00 -0400 1535 4 6 full true S4E05: Compassion & confidence in the classroom w/ Sophie Soberano S4E05: Compassion & confidence in the classroom w/ Sophie Soberano Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 Sophie

Sophie 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. 

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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 Sophie

Sophie 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. 

Contact us:

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]]> The Math Guru Buzzsprout-10465211 Thu, 21 Apr 2022 06:00:00 -0400 1962 4 5 full true S4E04: Dancing on the moon w/ Dr. Merritt Moore S4E04: Dancing on the moon w/ Dr. Merritt Moore Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 also 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 Merritt: (Insta, Twitter, LinkedIn)

Dr. 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:

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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 also 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 Merritt: (Insta, Twitter, LinkedIn)

Dr. 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:

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]]> The Math Guru Buzzsprout-10434617 Thu, 14 Apr 2022 06:00:00 -0400 1595 4 4 full true S4E03: 4 million subscribers watch this guy do math w/ Grant Sanderson S4E03: 4 million subscribers watch this guy do math w/ Grant Sanderson Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 Grant (YouTube) & 3blue1brown (YouTube, Twitter)

Grant 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 references
  • Grant's video about colliding blocks computing pi

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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 Grant (YouTube) & 3blue1brown (YouTube, Twitter)

Grant 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 references
  • Grant's video about colliding blocks computing pi

Contact us:

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]]> The Math Guru Buzzsprout-10392067 Thu, 07 Apr 2022 06:00:00 -0400 1831 4 3 full true S4E02: Is math the ultimate catfish? w/ Terilisha S4E02: Is math the ultimate catfish? w/ Terilisha Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 Terilisha (Insta, Twitter, Spotify)

Terilisha 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:

Contact us:

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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 Terilisha (Insta, Twitter, Spotify)

Terilisha 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:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru / Terilisha Buzzsprout-10349561 Thu, 31 Mar 2022 06:00:00 -0400 1435 netflix, the circle, songwriter, math, education, teacher, finances 4 2 full true S4E01: Can math predict the Oscars? w/ Ben Zauzmer S4E01: Can math predict the Oscars? w/ Ben Zauzmer Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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:

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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:

Contact us:

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]]> The Math Guru / Ben Zauzmer Buzzsprout-10303200 Thu, 24 Mar 2022 06:00:00 -0400 1850 math, oscars, prediction, statistics 4 1 full true Season 4 trailer Season 4 trailer Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru Buzzsprout-10265242 Thu, 17 Mar 2022 06:00:00 -0400 183 4 trailer false S3E10: How math rehabilitated a murderer w/ Christopher Havens S3E10: How math rehabilitated a murderer w/ Christopher Havens Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 & Prison Mathematics Project: (Website, Twitter, Insta, Facebook)

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 notes

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 & Prison Mathematics Project: (Website, Twitter, Insta, Facebook)

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 notes

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru Buzzsprout-8673539 Thu, 10 Jun 2021 06:00:00 -0400 2221 3 10 full true S3E09: I’m not a math person, don’t @ me w/ Bex S3E09: I’m not a math person, don’t @ me w/ Bex Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 Bex

Bex 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 notes

Contact us:

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]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 Bex

Bex 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 notes

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru Buzzsprout-8610265 Thu, 03 Jun 2021 06:00:00 -0400 2060 3 9 full true S3E08: There are no stupid questions w/ Roger Fischer S3E08: There are no stupid questions w/ Roger Fischer Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 Roger (Twitter)

Dr. 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 notes

Contact us:

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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 Roger (Twitter)

Dr. 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 notes

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Buzzsprout-8595524 Thu, 27 May 2021 06:00:00 -0400 1781 3 8 full true S3E07: Challenging stereotypes by fulfilling them w/ Abby Govindan S3E07: Challenging stereotypes by fulfilling them w/ Abby Govindan Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 Abby: (Twitter, Insta)

Abby Govindan is a comedian.  (ed. note - this is literally the bio she gave us :)

Show notes:

  • Abby’s viral tweet about women in STEM

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 Abby: (Twitter, Insta)

Abby Govindan is a comedian.  (ed. note - this is literally the bio she gave us :)

Show notes:

  • Abby’s viral tweet about women in STEM

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru Buzzsprout-8540595 Thu, 20 May 2021 06:00:00 -0400 1286 3 7 full true S3E06: Why representation matters w/ Brittany Rhodes S3E06: Why representation matters w/ Brittany Rhodes Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 Brittany: (Insta, Twitter, Facebook)

Brittany 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. Their Black Girl MATHgic Box 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.

Show notes

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 Brittany: (Insta, Twitter, Facebook)

Brittany 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. Their Black Girl MATHgic Box 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.

Show notes

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Buzzsprout-8507477 Thu, 13 May 2021 06:00:00 -0400 1559 3 6 full true S3E05: How brands can use their power for good w/ Candace Borland S3E05: How brands can use their power for good w/ Candace Borland Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 Candace / Anamoly: (Website, Instagram & Twitter)

Candace 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.

Show notes:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 Candace / Anamoly: (Website, Instagram & Twitter)

Candace 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.

Show notes:

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Buzzsprout-8445571 Thu, 06 May 2021 06:00:00 -0400 1301 3 5 full false S3E04: Mathfluencers, Mean Girls & more w/ Esther Brunat S3E04: Mathfluencers, Mean Girls & more w/ Esther Brunat Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 Esther: (Instagram, YouTube, TikTok)

Esther 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.

Show notes:

  • kentai.haven, the kid on TikTok who hilariously and brilliantly guesses people's height with something in their hand using math
  • 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 kids
  • Find teaching resources on her Teachers Pay Teachers account

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 Esther: (Instagram, YouTube, TikTok)

Esther 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.

Show notes:

  • kentai.haven, the kid on TikTok who hilariously and brilliantly guesses people's height with something in their hand using math
  • 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 kids
  • Find teaching resources on her Teachers Pay Teachers account

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru Buzzsprout-8425605 Thu, 29 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400 2258 3 4 full true Extra Credit: Spirituality & Science Extra Credit: Spirituality & Science Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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. 

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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. 

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Buzzsprout-8414271 Tue, 27 Apr 2021 11:00:00 -0400 754 3 bonus true S3E03: Albert Einstein was a f*cking Pisces w/ Anthony Perrotta S3E03: Albert Einstein was a f*cking Pisces w/ Anthony Perrotta Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 Anthony: (Website, Instagram)

Anthony 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.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 Anthony: (Website, Instagram)

Anthony 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.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru Buzzsprout-8321116 Thu, 22 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400 1930 3 3 full true S3E02: The math teacher that changed my life w/ Ewa Kasinska S3E02: The math teacher that changed my life w/ Ewa Kasinska Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 Ewa: (Website)

Ewa 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.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 Ewa: (Website)

Ewa 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.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru Buzzsprout-8311756 Thu, 15 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400 2043 3 2 full true S3E01: A drag queen walks into a math class ... w/ Kyne Santos S3E01: A drag queen walks into a math class ... w/ Kyne Santos Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 Kyne: (Website, Insta, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube)

Kyne Santos is a world-class drag queen and mathematics communicator.  They graduated high school with the prestigious Schulich Leader Scholarship to study at the University of Waterloo, where they are 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, telling riddles, giving lessons on history’s greatest mathematicians, and teaching followers how to spot misleading statistics in the media. Fusing their two passions together, Kyne brings STEM education to the queer community and queerness to STEM.

Show notes: 

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 Kyne: (Website, Insta, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube)

Kyne Santos is a world-class drag queen and mathematics communicator.  They graduated high school with the prestigious Schulich Leader Scholarship to study at the University of Waterloo, where they are 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, telling riddles, giving lessons on history’s greatest mathematicians, and teaching followers how to spot misleading statistics in the media. Fusing their two passions together, Kyne brings STEM education to the queer community and queerness to STEM.

Show notes: 

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru Buzzsprout-8278337 Thu, 08 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400 2040 3 1 full true Season 3 Trailer Season 3 Trailer Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

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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!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Buzzsprout-8251760 Thu, 01 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400 177 3 trailer false Mailbag #2: Teachers Tell All! Mailbag #2: Teachers Tell All! Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 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 app
  • 1-2 minutes long
  • Recommended: write your story down and read it out
  • Speak clearly & record in a quiet space (no background noise)
  • Email it to vanessa at themathguru dot ca with your name and location
  • Stay tuned to the feed and you might hear your story!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 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 app
  • 1-2 minutes long
  • Recommended: write your story down and read it out
  • Speak clearly & record in a quiet space (no background noise)
  • Email it to vanessa at themathguru dot ca with your name and location
  • Stay tuned to the feed and you might hear your story!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru Buzzsprout-8207510 Thu, 25 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0400 626 bonus true The square root of possible w/ the creators of Netflix's Jingle Jangle! The square root of possible w/ the creators of Netflix's Jingle Jangle! Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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)

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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)

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru 45d1aacf-71c6-4635-94bb-741db1c6de73 Thu, 17 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0500 1962 bonus false S2E10: Why is no one listening to John Mighton?! w/ John Mighton S2E10: Why is no one listening to John Mighton?! w/ John Mighton Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 (Twitter) & JUMP Math (Twitter, Instagram)

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.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 (Twitter) & JUMP Math (Twitter, Instagram)

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.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru 89032c49-eee6-4d37-8fb1-5b25b9004fde Thu, 06 Aug 2020 06:00:00 -0400 2748 2 10 full true S2E09: Nature, meet Nurture w/ Tamara Rebick & her kids S2E09: Nature, meet Nurture w/ Tamara Rebick & her kids Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 (13) and Nomie (11) also share their very different feelings about math class, math teachers, and well, math in general!

About Tamara / Coriphery (Website, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook)

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.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 (13) and Nomie (11) also share their very different feelings about math class, math teachers, and well, math in general!

About Tamara / Coriphery (Website, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook)

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.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru 298bf876-bacb-4a0c-ad98-1d54fe9ced3f Thu, 30 Jul 2020 06:00:00 -0400 2984 2 9 full false S2E08: Mathematicians: they’re just like us! w/ Sunil Singh S2E08: Mathematicians: they’re just like us! w/ Sunil Singh Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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: (Twitter)

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.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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: (Twitter)

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.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru c6cb21af-8522-4ab1-b0cb-df35b816a3fd Thu, 23 Jul 2020 06:00:00 -0400 2487 2 8 full true S2E07: You can’t be what you can’t see w/ Renee Powers S2E07: You can’t be what you can’t see w/ Renee Powers Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 (Website) & Feminist Book Club (Website, Instagram)

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.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 (Website) & Feminist Book Club (Website, Instagram)

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.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru cb1c39ea-0a81-453a-88bf-b1268a9f2fec Thu, 16 Jul 2020 06:00:00 -0400 2167 2 7 full true S2E06: The 40-year-old math virgin w/ Mike S S2E06: The 40-year-old math virgin w/ Mike S Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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?!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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?!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru 8e9f08d6-5d55-43f0-bf84-25b43539db70 Thu, 09 Jul 2020 06:00:00 -0400 2258 2 6 full true S2E05: Retail therapy vs. Math therapy w/ Tamica Marcano S2E05: Retail therapy vs. Math therapy w/ Tamica Marcano Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru a0955cfd-28ff-44c1-850b-d0851a0d2834 Thu, 02 Jul 2020 06:00:00 -0400 2546 2 5 full true S2E04: How “Math Therapy” changed my life w/ Jill Waddell S2E04: How “Math Therapy” changed my life w/ Jill Waddell Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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: (Instagram)

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.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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: (Instagram)

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.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru 037ba863-fd1d-4076-a9cd-7da11812900c Thu, 25 Jun 2020 06:00:00 -0400 2639 2 4 full true S2E03: Recalculating your destiny w/ Miguel Escobar S2E03: Recalculating your destiny w/ Miguel Escobar Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru 1e2100a4-d1a9-41c4-b308-f087e8ee6a88 Thu, 18 Jun 2020 06:00:00 -0400 2466 2 3 full true S2E02: How to use your privilege w/ Imogen Coe S2E02: How to use your privilege w/ Imogen Coe Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

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 (Website, Instagram, LinkedIn)

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).

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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 (Website, Instagram, LinkedIn)

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).

Contact us:

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]]> The Math Guru f6a3c7b4-2dd1-42ba-90c2-edf02a60cf5e Thu, 11 Jun 2020 06:00:00 -0400 2417 2 2 full true S2E01: A Black woman walks into a math class … w/ Michole Washington S2E01: A Black woman walks into a math class … w/ Michole Washington Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

A couple months ago we had picked today as the launch date for Season 2, but we've been glued to the news as I'm sure you've been and we know that math is not exactly the topic on everyone's mind this week.  We considered delaying the launch, but we realized that an episode we had planned to release later in the season, a conversation with Michole Washington, was actually very topical.

Michole is currently working on a PhD at the University of Michigan researching common experiences of Black people in math education, and she spoke with Vanessa back in February about diversity (or lack thereof) in math and what it felt like to be only the 9th Black woman to have EVER earned a B.S. from Atlanta’s Georgia Tech University in 2016.  This was a fascinating and at times challenging conversation and we hope you enjoy it.

About Michole:

Michole Washington is an expert on equitable and interactive design for K-16 STEM enrichment programs. She critically examines how undergraduate math courses can better support students, especially Black students. In particular, she focuses on relationship building in the math classroom as a method to increase STEM engagement.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

A couple months ago we had picked today as the launch date for Season 2, but we've been glued to the news as I'm sure you've been and we know that math is not exactly the topic on everyone's mind this week.  We considered delaying the launch, but we realized that an episode we had planned to release later in the season, a conversation with Michole Washington, was actually very topical.

Michole is currently working on a PhD at the University of Michigan researching common experiences of Black people in math education, and she spoke with Vanessa back in February about diversity (or lack thereof) in math and what it felt like to be only the 9th Black woman to have EVER earned a B.S. from Atlanta’s Georgia Tech University in 2016.  This was a fascinating and at times challenging conversation and we hope you enjoy it.

About Michole:

Michole Washington is an expert on equitable and interactive design for K-16 STEM enrichment programs. She critically examines how undergraduate math courses can better support students, especially Black students. In particular, she focuses on relationship building in the math classroom as a method to increase STEM engagement.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru 5da32a25-b4d7-4572-aa3b-6428b9986a32 Thu, 04 Jun 2020 06:00:00 -0400 2808 2 1 full true Mailbag #1: Your stories! Mailbag #1: Your stories! Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Season 2 starts June 4th but today we're sharing some of the inspiring stories that listeners have sent us!  From math traumas to math triumphs, we were SO inspired by the courage in these submissions.  Follow Vanessa on all socials @themathguru for updates and get pumped for Season 2!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

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Season 2 starts June 4th but today we're sharing some of the inspiring stories that listeners have sent us!  From math traumas to math triumphs, we were SO inspired by the courage in these submissions.  Follow Vanessa on all socials @themathguru for updates and get pumped for Season 2!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru 0f668c0e-c798-48eb-b540-3c22040d92ec Thu, 28 May 2020 06:00:00 -0400 1588 true Fighting fake news w/ Science Sam Fighting fake news w/ Science Sam Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Not sure what to do with all the COVID-conspiracy theories flying around? Finding yourself arguing on social media while your blood pressure rises and your friend/follower count drops?!?!  Um, I FEEL YA.  

So I called up my dear friend and legit science super-star, Dr. Samantha Yammine (aka Science Sam on Instagram and YouTube), to break down exactly why #fakenews spreads so easily and what we can do to constructively and compassionately champion facts based in real math and science - something we have the power and responsibility to fight for.

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Not sure what to do with all the COVID-conspiracy theories flying around? Finding yourself arguing on social media while your blood pressure rises and your friend/follower count drops?!?!  Um, I FEEL YA.  

So I called up my dear friend and legit science super-star, Dr. Samantha Yammine (aka Science Sam on Instagram and YouTube), to break down exactly why #fakenews spreads so easily and what we can do to constructively and compassionately champion facts based in real math and science - something we have the power and responsibility to fight for.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru b34e62b3-cfd9-48d8-9b75-4c455a182216 Thu, 14 May 2020 06:00:00 -0400 1856 full true Wait ... flatten WHAT curve?! Wait ... flatten WHAT curve?! Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

The last few weeks I have been freaking out about how, in a math-anxious society, the secret to understanding the spread of COVID and the importance of physical distancing is ... MATH?!  Like honestly, I'm a (self-described) math therapist and even I have been confused at times exactly what curve needs to be f*cking flattened.

In this episode I break down some of the key math-related COVID issues I've been thinking about, and I hope this gives you a bit of clarity or perhaps some help when arguing with your math-anxious and conspiracy-theory-loving friend about why physical distancing works and will save lives :)

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

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The last few weeks I have been freaking out about how, in a math-anxious society, the secret to understanding the spread of COVID and the importance of physical distancing is ... MATH?!  Like honestly, I'm a (self-described) math therapist and even I have been confused at times exactly what curve needs to be f*cking flattened.

In this episode I break down some of the key math-related COVID issues I've been thinking about, and I hope this gives you a bit of clarity or perhaps some help when arguing with your math-anxious and conspiracy-theory-loving friend about why physical distancing works and will save lives :)

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru 188a0d27-06d1-4a99-8049-1e3d38cd6b0e Fri, 17 Apr 2020 06:00:00 -0400 1122 full true Send us your stories! Send us your stories! Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

While we're working on Season 2, we want to hear from you!  Send us your math stories/questions - the good, the bad, and the ugly :)  How do you feel about the term "math person"?  Do YOU have math trauma?!  Share your story with us and we'll pick some to play/read on our 1st ever mailbag episode!  Ways to share:

  • Send your written story via email to vanessa at themathguru dot ca
  • Record a voice note on your phone & send via email or dm on insta
  • Text the podcast at the link above

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

While we're working on Season 2, we want to hear from you!  Send us your math stories/questions - the good, the bad, and the ugly :)  How do you feel about the term "math person"?  Do YOU have math trauma?!  Share your story with us and we'll pick some to play/read on our 1st ever mailbag episode!  Ways to share:

  • Send your written story via email to vanessa at themathguru dot ca
  • Record a voice note on your phone & send via email or dm on insta
  • Text the podcast at the link above

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru https://anchor.fm/maththerapy/episodes/Send-us-your-stories-eblfk0 Thu, 19 Mar 2020 06:00:00 -0400 128 1 full false Season 1 Outtakes Season 1 Outtakes Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Exciting news: Season 2 of Math Therapy is IN PRODUCTION!!!  We've got an incredible range of guests lined up and can't wait to share some new episodes with you.  In the meantime, here are some outtakes from Season 1 ... aka "us figuring out how to make a podcast" :)  Enjoy and stay tuned for a bigger and better Season 2!

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Exciting news: Season 2 of Math Therapy is IN PRODUCTION!!!  We've got an incredible range of guests lined up and can't wait to share some new episodes with you.  In the meantime, here are some outtakes from Season 1 ... aka "us figuring out how to make a podcast" :)  Enjoy and stay tuned for a bigger and better Season 2!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru e6832640-f86b-4a35-93b4-d25737dc79fc Thu, 27 Feb 2020 06:00:00 -0500 348 1 full true S1E10: What the f*ck is a “math person”?! w/ Johnny Cassels S1E10: What the f*ck is a “math person”?! w/ Johnny Cassels Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

The first season of Math Therapy ends with a BANG - and a hashtag that all of us should probably start using immediately! Math tutor Johnny Cassels shares with Vanessa why labelling ourselves can hold us back, but how accountability can help us leave our comfort zones and do great things - math-related or not! A big part of this is the difference between WANTING something and F*CKING wanting it. Do you want to hear this ep guys? Or do you #F*ckingWantIt?!

About Johnny: (Website, Instagram)

Johnny Cassels owns and runs Cassels Tutoring, a tutoring space in Toronto. Johnny is all about making sure that both fulfillment and accountability are at the forefront of the learning process, because let’s be honest, most students don’t feel EITHER of those things in the classroom.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

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The first season of Math Therapy ends with a BANG - and a hashtag that all of us should probably start using immediately! Math tutor Johnny Cassels shares with Vanessa why labelling ourselves can hold us back, but how accountability can help us leave our comfort zones and do great things - math-related or not! A big part of this is the difference between WANTING something and F*CKING wanting it. Do you want to hear this ep guys? Or do you #F*ckingWantIt?!

About Johnny: (Website, Instagram)

Johnny Cassels owns and runs Cassels Tutoring, a tutoring space in Toronto. Johnny is all about making sure that both fulfillment and accountability are at the forefront of the learning process, because let’s be honest, most students don’t feel EITHER of those things in the classroom.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru 827f7de1-1756-0701-417f-aee2179d0d7a Thu, 19 Dec 2019 06:00:00 -0500 2463 1 10 full true S1E09: Girls are bad at math (& other stupid myths) w/ Zainab Husain S1E09: Girls are bad at math (& other stupid myths) w/ Zainab Husain Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Even though it ain’t 1942 anymore, the pesky rumour that girls suck at math is still alive and well! Vanessa chats with math tutor / math major Zainab Husain about the different ways that boys and girls perceive intelligence, and how feeling confident with math might actually be the secret to raising more female leaders in our world - which let’s be honest, we very desperately need right about now.

About Zainab

Zainab Husain is entering her final year at Ryerson University, where she studies math and economics. She tutors at The Math Guru to gain the experience she needs to pursue her dream of becoming the best math teacher EVER!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

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Even though it ain’t 1942 anymore, the pesky rumour that girls suck at math is still alive and well! Vanessa chats with math tutor / math major Zainab Husain about the different ways that boys and girls perceive intelligence, and how feeling confident with math might actually be the secret to raising more female leaders in our world - which let’s be honest, we very desperately need right about now.

About Zainab

Zainab Husain is entering her final year at Ryerson University, where she studies math and economics. She tutors at The Math Guru to gain the experience she needs to pursue her dream of becoming the best math teacher EVER!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru 0c44041f-699d-0cdb-77fe-444f0c5cadcf Thu, 12 Dec 2019 06:00:00 -0500 2104 1 9 full true S1E08: It’s never too late w/ Yvonne Osondu S1E08: It’s never too late w/ Yvonne Osondu Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Yvonne Osondu is basically #goals. At the age of 52, she decided to learn how to ride a bike, and now she’s tackling the next thing on her bucket list: learning math ... ALL the way from grade 9 to grade 12 calculus. Yvonne chats with Vanessa about how she’s decided to prove to the world and herself that she is capable of ANYTHING - even math - despite being told she was incapable for 50 years!

About Yvonne:

Yvonne Osondu is the owner of Reflexology and Shiatsu Service of Toronto.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

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Yvonne Osondu is basically #goals. At the age of 52, she decided to learn how to ride a bike, and now she’s tackling the next thing on her bucket list: learning math ... ALL the way from grade 9 to grade 12 calculus. Yvonne chats with Vanessa about how she’s decided to prove to the world and herself that she is capable of ANYTHING - even math - despite being told she was incapable for 50 years!

About Yvonne:

Yvonne Osondu is the owner of Reflexology and Shiatsu Service of Toronto.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru eef83934-cf59-2210-c9fa-5abc085a70a1 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 06:00:00 -0500 2027 1 8 full true S1E07: The myth of math and money w/ Bruce Sellery S1E07: The myth of math and money w/ Bruce Sellery Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Do you freak out about ca$h money? Well it’s time to stop that sh*t and realize you know more about money AND math than you think! Vanessa chats with personal finance guru Bruce Sellery about the most common math-money myths, the super genius ways he teaches his daughter about the value of a dollar, and - MOST importantly - the most economical strategy when dining at a buffet so that you can feel richer with every single bite! YUM.

About Bruce: (Website, Facebook, LinkedIn)

Bruce is the author of two bestselling books, including my fave, Moolala: Why Smart People Do Dumb Things with Their Money (and What You Can Do About It). He’s also the national money columnist for CBC Radio, a regular contributor to the hit TV show Cityline, and the host of his very own SiriusXM pod, Moolala radio show and podcast.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Do you freak out about ca$h money? Well it’s time to stop that sh*t and realize you know more about money AND math than you think! Vanessa chats with personal finance guru Bruce Sellery about the most common math-money myths, the super genius ways he teaches his daughter about the value of a dollar, and - MOST importantly - the most economical strategy when dining at a buffet so that you can feel richer with every single bite! YUM.

About Bruce: (Website, Facebook, LinkedIn)

Bruce is the author of two bestselling books, including my fave, Moolala: Why Smart People Do Dumb Things with Their Money (and What You Can Do About It). He’s also the national money columnist for CBC Radio, a regular contributor to the hit TV show Cityline, and the host of his very own SiriusXM pod, Moolala radio show and podcast.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru f1f81319-d5de-5b8a-197f-9a95565dac5a Thu, 28 Nov 2019 06:00:00 -0500 2043 1 7 full false S1E06: What failure really feels like w/ Jenna Kabakulak S1E06: What failure really feels like w/ Jenna Kabakulak Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

School can be hella traumatizing, but it’s especially bad if you fail math several times, have an undiagnosed learning disability, struggle with anxiety and depression, and come from a low-income, immigrant family ... a.k.a. Jenna Kabakulak’s entire school career. She and Vanessa discuss turning failures into successes, and dive deep into some big questions like how to make quality education accessible and affordable for all - regardless of your background.

About Jenna: (Instagram)

Jenna (Canan) Kabakulak is completing her B.A in Psychology at Ryerson University and has a passion for working with children. She is a first-generation student, being the very first in her family to attend a university. She is also a person living with ADHD and various other learning disabilities. She tutors at The Math Guru and runs workshops on organization, exam prep, note-taking, and math anxiety.  Jenna hopes to pursue her interest in graduate school for epidemiology and eventually achieve her goal of becoming a pediatrician.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

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School can be hella traumatizing, but it’s especially bad if you fail math several times, have an undiagnosed learning disability, struggle with anxiety and depression, and come from a low-income, immigrant family ... a.k.a. Jenna Kabakulak’s entire school career. She and Vanessa discuss turning failures into successes, and dive deep into some big questions like how to make quality education accessible and affordable for all - regardless of your background.

About Jenna: (Instagram)

Jenna (Canan) Kabakulak is completing her B.A in Psychology at Ryerson University and has a passion for working with children. She is a first-generation student, being the very first in her family to attend a university. She is also a person living with ADHD and various other learning disabilities. She tutors at The Math Guru and runs workshops on organization, exam prep, note-taking, and math anxiety.  Jenna hopes to pursue her interest in graduate school for epidemiology and eventually achieve her goal of becoming a pediatrician.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru db214dac-05e1-1869-4312-0a48fa874ea2 Thu, 21 Nov 2019 06:00:00 -0500 2436 1 6 full true S1E05: The math therapist’s therapist w/ Kimberley McLeod S1E05: The math therapist’s therapist w/ Kimberley McLeod Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Have you ever wanted to therapize your therapist? Vanessa invites Kimberley McLeod, her former therapist, on the show to share her OWN math traumas. And guess what?! Even therapists need a little math therapy sometimes! Kimberley also digs into the connection she often sees in her young female clients between confidence, anxiety, and - you guessed it - MATH!

About Kimberley

Kimberley is a registered social worker and therapist. She specializes in helping women process their concerns in a way that allows them to move forward in a healthier, happier way, leaving them feeling empowered on a core level. You can find her at her private practice at Leaside Therapy Centre in Toronto.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

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Have you ever wanted to therapize your therapist? Vanessa invites Kimberley McLeod, her former therapist, on the show to share her OWN math traumas. And guess what?! Even therapists need a little math therapy sometimes! Kimberley also digs into the connection she often sees in her young female clients between confidence, anxiety, and - you guessed it - MATH!

About Kimberley

Kimberley is a registered social worker and therapist. She specializes in helping women process their concerns in a way that allows them to move forward in a healthier, happier way, leaving them feeling empowered on a core level. You can find her at her private practice at Leaside Therapy Centre in Toronto.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru c774ea56-1462-e318-eb18-76cdc43d2d3a Thu, 14 Nov 2019 06:00:00 -0500 1598 1 5 full true S1E04: The ultimate math blackout w/ Liz Idowu S1E04: The ultimate math blackout w/ Liz Idowu Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Have you ever met someone so traumatized by their high school math experience that they legit blocked out a year of their life?! Vanessa chats with Liz Idowu, who now works as an admin assistant at Vanessa’s math tutoring studio and is determined to overcome her fear of numbers even though it’s been 20 years since she kissed math bye for good.

About Liz

Coming from a world of performance arts and wellness, Liz Idowu joined the admin team at The Math Guru with eyes wide open! Her experience as a wellness instructor, focusing on the yoga practice and yogic philosophies, has allowed her to connect passionately with The Math Guru’s infamous mantra: there is NO such thing as a “math person!” (Repeat it now THREE times at the TOP of your lungs!)

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

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Have you ever met someone so traumatized by their high school math experience that they legit blocked out a year of their life?! Vanessa chats with Liz Idowu, who now works as an admin assistant at Vanessa’s math tutoring studio and is determined to overcome her fear of numbers even though it’s been 20 years since she kissed math bye for good.

About Liz

Coming from a world of performance arts and wellness, Liz Idowu joined the admin team at The Math Guru with eyes wide open! Her experience as a wellness instructor, focusing on the yoga practice and yogic philosophies, has allowed her to connect passionately with The Math Guru’s infamous mantra: there is NO such thing as a “math person!” (Repeat it now THREE times at the TOP of your lungs!)

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru 81cebca2-345f-a60c-6f99-a5746c1c9855 Thu, 07 Nov 2019 06:00:00 -0500 2184 1 4 full true S1E03: A mathemagical crisis w/ Jonah Babins S1E03: A mathemagical crisis w/ Jonah Babins Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Did you think that people who do well in math don’t have math trauma? THINK AGAIN. The mathematician-turned-magician (yes, that’s a thing!) Jonah Babins talks to Vanessa about how going to university for math caused him to have a total existential meltdown. He also pulls back the curtain on the relation between math and magic - voila!

About Jonah:

Jonah is a magician, performing in Toronto, New York and L.A. He also produces and performs awe-inspiring shows in Toronto with his magic company, The Toronto Magic Company. Jonah also interviews some of the most famous magicians on the planet on his very own podcast, Discourse in Magic. Basically, he’s a magic nerd.

You can follow Jonah on Instagram at @jonahbabinsmagic, @discourseinmagic and @torontomagiccompany.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

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Did you think that people who do well in math don’t have math trauma? THINK AGAIN. The mathematician-turned-magician (yes, that’s a thing!) Jonah Babins talks to Vanessa about how going to university for math caused him to have a total existential meltdown. He also pulls back the curtain on the relation between math and magic - voila!

About Jonah:

Jonah is a magician, performing in Toronto, New York and L.A. He also produces and performs awe-inspiring shows in Toronto with his magic company, The Toronto Magic Company. Jonah also interviews some of the most famous magicians on the planet on his very own podcast, Discourse in Magic. Basically, he’s a magic nerd.

You can follow Jonah on Instagram at @jonahbabinsmagic, @discourseinmagic and @torontomagiccompany.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru bd32ef3c-d131-7dc8-79a6-1642322d3674 Thu, 31 Oct 2019 06:00:00 -0400 2195 1 3 full true S1E02: We’ve all had that math teacher w/ Sandra Birkett S1E02: We’ve all had that math teacher w/ Sandra Birkett Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

We’ve all had that one math teacher who made us HATE math. But of course not all of them suck! So this week Vanessa chats with our fave teacher Sandra Birkett, who overcame some SERIOUS high school math trauma to become a caring and passionate educator herself.

About Sandra:

Sandra Birkett has a B.A., B.Ed. AND M.Sc and is the head of the English department at Toronto Prep School. She studied English Literature, World Religions, and Cultural Anthropology at McGill University, and wrote her Master's Thesis at the University of Edinburgh on the connection between physical text and critical thinking.

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We’ve all had that one math teacher who made us HATE math. But of course not all of them suck! So this week Vanessa chats with our fave teacher Sandra Birkett, who overcame some SERIOUS high school math trauma to become a caring and passionate educator herself.

About Sandra:

Sandra Birkett has a B.A., B.Ed. AND M.Sc and is the head of the English department at Toronto Prep School. She studied English Literature, World Religions, and Cultural Anthropology at McGill University, and wrote her Master's Thesis at the University of Edinburgh on the connection between physical text and critical thinking.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru 464fdf2d-fb7d-f44c-c650-17bb07bd7bd9 Thu, 24 Oct 2019 06:00:00 -0400 2122 1 2 full true S1E01: Why you think you suck at math w/ Sunny Verma S1E01: Why you think you suck at math w/ Sunny Verma Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Are you one of those tortured souls that says things like “I suck at math” or “I’m not a math person”?! Well have we got a TREAT for you!  Sunny Verma, founder of the world’s largest tutoring company, talks to Vanessa this week about why we say nonsense like this to ourselves and how it’s one of the biggest bullsh*t sandwiches society keeps feeding us.  Bon appétit!

About Sunny: (Instagram at @sunnyv_tb and @tutorbright)

Sunny Verma is the founder of TutorBright, one of the world's largest in-home tutoring companies. Sunny is a regular contributor on shows such as Breakfast Television and Global Television’s Morning Show, and has been recognized as one of the Top Experts in Happiness by The Napoleon Hill Foundation.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

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Are you one of those tortured souls that says things like “I suck at math” or “I’m not a math person”?! Well have we got a TREAT for you!  Sunny Verma, founder of the world’s largest tutoring company, talks to Vanessa this week about why we say nonsense like this to ourselves and how it’s one of the biggest bullsh*t sandwiches society keeps feeding us.  Bon appétit!

About Sunny: (Instagram at @sunnyv_tb and @tutorbright)

Sunny Verma is the founder of TutorBright, one of the world's largest in-home tutoring companies. Sunny is a regular contributor on shows such as Breakfast Television and Global Television’s Morning Show, and has been recognized as one of the Top Experts in Happiness by The Napoleon Hill Foundation.

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru cb8f6e42-db1d-bb61-cfe4-bc53881bc441 Thu, 17 Oct 2019 06:00:00 -0400 2210 1 1 full true Introducing: Math Therapy! Introducing: Math Therapy! Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Have you ever said that you hate math? Do you avoid doing certain things JUST so that you don’t have to do math?! Do the words “I’m not a math person” sound familiar?!?! Math Therapy is a new podcast that works through your math trauma, one problem at a time!  Each week, Vanessa Vakharia (aka The Math Guru) chats with a different guest about their relationship with math, and offers a prescription to help them start living their best lives. And don’t worry - no calculators or actual math were used in the making of this podcast ;)

Season 1 starts October 17 - subscribe now & connect with Vanessa on all socials @themathguru!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Have you ever said that you hate math? Do you avoid doing certain things JUST so that you don’t have to do math?! Do the words “I’m not a math person” sound familiar?!?! Math Therapy is a new podcast that works through your math trauma, one problem at a time!  Each week, Vanessa Vakharia (aka The Math Guru) chats with a different guest about their relationship with math, and offers a prescription to help them start living their best lives. And don’t worry - no calculators or actual math were used in the making of this podcast ;)

Season 1 starts October 17 - subscribe now & connect with Vanessa on all socials @themathguru!

Contact us:

More Math Therapy:

]]> The Math Guru 5d642b59-6efc-e0fc-db04-e0e5ab91d72f Thu, 10 Oct 2019 08:42:57 -0400 122 1 true