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

Math Therapy

S3E10: How math rehabilitated a murderer w/ Christopher Havens

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

S3E09: I’m not a math person, don’t @ me w/ Bex

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

S3E08: There are no stupid questions w/ Roger Fischer

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

S3E07: Challenging stereotypes by fulfilling them w/ Abby Govindan

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

S3E06: Why representation matters w/ Brittany Rhodes

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

S3E05: How brands can use their power for good w/ Candace Borland

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 &apos;gram!About EstherEsther Brunat is a high school math teacher in sunny South Florida. She prides herself on building relationships with her students through laughter and "staying hip." Her resources offer a fresh take on presentation and engaging visuals in the math classroom. You can find teaching resources on her Teachers Pay Teachers account: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Esther-BrunatShow notes:26:50 - kentai.haven, the kid on TikTok who hilariously and brilliantly guesses people&apos;s height with something in their hand using math32:40 - The article that Vanessa and Season 2 guest Michole Washington (who studies the common Black experience in math class) wrote about how math class mimics police brutality for Black kidsConnect with us:Esther Brunat: @estherbrunat (Instagram, YouTube, TikTok)Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)Transcript for today’s episode: www.maththerapypodcast.com

S3E04: Mathfluencers, Mean Girls & more w/ Esther Brunat

This season&apos;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&apos;s convo last week with astrologer Anthony Perrotta got us all especially fired up, and since she and Sabina are super into astrology and tarot, and David is super NOT, we wanted to share a little bonus episode diving further into the overlap of science and spirituality. Have you had any spicy discussions like this?  Tweet us @maththerapy about them!  And we&apos;ll be back on Thursday with our next full episode featuring a real life mathfluencer - yes seriously a MATH INFLUENCER!!!

Extra Credit: Spirituality & Science

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

S3E03: Albert Einstein was a f*cking Pisces w/ Anthony Perrotta

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

S3E02: The math teacher that changed my life w/ Ewa Kasinska

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

S3E01: A drag queen walks into a math class ... w/ Kyne Santos

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

Season 3 Trailer

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

Mailbag #2: Teachers Tell All!

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

The square root of possible w/ the creators of Netflix's Jingle Jangle!

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 JohnDr. 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&apos;s self-confidence through success in math has been widely recognized. He has been named a Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur of the Year, an Ernst & Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year for Canada, an Ashoka Fellow, an Officer of the Order of Canada, and has received six honorary doctorates. John is also the recipient of the 10th Annual Egerton Ryerson Award for Dedication to Public Education.Follow John on Twitter @johnmightonFollow JUMP Math on Twitter @jump_math and Instagram @jump_mathToday’s show notes & links: themathguru.ca/maththerapy/johnmightonReach Vanessa on all socials: @themathguru

S2E10: Why is no one listening to John Mighton?! w/ John Mighton

Math Therapy is the 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 & offers a prescription to help them start living their best lives. 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 used in the making of this podcast ;)

hubhopper

Math Therapy

hubhopper