A great addition to the Arts Pod, mathematician and author Jordan Ellenberg calculates the multiplicity of areas covered by his mentor, Peggy Pfeiffer, who combined various factors to create a writers salon in their high school. We can only discuss a fraction of their infinite knowledge, but we divide and conquer hosting duties with Dr. Erica Litke, associate professor of mathematics education in the College of Education & Human Development at the University of Delaware.

JORDAN ELLENBERG is the John D. MacArthur Professor of Mathematics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research centers on number theory and arithmetic geometry. He is also the author of the New York Times bestsellers How Not To Be Wrong and Shape, the decidedly non-bestselling novel The Grasshopper King, and articles on mathematical topics for The New York Times, The Washington Post, and many other newspapers and magazines.

Learn more about Jordan:

Website: www.jordanellenberg.com/

Amazon Book Page: www.amazon.com/stores/Jordan-Ellenberg/author/B001K8IUCG

DR. ERICA LITKE is an associate professor specializing in mathematics education in the School of Education at the University of Delaware. Her research focuses on understanding and improving instructional quality in mathematics for students in the elementary and secondary grades. Her research has described and analyzed instructional practice in mathematics using observation instruments, connected instructional quality in mathematics to broader policy-related issues in education, and focused on teacher knowledge and professional development.

Follow Erica:

Twitter @ericalitke

Bluesky: @ericalitke.bsky.social

Jordan Ellenberg with Peggy Pfeiffer and guest host Dr. Erica Litke