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:Math Is Figureoutable PodcastFree resource download: mathisfigureoutable/big#MathStratChatVanessa & Pam debate algorithms on the DebateMath PodcastOutliers by Malcolm GladwellAbout Pam: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.Connect with us:Pam Harris: Website, LinkedIn, Instagram, FacebookVanessa Vakharia: Instagram, TikTok, EmailMath Therapy: Website, Text us

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:How to find the "why" in math class w/ Mike Flynn (last week's ep)The TikTok that started it allLost S2E01 - *why* was Desmond typing the numbers?!Connect with us:Mike Flynn: Website, TikTok, InstagramVanessa Vakharia: Instagram, TikTok, EmailMath Therapy: Website, Text us

In this engaging discussion, Mike Flynn, an international math educator and founder of Flynn Education, shares his journey from hating math to advocating for deeper understanding. He emphasizes the importance of making mistakes and shifting focus from finding the right answer to fostering flexible thinking. Mike provides strategies to combat math anxiety and highlights how procedural teaching can create trauma. He encourages embracing math as a thinking process and suggests implementing Open Middle tasks to boost problem-solving skills.

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:paperback/ebookaudiobook (US, Can, UK, Aus, Germany, or global)merch storeConnect with Math Therapy:Text the podcastDM Vanessa on InstagramEmail Vanessa

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:Why seemingly silly questions like "is math real?" or "when does 1 + 1 not equal 2?" are both valid and valuableHow Eugenia works to help people overcome math trauma the way she overcame ... sports trauma!How emphasizing context, creativity, and nuance - not just right or wrong answers - can help students develop more flexible and creative thinkingShow notes:Eugenia on The Late Show with Stephen ColbertEugenia discussing viral "Is Math Real" TikTok on CBC RadioAbout 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.Connect with Math Therapy:Text the podcastDM Vanessa on InstagramEmail VanessaShop the Math Therapy collection:paperback/ebookaudiobook (US, Can, UK, Aus, Germany, or global)merch store

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:Watch your facial expressionsWatch your languageAsk students about their thinking processGet on your student's level - literallyAsk students about their "math story"AnnouncementsWeekly format - tell us what you'd like to hear!Text the podcastDM Vanessa on InstagramEmail VanessaMath Therapy is now an Audiobook!Listen/Buy on Audible (US, Can, UK, Aus, Germany, or global)Spotify coming soon, stay tuned!Let us know if it should be added to any other platforms

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.Connect with Vanessa: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)

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:The Ancient Secret of the Flower of Life, Vol 1 by Drunvalo MelchizedekThe Flower of Life (google image search)Wikipedia article on Sacred GeometryConnect with Rebecca on Instagram @rebxxartConnect with Vanessa: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)

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:Math Therapy the book - buy from Corwin Press or AmazonS5 outtakes: The Awkward GoodbyeConnect with Vanessa:@themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)

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!Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)Math Therapy the book is out now - buy from Corwin Press or AmazonDavid interviews Vanessa (from September 2024)