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 MiguelMiguel Escobar is a Senior Business Analyst with the Government of Ontario and is a graduate of George Brown College where he completed the Hospitality Management program with honours. Miguel has had a love/hate relationship with math going all the way back to high school. From failing many, many times to being told he’d never get it, he struggled with numbers and avoided them at all costs. Now, some 20+ years later, he has embraced math and uses it almost every single day in his job.  The fear and anxiety that came with being labeled “not a math person” is in the past and he now looks for every opportunity to help others who might struggle through the same things he did.Follow Miguel on Instagram at @TheAgeingMillennial.Today’s show notes & links: themathguru.ca/maththerapy/miguelescobarReach Vanessa on all socials: @themathguru

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 ImogenDr. Imogen R. Coe was the founding dean of the Faculty of Science from 2012 to 2018 at Ryerson University in Toronto. She is currently a professor of Chemistry and Biology at Ryerson. She is also an affiliate scientist at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, where her research group studies the proteins responsible for the import of anti-cancer drugs.In addition to her work as a research scientist, Dr. Coe is internationally recognized as a Canadian thought leader in the area of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).You can find Imogen on Instagram @drimogencoe and on Twitter @ImogenRCoePhDToday’s show notes & links: themathguru.ca/maththerapy/imogencoeReach Vanessa on all socials: @themathguru

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 MicholeMichole 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.Follow Michole on Instagram @mathematichole_ and Twitter @mathematichole_Today’s show notes & links: themathguru.ca/maththerapy/micholewashingtonFollow Vanessa on all socials: @themathguru

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!

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), 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.Follow Science Sam on Instagram and YouTubeToday’s show notes & links: themathguru.ca/maththerapy/samanthayammineReach Vanessa on all socials: @themathguru

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 :)

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 using your fave phone app & send via email or dm (@themathguru on twitter, insta, or facebook) Go to anchor.fm/maththerapy and hit the "message" button

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!If this podcast has helped you at all, here are some quick things you can do to help it reach more people that need math therapy:Subscribe on whatever platform you use!If you use Apple Podcasts, rate/review it!If you use Overcast, hit the star on any episode you love!Share the podcast (or your fave ep) on social media & tell your podcast-loving friends about it!Connect with Vanessa on socials: @themathguru everywhere!

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 JohnnyJohnny 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.You can follow Johnny at @casselstutoring on Instagram.Today’s show notes & links: themathguru.ca/maththerapy/johnnycasselsReach Vanessa on all socials: @themathguru

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 ZainabZainab 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!Today’s show notes & links: themathguru.ca/maththerapy/zainabhusainReach Vanessa on all socials: @themathguru