Rich gives lawn moving insight.
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Nat Thompson Podcasts
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 ...
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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…
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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 epi…
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How Netflix saved both Christmas and math
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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 Sis…
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How to make "show your thinking" less anxiety-inducing
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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 d…
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Math Therapy's 100th (& most manic) episode!
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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) tr…
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How to believe in yourself when nobody else will w/ Taylor Telfer-Thompson
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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 tryin…
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Hard truths teachers need to hear from parents w/ Cat and Nat
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42:44
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 …
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Why we can’t binge-learn math like Netflix w/ Rob Baier
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48:53
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 enh…
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What the Blue Jays taught us about math education
1:09:19
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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…
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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 an…
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An unfiltered debate about "natural ability"
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19:33
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19:33
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 l…
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Why math sucks and how to fix it w/ Raj Shah
53:58
53:58
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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 l…
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Math ed needs more conversations like this w/ Pam Harris
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46:23
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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, w…
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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, scro…
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How to find the "why" in math class w/ Mike Flynn
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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 t…
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Exclusive: Math Therapy audiobook sample for our listeners!
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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 fo…
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Why 1 + 1 isn't always 2 w/ Eugenia Cheng
50:14
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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 se…
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5 simple Math Therapy strategies for your classroom (weekly podcast launch!)
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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 empoweri…
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How Math Therapy changed my entire life w/ Charizma Laughton
57:20
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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 o…
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How to trust your intuition w/ Rebecca MacLeod
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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 inter…
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Bonus: What's your sign? (Vanessa has no clue)
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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 mo…
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Get the politicians out of the classroom w/ David Kochberg
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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…
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We're not teaching content, we're teaching students w/ Kevin Dykema
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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 imposte…
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Math Therapy is now a book! Vanessa tells all ...
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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 relat…
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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 m…
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Grit is your superpower w/ Dr. India White
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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 he…
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How to change someone's mind w/ Chris Luzniak
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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 …
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Math doesn't cause trauma, people do w/ Sean Nank
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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 to…
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Turns out some folks hate math w/ Jon Orr & Kyle Pearce
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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 earl…
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Teachers have trauma too w/ Brittany Hege
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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 wit…
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More clickbait in the classroom! w/ Howie Hua
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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 star…
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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 unlea…
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Tell your students you trust them w/ Zak Champagne
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42:14
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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 boundles…
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The difference between equity & equality w/ Dr. Pamela Seda
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43:18
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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 fascin…
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Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply) Season 6 drops March 28th - here’s a sample of who and what you’ll hear! Contact us: Vanessa Vakharia: Instagram, TikTok, Email Math Therapy: Text the Podcast More Math Therapy: Get the book: Corwin, Amazon Audiobook: Audible, Spotify Merch store: Shop hereBy Vanessa Vakharia
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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, a…
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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 t…
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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 is…
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Embracing your limitless mind w/ Jo Boaler
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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 min…
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Teaching students to ... think?! w/ Peter Liljedahl
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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…
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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 ensue…
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Centering student voice in math class w/ Crystal Watson
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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 pr…
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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 def…
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Refresher: Drag queens & math class w/ Kyne Santos
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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. …
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How struggle leads to growth w/ Robert Kaplinsky
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38:21
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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 …
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How trauma affects the brain w/ Liesl McConchie
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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 clic…
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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 …
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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 mi…
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Teaching math as an act of protest w/ Dan Meyer
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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 debate…
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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! Contact us: Vanessa Vakharia: Instagram, TikTok, Email Math Therapy: Text the Podcast More Math Therapy: Get the book: Corwin, Amazon Audiobook: Audibl…
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