Best The Math Guru Podcasts (2025)

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How Netflix saved both Christmas and math 33:18

Play Pause

6d ago33:18

33:18

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 33:15

13d ago33:15

33:15

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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Taking Testing Seriously with James Bach 1:01:54

15d ago1:01:54

1:01:54

Send us a text I had the privilege of sitting down with James Bach, one of the most influential voices in software testing. With over four decades in the craft, James brings a rare long-view perspective on how testing has evolved from the early days of Apple to today’s AI-driven landscape. We covered a wide range of topics, including: 🔹 What has an…

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Math Therapy's 100th (& most manic) episode! 48:40

20d ago48:40

48:40

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 35:08

27d ago35:08

35:08

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 42:44

1M ago42:44

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 48:53

1M ago48:53

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

2M ago1:09:19

1:09:19

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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How to turn anxiety into empowerment 27:25

2M ago27:25

27:25

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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Vanessa Vakharia — From Failing Math to becoming The Math Guru, a Rock Star, and a Mission to Heal Math Trauma 39:46

2M ago39:46

39:46

In this episode of Forks, we sit down with Vanessa Vakharia, founder of The Math Guru, bestselling author of Math Hacks and Math Therapy, and frontwoman of the indie rock band Goodnight Sunrise. After failing math twice in high school, Vanessa was convinced she “just wasn’t a math person.” Years later, she’s built a movement around proving that bel…

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An unfiltered debate about "natural ability" 19:33

2M ago19:33

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

2M ago53:58

53:58

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 46:23

3M ago46:23

46:23

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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Beyond the Job Title: Career Coach Lynn Unger on Mindset, Change, and Redefining Success 43:18

3M ago43:18

43:18

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The Comment Section w/ Mike Flynn 37:13

3M ago37:13

37:13

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 49:04

3M ago49:04

49:04

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! 30:19

3M ago30:19

30:19

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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Building Resilient Systems at Scale With Casey Rosenthal 1:11:39

3M ago1:11:39

1:11:39

Send us a text In this episode of Tech and Test, I’m joined by Casey Rosenthal, Interim CEO, HiBeam and former Netflix engineering leader. Casey is co-author of Chaos Engineering: System Resiliency in Practice and a frequent speaker on chaos engineering and complex systems. We dive into: 💻 Why Netflix started breaking its own systems on purpose 🤖 H…

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Why 1 + 1 isn't always 2 w/ Eugenia Cheng 50:14

3M ago50:14

50:14

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!) 28:55

4M ago28:55

28:55

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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Revolutionizing Fashion Business ERP with AI 47:55

4M ago47:55

47:55

Send us a text AI is changing how we code, but the real challenge is how we design and test software. In this episode I speak with Harish Chandramowli, founder of Flare Software. From building cloud security at Bloomberg and MongoDB to launching a ERP platform for fashion and textile brands, Harish has seen software challenges at every scale. We ex…

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Why Critical Thinkers Will Always Lead in Tech 56:48

5M ago56:48

56:48

Send us a text I’m joined by Oksana Kovalchuk, a former software developer who now leads a top UI/UX design agency. She started programming at age 5, built the largest app on the Parse platform (showcased by Mark Zuckerberg at F8), and now helps startups cut through feature bloat to create user-friendly, business-focused digital products. In this e…

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From Engineer to QA Director: Raman Judge on Leading with Empathy 36:35

6M ago36:35

36:35

Send us a text 🎙️New on Tech and Test! 🎙️ I'm excited to share our latest episode featuring the brilliant Raman Judge, QA Director and a truly inspiring leader in the tech world. In this episode, Raman opens up about her career journey from QA Engineer to senior leadership and shares practical, hard-earned wisdom on: 🔹 Navigating your career path f…

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How Math Therapy changed my entire life w/ Charizma Laughton 57:20

6M ago57:20

57:20

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 37:26

6M ago37:26

37:26

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) 10:01

7M ago10:01

10:01

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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Beyond the Court: Rae Swire on Identity, Change, and Life After High-Performance Sport 38:03

8M ago38:03

38:03

What happens when a professional athlete retires — and their identity goes with it? In this episode of Forks, we sit down with Rae Swire, a former Team Canada volleyball player, as she opens up about her emotional transition out of elite sport. From Olympic qualification campaigns and global competitions to parenting, counselling, and rediscovering…

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Cracking Big Tech Interviews with Mike Mroczka 56:48

8M ago56:48

56:48

Send us a text Interviewing at FAANG and big tech companies can feel intimidating—but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, I’m joined by Mike Mroczka—Senior Software Engineer and contributing author of Beyond Cracking the Coding Interview—to demystify the process and share practical strategies to help you land your next role. We break down what …

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From the ER to a New Era: Sheila Early and the Birth of Forensic Nursing in Canada 49:27

8M ago49:27

49:27

It was supposed to be an ordinary shift in the emergency room. Instead, it sparked a revolution in healthcare. When rookie nurse Sheila Early treated her first sexual assault victim in 1970, she was armed with nothing but a 34-page instruction booklet — and a profound sense of helplessness. Two decades later, that helplessness fueled action: Sheila…

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Dr. Becky Whetstone: Marriage Crisis, Childhood Trauma, and How Humility Heals Relationships 49:45

8M ago49:45

49:45

What if the fight in your marriage isn’t just about dishes, distance, or desire — but something deeper you haven’t yet faced? In this revealing episode, therapist and author Dr. Becky Whetstone joins us to talk about what really causes a marriage crisis. Drawing from her decades of work — and her own lived experience through multiple divorces — Bec…

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Dana Felske: Single Mom by Choice, Entrepreneur by Vision 42:48

8M ago42:48

42:48

What does it take to walk away from a stable career, start a business with your dad, and then choose motherhood on your own terms? In this moving and empowering episode, Dana Felske shares her extraordinary journey—from leaving the banking world to co-founding FutureBook Printing, and later, becoming a single mom by choice. With honesty and clarity…

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Testing What Matters: With Elliott Clark of Batteries Included 55:01

9M ago55:01

55:01

Send us a text On the latest episode of Tech and Test, I’m joined by Elliott Clark, CEO and founder of Batteries Included, for a deep and thoughtful conversation about the cost of testing, what to test (and when), and how to align engineering efforts with your company's mission. We cover: 🧪 What testing is really worth investing in — and where to a…

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Yash Preswalla on Skateboarding, Sobriety, and Building Impact from the Inside Out 49:45

9M ago49:45

49:45

In this episode of Forks, we talk with Yash Preswalla, founder of Toronto's Impact Skate Club, about how skateboarding became his path to purpose, sobriety, and social change. Yash shares his journey from bar gigs and burnout to building one of Toronto’s most inclusive youth programs. We explore how he supports neurodivergent kids, teaches accounta…

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Christie Tait, NP: Migraine and the Journey from Sufferer to Specialist 56:55

9M ago56:55

56:55

A Nurse Practitioner specializing in headache and concussion care, Christie Tait has worked in Emergency Medicine at Toronto’s SickKids and Mount Sinai, led the Headache Program at the Neurology Centre of Toronto, and now runs Structure Clinic, a pioneering practice offering comprehensive migraine treatment — from cutting-edge pharmaceuticals 💊 to …

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Shannon Gallagher of Smithery Style: From Burnout to Business Owner 48:59

9M ago48:59

48:59

In this episode of Forks, we sit down with Shannon Gallagher, the powerhouse entrepreneur who took a leap of faith to acquire Smithery Style, a Canadian online boutique championing body positivity. Shannon shares her journey from burnout in the corporate world to becoming the new Chief Style Smith, navigating the highs and lows of business ownershi…

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Emma Plourde-Doran: Championing Inclusive Education for Students with Autism 45:04

10M ago45:04

45:04

In this episode of Forks, Alexis and Amie sit down with Emma Plourde-Doran, an educator who faced a defining fork in the road: follow a traditional teaching path or build a high-support classroom for students with autism, from scratch. Emma took the leap—and it changed everything. Teaching in Northern Ontario, she transformed an empty classroom int…

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Terry Pirovolakis: A Father’s Incredible Mission to Treat His Son’s Rare Disease, SPG50 37:50

10M ago37:50

37:50

When Terry and Georgia Pirovolakis received the devastating news that their 15-month-old son, Michael, had been diagnosed with Spastic Paraplegia Type 50 (SPG50), a rare neurodegenerative disorder affecting approximately 80 children worldwide, they were determined to find a cure. Refusing to accept the lack of available treatments, Terry embarked o…

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Poetry, Perseverance, and Second Chances with Anne Hood, The Wild Geese Poet 49:46

10M ago49:46

49:46

Raised in Yorkshire in the 1950s and 60s, today’s guest—known as The Wild Geese Poet—grew up in a loving but challenging home, shaped by her mother’s undiagnosed schizophrenia. Her story is one of resilience, transformation, and creative rediscovery. After navigating childhood struggles, building a family in Scotland, and forging a career in social…

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Forensic Nursing, Justice and Sexual Education with Hannah Varto 59:19

10M ago59:19

59:19

In this eye-opening episode of Forks, we sit down with Hannah Varto, a nurse practitioner and forensic expert dedicated to supporting survivors of violence. From her journey into forensic nursing to launching Canada’s first clinic dedicated to post-violence medical care, Hannah shares her insights on the intersection of healthcare, justice, and adv…

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Exploring AI in Testing with Jesús Gianzo Villaverde 40:52

10M ago40:52

40:52

Send us a text In this episode of Tech and Test, I sit down with Jesús Gianzo Villaverde, a Software Development Engineer in Test, to explore the evolving role of AI in software testing. We kick things off by discussing Deepseek, a recent development in the world of AI, before diving into the broader landscape of LLMs and biases—how these models wo…

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How To Have A Good Day (and How To Have a Bad One) - Frank's Back! 53:41

11M ago53:41

53:41

What if the key to having a good day—or a bad one—was entirely within your control? In this episode, we welcome back Frank, an addictions counsellor and expert in human behaviour, to explore the power of automatic negative thoughts (ANTs) and how they shape our reality. 🔹 Key Takeaways: •💭 60,000 Thoughts a Day – Why 95% of them are negative and ho…

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Hots & Nots: Our Current Icks & Obsessions 38:41

11M ago38:41

38:41

🎧 In this episode of Forks, Alexis and Amie dive into what they see as hot and not in their world. From celebrity comebacks and self-care trends to bizarre corporate habits and low-stakes cults (yes, really), this conversation is packed with humour, opinions, and a touch of chaos. 🔥 What’s Hot? •Jeremiah Brent on Queer Eye – Why Alexis is obsessed.…

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Alexis’ Update: Losing your job can be a gift + advice for navigating unemployment 34:12

11M ago34:12

34:12

In this episode of Forks, we explore Alexis’ journey from job loss to career clarity and why losing your job might actually be the best thing to happen. Discover why job loss can be a blessing in disguise and learn practical tips for navigating unemployment—like mastering networking without feeling awkward and nailing interviews by staying true to …

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Adenike Charles: Fitness, Faith, and Finding Your Path 50:56

11M ago50:56

50:56

In this episode, Alexis and Amie are joined by Adenike Charles, founder of Just2Sweat, a fitness and wellness brand that combines exercise, mindset, and faith to inspire transformative change. With her expertise in kinesiology, personal training, and life coaching, Nike shares her inspiring journey from corporate leadership to becoming a full-time …

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Looking Back: Our Favourite Lessons from Our Guests So Far 28:52

12M ago28:52

28:52

In this episode, we take a moment to reflect on the incredible wisdom and insights shared by our guests since we launched the podcast in October 2024. From navigating life’s transitions to redefining resilience, embracing gratitude, and challenging societal norms, we’ve learned so much from these conversations. We talk about the lessons that have s…

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A High School Student’s Take on AI, Coding, and the Future of Tech 19:10

12M ago19:10

19:10

Send us a text In this episode of Tech and Test, I had the privilege of interviewing Rohan Abeelack—a high school student with an incredible passion for computer science. 🌟 Rohan’s enthusiasm for technology is truly inspiring. His fresh perspective, curiosity, and ambitious ideas, like developing a personalised chatbot to help students learn maths …

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Jessica Diamond, Child Therapist, on Navigating Ontario's Mental Health System and Parenting Neurodivergent Children 54:14

1y ago54:14

54:14

What happens when a seasoned child and family expert finds herself unable to help her own child in crisis? That’s the reality Jessica Diamond, mother of three and founder of The Help Hub, faced when her family was met with a fragmented and under-resourced mental health system. Despite her decades of experience as a social worker and advocate for ch…

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Nadine Sookermany: CEO of the Ontario HIV Treatment Network on Humility, Equity, and Navigating Life’s Crossroads 1:00:48

1y ago1:00:48

1:00:48

What does it take to lead with humility, foster equity, and inspire transformative change? Nadine Sookermany, CEO of the Ontario HIV Treatment Network, joins us to share her extraordinary journey of advocacy, leadership, and perseverance. From her early work championing women’s health to addressing systemic inequities in housing, HIV care, and harm…

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Exploring Maths, Computing, and Passion-Driven Learning with James Shao 28:13

1y ago28:13

28:13

Send us a text Excited to share the latest episode of Tech and Test! This time, I’m joined by James Shao, a 2nd-year Joint Maths and Computing student at Imperial College London, who brings a fresh perspective on learning, curiosity, and growth in STEM. 🌟 Here’s what we cover: 🎓 James’ experience navigating the demanding worlds of mathematics and c…

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Co-Parenting Expert Charlotte Schwartz on Raising a Child with Disabilities, and Redefining Success after Career Setbacks 56:31

1y ago56:31

56:31

Co-parenting expert and author Charlotte Schwartz, whose book Your Place or Mine? offers an empowering guide for navigating co-parenting after separation, opens up about her transformative journey in this episode of Forks. Charlotte shares how she lost her long-standing role as a senior legal clerk at a prestigious downtown law firm—a job she loved…