From Pythagoras to Einstein, from the banks of the Nile to the streamlined curves of the Large Hadron Collider, math has shown itself again and again to be fundamental to the way that humans interact with the world. Then why is math such a pain for so many people? Our answer is simple: math is, and always has been, in one way or another, guarded as an elite skill. We visit the worlds that were shaped by math, the secrets people died for, the false gods created through this noble science, and the gradual chipping away of this knowledge by a people who have always yearned for this magical skill. So what is it? And how can we make it better?Ways to support the show:   Help Support The Podcast by clicking on the links below:<ul> <li><a href="https://zen.ai/1e7eBWWMLcSL_G10VxiSlQ">Try out ZenCastr w/ 30% Discount</a>  Use my <a href="https://zen.ai/1e7eBWWMLcSL_G10VxiSlQ">special link</a> to save 30% off your first month of any Zencastr paid plan</li> <li><a href="https://www.patreon.com/breakingmath">Patreon</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@breakingmathpod">YouTube</a></li> <li><a href="http://breakingmath.io/">Breaking Math Website</a>Email us for copies of the transcript!</li></ul>[Featuring: Sofía Baca, Gabriel Hesch; Amy Lynn, Ian McLaughlin]

From Pythagoras to Einstein, from the banks of the Nile to the streamlined curves of the Large Hadron Collider, math has shown itself again and again to be fundamental to the way that humans interact with the world. Then why is math such a pain for so many people? Our answer is simple: math is, and always has been, in one way or another, guarded as an elite skill. We visit the worlds that were shaped by math, the secrets people died for, the false gods created through this noble science, and the gradual chipping away of this knowledge by a people who have always yearned for this magical skill. So what is it? And how can we make it better? Ways to support the show: Help Support The Podcast by clicking on the links below: Try out ZenCastr w/ 30% Discount Use my special link to save 30% off your first month of any Zencastr paid plan Patreon YouTube Breaking Math WebsiteEmail us for copies of the transcript![Featuring: Sofía Baca, Gabriel Hesch; Amy Lynn, Ian McLaughlin]

From Pythagoras to Einstein, from the banks of the Nile to the streamlined curves of the Large Hadron Collider, math has shown itself again and again to be fundamental to the way that humans interact with the world. Then why is math such a pain for so many people? Our answer is simple: math is, and always has been, in one way or another, guarded as an elite skill. We visit the worlds that were shaped by math, the secrets people died for, the false gods created through this noble science, and the gradual chipping away of this knowledge by a people who have always yearned for this magical skill. So what is it? And how can we make it better?Ways to support the show: &nbsp;&nbsp;Help Support The Podcast by clicking on the links below:<ul> <li><a href="https://zen.ai/1e7eBWWMLcSL_G10VxiSlQ" rel="noopener noreferrer">Try out ZenCastr w/ 30% Discount</a> &nbsp;Use my <a href="https://zen.ai/1e7eBWWMLcSL_G10VxiSlQ" rel="noopener noreferrer">special link</a> to save 30% off your first month of any Zencastr paid plan</li> <li><a href="https://www.patreon.com/breakingmath" rel="noopener noreferrer">Patreon</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@breakingmathpod" rel="noopener noreferrer">YouTube</a></li> <li><a href="http://breakingmath.io/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Breaking Math Website</a>Email us for copies of the transcript!</li></ul>[Featuring: Sofía Baca, Gabriel Hesch; Amy Lynn, Ian McLaughlin]

1: Forbidden Formulas (Elitism in Math)

Breaking Math is a deep-dive science, technology, engineering, AI, and mathematics podcast that explores the world through the lens of logic, patterns, and critical thinking. Hosted by Autumn Phaneuf, an expert in industrial engineering, operations research and applied mathematics, and Gabriel Hesch, an electrical engineer (host from 2016-2024) with a passion for mathematical clarity, the show is dedicated to uncovering the mathematical structures behind science, engineering, technology, and the systems that shape our future.What began as a conversation about math as a pure and elegant discipline has evolved into a platform for bold, interdisciplinary dialogue. Each episode of Breaking Math takes listeners on an intellectual journey—whether it’s into the strange beauty of chaos theory, the ethical dilemmas of AI, the deep structures of biological evolution, or the thermodynamics of black holes. Along the way, Autumn and Gabriel interview leading thinkers and working scientists from across the spectrum: computer scientists, quantum physicists, chemists, philosophers, neuroscientists, and more.But this isn’t just a podcast about equations—it’s a show about how mathematics influences the way we think, create, build, and understand. Breaking Math pushes back against the idea that STEM belongs behind a paywall or an academic podium. It’s for the curious, the critical, the creative—for anyone who believes that ideas should be rigorous, accessible, and infused with wonder.If you've ever wondered:<ul> <li>What’s the math behind machine learning?</li> <li>How do we quantify uncertainty in climate models?</li> <li>Can consciousness be described in AI?</li> <li>Why does beauty matter in an equation?</li></ul>Then you’re in the right place.At its heart, Breaking Math is about building bridges—between disciplines, between experts and the public, and between the abstract world of mathematics and the messy, magnificent reality we live in. With humor, clarity, and deep respect for complexity, Autumn and Gabriel invite you to rethink what math can be—and how it can help us shape a better future.Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Website: <a href="https://breakingmath.io/">https://breakingmath.io</a> Linktree: <a href="https://linktr.ee/breakingmathmedia">https://linktr.ee/breakingmathmedia</a> Email: breakingmathpodcast@gmail.com

Science

Technology

Mathematics

Breaking Math is a deep-dive science, technology, engineering, AI, and mathematics podcast that explores the world through the lens of logic, patterns, and critical thinking. Hosted by Autumn Phaneuf, an expert in industrial engineering, operations research and applied mathematics, and Gabriel Hesch, an electrical engineer (host from 2016-2024) with a passion for mathematical clarity, the show is dedicated to uncovering the mathematical structures behind science, engineering, technology, and the systems that shape our future. What began as a conversation about math as a pure and elegant discipline has evolved into a platform for bold, interdisciplinary dialogue. Each episode of Breaking Math takes listeners on an intellectual journey—whether it’s into the strange beauty of chaos theory, the ethical dilemmas of AI, the deep structures of biological evolution, or the thermodynamics of black holes. Along the way, Autumn and Gabriel interview leading thinkers and working scientists from across the spectrum: computer scientists, quantum physicists, chemists, philosophers, neuroscientists, and more. But this isn’t just a podcast about equations—it’s a show about how mathematics influences the way we think, create, build, and understand. Breaking Math pushes back against the idea that STEM belongs behind a paywall or an academic podium. It’s for the curious, the critical, the creative—for anyone who believes that ideas should be rigorous, accessible, and infused with wonder. If you've ever wondered: What’s the math behind machine learning? How do we quantify uncertainty in climate models? Can consciousness be described in AI? Why does beauty matter in an equation?Then you’re in the right place. At its heart, Breaking Math is about building bridges—between disciplines, between experts and the public, and between the abstract world of mathematics and the messy, magnificent reality we live in. With humor, clarity, and deep respect for complexity, Autumn and Gabriel invite you to rethink what math can be—and how it can help us shape a better future. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Website: https://breakingmath.io Linktree: https://linktr.ee/breakingmathmedia Email: breakingmathpodcast@gmail.com

Breaking Math is a deep-dive science, technology, engineering, AI, and mathematics podcast that explores the world through the lens of logic, patterns, and critical thinking. Hosted by Autumn Phaneuf, an expert in industrial engineering, operations research and applied mathematics, and Gabriel Hesch, an electrical engineer (host from 2016-2024) with a passion for mathematical clarity, the show is dedicated to uncovering the mathematical structures behind science, engineering, technology, and the systems that shape our future.What began as a conversation about math as a pure and elegant discipline has evolved into a platform for bold, interdisciplinary dialogue. Each episode of Breaking Math takes listeners on an intellectual journey—whether it’s into the strange beauty of chaos theory, the ethical dilemmas of AI, the deep structures of biological evolution, or the thermodynamics of black holes. Along the way, Autumn and Gabriel interview leading thinkers and working scientists from across the spectrum: computer scientists, quantum physicists, chemists, philosophers, neuroscientists, and more.But this isn’t just a podcast about equations—it’s a show about how mathematics influences the way we think, create, build, and understand. Breaking Math pushes back against the idea that STEM belongs behind a paywall or an academic podium. It’s for the curious, the critical, the creative—for anyone who believes that ideas should be rigorous, accessible, and infused with wonder.If you've ever wondered:<ul> <li>What’s the math behind machine learning?</li> <li>How do we quantify uncertainty in climate models?</li> <li>Can consciousness be described in AI?</li> <li>Why does beauty matter in an equation?</li></ul>Then you’re in the right place.At its heart, Breaking Math is about building bridges—between disciplines, between experts and the public, and between the abstract world of mathematics and the messy, magnificent reality we live in. With humor, clarity, and deep respect for complexity, Autumn and Gabriel invite you to rethink what math can be—and how it can help us shape a better future.Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Website: <a href="https://breakingmath.io/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://breakingmath.io</a> Linktree: <a href="https://linktr.ee/breakingmathmedia" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://linktr.ee/breakingmathmedia</a> Email: breakingmathpodcast@gmail.com

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1: Forbidden Formulas (Elitism in Math)

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