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Math Therapy

Vanessa Vakharia, aka The Math Guru

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 class left on many of us, definitely do. And don’t worry, no calculators or actual math were involved in the making of this podcast ;)

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June 11 · 48 min
How to get fired up about teaching (even if the system has crushed your spirit) w/ Chase Orton
Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply) Vanessa recently took one step closer to her dream of hosting a Netflix show, recording the first ever live Math Therapy interview! For her session last week at Leander ISD's annual Math Joy Conference in Texas, she interviewed self-proclaimed "chaos-driven non-compliant educator" Chase Orton - and you can now hear their extremely unfiltered conversation in front of a room full of teachers whose gasps are VERY audible throughout! Chase and Vanessa share a fearlessness in calling out the education as it is, and in this convo they cover hot topics like: how teachers can stay motivated in a broken system who standardized testing benefits (hint: not students or teachers!) how to follow the rules while rebelling against the status quo About Chase: (Website, YouTube) As an accomplished facilitator of lesson study for K-12 math teachers, Chase Orton partners with districts who are interested in taking a teacher-centered, teacher-directed approach to professional development. Chase is also the author of The Imperfect and Unfinished Teacher of Mathematics. Contact us: Vanessa Vakharia: Instagram, TikTok, Email Math Therapy: Text the Podcast More Math Therapy: Join the Facebook group Get the book: Corwin, Amazon Audiobook: Audible, Spotify Merch store: Shop here
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June 4 · 52 min
3 essential study skills to make exams less stressful for everyone w/ Deena Kara Shaffer
Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply) Exam season is upon us, but NOBODY PANIC! Today's guest, learning strategist Dr. Deena Kara Shaffer, joined Vanessa to share some simple but game-changing study tips to help you get through exams without breaking a sweat. They discuss: what actually is learning, and what does and does not count as studying why we get trapped trying to perfect to-do lists & how to prioritize better how we can all use AI tools ethically to support our learning (not replace it) This episode is for anyone (students, teachers, parents) who find exam season stressful and need a pep talk about practical & effective ways to learn better! About Deena: (Website, Instagram, Facebook) For over 20 years, Dr. Deena has dedicated her career to promoting more equity and justice in learning and enabling the success of more than 5,000 students, educators, and business leaders through learning strategies. As a keynote speaker, mentor, training facilitator, and founder of Awakened Learning Inc., she looks forward to any opportunity to connect with individuals and organizations who are ready to feel happier, healthier, and more at peace. Contact us: Vanessa Vakharia: Instagram, TikTok, Email Math Therapy: Text the Podcast More Math Therapy: Join the Facebook group Get the book: Corwin, Amazon Audiobook: Audible, Spotify Merch store: Shop here
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May 28 · 9 min
The unexpected text that turned my day around (and may turn yours around too)
Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply) Last week Vanessa ended her episode saying the podcast would be taking this week off while she was on vacation, but it might not surprise you that she is not exactly "good" at vacation .. so while she's definitely taking some much needed time off, she also could not resist recording this short episode after receiving a very unexpected and beautiful text from Timothy Jones, an inmate with the Prison Mathematics Project. Our podcast is available through prisons across the US, and Timothy was moved to write in to Vanessa through their messaging system after listening to her recent "tax season meltdown" episode. He shared some beautiful words of affirmation that we can all tell ourselves daily, which stem from his own journey getting to know his true self and rewriting the false stories he was told about himself in childhood. Links mentioned: Ep: Why smart people still feel out of control (and what to do about it) Ep: How math can help prison inmates turn their lives around w/ Christopher Havens Listen to new mini-series Heart Work by Imagine Learning, featuring Vanessa on episode 2! Learn more about the Prison Mathematics Project and ways to get involved 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 here
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May 21 · 31 min
How I talked my way out of an anxiety spiral
Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply) Vanessa reflects on her recent self-described "meltdown episode" in which she talked herself down from a panic spiral. She was nervous to share something so messy & vulnerable, but the response was incredible - so many of you identified completely with her feelings. (Turns out tax season is a real trigger for us all!) Today, she shares some of her own observations once she had de-escalated, as well as some of the feedback and perspective she received - and most importantly she details what helped her actually get organized as opposed to just spiralling over the fear of being disorganized. Also, we got over 100 entries for last week's Texas Instruments "Oh My Math" Box giveaway! The winner has already been contacted, but if you didn't hear from us don't despair - we'll be giving away one box every month for the rest of the summer, so stay subscribed to Math Therapy so you don't miss your next chance to win. Links mentioned: Ep: Why smart people still feel out of control (and what to do about it) Ep: This will change the way you think about calculators w/ Curtis Brown Imagine Learning's podcast series "Heart Work" featuring Vanessa (Pt 1 available now) 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 here
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May 14 · 42 min
Anxious about math? You may be the best person to teach it w/ Heidi Sabnani
Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply) Everyone's finally talking about math anxiety - in students, parents, and anyone that goes into a panic at the mere mention of the word "math". But one group is often overlooked: math teachers! Many teachers find themselves having to teach math whether they planned to or not, and often without even being trained on the material themselves. But don't panic! Today's guest, teaching coach Heidi Sabnani, has a step by step process to turn that math anxiety into a classroom strength. She joined Vanessa to discuss: Is math anxiety contagious? Consistency - the secret to longterm change How to overcome math anxiety at any age About Heidi: (Website, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube) Heidi Sabnani, EdD, has been an educator in math and literacy for over 25 years. She regularly presents at regional and national conferences in the United States and has been invited to speak at conferences in Guatemala and Ecuador. She is the co-host and co-author, with Molly Vokey, of the Math 4 All Show and Math Activators for Reasoning about Fractions, Decimals and Integers. *CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED* This episode is sponsored by Texas Instruments! Listen to the episode for instructions to enter to win an "Oh My Math" box featuring: the new TI-84 Evo graphing calculator + 4-yr license an adorable plushie TI calculator keychain! 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 here
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May 7 · 30 min
Why smart people still feel out of control (and what to do about it)
Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply) Ever feel like you don't know how to take your own advice? Like you've learned all the strategies but can't seem to actually use them? Like no matter how hard you try to get your life in order, it just seems to get more complicated?! Well Vanessa certainly does, and (at the encouragement of her producer) she hopped on the mic and let it all out in one of her most honest and vulnerable episodes yet. With the help of her calculator stuffie and her trademark stream of consciousness outer processing, she talks herself down from a panicked state and explores: what an anxiety spiral looks like and what's actually behind it negativity bias + confirmation bias = catastrophization! how therapy tools like a gratitude practice can help what this all has to do with math education If you can relate, or just want to give Vanessa a pep talk, send us a text! And share this episode with a friend who needs to hear it. 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 here
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April 30 · 47 min
Math is a spiritual practice & here's the proof w/ Edward Doolittle
Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply) 500 BC: Pythagoras may not have even existed, but a number-worshipping / bean-hating (yet vegetarian?!) cult definitely did. 1600 AD: Johannes Kepler lays the mathematical foundation for Newton's theory of gravity while innovating in both astronomy and astrology (and also inventing the genre of sci-fi in his spare time). April 2026: Vanessa learns these stories and more watching Dr Edward Doolittle deliver a fascinating keynote in Saskatoon and impulsively convinces him to be on Math Therapy! So they sat down the next day to discuss topics like: how spirituality (in any form) can help us bring our whole selves to math what the whole world can learn from Indigenous understandings of math the power of storytelling in learning About Edward: Dr. Edward Doolittle, (Kanyenkehake [Flint Nation = Mohawk] from Six Nations in southern Ontario) is Associate Professor of Mathematics at First Nations University of Canada, a federated college of the University of Regina. His interests range from probability (particularly in relation to partial differential operators) to Indigenous mathematics and the educational possibilities afforded by those different views of mathematics. 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 here
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April 23 · 27 min
It’s never too late to change your relationship with math
Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply) Ever since we introduced the above link to text the podcast, Vanessa has been obsessed with getting listeners to do so. And guess what - tons of you have! So today she reads a bunch of them on a range of topics like: the problem with labels like "gifted" gaining math confidence later in life neuroplasticity and thinking processes who is Sister Beth?! (seriously, we need to send her a book) Also, you can now not only text us but leave us a voicenote! Just hit the link at the top of this description and we may include your text/voicenote on a future episode. 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 here
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April 9 · 53 min
This will change the way you think about calculators w/ Curtis Brown
Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply) We cover many hot button topics in math education, but today we're taking on the most literal one ... calculators! Why are they so controversial? When are they helpful and when should we use other tools? On today's episode, Vanessa chats with Curtis Brown from Texas Instruments about those questions and more: How students can take ownership of their learning The relationship between cognitive load and math anxiety How handheld tools can fuel learning (and focus!) Have you got strong feelings on calculators or know someone who does? Let us know below and share this episode! Episode links: Connect with TI Calculators on Instagram or Facebook Listen to Curtis's podcast Room To Grow About Curtis: Curtis Brown is a former high school math and AP Statistics teacher who spent five years with the National Math and Science Initiative as a Statistics Curriculum Coordinator. He’s now the Math Segment Manager at Texas Instruments, where he leads content development and serves as a voice for educators in product design. Curtis is a frequent speaker at math conferences and co‑hosts the education podcast Room to Grow. Outside of work, he enjoys kayak fishing, mountaineering with his sons, and spending time with his family. 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 here
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April 2 · 35 min
Why we haven't fixed math education (even though we know how) w/ Steve Leinwand
Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply) If you listen to this podcast, chances are you believe not only that we can fix math education but that we know how to do it. So WHY haven't we yet?! Today's guest Steve Leinwand is a true legend in this space, known for his radical honesty and authenticity in fighting for a better system for all. He joined Vanessa from his vacation (because he can never resist a good rant!) to discuss: accepting people's full selves in math so they don't have to code-switch how to make PD truly effective for teachers and supervisors how students can learn from each other as much as from teachers About Steve: (Website) Steven Leinwand has been a driving force in math education for nearly 50 years, shaping policy, curriculum, and teaching practices at the highest levels. He's held major leadership roles with organizations like NCTM (National Council for Teachers of Mathematics), and NCSM (National Council for Supervisors of Mathematics). He has advised on national initiatives like the National Assessment of Educational Progress, and worked with organizations like the American Institute for Research, earning multiple national awards along the way. 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 here
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March 26 · 45 min
This will change how you show up as a leader w/ Alison Mello
Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply) Leadership. Feedback. Professional Development. Terms that get thrown around a lot - but what do they actually mean? More importantly, how do we develop those tools so they actually make a difference in the classroom?! Thankfully, educator Alison Mello is an expert on leadership in math education, and she joined Vanessa to discuss: why PD often fails teachers and what to do about it how to be a great leader - both for teachers and administrators how to give and receive effective feedback And as mentioned in the episode, you can still register for Alison's Get Your Workshop On 2026 (early bird pricing ends March 31st so don't wait!) About Alison: (Website, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook) Alison J. Mello has been in education for 30 years as a classroom teacher, author, national speaker, and math consultant. Alison enjoys developing practical strategies to address issues that districts and teachers face in their schools and classrooms every day. She uses her understanding of leadership, curriculum and best practices to inspire and assist leaders and teachers in elevating and transforming math instruction. 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 here
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March 19 · 23 min
The way you talk about math matters, even if you don’t teach it w/ Kylie Fraser
Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply) Back in 2020, math teacher (with math trauma) Kylie Fraser found herself in Vanessa's Math Therapy session at the Mighty Peace Teachers Convention in Grand Prairie, Alberta and was stunned how much she saw of herself in Vanessa's story. Flash forward to earlier this month when Vanessa returned to Grand Prairie to deliver the keynote, and 30 minutes before hitting the stage they reunited and impulsively decided to record this convo about what Kylie has been up to in her math journey in the last 6 years! They discussed: the math trauma Kylie saw in herself and her students and what she did about it how language around math influences our self-worth how to heal from math trauma through shared stories On that note - if you know someone that should hear this story, share it! 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 here
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March 12 · 30 min
Refresher: Predicting the Oscars with math w/ Ben Zauzmer (Oscarmetrics)
Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply) The Oscars are this Sunday, and to be completely transparent, Vanessa hasn't seen any of the nominations. BUT, she is always ready to hand out an award to anyone blending pop culture and math, so today we are bringing you our 2022 interview with Ben Zauzmer, who has been using statistical analysis every awards season to predict the Oscar winners with math! Ben is also Assistant General Manager for the NY Mets baseball team after spending years in MLB baseball analytics - that's right, he is Moneyball IRL! You can check out his predictions for this year below, and you can try to send Vanessa movie recommendations but we all know if they aren't Christmas romcoms they probably won't make her top 10. Ben's 2026 Oscars predictions for Hollywood Reporter Ben's 2026 nominee predictions - see how he did! Buy Ben’s Book: “Oscarmetrics: The Math Behind the Biggest Night in Hollywood” 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 here
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