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

Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Vanessa's mentor and friend, Dr. Imogen Coe, holds many distinctions: Professor of Critical Thinking in Biomedical Sciences, award-winning scholar-activist, former Dean of Science, STEM thought leader, and all-around academic badass. But her finest achievement yet? Being the first returning guest on Math Therapy!

Imogen joined us in 2020 to talk about breaking systemic barriers in STEM fields, and she returns today to explore pressing topics like:

• how our "math identity" impacts our entire self-worth
• how our sense of belonging relates to representation
• should scientists be emotional or creative?
• how questioning one's beliefs is actually very scientific

About Imogen: (Website, Instagram, LinkedIn)

Dr. Imogen Coe is a scientist, advocate, and founding dean of the Faculty of Science at Toronto Metropolitan University. She is internationally recognized for her research in cell biology and for her leadership in equity, diversity, and inclusion in STEM.

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

Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

For the last month, Vanessa and Math Therapy producer David have been in the studio working on their band's next album, and Vanessa couldn't help observing many parallels between making music in the studio and learning math. If you're reading this like "huh?!" ... then today's episode is a must listen!

After a day in the studio with our good friend & producer Devon Lougheed, Vanessa sat down with him to discuss:

• what risk-taking in the studio can teach us about learning math
• the difference between process and outcome
• imposter syndrome - we all feel it!
• the secret to progress - celebrate the wins, no matter the size

About Devon: (Instagram, Website)

Devon Lougheed is a JUNO-winning songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist, creative mad scientist and musical schemer, and co-founder of alt-rock band Altered By Mom.

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