Shows
The Art of MathematicsFractals: Simple rules, complex shapesKrystal Taylor, Associate Professor of Mathematics at Ohio State University, discussed the surprising characteristics of fractals, "infinity in a box." They may have fractional dimension, which varies depending on how it's measured. An infinite perimeter may enclose a finite area. Yet they are not just mathematical oddities--they appear in nature and have practical applications.
2026-01-2814 min
Happier At Work: Leadership, Culture, Performance285: Fixed vs Growth Mindset at WorkAre you stuck believing that people, or even you, can never change?In this solo episode of the Happier at Work podcast, Aoife O'Brien dives deep into the powerful concepts of fixed and growth mindsets, drawing on her own experiences and insights from Carol Dweck’s influential book, Mindset. Aoife shares candid reflections on how her default fixed mindset affected her professional choices, how she projected those beliefs onto others, and the pivotal shift that came with adopting a growth mindset. Her journey explores why leaders need to understand how their beliefs shape individual, team, and organisational su...
2025-12-0515 minThe Art of MathematicsThe Many Facets of MathAlon Amit addresses the various facets of mathematics. Is it an art or a science? Both? Neither? Is it invented or discovered? Why is math that's developed for purely aesthetic reasons so often a useful tool for the real world? He likes that there are not simple, one-way answers. He challenges the listeners to post questions to Quora that surprise and delight him.
2025-04-2315 minThe Art of MathematicsWill AI Replace Mathematicians?Alon Amit, prolific Quora math answerer, discusses how Artificial Intelligence might change the role of the mathematician. AI will make mathematics more efficient but it can't do math in a deep sense at present. It can't perform logical reasoning or even know if it's wrong. However, there are recent advances in proof verifiers. They may eventually be able to check complex proofs like the recent alleged proof of the ABC Conjecture.
2025-03-2620 minThe Art of MathematicsThe National Museum of MathematicsCindy Lawrence is the Director and CEO of the National Museum of Mathematics in New York City. She and a former math professor built it up from a grass-roots museum started by math teachers. The Museum, soon to move into a 30,000 square foot space, appeals to both those who love and hate math. Attendees learn that math is beautiful, fun, and surprising--"That's so cool!"
2025-02-2617 minThe Art of MathematicsContemporary Math Research for Artistic UndergradsVeselin Jungic, teaching professor of mathematics at Simon Fraser University, introduces undergraduate math minors to contemporary math research. The focus is Ramsey theory, an area of current research activity that brings together multiple areas of math, deals with big ideas, proves complete chaos is impossible, and is built on human stories. Some students extended or corrected ongoing research. Others used their artistic talents to express the patterns of mathematics through, for example, a graphic novel or a poem.
2025-01-2214 minThe Art of MathematicsWhere do Math Concepts Come From?Joseph Bennish discusses math as a "concept factory." The concept of prime numbers came from a desire to break numbers down to their simplest atoms. This simple concept led to simple questions like the twin prime conjecture that no one has been able to answer. Those questions in turn led to deep research. The concepts of new geometries grew out of failed attempts to prove that Euclid's geometry was the only geometry. Gauss' "most wonderful theorem" of surfaces led to Riemann's higher dimensional manifolds. This, combined with Minkowski's space-time geometry, led to Einstein's relativity, "the most beautiful theory of...
2024-12-2520 minThe Art of MathematicsA Clockmaker, an Egg, and a CathedralJeanne Lazzarini tells us how a clockmaker used an egg to win the competition to build the dome of the Florence Cathedral. The Cathedral had had a huge gaping hole for a hundred years since no one knew how to build such a large dome. His solution involved the equation for a hanging chain and parallel lines that meet.
2024-11-2714 minThe Art of MathematicsWhat is a Pattern?Math is in a sense the science of patterns. Alon Amit explores the question of what exactly is a pattern. A common example is the decimal digits of pi. The statement that they have no pattern seems to be either obvious or completely untrue. We explore the spectrum of pattern-ness from simple repetition to total randomness and finally answer the question about pi. We also discuss analogy, which powers mathematical exploration.
2024-10-2312 minThe Art of MathematicsWhat's the Big Deal about Pi?Alon Amit joins us on the antipode of Pi Day to counter the myths and mysteries of this most famous irrational number. There's nothing magical about a non-repeating string of digits. The real and profound mystery is the ubiquity of pi. It shows up in places that have nothing to do with circles, such as the sum of the reciprocals of the squares of the integers and the normal bell-shaped curve.
2024-09-2517 minThe Art of MathematicsTurning Math-Hating Prisoners into MathematiciansKate Pearce, a post-doc researcher at UT Austin, talks about her experience teaching math in a women's prison. Her remedial college algebra students came in with negative experience in math, so she devised ways to make the topics new. The elective class called, coincidentally, The Art of Mathematics, explored parallels between math and art, infinity, algorithms, formalism, randomness and more. The students learned to think like mathematicians and gained confidence in their abilities in abstract problem solving.
2024-08-2822 minThe Art of MathematicsStop Overselling MathematicsAlon Amit, prolific Quora math answerer, argues that an honest representation of mathematical ideas is enough to spark interest in math. It's not necessary to exaggerate the role of math; the golden ratio does not drive the stock market, the solution of the Riemann hypothesis will not kill cryptography, and Grothendieck did not advance robotics. History and seeing the thought process and the struggle behind the tight finished proof are ways to make math compelling.
2024-07-2417 minThe Art of MathematicsMath for Kids: It's not a Spectator SportDave Cole, the author of the Math Kids series of books, talks about introducing kids to math as a fun challenge and puzzle beyond the rote memorization they've come to expect. Kids who like to read are enticed by puzzles and mysteries. Möbius strips, Pascal's triangle, and other concepts that are new to them, make them marvel, "Is this math?" They see patterns and learn to make and even prove conjectures.
2024-06-2621 min
My New Favorite Olympian and My New Favorite ParalympianLydia Jacoby: My battle with post-Olympic depressionLydia Jacoby, who unexpectedly became an Olympic champion as a 17-year-old swimmer from Alaska, opens up about her battle with post-Olympic depression. Watch the video version of this episode HERE.Hear from:Lydia JacobyMissy Franklin (6-time Olympic medalist)Carol Capitani (Texas women’s swimming and diving head coach)Dr. Michael Gervais (Psychologist and founder of Finding Mastery) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
2024-06-1222 minThe Art of MathematicsEgyptian FractionsNeil Epstein, Associate Professor of Mathematics at George Mason University, introduces us to the fractions used by the ancient Egyptians, well before the Greeks and Romans. The Egyptian fractions all had a unit numerator. They could represent any fraction as a sum of unique unit fractions, a fact that was not proved until centuries later. These sums inspired conjectures, one of which was proved only recently, while others remain unsolved to this day. Recent work extends these concepts beyond fractions of integers. Human heritage goes way back, but is still inspiring modern research.
2024-05-2217 minThe Art of MathematicsDa Vinci's Math Teacher: Merging the Practical and TheoreticalJeanne Lazzarini joins us again to introduce us to the mathematician Luca Pacioli, whose views of numbers and shapes influenced Leonardo da Vinci, leading to a period of art and invention. His book, De Divina Proportione, is the only book ever illustrated by da Vinci. The Renaissance was a period when mathematicians studied art and artists studied mathematics. As da Vinci said, "Everything connects."
2024-04-2416 minThe Art of MathematicsAlon Amit, sharing the mathematical journey in Quora and Math CirclesAlon Amit, probably the most prolific answerer of math questions on Quora, shares his reasons for his deep involvement. He seeks to share the journey, the exploration and stumbles of solving a problem. He's especially drawn to questions that will teach him things, even if he never completes the answer. He also shares his joy of problem solving with kids through Math Circles. One example problem, involving only 4 dots, can be worked on by a young child, yet affords deep exploration.
2024-03-2720 minThe Art of MathematicsToo Much Math in the Schools? These Books Counter That Narrow ViewLee Kraftchick continues his tour of books about math written for the non-mathematician like himself. We also can't let go of Gödel Escher Bach. Lee cites an opinion piece in the Washington Post, titled, "The Problem with Schools Today is Too Much Math," which gives a very narrow view of what math is. He counters it with a response (see theartofmathematicspodcast.com) and more books that demonstrate that math provides "pleasures which all the arts afford." He also discusses books about math and the real world and compilations of the broad range of mathematics.
2024-02-2820 minThe Art of MathematicsBooks for the Mathematical TouristLee Kraftchick discusses some of his favorite books for non-mathematicians to explore the breadth of mathematics. These books range from very old to current. Some discuss beautiful proofs, whether math is invented or discovered, and how to think. Lee and Carol agree on the number one greatest book for mathematicians and non-mathematicians alike. See the full list at theartofmathematicspodcast.com.
2024-01-2420 min
Reframe & Reset Your Career: Job Search & Career Development InsightsEpisode 69. How Philosophy Can Boost Your Career & Life – Dr Brennan JacobyLearning about philosophy may seem like a luxury in our fast paced world but it has a number of benefits for your career and life, including developing your critical thinking skills and the ability to solve complex problems. Dr Brennan Jacoby, a philosopher and the founder of Philosophy at Work, and I discussed this, his work with Philosophy at Work and much more on Episode 69 of the Reframe & Reset Your Career podcast.
In this episode, we will learn about:
How serendipity and chance can impact your career,
Plato’s allegory of the cave and...
2024-01-0453 minThe Art of MathematicsReflecting on KaleidoscopesJeanne Lazzarini talks about kaleidoscopes and the mathematics that makes them work. This "beautiful form watcher" uses the laws of reflection to make ever-changing repeated symmetries. The use of more mirrors, rectangles, cylinders or pyramids create even more complex patterns.
2023-12-2720 minThe Art of MathematicsMeet the young Davidson Fellowship winnersEthan Zhao and Edward Yu are the winners in mathematics of the prestigious Davidson Fellow Scholarships, awarded based on projects completed by students under 18. Ethan's project was on learning models and Edward's was on combinatorics. It was math contests and the MIT Primes program that gave them the background to do original research in high school, an experience most mathematicians don't get until graduate school. They also discussed the accessibility of math. You can come up with interesting problems while staring out the window. You can invent your own tools.
2023-11-2214 minThe Art of MathematicsGödel's Incompleteness, Fundamental Truths, and Reasoning in Math and LawLawyer Lee Kraftchick discusses the search for truth and basic principles in the legal community and the surprising parallels and similarities with the same search in the math community. Mathematical and legal arguments follow a similar structure. Even the backwards way an argument is created is the same.
2023-10-2522 minThe Art of MathematicsMath and the LawLee Kraftchick, a lawyer with a math degree, discusses some of the surprising parallels between the fields. Math is used directly to make statistical arguments to rule out random chance as a cause. He gives examples from his experience in redistricting and affirmative action. Math is used indirectly in legal reasoning from what is known to justified conclusions. Math reasoning and legal reasoning are remarkably similar. He invites lawyers to set aside the usual "lawyers aren't good at math" stereotype and see the beauty of the subject.
2023-09-2720 minThe Art of MathematicsFabulous FibonacciJeanne Lazzarini looks for math in the real world and finds the Fibonacci sequence and the closely related Golden Ratio. These appear as we examine plants, bees, rabbits, flowers, fruit, and the human body. These natural patterns and pleasing symmetries find their way into the arts. Does nature understand math better than we do?
2023-08-2320 min
Forever Fit with Carol CovinoWhy Sugar is the Real Culprit of Weight Gain with Dr. Richard Jacoby (Ep. 146)You've heard me talk on here several times about the impact that sugar has on our health and I have an expert on the show today that is going to drive this concept even further home plus a lot more! Dr. Richard Jacoby is the author of Sugar Crush and has an upcoming book called, "Unglued". Dr. Jacoby is a world renowned foot and ankle surgeon and the Director of Vally Foot Surgeons. We discuss hidden sugars, some current event topics you may agree or disagree with, and much more! Time Stamps: ...
2023-08-0756 minThe Art of MathematicsVowels and Sounds and a Little CalculusBrian Katz, from California State University Long Beach, invites us to explore the various layers of ordinary sounds, informed by a little calculus. The limited frequencies that come out of the wave equation are what separates sounds that communicate (voice, music) from noise. These higher notes are in the sound itself and you can hear them (but alas, not on this compressed podcast audio). Brian has provided links to hear these layers of pitches at theartofmathematicspodcast.com
2023-07-2611 min
Titan Evolution Podcast with Travis JohnsonTune Out the Naysayers If You Want to Fly, with Morry DavidBest-selling author, entrepreneur, mentor, and educator Morry David joins us today. When he was sixteen years old, he started his first business. To build a win, win, and win scenario, he studied people, conditions, and scenarios. He founded a security firm, a recording studio, and a music school. He lacks fear and disregards those who caution him against making mistakes. Morry describes how he can view things differently and why he wants to influence the younger generation.Highlights:{02:00} What makes Morry a Titan?{09:20} The...
2023-07-061h 01The Art of MathematicsThe Hat: A Newly Discovered "Ein-stein" Tessellation TileJeanne Lazzarini, who has visited us before to talk about tessellations, discusses a new mathematical discovery that even earned a mention on Jimmy Kimmel. It's a shape that can be used to fill the plane with no gaps and no overlaps and, most remarkably, no repeating patterns.
2023-06-2813 minThe Art of MathematicsInterfacing Music and MathematicsLawrence Udeigwe, associate professor of mathematics at Manhattan College and an MLK Visiting Associate Professor in Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT, is both a mathematician and a musician. We discuss his recent opinion piece in the Notices of the American Mathematical Society calling for "A Case for More Engagement" between the two areas, and even get a little "Misty." He's working on music that both jazz and math folks will enjoy. We talk about "hearing" math in jazz and the life of a mathematician among neuroscientists.
2023-05-2421 minThe Art of MathematicsFourier Analysis: It's Not Just for Differential EquationsJoseph Bennish returns to dig into the math behind the Fourier Analysis we discussed last time. Specifically, it allows us to express any function in terms of sines and cosines. Fourier analysis appears in nature--our eyes and ears do it. It's used to study the distribution of primes, build JPEG files, read the structure of complicated molecules and more.
2023-04-2618 minThe Art of MathematicsJoseph Fourier, the Heat Equation and the Age of the EarthJoseph Bennish, Professor Emeritus of California State University, Long Beach, joins us for an excursion into physics and some of the mathematics it inspired. Joseph Fourier straddled mathematics and physics. Here we focus on his heat equation, based on partial differential equations. Partial differential equations have broad applications. Fourier developed not only the heat equation but also a way to solve it. This equation was used to answer, among other questions, the issue of the age of the earth. Was the earth too young to make Darwin's theory credible?
2023-03-2217 minThe Art of MathematicsThe Ten Most Important Theorems in Mathematics, Part IIJim Stein, Professor Emeritus of CSULS, returns to complete his (admittedly subjective) list of the ten greatest math theorems of all time, with fascinating insights and anecdotes for each. Last time he did the runners up and numbers 8, 9 and 10. Here he completes numbers 1 through 7, again ranging over geometry, trig, calculus, probability, statistics, primes and more.
2023-02-2215 minThe Art of MathematicsThe Ten Most Important Theorems in Mathematics, Part IJim Stein, Professor Emeritus of CSULB, presents his very subjective list of what he believes are the ten most important theorems, with several runners up. These theorems cover a broad range of mathematics--geometry, calculus, foundations, combinatorics and more. Each is accompanied by background on the problems they solve, the mathematicians who discovered them, and a couple personal stories. We cover all the runners up and numbers 10, 9 and 8. Next month we'll learn about numbers 1 through 7.
2023-01-2525 min
DISCy ChicksDISC in Action - Carol MettenbrinkSend us a textMeet our Guest Carol Mettenbrink, Director of Product Development for TTISI Carol has been with our favorite assessment provider, TTISI for seven years and has been using their assessment tools for seventeen years! With her vast knowledge of all of the products, Carol has worked with very large corporations as well as smaller companies. She shares stories of how these companies have used DISC Behaviors, Driving Forces, EQ, and team reports to enable leaders to select new employees, promote and develop their current staff, grow their leaders and optimize team performance. Sh...
2023-01-1736 minThe Art of MathematicsSurprisingly Better than 50-50Jim Stein, Professor Emeritus of California State University Long Beach, discusses some bets that appear to be 50-50, but can have better odds with a tiny amount of seemingly useless information. Blackwell's Bet involves two envelopes of money. You can open only one. Which one do you choose? We learn about David Blackwell and his mathematical journey amid blatant racism. Another seeming 50-50 bet is guessing which of two unrelated events that you know nothing about is more likely; you can do better than 50-50 by taking just one sample of one of the events. Dr. Stein then discusses...
2022-12-2818 min
Douglas Jacoby PodcastAmos LFor additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.The book concludes with good news (9:11-15)."The words of Amos burst upon the landscape of the Northern kingdom, Israel, with all the terror and surprise of a lion’s roar. Though their main targets were the palaces of Samaria and the shrines at Bethel and Gilgal, the prophet’s words were to resound throughout Israel’s entire landscape leaving no part nor person unscathed" (Tyndale commentary, p.87).But the message of doom is followed by a message of hope.Gospel! "[Yahweh] committed himself to Jacob’s descendant...
2022-12-1215 min
The Watford Church of Christ Podcast”The Second Advent: Death is not the end” | Douglas JacobyDr Douglas Jacoby is our visiting speaker from Scotland. He teaches us on the significance of the second advent when Jesus will come again.
We continue the topic of the coming of the Christ next Sunday, the 11th of December. Please feel free to join us then or for our carol service on the 18th of December 10:30 in the morning.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me you...
2022-12-0736 minThe Art of MathematicsFascinating FractalsJeanne Lazzarini joins us again to discuss fractals, a way to investigate the roughness that we see in nature, as opposed to the smoothness of standard mathematics. Fractals are built of iterated patterns with zoom similarity. Examples include the Koch Snowflake, which encloses a finite area but has infinite perimeter, and the Sierpinski Triangle, which has no area at all. Fractals have fractional dimension. For example, The Sierpinski Triangle is of dimension 1.585, reflecting its position in the nether world between 1 dimension and 2. Fractals are used in art, medicine, science and technology.
2022-11-2321 minThe Art of MathematicsApproximation by Rationals: A New FocusJoseph Bennish, Prof. Emeritus of CSULB, describes the field of Diophantine approximation, which started in the 19th Century with questions about how well irrational numbers can be approximated by rationals. It took Cantor and Lebesgue to develop new ways to talk about the sizes of infinite sets to give the 20th century new ways to think about it. This led up to the Duffin-Schaeffer conjecture and this year's Fields Medal for James Maynard.
2022-10-2621 minThe Art of MathematicsTessellationsJeanne Lazzarini, a math education specialist, returns to discuss tessellations and tiling in the works of Escher, Penrose, ancient artists and nature. We go beyond the familiar square or hexagonal tilings of the bathroom floor. M.C. Escher was an artist who made tessellations with lizards or birds, as well as pictures of very strange stairways. Roger Penrose is a scientist who discovered two tiles that, remarkably, can cover an area without repeat, as well as a strange stairway.
2022-09-2820 minThe Art of MathematicsRational, Irrational and Transcendental NumbersJoseph Bennish returns to take us beyond the rational numbers we usually use to numbers that have been given names that indicate they're crazy or other-worldly. The Greeks were shocked to discover irrational numbers, violating their geometric view of the world. But later it was proved that any irrational number can be approximated remarkably well by a relatively simple fraction. The transcendental numbers were even more mysterious and were not even proved to exist until the 19th century.
2022-08-2421 minThe Art of MathematicsMath as ArtJeanne Lazzarini, a math education specialist, shares the connections between math, such as fractals and the golden ratio, and art. These are everywhere--nature, architecture, film and more. She shares hands-on mathematical activities that helped her students see math as an exploration and an art.
2022-07-2518 min
The Art of MathematicsExploration in Reading MathematicsLara Alcock of Loughborough University shares what she learned, by tracking eye movements, about how mathematicians and students differ in the ways they read mathematics. She developed a 10-15 minute exploration training, that increases students' comprehension through self-explanation. We also discuss the transition between procedural math and proofs that many students struggle with early in their college careers.
2022-06-2216 min
City Cast ChicagoWhat the City's New Casino Can Learn From Cabrini-Green's Broken PromisesYesterday, we explored the history of disinvestment and displacement at Cabrini-Green, Chicago’s infamous public housing complex on the Near North Side. The city began demolishing the high-rises in the 1990s, and the last one went down in 2011. But former Cabrini-Green residents are still fighting for what the city promised them: a chance to return to their community. Host Jacoby Cochran led a panel in January with journalists who investigated these broken promises, local historians, and others connected with Cabrini-Green to talk about where the community is now.This episode was originally published Feb. 1, 2022.
2022-06-0214 minThe Art of MathematicsGames for Math LearningJon Goga, of Brainy Spinach Math, is using the Roblox gaming platform to bring math learning to kids using something they already enjoy. Along the way, he teaches them some techniques that are useful for mathematicians at any level--breaking down and building up a problem. We also discuss the "inchworm" and "grasshopper" styles of learning.
2022-05-2519 minThe Art of MathematicsThe Power of Mathematical StorytellingSunil Singh, the author of Chasing Rabbits and other books, shares fascinating stories that show mathematics as a universal place of exploration and comfort. Stories of mathematical struggle and discovery in the classroom help students connect deeply with the topic, feel the passion, and see math as multi-cultural and class-free.
2022-04-2216 minThe Art of MathematicsThe Mathematical World and the Physical WorldYusra Idichchou explores the question: Does math imitate life or does life imitate math? We touch on Oscar Wilde, philosophy of both math and language, how formal abstractions can describe the subjective physical world and various philosophies of mathematics.
2022-03-0911 minThe Art of MathematicsGetting Athletes to Think Like MathematiciansCaron Rivera, a math teacher at a school for elite athletes, shares how she breaks through the myth of the "math person" and teaches athletes to think like mathematicians. Her problem solving technique applies to anything. Through it her students get comfortable with not knowing, with the adventure of seeking the answer. They build their brains in the process.
2022-02-0917 minThe Art of MathematicsThe Art of DefinitionsBrian Katz of CSULB joins us once again to discuss mathematical definitions. Students often see them as cast in stone. Prof. Katz helps them see that they're artifacts of human choices. The student has the power to create mathematics through definitions. This is illustrated by the definitions of "sandwich" and "approaching a limit." What makes a good definition? How is mathematics like a dream?
2022-01-1219 minThe Art of MathematicsMath Exploration for KidsMark Hendrickson, of Beast Academy Playground, talks about how to bring young kids into the joy, creativity and exploration that mathematicians experience. Kids enjoy art because they are free to try things and shun math for its apparent rigidness. He offers subtly mathematical games that invite even very young children to explore and question.
2021-12-0917 minThe Art of MathematicsIs Mathematics an Art?Joshua Sack, mathematics professor at California State University, Long Beach, explores the breadth of art and mathematics and finds much commonality in patterns, emotions and more.
2021-11-1012 minThe Art of MathematicsMath as a way of thinkingIan Stewart, prolific author of popular books about math, discusses how math is the best way to think about the natural world. Often math developed for its own sake is later found useful for seemingly unrelated real-world problems. A silly little puzzle about islands and bridges leads eventually to a theory used for epidemics, transportation and kidney transplants. A space-filling curve, of interest to mathematicians mainly for being counterintuitive, has applications to efficient package delivery. The mathematical theories are often so bizarre that you wouldn't find them if you started with the real-world problem.
2021-10-1319 minThe Art of MathematicsSymmetries in 3 and 4 DimensionsJoseph Bennish joins us once again to continue his discussion of symmetry, this time venturing into higher dimensions. We explore the complex symmetry groups of the Platonic solids and the sphere and their relationships. We then venture into the 4th dimension, where we see that, with a change to the distance the symmetries are maintaining, we get Einstein's Theory of Relativity.
2021-09-0819 minThe Art of MathematicsSymmetry, Shapes and GroupsWe are all born with an intuitive attraction to symmetry, through human faces and heartbeats. Joseph Bennish, of California State University Long Beach, explores the mathematical meaning of symmetry, what it means for one shape to be more symmetric than another, how symmetries form mathematical groups and groups form symmetries, and hints at implications for Fourier analysis, astronomy and relativity.
2021-08-1419 minThe Art of MathematicsFreshmen and Sophomores Confront Unsolved ProblemsDana Clahane, Professor of Mathematics at Fullerton College, dispels some of the misconceptions about mathematics and discusses some famous unsolved problems that he has freshmen and sophomores working on, learning what math is really about.
2021-07-1418 minThe Art of MathematicsStereotypes of Mathematics and MathematiciansWill Murray, chair of the math department at California State University, Long Beach, discusses popular stereotypes of mathematicians and what they do when they do mathematics. Is it all lone geniuses generating big numbers? If so many people dislike mathematical thinking, why is Sudoku so popular?
2021-06-1618 minThe Art of MathematicsPrime numbers and their surprising patternsJoseph Bennish talks about prime numbers, a simple concept with surprising characteristics. Are they regular or random? This takes us into unexpected realms--calculus, complex numbers, Fourier transforms and "the music of the primes."
2021-06-0216 minThe Art of MathematicsCreativity in MathematicsJosh Hallam shares some of the ways he uses story writing and other creative endeavors in his math classes. He also discusses math in popular culture, including an original theorem in the animated show Futurama.
2021-05-1918 minThe Art of MathematicsThe unreasonable effectiveness of mathematicsSaleem Watson discusses the mysterious way math predicts the natural world. Much of math is invented, and yet there are many examples of cases in which purely abstract math, developed with no reference to the natural world, later is found to make accurate and useful models and predictions of the physical world.
2021-05-0513 minThe Art of MathematicsAlternative Proofs and Why We Seek ThemJoseph Bennish discusses two famous theorems, proved long ago, and some modern alternative proofs. Why would we bother reproving something that was confirmed thousands of years ago? The answers are insight, aesthetics, and opening up surprising new areas of investigation.
2021-04-2117 minThe Art of MathematicsSymmetry--It's More Than You ThinkScott Crass, Professor of Mathematics at CSULB, expands our vague intuition about symmetry to look at transformations of various kinds and what they leave fixed. This approach finds applications in physics, biology, art and several branches of math.
2021-04-0713 minThe Art of MathematicsIs Math Discovered or Invented?Saleem Watson, Professor Emeritus of Mathematics, CSULB, confronts an ancient mathematical argument. Is math a body of eternal truths waiting for an explorer to uncover them, or an invention or work of art created by the human mind? Or some of each?
2021-03-2417 minThe Art of MathematicsThat's Impossible. Oh, Yeah? Prove It.Paul Eklof, Professor Emeritus UCI, discusses the famous impossible straightedge-and-compass constructions of antiquity that have fascinated mathematicians and attracted cranks for centuries. There are infinitely many possible constructions. How can you prove not one of them will work?
2021-03-1016 minThe Art of MathematicsThe Joy of Mathematical DiscoveryJoseph Bennish, math professor at California State University, Long Beach, discusses how math is an exploration involving imagination and excitement. Kids get this. Adults can recapture this by generalizing and questioning. For example, a simple barnyard riddle leads to questions about optics.
2021-02-2416 minThe Art of MathematicsThe Monty Hall ProblemYou are a contestant on Let's Make a Deal, hosted by Monty Hall. There are 3 identical doors. Behind only one is the prize car. You make your choice, then Monty Hall opens one of the other doors to reveal a goat and asks whether you want to change your choice. Should you, or does it matter? Paula Sloan talks about the counterintuitive answer, and how she got the Duke MBA students in her math class to believe the answer.
2021-02-1014 minThe Art of MathematicsWhat Is Mathematics? Some Surprising AnswersBrian Katz, a professor at California State University, Long Beach, approaches math as a philosopher, a linguist and an artist. It is not a science, but a byproduct of consciousness, an expression of humanity and a way to make connections.
2021-01-2720 minThe Art of MathematicsBeing a MathematicianWe talk with Kathryn McCormick, Assistant Professor at California State University, Long Beach, about why she got into this obscure field, what a mathematician really does, and where we can learn more about being a mathematician.
2021-01-1315 minThe Art of MathematicsMath Jokes and What They Say about MathematiciansThere are a lot of jokes that poke fun at mathematicians, how they think and how they fumble around in the real world. Many of them start, "A mathematician, an engineer and a physicist ..." We'll look at what these jokes say about us. The most telling is a little joke that only a mathematician would enjoy, since it gives surprising insight into how mathematicians think through all this abstraction.
2020-12-3016 minThe Art of MathematicsThe Most Famous (Formerly) Unsolved ProblemFermat’s Last Theorem is easy to state but has taken over 300 years to prove. Fermat’s supposed “marvelous proof” has been a magnet for crackpots and obsessed mathematicians, leading through a treasure hunt across almost all branches of mathematics.
2020-12-1616 minThe Art of MathematicsThe Mathematics of ArtA surprising amount of art is inspired by mathematics. The book Fragments of Infinity describes many works of art and the mathematics behind them. Meet mathematicians who have become artists and artists who have become mathematicians, and some who have always straddled both worlds.
2020-12-0214 minThe Art of MathematicsThe Real World Is a Special CaseAbstract math is at once about nothing and about everything. The structures it builds may represent numbers, real world objects, music, or things we can barely imagine. Here we look at group theory for numbers, music, Rubik’s cubes and beyond.
2020-11-1816 minThe Art of MathematicsHow to Find Something You’ve Never SeenAnother seemingly easy problem that’s hard to solve. In fact, it's unsolved. Find an odd perfect number or prove one doesn’t exist. The search involves “spoof” answers, trying to find the right answer (or prove it doesn't exist) by looking at wrong answers. Hey, nothing else has worked.
2020-11-0414 minThe Art of MathematicsBeyond the Third DimensionThe fourth dimension is a staple of science fiction and the key to relativity. What exactly is it and how can we visualize it? What about higher dimensions?
2020-10-2113 minThe Art of MathematicsOne Theorem, 99 ProofsCan you really approach one mathematical statement 99 different ways? We review the wonderful book 99 Variations on a Proof. The answer is yes.
2020-10-0708 minThe Art of MathematicsA Beautiful Theorem with an Ugly ProofThe Four Color Theorem is a pretty little conjecture that has been intriguing mathematicians for more than a century. Too bad the proof stands as an example of really ugly mathematics.
2020-09-3012 minThe Art of MathematicsTo Infinity...and BeyondWhat is infinity, why does it seem so weird, and can you really go beyond it?
2020-09-2316 minThe Art of MathematicsThe Unsolved Is Solved...and AnotherWe consider two problems, one in tiling and one in knots. They had each had been unsolved for over 50 years and their solutions hit the popular press in the same week. What kind of skills help people make surprising connections and new discoveries?
2020-09-1611 minThe Art of MathematicsThis Podcast is LyingWe explore the mind-blowing Liar and related paradoxes and how they changed mathematics
2020-09-0915 minThe Art of MathematicsAn Impossible Easy QuestionGoldbach’s Conjecture and how a statement that is easy to understand is difficult or impossible to resolve
2020-09-0214 minThe Art of MathematicsEverything You Know About Math is WrongWe explore some of the common misconceptions about mathematics and mathematicians.
2020-08-2614 min2020-07-2600 min
From Where We AreFrom Where We Are: October 31, 2019On today’s show, fires continue to burn in California, Rep. Katie Hill gives her resignation speech, and we hear from one parent who flew from very far away for Trojan Family Weekend. We also go live from Olvera Street and one reporter got an exclusive interview with USC President Carol Folt.
Producers: Luke Scorziell, Joshua Chang, Evan Jacoby, Isaiah Murtaugh, and Sasha Urban
Hosts: Jolene Pumphrey and Helena Getayalew
Technical Director: Yuki Liang
2019-11-0130 min
Colts BrasilColts Brasil Podcast 095 – A aposentadoria de Andrew LuckNeste episódio, David, Carol, Pedro Jorge e Luccas comentam a aposentadoria de Andrew Luck e o futuro do Colts com Jacoby Brissett como quarterback.
2019-09-0631 min
FedSoc EventsShakespeare & the Law: Julius Caesar 9-28-2016Julius Caesar is Shakespeare’s classic depiction of the abuse of power, political assassination and intrigue – a plot that would rival any episode of House of Cards or Scandal. The play offers a valuable and timeless springboard for a discussion of the use of executive power in 21st century America – and its future under a Clinton or Trump presidency. -- The Shakespeare & the Law series features a staged reading of the abridged play performed by prominent judges, attorneys, journalists, political strategists and scholars, followed by a panel discussion that explores the implications of the work in the era of Obama, Clinto...
2016-10-212h 05
Federalist Society Event AudioShakespeare & the Law: Julius Caesar 9-28-2016Boston Lawyers ChapterJulius Caesar is Shakespeare’s classic depiction of the abuse of power, political assassination and intrigue – a plot that would rival any episode of House of Cards or Scandal. The play offers a valuable and timeless springboard for a discussion of the use of executive power in 21st century America – and its future under a Clinton or Trump presidency. The Shakespeare & the Law series features a staged reading of the abridged play performed by prominent judges, attorneys, journalists, political strategists and scholars, followed by a panel discussion that explores the implications of the work i...
2016-10-212h 05
We Considered ComicsAll Comic Considered Episode 51:Hello ACCtion heroes and welcome to Episode 51! This week we are chock full o'awesome! Segment 1 - Which superhero SHOULD be President? Hannah: Carol Danvers or Monica Rambeau / Lois Lane Nick: Green Arrow/Jen Walters/Hank McCoy/Storm Tim: Monica Rambeau / Jimmy Woo Feature 1 - Pullbox? Hannah: POKEMOOOON (Gunnerkrigg Court) (YU+ME: dream) Nick: Saga trade 6 Tim: Webcomic Strong Female Protagonist Segment 2 - Who needs a costume makeover? Hannah: Green Lantern, Harley Quinn Nick: Kid Flash, Cyborg, Green Arrow Tim: Daredevil - and I’m not just saying this to fuck with Marty. --- Enjoy our Theme? It's by our senior sound e...
2016-07-201h 05We Considered ComicsAll Comics Considered Episode 46--HELLO ACCTION HEROES! The original band is back together and we are here to rock your comic book loving face! This week, we don't just have a pullbox. Oh no! We have a LONG Box of comics to discuss! We'll also confess our Fandoms. Trust me, its awesome. Pullbox! Marty: Nighthawk #1, Brie Larson as Carol? Hannah: Superman: Rebirth, X-Men Apocalypse Nick: All Star Superman, Gotham Academy, FLASH Fandom Confessions! Hannah: 90s Comic book art Nick: Cosplay Marty: I buy your variants. --- Enjoy our Theme? It's by our senior sound editor, Steve Jacoby, who has does this kind of work fo...
2016-06-1558 min
Baruch Performing Arts CenterPanel Discussion on "Arguing The World"A panel of speakers discusses "Arguing the World", an enthralling film that tells the story of four brilliant and engaging men caught up in the central struggles of our time, and creates a vivid picture of intellectual life in the 20th century.
Panelists include:
Joseph Dorman, Producer and Director of Arguing the world
Russell Jacoby, Professor of History at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
Mitchell Cohen, Professor of Political Science at Baruch College and the Graduate Center of CUNY
Eric Cohen, Executive Director of the Tikvah Fund
Jordan B. Bell, Ph...
2012-08-141h 02
Arts and SciencesPanel Discussion on "Arguing The World"A panel of speakers discusses "Arguing the World", an enthralling film that tells the story of four brilliant and engaging men caught up in the central struggles of our time, and creates a vivid picture of intellectual life in the 20th century.
Panelists include:
Joseph Dorman, Producer and Director of Arguing the world
Russell Jacoby, Professor of History at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
Mitchell Cohen, Professor of Political Science at Baruch College and the Graduate Center of CUNY
Eric Cohen, Executive Director of the Tikvah Fund
Jordan B. Bell, Ph...
2012-08-141h 02Baruch Performing Arts CenterPanel Discussion on "Arguing The World"A panel of speakers discusses "Arguing the World", an enthralling film that tells the story of four brilliant and engaging men caught up in the central struggles of our time, and creates a vivid picture of intellectual life in the 20th century.
Panelists include:
Joseph Dorman, Producer and Director of Arguing the world
Russell Jacoby, Professor of History at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
Mitchell Cohen, Professor of Political Science at Baruch College and the Graduate Center of CUNY
Eric Cohen, Executive Director of the Tikvah Fund
Jordan B. Bell, Ph...
2012-08-141h 02
Black Mountain Institute PodcastBlack Mountain Institute (BMI) Podcast #87: "Theism/Atheism: Belief and Unbelief in America" - 10/13/11In this episode, prominent atheist Susan Jacoby, Harvard Divinity professor Karen King, and Islamist activist and writer Reza Aslan discuss "Theism/Atheism: Belief and Unbelief in America." Moderated by BMI Executive Director Carol Harter, the event was held October 13th, 2011 in the UNLV Student Union Ballroom in Las Vegas, NV.<div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/bmiPodcastFeed?a=cy8QZeO3PYA:6TlH1srEJ9E:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/bmiPodcastFeed?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http...
2011-10-1600 min