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Artwork for Breaking Math Podcast
Artificial Intelligence
Mathematics
Black Holes
Machine Learning
Economics
Game Theory
Neuroscience
Entropy
Social Media
Prime Numbers
Thermodynamics
Charlatans
Consciousness
Neural Networks
STEM Education
Data Visualization
Einstein's Theory Of Relativity
Education
Math
Radiation

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 Noah Giansiracusa, a mathematician and leading voice in algorithmic literacy and technology ethics, the show is ... more

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Artwork for Breaking Math Podcast

Latest Episodes

In this conversation we chat with Julia Angwin — Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, founder of Proof News, and former Wall Street Journal and ProPublica reporter — to make the case that journalism should function more like mathematical proof than ane... more

In this episode, Autumn and Noah talk with Kevin Hartnett about why mathematicians are willing to spend years reducing an idea to a level of detail a machine can check, whether formal verification can catch an AI that's technically correct but fundam... more

What happens when the evidence of injustice is buried in messy, redacted, or inaccessible data? Mathematician and data scientist Chad Topaz joins Breaking Math to discuss his book Unlocking Justice. Together, we explore policing, sentencing, public r... more

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This conversation explores the profound impact of AI and automation on the future of work, economy, and society. Featuring Martin Ford, author of 'Rise of the Robots,' the discussion covers technological progress, economic implications, policy ideas ... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Kevin Hartnett
Journalist who has covered Lean since 2020 and author of The Proof in the Code
The Proof in the Code (Book)
Episode: The Proof in the Code: How Lean Is Quietly Rewriting Trust in Math (w/ Kevin Hartnett)
Chad Topaz
Mathematician and data scientist; author of Unlocking Justice
Williams College (teaches Data for Justice)
Episode: How Data Science Exposes Injustice: Chad Topaz on Unlocking Justice
Martin Ford
Software entrepreneur, futurist, author of Rise of the Robots
Author of Rise of the Robots
Episode: Rise of the Robots: Is AI Coming for Your Job?
Emma Chapman
Royal Society Research Fellow, lecturer in astrophysics
University of Nottingham
Episode: The Echoing Universe: How Radio Waves, AI, and Math Could Help Us Find Aliens with Emma Chapman
Daniel Litt
Professor at University of Toronto, involved in OpenAI project
University of Toronto / OpenAI project
Episode: AI Solves 80-Year-Old Math Conjecture: What It Means for the Future of Mathematics
Maia Szalavitz
Award-winning journalist and author specializing in addiction and psychology
Episode: The Science of Addiction: Dopamine, Social Media, and the Myth of Willpower with Maia Szalavitz
Ron Wasserstein
Executive Director of the American Statistical Association
American Statistical Association
Episode: Are We Being Misled by Data? Ron Wasserstein on AI, Bias, and Statistical Truth
Anja Shortland
Professor of Political Economy at King's College London, author of Dark Screens
King's College London
Episode: How Ransomware Became a Global Industry with Anja Shortland on Dark Screens
Richard Elwes
Professor of Mathematics at the University of Leeds; Holgate Session Leader for the London Mathematical Society
University of Leeds
Episode: Explaining Huge Numbers with Richard Elwes

Hosts

Autumn Phaneuf
Host of Breaking Math; specializes in industrial engineering, operations research, and applied mathematics; frequently discusses math-related topics with a focus on real-world systems.
Noah Giansiracusa
Co-host; mathematician and advocate for algorithmic literacy and technology ethics; discusses math, computation, and policy implications.

Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars from 567 ratings
  • Autumn Redefines Breaking Math: The Next Hannah Fry with a Camila Russo Flair

    Autumn has taken Breaking Math Podcast to new heights, emerging as the next Hannah Fry with her ability to make complex ideas feel both human and irresistible. Like Camila Russo, she weaves rigorous and storytelling into a narrative that pulls listeners in, making each episode feel like a both a lesson and a journey. What’s especially refreshing is her generosity. Her kindness toward authors and collaborators behind the scenes doesn’t just support the work, it enriches the show itself. Autumn is... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Euler’s Ghostwriter
    United Statesa year ago
  • Breaking math open

    Listening to Autumn’s podcasts feels like grabbing coffee with your smartest most down to earth friend - the one who casually explains complex ideas and connects them to everything. Equations meet ethics, algorithms meet art and no topic is off limits.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mathemacize
    United Statesa year ago
  • Boring

    Just incredibly boring and really hard to listen to her read out her script.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    DanielMinden03
    Germanya year ago
  • .

    Amazing

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tigerose424242
    United States2 years ago
  • so much potential, but sadly just the same snippet of information recycled

    I think this podcast is a really great idea and has a lot of promise; however, I just feel like the initial point is made over and over again with very little information about the actual subject itself. more maths please!

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    George Ropper 10
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Shows deep math + accessible storytelling, great for math-curious minds.
Some reviews note delivery inconsistencies and ad density.
Listeners appreciate practical insights and guest diversity.
Ads can overwhelm early episodes; pacing could be tighter.
Hosts are engaging when focused on mathematics; pacing and humor vary.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Proof in the Code: How Lean Is Quietly Rewriting Trust in Math (w/ Kevin Hartnett)
Q: How does Lean address AI misalignment problems like the paper clip scenario?
Lean helps capture intent by forcing formal, explicit definitions and steps, reducing ambiguity. While it cannot solve all misalignment issues, it provides a rigorous framework to verify that AI-generated proofs align with mathematical meanings and intended conclusions, serving as a critical check in AI-assisted mathematics.
The Proof in the Code: How Lean Is Quietly Rewriting Trust in Math (w/ Kevin Hartnett)
Q: What are the two parallel efforts that make Lean powerful, and who were the key drivers?
On one side was Lean itself, developed largely by Leo De Morа at Microsoft Research who envisioned a bug-free software verification environment. On the other side were mathematicians who adopted Lean to write formal proofs and build Mathlib, creating a scalable library of formalized mathematics that supported broader adoption.
The Proof in the Code: How Lean Is Quietly Rewriting Trust in Math (w/ Kevin Hartnett)
Q: Why did you decide to write the book now, and why the Lean story?
The story had reached a kind of escape velocity in mathematics by 2023, with Lean moving from a marginal effort to a widely adopted tool. The timing allowed capturing the human drama, the risk taken by initial adopters, and the evolving ecosystem around Lean, Mathlib, and formal verification as it intersected AI and modern computational proofs.
How Data Science Exposes Injustice: Chad Topaz on Unlocking Justice
Q: What does your Rikers Island case study tell us about racial equity and data access?
The case shows that data often obscures race and accountability through classifications and missing identifiers, making it hard to assess equity; yet the exercise demonstrates how even imperfect data can reveal important patterns and drive questions about policy changes.
How Data Science Exposes Injustice: Chad Topaz on Unlocking Justice
Q: Can you give us examples where data access and data cleaning were especially challenging?
Yes, examples include the process of obtaining and digitizing police call logs, where printed, redacted pages had to be scanned, OCRed, and restructured into a usable database, highlighting how data life and access can complicate even basic analyses.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Breaking Math Podcast

What is Breaking Math Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on the mathematics, science, and technology that underpin modern society, with deep dives into topics like AI, data ethics, cryptography, economics, and the philosophy of science. Guests range from mathematicians and seasoned researchers to journalists and policy experts, all exploring how quantitative thinking, rigorous reasoning, and clear communication shape real-world decisions. Episodes often blend historical context with practical insights, highlighting how math and data interact with policy, education, and everyday technology. Listeners are likely to be curious, values-driven professionals who enjoy rigorous analysis, accessible explanations, and interdisciplinary storytelling that connects abstract ideas to societa... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Breaking Math Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Breaking Math Podcast:

1. The Quanta Podcast
2. The Joy of Why
3. Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas
4. Physics World Weekly Podcast
5. Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe

How many episodes of Breaking Math Podcast are there?

Breaking Math Podcast launched 9 years ago and published 197 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Breaking Math Podcast?

Recent guests on Breaking Math Podcast include:

1. Kevin Hartnett
2. Chad Topaz
3. Martin Ford
4. Emma Chapman
5. Daniel Litt
6. Maia Szalavitz
7. Ron Wasserstein
8. Anja Shortland

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