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Breaking Math Podcast

Breaking Math Podcast

By: Autumn Phaneuf & Noah Giansiracusa
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About this listen

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 dedicated to uncovering the mathematical structures behind science, technology, and the systems shaping 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—into the strange beauty of chaos theory, the ethical dilemmas of AI and algorithms, the hidden math of biology and evolution, or the physics governing black holes and the cosmos. Along the way, Autumn and Noah speak with working scientists, researchers, and thinkers across fields: computer scientists, physicists, chemists, engineers, economists, philosophers, and more.

But this isn’t just a podcast about equations. It’s a show about how mathematics shapes the way we think, decide, build, and understand the world. Breaking Math pushes back against the idea that STEM belongs behind a paywall or an academic podium. It’s for the curious, the critical, and 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 and modern algorithms?
  • How do we quantify uncertainty in climate and economic models?
  • Can intelligence or consciousness be meaningfully described in AI?
  • Why does beauty matter in an equation?

You’re in the right place.

At its heart, Breaking Math is about building bridges—between disciplines, between experts and the public, and between abstract mathematics and the messy, magnificent reality we live in. With humor, clarity, and deep respect for complexity, Autumn and Noah 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

Copyright Breaking Math
Mathematics Science
Episodes
  • 91. Brain Organelles, AI, and Other Scary Science - An Interview with GT (Part 2)
    Apr 4 2024

    Summary

    Brain Organelles, A.I. and Defining Intelligence in Nature-

    In this episode, we continue our fascinating interview with GT, a science content creator on TikTok and YouTube known for their captivating - and sometimes disturbing science content.

    GT can be found on the handle ‘@bearBaitOfficial’ on most social media channels.

    In this episode, we resume our discussion on Brain Organelles - which are grown from human stem cells - how they are being used to learn about disease, how they may be integrated in A.I. as well as eithical concerns with them.

    We also ponder what constitutes intelligence in nature, and even touch on the potential risks of AI behaving nefariously.

    You won't want to miss this thought-provoking and engaging discussion.

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    31 mins
  • 76: Joule Pay for This! (Energy)
    Jan 15 2023

    Join Sofia Baca and her guests Millicent Oriana from Nerd Forensics and Arianna Lunarosa as they discuss energy.


    The sound that you're listening to, the device that you're listening on, and the cells in both the ear you're using to listen and the brain that understands these words have at least one thing in common: they represent the consumption or transference of energy. The same goes for your eyes if you're reading a transcript of this. The waves in the ears are pressure waves, while eyes receive information in the form of radiant energy, but they both are still called "energy". But what is energy? Energy is a scalar quantity measured in dimensions of force times distance, and the role that energy plays depends on the dynamics of the system. So what is the difference between potential and kinetic energy? How can understanding energy simplify problems? And how do we design a roller coaster in frictionless physics land?[Featuring: Sofia Baca; Millicent Oriana, Arianna Lunarosa]


    This episode is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Full text here: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • 75: Existential Physics with Sabine Hossenfelder (Author Interview)
    Oct 13 2022

    An interview with Dr. Sabine Hossenfelder about her second book Existential Physics. Sabine is host of the famous youtube show Science with Sabine.

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    42 mins
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