Breaking Math Podcast
Autumn Phaneuf & Noah Giansiracusa
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.ioLinktree: https://linktr.ee/breakingmathmediaEmail: breakingmathpodcast@gmail.com
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 23, 2019 • 33min
38: The Great Stratagem Heist (Game Theory: Iterated Elimination of Dominated Strategies)
Game theory is all about decision-making and how it is impacted by choice of strategy, and a strategy is a decision that is influenced not only by the choice of the decision-maker, but one or more similar decision makers. This episode will give an idea of the type of problem-solving that is used in game theory. So what is strict dominance? How can it help us solve some games? And why are The Obnoxious Seven wanted by the police?Patreon Become a monthly supporter at patreon.com/breakingmath
Feb 25, 2019 • 39min
37: The One Where They Parody Saw [audio fixed again] (Game Theory)
Hello listeners. You don't know me, but I know you. I want to play a game. In your ears are two earbuds. Connected to the earbuds are a podcast playing an episode about game theory. Hosting that podcast are two knuckleheads. And you're locked into this episode. The key is at the end of the episode. What is game theory? Why did we parody the Saw franchise? And what twisted lessons will you learn?-See our New Youtube Show "Turing Rabbit Holes Podcast" at youtube.com/TuringRabbitHolesPodcast. Also available on all podcast players. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/appSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/breakingmathpodcast/support
Nov 23, 2018 • 47min
36: The Most Boring Episode Ever. (Math Games)
Math is a gravely serious topic which has been traditionally been done by stodgy people behind closed doors, and it cannot ever be taken lightly. Those who have fun with mathematics mock science, medicine, and the foundation of engineering. That is why on today's podcast, we're going to have absolutely no fun with mathematics. There will not be a single point at which you consider yourself charmed, there will not be a single thing you will want to tell anyone for the sake of enjoyment, and there will be no tolerance for your specific brand of foolishness, and that means you too, Kevin.
Nov 5, 2018 • 35min
35: Please Be Discrete (Discrete Math)
Centuries ago, there began something of a curiosity between mathematicians that didn't really amount to much but some interesting thoughts and cool mathematical theorems. This form of math had to do with strictly integer quantities; theorems about whole numbers. Things started to change in the 19th century with some breakthroughs in decrypting intelligence through examining the frequency of letters. In the fervor that followed to increase the security of existing avenues of communication, and to speed up the newfound media of telegraphy, came a field of mathematics called discrete math. It is now an essential part of our world today, with technologies such as online banking being essentially impossible without it. So what have we learned from discrete math? What are some essential methods used within it? And how is it applied today?
Oct 20, 2018 • 39min
34: An Interview with Mathbot.com's JW Weatherman
In this episode, we interview JW Weatherman of mathbot.com, and ask him about his product, why he made it, and what he plans on doing with it.--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/appSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/breakingmathpodcast/support
Oct 3, 2018 • 41min
33: Interview with Math with Bad Drawings (Ben Orlin)
An interview with Ben Orlin, author of the book 'Math with Bad Drawings,' as well as the blog of the same name. The blog can be found at www.mathwithbaddrawings.com.--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/appSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/breakingmathpodcast/support
Sep 23, 2018 • 12min
32X: Black Hole Heist (Comedy Sketch)
The hosts of Breaking Math had too much time on their hands.--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/breakingmathpodcast/support
Sep 23, 2018 • 1h 18min
32: Gaze into the Abyss (Part Three; Black Holes)
A lot of the information in this episode of Breaking Math depends on episodes 30 and 31 entitled "The Abyss" and "Into the Abyss" respectively. If you have not listened to those episodes, then we'd highly recommend going back and listening to those. We're choosing to present this information this way because otherwise we'd waste most of your time re-explaining concepts we've already covered.Black holes are so bizarre when we measured against the yardstick of the mundanity of our day to day lives that they inspire fear, awe, and controversy. In this last episode of the Abyss series, we will look at some more cutting-edge problems and paradoxes surrounding black holes. So how are black holes and entanglement related? What is the holographic principle? And what is the future of black holes?--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/breakingmathpodcast/support
Aug 23, 2018 • 57min
31: Into the Abyss (Part Two; Black Holes)
Black holes are objects that seem exotic to us because they have properties that boggle our comparatively mild-mannered minds. These are objects that light cannot escape from, yet glow with the energy they have captured until they evaporate out all of their mass. They thus have temperature, but Einstein's general theory of relativity predicts a paradoxically smooth form. And perhaps most mind-boggling of all, it seems at first glance that they have the ability to erase information. So what is black hole thermodynamics? How does it interact with the fabric of space? And what are virtual particles?
Aug 2, 2018 • 51min
30: The Abyss (Part One; Black Holes)
The idea of something that is inescapable, at first glance, seems to violate our sense of freedom. This sense of freedom, for many, seems so intrinsic to our way of seeing the universe that it seems as though such an idea would only beget horror in the human mind. And black holes, being objects from which not even light can escape, for many do beget that same existential horror. But these objects are not exotic: they form regularly in our universe, and their role in the intricate web of existence that is our universe is as valid as the laws that result in our own humanity. So what are black holes? How can they have information? And how does this relate to the edge of the universe?
