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Breaking Math PodcastAuthor: 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 journeyinto 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 isnt just a podcast about equations. Its 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. Its for the curious, the critical, and the creativefor anyone who believes that ideas should be rigorous, accessible, and infused with wonder.If youve ever wondered:Whats 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?Youre in the right place.At its heart, Breaking Math is about building bridgesbetween 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, Language: en Genres: Mathematics, News, Science, Tech News Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Robot Proof: Why Better AI Starts With Better People with Vivienne Ming
Friday, 24 July, 2026
Neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and author Dr. Vivienne Ming joins Autumn and Noah to make the case that if we want better AI, we need to build better people first. We get into why AI tutors that hand students answers make learning worse, not better; what her research on "hybrid intelligence" reveals about the human traits — not the AI model — that predict elite human-AI collaboration; a wild experiment running Dungeons & Dragons with Claude and Gemini as dungeon masters to expose the gap between knowing and understanding; her case for "fiduciary AI," legal duty-of-care standards for tutors, hiring tools, and diagnostic models; and the real story of a hiring algorithm that learned to discriminate against women after every explicit gender marker was stripped out.Chapters02:20 Why build this book now? The importance of human qualities04:16 AI in education and the concept of robot-proofing06:37 The median student and AI personalization09:31 The limitations of AI understanding and theory of mind11:30 Building better people with AI and human interaction14:23 Hybrid intelligence and the role of human-AI collaboration23:56 Case study: AI in Dungeons & Dragons30:42 AI's strengths and limitations in understanding and cognition37:34 The science of purpose and its impact on life and society44:44 The collective intelligence of humans versus AI46:54 Key takeaway: Build better people for better Follow Vivienne Ming on X (https://x.com/neuraltheory) Get Vivienne's book, Robot Proof: (https://amzn.to/3Tz21aP) Follow Breaking Math onSubstack (https://breakingmath.substack.com/)X (https://x.com/breakingmathpod)Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/breakingmathmedia/)Website (https://www.breakingmath.io/)YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@BreakingMathPod)Follow Noah onInstagram (https://www.instagram.com/profnoahgian/)X (https://x.com/ProfNoahGian)Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/profnoahgian.bsky.social)Follow Autumn onX (https://x.com/1autumn_leaf)Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/1autumnleaf.bsky.social)Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/1autumnleaf/)Substack (https://substack.com/@1autumnleaf)email: breakingmathpodcast@gmail.com
