Math podcasts… where enthusiastic nerds will spend forty-five minutes explaining why prime numbers are “actually fascinating” and somehow make you feel both incredibly stupid and oddly intrigued at the same time. Whether you’re trying to finally understand what your calculus professor was going on about, hoping to sound smarter at dinner parties by casually dropping references to topology, or just embracing your inner geek who gets genuinely excited about the Fibonacci sequence, I’ve compiled a list of podcasts that will either reignite your love for numbers or remind you exactly why you became an English major.
Spoiler alert: at least three of these hosts will try to convince you that math is everywhere, and annoyingly, they’ll probably be right.
The Joy of X
Renowned mathematics expert and writer Steven Strogatz conducts conversations with numerous prominent researchers from around the globe, discussing their careers and scientific contributions.
Infinitely Irrational: A Math Podcast
A audio program that explores the authentic, unconventional, and intricate past of mathematics.
Math! Science! History!
This program focuses on the historical development of individuals, concepts, and breakthroughs that have advanced scientific knowledge and inspired remarkable innovations. Gabrielle Birchak presents a combination of mathematical concepts, scientific exploration, and historical context, all delivered in brief episodes.
Relatively Prime: Stories from the Mathematical Domain
A mathematics-focused audio series produced by ACMEScience that presents the most compelling mathematical narratives from the realm of mathematics.
The Build Math Minds Podcast
The Build Math Minds podcast targets educators shifting away from traditional math teaching, moving lecture-by-lecture through textbooks and demonstrating procedures step-by-step. Instead, we’re adapting our approach to engage students where they are, fostering thinking, problem-solving, and a genuine love for math.
Breaking Math
Breaking Math is a podcast about science, technology, engineering, AI, and mathematics, exploring the world through logic and patterns. Hosted by Autumn Phaneuf and formerly Gabriel Hesch (2016–2024), the show reveals the mathematical ideas behind the systems shaping our future.
Math Ed Podcast
The show features interviews with mathematics education researchers discussing their latest studies and is hosted by Samuel Otten from the University of Missouri.
My Favorite Theorem
Each episode features a conversation with a mathematics professional about their favorite result, and the guest also shares what they believe pairs perfectly with their chosen theorem.
A Brief History of Mathematics
Professor of Mathematics Marcus du Sautoy highlights the people behind the equations and presents mathematics as the key force powering modern science.
Math & Physics Podcast
Two students from the University of Toronto’s math and physics program share conversations about fascinating subjects in their fields.
Math Teacher Lounge
Math Teacher Lounge is a biweekly podcast designed for K–12 math educators. In each episode, co-hosts Bethany Lockhart Johnson and Dan Meyer explore important math and education topics with a variety of guests.
The Function Room
This podcast explores the major numbers, difficult calculations, and mathematical ideas that influence and shape everyday life and the world. It is hosted by Colm O’Regan, an award-winning radio presenter, comedian, novelist, and former engineer. Each episode focuses on a small part of this vast subject through accessible conversations with engaging guests.
Ten Minute Math
Ten Minute Math supports parents in intentionally developing their children’s number sense through everyday activities, helping them experience the joy and beauty of mathematics. The show emphasizes that growing confidence in math can positively influence future interests, education, and career paths.
The Art of Mathematics
The show features discussions, discoveries, and both resolved and open mathematical conjectures, highlighting mathematicians and the beauty of mathematics. No prior math knowledge is needed.
The Joy of Why
“The Joy of Why” is a Quanta Magazine podcast focused on curiosity and the search for understanding. Mathematician and author Steven Strogatz and cosmologist and author Janna Levin alternate as hosts, speaking with leading researchers about major scientific and mathematical questions of today.
Data Science Decoded
This podcast explores influential mathematical papers—some quite old—that founded machine learning and data science. We examine how these works shaped the fields mathematically and philosophically, discussing not only their technical contributions but also how they influenced broader conversations and opened new research directions.
The Numberphile Podcast
A series of conversations with individuals passionate about numbers and mathematics, presented by Brady Haran, the creator behind the YouTube show Numberphile.
Chalk & Talk
Chalk & Talk features math professor Anna Stokke engaging with top educators and researchers to explore why mathematics matters, highlight proven teaching techniques, and challenge widespread misunderstandings about math education. The podcast is designed for a wide audience interested in learning, from teachers and parents to students, offering thoughtful discussions on supporting the success of children and young adults in mathematics while separating educational facts from myths.
Carry the Two
Carry the Two reveals how math and statistics shape our world through stories, exploring topics from bee swarm decisions to analyzing policy changes, offering a fresh perspective on math’s role in everyday life.
Odds and Evenings
Alaric and Alex spent their university years exploring math and puzzles together. Now in their late twenties with professional careers, they occasionally set aside evenings to enjoy mathematics. While not all topics are beginner-level, they created this podcast for listeners whose science degrees may be distant memories but who still find joy in recreational mathematics.
Mathematically Speaking Podcast
This podcast examines mathematics, its philosophical foundations, and how these connect to real-world experiences through the history of math.
Math Therapy
Math Therapy examines the origins of math anxiety and pathways to recovery. Each episode features host Vanessa Vakharia, aka The Math Guru, analyzing strengths and weaknesses in math education while interviewing innovative thinkers dedicated to making mathematics more inclusive, engaging, and accessible for learners everywhere.
The Quanta Podcast
The Quanta Podcast explores science’s frontier, from distant galaxies to cellular mechanics, mathematical abstractions to information theory. Editor-in-Chief Samir Patel discusses fundamental research and curiosity-driven discoveries with contributors behind the award-winning publication. New episodes every Tuesday dive into the biggest ideas and smallest details shaping our understanding of the universe.
The Universe Speaks in Numbers
In The Universe Speaks in Numbers, science writer Graham Farmelo interviews leading physicists and mathematicians including Michael Atiyah, Ruth Britto, Lance Dixon, Simon Donaldson, Freeman Dyson, Juan Maldacena, Roger Penrose, Martin Rees, and Edward Witten. For more, see Farmelo’s book of the same title.
New Books in Mathematics
Conversations with mathematicians discussing their latest publications.
Women in Math: The Limit Does Not Exist
This podcast aims to increase the visibility of women in mathematics. Recognizing their underrepresentation in advanced math, Women in Math: The Limit Does Not Exist works to boost female enrollment and participation in mathematics and STEM fields.
The Math Club
Hosts Peter Littig and Noah King present mathematical ideas with their own distinctive approach, sharing concepts, history, puzzles, and lively conversation to engage math fans and newcomers alike.
Mathematics Simplified
Maths is often a subject many students fear, and this show aims to clarify different mathematical topics and help lessen that anxiety.
Making Math Moments That Matter
The show focuses on helping educators improve K–12 math lesson plans by strengthening confidence in effective teaching methods, supporting curriculum improvement, and offering strategies to engage every student.
Do you know of another podcast about math that you think should be on this list? Let me know
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