This week, I’m excited to welcome Ben Orlin to the show to discuss his new book, <a href="https://amzn.to/4gqrPvK">Math for English Majors: A Human Take on the Universal Language</a>. Ben is a math educator, writer, and the creator of Math with Bad Drawings, a blog and book series that makes math more accessible, humorous, and relatable. His latest book approaches mathematics as a language—one that everyone can learn, even those who’ve struggled with it in the past.In this conversation, we cover:<ul>
<li>
Math as a Language: Ben explains how understanding math as a form of communication can help break down barriers to learning and make it more intuitive.</li>
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Where Students Get Stuck: Ben shares key moments where people tend to disconnect from math, such as fractions and algebra, and offers insights on how to reframe those challenges.</li>
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The Concept of Stuckness: Drawing from his teaching experience, Ben discusses how learning to sit with and work through being “stuck” is crucial not just in math but in any problem-solving endeavor.</li>
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Breaking the Math Stigma: Many people carry negative experiences with math from school. Ben talks about how reframing math through storytelling, humor, and play can make it more engaging and approachable.</li>
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Curiosity as a Learning Tool: Instead of focusing on getting the “right” answer, Ben emphasizes how curiosity and exploration can make math more enjoyable and meaningful.</li>
</ul>Ben’s work challenges the idea that math is only for “math people” and instead presents it as a tool for creativity, problem-solving, and deeper understanding. Whether you’ve loved math or avoided it at all costs, this episode will give you a fresh perspective on how to engage with numbers in a more human way.Learn more about Ben and his work at <a href="https://mathwithbaddrawings.com/">MathWithBadDrawings.com</a> and follow him on social media @MathWithBadDrawings. Math for English Majors is available now wherever books are sold. If you’ve ever felt intimidated by math, this conversation is for you!Connect with Erik:<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikjfisher">LinkedIn</a> </li>
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<a href="http://facebook.com/erikjfisher">Facebook</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/erikjfisher.bsky.social">Bluesky</a></li>
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</ul>Make sure to support the show by<a href="https://www.beyondthetodolist.com/sponsors/"> checking out the sponsors</a>! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

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