The Mathematicians Podcast

24:20

Episode 59 - Varāhamihira (And Bhāskara I) - Back to...

The Mathematicians Podcast ·

2026/08/03

Was Varāhamihira the world's first statistician? Could a sixth-century mathematician really predict the monsoon using observational data? And how did Bhāskara I produce one of the greatest approximations to the sine function over a thousand years before modern calculators? In this episode of The Mathematicians Podcast, Benjamin Cornish explores two remarkable figures from the golden age of Indian mathematics. First, we meet Varāhamihira, author of the Bṛhat Saṃhitā and the Pañcasiddhāntikā. Discover

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47:56

Episode 57 – Aryabhata – From hero to zero

The Mathematicians Podcast ·

2026/07/03

The Gupta Empire reaches its scientific zenith as we meet one of the greatest mathematicians of Late Antiquity. Aryabhata (476–550 CE) helped transform astronomy and mathematics in India through a remarkable combination of elegant algorithms and practical computation. In this episode we explore his Aryabhatiya, from recursive square and cube root algorithms to the famous Kuttaka ("Pulveriser") method for solving indeterminate equations. Along the way we investigate his astonishingly accurate value

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44:01

Episode 57 - Yavanesvara - The Lord of the Greeks

The Mathematicians Podcast ·

2026/06/09

The Silk Road carried spices, gemstones, ideas... and, occasionally, trigonometry. In this episode of The Mathematicians Podcast, we follow the mysterious figure known as Yavanesvara, the "Lord of the Greeks," whose translation of Greek astronomical and astrological knowledge into Sanskrit helped spark a mathematical transformation in ancient India. Along the way, we explore merchant trade across the Indian Ocean, the origins of sine tables, spherical astronomy, navigation, observational error, and

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10:00

Episode 56 - Pingala - Beats us up

The Mathematicians Podcast ·

2026/05/17

Episode 42: Pingala – The Poet of Binary Why is a 2nd-century BCE Indian grammarian being featured on a mathematics podcast? Because centuries before the "Founding Fathers" of Western mathematics were born, Pingala was already encoding the universe. In this special rhythmic episode, I step out of the traditional lecture hall and into the world of spoken word. After a transformative experience at the 'Beat up the Poets' conference, I will explore the Chandaḥśāstra; Pingala’s ancient treatise on

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80:05

Episode 55 - Injective - Thomas K Briggs - On The...

The Mathematicians Podcast ·

2026/04/20

In this special book club episode of 'The Mathematicians Podcast', I sit down with author, maths communicator, and museum learning consultant, Thomas K. Briggs. Join us for a glass of wine and a deep dive into Tom's book, 'The Mathematicians Library', a title so intriguing it was a must-have for the show. This 'Injectives' sub-series episode is a one-to-one conversation; today exploring the vast history of mathematical literature. Discover the oldest book in Tom's personal collection and unravel the

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30:33

Episode 54 - Umaswati - Mind the Gap

The Mathematicians Podcast ·

2026/03/25

In this episode of The Mathematicians Podcast, I am jumping ahead 800 years and travelling 5,000 km back to India to pick up the threads of a fascinating mathematical tradition. I’ll be introducing you to Umaswati, a pivotal figure from around the 2nd Century CE who helped systematise the teachings of Jainism, a religion where "Right Knowledge" and the study of the cosmos made maths a fundamental pursuit. Together, we explore the four broad periods of Indian religious development: Vedic, Śhramana,

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28:00

Episode 53 - Nabu-rimanni & Kidinu - Systematically...

The Mathematicians Podcast ·

2026/02/17

When is an approximation "good enough"? This week on The Mathematicians Podcast, host Benjamin Cornish opens the doors to his gem and fossil shop to discuss why a polished piece of glass, or a clever mathematical shortcut, can sometimes be just as effective as the real thing. We are shifting our focus toward the sprawling, shifting history of Mesopotamia. Today, we tackle a double bill of Babylonian titans: Nabu-rimanni and Kidinu. Though separated by two centuries and a revolving door of empires

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22:14

Episode 52 - Apastamba - What He Said.

The Mathematicians Podcast ·

2026/01/27

Episode 52 of The Mathematicians Podcast, takes us deep into the world of ancient Indian mathematics with a focus on Apastamba and his contributions to the Sulvasutras. Following in the footsteps of Baudhayana, Apastamba codified and clarified Vedic ritual geometry, transforming abstract rules into practical, modular construction techniques. We explore his mathematical approach, the subtle differences between his Sulvasutras and those of Baudhayana, and his work on the Dharma Sutra, which laid out

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26:29

Episode 51 - Baudhayana - Back to 1 square

The Mathematicians Podcast ·

2026/01/07

In this episode a journey back to 800 BCE to explore the life and work of Baudhayana, one of the earliest known mathematicians from the Indian tradition. This episode also offers context on the Vedic tradition, the role of mathematics in ritual practices, and the broader connections between ethical, social, and technical knowledge. We discuss how mathematics was a practical, problem-solving craft in ancient India, designed to be memorized, teachable, and repeatable, an engineering mindset long

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30:55

Episode 50 - Alcuin of York - A wolf, a Goat and a...

The Mathematicians Podcast ·

2025/12/03

How do you get a wolf, a goat, and a cabbage across a river without turning the boat into a buffet? Welcome to the Season 1 Finale of The Mathematicians Podcast! Today, we go to the court of Charlemagne to meet Alcuin of York: clergyman, poet, teacher, and potentially history’s first queer mathematician. Alcuin arguably invented the genre of "Recreational Mathematics." In this episode, we open his book Propositiones ad Acuendos Juvenes (Problems to Sharpen the Young), a collection of logic puzzles

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20:17

Episode 49 - Bede - Just in Time

The Mathematicians Podcast ·

2025/11/26

Was Bede a mathematician? Well, he certainly made history count. Join Benjamin Cornish for a trip to Northumbria (which is definitely in England) to meet the "OG monk" who mastered the calendar. In this episode, we dip into "On the Reckoning of Time" to discover how one man calculated the date of Easter, argued with the tides, and dated the Garden of Eden to a Tuesday (or close enough). We also explore why we use the AD/BC system and why you should never trust a Solstice. Keywords: Bede, History of

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21:35

Episode 48 - Eutocius of Ascalon - Show Your Workings

The Mathematicians Podcast ·

2025/11/19

This week on The Mathematicians Podcast, join Benjamin Cornish as he shines a spotlight on Eutocius of Ascalon, the unsung hero who kept the flames of ancient mathematics burning! Born in 480 CE, Eutocius headed the prestigious Alexandrian school and dedicated his life to preserving and elucidating the monumental works of mathematical titans like Archimedes. We'll explore his crucial commentaries on "On the Sphere and Cylinder" and "Measurement of a Circle," unravelling fascinating insights into

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26:11

Episode 47 - Isidorus of Miletus - Build it, and they...

The Mathematicians Podcast ·

2025/11/12

This week, we bridge the gap between Alexandria and Constantinople with Isidorus of Miletus, a mathematician and architect who preferred teaching to writing. We look into how he and his partner, Anthemius of Tralles, were commissioned to build the legendary Hagia Sophia in a mere five years, after a sports riot burned down half the city. Discover the architectural genius behind its "floating" dome, a marvel of pendentives that has stood for centuries. Then, we follow the extraordinary journey of a

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15:15

Episode 46 - Anthemius of Tralles - On Burning Mirrors

The Mathematicians Podcast ·

2025/11/05

Join us on The Mathematicians Podcast as host Benjamin Cornish uncovers the whimsical and often mischievous side of Anthemius of Tralles, the Byzantine Greek architect and mathematician! From earthquake pranks on his neighbour Zeno to pioneering work in optics and conic sections, Anthemius proves that genius can be seriously fun. Discover the forgotten history of burning mirrors, the true shape of light, and the secrets behind the magnificent Hagia Sophia. Keywords: Anthemius of Tralles, Byzantine

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19:14

Episode 45 - Simplicius - Keeping it Simplicius

The Mathematicians Podcast ·

2025/10/29

Welcome back to The Mathematicians Podcast! In this episode, host Benjamin Cornish takes us back to the 6th century CE to explore the life and legacy of Simplicius of Cilicia. A pivotal figure caught between two intellectual giants, Simplicius studied under both Aristotelian and Platonic traditions, becoming one of the last significant scholars of Plato's Academy before its closure by Justinian. Join us as we uncover Simplicius's crucial role as a pagan apologist, philosopher, astronomer, and

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53:17

Episode 44 - The Injectives with Hope Duncan - On...

The Mathematicians Podcast ·

2025/10/22

This week on The Mathematician's Podcast, we take a break from the philosophical and theological debates of the past to chat with an intellectual heavyweight of our own age! In another special "Injectives" episode, Ben is joined by Hope Duncan, a maths communicator and researcher at the University of Leeds whose particular interest is infinity. Join us as Hope tackles some fundamental (and some silly!) questions from Ben's school students, concepts like dividing by zero and the mass of the universe

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18:09

Episode 43 - John Philoponus - To infinity and stopping

The Mathematicians Podcast ·

2025/10/15

Welcome back to The Mathematicians Podcast! This episode introduces our first "John" – John Philoponus, also known as John the Grammarian or John of Alexandria. This Christian theologian, philosopher, and arguably mathematician from 6th-century Egypt is primarily known for his religious doctrine, but we look into the fascinating overlap between mathematics and religion: the nature of infinity. Join us as we explore Philoponus's arguments against the Aristotelian view of an eternal cosmos, his

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25:18

Episode 42 - Boethius - A Fork in the Road

The Mathematicians Podcast ·

2025/10/08

The Romans are here, in ROME! Discover the dramatic rise and fall of the Roman Empire, its lasting global impact, and the fascinating (and sometimes contentious) question of who inherited its crown. Then, meet Boethius, the last classical scholar, whose time on death row led to The Consolation of Philosophy. This episode unpacks his brilliant philosophy of causation, free will, and how god knows the future without pre-determining our choices. We'll explore Aristotle's Sea Battle paradox, Boethius's

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18:13

Episode 41 - Hypatia - Less than fairer

The Mathematicians Podcast ·

2025/10/01

This week we explore the brilliant, and tragically short, life of Hypatia of Alexandria. Born around 370 CE, she was a pioneering female mathematician and philosopher who led the last great school of mathematics in the ancient world. Hypatia’s story is also a dramatic tale of political and religious upheaval. A respected pagan intellectual with influence in Alexandria's civic life, she found herself caught in the violent conflicts of the early Christian church. Join us as we examine the forces that

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28:34

Episode 40 - Pappus of Alexandria - Burn the Bridges

The Mathematicians Podcast ·

2025/09/24

This week, Pappus of Alexandria, a pivotal figure in 4th-century mathematics. Often considered one of the last great Greco-Roman geometers, Pappus compiled the monumental Synagogue, a comprehensive collection that sought to revive classical Greek geometry. In this episode: A candid look at Pappus's personality and his notorious public critique of the female mathematician Pandrosion and her student. Pappus’s distinction between "plane," "solid," and the more expansive "linear" problems. Concepts like

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