In this episode of Forks, we sit down with Vanessa Vakharia, founder of The Math Guru, bestselling author of Math Hacks and Math Therapy, and frontwoman of the indie rock band Goodnight Sunrise.

After failing math twice in high school, Vanessa was convinced she “just wasn’t a math person.” Years later, she’s built a movement around proving that belief wrong — helping thousands of students (and adults) heal what she calls math trauma: the lingering shame and anxiety so many of us carry from the classroom.

🎧 In this conversation, we explore:

• How one teacher’s belief changed Vanessa’s entire story
• What math trauma actually is — and how it shapes confidence far beyond the classroom
• Why so many girls, creative thinkers, and neurodivergent students lose trust in their abilities early
• What parents can do to help kids rewrite their “I’m not a math person” story
• How learning to fail in math helped Vanessa find her voice — both as an educator and as a musician

Vanessa proves that the stories we tell ourselves — about math, intelligence, or who we’re supposed to be — are almost always ready to be rewritten.

Follow Vanessa on Instagram @themathguru and @themathgurututoring.

Learn more at themathguru.ca.

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Website (apply to be on the show!) - forkspod.com/contact

Instagram - @forkspod

Facebook - The Forks Podcast

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/company/forkspod

Copyright

All content, including audio, transcripts, and other materials, is owned by the podcast creators (Alexis Hood and Amie Plourde) and cannot be reproduced or redistributed without permission.

Disclaimer

The Forks podcast, available at forkspod.com, is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts. The content provided is not a substitute for professional advice, and the hosts are not liable for any actions taken based on podcast discussions.

By participating as a guest, individuals consent to the recording and sharing of their stories. Listener privacy is respected in line with our privacy policy, and any data collected will be handled in accordance with applicable laws such as GDPR and CCPA.

For full terms and policies, please visit forkspod.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When career coach Lynn Unger decided to retire, she thought she was closing one chapter — but instead, she found herself facing some of the same questions she’d helped her clients navigate for years: Who am I without my work? What does success look like now?

In this conversation, Lynn joins Alexis and Amie to explore how mindset shapes every turning point — from those who are forced to step away from work, to those chasing the next level of their careers, to anyone rethinking what fulfillment really means.

This episode is a reminder that every transition — whether chosen or unexpected — begins not with what you do next, but how you think about change itself.

Follow Forks

Website (apply to be on the show!) - forkspod.com/contact

Instagram - @forkspod

Facebook - The Forks Podcast

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/company/forkspod

Copyright

All content, including audio, transcripts, and other materials, is owned by the podcast creators (Alexis Hood and Amie Plourde) and cannot be reproduced or redistributed without permission.

Disclaimer

The Forks podcast, available at forkspod.com, is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts. The content provided is not a substitute for professional advice, and the hosts are not liable for any actions taken based on podcast discussions.

By participating as a guest, individuals consent to the recording and sharing of their stories. Listener privacy is respected in line with our privacy policy, and any data collected will be handled in accordance with applicable laws such as GDPR and CCPA.

For full terms and policies, please visit forkspod.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when a professional athlete retires — and their identity goes with it? In this episode of Forks, we sit down with Rae Swire, a former Team Canada volleyball player, as she opens up about her emotional transition out of elite sport.

From Olympic qualification campaigns and global competitions to parenting, counselling, and rediscovering her purpose, Rae’s story explores what it means to start over — and who you become when the game ends.

Whether you’re navigating a career change, a major life pivot, or helping your child succeed in competitive sports, this conversation will move and inspire you.

👉 Topics: athlete retirement, identity crisis, reinvention, parenting athletes, career transitions, women in sport, mental health, volleyball Canada, Olympic dreams, high school counsellng, team sports, parenting advice, personal growth.

Follow Forks

Website (apply to be on the show!) - forkspod.com/contact

Instagram - @forkspod

Facebook - The Forks Podcast

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/company/forkspod

Copyright

All content, including audio, transcripts, and other materials, is owned by the podcast creators (Alexis Hood and Amie Plourde) and cannot be reproduced or redistributed without permission.

Disclaimer

The Forks podcast, available at forkspod.com, is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts. The content provided is not a substitute for professional advice, and the hosts are not liable for any actions taken based on podcast discussions.

By participating as a guest, individuals consent to the recording and sharing of their stories. Listener privacy is respected in line with our privacy policy, and any data collected will be handled in accordance with applicable laws such as GDPR and CCPA.

For full terms and policies, please visit forkspod.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.