In my travels so far, I have been recording short interviews/monologues from interesting mathematicians talking about their career and/or an interesting piece of mathematics they have worked on. I have also collected a few maths history pieces on famous historical mathematicians from Noel-Ann Bradshaw of the University of Greenwich and the British Society for the History of Mathematics. I will be releasing these in the new academic year as a podcast, along with a monthly maths news roundup from Sarah Shepherd, editor of iSquared magazine.

It’s funny how difficult it is to sit on your own in a room talking to yourself, knowing that you’re recording it. I found that part way through a sentance my voice would stop and the words would carry on in my head. It was a real strain to force the words out so they could be recorded. Plus there’s a certain shrinking away – what if someone listened to the recording? Of course, this is the idea, but quite shy-making, nonetheless. I think you can hear if you listen to the prelude I recorded that on the two previous attempts I have given up part way through the word “Travels” at the start. This time I stumble but force myself through it and ramble off the rest of what I need to say. I’m sure practice will help!

I hope to launch episode 1 in October. Until then you can listen to episode 0, the prelude and so check you have subscribed to the podcast successfully ready to download the first episode next month. Link: Travels in a Mathematical World podcast. The next post will be the first in a series of show notes for the podcast – posts on this blog that accompany each episode.