Math and Magic with Matt Baker

In this episode, mathematician and award-winning magician Matt Baker explores the fascinating intersection of mathematics and magic, revealing how mathematical principles, intuition, and storytelling create unforgettable illusions. From a mind-reading trick based on the classic concept of “casting out nines” to his groundbreaking research on the Riemann–Roch theorem for graphs, Baker demonstrates how creativity and pattern recognition drive both mathematical discovery and magical performance. Chapters 00:00 The Interplay of Math and Magic 04:58 Aesthetic Connections in Math and Magic 08:57 Balancing Family, Math, and Magic 12:34 The Impact of Magic on Mathematical Thinking 16:32 The Art of Clarity in Communication 16:44 A Live Magic Demonstration 25:14 Intuition and Pattern Recognition in Math 30:03 The Riemann-Roch Theorem for Graphs 41:42 The Role of AI in Mathematics and Magic 50:21 The Art of Communicating Mathematics 50:47 The Magic of Math and Performance Follow Matt Baker on Facebook ( ) Academic ( /) Magic ( ) Follow Breaking Math on Substack ( ) Twitter ( ) Instagram ( ) Bluesky ( ) Website ( ) YouTube ( ) Follow Noah on Instagram ( ) Twitter ( ) Bluesky ( ) Follow Autumn on Twitter ( ) Bluesky ( ) Instagram ( ) Substack ( ) email: breakingmathpodcast@gmail.com

You can listen to Math and Magic with Matt Baker online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Math and Magic with Matt Baker is an episode from Breaking Math Podcast by Autumn Phaneuf & Noah Giansiracusa.

This episode is 50:58 long.

This episode was published on Apr 15, 2026.

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