Latest Interviews

Real Numbers – Episode 14, Finals Week

Jayden, Sawyer

In this Real Numbers episode, the host explores expected value applications by challenging listeners to calculate the average interval between randomly scheduled final exams and reviewing a previous problem on the expected number of distinct snowboards used over six days. The snowboard scenario is resolved by demonstrating two distinct approaches using indicator variables and the linearity of expectation, both confirming that a user will sharpen approximately 3.99 different boards on average. The episode concludes by inviting the audience to submit their own solutions and alternative problem ideas for future episodes focused on mathematical expectation.

Real Numbers – Episode 12, Photographing the Chaotic Marching Band

Sawyer

The episode explores expected value and the linearity of expectation by first applying these concepts to a conditional probability problem involving a haunted forest monster. The instructors update monster type probabilities based on a 4-damage roll to calculate a resulting expected value of 5.5 for the second attack. The session concludes by introducing a problem of the week that contrasts independent choice scenarios with fixed pool distributions to determine the expected number of synchronized rows in a marching band.

Real Numbers – Episode 02, Always Take the Middle Taxi

Sawyer

This episode of "Real Numbers" reviews the solution to a dog-sitting probability problem, where presenters confirm via both state-transition tables and combinatorial enumeration that the likelihood of securing at least two full nights of sleep over five evenings is exactly 131/243. The series then transitions to a new weekly challenge asking viewers to calculate the probability of finding three consecutive yellow taxis among six cars at a traffic light. Participants are invited to submit their answers to this Metropolis traffic scenario for review in the subsequent broadcast.

Mangroves: how they help the ocean

Lillian, Mark Huxham

Global mangrove ecosystems face imminent collapse due to industrial expansion, prompting the launch of Mikoko Pomoja in Kenya's Ghazi Bay as the world's first community-led project funded by carbon credits. This initiative has successfully generated over $60,000 for local communities while sequestering significant carbon in sediment, effectively incentivizing conservation over resource extraction. Although experts caution that such offsets cannot replace broader policy reforms, the model is gaining traction as a replicable strategy for marine protection and economic stability across the region.

Why Investing in the Longest Bull Market in History is Still a Smart Move

Sharmin Mossavar-Rahmani, Jake Siewert, Jake Seward

Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management's 2020 "Room to Grow" report argues that the current economic expansion will likely persist through 2020, citing favorable central bank policies, a low 20% recession probability, and balanced market conditions that support an 87% chance of positive returns. The firm recommends a strategic overweight in U.S. equities driven by superior demographics and productivity, while cautioning that high capital gains taxes make it inefficient for investors to sell assets waiting for a market dip. Although the analysis acknowledges short-term volatility from geopolitical tensions and the coronavirus outbreak, it projects that disinflationary trends and robust household balance sheets will allow underlying economic growth to reassert itself within months.

What will be the biggest stories of 2020?

In 2020, global markets confront recession risks from the US-China trade war while the US presidential election pivots on Wisconsin's swing status and Germany faces potential debt rule breaches. Simultaneously, cultural and institutional milestones include Beethoven's 250th birth anniversary, a WHO campaign for nurses amid a projected global shortage, and the Tokyo Olympics' controversial new transgender inclusion guidelines. These divergent themes highlight a year defined by economic instability, political realignment, and complex debates over human rights and biological definition.

Kat Mañalac - How to Launch (Again and Again)

Kat Mañalac

The presentation redefines startup launching from a singular event into a continuous iterative process designed to validate problems and refine pitches before full product completion. It outlines specific tactical approaches ranging from silent and community-based launches to strategic influencer outreach and viral waitlists, illustrated by case studies from companies like Reddit, Magic, and Superhuman. By prioritizing early market testing over perfectionism, founders can identify target segments and secure traction while avoiding the risks of delayed development.

Our top 3 lessons on how not to waste your career on things that don’t change the world

Maria Gutierrez, Benjamin Todd, Jared Paul, Ben, David Mackay

The discussion critiques counterproductive social interventions, such as the Scared Straight program which increased recidivism despite billions in funding, to introduce a framework for evaluating high-impact careers. Developed by 80,000 Hours and Oxford academics, this model assesses opportunities based on their scale, neglect, and solvability, using examples like malaria prevention and pandemic preparedness to illustrate where resources yield the greatest return. The analysis concludes that optimal impact requires balancing these three factors with personal aptitude to avoid low-effort initiatives that fail to address the world's most urgent problems.