Winnie the Math Whiz - with Danica McKellar

The Numberphile Podcast

Brady Haran

Natural Sciences, Science & Medicine, Social Sciences, Educational Technology, Education

4.9 • 619 Ratings

🗓️ 2 July 2024

⏱️ 45 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Catch a video version of this episode at: https://youtu.be/xMAiBBxQGZI Danica McKellar is best-known for portraying girl-next-door Winnie Cooper in The Wonder Years - but she has also proven a math theorem (which bears her name) and writes books to inspire future mathematicians. Check out her math website and books at: https://mckellarmath.com And Danica’s general website at: https://danicamckellar.com Danica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danicamckellar/ Danica’s books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3VQdzny Danica’s co-authored paper which led to the Chayes–McKellar–Winn theorem: https://scienceblogs.de/geograffitico/wp-content/blogs.dir/70/files/2012/07/i-5bb4f4203312f2a650f3294cf4ddac13-percolation.pdf Brady’s dog Winnie: https://www.instagram.com/the_wonderful_winnie/ The Wonder Years: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wonder_Years Jane Street opportunities (episode sponsor): https://www.janestreet.com/join-jane-street/overview/ Jane Street’s Insight program as mentioned on the show: https://www.janestreet.com/join-jane-street/programs-and-events/insight/ Numberphile is also supported by the Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute: https://www.slmath.org You can support Numberphile on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/numberphile Here are our Patrons: https://www.numberphile.com/patrons

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	It's not often I get starstruck by guests on Numberphile, but today's bit of an exception.
0:14.0	That's because it's the actress Danica McKellar. She played Girl Next Door Winnie Cooper in the TV show The Wonder Years.
0:21.9	In the late 80s and early 90s, she must have been nearly everybody's childhood crush.
0:27.0	I was no exception.
0:29.0	Danica went on to feature in another of my favourite TV shows, The West Wing.
0:33.6	These days, she stars in various TV films, usually those kind of romantic, wholesome movies you might watch at Christmas.
0:40.6	But okay, what's this got to do with mathematics, I hear you ask.
0:44.9	Well, somehow, in between all that acting, Danica also obtained an impressive degree in mathematics from UCLA.
0:52.7	There's even a theorem she proved bearing the McKella name.
0:56.4	And she's since become a prolific writer of books aimed at getting more young people,
1:01.1	especially girls, engaged with math.
1:04.4	They have titles like Math Doesn't Suck, Girls Get Curves, and Hot X,
1:10.2	that's to name just a few.
1:12.0	She's a real math advocate, even testifying before Congress about the need for changes in education.
1:18.9	Okay, so here we go, something I can't believe I'm saying.
1:22.5	Here's Winnie from the Wonder Years on the Numberphile podcast.
1:28.2	Thank you for joining us.
1:31.2	I was a big Wonder Years fan, like all people my age, I grew up with the Wendy Years and
1:38.6	Winnie Cooper was my girl next door.
1:40.4	This is the character that you played in the Wonder Years.
1:43.1	So I have to tell you a little story
1:45.8	from this year before we start. Okay. My wife bought me a little puppy for Valentine's Day.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Brady Haran, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Brady Haran and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.