What was your first job as a journalist?
I'm not a journalist by trade — my career has been in mathematics education, Olympiad training, and authoring books. But the closest parallel was contributing written columns and being interviewed by education and EdTech publications early on, where I had to learn how to translate technical mathematics into clear, audience-friendly language. That experience has shaped how I write and teach ever since.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, I've used a typewriter before — there's something wonderfully deliberate about it. As a mathematics educator, I find the mechanical rhythm of a typewriter mirrors the way I encourage students to approach problem solving: one careful, intentional keystroke at a time, with no shortcut to "undo" sloppy thinking. That said, I'm grateful to do most of my writing digitally these days, since building Mathewmatician's Dictionary and authoring fourteen books would have been quite a workout on a typewriter!
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Having been interviewed by more than 200 media outlets — from Times to Fox News — I've come to see journalism as a craft of disciplined curiosity. A great journalist asks the question behind the question, listens carefully, and translates complex ideas into something the public can understand and act on. In many ways, it parallels what I do as a mathematics educator: take something dense and abstract, and make it meaningful for everyday learners.
