Tackling Math Anxiety: How Gamification Can Change the Equation

In this episode, Dustin and Ghazali sit down with Dr. Aditya Nagrath, founder of Elephant Learning Mathematics Academy, to explore the roots of math anxiety and how a gamified, mindset-shifting approach can help students regain confidence and mastery in math. Our guiding question: How can we reframe math education to overcome anxiety and help all students succeed? Dr. Aditya Nagrath (he/him) is a PhD in Mathematics & Computer Science, seasoned software engineer, and founder of Elephant Learning Mathematics Academy. With over 30 years in the tech industry—ranging from atomic clocks to mobile apps—Dr. Nagrath developed a platform that helps students learn years of math in just a few months with only 10 minutes a day, 3 times per week. His work centers around using in-house algorithms, gamification, and the “elephant age” metric to track and support student growth. During the conversation, Dr. Nagrath shares: Why math anxiety develops in students and how to identify it How gamification and mindset shifts can create lasting change The power of framing math as a language instead of just procedures How the “elephant age” metric provides clear, visual progress for students and families Actionable advice for educators and parents to support math learners We also touch on Dr. Nagrath’s book, Treating Math Anxiety, and how it complements Elephant Learning’s platform and coaching programs. 👉 Interested in learning more? Visit elephantlearning.com to explore the platform and grab a copy of the book. Want to be on the show? We’re always looking for passionate educators and advocates to join us! You don’t need to be an expert—just someone who cares about education and wants to share your perspective. Fill out the form here: https://forms.gle/C21egnAUCw25gmZTA