Mathematical Conversations

It is well-known that the constant e is transcendental, but many proofs of this fact seem opaque with some polynomial appearing to be pulled out of thin air. The goal of this talk is then to elucidate this proof, explain how the proof of $\pi$ being transcendental is just one step away, and, time permitting, mention why the proof for $e^\pi$ is not as far as Hilbert predicted.