Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Cal Newport

Cal Newport is a computer science professor and a New York Times bestselling author who writes about the impact of technology on society, and the struggle to work and live deeply in a world increasingly mired in digital distractions. On this podcast, he answers questions from his readers and offers advice about cultivating focus, productivity, and meaning amidst the noise that pervades our lives.

  1. 1D AGO

    Ep. 376: The Lincoln Protocol

    How do you escape a world where constant digital distractions and darkness threatens to pull you down? Maybe take a page out of Abraham Lincoln’s life. In this episode, Cal argues that Lincoln faced analog versions of many of the same issues we face in our contemporary digital world, and by studying how he escaped we can learn a method to accomplish something similar. He then answers listener questions on this theme and revisits the comments from a 2008 essay where he first introduced some of these questions. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia Deep Dive: The Lincoln Protocol [0:30] When do you read long-form articles amongst your book reading? [41:39]Will reading improve my focus? [44:03]What are the mechanics of keeping a deep reading habit alive? [48:17]At what point does it make sense to prioritize autonomy and alignment over prestige and security? [54:48]How do you suggest spending the time playing with the toddler, while also balancing reasonable stimuli without a phone? [1:00:01]CASE STUDY: A military spouse goes back to work after motherhood [1:03:47] CALL: Cal’s thoughts on Apple Watches [1:07:35] CAL READS THE COMMENTS: What people thought about digital distraction in 2008 [1:12:06] Links: Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/ Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba? calnewport.com/would-lincoln-have-become-president-if-he-had-e-mail/ calnewport.com/would-lincoln-have-become-president-if-he-had-e-mail/ Thanks to our Sponsors:  drinklmnt.com/deep miro.com calderalab.com/deep 1password.com/deep Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 24m

  2. OCT 20

    Ep. 375: Did OpenAI Just Kill Social Media?

    Ep. 375: Did OpenAI Just Kill Social Media? OpenAI has been making waves recently with their release of their Sora 2 video generation model, which they have launched alongside a TikTok-style social media sharing app. The internet is usually pretty excited about AI innovations, but this one has people unsettled. In today’s episode, Cal looks at one implication of Sora 2 in particular that is both important but currently overcooked: the impact of AI content generation on the existing social media giants. He then answers listener questions on AI and social media and reacts to a new Sam Altman tweet that signals bad news for OpenAI. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia Deep Dive: Did OpenAI Just Kill Social Media? [0:02] Will Sora 2 kill creativity? [46:12]Am I doing myself a disservice by using AI tools to help me code? [51:36]Is Substack better than social media? [55:55]What are your thoughts on a “family smartphone”? [1:06:35]What should I do when others disregard the structures that are meant to reduce the digital back and forth? [1:07:53]CASE STUDY: A Digital Declutter [1:15:38] CALL: Children with dumb phones or smartphones [1:19:49] CAL REACTS: Sam Altman Proposes AI Erotica  [1:27:46] Links: Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/ Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba? SORA: the all Ai TikTok Clone. will slop end creativity? youtube.com/watch?v=Vz0oQ0v0W10 newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/tiktok-and-the-fall-of-the-social-media-giants youtube.com/watch?v=I1dW-nZqhew x.com/sama/status/1978129344598827128 Thanks to our Sponsors: This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp: betterhelp.com/deepquestions expressvpn.com/deep calderalab.com/deep shopify.com/deep Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 36m

  3. OCT 13

    Ep. 374: This is Your Brain on Phones

    It’s hard to cultivate a deep life when you cannot go more than a few minutes without checking your phone. In this episode, Cal looks closer at the precise neural mechanisms at play that make the physical act of looking at your phone irresistible. Then armed with this knowledge, he explains why many popular remedies fail, and which specific responses are most likely to succeed. He then answers listener questions and discusses the five old-fashioned analog books (!) that he read last month. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia Deep Dive: This is your brain on phones [0:02] My 11 year-old is bullied for not having a smartphone. What should I do? [47:00]How can I overcome my irrational urge to show off on social media? [55:39]How is video game addiction different than phone addiction? [59:12]Can I become addicted to messaging? [1:03:23]Is it ok to use newspaper apps on my phone? [1:06:42]CASE STUDY: A 5th grader drops her Apple Watch [1:13:51] CALL: An aspiring photographer and Instagram [1:18:11] SEPTEMBER BOOKS: The 5 Books Cal in September 2025 [1:22:51] The Ice Limit (Lincoln Child and Douglas Preston) The Burnout Society (Byung-Chul Han) Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom (Cory Doctorow) As a Jew (Sarah Hurwitz) The Searcher (Tana French) Links: Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/ Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba? Thanks to our Sponsors:  rag-bone.com (Use code “DEEP”) grammarly.com/podcast mybodytutor.com indeed.com/deep Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 38m

  4. OCT 6

    Ep. 373: The Internet’s Best Advice for Reinventing Your Life

    In 2023, I published an episode about resetting your life that became one of my most popular. In the years since, multiple major podcasters and YouTubers have done their own videos on the same theme. In today’s episode, I extract the best ideas from five such recent videos to create an all-star reset strategy. I connect this to my work on technology and its impacts, by noting that taking control of your life can be the most important first step toward taking control of your devices. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia Deep Dive: The Internet’s Best Advice for Reinventing Your Life (0:02) How do I extract ideas for living deeply from books? [55:44]How do I avoid being overwhelmed by everything required to seriously change my life? [58:31]How do I visualize my ideal lifestyle in a fast-changing world? [1:02:42]I just quit my teaching job due to burn-out. How do I find what to do next? [1:09:28]CASE STUDY: Crafting a deep life [1:13:21] CALL: How to revise expectations with young kids [1:18:45] CAL REACTS: The Great Lock-In of 2025 [1:28:11] Links: Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/ Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba? youtube.com/watch?v=mSaI8Rluel8 youtu.be/wXcEtxlrPMA youtu.be/PvvS-0mqD4c youtube.com/watch?v=2ZXJZnAxHHI youtube.com/watch?v=0G7Wu4DnDaw calnewport.com/the-great-lock-in-of-2025/ Thanks to our Sponsors:  cozyearth.com/deep shopify.com/deep vanta.com/deepquestions expressvpn.com/deep Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 37m

  5. SEP 29

    Ep. 372: Decoding TikTok’s Algorithm

    Last week, it was announced that Oracle would take over operation of TikTok in the US. One of the primary reasons proposed for this deal is that it was in national interests for us to take over control of TikTok’s fabled “algorithm.” But what is this algorithm? How does it work? To what extent can it be controlled? In today’s episode, Cal looks deeper at these questions and arrives at a broader philosophical point about the role these services, in general, should play in our civic culture. He then answers listener questions on the same topic and reacts to the three recent news articles about TikTok’s influence on our culture. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia Deep Dive: Decoding TikTok’s Algorithm [0:03] Should I quit social media, even if I don’t live on the slope of terribleness? [44:44]Is it bad to use TikTok to keep up with the news? [49:41]How does quantum computing relate to AI? [53:48]CASE STUDY: Trying to become a great composer [1:02:29] CALL: Tips for dealing with growing kids [1:08:58] CAL REACTS: Three Articles about TikTok (and Three Sighs of Exasperation) [1:18:04] Links: Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/ Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba? the-independent.com/news/world/americas/crime/tiktok-surfing-challenge-manslaughter-b2832760.html yahoo.com/news/world/article/why-people-on-tiktok-think-the-rapture-is-coming-and-that-the-world-is-ending-this-week-202334215.html bbc.com/news/articles/c4gj5lqq52lo youtube.com/watch?v=z7Df9yGofLo youtube.com/shorts/xWIVA0ZJm-w Thanks to our Sponsors: monarchmoney.com (Use code “DEEP”) reclaim.ai/cal wayfair.com makeheadway.com/deep Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 27m

  6. SEP 25

    IN-DEPTH: Focus like a Nobel Prize Winner (w/ Brian Keating)

    In this episode of IN-DEPTH, Cal is joined by Dr. Brian Keating, the Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor of Physics at UCSD, and one of the most prolific popularizers of science around (you may have seen him recently chatting about cosmology with Joe Rogan and Andrew Huberman). They talk about Keating’s new book, HOW TO FOCUS LIKE A NOBEL PRIZE WINNER, as well as many other topics, including a deep look at Keating’s unusual path to academia, and a deconstruction of what’s needed to succeed at the highest levels of academia. Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia INTERVIEW: Focus like a Nobel Prize Winner (w/ Brian Keating) [3:20] Links: https://www.amazon.com/Into-Impossible-Laureates-Collaboration-Imagination/dp/1544523491 Sponsors: https://www.donedaily.com Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Kieron Rees for the theme music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 5m

  7. SEP 22

    Ep. 371: Is it Finally Time to Leave Social Media?

    We seem to be stuck in a purgatory when it comes to the worst of the social media platforms. We know they’re not great, but it’s hard to muster enough motivation to bother to leave. In today’s episode, motivated by the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Cal puts on his technology critic hat and offers a step-by-step technical explanation for why these platforms are strictly and incessantly making your life worse and why the only reasonable response is to quit them. He then answers listener questions on the topic and reacts to some recent news about the US Congress getting involved. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia Deep Dive: Is it Finally Time to Leave Social Media? [0:40] How do I find everything I should be blocking on my kid’s phone? [38:59]Is it okay that I make YouTube Videos? [43:39]Shouldn’t we focus on using social media better? [49:13]CASE STUDY: A musician and social media [58:00] CAL REACTS: US House panel asks internet CEOs to testify after Charlie Kirk assassination [1:10:42] Links: Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/ Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba? reuters.com/world/us/us-house-panel-asks-online-forum-ceos-testify-after-charlie-kirk-assassination-2025-09-17/ youtube.com/watch?v=gjVm0K_ETX8 Thanks to our Sponsors: calderalab.com/deep miro.com grammarly.com/podcast 1password.com/deep Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 26m

  8. SEP 15

    Ep. 370: Deep Work in the Age of AI

    A recent study called into question a core assumption about the generative AI revolution: that these tools, at the very least, will make us more productive. In this episode, Cal dives deep into the study and argues that when it comes to efforts that require deep work, AI can sometimes make things worse. He then answers listener questions and then takes a closer look at an article claiming that the lack of Wi-Fi in a West Virginia school is making their students dumber.  Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia Deep Dive: Deep Work in the Age of AI [0:38] Can ChatGPT chats act as single purpose notebooks for projects? [26:16]When should I apply active recall? [29:34]Do you have insights into AI’s environmental impact? [31:16]What would you do if you left academia? [38:40]CASE STUDY: Using strategies to develop a Deep Life [43:04] CAL REACTS: Does lack of Wi-Fi make students dumber? [53:09W] Links: Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/ Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba? metr.org/blog/2025-07-10-early-2025-ai-experienced-os-dev-study/ theatlantic.com/economy/archive/2025/09/ai-bubble-us-economy/684128/ marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2025/08/the-school-without-wifi.html educationrecoveryscorecard.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/report_WV_5401140_pocahontas-county-schools.pdf Thanks to our Sponsors:  This show is sponsored by BetterHelp: betterhelp.com/deepquestions cozyearth.com/deep shopify.com/deep mybodytutor.com Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 11m
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About

Cal Newport is a computer science professor and a New York Times bestselling author who writes about the impact of technology on society, and the struggle to work and live deeply in a world increasingly mired in digital distractions. On this podcast, he answers questions from his readers and offers advice about cultivating focus, productivity, and meaning amidst the noise that pervades our lives.

Information

  • Creator
    Cal Newport
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    386
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 Deep Questions with Cal Newport
  • Show Website
    Deep Questions with Cal Newport

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