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Artwork for Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Cal Newport
Productivity
Deep Work
Slow Productivity
Social Media
Time Management
Mental Health
Artificial Intelligence
Technology
Deep Life
Discipline
Work-Life Balance
Digital Minimalism
Digital Distractions
Smartphones
Writing
Knowledge Work
Self-Improvement
Attention Economy
Cal Newport
Creativity

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.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes441Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationSelf-ImprovementTechnology

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Latest Episodes

Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News.

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

(0:00) Anthropic’s new research report

(2:05) Digging into the paper

(3:32) High level tutorial on LLMs

(6:18) Detail on annotations

(1... more

Tell me if this sounds familiar: you buy a beautiful notebook, excited by all its possibilities to help refine your thoughts and generate new insights. Then it sits unused until you forget about it. The problem is not *what* notebooks you own but ins... more

Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News.

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

(0:00) Does business actually understand AI?

(2:52) Quote #2

(6:20) Taking a step back

(7:06) Quote #3

(11:39) Quote #4

(17:02) Idea for jo... more

It’s a dream a lot of us have: to finally say “enough!”, and turn off the internet inside our homes, returning us to a lifestyle that requires more presence, introspection, and connection. But is this even possible? And what would it really be like? ... more

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Recent Guests

Kostadin Kuchlev
Professor in the psychology department at Georgetown, directs the Happy Tech Lab
Georgetown University
Episode: Am I Lazy or Overstimulated? | Monday Advice
Jenny Wright
Listener asking about reading for work at bedtime and corner marking
Episode: Should I Press Pause? | Monday Advice
Laura Vanderkam
Author of Big Time, Time management expert
Author of Big Time
Episode: How Do I Reclaim My Schedule? (w/ Laura Vanderkam) | Monday Advice
Anna Lembke
Professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine; addiction medicine expert
Stanford University
Episode: Am I Addicted to My Phone? (w/ Anna Lembke) | Monday Advice
David Epstein
New York Times bestselling author, author of Inside the Box
Riverhead Books / author
Episode: Why Do Better Tools Make Me Worse at My Job? (w/ David Epstein) | Monday Advice
Jensen Wong
Industry figure referenced in clip; associated with NVIDIA
NVIDIA
Episode: Is AI About to Automate Every Office Job? | AI Reality Check
Amy Timberlake
Acclaimed author of children's and middle grade books
Author
Episode: Ep. 400: Should I Embrace “Slow Technology”?
Arthur Brooks
Number one New York Times bestselling author, columnist for the Atlantic, professor at Harvard
Harvard University; The Meaning of Your Life
Episode: Ep. 398: How Do I Find Purpose in a Distracted World? (w/ Arthur Brooks)
TK Coleman
Guest, The Minimalists contributor and collaborator in the discussion
The Minimalists
Episode: Ep. 395: Should I Try a “Social Media Pause”?

Host

Cal Newport
Host of Deep Questions with Cal Newport, lead host of the show, guiding interviews and presenting analyses

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 4.5k ratings
  • Outstanding podcast

    What an excellent podcast! It’s wonderful listening to a PhD computer scientist who is able to break down AI hype. I love the AI reality checks!! Thank you Cal for posting these. This is my go to podcast to chase away AI mania. I also appreciate his tone. In this day and age, it’s refreshing to have a calm voice explain things in a rational way without anger and four letter words. I also appreciate his balance. On the one hand, AI can be a good tool. But on the other hand, it is not divine.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Plainsrf
    United States4 days ago
  • A lifeline in these techtopic times

    Ironically I discovered this podcast through the algorithm. One morning lost doom-scrolling YouTube, I discovered one of Cal’s recent episodes on device management and was captivated. I realised I had been recommended Deep Work way back at the start of my career, and was excited to pick up the thread. Perhaps even more transformative for me were the AI reality checks. As a software engineer who crashed out of a AI’d-to-the-nines Bay Area startup, the AI dread was all consuming. Cal’s measured di... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jushbrun
    United Kingdom6 days ago
  • Shift in Perspective

    I really enjoy the episodes about increasing productivity and embracing slow technology and unplugging in order to live a more fulfilling life. I got so much inspiration for his thoughts. Now, it seems that every episode is about AI and I skip more episodes than I listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    A day one
    United States7 days ago
  • The only AI news you need

    It is not possible to overstate the value Cal delivers on this podcast. I especially appreciate the AI reality check episodes where he brings a much needed shred of sanity to the “Doom Trolling” these AI execs love to do (possibly to increase the value of their IPO’s?)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Withnohandlebars
    United States11 days ago
  • A breath of fresh air

    I appreciated the themes and topics being covered just as much as I appreciate Cal’s clarity of thought and even delivery. Every episode is thought-provoking without being sensationalist.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    pike.spade
    Germany23 days ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Several episodes noted for their balanced treatment of AI and tech hype.
Listeners praise thoughtful, practical insights and clear thinking.
Many find topics on deep work and productivity immediately applicable to their careers.
Some critique the show for repetition or heavy emphasis on book promotion, but overall praise remains strong.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Should I Press Pause? | Monday Advice
Q: Do you read books for work at bedtime or for pleasure, and do you use your corner marking method at night?
He distinguishes between cognitive stimulation and non-cognitive stimulation. He avoids highly cognitive books at night to prevent overactivation, preferring calmer, non-work-related reading for sleep and reserving corner marking for when he's actively engaging with challenging ideas for work.
Should I Press Pause? | Monday Advice
Q: Could you elaborate on the think part of the read, think, write pattern?
Think of read, think, write as the cognitive opposite of dopamine surfing. After reading something hard, you stop to think about it and then write down your thoughts, which helps move ideas from superficial processing to true understanding and insight.
Should I Press Pause? | Monday Advice
Q: What email protocols or rules will you use during your sabbatical, and will you set up an out-of-office auto response?
Newport says he won't use autoresponders; he dislikes them unless absolutely required by an office. He plans to check Georgetown email infrequently (about once a week for Georgetown, maybe twice at most), and he emphasizes communicating clearly about being away rather than masking delays. People generally don't care about the delay; the main goal is to prevent unnecessary stress or anxiety for the sender.
Am I Addicted to My Phone? (w/ Anna Lembke) | Monday Advice
Q: What are the four Cs used to assess smartphone addiction?
The four Cs are control, compulsion, craving, and consequences, with additional considerations of tolerance and withdrawal to gauge the severity of use.
Do I Need a Digital Intervention? | Monday Advice
Q: Why did the researchers choose a randomized control trial design?
To compare the intervention group with a no-block control group so that observed effects on attention, mental health, and well-being could be attributed to the blocking intervention rather than self-selection or other confounds.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Deep Questions with Cal Newport

What is Deep Questions with Cal Newport about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, evidence-driven show that blends practical strategies for focus, deep work, and thoughtful technology use with interviews and expert analysis. Episodes frequently tackle productivity, attention management, AI implications for knowledge work, and how to design workflows that foster meaningful, high-quality output. Noteworthy traits include a steady emphasis on deliberate practice, cognitive boundaries, and “slow tech” approaches, plus a willingness to challenge hype with careful argument and real-world examples. This combination makes it particularly helpful for professionals seeking deeper work routines or executives evaluating technology's impact on productivity and culture.

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Which podcasts are similar to Deep Questions with Cal Newport?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Deep Questions with Cal Newport:

1. The Tim Ferriss Show
2. The Knowledge Project
3. The Daily Stoic
4. Best Laid Plans
5. Getting Things Done

How many episodes of Deep Questions with Cal Newport are there?

Deep Questions with Cal Newport launched 6 years ago and published 441 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Deep Questions with Cal Newport?

Recent guests on Deep Questions with Cal Newport include:

1. Kostadin Kuchlev
2. Jenny Wright
3. Laura Vanderkam
4. Anna Lembke
5. David Epstein
6. Jensen Wong
7. Amy Timberlake
8. Arthur Brooks

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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