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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
Technology
Deep Life
Artificial Intelligence
Discipline
Work-Life Balance
Digital Minimalism
Digital Distractions
Smartphones
Knowledge Work
Writing
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 weeklyEpisodes430Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Self-ImprovementTechnologyEducation

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Artwork for Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Latest Episodes

There has been lots of discussion recently about AI eliminating jobs. But what if the real fear is that AI will instead make existing jobs miserable? In this episode, Cal argues that LLM–based tools are poised to accelerate the worst aspects of pseud... more

Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News.

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

(0:00) Did AI just “solve” math?

(2:38) What OpenAI did

(6:30) Question #1 - Is this result that important?

(7:34) Question #2 - Does th... more

It’s common to feel like you don’t have enough time in your schedule to build a life that’s both professionally successful and personally deep. But is this true? In today’s episode, Cal interviews time management expert Laura Vanderkam about her new ... more

Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News.

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

(0:00) Has AI conquered coding?

(3:21) Lars Faye quote

(5:25) Skipping the struggle step

(6:42) Point #1

(7:08) Point #2

(7:28) Point ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

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
Brad Stulberg
Friend of the show, author of The Way of Excellence
New York Times bestselling author, co-author of Excellence Actually
Episode: Do I Need More Discipline? | Monday Advice
Amy Timberlake
Acclaimed author of children's and middle grade books
Author
Episode: Ep. 400: Should I Embrace “Slow Technology”?
TK Coleman
Guest, The Minimalists contributor and collaborator in the discussion
The Minimalists
Episode: Ep. 395: Should I Try a “Social Media Pause”?
Sarah Hart-Unger
Doctor and mother; planning aficionado; host of Best Laid Plans
Best Laid Plans Podcast
Episode: Ep. 394: Do I Need a Better Planning System?
Ed Zitron
Notable AI commentator, host of Better Offline podcast and writer at Where Is Your Eds on Substack
Episode: Ep 386: Was 2025 a Great or Terrible Year for AI? (w/ Ed Zitron)

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
  • Wish I found this sooner

    I recently found this podcast and think it’s outstanding. Cal is very thoughtful. I first found him through the AI reality check episodes, but there’s a lot more to like. This has quickly become one of my must listen podcasts when a new episode drops.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    go_birds17
    United Statesa month ago
  • The best writing podcast out there

    Yes it's Deep Work generally, but the thoughts, insights and actionable recommendations are spot on for writers, and there even in the topics not, on their surface, about writing at all. Thank you Cal for bringing so much thought and attention to what matters and so much grounded skepticism to what does not.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ValKat12
    United Statesa month ago
  • The best!

    So much common sense and logic. If you want to reclaim your attention in 2026, this is the pod.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RuhtRow
    Canada2 months ago
  • AI reality check

    Cal, my experience with your statistics you used is that they don’t answer the question of under employed. I have 2 children graduating college now, and they are keeping their non white collar jobs, because they have not found higher paying or entry level jobs. They are not unemployed. They are delayed from entering their careers they invested 4 years in getting a college degree in.

    I’ve also talked to and have seen many companies do layoffs specifically around AI replacing these entry leve... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    bigbroracin
    United States2 months ago
  • you don’t need a smart phone

    I love this show. This is specifically in response to the episode about not needing a smart phone. At one point, Cal mentions that it is impossible to get through life without a smart phone. That at some point, you will need to add a smart phone to your life. He lists two factors security most two factor security systems will allow you to have a number text message to you or allow a hard token key. It takes a little bit of work and some questions from your organization or university but to do tw... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Yes459870
    United States4 months 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.

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.
Do I Need a Digital Intervention? | Monday Advice
Q: What was the intervention studied in the research paper?
The intervention was blocking all mobile internet from smartphones using an app (Freedom) to block internet-powered apps while keeping essential functions like messaging and calls, implemented over two weeks in a randomized control trial.
Is AI Trending Up or Down in 2026? | AI Reality Check
Q: How serious is the data-center and GPU saturation concern for the AI market?
There are real risks of overinvestment and misaligned signaling, with many announced data centers not under construction and GPUs sitting in warehouses, which could trigger a broader market adjustment or 'AI winter.'
Is AI Trending Up or Down in 2026? | AI Reality Check
Q: What do you see as a healthier direction for AI development beyond the OpenClaw moment?
A more sustainable future would involve smaller, task-specific, modular AI systems that are hand‑coded or combined with small LLMs to handle language, rather than one giant, all-powerful AI entity.

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. Best Laid Plans
2. excellence, actually
3. The Daily Stoic
4. The Rich Roll Podcast
5. Worklife with Molly Graham

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

Deep Questions with Cal Newport launched 6 years ago and published 430 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. Laura Vanderkam
2. Anna Lembke
3. David Epstein
4. Jensen Wong
5. Brad Stulberg
6. Amy Timberlake
7. TK Coleman
8. Sarah Hart-Unger

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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