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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
Digital Minimalism
Deep Life
Discipline
Work-Life Balance
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 weeklyEpisodes455Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TechnologyEducationSelf-Improvement

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Artwork for Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Latest Episodes

After a week spent debating AI’s impact on humanity, Cal wants to turn his attention back to AI’s impact on humans. To support this shift, he brings on the writer Brad Stulberg who recently decided that he was “done” with AI. They explore whether thi... more

Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News.

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

(0:00) How Worrisome is GPT-6’s “Stealth Thinking”?

(8:58) Reasoning models

(15:30) Astra

(21:02) The Good

(24:48) The Bad

(28:28) The... more

It’s that time of year again when Cal tunes up his organizational systems for the onslaught of the fall. In this episode, Cal walks through the exact system he’s personally adopting for the next few months. He also discusses why such systems are key ... more

Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News.

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

(0:00) Does OpenAI create “secret AI civilizations”?

(1:59) What’s the deal with “agent swarms”?

(8:54) Should we be worried that the age... more

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Recent Guests

Brad Stulberg
Author and speaker featured on the show
Author, The Way of Excellence
Episode: The AI Resistance is Forming. (Should You Join?)
Chris Moody
Journalism educator; former CNN politics senior correspondent; advocate of digital opt-out living
Appalachian State University; The Opt Outers (The Opt Outers on Substack)
Episode: Should I Turn Off the Internet? (Lessons From a Family That Did) | Monday Advice
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”?

Host

Cal Newport
Host of Deep Questions with Cal Newport; professor and author focused on deep work, productivity, and technology's impact on society.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 4.6k ratings
  • Required listening

    Mainstream media is utterly failing to help the public understand all facets of AI, especially all the hype around LLMs. Cal Newport explains it all so clearly with an ethical point of view. I am so grateful to him!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Syncyclist98
    United States4 days ago
  • Cal Keeps Me Sane

    Cal’s pod single-handedly keeps me sane and calm amidst the flurry of AI news and pandemonium. When I hear something that freaks me out, as a tech laymen, I go straight to this podcast to hear Cal explain what is actually going on. Thank you, Cal! Please do not stop the AI reality checks. You’re carrying the team on your back.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Part-Time Barbarian
    United States5 days ago
  • AI reality-check og fantastiske råd om produktivitet

    Ja, min titel siger egentlig det hele. Og det er bare godt, især for dem af os, der forstår en hel del om tech og AI, men går og bliver bekymrede, fordi vi ikke arbejder med det til daglig.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Brosendal
    Denmark2 months ago
  • Deeply Utility

    Full of actionable advice on how to improve your life.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    garethlr89
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Great podcast

    I’m very thankful for Cal and how and what he shares.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bhstnw
    Canada2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some critics feel episodes can be repetitive or heavily book-promotional
Fans appreciate actionable, long-form productivity guidance
Listeners praise Cal's calm, rational take on AI and tech
Listeners value practical strategies for deep work and digital minimalism

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The AI Resistance is Forming. (Should You Join?)
Q: How should someone think about integrating AI in a way that preserves excellence?
Use AI selectively for tasks where it truly adds value, preserve deliberate practice in key crafts, seek human input and community, and only adopt AI when it can be easily integrated without eroding long-term growth and fulfillment.
The AI Resistance is Forming. (Should You Join?)
Q: What are the three planks of your pro-human resistance framework?
The three planks are that AI could undermine meaningful effort and growth, degrade the quality and distinctiveness of human work leading to average outputs, and threaten broader life meaning by crowding out higher-quality, human experiences and connections.
The AI Resistance is Forming. (Should You Join?)
Q: What role does AI currently play in your day-to-day life, Brad?
Brad explains that AI is a minimal supplement to Google for him, initially used as a thought partner and copy editor, but over time he found it often produced only surface-level ideas and ultimately he stopped using it for most tasks, reserving it for grammar checks rather than creative work.
Rethinking the Deep Life Stack (Again!) | Monday Advice
Q: Is the upcoming book going to be structured or more open-ended, given the balance of cognitive fitness and practicalplanning?
It will be structured, practical, and philosophical—organized to guide readers through concrete steps toward cognitive fitness and a well-defined life plan.
Rethinking the Deep Life Stack (Again!) | Monday Advice
Q: If you had to give one principle to a technically trained person with many legitimate interests, who wants to become exceptionally capable over the next decade, what would it be?
Do less, do better. Focus on a small number of things at a time, build mastery, and allow each skill to mature before adding another; sequential progress yields deeper capability over time.

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?

Deep, thoughtful discussions centered on focus, productivity, and meaningful work in a high-speed, tech-filled world. Across recent episodes the host analyzes frameworks for deep work, debunks AI hype with measured skepticism, and offers practical routines (notebooks, digital minimalism, pacing) to cultivate sustained attention. The show often features long-form explorations, reader questions, and sponsor integrations that illustrate how deeply intentional approaches can be applied in professional and personal life. A notable edge is the blend of rigor, accessible explanations, and a recurring emphasis on deliberate practice and sustainable strategies for mastering hard things in a distracted era.

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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. The Daily Stoic
3. The Tim Ferriss Show
4. Huberman Lab
5. Best of Both Worlds Podcast

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

Deep Questions with Cal Newport launched 6 years ago and published 455 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. Brad Stulberg
2. Chris Moody
3. Kostadin Kuchlev
4. Jenny Wright
5. Laura Vanderkam
6. Anna Lembke
7. David Epstein
8. Jensen Wong

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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