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Artwork for Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Cal Newport
Productivity
Deep Work
Slow Productivity
Discipline
Transformative Goals
Time Management
Deep Life
Note-Taking
Reverse Goal Setting
Mental Health
Deep Living
Personal Organization
Curiosity
Laziness
Digital Organization
Psychological Barriers
Productivity Techniques
Career Change
Lifestyle Design
Goal Setting

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes396Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Self-ImprovementEducationTechnology

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Artwork for Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Latest Episodes

Ep 386: Was 2025 a Great or Terrible Year for AI? (w/ Ed Zitron) 

2025 was a year that was saturated in AI news, from Deep Seek, through claims of economic “bloodbaths,” to GPT-5, Sora, and Chatbot girlfriends. Frankly, it was exhausting. As we now ... more

In this replay of a classic episode from March 2024, Cal discusses his transformative experience using a small analog notebook to tackle a complicated problem in his life. He makes the broader argument that sometimes simple analog tools can far excee... more

In our annual holiday episode, Cal tackles one of the questions he’s asked most often: What should I read? But with a twist. He recommends six books that are not from the self-help or advice genre that will nonetheless help you change your life into ... more

Earlier this fall, the activist, novelist, and essayist Paul Kingsnorth published an anti-technology polemic called “Against the Machine.” To say it hit a nerve is an understatement. In the months that followed, Kingsnorth has been everywhere; profil... more

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Recent Guests

Tyler Austin Harper
Journalist and critic, who has written extensively about environmentalism and technology.
The Atlantic
Episode: Ep 383: Why Is Everyone Talking About “Against the Machine”? (w/ Tyler Austin Harper)
Brian Keating
Chancellor's Distinguished Professor of Physics and principal investigator of the Simons Observatory
University of California, San Diego
Episode: IN-DEPTH: Focus like a Nobel Prize Winner (w/ Brian Keating)
Dario Amadei
CEO of Anthropic, talks about AI and its impacts on entry-level jobs and employment.
Anthropic
Episode: Ep. 367: What if AI Doesn’t Get Much Better Than This?
Brad Stulberg
Author and expert on human performance
Episode: Ep. 359: Should We Fear Cognitive Debt?
Chris Guillebeau
Author and entrepreneur, writer of 'Time Anxiety'
Chris Guillebeau
Episode: IN-DEPTH: The Art of Non-Conformity (w/ Chris Guillebeau)
David Blaine
World-renowned illusionist, endurance artist, and mentalist
Episode: You Might Also Like: On Purpose with Jay Shetty
David Dewane
An architect known for the eudaemonia machine concept.
Chief Experience Officer at Geniant
Episode: IN-DEPTH: Architecting a Deep Life (w/ David Dewane)
Michael Easter
Health and science journalist
Author of The Comfort Crisis and Scarcity Brain
Episode: IN-DEPTH: The Comfort Crisis (w/ Michael Easter)
Kendra Adachi
Leader in Compassionate Time Management and author of The Plan
The Lazy Genius Collective
Episode: IN-DEPTH: Greatness vs. Contentment (w/ Kendra Adachi)

Host

Cal Newport
Host of Deep Questions

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 4.3k ratings
  • Always makes me think

    I really like this podcast because Cal makes me think about digital life in new ways and slowly develop my own philosophy on tech use slowly but surely. I’m a dumb phone user and consider myself a digital minimalist, so this compliments my lifestyle well. Cal seems to have a good head on his shoulders. I also like how he explains tech boundaries in a very practical way that never feels extreme, just logical. Thank you for the show!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    surfchick97
    United States2 months ago
  • Is it for everyone?

    Haha ask your students if chat bots will be here in a couple years.

    You should read the book! It’s not a slog, it’s readable and short. The interview didn’t do the book justice, so it doesn’t make sense to review the interview without reading the book.

    I honestly did not think Eleazer aimed the point at Cal lol “Cal get off my lawn” it was more that people didn’t thought it could develop into this and so quickly but it did (remember the “limitations” to understanding nuances of speech and conv... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mbller
    United States2 months ago
  • Always helpful

    Helpful, pretty insightful and often funny! Looking forward to the return of Jesse Skeleton….

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lizzyloula
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • No Shortcut Wisdom!

    With so much optimization noise, Cal stands out! Deeply caring about what is important to you is NOT a trend that can be hacked and/ or automated.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cnaloha
    United States8 months ago
  • Cool, but repetitive

    I like this podcast and listened to it every week for over a year before I realized that it’s very repetitive and the same ideas are said over and over. Cal’s books are fantastic and well worth reading, but I think after a while this becomes a weekly hour long ad for the books. Not a lot of value is provided

    Also, recently the AI talk is getting out of hand. Not specific to this podcast but I am a bit burnt out on all the AI hype and Cal has turned it into a new segment of late

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Chewbacca’s Dingleberries
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Overall, it is seen as an enriching resource for those aiming to lead more intentional lives.
Listeners appreciate the practical strategies and actionable advice for personal productivity.
There are mixed feelings about the repetitiveness of topics and the host's emphasis on his published works.
The podcast is praised for engaging discussions yet criticized for commercial interruptions.
Many find the insights on digital distractions and deep work to be transformative for their work and life.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep 385: Single-Purpose Notebooks (REPLAY)
Q: How does slow productivity relate to mental models and first principles?
Slow productivity offers a new mental model that rejects pseudo-productivity in favor of fewer, more meaningful outputs, and establishes generative first principles for effective action and decision making.
Ep 385: Single-Purpose Notebooks (REPLAY)
Q: Can you elaborate on investing in tools and how that can help, but also be taken too far?
Invest in high-quality tools proportionate to the value you intend to create, acknowledging that good tools signal commitment and can enhance productivity, but avoid overextension based on current capabilities.
Ep 385: Single-Purpose Notebooks (REPLAY)
Q: How do you determine what to focus on each day with limit daily goals?
Limit daily goals should be focused on project-level commitments and follow your mission, reducing distractions and allowing you to prioritize effectively based on your weekly plan.
Ep 385: Single-Purpose Notebooks (REPLAY)
Q: What are your thoughts on how all these knowledge work or businesses are still profitable with all these workers pretending to work?
Pseudo-productivity persists due to managerial capitalism, where managers optimize for stability and efficiency rather than actual productivity, combined with the separation of knowledge work and direct contributions to the bottom line.
Ep 383: Why Is Everyone Talking About “Against the Machine”? (w/ Tyler Austin Harper)
Q: What can we learn or take away from this book?
The takeaway is that what he's really trying to say is that what we think of as culture wars are wars about nature.

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?

Focused on the interplay between technology and productivity, the content engages listeners with thought-provoking discussions about digital minimalism, work-life balance, and the importance of deep work. The host frequently answers audience questions, offering practical advice and insights aimed at enhancing personal efficiency and fostering a more meaningful professional life. Notably, the podcast covers historical perspectives, current trends regarding AI, and psychological impacts of digital distractions, appealing to listeners seeking actionable strategies for improvement in both personal and professional domains. Its blend of humor and philosophical inquiry distinguishes this podcast in the self-improvement space, likely resonating wi... more

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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 Daily Stoic
3. Huberman Lab
4. The Rich Roll Podcast
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 396 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. Tyler Austin Harper
2. Brian Keating
3. Dario Amadei
4. Brad Stulberg
5. Chris Guillebeau
6. David Blaine
7. David Dewane
8. Michael Easter

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