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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
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 weeklyEpisodes450Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TechnologyEducationSelf-Improvement

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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) Has AI “Gone Rogue”

(2:25) Observation #1 - Most Superhuman AI is well behaved

(4:28) Observation #2 - A specific type of AI syste... more

In the world of physical health, we use so-called “key performance indicators” (KPIs) to help measure and improve our fitness. In today’s episode, Cal proposes a collection of three KPIs for measuring and improving your *cognitive* capabilities – a s... more

The best way to kick your scrolling habit is to introduce more “high quality leisure” into your life. But how do you accomplish this goal? In this replay of a classic episode from February, 2024, Cal walks through six new habits – what he calls a “hi... more

Only 8% of people finish their yearly goals. At the same time, the percentage of people feeling a sense of meaning of purpose in their life is falling. These two numbers are connected: the more we struggle to accomplish meaningful projects, the less ... more

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Recent Guests

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
Ed Zitron
AI commentator invited onto the show
Episode: Is AI Trending Up or Down in 2026? | 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
  • 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
    Denmarka month ago
  • Deeply Utility

    Full of actionable advice on how to improve your life.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    garethlr89
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Great podcast

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bhstnw
    Canadaa month ago
  • 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 Statesa month 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 Kingdoma month 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.

Classic Episode: How Do I Kick My Scrolling Habit? | Monday Advice
Q: What do you think of Neil Postman's Amusing Ourselves To Death and its relation to techno-criticism?
Postman's ideas about how media shapes thinking are foundational; I emphasize Technopoly as a more comprehensive framework and relate it to digital minimalism's critique of how screens shape cognition.
Classic Episode: How Do I Learn Hard Things? | Monday Advice
Q: What should a student do to study effectively without relying on productivity apps?
Understand incentive structures, read quality books on study habits, and practice with a systematic approach rather than chasing flashy tools; use books as the primary source of reliable guidance.
Classic Episode: How Do I Learn Hard Things? | Monday Advice
Q: How can someone balance multiple hobbies with core life routines?
Time-block and autopilot schedule hobbies, assess sustainability, and slow down when needed to maintain long-term engagement without burnout.
Classic Episode: How Do I Learn Hard Things? | Monday Advice
Q: What is the best way to learn hard things given limited time?
Focus on time investment and deliberate practice, break learning into small, successive steps, and seek expert guidance to design tractable progress paths.
Should I Turn Off the Internet? (Lessons From a Family That Did) | Monday Advice
Q: What lessons can listeners take away about adopting a similar lifestyle?
The guest urges creating a Sabbath space, building 20th-century systems (like landlines and paper phone books), and preparing the home for offline life to make the transition feasible and sustainable.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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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. The Tim Ferriss Show
2. excellence, actually
3. Best Laid Plans
4. The Rich Roll Podcast
5. Huberman Lab

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

Deep Questions with Cal Newport launched 6 years ago and published 450 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. Chris Moody
2. Kostadin Kuchlev
3. Jenny Wright
4. Laura Vanderkam
5. Anna Lembke
6. David Epstein
7. Jensen Wong
8. Ed Zitron

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