~ cueing up the show ~
~ pulling every episode ~
Deep Questions with Cal Newport — Every episode — OmList
om
list
Swipe
Tournament
Lists
Friends
All
Movies
TV
Books
Games
Music
Podcasts
People
▾
Sign in
Every episode
Deep Questions with Cal Newport
30 episodes
Classic Episode: How Do I Kick My Scrolling Habit? | Monday Advice
Aug 17, 2026 · 58 min
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 “high quality leisure toolkit” – for rebuilding your life around more meaningful activities. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3…
How Do I Finish Meaningful Projects? | Monday Advice
Aug 10, 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
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 meaningful our lives might feel. In this episode, Cal looks back to a classic article he wrote nearly twenty years ago to both better understand why this problem is getting worse and how we can solve it. Below are the questions covered in today's epi…
Does OpenAI’s Astra Mean AGI Has Arrived? | AI Reality Check
Aug 6, 2026 · 30 min
Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News. Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) Does Open AI’s Astra mean AGI has arrived? (3:07) What actually happened? (11:35) What does this mean for mathematics? (21:35) What does this mean for OpenAI? Links: Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow https://x.com/polynoamial/status/2083467194663571701 https://x.com/deanwball/status/2083545756003176724?s=61 https://x.com/kevinroose/st…
Classic Episode: How Do I Learn Hard Things? | Monday Advice
Aug 3, 2026 · 1 hr 16 min
In this replay of a classic episode from January 1st, 2024, Cal walks through the process of learning hard things. The good news is that most people can learn most things. The bad news is that learning is harder than we think. This advice has never been more relevant for those looking to move past the easy dopamine hits offered by their devices and find something deeper. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! H…
Did OpenAI’s Model “Go Rogue”? | AI Reality Check
Jul 30, 2026 · 34 min
Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News. Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) Did OpenAI’s model “go rogue” (11:29) The implications (11:42) Did this attack reveal surprising new capabilities we didn’t know AI systems possessed? (12:48) Did the system’s decision to escape the test environment and autonomously attack another company indicate an emerging malicious intent in AI? (16:28) What changed led to this attack occurring? (27:32) Who should care about th…
Why Do Digital Detoxes Fail? What Works Better? | Monday Advice
Jul 27, 2026 · 1 hr 11 min
Why do digital detoxes fail to create lasting change? What works better? To answer these questions, Cal draws from the book “A Brief History of Intelligence” to reveal the relevant neuroscience at play, and then use this understanding to figure out a better method for improving your relationship with your devices. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo Video from today’s episode: …
Am I Optimizing Too Much? | Monday Advice
Jul 20, 2026 · 1 hr 19 min
Cal Newport talks with Brad Stulberg to explain the optimization paradox in Episode 414 of the Deep Questions podcast. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) The Optimization Paradox (2:12) Interview with Brad Stulberg (35:12) Health optimization (1:09:16) Tail end development Links: Buy Cal’s latest book, “Sl…
Does Claude Have Private Thoughts? (Everyone Settle Down) | AI Reality Check
Jul 16, 2026 · 32 min
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 (13:50) What the Anthropic paper found (20:39) Why this is interesting research (26:28) Conclusion on consciousness Links: Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow https://www.anthropic.com/research/global-workspace https:/…
Should I Use Notebooks More Often? (Cal’s Strategy) | Monday Advice
Jul 13, 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
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 instead *how* you use them. In this episode, Cal walks through the four different notebooks he owns, and the four different ways he uses them. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal…
Do Managers Actually Understand AI? (I’m Not So Sure.) | AI Reality Check
Jul 9, 2026 · 20 min
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 journalists Links: Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/02/world/europe/germany-sap-ai-jobs-skilled-workers.html https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/nvidia-ceo-begs-execs-stop-fire…
Should I Turn Off the Internet? (Lessons From a Family That Did) | Monday Advice
Jul 6, 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
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? In this episode, Cal seeks answers to these questions by talking to Chris Moody, a journalism professor at Appalachian State, who lives with his wife and young son in a cabin with no internet, television, or cellular signal. Below are the questions c…
Can I Be a Digital Minimalist in 2026? | Monday Advice
Jun 29, 2026 · 60 min
Back in 2019, Cal published one of the first books arguing that we rethink our personal relationship with online tools. Can his advice still work in an age of TikTok and ChatGPT? In today’s episode, Cal dives deep into the r/DigitalMinimalism sub-reddit to see what advice contemporary digital minimalists are following and offers his own thoughts and recommendations. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s…
Dear AI Companies: Stop the “Doom Trolling” | AI Reality Check
Jun 25, 2026 · 22 min
Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News. Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) Stop the “doom trolling” (6:53) Cal’s recent New York Times article (9:00) Cal’s argument (10:16) The 2nd option (12:54) Conclusion (15:58) Stop playing along with Doom Trolling game (20:09) Use the term “doom trolling” Links: Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/17/opinion/ai-dangerous-openai-anthropic.html https://w…
Am I Lazy or Overstimulated? | Monday Advice
Jun 22, 2026 · 58 min
Cal Newport explains about if you're lazy or overstimulated in episode 410 of the Deep Questions podcast. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) Am I lazy or overstimulated? (28:29) A reaction to Cal’s recent New Yorker article (38:23) Positive lessons from box offices successes of Gen Z films (46:24) An old school tool fo…
Was the Mythos Ban Justified? (Good Idea. Bad Execution.) | AI Reality Check
Jun 17, 2026 · 29 min
Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News. Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) Was the Mythos ban justified? (5:32) Is Fable 5 actually dangerous? (11:03) Is Fable 5 without guardrails actually a unique national security concern? (15:13) Should the government be more involved with AI? Links: Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow https://www.anthropic.com/glasswing https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/09/technology/anthropic-ai-claud…
Do I Need a “Brain Gym”? | Monday Advice
Jun 15, 2026 · 1 hr
In the 1960s, doctors avoided people to avoid exercise. Then everything changed. Now physical fitness is a $100 billion industry. What would it look like if we got equally as serious about cognitive fitness? In this episode, Cal explores three tiers of cognitive fitness advice, ordered from least to most intense. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo Video from today’s episode: youtu…
Are We About to Lose Control of AI? | AI Reality Check
Jun 11, 2026 · 21 min
Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News. Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) Are we about to lose control of AI? (3:04) How much should we be afraid of recursive self improvement? (7:52) Are these fears justified? (9:36) Faster software development doesn’t equal smarter AI (12:25) These tools are completely controllable (16:52) Taking a step back Links: Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow https://www.anthropic.com/institute…
Should I Press Pause? | Monday Advice
Jun 8, 2026 · 30 min
Sometimes the best way to get unstuck is to press pause on your busy life and take a moment to look toward new possibilities. But how is this possible if you can’t afford to literally stop everything and get away? In this episode, Cal explores different strategies for taking what he calls “mini-pauses” that can be integrated into even the most unforgiving of schedules. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link:…
How Do I Escape the “Busyness Singularity”? | Monday Advice
Jun 1, 2026 · 45 min
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 pseudo-productivity to an absurd degree. He then shares five ideas for avoiding this fate in your own professional life. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https…
Did AI Just “Solve” Math? (Let’s Take a Closer Look) | AI Reality Check
May 28, 2026 · 32 min
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 this mean LLMs are now smarter than human mathematicians? (17:50) Question #3 - Does this mean all equally hard challenges will now be conquered by AI? (23:27) Question #4 - What is the future of math? (28:27) Concluding thoughts Links: Buy Cal’s latest boo…
How Do I Reclaim My Schedule? (w/ Laura Vanderkam) | Monday Advice
May 25, 2026 · 1 hr 24 min
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 book, BIG TIME, which argues that with the right tweaks and mindset you might be able to start getting more out of your life right away. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! S…
Has AI Conquered Coding? (It’s Not So Simple…) | AI Reality Check
May 21, 2026 · 13 min
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 #3 (7:39) Point #4 (8:35) Solution Links: Sign up for Cal’s newsletter at www.calnewport.com/ideas Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow https://larsfaye.com/articles/agentic-coding-is-a-trap https://www.infoworld.com/article…
Am I Addicted to My Phone? (w/ Anna Lembke) | Monday Advice
May 18, 2026 · 1 hr 29 min
Many of us ask the question if phone addiction is similar to other addictions. In this episode, Cal is joined by the #1 New York Times bestselling author Anna Lembke to explore this question. They dive deep into her book, Dopamine Nation, that captivated readers. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Send an email to podcast@calnewport.com. Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) Am I addicted to my…
Is AI About to “Eat Everything”? | AI Reality Check
May 14, 2026 · 32 min
Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News. Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) Is AI about to “eat everything”? (2:53) What does the METR chart measure? (8:08) What do these measurements actually capture? (12:31-) How are the models getting better? (21:26) Does this mean AI is about to “eat everything”? (26:16) So, what’s with all of these hysterical tweets? Links: Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow https://metr.org/time-hor…
Do I Need a Digital Intervention? | Monday Advice
May 11, 2026 · 41 min
A new research study reveals that a surprisingly simple intervention into your digital life can yield massive benefits in only two weeks. In this episode, Cal takes a deep dive into this paper, detailing: the intervention, why it works, and tips for increasing your chances of success. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00)…
Is the AI Doom Fever Breaking? | AI Reality Check
May 7, 2026 · 27 min
Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News. Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) Is the AI doom fever breaking? (4:30) Have the AI CEOs changed their tuen? (7:23) Why did they change? (11:21) Why did they ever think this was a good idea? (24:26) Conclusion Links: Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFnoQkYUqgU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWxHOrn8-rs https://x.com/sama/status/20502290584250451…
Why Do Better Tools Make Me Worse at My Job? (w/ David Epstein) | Monday Advice
May 4, 2026 · 1 hr 23 min
What can an obscure theory of industrial productivity teach us about producing better results in a distracted world? In this episode, Cal is joined by the #1 New York Times bestselling author David Epstein to explore this question. They dive deep into a chapter of Epstein’s new book, INSIDE THE BOX, that makes a surprising connection between the so-called “Theory of Constraints” and personal productivity. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questi…
Is AI About to Automate Every Office Job? | AI Reality Check
Apr 30, 2026 · 33 min
Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News. Video from today’s episode also at: youtube.com/calnewportmedia 0:00 Is AI About to Automate Every Office Job? 3:02 Other Tech Leaders Don’t Agree 5:49 -We Aren’t Seeing Enough Progress 14:09 -LLMS Are Limited 24:19 Conclusion Links: Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow https://www.reddit.com/r/AI4tech/comments/1r4tukp/microsoft_ai_ceo_mustafa_suleyman_says_most_if/ https://x.com/TheChiefNerd/status/20459472865…
How Do I Build “Cognitive Fitness”? | Monday Advice
Apr 27, 2026 · 54 min
In his recent New York Times essay, Cal argued for a “cognitive fitness” revolution to resist the onslaught of digital tools degrading our ability to think. But how does one actually strengthen their brain? In this episode, Cal details a sustainable cognitive fitness routine built around five key components. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Send an email to podcast@calnewport.com. Video from today’s episode: youtube.c…
Is AI Trending Up or Down in 2026? | AI Reality Check
Apr 23, 2026 · 1 hr 13 min
Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News. Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia 0:00 What has *Actually* Happened in AI in 2026? 3:07 Open Claw 27:53 Anthropic and the Department of War 49:06 Data Centers Links: Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow https://www.axios.com/2026/01/31/ai-moltbook-human-need-tech https://www.macstories.net/stories/clawdbot-showed-me-what-the-future-of-personal-ai-assistants-looks-like/ https://www.anthropi…
← Back to the show
