Deep Questions with Cal Newport artwork

Technology · Cal Newport

Deep Questions with Cal Newport

by Cal Newport

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.

Chart trend

Position in the Technology chart (US), last 90 days.

#6
all-time peak
5
days in the top 10 since Nov 2024

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

Did OpenAI Create “Secret AI Civilizations”? | Tech Decoded

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

Sep 3
26 min

Rethinking the Deep Life Stack (Again!) | Monday Advice

Back in 2023, Cal released an episode on a lifestyle design strategy I called the Deep Life Stack. Today, almost three years later, Cal revisits this idea and replaces it

Aug 31
1 h 20 min

Has AI “Gone Rogue”? Let’s Look Closer… | Tech Decoded

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 Su

Aug 27
35 min

How to Build a Cognitive Training Plan | Monday Advice

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 collecti

Aug 24
1 h 02 min

Classic Episode: How Do I Kick My Scrolling Habit? | Monday Advice

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 epi

Aug 17
57 min

How Do I Finish Meaningful Projects? | Monday Advice

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

Aug 10
1 h 04 min

Does OpenAI’s Astra Mean AGI Has Arrived? | AI Reality Check

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) W

Aug 6
29 min

Classic Episode: How Do I Learn Hard Things? | Monday Advice

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

Aug 3
1 h 15 min

Did OpenAI’s Model “Go Rogue”? | AI Reality Check

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 implicati

Jul 30
33 min

Why Do Digital Detoxes Fail? What Works Better? | Monday Advice

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 th

Jul 27
1 h 10 min

Am I Optimizing Too Much? | Monday Advice

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

Jul 20
1 h 18 min

Does Claude Have Private Thoughts? (Everyone Settle Down) | AI Reality Check

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

Jul 16
31 min

Should I Use Notebooks More Often? (Cal’s Strategy) | Monday Advice

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 unuse

Jul 13
1 h 04 min

Do Managers Actually Understand AI? (I’m Not So Sure.) | AI Reality Check

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 #

Jul 9
19 min

Should I Turn Off the Internet? (Lessons From a Family That Did) | Monday Advice

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, introspectio

Jul 6
1 h 05 min

Can I Be a Digital Minimalist in 2026? | Monday Advice

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

Jun 29
56 min

Dear AI Companies: Stop the “Doom Trolling” | AI Reality Check

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 Yo

Jun 25
22 min

Am I Lazy or Overstimulated? | Monday Advice

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

Jun 22
55 min

Was the Mythos Ban Justified? (Good Idea. Bad Execution.) | AI Reality Check

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 act

Jun 17
29 min

Do I Need a “Brain Gym”? | Monday Advice

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 equall

Jun 15
1 h 00 min

Chart positions

Where Deep Questions with Cal Newport ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 5, 2026).

#25 ▼ 2 Technology US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

Deep Questions is the ONLY podcast i listen to religiously. Cal’s wisdom has truly enriched my life in a deep way. I’m forever grateful🙏🏼

D. Wanja · Dec 2024

Great advice not only for a more productive and sustainable work life - but also for a deeper life outside work. Love Cal’s books and podcast.

growingthevalleypodcast · Dec 2024

I am only 15, but I feel like my life has already changed. This man, Dr. Newport, has pretty much devoted his adult life to helping others see life as something to be used and cherished, and it’s invaluable, from his books about Deep Work and Digital Minimalism (all of which I am reading) to his podcast and other media, it’s truly a gem. Thank you Mr. Newport, for turning my life around from a hyper-connected zombie to an enjoyer of God’s Creation.

Preston Krogman · Aug 2024

I’m pretty far from the typical white-collar knowledge worker whom Cal is usually addressing directly, but I’ve still derived immense benefit from this show. Together with his new book Slow Productivity, it’s the best thing to happen for my time prioritization struggles since first reading Stephen Covey.

This name req is silly · Aug 2024

This is a great podcast, one I really enjoy listening to when the questions align with problems I’m facing. I also like hearing about how Cal’s thinking changes as he writes his next book. However, I’ll likely drop the podcast if the feed continues to include “You Might Also Like” podcasts. I subscribe to you for your content, not other people’s. I can easily delete it, but I shouldn’t have to.

wesbaker · Apr 2025

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