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Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Deep Questions with Cal Newport

By: Cal Newport
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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.© 2024 Deep Questions with Cal Newport Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • How Do I Finish Meaningful Projects? | Monday Advice

    How Do I Finish Meaningful Projects? | Monday Advice
    Aug 10 2026
    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 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) How do I finish meaningful projects? (39:36) A new study about children with cellphones having poorer reading comprehension (43:14) A nurse practitioner in search of deep work (45:45) Using AI to improve both your work and life (52:24) A recent Wall Street Journal article about AI and jobs (1:00:07) What Cal is up to July 2026 Books Orality and Literacy (Walter Ong) Lost (Rachel Harrington) Sapiens (Yuval Harari) More Everything Forever (Adam Becker) Disneyland the Rise of Automation (Roland Bethencourt) A Brief History of Intelligence (Max Bennett) Links: Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at https://peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/ Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba? https://www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/science-says-92-percent-of-people-dont-achieve-goals-heres-how-the-other-8-perce.html https://news.gallup.com/poll/711836/gen-zers-missing-sense-meaning-purpose-life.aspx https://calnewport.com/the-einstein-principle-accomplish-more-by-doing-less/ https://futureoftuesday.substack.com/p/techno-analog https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/owning-a-cell-phone-associated-with-poorer-reading-comprehension-schoolchildren https://www.wsj.com/business/big-companies-are-starting-to-hire-again-defying-predictions-of-ai-wipeout-f4974e99?mod=hp_lead_pos10 Thanks to our Sponsors: https://www.scribe.how/deep https://www.superhuman.com https://www.mybodytutor.com https://www.factormeals.com/deep50off Thanks to Jesse Miller for production and mastering, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Does OpenAI’s Astra Mean AGI Has Arrived? | AI Reality Check

    Does OpenAI’s Astra Mean AGI Has Arrived? | AI Reality Check
    Aug 6 2026
    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/status/2083632335438905441 https://x.com/mattshumer_/status/2083595078233202919 https://x.com/polynoamial/status/2083478171975082334 https://x.com/__alpoge__/status/2083898804563243033 https://x.com/polynoamial/status/2083476852216369294 https://x.com/thomasfbloom/status/2083444983592284465 Sponsor: https://www.donedaily.com Thanks to Jesse Miller for production and mastering and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    30 mins
  • Classic Episode: How Do I Learn Hard Things? | Monday Advice

    Classic Episode: How Do I Learn Hard Things? | Monday Advice
    Aug 3 2026
    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! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) Learning hard things (21:19) When it comes to taking notes, what really matters? (27:32) Can I fit all of my hobbies into my week? (31:12) Can YouTube teach me to be a better student? (37:37) How do I figure out what to learn next? (39:54) How do I learn something fast when I already have a busy schedule?- (46:24) CALL: How does “So Good They Can’t Ignore You” relate to “Slow Productivity”? (56:17) CASE STUDY: Slow Productivity affinity group (1:02:23) The 5 books Cal read in December 2023 Thanks to our Sponsors: https://www.monarch.com (Use code “DEEP”) https://www.calderalab.com/deep This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/deepquestions December 2023 Books: Home Economics (Wendell Berry) Panora’s Box (Peter Biskind) Where the Deer and the Antelope Play (Nick Offerman) Who Wrote the Bible (Richard Elliott Friedman) The Exodus (Richard Elliott Friedman) Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 16 mins
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