Deep Questions with Cal Newport Podcast By Cal Newport cover art

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

    Did OpenAI’s Model “Go Rogue”? | AI Reality Check
    Jul 30 2026
    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 this story? Links: Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow https://huggingface.co/blog/security-incident-july-2026 https://openai.com/index/hugging-face-model-evaluation-security-incident/ https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/openai-models-escaped-and-hacked-a-company-in-cybersecurity-test-gone-wrong-ee388506 https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5987397-openai-hugging-face-hack/ https://apnews.com/article/skynet-ai-terminator-artificial-intelligence-eb85da03a0161beaa5f3babc4331e93b https://www.ft.com/content/7e558951-0c69-459b-8bc8-2c6021d4402d?syn-25a6b1a6=1 https://federalnewsnetwork.com/all-news/2011/08/dhs-anonymous-used-rudimentary-tools-to-hack-contractor/ 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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    34 mins
  • Why Do Digital Detoxes Fail? What Works Better? | Monday Advice

    Why Do Digital Detoxes Fail? What Works Better? | Monday Advice
    Jul 27 2026
    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: youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) Why do digital detoxes fail? (28:28) An article on the phone algorithm addiction (35:13) Follow up on the Brad Stulberg interview (40:21) A policy article on digital addiction (52:34) Deep work in the age of AI (57:46) What Cal is up to 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.nytimes.com/2018/02/04/us/politics/online-addictions-cut-back-screen-time.html https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/14/opinion/culture/phone-algorithm-addiction.html https://www.splunk.com/en_us/blog/learn/goodharts-law.html https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/digital-addiction-public-health-problem-public-health-law-solution Thanks to our Sponsors: https://www.masterclass.com/deep https://www.gusto.com/deep https://www.expressvpn.com/deep https://www.vanta.com/deepquestions 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 11 mins
  • Am I Optimizing Too Much? | Monday Advice

    Am I Optimizing Too Much? | Monday Advice
    Jul 20 2026
    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, “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? Thanks to our Sponsors: https://wealthfront.com/deep https://calderalab.com/deep https://cozyearth.com (Use code “DEEP”) Cal Newport is not a Wealthfront client. Wealthfront’s high-yield cash account: ⁠https://www.wealthfront.com/deep⁠. This experience may not be representative of other Wealthfront clients, and there is no guarantee of future performance or success. Experiences will vary. Cal Newport receives cash compensation from Wealthfront Brokerage for paid endorsement in his podcast, creating a conflict of interest. The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The base APY is 3.30% on cash deposits as of January 30, 2026, is representative, subject to change, and requires no minimum. If eligible for the overall boosted rate of 4.05% offered in connection with this promo, your boosted rate is also subject to change if the base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period. Additional terms and conditions apply, which can be found on ⁠wealthfront.com/deep⁠. Funds in the Cash Account are swept to program banks, where it earns the variable APY. Investment advisory services are provided by Wealthfront Advisers LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Securities investments: not bank deposits, bank-guaranteed or FDIC-insured, and may lose value. 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 19 mins
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