Deep Questions with Cal Newport

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://bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

(0:00) How Do I Escape the “Busyness Singularity”? 

(29:03) Reaction to Cal’s newsletter about LLMs

(33:35) Slow productivity for managers

(37:26) Efforts to improve cognitive fitness

(40:28) What Cal is reading

(42:21) What Cal is up to

Books:

In Defense of Food (Michael Pollan)

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.economist.com/leaders/2026/05/14/prepare-for-an-ai-jobs-apocalypse

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/21/technology/newsom-ai-executive-order-california.html

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/work-trend-index/breaking-down-infinite-workday

https://www.axios.com/2023/02/15/burnout-2022-2023-slack-remote-work-future-forum

https://calnewport.com/on-god-and-llms/ 

Thanks to our Sponsors: 

https://www.shopify.com/deep

https://www.larridin.com

https://www.masterclass.com/deep

https://www.expressvpn.com/deep

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

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 book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow 

https://openai.com/index/model-disproves-discrete-geometry-conjecture/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br4l9YjCyRU

https://x.com/PeterDiamandis/status/2058956956077871275

https://cdn.openai.com/pdf/74c24085-19b0-4534-9c90-465b8e29ad73/unit-distance-remarks.pdf

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

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! Send an email to [email protected].

 

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

 

(0:00) How do I reclaim my schedule? (w/ Laura Vanderkam)

(2:00) Eliminating distraction and prioritizing deep work

(1:08:18) Batching email responses

(1:13:25) Cal’s upcoming books

(1:18:51) What Cal is reading

(1:24:06) HQ update

 

Books:

 

Grow Healthier as You Grow Older (Kenneth Cooper)

The Ride of a Lifetime (Bob Iger)

MurderBot (Martha Wells)

 

Links:

Sign up for Cal’s newsletter at www.calnewport.com/ideas

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://www.calderalab.com/deep

https://www.vanta.com/deepquestions

https://www.shipstation.com/deep

https://www.drinklmnt.com/deep

 

Thanks to Jesse Miller for mastering and production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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/4143101/pity-the-developers-who-resist-agentic-coding.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQSNhk5ICTI

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

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 [email protected]. 

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

(0:00) Am I addicted to my phone (w/ Anna Lembke)

(1:04:41) Digital minimalism and good uses for your phone

(1:14:31)  AI in academic publishing

(1:20:35) What I read

(1:24:10) What’s coming up

Books:

What to Make of a Life: Cliffs, Fog, Fire and the Self-Knowldge (Jim Collins)

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://internetaddictsanonymous.org/guide-for-newcomers/

Thanks to our Sponsors: 

https://www.shopify.com/deep

https://www.monarch.com/deep (Use code “DEEP”)

https://www.expressvpn.com/deep

https://www.cozyearth.com/deep (Use code “DEEP” for 30% off)

Thanks to Jesse Miller for mastering and production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices