Episodes featuring Cal Newport
Browse episodes where Cal Newport appears as host or guest. View all episodes →
Cal Newport and David Epstein discuss Goldratt's theory of constraints and why speeding up the wrong parts of a workflow makes knowledge workers busier, not more productive.
Cal Newport explains why the claim that AI will automate all office jobs within 12 to 18 months is unrealistic, covering where AI models actually stand today and what they can genuinely do.
Cal Newport answers the question readers asked most about his New York Times op-ed: how to become more cognitively fit. He lays out a five-part brain fitness routine to push back against technology that erodes our...
Cal Newport and Ed Zitron look at three major AI stories from early 2026 to judge whether the year has been good or bad for the industry.
Cal Newport and Brad Stolberg talk about picking one hard, non-work activity and sticking with it to build resilience and reduce distraction.
Cal Newport reviews independent tests of Anthropic's Claude Mythos and argues its hacking abilities are a steady step forward, not the terrifying leap Anthropic's marketing and press coverage suggested.
Cal Newport talks with children's author Amy Timberlake about her switch to a vintage typewriter. He then argues that simpler slow technology can improve work, and critiques Yuval Noah Harari's AI fears.
Cal Newport looks at recent economist research and labor market data to test whether AI is actually taking entry-level jobs from college graduates, finding the popular narrative lacks evidence.
Cal Newport rereads his 2016 book Deep Work, which has sold over 2 million copies, and explains which of its four rules still hold in 2026 and what he would add, especially around AI and addictive social media.
Cal Newport breaks down why the viral claim that AI chatbots are 'scheming' is wrong, explaining how LLMs actually work and why they fail as autonomous agents.
Cal Newport and Arthur Brooks argue the real crisis isn't phone addiction but a loss of meaning, and discuss how to rebuild it through calling, relationships, and leisure.
Cal Newport argues that large language models may be a dead end, pointing to Yann LeCun's billion-dollar bet on a modular AI architecture as a potential alternative path forward.
Cal Newport explores why AI and tools like email leave workers busier but less productive, drawing on research from 164,000 workers.
Cal Newport examines three viral AI stories and argues that most sensational AI coverage creates vague unease rather than examining real technology or economics.
Cal Newport shares five steps to put your smartphone into 2007 mode, making it simpler and less addictive while keeping its useful features. He also covers AI brain fry and his new notebook and Halloween tech.
Cal Newport examines why recent AI economic doomsday articles rely on vague vibes and biased sources rather than evidence, and what economists actually think about AI job displacement.
Cal Newport talks with TK Coleman about taking a deliberate break from social media, using The Minimalists' nearly year-long pause as a case study in understanding what these platforms actually cost and provide.
Chris Williamson talks with Cal Newport about why modern work culture has shattered attention spans and what it actually takes to get deep focus back.
Cal Newport examines whether recent AI hype matches reality, looking at Block's layoffs, AI performance on college courses, and how programmers actually use agentic coding tools.
Cal Newport and Sarah Harter talk through how to build a personal planning system that gives you real control over your time and attention, not just more productivity.