Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Ep. 336: On Screens and Solitude


Listen Later

In a recent article for The Atlantic, Derek Thompson writes about the troubling trends toward increased solitude. In this episode, Cal looks at the role technology plays in these trends, pointing out some surprising factors and then using these insights to come up with a practical plan for reconnecting with the world. He then answers listener questions and concludes with a tech corner segment inspired by yet another New Yorker column.


 

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo


 

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


 

Deep Dive: On Screens and Solitude [3:09]


 

- How can I study at night after my doctor work? [26:49]

- Can you comment on Leopold Aschenbrenner’s Situational Awareness essay? [36:45]

- How do I successfully pursue my non-work values? [51:33]

- How can I become a better writer? [1:00:56]

- Can someone break into the top 0.1% of their respective field without periods of unsustainable and obsessive work? [1:02:44]

- CALL: Managing active projects [1:08:42]


 

CASE STUDY: A follow-up from Episode 323 [1:13:02]


 

CAL REACTS: An Offline Person Tries TikTok for the First Time [1:19:34]


 

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

axios.com/2024/06/23/leopold-aschenbrenner-ai-future-silicon-valley

theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/02/american-loneliness-personality-politics/681091/

  • newyorker.com/culture/infinite-scroll/what-happened-when-an-extremely-offline-person-tried-tiktok


 

Thanks to our Sponsors:


 

upliftdesk.com/deep

landrover.com/usa

expressvpn.com/deep

shopify.com/deep


 

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Deep Questions with Cal NewportBy Cal Newport

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

1,223 ratings


More shows like Deep Questions with Cal Newport

View all
The Art of Manliness by The Art of Manliness

The Art of Manliness

14,230 Listeners

The Rich Roll Podcast by Rich Roll

The Rich Roll Podcast

11,813 Listeners

The Productivity Show by Asian Efficiency

The Productivity Show

508 Listeners

Getting Things Done by GTD®

Getting Things Done

455 Listeners

The Kevin Rose Show by Kevin Rose

The Kevin Rose Show

1,871 Listeners

Focused by Relay

Focused

119 Listeners

Best of Both Worlds Podcast by iHeartPodcasts

Best of Both Worlds Podcast

755 Listeners

Akimbo: A Podcast from Seth Godin by Seth Godin

Akimbo: A Podcast from Seth Godin

1,758 Listeners

Worklife with Adam Grant by TED

Worklife with Adam Grant

9,233 Listeners

Modern Wisdom by Chris Williamson

Modern Wisdom

3,701 Listeners

The Daily Stoic by Daily Stoic | Wondery

The Daily Stoic

4,713 Listeners

The Greg McKeown Podcast by Greg McKeown

The Greg McKeown Podcast

971 Listeners

Best Laid Plans by Sarah Hart-Unger

Best Laid Plans

743 Listeners

Huberman Lab by Scicomm Media

Huberman Lab

28,250 Listeners

ReThinking by TED

ReThinking

610 Listeners