Cal Newport discusses what really happens when you ditch your smartphone, and he assesses the internet's latest self-help sensation in episode 390 of the Deep Questions podcast. Buy Cal Newport's latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow Everyone knows that excessive smartphone use can be harmful. But the question we don’t ask enough is what the advantages are of *not* using these devices. In the ideas segment, Cal examines the testimonials of four subjects who spent significant time without phones, to learn what they actually experience. Then, in the practices segment, he dissects the latest viral online self-help sensation to see if it holds up or is just fluff. Finally, in the Q&A segment he tackles a surprising (and distressing) way in which technology plays a role in the violent ICE raids happening in Minnesota. Download my FREE Deep Life Guide HERE: https://bit.ly/3QBIcug Listen to Episode Here: https://www.thedeeplife.com/listen/ Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo January Book: The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney (Michael Barrier) Links: 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.youtube.com/watch?v=kzXOyW8Zumg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh5CYvi5E40 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-Iewo7zUFo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FI1gP_K5K0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FshYuO6Opwk https://x.com/thedankoe/status/2010751592346030461 https://prospect.org/2026/01/27/ice-greg-bovino-minneapolis-one-battle-after-another-sean-penn/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elF0YmsCHvQ Thanks to our Sponsors: This episode is sponsored by Better Help: https://www.betterhelp.com/deepquestion https://www.rag-bone.com (Use code “DEEP”) https://www.calderalab.com/deep https://www.shopify.com/deep 0:00 What happens when you ditch your smartphone 3:07 Ideas segment 31:53 Assessing the Internet’s Latest Self-Help Sensation 53:17 What do the ICE raids in Minnesota teach us about technology and its impacts on our society? 1:08:17 Cal gives his weekly reading update Connect with Cal Newport: 🔴Visit Cal's BLOG and website: https://calnewport.com/blog/ 🔴Check out Cal's books: https://calnewport.com/writing/ 🔴Check out The Deep Life: https://thedeeplife.com About Cal Newport: Cal Newport is a computer science professor at Georgetown University. In addition to his academic research, he writes about the intersection of digital technology and culture. Cal's particularly interested in our struggle to deploy these tools in ways that support instead of subvert the things we care about in both our personal and professional lives. Cal is a New York Times bestselling author of seven books, including, most recently, A World Without Email, Digital Minimalism, and Deep Work. He's also the creator of The Time-Block Planner. The videos are considered to be used under the "Fair Use Doctrine" of United States Copyright Law, Title 17 U.S. Code Sections 107-118. Videos are used for editorial and educational purposes only and I do not claim ownership of any original video content. I don't use said video clips in advertisements, marketing or for direct financial gain. All video content in each clip is considered owned by the individual broadcast companies. #CalNewport #DeepWork #DeepLife #DeepQuestions #TimeblockPlanner #WorldWithoutEmail #DeepQuestionsPodcast