Ep. 390: What Happens When You Ditch Your Smartphone? + Assessing the Internet’s Latest Self-Help Sensation
Mon Feb 02 2026
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.
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
IDEAS SEGMENT: What (Really) Happens When You Ditch Your Smartphone? [3:07]
PRACTICES SEGMENT: Assessing the Internet’s Latest Self-Help Sensation [31:53]
QUESTIONS:
What do the ICE raids in Minnesota teach us about technology and its impacts on our society? [53:17]WHAT CAL’S READING: Cal gives his weekly reading update [1:08:17]
The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney (Michael Barrier)
Links:
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at [calnewport.com/slow](https://www.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?
youtube.com/watch?v=kzXOyW8Zumg
youtube.com/watch?v=gh5CYvi5E40
youtube.com/watch?v=C-Iewo7zUFo
youtube.com/watch?v=5FI1gP_K5K0
youtube.com/watch?v=FshYuO6Opwk
x.com/thedankoe/status/2010751592346030461
prospect.org/2026/01/27/ice-greg-bovino-minneapolis-one-battle-after-another-sean-penn/
youtube.com/watch?v=elF0YmsCHvQ
Thanks to our Sponsors:
This episode is sponsored by Better Help:
betterhelp.com/deepquestion
rag-bone.com (Use code “DEEP”)
calderalab.com/deep
shopify.com/deep
Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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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. 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 IDEAS SEGMENT: What (Really) Happens When You Ditch Your Smartphone? [3:07] PRACTICES SEGMENT: Assessing the Internet’s Latest Self-Help Sensation [31:53] QUESTIONS: What do the ICE raids in Minnesota teach us about technology and its impacts on our society? [53:17]WHAT CAL’S READING: Cal gives his weekly reading update [1:08:17] The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney (Michael Barrier) Links: Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at [calnewport.com/slow](https://www.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? youtube.com/watch?v=kzXOyW8Zumg youtube.com/watch?v=gh5CYvi5E40 youtube.com/watch?v=C-Iewo7zUFo youtube.com/watch?v=5FI1gP_K5K0 youtube.com/watch?v=FshYuO6Opwk x.com/thedankoe/status/2010751592346030461 prospect.org/2026/01/27/ice-greg-bovino-minneapolis-one-battle-after-another-sean-penn/ youtube.com/watch?v=elF0YmsCHvQ Thanks to our Sponsors: This episode is sponsored by Better Help: betterhelp.com/deepquestion rag-bone.com (Use code “DEEP”) calderalab.com/deep shopify.com/deep Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.