Ep. 396: Can I Learn To Love My Phone Again? episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 16, 2026 · 56 MIN

Ep. 396: Can I Learn To Love My Phone Again?

from Deep Questions with Cal Newport · host Cal Newport

Remember how much we loved our iPhones when they first came out? Can we get back to that relationship with these devices? In this episode, Cal explores five pieces of advice for transforming your current phone back to something that’s less distracting, more useful, and fun once again – a goal he calls “2007 mode.” 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: Can I learn to love my phone again? [3:31] INBOX:  A new study on brain fry [30:29] Use of phones in The Pitt [38:58] 17th Century scholar dealing with overload [42:05] WHAT CAL IS UP TO: What I’m trying [43:57] What Cal read [48:45] What Cal watched [49:44] Movies: Secret Agent 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?youtube.com/watch?v=x7qPAY9JqE4youtube.com/watch?v=mJ4lsi2RtaIyoutube.com/watch?v=ENUO7dbZ-TYyoutube.com/watch?v=7jVb1lLniEwyoutube.com/watch?v=aC0JKAN5xVIhbr.org/2026/03/when-using-ai-leads-to-brain-fryinstagram.com/reel/DUxCG_BDvWX/?igsh=a3pyZXNlNTZvdDVp Thanks to our Sponsors:  butcherbox.com/deepvanta.com/deepquestions1password.com/deepshopify.com/deep Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Remember how much we loved our iPhones when they first came out? Can we get back to that relationship with these devices? In this episode, Cal explores five pieces of advice for transforming your current phone back to something that’s less distracting, more useful, and fun once again – a goal he calls “2007 mode.” 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: Can I learn to love my phone again? [3:31] INBOX:  A new study on brain fry [30:29] Use of phones in The Pitt [38:58] 17th Century scholar dealing with overload [42:05] WHAT CAL IS UP TO: What I’m trying [43:57] What Cal read [48:45] What Cal watched [49:44] Movies: Secret Agent 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?youtube.com/watch?v=x7qPAY9JqE4youtube.com/watch?v=mJ4lsi2RtaIyoutube.com/watch?v=ENUO7dbZ-TYyoutube.com/watch?v=7jVb1lLniEwyoutube.com/watch?v=aC0JKAN5xVIhbr.org/2026/03/when-using-ai-leads-to-brain-fryinstagram.com/reel/DUxCG_BDvWX/?igsh=a3pyZXNlNTZvdDVp Thanks to our Sponsors:  butcherbox.com/deepvanta.com/deepquestions1password.com/deepshopify.com/deep Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Ep. 396: Can I Learn To Love My Phone Again?

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This episode was published on March 16, 2026.

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Remember how much we loved our iPhones when they first came out? Can we get back to that relationship with these devices? In this episode, Cal explores five pieces of advice for transforming your current phone back to something that’s less...

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