Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Ep. 372: Decoding TikTok’s AlgorithmLast week, it was announced that Oracle would take over operation of TikTok in the US. One of the primary reasons proposed for this deal is that it was in national interests for us to take over control of TikTok’s fabled “algorithm.” But what is this algorithm? How does it work? To what extent can it be controlled? In today’s episode, Cal looks deeper at these questions and arrives at a broader philosophical point about the role these services, in general, should play in our civic culture. He then answers listener questions on the same topic and reacts to the three recent news articles about TikTok’s influence on our culture. 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: Decoding TikTok’s Algorithm [0:03] • Should I quit social media, even if I don’t live on the slope of terribleness? [44:44] • Is it bad to use TikTok to keep up with the news? [49:41] • How does quantum computing relate to AI? [53:48] CASE STUDY: Trying to become a great composer [1:02:29] CALL: Tips for dealing with growing kids [1:08:58] CAL REACTS: Three Articles about TikTok (and Three Sighs of Exasperation) [1:18:04] 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? the-independent.com/news/world/americas/crime/tiktok-surfing-challenge-manslaughter-b2832760.html yahoo.com/news/world/article/why-people-on-tiktok-think-the-rapture-is-coming-and-that-the-world-is-ending-this-week-202334215.html bbc.com/news/articles/c4gj5lqq52lo youtube.com/watch?v=z7Df9yGofLo youtube.com/shorts/xWIVA0ZJm-w Thanks to our Sponsors: monarchmoney.com (Use code “DEEP”) reclaim.ai/cal wayfair.com makeheadway.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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Ep. 365: What Technology Wants (and How to Push Back)Why do we end up entangled with tools that don’t have our best interests in mind? How can we fix this situation? In this episode, Cal dives deep into the difference between additive and extractive technologies, telling a story that weaves old technology with old versions of modern tools, testimony from recent trials to ideas from leading technology critics – all in the service of improving your relationship with tools. He then answers listener questions and discusses the books he read in July, 2025. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia Deep Dive: What Technology Wants (and How to Push Back) [:54] - Do project trackers work? [34:54] - Is there a downside scenario to engineering wonder? [39:14] - What types of people should I surround myself with? [43:00] - Can you explain your different audiences? [45:02] CALL: Shifting from medical work to a PhD [50:41] JULY BOOKS: The 5 Books that Cal Read in July, 2025 [57:33] L.A. Story (Bill Plunkett) Disney’s Land (Richard Snow) Ingenious (Richard Munson) Original Sin (Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson) Wool (Hugh Howey) Links: Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow 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://substack.com/@priscillaharvey1/note/c-133662492 https://www.yahoo.com/news/zuckerberg-tells-court-facebook-no-171222971.html https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/mark-zuckerberg-is-so-over-facebook-friends?srsltid=AfmBOoo4dysXG_2rXWDJaKnSdG6CfbCqf0O_8op_R1phpz5GQPx2F4XA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7jar4KgKxs https://pluralistic.net/2022/11/28/enshittification/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ai-fC-2Bpo https://www.emarketer.com/content/openai-hires-its-first-cmo-kate-rouch-foreshadowing-ads https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfUpEWAKPf8&t=2350s Thanks to our Sponsors: https://www.expressvpn.com/deep https://www.oracle.com/deepquestions https://www.indeed.com/deep https://www.calderalab.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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