Ep. 362: The Texting Dilemma

Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Cal Newport

Technology, Self-improvement, Education

4.8 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 21 July 2025

⏱️ 71 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

When we think about unhealthy phone usage, we think about the flashing apps, like TikTok and Instagram, in which billions of dollars have been spent to grab our attention. In this episode, Cal points to an unassuming culprit that may be just as responsible: simple messaging apps. He explores research that connects the social stress of pending messages to phone addiction, and explores ways to free yourself from constant messaging without having to isolate yourself socially. He then answers listener questions and discusses what he’s been reading.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	I'm Cal Newport, and this is Deep Questions, the show about cultivating a deep life in a distracted world.
0:21.0	Once again, I'm recording from an undisclosed location up north, but Jesse, my producer,
0:26.8	is joining me from the Deep Work HQ.
0:30.6	Jesse, there has been some requests for an update on my writing up here, so I'll give it to
0:35.0	you.
0:36.0	Last week, we started the episode with me saying I had just thrown out,
0:40.7	it was like two or three days worth of work.
0:42.6	Yeah.
0:42.8	Something like that.
0:43.5	Yeah.
0:44.2	All right.
0:44.5	I was working on a chapter.
0:45.8	I thought I had cracked it.
0:47.4	I spent two days actually executing my thoughts.
0:49.5	And then threw it all out moments before we started recording last week.
0:55.7	Now I'm happy to report.
0:57.3	I have finished that chapter.
0:58.9	It worked.
1:00.6	It's polished and it's submitted.
1:03.0	So, you know, it took another five days, but I got it done.
1:06.6	Now I'm working on the next chapter.
1:08.3	So today, again, to give some insight on what's going on, I thought I knew. I was like, okay, I know how this chapter starts. Like the first third I get, the second two thirds, there's some, it's going to take a little bit more research. But let me just write the first third. That was my idea. So I went to a place to write this morning, not to give away too much information
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Cal Newport, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Cal Newport and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.