Last month, the Atlantic reported that film students are now struggling to sit through entire films. In this episode, Cal argues that this is both an issue and an opportunity. The fact we can’t watch full movies indicates the impact of digital tools on our brains is worse than we assumed. But in this problem, we also find a solution: maybe teaching ourselves to become better movie watchers can be the first step to reclaiming our own minds. Cal then dissects a viral AI essay that seems to have everyone worried (spoiler: Cal’s not impressed), reads a reader note about social media and the Olympics, and gives an update on his next book project.
Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: <a href="https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo" rel="noopener noreferrer">bit.ly/3U3sTvo</a>
Video from today’s episode:  <a href="https://youtube.com/calnewportmedia" rel="noopener noreferrer">youtube.com/calnewportmedia</a>
IDEAS SEGMENT:  Can Movies Save Us From Our Phones? [2:36]
NEWS AND NOTES SEGMENT: 
Something Big is Happening [31:23]
Digital Minimalism and the Olympics [49:31]
WHAT CAL’S READING: Cal gives his weekly reading update [56:03]
Attensity
The Lost Island (Eilis Dillon)
Links:
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at <a href="https://www.calnewport.com/slow" rel="noopener noreferrer">calnewport.com/slow</a>
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at <a href="https://peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/" rel="noopener noreferrer">peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/</a>
Cal’s monthly book directory: <a href="https://bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?" rel="noopener noreferrer">bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?</a>
<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/01/college-students-movies-attention-span/685812/" rel="noopener noreferrer">theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/01/college-students-movies-attention-span/685812/</a>
<a href="https://fortune.com/2026/02/11/something-big-is-happening-ai-february-2020-moment-matt-shumer/" rel="noopener noreferrer">fortune.com/2026/02/11/something-big-is-happening-ai-february-2020-moment-matt-shumer/</a>
Thanks to our Sponsors: 
<a href="https://www.pipedrive.com/deep" rel="noopener noreferrer">pipedrive.com/deep</a>
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<a href="https://www.butcherbox.com/deep" rel="noopener noreferrer">butcherbox.com/deep</a>
<a href="https://www.grammarly.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">grammarly.com</a>
Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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