Podcasts / Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Ep. 400: Should I Embrace “Slow Technology”?

Apr 13, 2026 · 1h 34m

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EP · Deep Questions with Cal Newport · Ep. 400: Should I Embrace “Slow Technology”?1:33:55

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Transcript

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0:00If I had to use one word to describe modern digital tools, it would be fast.

0:07Now, whether we're talking about workplace communication or swarms of AI agents or even apps for ordering food, the focus always seems to be on reducing friction and increasing the options available to get people through whatever task they're thinking about as quickly as possible.

0:24Now, the speed, of course, has a negative side effect.

0:28It's exhausting.

0:30It reduces so much of our life to a frantic blur of swipes and taps and clicks, all in a sort of never-ending battle to keep up with the ceaseless barrage of incoming information.

0:40But what can we do?

0:42Going faster has to make us more productive, right?

0:47Or does it?

0:48You see, there's a growing subculture of individuals who are embracing simpler technologies that offer less features and more friction.

0:57And they're not doing this as a political statement, and they're not doing this because they're nostalgic, but instead because they think these more minimal tools actually makes them better at their work and makes their life more livable.

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