
How to Save Your Brain (with Cal Newport)
From excellence, actually by Steve Magness, Brad Stulberg, & Clay Skipper
April 23, 2026 · 53 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the impact of technology on cognitive health and how to improve brain function.
There's a good reason you can't concentrate. That's not just a statement; it's also the title of a viral piece that our friend Cal Newport (author of Deep Work and Digital Minimalism) recently wrote for The New York Times. Cal argues that we're at a precarious moment in the history of thinking. The ease and convenience of technology and digital media (think: junk food for your brain) have negatively impacted our cognition, which means we need to start taking our cognitive health as seriously as we take our physical health. So today we're talking about what that means for all of us: what this change in thinking portends for the future of society and culture, and, perhaps more importantly, how to design an effective workout program for the brains of adults and children. We think it's one of the most important episodes we've ever done. "There's a Good Reason You Can't Concentrate" by Cal Newport: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/27/opinion/technology-mental-fitness-cognitive.html Get a free LMNT drink mix pack with any purchase: drinkLMNT.com/Clay Click here for an AI-generated transcript (please excuse errors in grammar or spelling) - Subscribe to The Growth Equation…
People in this episode
Hosts: Steve Magness, Brad Stulberg, Clay Skipper
Guest: Cal Newport
Topics covered
- cognitive health
- technology impact
- brain workout
- society
- culture
Keywords
- concentration
- cognition
- mental fitness
- brain health
- technology
Sponsors
LMNT
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: The New York Times
Products: LMNT
Books & works: Deep Work, Digital Minimalism
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