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Deep Questions with Cal Newport · July 6, 2026 · 1h 5m
Should I Turn Off the Internet? (Lessons From a Family That Did)
Cal Newport interviews Chris Moody, a journalism professor at Appalachian State who lives with his family in a cabin with no internet, television, or cellular signal. They explore the practical and emotional realities of disconnecting from digital infrastructure—whether it's truly possible, what gets gained in presence and introspection, and what costs emerge when you remove connectivity entirely from daily life.
This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.
Curious
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The benefit of disconnection may come not from absence of technology, but from the friction required to use it—forcing intentionality rather than automatic habit.
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The binary choice between connectivity and disconnection misses the real question: what relationship to digital tools aligns with your values and life goals?
Highlights
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When a whole family removes ambient internet and TV, the absence forces conversation, presence, and shared activities—strengthening bonds that digital mediation typically weakens.
Editorial
References
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Slow Productivity — Cal Newport (2024) — Newport's framework for sustainable, meaningful work without burnout
Misc
✧Chris Moody chose isolation not as rejection of technology but as an intentional design for family life
✧The family doesn't experience their setup as deprivation—it's a deliberate trade-off
✧Cabin has electricity and phones but no broadband, no cellular signal, no TV
✧Raises the question: is full disconnection necessary, or is it the *friction* that matters?
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