MentorClone vs Dexa: Ask Cal Newport After Dexa
· MentorClone Team
MentorClone is an AI mentor for people who want advice from one expert's own public work, with a link to where they said each point. If you used Dexa to ask Cal Newport or another podcaster a question, Dexa is gone: its pages now say "Dexa has shut down" (checked October 11, 2026). MentorClone is a working alternative for asking Cal Newport and a few other experts, though it covers less of each person's audio than Dexa did.
What Dexa was
Dexa searched podcast back catalogs. Its homepage promised to "get answers directly from trusted experts" and called itself "your personal AMA with trusted experts". You asked a question and got an answer drawn from episodes, with clips you could play.
Many of its pages weren't run by the podcaster. An archived copy of its Cal Newport page (May 2025) is titled "Ask Cal Newport" and says "Cal Newport hasn't joined Dexa yet", with a "Claim this hub" link for the owner. The page listed his Deep Questions episodes, clips like "Deep Work Strategies", and his guest appearances on other shows.
That was a real strength. Dexa covered whole podcast archives, guests included, so it could find something Cal said on someone else's show.
Today the same address shows one line: "Dexa has shut down. Thank you for being part of Dexa."
MentorClone: one person's public work, and only that
Each MentorClone mentor is built from one person's own videos, podcasts and posts. Cal Newport is live today, built from his videos and posts on deep work, digital minimalism and slow productivity. So are Arvid Kahl, Rob Walling, Marc Lou, Jeff Nippard and Emma McAdam. None of them built or endorsed their mentor, and every mentor page says so.
You describe your situation and get a straight recommendation, not a list of clips. Each point links to where they said it, down to the moment for video. When they never covered your question, the mentor says so instead of guessing. It remembers your situation between conversations, and you can see and delete those notes in settings.
Your AI agent can use the same mentor. Claude Code, Cursor and other MCP clients can ask Cal Newport's mentor before they plan your week. See Give Your AI Agent a Mentor.
| Question | Dexa | MentorClone |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Shut down | Live |
| What it answered from | Podcast archives, including guest appearances | One person's own videos, podcasts and posts |
| Was the expert involved | Often not ("hasn't joined Dexa yet") | No, and every mentor page says so |
| Answer style | Answers built from episodes and clips | A straight recommendation for your situation |
| Can you check an answer | Clips from the episodes | Each point links to where they said it, with the moment for video |
| When a topic is missing | Not covered here | Says they never covered it |
| Your AI agent | Not covered here | Claude Code, Cursor and other MCP clients can ask the same mentor |
Where MentorClone falls short
Dexa had many more people than we do. MentorClone has the mentors we've added and checked, in English only. Cal Newport's mentor is built from his videos and posts, not every podcast episode and guest spot Dexa indexed. If what you need was only said on another show, the mentor will tell you it has no source for it.
MentorClone is also paid only. You can try three questions on any mentor page, then plans start at $19 a month.
If the person you used to ask on Dexa isn't here, Pro and Max let you build a private mentor for yourself. Type their name and we find where they publish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dexa still working?
No. Dexa's pages now say "Dexa has shut down. Thank you for being part of Dexa." We checked on October 11, 2026.
What is a good Dexa alternative for asking Cal Newport?
MentorClone has a Cal Newport mentor built from his videos and posts. It gives a direct recommendation for your situation, links each point to where he said it, and says so when he never covered your question.
Did Cal Newport approve his MentorClone mentor?
No. It's built from his public work, and his mentor page says he didn't write it. If he asks us to take it down, we do it the same day.
How much does MentorClone cost?
Starter is $19 a month, Pro $29 and Max $59. You can try three questions on any mentor page first. See pricing. Weighing other options? See Delphi AI alternatives.
Try it on a real decision
Ask Cal Newport how to fit deep work into your actual week. Then open the links and see where each point came from.