Yes — though he can still be quite brassy if he is the interviewee, I think, depending on who is intervewing!

In this case, as two equals, something about Cal Newport's manner really anchored him and they got into some interesting stuff.

Agreed. Cal brought a great balance. I don't even think of Ed as 'angry' so much as a 'scorned lover' archetype - I suspect he actually deeply loves technology but hates the lying, hypocrisy, and cons of the industry.