Deep Questions with Cal Newport

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In 2023, I published an episode about resetting your life that became one of my most popular. In the years since, multiple major podcasters and YouTubers have done their own videos on the same theme. In today’s episode, I extract the best ideas from five such recent videos to create an all-star reset strategy. I connect this to my work on technology and its impacts, by noting that taking control of your life can be the most important first step toward taking control of your devices.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: The Internet’s Best Advice for Reinventing Your Life (0:02)

How do I extract ideas for living deeply from books? [55:44]
How do I avoid being overwhelmed by everything required to seriously change my life? [58:31]
How do I visualize my ideal lifestyle in a fast-changing world? [1:02:42]
I just quit my teaching job due to burn-out. How do I find what to do next? [1:09:28]

CASE STUDY: Crafting a deep life [1:13:21]

CALL: How to revise expectations with young kids [1:18:45]

CAL REACTS: The Great Lock-In of 2025 [1:28:11]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
youtube.com/watch?v=mSaI8Rluel8
youtu.be/wXcEtxlrPMA
youtu.be/PvvS-0mqD4c
youtube.com/watch?v=2ZXJZnAxHHI
youtube.com/watch?v=0G7Wu4DnDaw
calnewport.com/the-great-lock-in-of-2025/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

cozyearth.com/deep
shopify.com/deep
vanta.com/deepquestions
expressvpn.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Last week, it was announced that Oracle would take over operation of TikTok in the US. One of the primary reasons proposed for this deal is that it was in national interests for us to take over control of TikTok’s fabled “algorithm.” But what is this algorithm? How does it work? To what extent can it be controlled? In today’s episode, Cal looks deeper at these questions and arrives at a broader philosophical point about the role these services, in general, should play in our civic culture. He then answers listener questions on the same topic and reacts to the three recent news articles about TikTok’s influence on our culture.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Decoding TikTok’s Algorithm [0:03]

Should I quit social media, even if I don’t live on the slope of terribleness? [44:44]
Is it bad to use TikTok to keep up with the news? [49:41]
How does quantum computing relate to AI? [53:48]

CASE STUDY: Trying to become a great composer [1:02:29]

CALL: Tips for dealing with growing kids [1:08:58]

CAL REACTS: Three Articles about TikTok (and Three Sighs of Exasperation) [1:18:04]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
the-independent.com/news/world/americas/crime/tiktok-surfing-challenge-manslaughter-b2832760.html
yahoo.com/news/world/article/why-people-on-tiktok-think-the-rapture-is-coming-and-that-the-world-is-ending-this-week-202334215.html
bbc.com/news/articles/c4gj5lqq52lo
youtube.com/watch?v=z7Df9yGofLo
youtube.com/shorts/xWIVA0ZJm-w

Thanks to our Sponsors:

monarchmoney.com (Use code “DEEP”)
reclaim.ai/cal
wayfair.com
makeheadway.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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In this episode of IN-DEPTH, Cal is joined by Dr. Brian Keating, the Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor of Physics at UCSD, and one of the most prolific popularizers of science around (you may have seen him recently chatting about cosmology with Joe Rogan and Andrew Huberman). They talk about Keating’s new book, HOW TO FOCUS LIKE A NOBEL PRIZE WINNER, as well as many other topics, including a deep look at Keating’s unusual path to academia, and a deconstruction of what’s needed to succeed at the highest levels of academia.

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

INTERVIEW: Focus like a Nobel Prize Winner (w/ Brian Keating) [3:20]

Links:
https://www.amazon.com/Into-Impossible-Laureates-Collaboration-Imagination/dp/1544523491

Sponsors:
https://www.donedaily.com

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Kieron Rees for the theme music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Into the Impossible: Think Like a Nobel Prize Winner: Lessons from Laureates to Stoke Curiosity, Spur Collaboration, and Ignite Imagination in Your Life and Career

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We seem to be stuck in a purgatory when it comes to the worst of the social media platforms. We know they’re not great, but it’s hard to muster enough motivation to bother to leave. In today’s episode, motivated by the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Cal puts on his technology critic hat and offers a step-by-step technical explanation for why these platforms are strictly and incessantly making your life worse and why the only reasonable response is to quit them. He then answers listener questions on the topic and reacts to some recent news about the US Congress getting involved.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Is it Finally Time to Leave Social Media? [0:40]

How do I find everything I should be blocking on my kid’s phone? [38:59]
Is it okay that I make YouTube Videos? [43:39]
Shouldn’t we focus on using social media better? [49:13]

CASE STUDY: A musician and social media [58:00]

CAL REACTS: US House panel asks internet CEOs to testify after Charlie Kirk assassination [1:10:42]

Links:
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
reuters.com/world/us/us-house-panel-asks-online-forum-ceos-testify-after-charlie-kirk-assassination-2025-09-17/
youtube.com/watch?v=gjVm0K_ETX8

Thanks to our Sponsors:

calderalab.com/deep
miro.com
grammarly.com/podcast
1password.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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A recent study called into question a core assumption about the generative AI revolution: that these tools, at the very least, will make us more productive. In this episode, Cal dives deep into the study and argues that when it comes to efforts that require deep work, AI can sometimes make things worse. He then answers listener questions and then takes a closer look at an article claiming that the lack of Wi-Fi in a West Virginia school is making their students dumber.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Deep Work in the Age of AI [0:38]

Can ChatGPT chats act as single purpose notebooks for projects? [26:16]
When should I apply active recall? [29:34]
Do you have insights into AI’s environmental impact? [31:16]
What would you do if you left academia? [38:40]

CASE STUDY: Using strategies to develop a Deep Life [43:04]

CAL REACTS: Does lack of Wi-Fi make students dumber? [53:09W]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
metr.org/blog/2025-07-10-early-2025-ai-experienced-os-dev-study/
theatlantic.com/economy/archive/2025/09/ai-bubble-us-economy/684128/
marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2025/08/the-school-without-wifi.html
educationrecoveryscorecard.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/report_WV_5401140_pocahontas-county-schools.pdf

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This show is sponsored by BetterHelp:
betterhelp.com/deepquestions
cozyearth.com/deep
shopify.com/deep
mybodytutor.com

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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IQ scores had been steadily rising since WWII. But, more recently, this phenomenon has stopped. Since 2010, we’ve actually been getting dumber. In this episode, Cal gets into the common theories for why this is true before offering his own take, which leads to some practical takeaways to help you thrive in an increasingly stupider world. He then answers listener questions and talks about something he read recently.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: I Want Work-Life Balance. Am I Doomed to Mediocrity? [0:41]

How can a west coast executive schedule deep work despite constant meetings with east coast colleagues? [37:14]
Is it bad that I fill all of my quiet moments with media? [41:04]
How can I focus on personal projects? [46:24]
How should a software engineer transition to consulting? [53:05]
How should a former lawyer update her systems now that she’s a professor? [56:43]

CASE STUDY: A songwriter works deep and slow [1:06:43]

CALL: Getting out of the weeds [1:14:04]

WHAT I’M READING: Who is still against school cell phone bans? [1:23:28]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160289623000156
youtube.com/watch?v=u4jW8MOxIKY
rebeccaschiffman.com/beachvacation
rebeccaschiffman.bandcamp.com
nytimes.com/2025/03/21/nyregion/school-cell-phone-ban-nyc.html

Thanks to our Sponsors:

expressvpn.com/deep
oracle.com/deepquestions
indeed.com/deep
vanta.com/deepquestions

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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In this episode of IN-DEPTH, Cal is joined by bestselling author and podcaster, Tim Ferriss. Tim rocketed to prominence with his 2007 book, “The Four Hour WorkWeek” which basically redefined a generation’s relationship with work, meaning, and the possibilities for building an interesting life. More recently, Tim created a card game! It’s called Coyote. And he created it with one of the top designers in the business, the same company that created Exploding Kittens.

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

INTERVIEW: The Game of Life (w/ Tim Ferriss) [3:16]

Links:
https://www.explodingkittens.com/products/coyote

Sponsors
https://www.reclaim.ai/cal

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Kieron Rees for the theme music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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A 22-year-old made a splash recently when he published a Wall Street Journal op-ed claiming that work-life balance makes you mediocre. He went on to brag about how sleeping less than 4 hours a night and gaining 80 pounds helped him become a millionaire. In this episode, Cal wades into the furious debate this article sparked. He argues that once you look past the author’s dorm bro bravado, the kid does actually ask a good question. It’s just that his answers are lacking. Cal then tackles listener questions and reviews the books he read in August.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: I Want Work-Life Balance. Am I Doomed to Mediocrity? [1:06]

Is it possible to stay focused when having to check my phone for text messages? [42:20]

When did you switch back to your teaching schedule to your summer schedule? [44:05]

How has your deep life evolved since Episode 1? [49:22]

How can I stop obsessively checking my work email? [53:47]

Can you summarize how values and strategic planning documents, birthday projects and lifestyle centric planning combine? [58:14]

CASE STUDY: Organizing household admin [1:01:44]

CALL: How to tame Trello cards [1:06:39]

AUGUST BOOKS: The 5 books Cal read in August 2025 [1:13:26]

Boundless Realm (Foxx Note)
Collisions (Alec Nevala-Lee)
Before the Birds Sang Words (Ken Bruce)
Desperation Reef (T Jefferson Parker)
Shift (Hugh Howey)

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX1XHMlX1J0

Thanks to our Sponsors:

ridge.com (use code “Cal”)
drinklmnt.com/deep
shopify.com/deep
calderalab.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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In recent years, it’s been hard not to react to the possibilities of generative AI without a mixture of euphoria or dread. But after OpenAI’s lackluster GPT-5 launch, a new, almost heretical-seeming question has emerged: what if progress on AI is stalled well short of the wild predictions we were promised? In today’s episode, Cal draws from reporting on his recent New Yorker article to go deep into this question. What is going on with AI? How did we get here? What does it mean for our personal quest to live deeper lives? He then answers listener questions and ends by discussing his recent brush with literary acclaim.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: What if AI Doesn’t Get Much Better Than This? [1:00]

Will AI leave me unemployed in 10 years? [1:06:26]
How should I structure the next 10 years as a recently retired college professor? [1:13:58]
I just moved. How should I arrange my book collection? [1:15:36]

CALL: Overhead tax [1:17:47]

CAL REACTS: Ed Sheehan and the Booker Prize [1:27:55]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
newyorker.com/culture/open-questions/what-if-ai-doesnt-get-much-better-than-this
youtube.com/watch?v=zju51INmW7U
youtube.com/watch?v=Dtdue31z-X8
youtube.com/watch?v=0SXCIfFK5r8
youtube.com/shorts/dYZmGHOLNRU
youtube.com/watch?v=k82RwXqZHY8
youtube.com/watch?v=qhnJDDX2hhU
youtube.com/watch?v=qbIk7-JPB2c&t=3s
youtube.com/watch?v=k82RwXqZHY8
youtube.com/shorts/JCImeOUVTJE

Thanks to our Sponsors:

grammarly.com/podcast
cozyearth.com/deep
calderalab.com/deep
shipstation.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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In this replay of one of the more popular episodes from the Deep Questions archives, originally aired in August ,2023, Cal explores some of his early strategies for cultivating a deeper life.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Today’s Deep Question: How can I reinvent my life in 4 months? [1:30]

How can I ease into Cal's more advanced time management strategies? [36:58]
Can unstructured work be a part of the deep life? [40:33]
How can I stop changing my mind about what I want to do with my life? [44:41]
Can I pursue the deep life if I need a job? [52:24]
How do you pursue the deep life with depression? [56:49]

Cover Reveal for Slow Productivity [1:05:27]

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This show is brought to you by Better Help.

https://www.betterhelp.com/deepquestions

https://www.mybodytutor.com

https://www.miro.com

https://www.shopify.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Why do we end up entangled with tools that don’t have our best interests in mind? How can we fix this situation? In this episode, Cal dives deep into the difference between additive and extractive technologies, telling a story that weaves old technology with old versions of modern tools, testimony from recent trials to ideas from leading technology critics – all in the service of improving your relationship with tools. He then answers listener questions and discusses the books he read in July, 2025.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: What Technology Wants (and How to Push Back) [:54]
- Do project trackers work? [34:54]
- Is there a downside scenario to engineering wonder? [39:14]
- What types of people should I surround myself with? [43:00]
- Can you explain your different audiences? [45:02]

CALL: Shifting from medical work to a PhD [50:41]
JULY BOOKS: The 5 Books that Cal Read in July, 2025 [57:33]

L.A. Story (Bill Plunkett)
Disney’s Land (Richard Snow)
Ingenious (Richard Munson)
Original Sin (Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson)
Wool (Hugh Howey)

Links:
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at https://peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
https://substack.com/@priscillaharvey1/note/c-133662492
https://www.yahoo.com/news/zuckerberg-tells-court-facebook-no-171222971.html
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/mark-zuckerberg-is-so-over-facebook-friends?srsltid=AfmBOoo4dysXG_2rXWDJaKnSdG6CfbCqf0O_8op_R1phpz5GQPx2F4XA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7jar4KgKxs
https://pluralistic.net/2022/11/28/enshittification/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ai-fC-2Bpo
https://www.emarketer.com/content/openai-hires-its-first-cmo-kate-rouch-foreshadowing-ads
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfUpEWAKPf8&t=2350s

Thanks to our Sponsors:
https://www.expressvpn.com/deep
https://www.oracle.com/deepquestions
https://www.indeed.com/deep
https://www.calderalab.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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When Cal recently returned home from his time spent up in New England he set up a whole new set of daily metrics to track in the fall to keep him pointed toward the deep life. And they failed. Hard. In this episode, Cal dissects why metrics matter, why they’re easy to mess up (including the mistakes he made), and how to use them correctly (including how he corrected his own setup). He then answers listener questions and discusses a recent AI article that got him all hot and bothered.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Metrics 101 [2:10]

How should I navigate the “grey area” when deciding to make a career change? [24:45]
Do you have a framework for young people to develop deep critical thinking? [27:36]
What should a father of 4 kids do for his next career move? [32:34]
Can skills from a high-pressure call center carry over to a career in cybersecurity? [35:36]
Should I have anticipated that my job was going to end? [38:36]

CALL: Returning back to work after a summer break [43:14]

CASE STUDY: Pursuing a hobby while combating digital doldrums [46:47]

WHAT I’M (NOT) READING: Vibe Reporting on AI [55:52]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
nytimes.com/2025/07/28/arts/video-games-artificial-intelligence.html

Thanks to our Sponsors:

vanta.com/deepquestions
smalls.com/deep
shopify.com/deep
1password.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for segment music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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What does Walt Disney’s malaise in the 1940s have to do with our current struggles with our screens? In this episode, Cal uses a little-known story from Disney’s midlife to identify an effective strategy for escaping the nerve-deadening, dull state created by spending more and more of your professional and personal life on screens. He then answers listener questions (with an unusual level of spiciness), tries to calm himself with a reprise of the SLOW PRODUCTIVITY CORNER theme music, and concludes with a discussion of a recent essay he wrote about how no one really knows anything about AI.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: [1:47]

How should I pursue two different goals after leaving my software engineering career? [21:10]
Should I leave my business analyst job and buy a retail business? [24:32]
I’ve tried writing for editors (and publications) before with no success. Any suggestions on how to break through? [30:08]
How do I convince my company that AI assistance is not the answer? [35:27]
Is inspiration perishable like Naval Ravikant says? [38:11]

CALL: Inbox anxiety [43:15]

CASE STUDY: A public school teacher with a blog [51:27]

WHAT I’M WRITING: No One Knows Anything About AI [59:13]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
amusingplanet.com/2019/01/walt-disneys-backyard-railway-carolwood.html
youtu.be/KyfUysrNaco?si=uE6tJkPuFhdnbla2&t=2490
calnewport.com/no-one-knows-anything-about-ai/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

drinklmnt.com/deep
cozyearth.com/deep
calderalab.com/deep
shipstation.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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When we think about unhealthy phone usage, we think about the flashing apps, like TikTok and Instagram, in which billions of dollars have been spent to grab our attention. In this episode, Cal points to an unassuming culprit that may be just as responsible: simple messaging apps. He explores research that connects the social stress of pending messages to phone addiction, and explores ways to free yourself from constant messaging without having to isolate yourself socially. He then answers listener questions and discusses what he’s been reading.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: The Texting Dilemma [5:35]

How can I structure my mornings with my sales job if I don’t have two hours for deep work? [31:44]
How should I handle mandatory overtime at my aerospace job? [33:18]
How can I handle too many open loops with my shutdown ritual? [35:54]
How can I better organize communication with my university students? [40:38]
Should I take on extra-curricular roles during my first year of my PhD? [44:00]

CALL: Household chore task list [48:01]

CASE STUDY: 30-day declutter [51:45]

WHAT TO READ: An author quits social media [59:45]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0747563214007626
journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/691462
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9671478/
carolinecrampton.com/im-done-with-social-media/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

calderalab.com/deep
miro.com
shopify.com/deep
grammarly.com/podcast

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Are you worried that you’re using your phone too much? An app blocker might make sense. But how do they work, and which one is right for you? In this episode, Cal goes deep into the motivation, technology, and ultimate end game of this distraction fighting technology. He then answers listener questions and discusses some intriguing comments he’s been seeing about limits to AI’s ability to code.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Do You Need an App Blocker? [4:35]

How do I succeed with task management? [29:07]
How can I put boundaries on my administrative work for my university job? [33:58]
How should I manage X if I only use it on my desktop? [39:31]
How should I read through my weekly collection of newsletters? [41:11]
What do you think about Polyphasic sleep to prepare for deep work? [44:22]

CASE STUDY: A ticketing system in action [45:21]

WHAT TO READ: On the Limits of “Vibe Coding” [50:58]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
sciencefocus.com/science/youre-not-actually-addicted-to-your-smartphone
nytimes.com/2020/01/20/style/quit-smartphone.html
support.apple.com/guide/iphone/get-started-with-screen-time-iphbfa595995/ios
youtu.be/OuizzRCALCU?si=FqHzEEFdq7k4ao13
x.com/AglaiaCodes/status/1942636133248061590
x.com/GaryMarcus/status/1942478390323552588/photo/1

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This show is sponsored by BetterHelp:
betterhelp.com/deepquestions
mybodytutor.com
expressvpn.com/deep
indeed.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Trying to stick to complicated time management systems without any breaks can eventually lead to burn out. But if you stop organizational efforts altogether, your life can become a stressful mess. In this episode, Cal taps the wisdom of an elite running coach to devise what he calls one-page productivity: a minimum time management system, meant to be run for limited periods to help you recharge, but that also maintains just enough organization that you can avoid disaster. He argues such maintenance modes should be an important part of any time management practice. Cal then answers listener questions and concludes by reviewing the books he read in June 2025.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: One-Page Productivity [1:52]

How do you approach decisions when you’re torn between two reasonable options? [18:17]
How can I navigate teaching with phone addicted teenagers? [22:06]
Have you considered using LLM’s to assist in your writing? [28:03]
How many “thinking” walks do you take each week? [32:31]
Do you have any recommendations for learning new material outside of the structured framework of a course? [35:00]

CASE STUDY: A son explains his parents lifestyle engineering [37:21]

CALL: Setting up workflows as a manager [41:09]

JUNE BOOKS: The 5 Books Cal Read in June, 2025 [52:05]

The Magic of Code (Samuel Arbesman)
In the Swarm (Byung-Chul Han)
The Fear Index (Robert Harriss)
The Explore’s Gene (Alex Hutchinson)
Skywalking (Dale Pollock)

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
nytimes.com/athletic/6453809/2025/06/27/bruce-bochy-walking-exercise-creativity/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

cozyearth.com (Use code “DEEP”)
oracle.com/deepquestions
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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A blockbuster new study out of MIT takes a closer look at the impact of writing with the help of AI. In today’s episode, Cal breaks down this paper with the help of author Brad Stulberg (who made waves online recently with his reaction to its findings), picking apart the role of AI in deep work activities. Cal then answers listeners questions, and presents a twist on his typical final segment in which he now describes what he is not reading this week, which provides him a thinly-concealed excuse to rant about AI coverage.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Should We Fear Cognitive Debt? [2:15]

Can AI be creative? [44:35]
What’s the smallest change I can make to address my disorganization? [48:31]
How do I find time for personal projects? [53:12]
How should I choose my next internship? [1:06:08]
How did you develop your goal-setting philosophy? [1:11:46]

CALL: Inbox Zero and Notion [1:14:50]

CASE STUDY: A Thoreau Schedule [1:24:01]

WHAT I’M (NOT) READ: AI CEO’s hot takes on work [1:32:49]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
fortune.com/2025/06/20/openai-ceo-sam-altman-ai-phds-entry-level-corporate-job-cuts-what-is-left-gen-z-college-gradautes/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Back in 2023, Cal gave a detailed deep dive that described the three phases of scientific understanding of smartphones, social media, and kids. In today’s episode, Cal argues that we’ve entered a fourth phase; one that will finally lead to (perhaps rapid) cultural changes about what we think is appropriate when it comes to these tools and kids. He then answers listener questions and describes a recent book he enjoyed in his new WHAT TO READ segment.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: The Smartphones Haven’t Defeated Us. Yet. [2:27]

Should I temporarily rent a separate space to write my first book? [23:09]
What should I do when waiting for AI while coding? [25:29]
How should 11 years old boys get organized? [29:31]
How can I develop my “soft skills” for my career? [33:54]
How can my husband find his ideal career path? [38:48]

CASE STUDY: A new dad incorporating lifestyle-centric career planning [43:25]

CALL: Hand written notes [47:08]

WHAT TO READ: The Explorer’s Gene [55:27]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
nytimes.com/2025/06/18/opinion/parents-smartphones-tiktok-facebook.html
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5256747
tonyneufeld.blog

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Few philosophers in recent memory have enjoyed as much attention as Byung-Chul Han. His mix of profundity and pithiness in tackling some of the big issues of the modern technical environment has made him “the internet’s new favorite philosopher” (to quote The New Yorker). But is he saying that is making such an impact? In this episode, Cal seeks to find out. He reports back on five of the biggest ideas he encountered reading Han’s 2017 book, IN THE SWARM. He then answers listener questions and concludes with a WHAT TO READ segment where he tackles a pair of competing articles on AI’s abilities.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: What Worries the Internet’s Favorite Philosopher? [3:50]

What’s Cal’s writing schedule when traveling? [29:26]
How do I adapt to new job duties after making partner? [31:44]
Should I do memory training? [33:22]
Can you explain how creativity and productivity are related? [36:16]
How do Cal’s responsibilities fit into his lifestyle-centric plan? [39:33]

CASE STUDY: A retiree adopts Cal’s principles [43:07]

CALL: Adventure work [46:13]

WHAT TO READ: Two Dueling Takes on AI’s Abilities [54:35]

Links:
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/10/billion-dollar-ai-puzzle-break-down
scientificamerican.com/article/inside-the-secret-meeting-where-mathematicians-struggled-to-outsmart-ai/
arxiv.org/pdf/2504.01995
arxiv.org/pdf/2503.21934

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This show is sponsored by BetterHelp:
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expressvpn.com/deep
shopify.com/deep
mybodytutor.com

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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In this episode of IN-DEPTH, Cal is joined by Chris Guillebeau, the author of the new book, TIME ANXIETY, and creator of the beloved Art of Non-Conformity blog and World Domination Summit annual conferences. Cal and Chris reminisce about their old days as early advice bloggers and dive into his new ideas about re-thinking our relationship with time.

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

INTERVIEW: The Art of Non-Conformity (w/ Chris Guillebeau) [03:50]

Links:
https://www.calnewport.com/slow

Sponsors:
https://www.donedaily.com

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the theme music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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The data shows knowledge workers really are more exhausted and more prone to burnout than ever before. But why? In this episode, Cal draws inspiration from an unlikely source to help unpack this troubling trend and then suggest a perhaps radical solution. He then answers listeners’ questions and discusses his latest New Yorker article on the challenges of taming AI. As a bonus, he briefly discusses Cal Network’s new bestselling book.

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: How Much Should We Work? [3:33]

What’s your advice on having a career backup plan? [28:27]
Do you know of any executive coaches who teach your principles? [30:33]
Is my retirement plan too ambitious? [35:13]
Are accountability support tools acceptable to use in order to build discipline? [38:43]
How can I identify if I have an inventory of "rare and valuable skills"? [41:21]

CASE STUDY: Crafting a storytelling profession [43:14]

CALL: Creating a life dashboard [46:14]

TECH CORNER: Why Can’t We Tame AI? (Cal’s latest New Yorker article) [52:08]

Links:
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
newyorker.com/culture/open-questions/what-isaac-asimov-reveals-about-living-with-ai

Thanks to our Sponsors:

drinklmnt.com/deep
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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A common complaint about social media skepticism is that we’re falling into a classic moral panic. We’ve been concerned about many past mass media technologies, and ultimately came to realize that they’re not so bad. So why would we expect anything different about social media? In this episode, Cal tackles this complaint, drawing on an unexpected analogy to find clarity. He then answers listener questions and discusses the books he read in May, but not before first confronting a truly bizarre (or, perhaps, brilliant) piece of art work created by a fan of the show.

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Quit Social Media [6:18]

How can I become a better, more analytical thinker? [23:04]
How can I stay motivated, productive, and balanced while working mostly alone during my first remote internship? [28:56]
How much time should I dedicate to developing secondary skills? [30:10]
How does TikTok seem to know so much about me? [32:09]
What are the best workflow strategies when using AI agents? [43:45]

CASE STUDY: A simple, analog approach to productivity [49:31]

CALL: Too focused on metrics [53:15]

MAY BOOKS: The 5 Books Cal Read in May 2025 [1:03:19]

May Books:

Building: A Carpenter’s Notes on Life & the Art of Good Work (Mark Ellison)
Thoreau’s Axe (Caleb Smith)
9 Innings (Daniel Okrent)
Let Them (Mel Robbins)
Against the Machine (Paul Kingsnorth)

Links:
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
amazon.com/Four-Days-Week-Life-Changing-Well-Being/dp/0063382431/r
calnewport.com/on-ultra-processed-content/
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cal-newport-5-28-19/id814550071?i=1000647135862
rehearsal.so/blog/how_to_stay_in_flow_while_using_cursor_or_windsurf

Thanks to our Sponsors:

cozyearth.com/deep
shopify.com/deep
harrys.com/deep
calderalab.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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A few years ago, in a spirit of post-pandemic experimentation, multiple countries ran formal trials to test a radical idea: shortening the workweek. In this episode, Cal returns to the results of these trials to identify an astounding finding that has critical implications about how we work in the 21st century and how this could be made much better. He then answers listener questions and concludes with a tech corner that addresses a simple question: when will AI begin to automate most of my work?

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: The Workload Fairytale [3:39]

How would you rewrite A World Without Email to account for Slack? [18:16]
How should I manage multiple deadlines? [22:14]
How does Values-Based Lifestyle Centric Career Planning relate to Rutger Bregman's concept of Moral Ambition? [27:28]
How can I avoid burnout and use my career capital to find a less demanding job? [34:24]
Should I do my weekly plan on Sunday night to avoid the scaries? [40:32]

CASE STUDY: A lawyer argues in front of the New York Court of Appeals [42:57]

CALL: What exactly is considered task switching? [47:15]

TECH CORNER: When will AI automate my job? [56:04]

Links:
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
bbc.com/news/business-57724779
theguardian.com/money/2023/feb/21/four-day-week-uk-trial-success-pattern
dw.com/en/german-firms-tested-4-day-workweek-heres-the-outcome/a-70685885
calnewport.com/ai-and-work-some-predictions/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Summer is here. It’s time to slow down. In this episode, Cal discusses his radically simplified summer schedule and then suggests you similarly inject some “seasonality” into your life, offering tips for finding a slower gear without tanking your job. He then answers listener questions and reacts to the most important AI article that you likely missed last week.

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Summer Schedules [5:25]

How should I structure my summer vacation with a significant injury? [27:40]
How do I learn the secrets to publication if the faculty doesn’t know I exist? [32:10]
Should I even attempt long-term content or is it too hard? [33:31]
How can I develop a deliberate practice for crafting narratives for technical documents? [44:33]
Is there an alternative to formal education to improve quantitative skills? [45:13]

CASE STUDY: A father balances his different roles [47:40]

CALL #1: Finding a side hustle [51:16]

CALL #2: College student wondering the tips to focus better [56:02]

CAL REACTS: Is the AI boom slowing? [1:07:01]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
wsj.com/tech/ai/meta-is-delaying-the-rollout-of-its-flagship-ai-model-f4b105f7

Thanks to our Sponsors:

grammarly.com/podcast
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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When we think about important accomplishments, we think about grinding through long hours of work. But is this really necessary? In this episode, Cal turns to the lives of two famous authors to argue that sometimes a slow and steady approach can work just as well in the end, while making the journey more sustainable along the way. He then answers listener questions and concludes with a Tech Corner segment about a ridiculous new claim from the world of AI.

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: It’s Okay to Slow Down [2:28]

How should I tell people my email responses will be delayed without using an autoresponder? [18:07]
Should I read for quantity or quality? [20:31]
How does “one email address” per project work and how do I implement it? [24:51]
Can you comment on Conan O’Brien’s burner phone? [30:42]
Am I working hard enough to get tenure? [38:00]

CASE STUDY: Email processing protocol [44:25]

CALL #1: Organizing creative work [49:19]

CALL #2: Fan update about Inbox Zero [53:37]

TECH CORNER: A.I. Welfare is a PR Stunt [58:36]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at https://peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

https://thestory.au/articles/daily-routines-famous-writers/

https://youtu.be/cM8HlKoJCHA?si=N-UjnFu-4q-mTJEB

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/24/technology/ai-welfare-anthropic-claude.html

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/deepquestions and get on your way to being your best self!

https://www.mybodytutor.com

https://www.oracle.com/deepquestions

https://www.expressvpn.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Tyler Cowen recently wrote an article arguing that spending lots of time online is in fact a good thing. In this episode, Cal looks deeper at Cowen’s argument and finds some surprising common ground. The internet can be a major source of good in your life, he argues, but only if you use it in the right way. He then answers listener questions and reviews the books he read in April.

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Making the Internet Good Again [5:06]

What are good activities for “deep breaks”? [28:38]
How can I approach parenting without resenting the sacrifices to deep work? [31:36]
How does the deep life compare to David Epstein’s book, “Range”? [38:06]
What is the difference between a “winner-take-all” field of work and “auction” field of work? [41:12]
Does “following your passion” have any connection to “lifestyle centric planning”? [47:39]

CASE STUDY: Implementing the concept of “Eat The Frog” [52:48]

CALL: Introducing seasonality and the meetings being the work [55:07]

APRIL BOOKS: The 5 books Cal read in April, 2025 [1:06:08]

I, Robot (Isaac Asimov)
After Disney (Neil O’brien)
The Baseball Book of Why (John McCollister)
The Technology Republic (Alexander Karp and Nicholas Zamiska)
Everything is Tuberculosis (John Green)

Links:
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
thefp.com/p/the-case-for-living-online

Thanks to our Sponsors:

shopify.com/deep
auraframes.com [Use promo code “DEEPQUESTIONS”]
indeed.com/deep
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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The white whale of modern productivity discourse is achieving an empty email inbox; a goal state that’s often referred to simply as “inbox zero.” In this episode, Cal looks at why the original advice for achieving inbox zero failed and explores a strategy that might work better. He then answers listener questions and in a final segment reacts to a recent guest on the Tim Ferriss podcast who provides an interesting case study of the deep life in action.

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Is Inbox Zero Possible? [2:45]

How can I perform beyond the bare minimum on “Survival Days”? [29:40]
How can I remain sane with a job that changes schedules every week? [34:55]
How are computer systems rewarded in AI? [37:08]
How can I stop my boss from interrupting me with constant chatter? [41:34]

CALL: Identifying the next action [44:02]

CALL: Finding true depth during the final years of college [51:33]

CAL REACTS: Craig Mod’s walks through Japan [1:01:18]

Links:
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
youtube.com/watch?v=z9UjeTMb3Yk

Thanks to our Sponsors:

cozyearth.com/deep
auraframes.com [Promo Code “DEEPQUESTIONS”]
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Cal talks a lot about his ideas for producing meaningful work in a distracted world. But how do other people tackle this goal? To help better under this question, Cal reacts to a 2018 article from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in which he details his productivity philosophy. Cal then answers listener questions and concludes with a dystopian tech corner.

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Sam Altman On Productivity [2:20]

How do I prevent administrative sprawl? [22:01]
When is the best time to schedule Deep Work? [31:12]
How can a gardener gain career capital? [32:43]
How can one go from good performance to exceptional performance? [36:21]
Is it better to write with a single monitor? [38:33]

CALL: Slow Productivity in a changing world [43:09]

CALL: Rory Mcllroy and his phone [48:35]

TECH CORNER: Will AI Destroy Humanity by 2027? [56:46]

Links:
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
blog.samaltman.com/productivity
ai-2027.com
daveshap.substack.com/p/common-bad-takes-in-ai-safety-a-response

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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In this episode of IN-DEPTH, Cal is joined by David Dewane, the architect responsible for the “eudaimonia machine” featured in DEEP WORK. In this wide-ranging conversation, Cal and David talk about the challenges of finding depth in a distracted world, and the results of David’s personal experimentation in creating a deep life of his own.

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

INTERVIEW: Architecting a Deep Life (w/ David Dewane) [04:06]

Links:
https://www.calnewport.com/slow

https://donedaily.com/

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the theme music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Cal has been writing about time management for a long time. In this episode, he returns to a chapter from a book he wrote twenty years ago that is titled “manage your time in 5 minutes a day.” He revisits his old advice to see what he thinks still works and what needs updating. He then answers listener questions and returns to the tech corner to get back in the weeds on a topic involving AI.

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Manage Your Time in 5 Minutes a Day [3:11]

How specific should I make my Quarterly Plan? [27:28]
Does reading Mangas count as reading? [29:30]
How do I store information related to tasks? [34:14]
How do I speak better at work in spontaneous conversations? [38:31]
Are paper and pencil calendars suitable to use if my work is in two different time zones? [45:42]

CALL: Utilizing coaching [51:38]

CALL: Embracing boredom [57:48]

TECH CORNER: RL vs. LLM [1:08:04]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

Thanks to our Sponsors:

grammarly.com/podcast

cozyearth.com/deep

oracle.com/deepquestions

expressvpn.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Phones have been receiving a lot of criticism recently, but what if these concerns are missing the mark? In this episode, Cal introduces the difference between primary and secondary phone harms, and argues how our obsession with the former hides the importance of the latter. He then answers reader questions and reviews the books he read in March 2025.

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: The Forgotten Phone Harms [3:32]

What do you do when your writing doesn’t quite feel right? [24:32]
How should I prioritize responding to different types of communication? [33:29]
Should personal and work tasks be split into different Trello boards? [39:10]
What is the difference between a two-status board and a reverse task list? [41:47]

CASE STUDY: A student adopts the Tao of Cal [45:17]

CALL: Structuring weekly templates [49:00]

MARCH BOOKS: The 5 books Cal read in March 2025 [57:24]

Believe (Ross Douhut)
How to Winter (Kari Leibowitz)
Letter and the Scroll (Jonathan Sacks)
I and Thou (Martin Buber)
Coming into the Country (John McPhee)

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/deepquestions and get on your way to being your best self.

shopify.com/deep

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mybodytutor.com

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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In last week’s episode, Cal discussed data that indicate that the rise of the smartphones is making humans measurably dumber. Here he discusses aggressive strategies for resisting this reality. He then answers listener questions and ends with a tech corner.

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Getting Smarter in a Dumb World [3:47]

With remote work dwindling, should I change careers to achieve my ideal lifestyle? [31:14]
Should a 24-year-old ditch his college degree to pursue another field? [36:25]
How should merit be rewarded in a revenue-constrained environment? [40:40]
How can one find and engage with these more niche online communities? [44:34]
How can partners support each other in building a deep life? [46:48]

CASE STUDY: Using lifestyle planning to turn down a promotion [48:53]

TECH CORNER: How do AI’s “reason”? [57:53]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

Thanks to our Sponsors:

zocdoc.com/deep

kinsta.com/deepquestions

udacity.com/deep [Use code DEEP]

notion.com/cal

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Multiple listeners recently sent in a Financial Times article that asks whether humans have passed “peak intelligence.” In this episode, Cal looks closer at the data in this article to try to understand why we seem to be getting dumber, and more importantly, what are the practical steps individuals can take to avoid the trend. He then answers listener questions and ends with a tech corner segment that highlights a blind spot in current discussions of AI.

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Are We Getting Dumber? [2:58]

Is it possible to build a better Twitter? [24:58]
Should I ditch my higher paying job to avoid stress? [29:59]
Can I remain relevant with younger, tech-savvy colleagues? [34:56]
How should I navigate my time during while receiving severance? [38:35]
What should I do next after being fired from my federal job? [41:18]
CALL: Practicing focus on the weekends [45:01]

CASE STUDY: An engineering Kansan system [48:41]

TECH CORNER: The AI Blind Spot [1:00:04]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

on.ft.com/3DIItJK

Thanks to our Sponsors:

factormeals.com/deep50off

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expressvpn.com/deep

grammarly.com/podcast

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Modern knowledge work jobs should be cushy gigs. Fixed hours, air conditioning, no hard manual labor, flexibility. So why are we so often burnt out and what can we do about this reality? In this episode, Cal draws a lesson from an unexpected corner of computer science, computer security research, about how we can fix some of the big problems of work in a digital age. He then answers listener questions and returns once again to the topic of AI in a final tech corner segment.

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: You Are Not a Cog [11:00]

Should I break my large tasks into many small ones? [38:18]
How will AI affect living the deep life? [42:47]
How can I say “no” to more incoming requests? [48:14]
Should an architect take on broader roles that don’t necessarily add to career capital? [52:03]
Can a nurse implement time blocking? [54:33]
Can a Kansan system work across all departments without being overly complex? [58:11]
CALL: Organizing the details of a Trello board [1:03:19]

CASE STUDY: Lifestyle centric value based planning for a young family [1:07:58]

TECH CORNER: AGI is not Super-intelligence [1:15:35]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

medium.com/@tony.infisical/password-requirements-are-still-confusing-in-2023-also-heres-our-flavor-44ce03a3255c

youtube.com/watch?v=ZzJMxh68RGI

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This episode is sponsored by to you BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/deepquestions

mybodytutor.com

upliftdesk.com/deep

shopify.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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One of the most commonly recurring themes on this show is the conflict between too much versus not enough productivity. In this episode, Cal attempts to find new clarity in this debate by identifying a minimal viable productivity system – that is, what are the bare minimum components needed to escape the chaos and stress of total disorganization. He then answers listener questions and dives into a A.I. themed Tech Corner segment.

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: A Minimal Protocol for Taking Control of Your Life [3:23]

Is “finding purpose” and “following your passion” the same thing? [32:38]
How can I capture key takeaways from podcasts if I’m always on the move? [37:18]
Can you elaborate on project work with your PhD students? [39:22]
How can I deal with my federal job with drastic priority changes due to political party shifts? [41:40]
Is it possible for some managers to avoid pseudo-productivity? [49:15]
CALL: Writing a book as a side hustle [51:58]

CASE STUDY: An athletic trainer makes a career transition [59:19]

TECH CORNER: A.G.I. versus SkyNet [1:07:30]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

nytimes.com/2025/03/04/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-ben-buchanan.html

Thanks to our Sponsors:

cozyearth.com/deep

byloftie.com (Code: DEEP20)

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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In this episode of IN-DEPTH, Cal is joined by the writers Brad Stulberg and Clay Skipper to talk about the topic of “greatness.” They attempt to pick apart the weird moment we are in where, on the one hand, we feel aversion to performative demonstrations of “pseudo-greatness” (think: Elon Musk on-stage with his chainsaw) but on the other, still admire useful skill and seek it in our own lives.

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

INTERVIEW: Greatness on Trial (w/ Brad Stulberg and Clay Skipper)

Links:
https://www.landroverusa.com
https://www.calnewport.com/slow

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the theme music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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How do escape a life of shallowness and distraction to cultivate something deeper and more meaningful? In this episode, Cal draws from both algorithm theory and the habits of a reclusive author to highlight an effective strategy for achieving this goal – one that underscores the advantages of the small targeted changes versus major grand leaps. He then answers listener questions and reviews the five books he read in February.

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: The Good Life Algorithm [1:42]

How should a federal worker navigate all the negative news? [23:56]
How do I get my non-geeky partner on board with the deep life! [26:40]
How can I develop a schedule with flexibility following a health setback? [29:08]
How should I reshape a once successful aerospace company? [35:06]
Are there perceived benefits to pseudo productivity? [43:32]
CALL: What does it mean to work enough each week? [50:19]

CASE STUDY: Can knowledge workers be happy doing less? [58:55]

FEBRUARY BOOKS: The 5 Books Cal Read in February, 2025 [1:07:50]

Moral Ambition (Rutger Bregman)
Brotherhood of the Rose (David Morell)
- How Dante Can Save Your Life (Rod Dreher)
- Buzz Saw (Jesse Dougherty)
- The Siren’s Call (Chris Hayes)

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

newyorker.com/culture/office-space/the-hollow-core-of-elon-musks-productivity-dogma

tim.blog/2019/02/18/jim-collins/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Tim Ferris is working on a new book about saying “no” and has posted the introduction online. In this episode, Cal reads an excerpt from this introduction and then tries to make sense of it with a metaphor about a shipwreck that helps unwind the complexity of dealing with the scourge of having too much to do. Cal then answers listener questions and reacts to a productivity meme inspired by a recent episode.

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Drowning, Treading, or Swimming [6:27]

Will AI productivity gains reduce quality? [27:30]
Can you elaborate on the Digital Declutter? [33:38]
Is reading a book considered deep work? [38:41]
What are Cal’s thoughts on content aggregator services such as Inoreader? [43:49]
Can a large team with ever-changing demands avoid pseudo-productivity? [51:47]
CALL: Dealing with doom-scrolling [58:31]

CASE STUDY: A UFC announcer applies Cal’s principles [1:07:40]

CAL REACTS: Productivity Meme [1:19:42]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

tim.blog/2025/01/13/the-no-book/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Sometimes the quest for productivity can seem like the embrace of activity for the sake of activity, a prospect that inevitably leads to exhaustion. In today’s episode, Cal explores this idea by discussing “productivity rain dances,” why they’re dangerous, and what works better instead. He then answers listener questions and ends with a Tech Corner segment in which he fact checks Joe Rogan’s understanding of ChatGPT.

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Productivity Rain Dances [7:04]

How should I take notes during a meeting? [26:31]
How could a layman (not a computer scientist) test the veracity of the claims of an AI system or its potential? [28:53]
How can I utilize my full-days in my cube with cancelled telework to best make progress on my phantom “part-time” job? [33:37]
Can I be a CS instructor with a PhD? [37:45]
Can I convince my advisor to “do fewer experiments” for my doctoral thesis? [42:47]
CALL: College in the modern digital environment [48:28]

CASE STUDY: Managing multiple email inboxes [54:22]

TECH CORNER: Does ChatGPT have “survival instincts”? [1:05:17]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

x.com/firelog_io/status/1887541363287138445

x.com/ChrisWillx/status/1800198794107064646?lang=en

youtube.com/watch?v=HigVe4IqsBM

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This episode is sponsored by to you BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/deepquestions and get on your way to being your best self.

shopify.com/deep

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mybodytutor.com

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

In a recent appearance on the Tim Ferriss podcast, the prolific fantasy author Brandon Sanderson revealed how he reshaped his media company to help him do what he does best. In this episode, Cal explores the idea, and asks the key question: why is this not more common? While exploring an answer, Cal uncovers a bigger issue in modern digital knowledge work and points towards potential answers. He then answers listener questions and concludes with a tech corner about Alan Turing.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Let Brandon Cook [4:56]

What is your opinion on mind mapping and have you ever used it? [32:35]
What “really matters” to develop career capital for a civil servant? [36:28]
What’s your view on Daniel Immerwahr’s recent New Yorker article on the attention crisis? [42:23]
How does mentoring fit into knowledge work development? [49:54]
Is it possible to use Paul Jarvis’s approach to start a company to merge the divide with Slow Productivity? [57:20]
CALL: A 15-year-old and a smartphone [1:03:28]

CASE STUDY: Using AI to expand work skills [1:07:59]

TECH CORNER: Let Turing Cook [1:21:41]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

tim.blog/2025/02/05/brandon-sanderson/

spectrum.ieee.org/alan-turings-delilah

podcast.feedspot.com/computer_science_podcasts/

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

One of the most common complaints from listeners to the podcast is the feeling that they’re too distracted; both at work and at home. In today’s episode, Cal reviews five major explanations for this current state of affairs, and then uses this new understanding to identify concrete actions to make things better. He then answers reader questions and reviews the five books he read in January.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Why You’re Always Distracted [3:50]

How should I use social media for my documentary film project? [29:40]
How can I master a new job skill in a busy schedule? [37:11]
Any advice for developing and nurturing my “second mountain” values? [42:10]
How can overcome project paralysis? [48:41]
Is my knowledge work role doomed to fail? [52:10]
CALL: Supporting a spouse during stressful career planning [58:01]

CASE STUDY: The benefits of a commute [1:05:35]

JANUARY BOOKS: The 5 Books Cal Read in January, 2025 [1:14:13]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

Thanks to our Sponsors:

thrivemarket.com/deep

shopify.com/deep

landroverusa.com

vanta.com/deepquestions

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Remote work is a hot discussion topic right now as president Trump moves to eliminate it from government work. For those who are still allowed to work from home this new focus provides a good chance to rethink how to get the most out of these arrangements. In today’s episode, Cal presents three foundational ideas from his reporting about what makes remote work actually work, and for each provides concrete advice individuals can apply to make their own virtual setups better. He then answers reader questions and ends with a tech corner focused on what the law says about whether social media should be banned for kids.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Hacking Remote Work [4:58]

How does Cal explain time management vs. focus and attention management? [40:53]
How can I self study hard, technical concepts? [50:12]
Should I quit my PhD program after 3.5 years? [54:13]
Does Slow Productivity work for college students? [1:08:35]
CALL: Organizing a writing sabbatical [1:16:55]

CASE STUDY: A software engineer removes distractions [1:25:41]

TECH CORNER: Is Social Media More Like Cigarettes or Junk Food? [1:33:11]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

newyorker.com/culture/infinite-scroll/is-social-media-more-like-cigarettes-or-junk-food

youtu.be/-U7D4Fw67Zs?si=srHaYr3inZ9uAd0p

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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In a recent article for The Atlantic, Derek Thompson writes about the troubling trends toward increased solitude. In this episode, Cal looks at the role technology plays in these trends, pointing out some surprising factors and then using these insights to come up with a practical plan for reconnecting with the world. He then answers listener questions and concludes with a tech corner segment inspired by yet another New Yorker column.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: On Screens and Solitude [3:09]

How can I study at night after my doctor work? [26:49]
Can you comment on Leopold Aschenbrenner’s Situational Awareness essay? [36:45]
How do I successfully pursue my non-work values? [51:33]
How can I become a better writer? [1:00:56]
Can someone break into the top 0.1% of their respective field without periods of unsustainable and obsessive work? [1:02:44]
CALL: Managing active projects [1:08:42]

CASE STUDY: A follow-up from Episode 323 [1:13:02]

CAL REACTS: An Offline Person Tries TikTok for the First Time [1:19:34]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

axios.com/2024/06/23/leopold-aschenbrenner-ai-future-silicon-valley

theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/02/american-loneliness-personality-politics/681091/

newyorker.com/culture/infinite-scroll/what-happened-when-an-extremely-offline-person-tried-tiktok

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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One of the most popular and most derided topics in online productivity spaces are so-called morning routines. In this episode, Cal wades into this content, identifying three major categories of these routines. For each, he explores what’s good and what’s bad. In the end, he uses these lessons to update his own daily routines in some highly specific ways. He then answers reader questions and ends with a “tech corner” segment that builds on Cal’s latest essay for The New Yorker.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: On Morning Routines [4:04]

How should I choose what podcasts to listen to? [41:49]
How does Cal track daily steps? [52:57]
Can I switch my office hours around? [57:23]
How long should I remain at a large marketing firm? [1:02:37]
How can I reject meetings? [1:10:02]
CALL: How to obsess over quality while researching [1:13:22]

CASE STUDY: A career transition to become a pastor [1:18:57]

TECH CORNER: YouTube and the Creative Middle Class [1:28:18]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

x.com/jockowillink

tiktok.com/@spartan/video/7259530421099056427

nbcnews.com/better/lifestyle/i-tried-miracle-morning-routine-month-here-s-what-happened-ncna981786

youtube.com/watch?v=roK4g1e28mM

newyorker.com/culture/rabbit-holes/a-lesson-in-creativity-and-capitalism-from-two-zany-youtubers

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/deepquestions

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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In this episode, Cal talks about his journey into the tinsel-tinged world of Hallmark Christmas movies, where he discovered an unexpected connection between these low-budget productions and a key idea in the quest to cultivate a deep life in a distracted world. He then answers questions from listeners and reviews the books he read in December.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Hallmark Movies and the Deep Life [2:31]

Does Cal use a Commonplace book? [22:53]
How do I create an effective weekly template? [25:54]
Is your monthly book reading separate from “work” reading? [31:18]
What are the best strategies for a college student to learn calculus? [36:38]
What are other book recommendations that dive deeper into Slow Productivity? [43:50]
CALL: Struggling to apply multi-scale planning to grow a business [46:15]

CASE STUDY: Transitioning to knowledge work [52:18]

DECEMBER BOOKS: The 5 Books Cal Read in December, 2024 [1:03:17]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

nytimes.com/2024/12/08/arts/christmas-movies-hallmark-lohan.html

imdb.com/title/tt29378386/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

landroverusa.com

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: 4 Pieces of Advice to Start 2025 [2:14]

How do I stop doom-scrolling before bed? [32:47]
What is the role of craft in Cal’s “Deep Life Stack 2.0” idea? [36:09]
How do I save money? [41:04]
Do writers need social media audiences? [50:12]
How should I make the most of 90 minutes of commute time? [53:57]
CALL: Life after a career in law [57:31]

CASE STUDY: A digital declutter with LinkedIn? [1:01:53]

TECH CORNER: Is Social Media Like Dying Malls? (A Debate) [1:07:46]

Links:
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
honest-broker.com/p/are-social-media-platforms-the-next

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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eightsleep.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Who are Cal’s “must read” writers? [6:03]
Does Cal think he can get better at writing? [13:37]
When does Cal find time for academic papers? [24:09]
How do you get unstuck? [26:44]
How should students pick a college? [34:04]
What is Cal’s shutdown ritual? [43:00]
Does Cal think about retirement? [48:00]
CAL REACTS: Elon and Twitter [54:30]
Is cal still using his ReMarkable? [1:03:17]
What’s Cal’s post-mortem on his latest book? [1:08:10]

FINAL SEGMENT: Checking in on Cal’s New Year Plan [1:26:10]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
washingtonpost.com/business/interactive/2024/see-how-elon-musks-online-audience-dwarfs-donald-trumps/?itid=hp_world-biz-tech_p006_f008

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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In this episode of IN-DEPTH, Cal welcomes the bestselling author Michael Easter to talk about the importance of embracing discomfort in the quest to cultivate a deep life. Drawing from Michael’s two books, THE COMFORT CRISIS and SCARCITY BRAIN, as well as Michael’s personal journey from an unhappy office worker with an alcohol problem to a full-time writer who enjoys daily hikes in the desert, Cal and Michael get into the weeds of our human wiring and what it feels like to build an intentional life.

Video from today’s episode: https://www.youtube.com/calnewportmedia

INTERVIEW: Bestselling author Michael Easter [5:56]

Links:

https://www.landroverusa.com
https://www.calnewport.com/slow

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the theme music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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One of the most important but often overlooked elements of cultivating a deep life is the role of money. In this episode, Cal takes a contrarian look at this topic, arguing that the monetary cost of your vision is not actually the most important metric. He then answers listener questions and reacts to an article that many people sent him this past week.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Money and the Deep Life [3:17]

How can I tame my wandering mind when reading? [23:34]
How should I schedule time blocks as a real estate agent? [27:21]
How can I improve my quarterly planning? [32:33]
How can I balance intense motivation with finding inner peace? [38:29]
How can a jobseeker demonstrate actual productivity? [45:37]
CALL: Trying to do more with a newborn [53:34]

CASE STUDY: A 39-year-old juggling school and work [1:00:18]

CAL REACTS: ‘Brain Rot’ [1:12:51]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

corp.oup.com/news/brain-rot-named-oxford-word-of-the-year-2024/

youtu.be/mHU_K1o3B-4?si=Tsk1GEgzrhlCiaGw

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Australia recently passed a world-first law banning social media use for kids under the age of 16. In this episode, Cal looks carefully at the arguments in favor and against this new law before detailing his thoughts. He then connects this specific argument to all of our larger battles to tame technology’s impact in our lives. This is followed by listener questions and a review of the books Cal read in November.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Tackling Social Media’s Hidden Dangers [2:08]

How do I find friends now that I don’t use social media? [37:13]
Is continuous hard activity desirable? [42:47]
How does Cal research his books and articles? [46:49]

CASE STUDY: A Phone Addict Seeks a Fresh Start [51:08]

How does the idea of the idea of the deep life “Longer Short Way” connect to Slow Productivity? [1:02:07]

FINAL SEGMENT: The 5 Books Cal Read in November, 2024 [1:10:34]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at https://peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

cnn.com/2024/11/28/australia/australia-passes-social-media-law-intl-hnk/index.html

apnews.com/article/australia-social-media-children-ban-safeguarding-harm-accounts-d0cde2603bdbc7167801da1d00ecd056

Thanks to our Sponsors

mybodytutor.com

cozyearth.com/deep

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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This IN-DEPTH is brought to you by Defender.

In this episode of IN-DEPTH, Cal welcomes the bestselling author Kendra Adachi to talk about her new book, THE PLAN, which introduces the innovative idea of “compassionate time management.” Kendra and Cal discuss how to move beyond the forever pursuit of “greatness” to instead seek satisfaction in your current life; the ways in which time management and productivity writing ignores the specific concerns of women; and why flexibility and pivoting are more important skills than precise planning.

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Links:
https://www.landroverusa.com
https://www.calnewport.com/slow

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the theme music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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We cover a lot of advice on this podcast, covering a lot of different topics. In today’s episode, Cal takes on the challenge of summarizing every big idea he promotes in less than five minutes. He then provides some theoretical connective tissue to explain how they all connect. This is followed by reader questions and a rant about “productivity.”

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: The Tao of Cal [2:53]

Why is time blocking more demanding than using a weekly template? [25:04]
Is moving to the country a bad idea? [29:54]
How can I consolidate my email accounts without being stressed out? [34:47]
What’s the best approach to read for general knowledge? [36:20]
How do I apply Slow Productivity without losing career capital? [43:12]
CALL: Should I adjust my deep life lifestyle? [45:58]

CASE STUDY: Cultivating the deep work muscle [56:38]

CAL REACTS (e.g., Rants): “Productivity” Tracking Software [1:05:58]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/1gwg7rk/employee_monitoring_software_has_gone_off_the/?rdt=41693

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/deepquestions

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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There’s a video trending on the internet at the moment arguing that its audience (presumably, young men) should disappear from the world to focus on going “beast mode” on their goals. Cal takes a closer look at this video and argues that it points toward a much larger issue – a mismatch between the modern digital environment and our human brains – that affects all of us. He then answers listener questions and calls and concludes with a tech corner segment.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Analog Mode [2:39]

How do I go about restructuring my life after a shake-up? [29:50]
Should I take breaks from my AirPods? [36:03]
How can I adopt the discipline ladder to “multi-scale” planning? [38:54]
How do I regain a sense of time in a period of isolation and challenge? [43:41]
Should I quit some of my side projects? [48:50]
CALL: How should I time block on sabbatical? [55:27]

CASE STUDY: Building Studio Z [1:03:18]

TECH CORNER: Section 230 and Poison Pills [1:15:10]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

youtube.com/watch?v=p5a7whN1k64

promarket.org/2020/12/13/liberals-conservatives-wrong-section-230-reform-repeal/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

eightsleep.com/deep

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Almost everyone feels uneasy about their relationships with their smartphones. But the question is why? In today’s episode, Cal looks past the most common answers to seek a deeper understanding built on an unexpected source: the moral philosophy of Immanuel Kant. He then answers listener questions and ends the show with another edition of the tech corner segment.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Would Kant Use TikTok? [6:13]

Do “distraction free” apps work? [30:36]
How can I finish what I start? [34:24]
Is context shifting slowing down my work as a teacher? [37:42]
How should I organize my official podcast duties with my traditional teaching requirements? [43:08]
Is “slow living” and “slow productivity" the same thing? [49:00]
CALL: Deep work blocks in the afternoon [55:58]

CASE STUDY: Re-designing a life with a new job [1:00:07]

TECH CORNER: How do recommendation algorithms work? [1:11:00]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

youtu.be/SeZ1YOgbz18?si=kuCksvy_dGoOfx8Q

Thanks to our Sponsors:

shopify.com/deep

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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During the election season our devices take a particularly hard tole on our health and happiness. Now that the votes have been cast and counted, Cal proposes it’s time to take a temporary but radical break from the exhausting digital chatter. He then answers questions from his listeners and discusses Martha Stewart and the problems of “aesthetic productivity.”

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Time to Unplug [2:49]

How do I organize all the information in my life? [39:04]
How can I do a side hustle if it’s against company policy? [42:23]
What is “Humanist Productivity”? [48:46]
Should I use a flip phone in college? [57:05]
How can I work at a natural place in a software company? [1:01:27]
CALL: Oliver Burkeman and imperfectionism [1:08:32]

CASE STUDY: Managing with slow productivity [1:13:16]

CAL REACTS: Martha Stewart’s Productivity Tips [1:21:36]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

calnewport.com/after-you-vote-unplug/

today.com/shop/martha-stewart-shares-her-favorite-tips-staying-organized-t171345

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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A common theme on this show is the importance of focus and the need to train the ability. This can be a long term project, but are there things you can do right away to improve your ability to concentrate? In this episode, Cal explores five easy ideas that will immediately improve your focus ability. He then answers listener questions and reviews the books he read in October 2024.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Simple Focus Protocols [2:09]

Can I time-block my personal time if it’s more busy than work? [25:57]
How do I prioritize when I have so much I want to do? [29:46]
How can I do deep work to increase my job skills if my days are filled with meetings? [34:50]
What are your all-time favorite books? [39:25]
How can I apply the principles of Slow Productivity as a business owner with multiple projects? [44:41]
CALL: Eyeglasses as a proxy for meaningful effort [49:39]

FINAL SEGMENT: The 5 Books Cal Read in October 2024 [59:01]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/deepquestions

grammarly.com/podcast

zocdoc.com/deep

shopify.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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We talk a lot on this show about how to organize your professional efforts. But what about all your obligations outside of work? The personal goals, the household repairs, the family tasks? In this episode, Cal discusses organizational strategies custom-fit to these types of obligations. He then answers listener questions and checks in on a hidden trend in the world of technology.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Taming Non-Work Tasks [4:48]

How do you manage unexpected projects in your time management system? [26:57]
How can I implement lifestyle-centric planning if my life has been directed by other people? [29:36]
How do you figure out what your rare and valuable skill is? [33:57]
Should I return to social media to promote my new book? [37:30]
How can I do fewer things if I’m expected to bill 40 client hours every week? [46:23]
CALL: Hiring an administrative assistant [50:08]

CASE STUDY: A software developer’s “pull” system [57:35]

TECH CORNER: The Quiet Revolution [1:08:34]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/the-frightening-familiarity-of-late-nineties-office-photos

youtube.com/watch?v=-lRkCbhABvo

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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One of the most common complaints from people attempting to cultivate a deep life in our distracted world is procrastination. You want to make regular progress on something important but find you just can’t get going. In this episode, Cal discusses a less well understood cause of some procrastination and offers unconventional advice for facing it. He also answers listener questions and reacts to an article about a famous author’s unexpected regret.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Strategic Procrastination [4:46]

Should I change my job? [20:28]
Should I automate my busy work? [24:20]
How can I speed up my reading? [27:01]
Should I quit my job to get my PhD? [31:41]
My team of 3 has 37 open projects. How do we avoid burnout? [43:29]
CALL: An engineering student’s commute [50:52]

CASE STUDY: Doing a master’s later in life [59:50]

CAL REACTS: Anne Patchett’s Biggest Regret [1:09:40]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

nytimes.com/2024/10/15/opinion/ann-patchett-regret-email.html

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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In this episode of IN-DEPTH, a semi-regular interview series with people at the frontiers of deep living, Cal welcomes the bestselling author Oliver Burkeman to the Deep Work HQ to talk about his new book, MEDITATIONS FOR MORTALS, and more generally the tension between wanting to get your act together and becoming unhealthily obsessed with productivity.

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

INTERVIEW: New York Times best seller Oliver Burkeman [3:40]

Links:
https://www.calnewport.com/slow

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the theme music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Do you struggle to consistently make progress on hard things that are important to you? In today’s episode, Cal describes a way to improve this state of affairs: a systematic training regime called the discipline ladder. He then answers listener questions about their own struggles with discipline and reacts to an article claiming that professors are lazy (gasp!).

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: The Discipline Ladder [4:29]

How can I overcome procrastination? [24:42]
How can I make my daily metrics more personal? [27:16]
How can I get my discipline back on track after a negative event? [32:47]
How can I be more disciplined to find time for my part-time project? [39:50]
How can my organization adopt slow productivity principles? [43:49]
CALL: Process centered emails [50:41]

CASE STUDY: Leveraging Career Capital [58:02]

CAL REACTS: Are Professor’s Lazy? [1:07:19]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

city-journal.org/article/professor-mia

newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-inquiry/what-kind-of-writer-is-chatgpt

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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It has become second nature to maintain a continuous partial participation in the world of digital networks. In today’s episode, Cal reflects on a week in which he spent too much time online, and argues why this continuous partial participation is dehumanizing, and what you can do to escape. He then takes questions and calls from listeners and reviews the five books he read in September.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: How Your Phone Is Changing You [1:43]

How do I teach my bosses to be deeper? [28:34]
How can I focus as a doctor when I have to keep switching from one patient to the next?” [35:46]
How do I overcome notebook overwhelm? [39:13]
Can “creativity” be added to the deep life buckets? [40:47]
How do I overcome the guilt of no longer being pseudo-productive? [44:51]
CALL: The Pomodoro Technique and overcoming distraction [49:33]

CASE STUDY: A 39-year-old changes careers [54:21]

FINAL SEGMENT: The 5 Books Cal Read in September 2024 [1:02:50]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/deepquestions

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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One of the single most important factors in your attempts to cultivate a deep life is your job. Yet, many people don’t give much thought to the role their work will play in their conception of a life well-lived. In this episode, Cal looks deeper at this topic. He starts by outlining four common traps people fall into when thinking about their work and happiness, then offers an alternative model that works better. He continues by answering listener questions about jobs and happiness, and ends with a look at Robert Caro’s writing shack.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Jobs and the Deep Life [3:43]

How can I tame my 12-hour work days? [26:25]
Should I worry about having too many daily metrics? [29:49]
How can I create an inspiring deep work environment if I work out of my car? [33:24]
How can I remain accessible to my kid's daycare without being constantly distracted? [35:36]
How can I use the principles of slow productivity for my MBA studies? [39:58]
CALL: Applying Cal’s principles as a new parent [45:49]

CASE STUDY: Focused work for a PhD program [51:37]

CAL REACTS: Robert Caro’s Budget Writing Shack [1:01:18]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

tumblr.austinkleon.com/post/761805215728009216/in-the-shack-with-robert-caro-he-bought-the-prefab

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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In this episode of IN-DEPTH, a new semi-regular interview series with people at the frontiers of deep living, Cal interviews bestselling author Ryan Holiday about the systematic construction of an intentional life. They begin by talking about lessons from Ryan’s new book. RIGHT THING, RIGHT NOW, then go deep on Ryan’s own journey from a college drop-out working in a Hollywood talent agency to becoming a fully independent and massively successful writer and media personality.

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

INTERVIEW: Mega-bestselling writer Arthur Brooks [3:33]

Links:
https://www.calnewport.com/slow

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the theme music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Why can you never seem to find enough time to make progress on the non-urgent but important priorities that can move you closer to the ideal of the deep life? In this episode, Cal reviews three common “time destroyers,” and for each offers solutions to fight back. He then takes questions and calls from his listeners and ends with a discussion of Amazon and the bureaucracy mailbox.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Reclaim Your Time [3:43]

Is Agile compatible with slow productivity? [34:20]
How can I better structure my days as a master’s student with a job? [36:37]
How often and in what medium should I check my calendar? [42:43]
On days when I have no time, does reading for 20 minutes actually do anything? [46:52]
Will slow productivity make me less ambitious? [52:16]
CALL: Different types of Deep Work [58:04]

CASE STUDY: A teacher’s shutdown ritual [1:03:55]

CAL REACTS: A Bureaucracy Mailbox [1:10:24]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?aboutamazon.com/news/company-news/ceo-andy-jassy-latest-update-on-amazon-return-to-office-manager-team-ratio

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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One of the more viral suggestions from Cal’s recent book, SLOW PRODUCTIVITY, was to occasionally skip out of work to see a movie. In this episode, Cal dives deep into criticisms of this advice and decodes what this tells us about where knowledge work is faltering and how we can make things better. He then answers questions from listeners and reacts to some productivity advice given from a well-known CEO.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: [7:47]

Can I work deeply in my chaotic job? [27:17]
Can I use my inbox as a task list? [31:36]
How do you look at travel within your plans for a deep life? [35:12]
How can I get my partner to stop talking about work? [41:14]
How do I practice slow productivity with health issues? [44:54]
CALL: How can I decide on what career path to pursue? [49:14]

CASE STUDY: Switching careers after a 20 year law stint [56:11]

CAL REACTS: The CEO Who Swears by Time Blocking [1:05:04]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

cnbc.com/2024/05/09/want-to-boost-your-productivity-hit-the-movies-during-work-expert-says.html

cnbc.com/amp/2024/09/09/whole-foods-ceo-swears-by-time-blocking-to-boost-productivity.html

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Becoming notably good at something valuable is one of the most powerful tools for crafting a deep life. But how do people do this? In this episode, Cal explores three useful rules for getting good in search of depth. He then answers listener questions and reacts to a remarkable collection of advice from almost seven decades ago.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: The 10-Year Rule [2:29]

Why can’t I succeed with Cal’s time management system? [32:03]
Can RSS feeds make “fast content” slow? [39:06]
Can persuading people be considered deep work? [45:05]
How can I guide my teenage son towards a deep life? [47:05]
How do I find time to launch my new business? [49:53]
CALL: Testing a book idea without social media [55:04]

CASE STUDY: A professional athlete utilizing career capital [1:06:10]

CAL REACTS: C.S. Lewis’s Advice for Writers [1:15:32]

Links:
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/ryan-holiday-stoic-king-bastrop-painted-porch/
youtube.com/watch?v=hB3tBI-KNLk
twitter.com/InfiniteB88ks/status/1824108211081019821

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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The fall is the perfect time to tune up your productivity and organizational systems. With this in mind, in this episode, Cal discusses a tool he has long used in his own life but never discussed before in public: the weekly template. He then answers questions on the theme of personal productivity from listeners and reviews the books he read in August.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Weekly Templates [3:29]

How does Cal schedule his evening writing sessions? [26:08]
How can I leverage my current career capital to become an entrepreneur? [30:30]
How do I find time for non-urgent but interesting deep work? [35:59]
Is afternoon deep work possible? [39:16]
Can I use slow productivity to help prepare for a job interview? [45:49]
CALL: How do I not be reactionary during my busy season? [51:42]

CASE STUDY: Using Cal’s toolkit while working in the Peace Corps [56:52]

FINAL SEGMENT: The 5 Books Cal Read in August 2024 [1:06:05]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/deepquestions

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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In this classic episode, Cal talks about the surprising myth of doing less. Cal then answers questions about discipline and solving complicated problems. Cal concludes the episode with a review of the books he read back in April 2022.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: The Surprising Math of Doing Less [3:33]

How do I improve my discipline? [20:01]
How do you break down a complicated problem? [31:04]
CALL: Has Cal read “Stolen Focus”? [34:07]

The Books I Read in April 2022 [40:28]

LISTENER CALL: Playbook for writing in The New Yorker [1:05:30]

Links:
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

Thanks to our Sponsors:

drinklmnt.com/deep
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: The Elements of the Deep Life [2:31]

How should I get started in a new remote work job? [17:39]
How I time block a purely reactive job? [22:49]
Should I bother capturing tasks that are fast to complete? [26:20]
How do I tame multiple concurrent projects? [29:53]
How do I schedule optional deep work in an exhausting job? [32:51]
How much time is left for family after goals and deep work? [39:56]
Is there such a thing as deep fun? [42:44]
I am addicted to my phone. What do I do? [44:48]
How do I make a big life decision when I have lots of options? [50:35]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

Thanks to our Sponsors:

cozyearth.com/cal

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Summer is the perfect time to ready yourself for significant changes in your life. A chance to seek more depth in a distracted world. But for many, the goal for these changes is unclear. They know they want something deeper, but they don’t know what exactly that is. In this episode, Cal describes a method called structured journaling that can help you clarify your vision for what you seek. He then answers readers’ questions and ends with a final segment in which reacts to a provocative claim by Jon M. Chu, the director of the new WICKED film adaptation.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Structured journaling [6:10]

What does Cal think of goal planning systems? [30:32]
How can college students cultivate a deep life? [32:44]
Can I live a deep life as a lawyer? [40:19]
How does Cal keep track of the books he wants to read? [46:19]
I finish all my work in a single day. Is this unethical? [49:15]
How do I cultivate a deep life in a busy career? [53:11]
CALL: Should I leave a perfect job? [56:54]

CASE STUDY: Career capital theory in action [1:02:38]

FINAL SEGMENT: Jon M. Chu on Creativity and Hard Work [1:10:05]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
nature.com/articles/d41586-024-02540-0
nature.com/articles/d41586-024-02381-x

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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It’s mid-summer, people have some extra breathing room in their schedule, they’re relaxed. This moment of quiet seems like a perfect time to revisit some of this show’s most popular ideas about finding productivity in a world drowning in digital distractions. In this episode, Cal reviews his five most effective productivity related ideas. He then answers reader questions and reviews the seven books he read in July 2024.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Productivity Basics [2:55]

How closely should I schedule my leisure activities? [46:32]
How do I time block a day that lasts longer than 11 hours? [51:57]
Can I save mental energy at work to be more alive outside of work? [58:59]
How do I actually motivate myself to execute the work I planned? [1:04:38]
Am I obsessing over the right things for promotion? [1:10:16]
CALL: Dealing with AI driven calendars [1:16:29]

FINAL SEGMENT: The 7 Books Cal Read in July 2024 [1:26:11]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/deepquestions

zocdoc.com/deep

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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In our current digital world, distracting world events have a way of completely destabilizing our ability to focus on work that matters. In today’s episode, Cal provides advice for escaping these destabilizing attention environments and regaining some sense of mental peace and depth. He then answers questions, takes a call, and reports on some fun sightings of his book Deep Work out in the wild.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Finding focus in distracting times [7:06]

How can I convince my boss to stop interrupting me? [34:05]
Should I switch jobs? [41:13]
How do I integrate unpredictable calls into an otherwise structured schedule? [43:38]
What’s the ideal reading ratio of difficult to easy books? [47:25]
I just turned 30. Am I too late to apply the slow productivity principles? [50:32]

CASE STUDY: Using lifestyle-centered career planning to improve work and pursue a hobby [57:07]

CALL: Switching roles to an unstructured team [1:02:06]

CAL REACTS: Two Wild Deep Work Sightings [1:11:45]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

nytimes.com/interactive/2024/books/authors-top-books-21st-century.html

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Discipline is critical to cultivating a deep life, but what exactly does this concept mean? In this episode, Cal uses a concrete case study from Reddit to dive deeper into the nuances of discipline and to then identify concrete, practical advice for improving your ability to take disciplined action. He then answers listener questions and asks for Jesse’s judgment on a battle of the writing sheds.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: https://youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Rethinking Discipline [5:44]

Should I work harder at finding a job? [36:13]
How can I measure the Discipline layer of the Deep Life Stack? [39:38]
How do I stay off my phone in times of stress? [44:34]
How can I regain the control over my phone that I once had in college? [48:44]
Does Cal only write on a laptop to avoid distractions? [51:54]
How can a new knowledge worker apply the slow productivity principles when starting a new job? [58:13]

CASE STUDY: Shifting jobs between teaching and administration [1:04:10]

FINAL SEGMENT: Battle of the Sheds [1:12:01]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
reddit.com/r/LifeProTips/comments/15sjr2h/lpt_request_how_to_stop_favoring_short_term/
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2958859/
sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240607121448.htm
english.elpais.com/lifestyle/2024-07-06/cal-newport-the-man-who-never-procrastinates.html

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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On this show, we often talk about major overhauls to your work and life. In this episode, we go the other way and focus on the small habits that can make a big difference. In more detail, Cal describes eight surprisingly small strategies – four focused on work and four focused on life outside of work – for finding more depth in a distracted world. He then answers listener questions and reacts to a recent article about pushback to calls to limiting social media for kids.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Habits [2:46]

Can I keep my weekly plan in my workingmemory.txt file? [31:13]
Do you experience any pleasure during deep work? [33:39]
How many deep work sessions should I do each working week? [38:23]
How can I prioritize my goals in my personal life? [40:58]
Does the suggestion to “limit daily goals” conflict with time blocking? [44:09]

CASE STUDY: Building my career around a desired lifestyle [45:53]

CAL REACTS: Countering Pushback to Limiting Social Media for Kids [54:26]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/06/27/social-media-warning-label-surgeon-general-counterarguments/
english.elpais.com/lifestyle/2024-07-06/cal-newport-the-man-who-never-procrastinates.html

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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One of the trickiest aspects of new technology is that it can sometimes destabilize parts of our lives that we didn’t even realize existed and are important. In this episode, Cal talks about one such idea: the quiet mind. Our constant phone usage is eliminating this critical cognitive state, and by doing so is diminishing our humanity. Cal makes the case for the importance of the quiet mind, and then gives concrete ideas for cultivating it in a distracted world. He also answers questions from listeners and reviews the five books he read in June.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: The Power of the Quiet Mind [3:58]

What are the benefits of walking meditation? [29:13]
How can a new dad find time to advance his career? [34:16]
How do I manage a temporary increase in admin responsibilities? [38:48]
How can my son organize his sports and school schedule? [43:31]
How can I do less when my colleagues are getting ahead for doing more? [45:54]
CALL: Pre-scheduling with a pull system [51:14]

CASE STUDY: Collaborating with colleagues to effectively do hard work [57:54]

FINAL SEGMENT: The 5 Books Cal Read in June 2024 [1:08:05]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

Thanks to our Sponsors:

indeed.com/deep

notion.com/cal

shopify.com/deep

expressvpn.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Why are we comfortable with the idea that ultra-processed foods are bad for us but feel somehow anti-technology to say something similar about the ultra-processed content generated by social media platforms. In this episode, Cal draws analogy to the food system to find a more sustainable and practical way to repair our relationship with various forms of media. He then answers questions and calls, shares an inspiring case study, and, due to popular request, gives his opinion on Jonathan Haidt’s new book, THE ANXIOUS GENERATION.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Ultra-Processed Content [2:11]

How would Cal update his college books to deal with the modern day technology distractions? [28:38]
How can I introduce more balance into my highly focused life? [34:56]
Is it ok to play Candy Crush while listening to podcasts? [42:23]
How do I find time for deep thinking in a distracted life? [45:26]
How can I work deeper in a shallow pond? [49:48]
CALL: Using extended periods of time to plan [57:36]

CASE STUDY: Making a career change with a safety net [1:00:29]

CAL REACTS: The Anxious Generation [1:10:20]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at https://peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

https://calnewport.com/on-ultra-processed-content/

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/tapestry/living-deliberately-university-pennsylvania-tapestry-1.6988112

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/deepquestions
https://www.zocdoc.com/deep
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https://www.ladder.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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One of the simmering concerns surrounding the current AI revolution is the fear that we might accidentally create an “alien mind” smarter than we expected. In this episode, Cal puts on his Computer Scientist hat and directly addresses this potential by sketching his emerging concept of intentional artificial intelligence (or, iAI for short). He then answers tech-themed questions from listeners and reacts to an article that many, many different people sent to him last week.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Defusing AI Panic [5:23]

Will A.I. agents spread misinformation on a large scale? [46:31]
Is lack of good measurement and evaluation for A.I. systems a major problem? [51:16]
Is the development of A.I. the biggest thing to happen in technology since the internet? [56:50]
How do I balance a 30 day declutter with my overall technology use? [1:00:40]
How do I convince my team that prioritizing quality over quantity will help them get promotions? [1:07:46]
CALL: Distributed trust models and social media [1:13:12]

CASE STUDY: Using Deep Work and Slow Productivity to engineer a better work situation [1:22:55]

CAL REACTS: Employees fired for using “mouse jigglers” [1:32:03]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?v=448bf8afad0740d18f6b109b4bd40d51

axios.com/2024/06/18/wells-fargo-mouse-jiggler-fired-employee-productivity

nytimes.com/2023/03/24/opinion/yuval-harari-ai-chatgpt.html

arxiv.org/pdf/2303.12712

Thanks to our Sponsors:

moshlife.com/deep

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rhone.com/cal

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Oliver Burkeman recently noted that time blocking seems oppressive? In this episode, Cal responds to this reaction in a surprising way. He then answers questions from listeners and reacts to this podcast being featured at the recent Apple WWDC event.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Is Time Blocking Oppressive? [2:38]

Can Cal elaborate on his experience with his Acceptance and Commitment therapy? [26:46]
How can I sustain my deep life program? [35:03]
How can I stop my girlfriend from always checking her phone? [38:07]
How long are your time blocks in your planner? [43:07]
How do I obsess over quality with filling into procrastination? [47:07]
CALL: Getting back on track after travel [55:10]

CASE STUDY: Adopting principles from Cal’s book to design my life [1:00:11]

CAL REACTS: Deep Questions featured at Apple’s WWDC! [1:10:32]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?v=448bf8afad0740d18f6b109b4bd40d51
shows.acast.com/farewell/episodes/045-the-reason-you-cant-ever-get-through-your-to-do-list-wit
developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2024/102/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

drinklmnt.com/deep
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mintmobile.com/deep
policygenius.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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In a recent interview, held to promote his new Netflix movie, Jerry Seinfeld went on a remarkable 10-minute run in which he rattled off one insight after another about deep work, procrastination, and the quest to live an intentional life in a distracted world. In this episode, Cal extracts four key lessons from this segment of Jerry’s interview. He then takes listener questions and ends with a segment in which he apologizes to an internet personality whom he incorrectly associated with the dreaded “hustle culture.”

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Seinfeld on The Deep Life [4:31]

Do I need to practice outside of work to improve my craft? [30:26]
Can I tackle learning goals sequentially? [38:44]
How do I get through “grinding” at work? [43:10]
How can I build my craft to grow my YouTube channel? [49:56]
Can Cal talk about being an assistant professor with young kids? [54:49]

CASE STUDY: Using lifestyle-centric career planning to upgrade my job and life [1:00:09]

CAL REACTS: James Scholz studies twelve hours a day [1:05:19]

Links:
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
youtube.com/watch?v=TXAvkqXD-Fc
youtube.com/c/jamesscholz

Thanks to our Sponsors:

drinklmnt.com/deep
blinkist.com/deep
mybodytutor.com
shopify.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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The desire to cultivate a more intentional and remarkable existence – what we call “the deep life” – is universal. In today’s episode, Cal talks about one of the most common traps in this pursuit: hoping that the achievement of a singular grand goal will make all parts of your life better. Cal discusses the problems with the grand goal approach and argues why the more systematic lifestyle-centric mindset will not only produce better results, but end up leading to remarkable opportunities anyway. He then takes questions and calls from readers and reviews the five books he read in May.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: How to create a deep life [9:55]

Is it too late to start living deep at the age of 27? [31:29]
Is it possible to cultivate a deep life at a job that requires full attention? [36:05]
How come there are different Deep Life Stacks? [38:57]
How to cultivate a deep life with small children? [46:40]
Do I need to “limit my missions” if I have a standard day job? [54:40]
CALL: Keeping focus after having children [58:28]

CASE STUDY: Finding books to help cultivate a deep life [1:12:18]

FINAL SEGMENT: The 5 Books Cal Read in May 2024 [1:22:47]

Science and Human Values (J. Bronowski)
The Hot Zone (Richard Preston)
Extinction (Douglas Preston)
When the Shooting Stops…the Cutting Begins (Ralph Rosenbaum and Robert Karen)
The Great Partnership (Jonathan Sacks)

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/deepquestions
zocdoc.com/deep
expressvpn.com/deep
notion.com/cal

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

We talk a lot on this show about how to organize and execute your work, but not enough about where to do it. In this episode, Cal explores the theory and practice of “adventure working,” in which you escape to novel and inspiring locations to tackle your most demanding and interesting cognitive efforts. He then answers reader questions about habits and rituals, before ending with a critical look at a famous football club’s distressing embrace of pseudo-productivity.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Re-Enchanting Work [5:39]

What are Cal’s health habits? [31:12]
What’s the difference between discipline and rituals? [34:08]
How does Cal read so much? [37:37]
What are Cal’s writing-related rituals? [40:44]
Should I go slow in my job hunting? [45:05]
CALL: Working at a natural pace as a teacher [49:47]
CALL: How to navigate the “pull system” [54:31]

CASE STUDY: Organizing files in a household [1:00:57]

CAL REACTS: Manchester’s United’s Pseudo-Productivity [1:11:13]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
calnewport.com/adventure-studying-an-unconventional-new-approach-to-exam-preperation/
calnewport.com/bonus-post-an-adventure-studying-case-study/
instagram.com/p/B1y5dV3HSC9/?igshid=1r2acwbmfztew
apcc.org/pond-stories-mary-olivers-blackwater-pond-provincetown/
scottishfield.co.uk/scotland-travel/the-black-heart-of-scots-crime-writer-ian-rankin/
calnewport.com/the-power-of-the-outdoor-office/
calnewport.com/deep-habits-my-office-in-the-woods/
theguardian.com/football/article/2024/may/08/sir-jim-ratcliffe-manchester-united-remote-work-ban-email-traffic
theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/02/hybrid-work-attention-productivity/677598/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

shopify.com/deep
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listening.com/deep
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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In this episode, the proverbial tables are turned, with Cal being interviewed by Jordan Harbinger about time, focus, and the quest for a slower notion of productivity. (This interview originally aired as episode 975 Jordan's can’t-miss podcast, The Jordan Harbinger Show).

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

INTERVIEW: Cal being interviewed by Jordan Harbinger [1:54]

Links:
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at https://peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

mintmobile.com/deep
grammarly.com/podcast
landroverusa.com/defender
rhone.com/cal

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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There has been a lot of attention paid recently to the impact of technology like social media on the mental health of young people. But this is not the only technology trap lurking for this generation. In this episode, Cal talks about three subtle but significant ways in which our current technology culture is setting up young people for professional failure in the years ahead. He then provides some advice for resisting this fate. In addition to this discussion, he answers questions from the audience and reacts to one of the coolest examples of slow craft that he’s encountered in a long while.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: The Burnout Society [7:53]

How can I stop distraction relapses? [35:18]
How can I reduce my social media addiction without abandoning these technologies? [39:37]
How can I schedule deep work with a scattered class schedule? [44:29]
How should I reintroduce video games after a successful digital declutter? [47:14]
How do I apply Slow Productivity later in life? [51:04]
CALL: How to formulate a deep life when you’re young [54:41]

CASE STUDY: Tweaking the time block planner [1:06:44]

CAL REACTS: A Slow Reconstruction of an Ancient City [1:11:00]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEJ4hkpQW8E
www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/research/report/2023-cs-smartphone-research-report_final-for-web.pdf
tenochtitlan.thomaskole.nl/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

drinklmnt.com/deep
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Cal has been writing professionally about issues related to personal productivity for two decades. In today’s episode, he provides a short history of what he’s observed during this period about out constantly shifting relationship with this topic, from the quiet optimism of the 1990s, to the techno-mania of the early 2000s, to the whiplash shift from anti-distraction to anti-work sentiments in the 2010s. He ends with a summary of where we are today and what he currently thinks matters in thinking about getting things done. During the Q&A session, Cal is joined by special guest host Scott Young (whose new book is GET BETTER AT ANYTHING) to help answer your questions. We conclude with a list of the books Cal read in April.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: The 20-year history with personal productivity [4:20]

How does Cal organize his files as a technical researcher? [1:04:55]
How slow is too slow? [1:18:48]
Does “Monk Mode” actually work? [1:27:25]
How do I adapt my organizational systems to do more complicated work? [1:36:07]
What are the most underrated habits for living a great life? [1:49:46]

CASE STUDY: Unconventional slow productivity [1:55:56]

FINAL SEGMENT: The 5 Books Cal Read in April 2024 [2:04:51]

Links:
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?v=448bf8afad0740d18f6b109b4bd40d51
moehrbetter.com/gtd-advanced-workflow-diagram.html

Books Discussed in Deep Dive:

7 Habits of Highly Effective People
How To Become CEO
Getting Things Done
The Four Hour Work Week
Essentialism
How To Do Nothing

April Books:

An Empire of Their Own by Neal Gabler
Co-intelligence by Ethan Mollick
Dragons of Eden by Carl Sagan
The Perfect Mile by Neal Bascomb
To Heal a Fractured World by Jonathan Sacks

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/deepquestions
notion.com/cal
zocdoc.com/deep
shopify.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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We think of information as something neutral; a spotlight that helps illuminate the reality of the outside world. Accordingly, more information is better than less. In this episode, Cal pushes back on this model, arguing that the form in which information arrives can strongly impact the understanding we extract. We must therefore be more intentional about what and how we pay attention. He then answers reader questions and surveys some unusual but entertaining stories about slowness.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Rethinking attention [4:08]

What books should I read to help me develop a deep life? [34:35]
Does writing by hand have benefits for your brain? [38:40]
Should I get a brain scan to prove I have a low IQ? [43:46]
Should I use ChatGPT for book recommendations? [47:39]
How can I avoid wasting your gap year? [49:40]
CALL: Is “Slow Productivity” related to “The Burnout Society” by Buying-Chui Han? [55:32]

CASE STUDY: Utilizing the phone foyer method [1:01:58]

FINAL SEGMENT: Slow news [1:10:58]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?v=448bf8afad0740d18f6b109b4bd40d51
slow-watches.com/
penguinrandomhouse.com/books/318747/help-wanted-one-rooster-by-julie-falatko-illustrated-by-andrea-stegmaier/
rte.ie/brainstorm/2023/1108/1415296-why-handwriting-is-good-for-your-brain/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

mintmobile.com/deep
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notion.com/cal
listening.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Why do you struggle with your grand attempts to escape distraction and aimlessness to make your life deeper? In this episode, Cal draws on an unexpected metaphor – Charles Babbage, Ada Lovelace, and the Analytical Engine – to help identify the subtle obstacle on your path to increase depth. With this new understanding in hand, he then details a specific gameplan to get around it. Later, he takes questions from the audience and reacts to the new AI Pin, a tool intended to render smartphones obsolete.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: The Deep Life Hardware [4:09]

Does personal productivity make us anxious? [34:04]
How can I build skills without getting in the way of my existing work? [42:11]
How can I build a deeper life after years of neglect? [46:00]
How is Sam Sulek’s stripped down YouTube channel doing so well? [52:12]
How can I convince my husband that I’m not a time management snob? [1:02:38]
CALL: Obsessing over quality [1:06:04]

CASE STUDY: Shifting a mindset to do more deep work [1:11:04]

CAL REACTS: Is the Al Pin the End of Smartphones? [1:17:46]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow
computerhistory.org/babbage/engines/
theverge.com/24126502/humane-ai-pin-review
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conversation-with-cal-newport-the-key-to/id1498802610?i=1000652834277
samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/363-knowledge-work

Thanks to our Sponsors:

rhone.com/cal
shopify.com/deep
policygenius.com/deepquestions
grammarly.com/podcast
tim.blog

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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In the first ever live episode of Deep Questions, recorded at People’s Book in Takoma Park, MD, Cal extracts a modern productivity lesson from the tale of Jane Austen’s frustrated ambitions, before taking questions from the audience.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Jane Austen’s To-Do List [3:22]

— Is Cal building his YouTube channel with social media tactics? [27:36]
— How can I do less in such a busy world? [31:53]
— How do I escape the flow state? [37:01]
— How can someone become a star while obsessing over craft? [40:52]
— How can I apply Slow Productivity to unrelated projects? [46:40]
— How does Cal develop his writing frameworks? [50:20]
— How can I apply Slow Productivity principles to a team? [52:48]
— How can I avoid the Zoom apocalypse? [57:48]
— Is there a conflict between working at a natural pace and obsessing over quality? [1:07:16]
— How can a personal trainer build a wellness solution company? [1:09:46]
— How can our team not get delayed with technical problems? [1:13:00]
— How can a young lawyer manage peer relationships with teams? [1:16:38]

Links:

— Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
— Use this link to preorder a signed copy of “Slow Productivity”: peoplesbooktakoma.com/preorder-slow-productivity/
— Cal’s Monthly Books directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?v=448bf8afad0740d18f6b109b4bd40d51

Thanks to our Sponsors:

blinkist.com/deep
drinklmnt.com/deep
expressvpn.com/deep
cozyearth.com (Use promo code “Cal”)

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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In this episode Cal takes a closer look at a growing trend of artists quitting social media and instead reverting to old-fashioned websites. Are these acts of principled sacrifice or a sustainable way to be creative online? Cal argues for the latter, showing how the internet without social media curation algorithms can be a place of rich discovery and audience building. He then takes questions on similar topics and ends by playing a few rounds of “deep or crazy” during the final segment.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: A Quiet Revolt Against Social Media [7:37]

Is my deep living too extreme? [45:06]
LinkedIn is getting toxic. Should I quit that too? [47:39]
Where do online articles fit into the life of a digital minimalist? [51:09]
Did Cal design the specifications for the hardcover copy of “Slow Productivity”? [54:04]
How do I not feel overwhelmed by online content after a Digital Declutter? [58:07]
CALL: Obsessing over quality [1:01:08]

CASE STUDY: Applying lessons from “Digital Minimalism” [1:06:37]

CAL REACTS: Deep or Crazy? [1:13:54]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
twitter.com/HumanitiesGU/status/1772436799727472942
youtube.com/watch?v=W3h9gV_z8OM
youtube.com/watch?v=tV6BbPTN5PQ
youtube.com/watch?v=r0RqucKwIcw

Thanks to our Sponsors:

mybodytutor.com
shopify.com/deep
drinklmnt.com/deep
mauinuivenison.com/deepquestions

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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One of the biggest problems afflicting knowledge workers in the digital age is frantic busyness; days filled with emails, chats, and meetings, without much to show for all the effort. In today’s episode, Cal dives into one of the most-discussed ideas from his new book, Slow Productivity, which offers a simple, tactical assault on this state of persistent busyness. He then answers listener questions about similar issues and lists the book he read in March.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: hyoutube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: A Tactical Assault on Busyness [3:47]

How can I stop chasing the “perfect” productivity system? [34:51]
How do I avoid losing my day to distraction? [39:08]
How do I help my partner escape meeting quickstand? [42:31]
How do we design the perfect client/task/scheduling system? [48:59]
Can Apple Vision Pro help deep work? [54:46]

The 5 Books Cal Read in March 2024 [1:06:43]

A Short History of England (Simon Jenkins)
Into the Impossible (Brian Keating)
The Amen Effect (Sharon Brous)
Sink the Bismark! (CS Forester)
Hidden Potential (Adam Grant)

Links:
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
newyorker.com/science/annals-of-artificial-intelligence/can-an-ai-make-plans
Thanks to our Sponsors:

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/deepquestions
expressvpn.com/deep
zocdoc.com/deep
notion.com/cal

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Imagine a world in which AI could handle your email inbox on your behalf. No more checking for new messages every five minutes. No more worries that people need you. No more exhausting cognitive context shifts. In this episode, Cal explores how close cutting-edge AI models are to achieving this goal, including using ChatGPT to help him answer some real email. He then dives into his latest article for The New Yorker, which explains the key technical obstacle to fully automated email and how it might be solved. This is followed by reader questions and a look at something interesting.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link:
bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Can A.I. Empty My Inbox? [4:33]
- Should I continue to study programming if AI will eventually replace software jobs? [44:40]
- Is it bad to use ChatGPT to assist with your writing? [49:22]
- How do I reclaim my workspace for Deep Work? [55:24]
- How do I decide what to do on my scheduled mini-breaks at work? [1:00:11]
- CALL: Heidegger’s view on technology [1:02:48]
- CALL: Seasonality with a partner and kids [1:09:11]

CASE STUDY: A Silicon Valley Chief of Staff balancing work and ego [1:20:07]

Something Interesting: General Grant’s Slow Productivity [1:30:08]

Links:
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity”at calnewport.com/slow

newyorker.com/science/annals-of-artificial-intelligence/can-an-ai-make-plans

Thanks to our Sponsors:

listening.com/deep
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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On his recent book tour, Cal found great success using a small notebook dedicated to developing a single idea. In this episode, he explores this “single-purpose notebook” strategy, identifying when it makes sense and why it works. He also takes listener questions about his new book, “Slow Productivity,” and reacts to a recent article about TikTok’s stumbles.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Single-Purpose Notebooks [5:02]

If “pseudo-productivity” isn’t effective, why is it so common? [27:07]
Can you explain the difference between limiting missions, projects, and daily goals? [34:59]
Should everyone buy a $50 notebook? [39:21]
How does “Slow Productivity” relate to mental models and first principles? [48:12]
Should I read your new book slowly? [52:44]
CALL: Does Cal ever stress about work? [55:24]

CASE STUDY: Applying lifestyle-centric career planning [1:00:31]

SOMETHING INTERESTING: TikTok Falters [1:08:56]

Links:
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

bramses.notion.site/bramses/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?v=448bf8afad0740d18f6b109b4bd40d51
notebookstories.com/2013/05/06/picasso-sketchbook/
anothermanmag.com/life-culture/10788/remembering-bruce-chatwin-the-greatest-travel-writer-that-ever-lived
notebookstories.com/2023/12/22/a-notebook-in-the-movie-elf/
com/tech/personal-tech/quitting-tiktok-less-swiping-more-sleeping-1e166a39?page=1
newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/tiktok-and-the-fall-of-the-social-media-giants

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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What does the story of the rise of the singing superstar Jewel teach us about escaping busyness in our knowledge work jobs? In this episode, Cal makes the connection, extracting a key lesson about quality as an engine for slowness, and then providing concrete advice and examples for applying this lesson to your own professional life. Also: listener questions and the books Cal read in February.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Doing Better, Do Less [5:00]

Is my job too hard? [38:25]
How do I sell myself better? [42:52]
How do I convince myself to do actual hard work? [45:42]
How do I find time to get better if I'm busy? [48:46]
What is the values plan? [53:23]

The 5 books Cal read in February 2024 [1:01:45]

The Sabbath (AJ Heschel)
Making Movies (Sidney Lumet)
Killer of the Flower Moon (David Grann)
Orthodoxy (G.K. Chesterton)
The Good Shepherd (CA Forestor)

Links:
FREE download excerpt and 2 Bonuses for “Slow Productivity”:
calnewport.com/slow

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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drinklmnt.com/deep
mybodytutor.com
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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One of the most common strategies for achieving a powerful ideal lifestyle vision is to leverage entrepreneurial activities to find a stable source of income that allows autonomy and flexibility. To help understand how to succeed in such ventures, Cal interviews the entrepreneur and author Noah Kagan about his new book, "The Million Dollar Weekend." Recording on the road as part of his book tour for "Slow Productivity," Cal also shares some lessons about what he's been observing.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

INTERVIEW: Marketing guru Noah Kagan [11:06]

Links:
Use this link to preorder a signed copy of “Slow Productivity”:
peoplesbooktakoma.com/preorder-slow-productivity/
FREE download excerpt and 2 Bonuses for “Slow Productivity”:
calnewport.com/slow

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at
betterhelp.com/deepquestions
mauinuivenison.com/deepquestions
zocdoc.com/deep
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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How did we end up tyrannized by our inboxes? How is this related to Tyrannosaurus? What was it like working at a high-tech company at the exact moment email was introduced? In this episode, Cal weaves together all these questions into a story about the unexpected ways technology impacts our lives and what we can do after the fact to make things better.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: https://youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: The Email Catastrophe [3:47]

How do I deal with email overload in a government job? [45:34]
How do I deal with an employer who demands constant responsiveness?[55:36]
How can I concentrate when coding when I need to use my web browser? [58:27]
How do I overcome my fear of missing important emails? [1:02:35]
CALL: Can slow productivity work for an academic? [1:06:38]

CAL REACTS: Reader Comments on his NYT Op-Ed [1:17:47]

Links:

newyorker.com/magazine/2019/04/08/the-day-the-dinosaurs-died
pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1817407116
newyorker.com/magazine/1994/01/10/e-mail-from-bill-gates
blog.rescuetime.com/communication-multitasking-switches/
nytimes.com/2024/02/16/opinion/creative-work-productivity-seasonality.html
Use this link to preorder a signed copy of “Slow Productivity”: peoplesbooktakoma.com/preorder-slow-productivity/
FREE download excerpt and 2 Bonuses for “Slow Productivity”: calnewport.com/slow

Thanks to our Sponsors:

zocdoc.com/deep
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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We’ve become so used to our phones in our lives that we’ve stopped realizing how arbitrary and unusual the content we’re watching really has become. In this episode, Cal looks closer at what we’re really spending time doing on our phones, then provides step-by-step instructions for healing this relationship.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Confronting Your Phone [4:30]

What does Cal think about Neil Postman’s “Amusing Ourselves To Death”? [28:35]
Can you pursue high quality leisure after a day filled with deep work? [33:14]
Can commercial breaks be used for high quality leisure? [37:24]
Will digital minimalism work in an age of augmented reality? [40:34]
How can a full time YouTuber practice digital minimalism? [46:53]
-CALL: How to share content online? [52:38]

CASE STUDY: Cost-benefit analysis of technology usage [1:00:39]

CAL REACTS: J. R. R. Tolkien’s Search for Depth [1:06:43]

Links:
twitter.com/explore/tabs/trending
instagram.com/explore/tags/popular/?hl=en
tiktok.com/foryou?lang=en
newcriterion.com/blogs/dispatch/the-consolations-of-fantasy
Use this link to preorder a signed copy of “Slow Productivity”:
peoplesbooktakoma.com/preorder-slow-productivity/
FREE download excerpt and 2 Bonuses for “Slow Productivity”:
calnewport.com/slow

Thanks to our Sponsors:

ladderlife.com/deep
mybodytutor.com
rhone.com/cal
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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A deep life requires that you encounter and make sense of a large amount of incoming information, from narrow data relevant to a professional project, to broad insights into your purpose. How do you keep track of all of this? In this episode, Cal proposes a minimalist approach aimed at minimizing the friction required to keep tabs on what matters.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: How to track information that matters [2:55]

How should I make use of non-cognitive time? [27:37]
Can people with ADHD become better at learning? [32:49]
What does Cal think of Gloria Mark’s “4 myths of attention span”? [36:31]
How can I concentrate on my dissertation when I have a full-time job? [47:04]
How can I stop wasting my afternoon time blocks? [53:20]
CALL: How can I better organize my idea notebooks? [1:01:38]

CASE STUDY: Avoiding the hyperactive hive mind to work more efficiently [1:05:46]

CAL REACTS: Is it bad to be slow? [1:13:46]

Links:
dailystoic.com/try-not-to-be-so-slow/
gloriamark.com/attention-span

Use this link to preorder a signed copy of “Slow Productivity”:
peoplesbooktakoma.com/preorder-slow-productivity/

FREE download excerpt and 2 Bonuses for “Slow Productivity”:
calnewport.com/slow

Thanks to our Sponsors:

grammarly.com/podcast
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cozyearth.com (promo code “cal”)
expressvpn.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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A key step in cultivating a deep life is reflecting on what matters to you and the best strategies for pursuing it. This, in turn, requires that you engage in the consumption of some manner of self help. It’s here that many people sell themselves short, limiting this intake to short videos and the occasional advice guide. In today’s episode, Cal talks about cultivating a much richer approach to self-help in which you’re able to take in wisdom from a variety of sources of various levels of sophistication.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Rethinking Self Help [3:21]

How can I prevent hard tasks from derailing my productivity systems? [38:47]
Should I get ahead in my career with a project that I hate? [47:54]
How can I make progress on my novel when my day job drains me? [52:39]
Is there such a thing as too much deep work? [59:32]
CALL: Will short deep work sessions work to write effectively? [1:12:17]

CASE STUDY: Reducing stress with slow productivity [1:18:40]

The 5 Books Cal Read in January 2024 [1:30:22]

Links:
https://peoplesbooktakoma.com/preorder-slow-productivity/
FREE Download for “Slow Productivity”: www.calnewport.com/slow

Thanks to our Sponsors:

https://www.grammarly.com/podcast
https://www.drinklmnt.com/deep
https://www.shopify.com/deep
This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/deepquestions

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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One of the more interesting realities of people who live remarkable lives is that they are often much less busy than the rest of us. In this episode, Cal explores three ideas that help explain why this is true, then explains how we can use these ideas to reduce our own workloads.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: The Productivity Paradox [7:31]

How does a weekly plan work? [32:26]
Do errands or reading count toward fixed schedule productivity? [36:55]
How should a graduate embrace slow productivity? [40:11]
If I embrace slow productivity, how can I be sure I’m doing enough? [41:54]
Did Cal follow Slow Productivity in his 20’s? [47:45]
CALL: Uprooting a good planning system? [53:23]

CASE STUDY: Playing video games with intention [58:05]

CAL REACTS: How to Have a Productive Year [1:06:34]

Links:
calnewport.com/if-youre-busy-youre-doing-something-wrong-the-surprisingly-relaxed-lives-of-elite-achievers/
newyorker.com/culture/office-space/how-to-have-a-more-productive-year
FREE Download for “Slow Productivity”: calnewport.com/slow

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Call talks with Ali Abdaal about his journey from doctor to YouTube sensation, and then dives deep into Ali’s new book, “Feel-Good Productivity,” and the possibilities of making accomplishment something enjoyable.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

INTERVIEW: YouTube Star Ali Abdaal [3:41]

Cal Reacts: Dissecting Ali’s YouTube career path [1:32:27]

Links:

FREE download for “Slow Productivity”: calnewport.com/slow

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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What is the correct first step in transforming your life into something deeper? Traditional advice says to start with a clear vision of what you value. Cal has been arguing that it’s instead more important to develop a foundation of discipline. In this episode, he explores a more specific variation of this idea: perhaps the best way to prepare to pursue the big is to first learn how to control the small.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: How to organize your life [2:31]

How do I “stay deep” when facing major changes? [36:37]
How do I relax when I’m always so busy? [39:13]
What is the difference between rituals and routines? [43:09]
Can playing video games be part of a deep life? [51:27]
Can deep life buckets connect to strategic plans? [57:39]
CALL: Juggling multiple priorities to live a deep life [1:01:39]

CASE STUDY: Becoming organized to prevent overwhelm [1:07:32]

CAL REACTS: How many books did you read in 2023? [1:13:47]

Links:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/01/05/how-many-books-did-you-read-2023-see-how-you-stack-up/

FREE download for “Slow Productivity”: calnewport.com/slow

Thanks to our Sponsors:

drinklmnt.com/deep

mintmobile.com/deep

cozyearth.com (promo code CAL)

mybodytutor.com

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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During the New Year season it is common to talk about how to be more productive. But what about the downtime between your major pursuits? In this episode, Cal argues for rewiring your brain to crave slow distractions over their faster (often digital) alternatives. The goal here is not to get more done but to transform your life into something slower and more meaningful.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Slow Distractions [2:25]

How do I work deeply as a stay-at-home parent? [29:12]
Isn’t it myopic not to let young children use smartphones? [36:44]
How do I succeed as a musician without social media? [38:09]
How do I make plans without social media? [48:37]
CALL: How to share ideas without allowing social media to take control [55:02]

CAL REACTS: I’m a 33-year old woman without a job [1:05:55]

Links:

youtu.be/YQLVWficcwc?si=lOIBa23I_0-4sJl6

Download a FREE chapter from my upcoming book, "Slow Productivity" HERE: https://www.calnewport.com/slow

Thanks to our Sponsors:

expressvpn.com/deep
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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One of the more important abilities to cultivate for the year ahead is comfort learning complicated (and therefore valuable) new things. In this episode, Cal tackles the myths surrounding mastery and presents a new mental model for internalizing non-trivial information. As he elaborates, there is both good news and bad news when it comes to this topic: you can learn almost anything, but you can’t learn everything.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Learning Hard Things [2:50]

When it comes to taking notes, what really matters? [29:49]
Can I fit all of my hobbies into my week? [36:02]
Can YouTube teach me to be a better student? [39:40]
How do I figure out what to learn next? [46:09]
How do I learn something fast when I already have a busy schedule? [48:23]
CALL: How does “So Good They Can’t Ignore You” relate to “Slow Productivity”? [55:11]

CASE STUDY: Slow Productivity affinity group [1:03:46]

The 5 books Cal read in December 2023 [1:13:28]

Thanks to our Sponsors:

drinklmnt.com/deep
zocdoc.com/deep
This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/deepquestions

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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The mega-bestselling writer Arthur Brooks is one of the rare individuals to have both lived a carefully cultivated deep life and written a book on the topic (co-authored with Oprah!). In today’s episode, Cal interviews Brooks, going deep into the details of his unusual and inspiring career and extracting proven rules from his experience.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

INTERVIEW: Mega-bestselling writer Arthur Brooks [6:39]

Cal’s Favorite Completely Unnecessary and Embarrassingly Geeky Things for 2024 [1:16:04]

Links:
https://www.calnewport.com/slow

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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We talk a lot on this show about getting more done, but what’s the best way to handle the inevitable situation in which you have too much to do? Cal walks through a sensible response to the crazy-making reality of overload.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: https://youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Controlling Overload [4:48]

Is building a “second brain” important? [37:53]
How can I bill 40 hours a week without getting overloaded? [43:30]
What book should I buy my department to best increase their work quality? [46:31]
How do I make progress on projects that have lots of overhead? [51:53]
How can my wife deal with her new position and the overload that comes with it? [57:35]
CALL: What is Cal excited to gif this holiday season? [1:06:14]

CASE STUDY: Quitting Twitter to build a better life [1:09:55]

CAL REACTS: Why did students get dumber starting in 2012? [1:17:31]

Links:
https://twitter.com/DKThomp/status/1734436486727254218

Thanks to our Sponsors:

https://www.ladderlife.com/deep
https://www.blinkist.com/deep
https://www.hensonshaving.com/cal
This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/deepquestions

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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One of the most important skills for cultivating a satisfying and high impact life is one we rarely discuss: the art of serious thinking. In this episode, Cal makes the case for serious thinking as an ability to specifically cultivate, then describes five specific practices you can put into place to launch a crash course in developing an effective life of the mind.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: https://youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: How to Think [4:07]

Does reading count as Deep Work? [38:50]
How do I make sense of the topics I think about? [41:48]
How should I manage boredom in a job without hurting my ability to focus? [45:12]
How can I provide quick answers to management if I’m a slow thinker? [50:40]
CALL: How should I structure my Deep Holiday? [56:44]

CASE STUDY: A successful Digital Detox allowing one to think in peace. [59:55]

CAL REACTS: Does collaboration make us less creative? [1:07:29]

Thanks to our Sponsors:

https://www.shopify.com/deep
https://www.mintmobile.com/deep
https://www.cozyearth.com (promo code: CAL)
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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We talk a lot on this show about remaining organized in a digital workplace that drowns us with incoming obligations. In this episode, Cal focuses on the key question of how you get started toward this goal. What do you do, in other words, on day one of your quest to find depth amidst the shallows.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Getting organized in a distracted world [6:46]

How do I get more excited about my work plans? [45:55]
How do I get my classmates to get better about time management? [53:59]
How should I organize my deep work blocks? [1:00:13]
How do I account for contingencies in my quarterly plan? [1:05:11]
When does Cal find time to read? [1:05:50]
CALL: How to train Deep Focus muscles [1:11:06]

CASE STUDY: Investing concentrated time [1:17:04]

The 5 books Cal read in November 2023 [1:24:08]

Thanks to our Sponsors:

expressvpn.com/deep

blinkist.com/deep

hensonshaving.com/cal

zocdoc.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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One of the most common types of messages sent in from listeners of this podcast are self-recriminations about laziness. But what does “laziness” actually mean? In this episode, Cal takes a deeper look at the common terms and sees that it’s often used to describe two unrelated phenomena. He then gives a big idea for overcoming each.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Overcoming laziness [4:00]

How should I track small projects? [39:39]
How do I find time to bodybuilder when I have a demanding job? [44:56]
How do I remain motivated to work after graduation?[53:12]
How do I make the shift from warehouse work to web development? [59:20]
How do I deal with decision fatigue? [1:03:18]
CALL: Implementing advice from pragmatic non-fiction books [1:07:53]

CASE STUDY: Pursuing a life of depth [1:11:31]

CAL REACTS: Algorithms act as conveyor belts [1:22:51]

LINKS:

jonathanhaidt.substack.com/p/algorithms-hijacked-my-generation

Thanks to our Sponsors:

rhone.com/cal

moshlife.com/deep

grammarly.com/podcast

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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How you accomplish important goals: The type that can transform your life in remarkable ways? In this episode, Cal breaks down the common mistakes we make in pursuing hard goals and then details the reverse goal setting strategy he has found to work much more consistently.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: How do I follow through on transformative goals? [2:18]

How do I prepare for an upcoming change to my professional life? [42:26]
How do I schedule abundant free time? [49:43]
Should I feel guilty that I’m so efficient I barely work? [53:47]
How do I avoid doing too much? [1:00:27]
How do I time block work of unknown durations? [1:07:31]
CALL: Pursuing a career with two different paths [1:13:52]

CAL REACTS: Joe Rogan and The Rock Talk Passion [1:21:35]

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Based on extensive feedback from listeners and new research, Cal is ready to unveil his new and improved version of the Deep Life Stack, his foundational approach for transforming your life from shallow and distracted to deep and remarkable.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: The Deep Life Stack 2.0 [4:40]

Does prioritizing deep work grow your task list? [38:02]
Does deep work impede the development of soft skills? [41:04]
How do I shut down work without clean stopping points? [46:31]
CALL: Intrusive thoughts while doing deep work [52:29]
CALL: How does Cal organize his working memory.txt [57:49]

CASE STUDY: Using slow productivity to build a house [1:00:30]

CAL REACTS: Should you “burn the boats” to motivate ambitious action? [1:08:00]

Links:

amazon.com/Burn-Boats-Overboard-Unleash-Potential/dp/006308886X

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Burn the Boats: Toss Plan B Overboard and Unleash Your Full Potential

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A viral video making the rounds recently argues that the key to promoting learning is to deliver education in apps that are equally addictive as social media. Cal takes a closer look at the brain science behind this claim and argues why it is fundamentally impossible to beat attention engineered apps at their own game. We shouldn’t, however, give up hope, as our brain has a completely unrelated motivation system, built on a behavior called episodic future thinking (EFT), that we can leverage to make deep activities like learning seem more rewarding than the short term distractions beckoning from our phones. Mastering the EFT system is indeed critical to cultivating a deep life.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Can we make learning as addictive as social media? [2:33]

Can I be happy in a job that doesn’t require me to learn? [33:44]
How can I fight deep procrastination to learn better? [40:52]
How can I identify the school for my kid to learn better? [47:11]
How can I reflect on work concepts without feeling the urge to work? [51:48]
How does Ultralearning apply to Slow Productivity? [55:36]
CALL: Recommendations on learning [58:02]

CASE STUDY: Designing a system to learn [1:00:50]

The 5 books Cal read in October 2023 [1:10:14]

Links:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6FORpg0KVo

youtu.be/wmdG-uZk6JY?si=2_S6Mer1VnBJE3Wv&t=120

sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2018/dopamine-smartphones-battle-time/

calnewport.com/the-father-of-deliberate-practice-disowns-flow/

ideas.ted.com/mental-time-travel-is-a-great-decision-making-tool-this-is-how-to-use-it/

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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In this episode, Cal reviews what he believes to be the four essential tools for feeling on top of everything you need to do. If you’re missing one of these, you might struggle. If you use all four, you’re probably safe never thinking about “productivity” again. Cal is then joined by friend of the show, New York Times bestselling author David Epstein, to answer listener questions about their personal struggles to take control of their lives.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: The Productivity Toolkit [2:30]

What is the most underrated productivity superpower? [35:05]
Should I journal? [43:59]
How do I build a system to help me remember things? [48:23]
Can I use a split-day strategy to time block a reactive job? [52:01]
Help! I’m stuck at age 30. How do I get unstuck? [54:42]

CAL REACTS: How can we make learning as addictive as social media? [1:16:06]

Links:

youtube.com/watch?v=P6FORpg0KVo

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Much of the advice we discuss is about how to improve things right now. But what are the right strategies for ensuring that we’re happy about where we are five or even ten years in the future. How do we ensure, in other words, that we won’t look back at major swaths of our lives with regret? In this episode, Cal discusses three big ideas for playing the long game when it comes to cultivating a deep life.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: https://youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: What can you do now to stay content later? [3:30]

What habits help you escape complacency? [25:51]
How do I know if I need a major change to my life? [31:00]
How can I rediscover my drive to live deep with a boring (but stable) job? [36:08]
CALL: Avoiding the stress of having a large “to-do” list [41:07]

CASE STUDY: Designing a deep work t-shirt to be productive [47:22]

CAL REACTS: Is Social Media a Collective Trap? [56:03]

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/deepquestions

https://www.hensonshaving.com/cal

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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An increasing number of people are suffering from “super distractions” that rise above the level of harmless diversion and instead start to actively hold them back in their life. Some of the common culprits cited include social media, online pornography, and alcohol. In this episode, Cal takes a closer look at what creates super distractions and uses this insight to come up with an effective game plan for fighting back.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Taking control of your life from super distractions [8:09]

How can I stay productive while in between goals? [36:24]
Will I become depressed from a dopamine fast? [40:46]
How can I overcome negative thoughts? [44:01]
Are there rituals to help me handle shallow work more efficiently? [50:19]

CASE STUDY: Success with an electronic detox [58:27]

Cal Reacts: NPR left Twitter and the effects are negligible [1:06:59]

Links:

niemanreports.org/articles/npr-twitter-musk/

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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After an episode in which Cal reviewed ancient wisdom on cultivating a deeper life, he turns his attention back to more recent advice. Focusing on three of the more unconventional but unambiguously effective ideas that he has proposed in his twenty years of professional writing on these topics.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Getting started is overrated [6:29]

How can I become more confident in social settings? [36:15]
Is it ok to be an ordinary person? [40:52]
Is it important to have friends? [46:41]
I took a pay cut to become a teacher again. How can I better organize my life to prioritize craft? [49:36]
Is it ok to use YouTube to discover new ideas? [57:28]

Reader’s React: Is Productivity Natural? [1:05:04]

Links:

calnewport.com/dangerous-ideas-getting-started-is-overrated/

calnewport.com/treat-your-mind-as-you-would-a-private-garden/

calnewport.com/should-you-work-like-maya-angelou-or-eric-schmidt/

calnewport.com/on-tire-pressure-and-productivity/

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Stoicism seems to be all the rage at the moment. In what ways is it relevant to our question to live deeply in a distracted world? And in what ways is it not? Cal takes a closer look at Meditations by Marcus Aurelius and discusses his relationship with the philosophy more generally.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: The Ideas from Marcus Aurelius’s, “Meditations” [2:30]

Can I realistically make an impact as an English teacher? [35:28]
Can a seasoned professional screenwriter switch careers after 23 years? [40:02]
I’m an accomplished professional but lack a competitive drive to do more. Is there a way to build this? [45:34]
How can a CEO lower his anxiety with elements of work that aren’t strengths? [54:37]
How can I bounce back from a deflating work setback? [1:02:52]

The 5 Books Cal Read in September 2023 [1:11:07]

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Knowledge workers increasingly describe themselves as exhausted and burnt out. Why is this happening? In this episode, Cal argues that some of the obvious answers aren’t enough to explain the phenomenon. The real answer is both less expected and perhaps more fixable than we expect.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Tiredness and the ability to produce work [8:18]
- How can I read more without falling asleep? [34:25]
- Is screen time before bed killing my sleep? [38:19]
- How can I still have fun while being productive? [44:20]
- Is discipline an identity or a tool? [50:21]
- How do I find my way back to the deep life? [56:39]

CASE STUDY: A magazine editor integrates projects into a deep life [1:02:00]

Final Segment: Lauren Groff’s slow productivity [1:35:06]

Links:

Authors for Voices of Color auction: Afvoc2023.givesmart.comhttps://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/09/books/lauren-groff-vaster-wilds.html
https://www.thefp.com/p/why-i-traded-my-smartphone-for-an-ax
https://midland-school.org/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749597809000399
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/09/books/lauren-groff-vaster-wilds.html

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/deepquestions
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Do we need to move to a ranch in the middle of nowhere to take control of our technology habits? Cal argues that these types of extreme examples are counter-productive, making it seem like real changes are close to impossible. He offers instead an alternative approach based on zero-based budgeting your technological life.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: What does it really take to cure your smartphone addiction? [3:33]

How can I build an audience without being consumed by social media? [31:20]
If my kid uses an iPad for school, will he become cursed with digital distraction? [40:33]
Does the digital minimalist community approve of Goodreads and Letterboxd? [48:52]
I’m 30 years old and lost. How can I get my life back on track? [53:43]
How can I stay on top of current events without scrolling social media? [1:02:11]

Closing Discussion: Is the Friendship Recession Real? What can you do to escape it? (w/ Jamie Kilstein) [1:08:38]

Links:

https://www.thefp.com/p/why-i-traded-my-smartphone-for-an-ax
https://midland-school.org

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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In this episode, Cal visits eight of the most influential books in personal productivity, identifying for each a single idea that ended up most resonating both with his own work and the culture more generally.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: What productivity ideas from other authors are the most worth paying attention to? [4:54]

How do I time-block for the unanticipated “a-ha!” moment of insight? [40:23]
Is my life as a surgeon dooming me to a reactive life? [45:19]
Is it possible to read too many productivity books? [52:10]
Is the Deep Life influenced by The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People? [58:55]
Am I a disciplined worker if I only respond to deadlines? [1:01:09]

The 5 Books Cal Read in August 2023 [1:09:31]

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Change is unavoidable. You can either fear it or learn to master it. In this interview episode, Cal talks with longtime friend of the show, Brad Stulberg, about his new book, “Master of Change.”

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

INTERVIEW: How to Master Change (with Brad Stulberg) [3:55]

Links:

bradstulberg.com/

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Too many people believe that the New Year is the right time to undertake major improvements to your life. In this episode, Cal argues that it is instead right now, at the beginning of fall, that is the best time to turn over a new page. He lays out a detailed 4-month journey through the deep stack that will have you done with a major overhaul by the time everyone else is just getting started early next year.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: How can I reinvent my life in 4 months? [6:30]

How can I ease into Cal's more advanced time management strategies? [44:06]
Can unstructured work be a part of the deep life? [47:42]
How can I stop changing my mind about what I want to do with my life? [51:50]
Can I pursue the deep life if I need a job? [59:33]
How do you pursue the deep life with depression? [1:03:58]

Cover Reveal for Slow Productivity [1:13:20]

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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When it comes to generating fantastic ideas – the type that can make your career – you don’t have to passively wait for inspiration to strike. You can, instead, hack the creative process to increase the odds of coming up with something great. In this episode, Cal explores one of the more powerful forms of “creativity hacking”: making use of strange locations.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: Why do you work better in strange locations? [3:31]

Does Cal read online articles? [34:35]
Is fitness tracking on my Apple Watch an excuse to stay distracted? [40:09]
Which is better for original thinking: the city or the country? [43:05]
How do I organize the pursuit of deep ideas? [47:19]
Does reading books from unrelated genres help idea generation? [51:57]

CAL REACTS: Over stimulation is ruining your life! [59:11]

Links:

blog.computationalcomplexity.org/2020/02/pre-publish-and-perish.html

calnewport.com/on-using-inspiring-locations-to-inspire-deeper-work/

youtube.com/watch?v=yYWvUoN4yt8

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/deepquestions and get on your way to being your best self

hensonshaving.com/cal

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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In celebration of the newly released second edition of the Time Block Planner, Cal provides some additional expert tips for getting the most out of a time blocking discipline before answering listener questions on the general topic of time management. He closes by discussing the recent claim that phones are ruining peoples’ ability to watch movies.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: How can I double what I accomplish each week by better controlling my time? [16:54]

How do I deal with the guilt of missing time blocks? [44:17]
How does Cal reconcile slow productivity with the urgency of time blocking? [49:22]
How do I block enough time to keep up with all the internet content I want to read? [52:40]
How do I stick to my block schedule if no one is forcing me to? [1:02:11]
How can Cal be both a computer science professor and yet still be so bad at technology? [1:07:00]

Something Interesting: Have Phones Ruined Movies? [1:15:45]

Links:

washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2023/08/05/barbenheimer-bad-movie-behavior/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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One of the most popular (and widely forgotten) slogans of the ancient world was Festina Lente, or, “Make Haste Slowly.” In this episode, Cal looks deeper at what this phrase meant, and in doing so uncovers an ancient version of slow productivity.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: What can Octavian Caesar Augustus teach us about productivity? [5:37]

How can I help my team move fast to slow productivity? [26:12]
How do I figure out how long to spend on a task? [33:08]
What’s up with Cal’s podcast album art? [38:14]
Why is my partner so slow? [40:49]
How does Cal’s Remarkable tablet change his working memory.txt habit? [46:23]

CASE STUDY: Not allowing work to dominate your life [53:28]

The 5 Book Cal Read in July 2023 [1:03:21]

Links:

bigthink.com/the-learning-curve/festina-lente/

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festina_lente

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Do you ever feel completely overwhelmed by everything you have to do? The writer Oliver Burkeman recently experimented with an unexpected response to this common sensation: he decided to work much less. In more detail, he wanted to see what would happen if he reacted to overload by restricting his work to only four hours per day. In this episode, Cal reviews what Burkeman discovered in this experiment and what it teaches the rest of us.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: What happens when you cut your workday in half? [5:51]

What does the “celebrate” deep life bucket include? [30:34]
When are big life changes the right thing to do? [38:38]
When does Cal “start” his work day? [49:04]
How do I save for a good retirement without making my current lifestyle worse? [50:05]

CASE STUDY: The Joys of Doing Less [56:44]

CAL REACTS: Chris Nolan doesn’t own a phone [1:05:21]

Links:

hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/oppenheimer-christopher-nolan-cast-interview-film-1235535418/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Do history’s greatest thinkers care about time management? In today’s episode, Cal analyzes the system that the mathematician and philosopher, Kurt Godel, used to structure his days, weeks, and years to produce meaningful work over a long period of time.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: How do geniuses structure their life? [8:00]

How do I follow through on the projects I start? [34:33]
Is creating a deep environment one of the deep life buckets? [42:14]
How do I find examples of my ideal lifestyle? [48:24]
Should I switch jobs, I’m bored (but effective)? [59:20]

CAL REACTS: The ReMarkable 2 tablet. Is it worth it? [1:11:57]

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/deepquestions and get on your way to being your best self

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Sometimes the most effective way to contain your workload is to simply declare how long you’re willing to work and then refuse to violate your pledge. In this episode, Cal revisits this “fixed-schedule productivity” strategy, which he first introduced way back in 2008.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: How does fixed-schedule productivity work, and how has Cal’s thoughts on it changed over the years? [3:02]

What activities can fall outside fixed schedules? [30:12]
How do you manage a workload determined by other people? [33:08]
Why doesn’t Cal build his weekly plan on his calendar? [43:24]
How do I deal with having too much work piled up? [51:23]

CASE STUDY: Implementing tactics from “A World Without Email” [53:14]

The 5 Books Cal Read in June 2023 [1:02:28]

Links:

calnewport.com/fixed-schedule-productivity-how-I-accomplish-a-large-amount-of-work-in-a-small-number-of-work-hours/

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In Cal’s new “deep life stack” the first layer toward finding more meaning is to develop discipline. Why does this come first? In this episode, Cal dives deeper into the importance of starting with discipline.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: Why does cultivating the deep life start with discipline? [4:33]

How do I stop falling off the productivity wagon? [26:38]
How do I cultivate more consistent discipline? [32:35]
How do I convince myself to follow through on demanding projects? [41:22]
What’s the problem with studying for 10 hours a day? [54:37]

Something Interesting: Harrison Ford’s Slow Productivity [1:07:35]

Links:

linkedin.com/posts/billy-oppenheimer-70612782_before-he-was-han-solo-or-indiana-jones-activity-7069305284627730432-CRJA

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Over the past twenty years, “productivity” has come to be synonymous with using digital tools to speed up non-essential parts of knowledge work. As cal argues in this episode, this “cybernetic” approach has proven to be a complete failure. He explores why speeding up isn’t working and what this teaches us about what we need to do instead.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: Why doesn’t cybernetic productivity work? [8:40]

What should I ask a potential hire about their time management habits? [31:55]
How do I teach leaders how to work more deeply? [38:17]
How did Cal become good at breaking things down into systems and processes? [48:06]
How do I build task boards if I have many roles? [51:05]
How do I find time to think in my busy job? [54:20]

Something Interesting: Taylor Sheridan’s “writing bunker” [1:02:48]

Links:

hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/taylor-sheridan-yellowstone-interview-1235519261/

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Some of the most interesting and impactful people in the world build their work around a commitment to doing only a few things very well. No one remembers that it took Newton decades to finish The Principia, they just know that he wrote a book that changed science forever. In this episode, Cal defines some concrete laws for successfully implementing a shift toward doing less – but doing what you do better – in your own professional life.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: Why should I do less? [7:29]

How can a teacher embrace slow productivity? [31:26]
How do you know if an idea is good enough to spend years working on? [39:07]
How can I slowly build the success needed to pivot into a new career? [46:16]
How does Cal read 5 books a month? [49:58]

CASE STUDY: I can do my job in 4 hours a day [55:53]

The 5 Book Cal Read in May 2023 [1:07:04]

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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In this episode, Cal is joined by Laura Vanderkam (author of Tranquility by Tuesday and co-host of the Best of Both Worlds podcast). Cal and Laura tackle a collection of your questions about the struggle to make time for the various things that matter most, from your career to your family to your hobbies.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

INTERVIEW: Laura Vanderkam [19:46]

— Is the deep life only available to people with high salaries? [31:47]
— Is it possible for a mom to succeed in academia? [40:19]
— How do I find the time to land a job that requires less time? [50:26]
— Am I too old to leave a career that fills me with dread? [55:53]
— Am I crazy for thinking I can work from home with a baby? [1:00:31]
— How do I create a deep life with kids? [1:05:31]
— How do I stop over-committing? [1:13:47]

SOMETHING INTERESTING: Slow Time During Japan’s Edo Period [1:30:11]

Links:

scroll.in/article/1030173/how-japan-became-an-exemplar-of-sustainability-over-centuries-of-self-isolation

lauravanderkam.com/

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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How do you leave a life of superficial distraction and cultivate something deeper? In today’s episode, Cal describes “The Deep Life Stack,” an approach to cultivating a deep life that starts with overhauling the person before making the big decisions.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: How do I rebuild my life into something deeper? [6:29]

Is the deep life only available to those with high salaries? [31:55]
How do I co-create a deep life with my partner? [41:48]
Is there a genetic component to depth? [45:24]
What are Cal’s thoughts on the book “Designing Your Life”? [58:31]

Something Interesting: Forget AI. Apple’s all in on AR. (And this is smart.) [1:06:34]

Links:

apple.com/apple-vision-pro/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Productivity YouTube is filled with breathless videos about optimizing systems and squeezing every ounce of speed out of your common habits. But does all of this efficiency really end up improving the quality of the most important things you produce? In this episode, Cal takes a deeper look at the different ways that productivity systems and tools can help your professional life, separating the boring but effective from the exciting but over-hyped.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: Does working faster make work better? [3:56]

Why doesn’t Cal agree with other productivity YouTubers about apps? [27:50]
How can I be productive if my organization bans third-party tools? [32:36]
How do top writers keep their research process “efficient”? [37:29]
How do I stop teaching from devouring all my time? [44:00]
Is it a problem that I don’t feel overwhelmed? [50:19]

Something Interesting: The Productivity Diet & A Hotel for Book Lovers [1:02:33]

Links:

kickstarter.com/projects/mikevardy/the-productivity-diet-by-mike-vardy

sylviabeachhotel.com/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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The art of thinking – plain, old-fashioned, hard concentration on useful ideas – is rapidly vanishing as our culture recasts humans as the custodians and recipients of digital computation. In this episode, Cal explains why this is a problem and what we should do in response.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: Why is it important to preserve the vanishing art of thinking? [5:02]

How do I integrate movies and shows into the deep life? [27:42]
Can I read after a long day of deep work? [33:30]
Is a digital “second brain” a good idea to keep up with the latest advancements in your field? [36:25]
Would Cal consider consolidating his notebooks? [42:37]
Is Maria Popva’s note-taking method better than Cal’s method? [51:40]

The Books I Read in April 2023 [1:04:29]

Links:

Edward Teller talking about John Von Neumann

youtube.com/watcv=vQp70uqsBV4#t=55m0s

Aristotle on “philosophic wisdom.” See book 10, section 7 of The Ethics:

classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.7.vii.html

Arnold Bennet on training concentration (See chapter 7 of How to Live on 24 Hours a Day):

gutenberg.org/cache/epub/2274/pg2274-images.html

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Do you live to work or work to live? In this episode, Cal talks with author Simone Stolfzoff about his provocative new book, THE GOOD ENOUGH JOB. Cal then answers listener questions about escaping professional unhappiness, and then switches gears in the Something Interesting segment to talk about the critical technological breakthrough that not enough people yet are talking about.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

DEEP DIVE: Cal talks about the Good Enough Job with author Simone Stolzoff [4:39]

What kind of a job do I want? [59:31]
If I enjoy my job, why can’t I focus? [1:05:28]
Should I give up on finding an academic job? [1:17:23]
Should I cut my salary in half to escape the hyperactive hive mind? [1:25:07]

SOMETHING INTERESTING: Apple’s most interesting new tech strategy has nothing to do with A.I. [1:34:41]

Links:

wsj.com/articles/apple-is-breaking-its-own-rules-with-a-new-headset-80c9b36c

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Few professional experiences feel worse than overload. But what really causes this unfortunate state? In this episode, Cal takes a closer look at overload, identifying its main culprits, identifying solutions, and helping listeners with their specific overload-related questions.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: How does overload actually operate? [3:54]

Does Cal use an executive assistant? [26:15]
How do I write an effective communication policy for my team? [36:35]
Does overhead compound exponentially? [42:50]
How rare are high expectation/low overhead jobs? [48:05]
My job has few shallow obligations. What should I do with my free time? [51:41]

Something Interesting: The future of social media is less social [59:39]

Links:

wsj.com/articles/workers-say-its-harder-to-get-things-done-now-heres-why-2a5f1389

nytimes.com/2023/04/19/technology/personaltech/tiktok-twitter-facebook-social.html

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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We talk a lot on this show about how to be more organized and intentional in how you spend your time at work. But what about at home? In this episode, Cal dives into strategies for organizing life outside of work.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: How do I adapt professional productivity techniques to my life outside of work? [7:16]

— What system does Cal use to track his life admin? [1:05:55]

— Don’t I need some sort of plan for time outside of work? [1:11:46]

— How do I stay on top of ongoing projects, initiatives, or hobbies? [1:15:36]

— Should I calculate the monetary cost of household tasks? [1:20:20]

Something Interesting: The AI Null Hypothesis [1:33:24]

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Are smartphones bad for kids? Cal walks through the data on this question, including how researchers came to be worried, their findings, critiques of their findings, and where we are today. He then gives recommendations for how to think about technology when it comes to your kids.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: Are smartphones bad for kids? [3:10]

Is the deep life dull? [49:35]
How do I stop doom-scrolling when I’m tired? [53:49]
Are smartphones bad for older people? [57:35]
How does Cal decide to adopt new technology or software? [1:02:06]
How do I stay deep while traveling at conferences? [1:06:33]

The Books Cal read in March 2023 [1:12:38]

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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In this episode Cal – against his better judgment – answers questions on the fly, with no advance plan or preparation. He also does a Deep Dive about the Twitter fog dissipating and discusses something interesting.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: What was Twitter anyway? [4:46]

Is there a difference between passion and calling? [27:09]
What are the four principles to reimagine knowledge work? [31:50]
Is movie watching part of the Deep Life? [36:05]
Does fixed schedule productivity work on a weekly scale? [38:54]
How does effective altruism fit in value-based lifestyle career planning? [41:01]
What are Cal’s thoughts on David Graber’s book, “Bull Shit Jobs”? [44:00]
Do distracted adolescents risk losing the ability to focus as they grow older? [46:57]
Does slow productivity assist with parenting and professional development? [48:29]

Something Interesting: Rob Drydek’s productivity system [1:00:37]

Links:

nytimes.com/2023/04/18/magazine/twitter-dying.html

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Are new AI technologies like ChatGPT about to massively disrupt our world? Drawing from his recent New Yorker article on the topic, Cal explains exactly how programs like ChatGPT work, and uses this knowledge to explain why we can calm our fears about this new technology.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: How does ChatGPT work? (And should we worry about it?) [11:24]

Is there anything AI won’t do better than humans? [57:30]
How will AI end up disrupting knowledge work? [1:02:27]
Should I quit web development before AI eliminates the industry? [1:07:32]
Will AI create mass job loss in the next five years? [1:11:52]

SOMETHING INTERESTING:

NPR leaves Twitter [1:21:11]

npr.org/2023/04/12/1169269161/npr-leaves-twitter-government-funded-media-label

Links:

newyorker.com/science/annals-of-artificial-intelligence/what-kind-of-mind-does-chatgpt-have

twitter.com/tqbf/status/1598513757805858820

twitter.com/goodside/status/1598077257498923010

nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/chatgpt-passes-mba-exam-wharton-professor-rcna67036

time.com/6240569/ai-childrens-book-alice-and-sparkle-artists-unhappy/

nytimes.com/2023/02/16/technology/bing-chatbot-microsoft-chatgpt.html

nytimes.com/2023/03/24/opinion/yuval-harari-ai-chatgpt.html

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Cal Newport answers 10 questions from his audience ranging from idea management to the Deep Life to writing. Throughout all the answers, you’ll hear Cal explain his core concepts and how they apply to everyday working life.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Why doesn’t Cal care about idea management systems? [2:46]
Does Cal still use Workflowy to capture tasks? [12:52]
Are women better at multi-tasking than men? [16:56]
What is the difference between pursuing depth versus passion? [23:16]
What are the “Contemplation” and “Celebration” buckets in the context of the Deep Life? [28:56]
What’s the best way to study math? [32:56]
Can I jump from a master’s at a small school to a PhD at a prestigious one? [35:19]
How do I know if I’ve successfully cultivated a Deep Life? [37:11]
How do I become a successful political nonfiction writer? [44:38]
Is the Deep Work hypothesis affected by survivorship bias? [50:36]

Links:

calnewport.com/blog/2011/06/23/lab-notes-my-closed-loop-research-system/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Why do stories of people moving to the country to dedicate their lives to simple living resonate so strongly with us overworked knowledge workers? Cal explores lessons we can extract from these instincts that can improve our lives right now, even without the need to become a homesteader.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: What do we (really) seek when we seek the Simple Life? [7:39]

Are daly deep life habits too frequent? [32:35]
How do I juggle more projects? [36:44]
Can I quit my job to reach online full time? [41:53]
How do I convince my husband that the “deep life” isn’t an excuse to ignore me? [55:36]

CASE STUDY: A Writing Shed For Slow Productivity [1:01:37]

SOMETHING INTERESTING:

Utah limits teens’ ability to use social media [1:12:38]

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/utah-1st-state-limiting-teens-access-social-media-98089159

https://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/simple-living-zmaz03onzgoe/

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Why does Twitter maintain such a strong grip on those who produce things with their minds for a living? Is it really so critical that we all spend so many hours spreading our output on this particular platform? In today’s episode, we explore this question, seeking new, more sustainable and humane ways to be an online creative professional.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: Given all the advantages of controlling your own digital press, why do so many content producers rely on Twitter? [5:39]

Does Twitter’s new view count feature make the service even worse? [27:10]
Why do so many important business/thought leaders spend so much time on Twitter? [35:14]
Does this professor need Twitter? [43:00]
Does Mastadon stand a chance against Twitter? [53:26]

SOMETHING INTERESTING:

Started From the Bottom podcast [1:01:04]
pushkin.fm/podcasts/started-from-the-bottom

Australian senators backing 4-day work week [1:03:12]
theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/09/australia-four-day-work-week-labor-greens-senators-support

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You can’t just turn a “work harder” or “relax” knob. Once you realize that productivity ideas can offer you great autonomy in shaping your life - however you decide to do that - your relationship with it becomes more nuanced and fruitful. Productivity can be understood as applying organization tools and deliberate processes to take back control of your obligations.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: Is productivity about optimization or autonomy? [6:06]

Should I start a blog to prepare to write a book? [23:18]
How do I recover from burn out? [30:11]
How do I prioritize when I have too many interests? [35:15]
Should I ditch my side hustle? [39:25]
How do I convince my self-focused colleagues to participate in more efficient group systems? [43:24]

Something Interesting:

The five books I read in February 2023 [53:24]

Links:

vice.com/en/article/akdyje/the-relentless-rise-of-the-productivity-influence
youtube.com/watch?v=YctcDlPixb8

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This episode is sponsored by Better Help: betterhelp.com/deepquestions
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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The relationship with time is one of the more interesting things going on in work culture. Many knowledge workers take on too much work and become overloaded. If we have less to do, our relationship with time can be repaired. So we have to think very concretely about building systems and mindsets that reduce how much we have to do.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: https://youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: Is our relationship to time broken? [16:12]

Do we need AI-driven time management tools? (Rant alert) [39:39]
Is slow productivity compatible with becoming world class in a competitive field? [47:46]
What deep accomplishments are Cal and Jesse most proud about? [50:15]
CASE STUDY: A composer embraces slow productivity [59:40]

Something Interesting:

Quiet quitting in academia? [1:08:35]

Links:

https://www.ft.com/content/176c104a-32c0-4267-b122-add10e5405f9
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/04/books/time-jenny-odell-.html
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-00633-w

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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The reading life is a deep life. The screen-filled life can be primitive and exhausting. Which one do you want?

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: Why is it important to read books? [7:23]

Should I buy physical copies of books I enjoyed on my kindle? [30:45]
How should I organize my notes when writing a non-fiction book? [34:38]
How do I train myself to become a reader? [40:34]
How should I build a library? [50:25]
What does Cal think about Sam Bankman-Fried’s claim that books are worthless? [55:12]

Something Interesting: [1:02:21]

Napoleon’s solution to inbox overload
Rethinking productivity: impact vs. velocity

Links:

abc.net.au/religion/maryanne-wolf-cultivating-deep-reading-in-a-digital-age/102001224

reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/11fphcy/til_napoleon_bonaparte_refused_to_open_his_mail/

itamargilad.com/velocity-vs-impact/

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Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: https://youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: Should we consider a radically reimagined internet? [7:03]

Can we build a better internet? [29:20]
Will the coming augmented reality make the deep life impossible? [36:18]
How do I become more disciplined about shutting down my phone? [44:26]
Is the internet alive? [49:35]
How does Cal see the connection between his professor and writer roles? [55:40]

Something Interesting: Michael Cera Doesn’t Use a Smartphone [1:10:47]

Links:

https://www.buzzfeed.com/mychalthompson/michael-cera-smartphone-social-media
https://urbit.org
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/21/us/google-supreme-court-youtube.html
Elevate Your Team

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Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: https://www.youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: How can I significantly decrease the footprint of my remote job (without anyone noticing)? [10:46]

How do I leverage a shift to remote work to gain a deeper life? [39:23]
How can I work deeply in a remote job that requires me to be available? [43:16]
How do I make time for my individual projects while working remotely? [53:47]
How do I avoid being promoted out of a nice remote position into a miserable management role? [55:35]

CASE STUDY: Alternative Workflow Pitfalls [1:00:07]

Something Interesting: The five books I read in January, 2023 [1:09:54]

Links:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/02/04/return-to-office-occupancy-status

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This episode is sponsored by Better Help:
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: Does Cal Still Think That Productivity is Overrated? [6:46]

Should I abandon my careful plan when I get on a roll? [30:47]
How do I achieve slow-and-steady work mode? [35:38]
How do I make my the most out of idle time? [41:37]
How does a deep work lover survive the shallows? [47:34]
Does productivity require that you’re anti-social? [51:16]

Something Interesting: Rethinking productivity in academia [1:02:44]

Links:

calnewport.com/blog/2007/08/31/dangerous-ideas-productivity-is-overrated/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at stamps.com/deep. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show!
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: How can we be ambitious without burning out? [8:23]

How do I create a hit podcast? (Special guest JORDAN HARBINGER) [41:59]
How do I overcome boredom in my purposefully under-scheduled life? [1:01:57]
How do I manage multiple side hustle projects? [1:06:11]
Do I need two planning documents if I have two jobs? [1:13:14]
How do I get my 15-year-old brother to stop using his phone so much? [1:15:30]

Something Interesting: The slow productivity of Maryam Mirzakhani [1:23:48]

Links:

screenrant.com/calvin-hobbes-bill-watterson-merchandising-lost-millions-reason/

web.archive.org/web/20150302235823/http://www.calnewport.com/blog

wired.com/2014/08/maryam-mirzakhani-fields-medal/

thedeeplife.com/podcasts/episodes/ep-115-jordan-harbinger-what-is-the-future-of-podcasting/

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Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: How can I free myself from spending all day in my inbox? [8:24]

Why does Cal suggest having multiple email addresses? [43:27]
How do I convince my colleagues to actually read process-centric emails? [47:16]
How do I work with people who enjoy email check-ins? [52:16]
How do I get key information out of email an into a better system? [57:25]
How can I focus when my job demands an open door policy? [1:01:11]

Something Interesting: Alex Haley wrote on a cargo ship [1:12:42]

Links:

affect.media.mit.edu/pdfs/16.Mark-CHI_Email.pdf
tim.blog/autoresponse/
blog.rescuetime.com/communication-multitasking-switches/
www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/01/23/magazine/cal-newport-interview.html
alexhaley.com/2018/08/04/aboard-the-african-star-by-alex-haley/

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: Why are lumberjacks happier than lawyers? [3:06]

Should I leave a good job to gain more autonomy? [32:34]
Should I quit my trainer job? [38:31]
What does Cal’s workday look like? [45:52]
How can I create a career without skills? [54:48]

CASE STUDY: The Slow Lawyer [58:38]

Books Cal Read in December [1:05:33]

Links:

washingtonpost.com/business/2023/01/06/happiest-jobs-on-earth/
frugalwoods.com/2021/09/15/mr-fw-retired-and-we-paid-off-our-mortgage-frugalwoods-fire-is-complete/
bench.co/blog/small-business-stories/paul-jarvis/
calnewport.com/blog/2017/05/22/john-grishams-15-hour-workweek/
itsfreetime.com/about

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This episode is sponsored by Better Help: betterhelp.com/deepquestions
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

DEEP DIVE: Work Cycles [6:57]

Should I leave my relaxing job to make more money? [33:54]
Is there a need for deep work retreats? [45:59]
How do I find time to work deeply when I’m busy? [53:07]

Case Study: On Walking and Remote Work [57:25]

Can Cal explain more about the “celebration” bucket? [1:02:09]

SOMETHING INTERESTING:

Deep work cafe [1:10:28]
cbsnews.com/news/manuscript-cafe-in-tokyo-serves-an-antidote-to-writers-block/
Gloria Mark’s new book [1:12:50]
amazon.com/Attention-Span-Finding-Fighting-Distraction/dp/1335449418

Links:

basecamp.com/handbook/09-how-we-work
bluemountaincenter.org/life-at-bmc
cnn.com/travel/article/amtrak-free-residency/index.html
myfranciscan.org/visit/hermitage/

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness and Productivity

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Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

DEEP DIVE: How well are you living? [11:14]

How do you track deep life habits? [28:07]
How do I become more social? (Bonus: How does Cal avoid being killed by Jocko?) [34:15]
How do I distill essential ideas from complex topics? [46:13]
How does Cal research his articles? [53:49]
Should I get a Deep Life tattoo? [59:41]

THREE INTERESTING THINGS:

Guillermo Del Toro Bought a Second House to Boost his Creativity [1:13:33]
kpcc.org/show/the-frame/2016-07-22/bleak-house-a-tour-inside-guillermo-del-toros-creative-man-cave
Kary Mullis’s Nobel-Winning Moment of Insight [1:19:56]
nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/1993/mullis/lecture/
Charles Dickens Wrote “A Christmas Carol” on Foot [1:22:38]

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

QUESTIONS:

How do I find time to study for a better job? [5:14]
How do I find rare and valuable skills to develop? [8:37]
How do I develop discipline if I have an easy job? [12:33]

CASE STUDY: A graduate student with 5 kids takes control of his life [30:06]

Should I work or spend all my time with my son? [35:50]
How do I manage a strategic plan with lots of unpredictable projects? [42:54]
How does role-based communication work? [46:09]
How do I plan projects with unpredictable time demands? [50:58]
Should I move my family across the country to accept my dream job? [52:56]
How do you make time for Quality time with your wife with such a busy schedule? [58:43]
Does Cal write reports on the books he reads? [1:01:18]
Does slow productivity apply only to knowledge workers? [1:07:17]
Why do my side hustles fail? [1:10:35]

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Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

DEEP DIVE: A World Without Busyness? [4:51]

In an era of Quiet Quitting is it easier to become a star? [22:09]
How do I resist my job’s demand for out-of-hours work? [29:52]
Should new writers use social media to get feedback? [35:31]
Should I use social media to promote my filmmaking website? [46:11]
Am I too busy find new ideas? [53:54]

THREE INTERESTING THINGS:

On Teenage Luddites [1:03:07]
calnewport.com/blog/2022/12/16/on-teenage-luddites/
Deep Work in Stocism [1:07:48]
Finding the Deep Life in the Mountains [1:09:09]
outsideonline.com/culture/essays-culture/moving-to-a-ski-town-steamboat-springs-colorado-no-regrets/

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DEEP DIVE: Should I Manage Time or Stress? [2:50]
How do I switch from a push to pull model of task management? [27:05]
Where should I live? [40:13]
Is “rare and valuable” the same as “impressive”? [49:01]
CALL: Integrating Deep Work to create a Deep Life [54:43]
How do I reconcile my lifestyle vision with my husbands very different vision? [58:09]
How does Cal structure his values document? [1:04:12]

THREE INTERESTING THINGS:

Twitter, Attention, and Democracy [1:14:28]
(nytimes.com/2022/12/11/opinion/what-twitter-can-learn-from-quakers.html)

Research: Walking Helps Thinking [1:22:10]
(apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/xlm-a0036577.pdf )

Novelist Ian Rankin’s Slow Productivity [1:23:47]
(theguardian.com/books/2016/may/07/my-writing-day-ian-rankin)

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Get your questions answered by Cal!
Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

CALL: How do I balance different productivity systems? [5:24]
How do I deal with a sudden increase in my work responsibilities? [12:29]
How use the “waiting for” column on my task board when crafting a weekly plan? [18:39]
If I adopt a natural pace to my work will I lose the race to success? [30:57]
Should I quit my job to pursue a new business idea? [45:04]
How do I handle a short period of having too much work? [50:20]
I’ve lost my will to work. What do I do? [56:28]
Does Cal get annoyed when people incorrectly cite his ideas? [1:02:56]

Books I Read in November 2022 [1:11:39]

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DEEP DIVE: Did Alan Turing Invent The Computer? [5:25]

INTERVIEW: Thriller writer J.T. Ellison [25:23]

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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DEEP DIVE: A World Without Twitter? [7:28]
bit.ly/3hQ9Wh4

LIVE CALLER: Starting a new company alone [34:28]

How do I (carefully) convince my employer to embrace Deep Work? [51:48]
I just quit my job. How do I reset my life? [1:03:36]
How do I deal with having too much freedom in my job? [1:10:09]
CALL: Which tool should I bring when I only have room for one? [1:17:53]
Who does Cal personally admire? [1:23:43]

THREE INTERESTING THINGS:

A novel solution to cell phones in schools [1:41:57]
bit.ly/3i2olHd
The age of social media ending. Welcome to my party! [1:47:19]
bit.ly/3gosVit
Eat, pray, herd [1:50:26]
wsj.com/3tOv6za

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

DEEP DIVE: Could This Meeting Have Been An Email? [5:48]
bit.ly/3EDcuZ0

Questions for special guest host David Sax:

Is the Light Phone worth the money? [28:38]
How do I get started seeking higher quality leisure? [38:43]
How do I become a successful freelance writer? [49:01]
How do I make technical writing compelling? [1:08:03]
How do I kick my podcast habit while trying to work? [1:15:06]
Do weekly plans have to cover exactly one week? [1:18:44]
Should I join the Overemployed Underground? [1:26:36]

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

DEEP DIVE: Did Caveman Use To-Do Lists? [1:28]
Article Link: bit.ly/3NYRbnF

LIVE CALL: Debating a master’s program [27:59]
How do I practice the “journalistic” mode of scheduling deep work? [37:32]
How do I determine when something I’m working on is good enough? [44:20]
Should I take two months off work to write in a cabin? [49:14]
Is answering email quickly really a good marker of talent? [53:45]
Is there a tutorial for Cal’s planning system? [1:00:04]
When is the new version of the Time Block Planner coming? [1:01:34]

CASE STUDY: A Freelancer Crafts a Deep Life [1:04:18]

CAL REACTS: New Insights on Kids and Phones [1:16:33]

School Took Smartphones Away: on.wsj.com/3Trj4G3
Social Media and Teenage Mental Health: bit.ly/3A3KN99

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Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link:
bit.ly/3U3sTvo

DEEP DIVE: The 20% Paradox [4:54]

INTERVIEW with Yael Schonbrun [18:59]
Cal and Jesse talk about Schonbrun interview [1:13:18]

MAILBAG: [1:24:00]

Twitter is losing its most active users
https://www.reuters.com/technology/exclusive-where-did-tweeters-go-twitter-is-losing-its-most-active-users-internal-2022-10-25/

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DEEP DIVE: The Two Types of Ambition [4:36]

LIVE CALL: Escaping the “Second Control Tap” [28:10]
Can journaling make me a better writer? [53:26]
What’s an example of a keystone habit for building community? [56:03]
Can Cal give an example of a quarterly plan? [1:00:00]
How does Cal choose what books to read? [1:06:16]
What’s is Cal’s philosophy on caffeine? [1:15:12]
How can a teenager prepare to live deeply? [1:20:59]

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Here’s a special preview of the new season of The Happiness Lab, a podcast from Pushkin Industries. You might think you know what it takes to lead a happier life… more money, a better job, or Instagram-worthy vacations. You’re dead wrong. Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos has studied the science of happiness and found that many of us do the exact opposite of what will truly make our lives better. She’ll take you through the latest scientific research and share some surprising and inspiring stories that will change the way you think about happiness.

Hear more from The Happiness Lab at:

podcasts.pushkin.fm/thls5?sid=questions

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Link to submit questions: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

DEEP DIVE: The Deep Reset [8:58]

Should I use Seinfeld’s “Don’t Break the Chain” method? [37:48]
Does Cal have a separate task board and weekly plan for his personal life? [42:07]
How do I track my metrics over the long term? [47:18]
Are Facebook and Instagram doomed? [52:25]
CALL: Children and video games [58:47]
When do I add a task to my list versus straight into my weekly plan? [1:07:50]

CASE STUDY: Implementing Deep Work advice [1:13:18]

MAILBAG: [1:19:40]

Cal’s vision of the AR future as it grows closer

https://twitter.com/MKBHD/status/1580917421757587456?s=20&t=-deRWeIvOuCdPhhnAOFm9Q

Andrew Huberman on the “Cathedral Effect”

https://hubermanlab.com/5-science-based-steps-to-improve-your-workspace/

Obligatory Focus Porn: Writing in an isolated hut

https://alastairhumphreys.com/important-or-urgent/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Link to submit questions: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

DEEP DIVE: Work vs. Meaning [4:48]

How do I design a life I love? [33:37]
Is it okay that I use adult coloring books? [47:19]
Is listening to music a good source of solitude? [49:33]
How do I enjoy the present while planning for a deeper future? [54:42]
CALL: Should I take over my dad’s business? [1:03:24]
How do I stop binge-watching YouTube after work? [1:12:02]
Does Cal process his WorkingMemory.txt file to empty every day? [1:18:06]
Does Cal keep a journal? [1:22:09]

MAILBAG: [1:29:25]

Holly Black’s enchanted home [1:30:10]
enchantedlivingmagazine.com/a-writers-cozy-lair/
Bram Stoker’s “method writing” [1:34:17]
theguardian.com/books/2022/oct/09/cutting-his-teeth-how-bram-stoker-found-his-inner-dracula-in-scotland
A new deep life bucket [1:35:56]
The deep life of a professional stone skipper [1:37:23]
outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/water-activities/stone-skipping-kurt-steiner/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Link to submit questions: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

CAL REACTS: Brandon Sanderson’t Underground Lair [2:49]

Was it a mistake to drop out of college? [21:49]
What tools should I use to manage my processes? [28:47]
CALL: Help with slow productivity [32:12]
What hobbies will improve my concentration? [37:34]

CASE STUDY: Building a Deep Life on House Hacking (plus: thoughts on FIRE) [43:22]

Is Cal using Zettelkasten? [58:06]
How I schedule work with an unpredictable medical issue? [1:01:38]

Books Cal Read in September, 2022 [1:15:07]

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Link to submit questions: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Interesting Mail Bag [7:10]
Does walking help or hurt my work? [25:01]
How do I tame the flow of work from outside teams? [29:10]
Do performers need an active social media presence? [33:12]
CALL: Should Robert keep on a writing role? [35:18]
CALL: Should Robert be worried about his full-time job discovering his side job? [39:18]
Are newsletters the new blogs? [44:34]
How can I prevent my law clients from interrupting me so much? [53:33]
Is Cal’s prediction about the rise of virtual screens a ‘hellscape’? [56:22]
CASE STUDY: What should I put on my new website? [1:10:46]
How do I complete things on time? [1:18:04]
How do I take notes on a complicated project? [1:19:56]
How can I buckle down and finish my novel? [1:22:17]

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Link to submit questions: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

INTERVIEW with Ryan Holiday [10:00]
Cal and Jesse talk about Holiday interview [1:13:57]

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Deep Dive: Quiet Quitting [4:00]
How can I motivate my kids to have Cal’s work ethic? [24:28]
What are Cal’s tips for writing better articles? [34:48]
Are someday/maybe lists worth it? [44:33]
How can a researcher embrace slow productivity? [48:24]
Why did Cal switch from Roam to Obsidian note-taking software? [53:47]

CASE STUDY: A World Without Email got my team through a crisis [57:01]

How can I concentrate on work with so many bad things happening in the world? [1:09:31]
What if I don’t enjoy the deep life I designed? [1:20:16]

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Deep Dive: The art of “no” [6:58]
CALL: Anxiety and time block planning [27:31]
How do I choose a hobby to master? [36:45]
Should I leave my job? [43:18]
How do I break into a knowledge work? [48:56]
How do I overcome career anxiety? [54:01]

CASE STUDY: 50 days of ocean dips [1:05:42]
CALL: Thoughts on Monday.com [1:13:35]
What’s the difference between a quarterly and strategic plan? [1:21:50]
How do I figure out my values? [1:23:10]

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Deep Dive: Will 4-Day Weeks Solve Burnout? [7:01]
How do I know if I’m doing too much? [24:03]
Who invented the idea to “follow your passion”? [34:11]
How can an ER doctor manage his schedule? [41:46]
CALL: How do you know when it’s time to rest? [45:48]
Nerd Alert: Is the future of computing more local? [49:59]
Books Cal read in August 2022 [59:31]
CALL: What watch does Cal use? [1:16:51]
How do I create a Feedback Council? [1:25:04]
Did Jordan Peterson and Bret Weinstein get weirder after leaving academia? [1:28:06]

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Deep Dive: How does Cal organize his life? [4:47]
How do I improve my estimates of how long a task will take? [27:49]
How does Cal feel about open office spaces? [30:01]
Does listening to a podcast count as reading? [40:54]
How do I plan a wedding without drowning in minutia? [43:40]
I lost my love for work. Should I try to get it back? [50:03]
Does Cal struggle with comparing himself to others? [59:18]
How do I reset my ambitions after buring out? [1:08:06]

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Please take a moment to provide feedback on the podcast using this survey:
bit.ly/3zMTLXp

DEEP DIVE: Loops, Networks, and Links [5:32]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS

How do I track a long-term project? [30:52]
How often should I check email? [36:23]
How do I get my workplace to be less “hyperactive”? [42:14]

LISTENER CASE STUDY: Diane rents an office near her house [46:08]

DEEP LIFE ACADEMY: Lifestyle-centric career planning [53:39]

—

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Click Here To Take Cal’s Survey: https://bit.ly/3zMTLXp

Cal reacts to the news: TikTok and the Fall of the Social Media Giants [3:05]

How long should I wait for someone to respond to my email? [32:21]
Do you recommend having multiple email accounts? [35:21]
Is there a place for “Inbox Zero” in Cal’s productivity system? [38:15]

Habit Tune-Up: Docket Clearing Meetings [44:44]

How do I balance my many interests after quitting my job? [55:33]
Why am I stuck in my pursuit of depth? [1:01:30]
How can we convince the masses to live deeper? [1:06:57]

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Habit Tune-Up: To-Do Lists Are Inhumane [2:03]

Is distracted deep work the same as shallow work? [18:10]
How does Cal do quarterly reviews? [23:03]
What should I include in my quarterly plan? [25:03]
How do I save my failing productivity system? [27:34]
Can I sell a book without social media? [36:12]

The Five Books Cal Read in July 2022 [47:56]

How do I manage the anxiety of not achieving a goal? [1:11:22]
How do I handle having too many ideas? [1:15:05]

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In today’s episode, we try something different: a special two-part conversation in which Cal coaches his longtime friend, comedian and podcast pioneer Jamie Kilstein, through a digital declutter. The first part of the conversation ends with Cal’s prescription for Jamie, while the second part picks up six weeks later to check in on how things actually went.

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With Cal away on vacation, he decides to tackle 8 questions in a row, all in one take, with no breaks!

Ian Fleming’s writing process (1:13)

- How can I get a tech job without credentials? (8:04)
- How do I make progress on tasks in a chaotic job? (10:52)
- Why do you have a problem with social media? (16:07)
- What should I do to succeed in my first internship? (24:16)
- What does Cal think about YouTube shorts? (26:37)
- Is it possible to avoid studying all the time in medical school? (29:14)
- What do you think of Oliver Burkeman’s work on productivity in Four Thousand Weeks? (37:51)
- Can I maintain a social life if I move to the country? (43:41)

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With Jesse away on vacation, Cal decides to tackle 10 questions in a row, all in one take, with no breaks, covering everything from complaints about Cal’s inaccessibility, to teaching deep work in schools, to a long pontification (read: rant) on the podcasting industry.

Finding time to self-study (5:38)
Why Cal is a bad correspondent (11:44)
Can everyone become so good they can’t be ignored? (25:32)
Should temperament affect job choice? (29:06)
Teaching deep work in schools (33:20)
When does Cal listen to podcasts? (37:46)
How do I succeed in podcasting? (38:57)
Why is Cal so contrarian? (56:22)
How do I stay a digital minimalist after having a baby? (59:31)
How do I teach my family and friends about the deep life? (1:02:23)

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Cal Reacts: A slow productivity case study [5:19]

What do you think about planning two weeks out instead of one? [25:52]
How can I brainwash my little brother to make him not follow his passion? [32:43]
Improving at deliberate practice with a slow feedback loop [42:33]
How can I stop overthinking? [49:53]

The Six Books Cal Read in June 2022 [54:48]

Slow productivity and billable hours [1:20:24]
What are the key principles of living the deep life? [1:24:21]

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Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Cal Reacts: Journalists and Twitter [3:26]

When should kids get smartphones? [28:08]
What age should my kids start coding? [37:51]
How can a non-native English speaker widen his vocabulary for scientific writing? [46:21]

Habit Tune-Up: Cal’s toolbox for taming meetings [47:25]

What should I read while waiting in line? [1:08:29]
Are some people not wired to focus? [1:11:39]

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Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Cal Reacts to the News: TikTok Dismisses Facebook [10:40]

Should I get a PhD in my 50’s? [32:29]
Do I need two shutdowns if I work on my side hustle in the evening? [40:21]
Good life vs. Deep life [44:39]

Habit Tune-up: Process-Centric Email [49:49]

How can I succeed in an academic profession after a lackluster start? [1:07:16]
Helping young men live deeply [1:15:07]

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Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Cal Reacts: Making a Living Online [8:26]

How do you get over the fear of starting a business? [39:21]
How can I convince my wife I’m unavailable during deep work sessions? [43:09]
Struggling to focus because of a personal crisis [54:49]
What is the potential of AI in productivity optimization? [1:00:30]

Interesting Mail Bag [1:05:52]

Can you reduce attention residue? [1:19:01]
Impact of Cal’s podcast on his idea process [1:22:31]

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Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

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Deep Dive: Feedback Councils [2:58]

How can you not lose faith if there is always more to be done? [23:22]
Do you have two shutdowns when you’re working two shifts? [27:04]
CALL: Decoding the Deep Life [32:13]
What are some good Deep Leisure activities? [47:32]
CALL: Looking to write after early retirement [53:16]

Books I read in May 2022 [1:03:13]

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Update on Cal’s book writing [ 2:03]

WORK QUESTIONS

How do I get my family and friends to take my profession seriously? [14:11]
How should we adjust our work for the arrival of our first baby? [21:33]
Do maximum deep work durations depend on the type of work? [28:10]
How do I overcome the sense of being overwhelmed by all of my goals? [31:21]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTION

What are the most important trends in technology at the moment? [37:25]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

Does reading too many books dilute their impact? [1:01:01]
How do I turn off my ambitious mind? [1:02:35]
How do I get back on the productivity horse after I fall off? [1:05:05]

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Update on Cal’s book writing [5:11]

LISTENER CALL: How do I get information out of my inbox? [9:59]
How do I choose a masters program? (RANT alert) [15:16]
How do you know what is enough for the next step of your career? [19:47]

HABIT TUNE-UP: Multi-Scale Seasonality (The second principle of slow productivity) [34:01]

RAPID FIRE CALLS:

How do I improve my evening wind down routine? [40:36]
How do you take a Deep Holiday? [42:52]
How do you organize your books? [46:12]

NEWS: A novel solution to the problems of social media [51:45]

Can I live a Deep Life if I decide to start a family? [57:27]

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The Overlooked Radicalism of Tim Ferriss [13:53]

QUESTIONS:

Is it time for a career change or do I just lack discipline? [37:30]
Do occasional leaks mean that my productivity system is broken? [46:02]
LISTENER CALL: How should this exhausted professorI structure her sabbatical? [50:16]

Habit Tune-Up: The Corner Marking Method [59:03]

Why use a paper notebook for Time-blocking instead of an app? [1:20:58]
How can I do longer Deep Work sessions? [1:26:48]

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Cal reacts to his inbox [7:48]

QUESTIONS:

How do I manage a two-part workday? [26:49]
How do I save my “shut down” ritual? [34:14]
LISTENER CALL: Should I work on challenging projects or take the easy path? [37:58]

Cal reacts to the news: A Catholic Response to Workism [48:48]

How do I select projects? [1:10:51]
How do I tame WhatsApp with my friends and family? [1:20:51]

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CAL REACTS: His latest article for The New Yorker [16:06]

QUESTIONS:

How do I balance my walking ‘modes’ when living a Deep Life? [39:43]
Why not recommend time-blocking for leisure? [44:09]
LISTENER CALL: How do I avoid my phone when I’m tired? [46:57]

HABIT TUNE-UP: WorkingMemory.txt

LISTENER CALL: How does a manager do Deep Work? [1:10:28]
Where do you put your extended thoughts about your life? [1:19:52]

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DEEP DIVE: The Surprising Math of Doing Less [8:58]

QUESTIONS:

How do I improve my discipline? [26:16]
How do you break down a complicated problem? [37:20]
LISTENER CALL: Has Cal read “Stolen Focus”? [40:27]

The Books I Read in April 2022 [46:41]

LISTENER CALL: Playbook for writing in The New Yorker [1:12:37]

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Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

CAL REACTS TO THE NEWS [8:05]

QUESTIONS:

How do I read more? [45:35]
Rapid Fire: TV, Email, and Journaling [54:44]
Listener Call: How is a weekly plan different than what’s in Trello? [59:33]

HABIT TUNE-UP: Fixed-Schedule Productivity [1:06:07]

Listener Call: How would Cal design a university? [1:19:47]
Should college students avoid social media? [1:29:58]

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Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

DEEP DIVE: The Crypto Question No One is Asking [1:43]

QUESTIONS:

Should I be productive or bill more hours? [24:51]
Can someone with ADHD succeed with Deep Work? [28:44]
Can I find depth if I have roommates? [33:12]
How do I track more publications? [37:49]
I can’t time-block. What should I do? [43:33]
How do I tame Netflix? [47:19]
How does Cal come up with ideas? [55:04]
How do I shorten weekly planning sessions? [58:26]

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Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

QUESTIONS:

How do I stick with just one organization system? [3:38]
How do I maintain a routine in a job with wildly changing demands? [9:00]
Cal Reacts to the News: Is Twitter Ruining Society? [23:30]
How do I apply your ideas to skilled labor? [44:14]
How do I cure my current feeling of burnout? [49:25]
Should I focus on process or results-focused goals? [1:01:51]

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Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

CAL REACTS TO THE NEWS : Elon Joins the Twitter Board [1:32]

QUESTIONS:

Managing idea notebooks [24:19]
Doctor who wants to learn advanced math [29:56]
Obsessed with instant messaging [34:17]
Tempering a racing mind [47:35]
Selecting good keystone habits [54:50]

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Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Cal Reacts to the News: The Times Drops Twitter [4:21]

QUESTIONS:

Is the hyperactive hive mind ever beneficial? [26:52]
How do I survive a really busy week? [36:49]
Should I quit my executive job to write a book? [42:48]
Do you have suggestions for improving the trade-off between teaching vs. scholarship obligations? [54:11]
How do you approach complexity? [57:34]

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Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

OPENING SEGMENT: The Books I Read in March, 2022 [2:05]

Cal’s frameworks [16:48]
Time blocking beyond work [26:05]
How to structure all-day studying [33:53]
Handling boredom [38:16]
Deep Work vs. YouTube [48:08]

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Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

DEEP DIVE: Quick Social Media (Revisiting my Viral 2017 Talk) [4:50]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

Does career capital theory assume meritocracy? [30:31]
Is there a middle ground between shallow and deep work? [34:35]
What tools can help my 100,000 employees be more productive? [37:38]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

Is the Deep Life privileged? [47:17]
When is “left to right” planning preferred? [1:07:10]

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Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Is “day batching” a good idea? [16:38]
Sustainable time-blocking [24:28]
Earning money versus building things [33:45]
Escaping a dead end career [48:19]
Reading deeply and quickly [53:42]

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DEEP DIVE: Is Friction Bad? [5:27]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

Should a stay-at-home parent pursue deep work? [21:32]
How do we combat administrative creep? [29:20]
Has Cal changed his mind on optimal duration of deep work sessions? [39:00]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

Should we all practice Shabbat? [44:05]
Why do I keep failing to complete my digital detox? [52:13]
How do I escape filter bubbles? [56:06]

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This episode is a replay from July 12, 2021.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Breaking up big projects into small tasks. [5:33]
The productivity baby steps (epic answer alert). [10:12]
Taming late night meetings. [27:16]
Best book of mine for college students. [36:34]
Shutdown routines with unpredictable schedules. [40:17]

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DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

How do I “practice” my job? [12:41]
Does software with too many features distract us? [22:12}
How can an overloaded minister juggle the demands of people and planning? [31:24]
Should I stop teaching my stock investing course to get better at investing at stocks? (Bonus rant: why you’re not going to beat the stock market) [43:42]
What lessons for life can we extract from the military experience? [45:47]

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Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Update on Cal’s writing [0:43]

Tips for preparing for an upcoming training. [19:32]
Your business model. [24:06]
Managing guiding documents. [35:26]
Becoming a better writer. [44:21]
Curing deep procrastination. [51:02]

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Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

CORE IDEA: The Case Against Email [2:52]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

How do I balance writing and marketing? [30:32]
How do I find time to time an overwhelming work load? [36:10]
How do I work even deeper? [40:22]
Should I read before or after I write? [45:51]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

Deep living in retirement? [53:07]
Should I quit my lawyer job? [55:24]
Does context switching reduce reading comprehension? [1:07:32]
Does Nicholas Carr’s hyperlink critique hold up? [1:08:15]

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Video from today’s episode: https://youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Article challenging Cal’s take on productivity. [17:07]
Alternatives to Cal’s career capital theory. [29:58]
Cal’s thoughts on shorter work weeks. [37:53]
Obsessive reading. [51:59]

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The Books I Read in February 2022 [4:45]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

Can you implement Cal’s productivity tips without time-blocking? [32:46]
Does technique beat talent? [37:28]
Do you recommend multiple email accounts for someone who works at different institutions? [43:12]
Can intense collaborative work be considered deep? [44:52]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

Are podcasts good for you? [52:11]
Can you elaborate on concentration calisthenics? [57:29]

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DEEP DIVE: On Doing Hard Things [4:42]

LISTENER CALLS:

People who are bad at planning [31:56]
What did Cal learn from his mom the computer programmer [40:42]
Students working on weekends [45:49]
Living a deep life with anxiety (warning: lecture alert) [56:52]

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DEEP DIVE: Is Ambition Worth It? [2:45]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

Should you ditch your to-do list with slow productivity mindset? [27:20]
What should I do while waiting for code to compile? [33:20]
What do you do when you get tired? [36:26]
How do I succeed as a postdoc? [39:17]
What do you eat to support Deep Work? [42:04]
What is your updated advice about “temporary plans”? [49:53]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

How do I balance deep work personal pursuits? [56:35]
At what age will Cal allow his kids to have phones and social media? [1:00:11]
Is Cal’s outlook on the future too optimistic? [1:02:52]
I followed my passion. Am I screwed? [1:08:51]

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DEEP DIVE: Is TikTok a Good Thing? [2:47]

CALLS:

Deep work for sales. [16:10]
Where to find arguments I disagree with. [20:18]
Little bets. [25:37]
Taming information overload. [39:45]
Minimalism as a med student. [48:56]

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CORE IDEAS: The Deep Life [4:55]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

Does time blocking work with ADHD? [33:39]
How should I approach my PhD? [35:38]
How can I meet other deep workers? [39:40]
How can I improve Zoom meetings? [44:19]
How do I shutdown while watching kids? [47:21]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

How do I balance my personal and professional life? [57:12]
How do I pick a major if I can’t follow my passion? [59:27]
Is there a place where I can find all of the ideas from this podcast? [1:04:45]

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Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode: tinyurl.com/b2rkctfj

BEHIND THE CURTAIN: Jesse asks Cal questions about his life. [2:41]

Listening to arguments on both sides of an issue. [24:49]
Designing a fantastic gap year. [33:51]
Juggling too many hobbies. [42:27]
Struggling to stay disciplined with home chores. [46:56]
Cal’s thoughts on the Metaverse. [58:58]

Thanks to our Sponsors:

My Body Tutor: MyBodyTutor.com: Mention “Deep Questions” for $50 off 1st month
Athletic Greens: Athleticgreens.com/deep
Stamps.com: Stamps.com - Use promo code “Deep”
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode: tinyurl.com/b2rkctfj

CORE IDEA: Deep Work [5:10]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

How much should I care about promoting my work? [28:07]
When do you write your weekly plan? [33:22]
What does Cal think about digital notebooks? [34:00]
Why is everyone so bad at email? [36:45]
What is Cal’s advice for a distracted high school student? [40:02]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

Does disconnection improve creativity? [50:57]
How do I teach my kids to focus? [57:52]
How do I get my students off their phones? [1:02:20]
What does Cal think about the book “Four-Thousand Weeks”? [1:05:21]

Thanks to our Sponsors:

My Body Tutor: MyBodyTutor.com: Mention “Deep Questions” for $50 off 1st month
Athletic Greens: Athleticgreens.com/deep
Stamps.com: Stamps.com - Use promo code “Deep”
Grammarly: Grammarly.com/Deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode: tinyurl.com/b2rkctfj

Cal's January Books: [2:00]

Listener Calls:
- Implementing the deep life [21:30]
- Physical vs. e-books [33:33]
- Finding hobby motivation [37:39]
- Asking for help [45:14]
- Deep student life [52:34]
- Deep work for a new father [1:04:27]

Thank you to this episode's Sponsors:

Policy Genius: Policygenius.com
Centered: centered.app/deepquestions
Magic Spoon: magicspoon.com/cal
ExpressVPN: expressvpn.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode: tinyurl.com/b2rkctfj

CORE IDEAS: Is Slow Productivity the Solution to Burnout? [2:58]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

How does Cal manage information? [35:56]
What notebooks does Cal use? [38:52]
What’s the deep approach to job searching? [44:20]
What did Cal’s readers learn about deep work? [48:00]
-Can I work deeply for more than 4 hours a day? [55:46]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

How should Cal’s time management advice be adjusted for students from underrepresented backgrounds? [1:04:58]
How do I survive college admissions craziness? [1:09:47]

Thanks to our Sponsors:

Policy Genius: Policygenius.com
Centered: centered.app/deepquestions
Magic Spoon: magicspoon.com/cal
ExpressVPN: expressvpn.com

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode: https://tinyurl.com/b2rkctfj

CORE IDEA: Don’t Follow Your Passion [3:07]

Dividing time between multiple pursuits. [17:38]
Implementing ideas from A World Without Email in small businesses. [22:17]
Estimating the tie required to complete tasks. [27:42]
Organizing household space for productivity. [34:12]
Tips for passing a highly competitive exam. [43:01]

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode: https://tinyurl.com/b2rkctfj

CORE IDEA: Time Management [4:37]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

What does deliberate practice look like for computer programming? [30:15]
Is it rational to quit your job if it implies a potential harm to society? [36:04]
When is deep work not the most important metric? [39:04]
Should I stay a job where the management actively tries to stifle productivity? [42:46]
What are your (Cal’s) tips for a mother of two small kids getting her masters? [51:15]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

Is raising kids part of the deep life or an obstacle to achieving it? [1:00:22]
Is listening to audiobooks just as beneficial as reading hard-copy books? [1:04:55]
How do I accomplish a digital detox when all of my leisure involves my phone? [1:06:07]
How can high school students excel without SATs? [1:11:06]
Should I worry about social media getting me fired from my job? [1:12:21]

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Videos of today’s questions: https://tinyurl.com/b2rkctfj

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

How should we use a ticketing system? [4:15]
Should I resign after my boss does? [9:19]
Are breaks to rest your eyes considered context switching? [13:10]
How do you time block long but ambiguous intellectual activity? [21:49]
How do you get back to scheduling after a vacation? [24:57]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

Is it okay for a one activity to fit into two different deep life buckets? [29:51]
How do I live deeply with a demanding job (i.e., should I quit my law partner job?) [33:51]

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Videos of the podcast are now live! (You can find then here: https://tinyurl.com/b2rkctfj

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

How do I decide how much work is enough? [13:35]
How do I eliminate post-shutdown anxiety? [28:15]
How do I get back to work effectively after a lunch break? [37:43]
Why don’t you (Cal) use Zettelkasten? [40:09]
How do I limit activities that aren’t important for my long-term success a new job? [46:20]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

How do you (Cal) stay focused on campus when surrounded by “woke-ness”? [52:44]
How do you (Cal) keep sane as a published author? [58:31]
How do you “count” time that is between deep work and deep leisure? [1:02:24]

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

OPENING DISCUSSION: How I schedule podcasting

LISTENER CALLS:

My thoughts on psychedelics and the pursuit of awe. [8:38]
Time-block planning for the visually impaired. [19:07]
Struggling to escape a job. [23:24]
Concerns about book editors. [33:26]
My blog writing process. [43:41]
The deep life vs. the good life [48:49]

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP DIVE: Why Are We Burnt Out? [1:31]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

Should I exercise before or after deep work? [20:28]
Why plan every quarter instead of every month or year? [23:56]
How do I master a hard technical skill? [26:12]
What does my (Cal) knowledge management system look like? [30:17]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

Are my (Cal’s) online courses applicable to people with ADHD? [40:37]
How do I apply deep work to my busy life? [45:10]
How do I balance work, school, and kids? [49:45]
What are my (Cal’s) thoughts on sleep? [52:36]
How do I (Cal) think about earnings and personal finance? [56:23]

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

LISTENER CALLS:
- Optimal amounts of advanced scheduling. [6:46]
- Recommendations for not going overboard with strategic planning. [14:31]
- Training for hard intellectual work. [19:12]
- Convincing students to limit social media (rant alert). [28:30]
- Keeping eyes healthy. [43:45]

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

OPENING CHAT: The Books I Read in December 2021

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:
- How do I handle insecurity about my writing ability? [35:39]
- How do I balance non-work and work activities? [39:51]
- How can I take regular breaks to avoid eye strain? [43:53]
- How can I reduce anxiety around long term projects? [45:43]
- How should academic handle paper rejections? [48:36]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:
- What are your (Cal’s) thoughts on fasting and deep work? [54:59]
- How should I maintain a healthy body posture while at the computer? [01:00:56]
- How do I stick with habits for more than a couple days? [01:01:55]
- How does a digital minimalist find interesting books to read? [01:04:57]

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

LISTENER CALLS:
- Getting better vs. selling harder. [3:29]
- Convincing a girlfriend to use less social media [9:15]
- Time-blocking tips [20:29]
- Ambition and the deep life [26:17]
- Advice of an ideal desk set up [32:56]

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

How can a freelancer perform deep work? [9:56]
Should I follow my skill or my passion? [12:50]
How do you manage group projects in college? [21:51]
Do you recommend listening to music while doing deep work? [24:16]
What do you do when your boss has allocated you to a team “half time”? [26:20]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

How do you return to time blocking after falling off the wagon? [36:25]
How do you include non-work activities into your workday? [38:53]
How do you structure you time if you love what you do? [40:10]
How should you think about the Deep Life in retirement? [43:12]

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Because I'm away on vacation these week, I'm replaying a classic show from the Deep Questions archives. This is Episode 125, which originally ran back in August.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP DIVE: How Reachable Should We Be? [1:45]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS

- What should I do if I finish a time block early? [8:28]
- How do I work deeply at home with a crying newborn? [12:54]
- How I work deeply while taking care of a child full time? [17:50]
- How do I manage a shared mailbox with my team? [23:11]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- What is discipline (and how do I get it)? [32:18]
- Should I take a harder job to get better faster? [40:04]
- What about people who don't want to do deep work? [43:49]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Because I'm away on vacation these week, I'm replaying a classic show from the Deep Questions archives. This is Episode 109, which originally ran back in June.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

BOOK REPORT: The Square and the Tower [04:28]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS

- What should I do if I like my job but dislike the industry? [12:32]
- How hard should I push back against a shallow company culture? [17:06]
- Is productivity only for people with certain personality types? [25:57]
- What is the best strategy for an aspiring academic? [28:22]
- Should I ask experts or learn on my own? [30:14]
- Can you tell me more about the CIA's mail tubes? [35:36]
- How do I get on the New York Times bestseller list? [41:28]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS
- Is there value in keeping a daily record of significant activity? [50:32]
- Can I pursue the deep life if I have mental health issues? [56:46]
- Are there wrong ways to pursue the deep life? [1:01:01]
- How much time do I (Cal) spend reading? [1:04:48]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

LISTENER CALLS:

Was Tesla the ultimate deep thinker? [4:01]
Writing for academic audiences (bonus: the story of my first book deal). [7:03]
The difference between deep work and the deep life buckets (bonus: Jesse and I discuss the latest progress on my new book). [19:05]
Do YouTubers have a terrible job? [45:06]
Preparing for the GMAT and job interviews. [52:18]

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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In this episode, author Jenny Blake joins me for a conversation about her new book, FREE TIME: Lose the Busywork, Love Your Business (https://itsfreetime.com/book), which helps entrepreneurs engineer the stress out of their work. I ask her to use myself as a case study and apply her principles to helping me reduce stress in my working life.

Though FREE TIME doesn’t come out until March, if you pre-order a copy now (at https://itsfreetime.com/book) you’ll get immediate access to a pair of free copies of the audiobook: one for you and one for a friend.

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

OPENING CHAT: Cal is excited about his new email setup.

LISTENER CALLS:

Shutdown struggles. [13:58]
The difference between value-based planning and the deep life buckets. [17:47]
Drowning in meeting prep. [28:21]
Fiction book recommendations. [32:34]
My process for writing New Yorker Articles. [40:27]

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP DIVE: Is your productivity system leaking? [6:01]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

How do I accomplish big projects in small amounts daily effort? [12:50]
How do I make more money as I become more efficient? [17:28]
What’s the best way to add structure to chaotic non-profit? [21:22]
How do I build an autopilot schedule for unpredictable work? [27:10]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

How do I modify your student advice for a part-time student? [33:32]
How do I filter news? [40:31]
Where should start in planning for the future? [43:22]
Why does the FIRE movement get so much attention? [47:19]
How do I convince myself to execute my plans? [53:41]

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

LISTENER CALLS:

Doctors and depth. [6:42]
Career capital in the military. [10:39]
Coping with a hyperactive job. [14:45]
Making a teaching plan for the semester. [27:32]
Managing references. [33:53]

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

OPENING CHAT: The 5 Books I Read in November (Bonus Rant: Why did Jurassic Park need an assessment from a chaos theoretician?) [2:06]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

Is it worth becoming good at skills that you only need short term? [21:51]
How do I seem present online when working on side projects? [26:43]
Should I revise my weekly plan if things change? [36:09]
How should I manage reading I want to do? [39:29]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

How can I take a deep approach to networking? [46:21]
How can I focus on deep work with so much suffering around me? [50:59
How do I teach my students to not buy into the hyperactive hive-mind? [57:35]
What’s your (Cal’s) advice for “jack of all trades” people who want to become so good they can’t be ignored? [59:37]

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

OPENING CHAT: YouTube vs. Social Media

LISTENER CALLS:

The magic of autopilot scheduling [16:35]
Tips for finding a non-hyperactive good boss [23:18]
Alternatives to email-based workflows [27:24]
Taming Trello [35:07]
Study tactics [38:58]

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP DIVE: Should you move to the country? [3:55]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

Is it worth time blocking for long projects? [20:11]
What’s your (Cal’s) opinion on bosses stopping by the office to chat? [22:16]
How can I remember all of your advice? [25:39]
How do I avoid the feeling of just going through the motions? [32:41]
How do I better get started in the morning? [38:31]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

What’s your advice for studying while also working in a warehouse? [44:38]
How can I improve my meditative walks? [50:10]
How can working parents maximize time spent with children? [54:12]
Are you so good you can’t be ignored in computer science? [58:40]
How do I choose a thesis topic? [1:03:41]

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP DIVE: When should tasks live on my calendar? [7:24]

LISTENER CALLS:

Online presences for novelists [14:13]
Not getting stuff done outside of work [26:10]
Managing team workload [32:19]
Finding more family time [39:37]
Leveraging career capital early in one’s career [47:48]

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP DIVE: How do I tame email? [9:51]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

How to accomplish deep work in the context of meeting overload? [29:09]
What is difference between the productivity funnel and capture/configure/control? [36:06]
Do you (Cal) have a filing system for emails? [40:18]
What time blocking granularity is best? [42:53]
How do you (Cal) manage projects vs tasks on your board system? [44:52]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

How does one get a sense of satisfaction from goals that continue ad infinitum? [50:33]
How soon after the birth of a child is it realistic to start employing time blocking? [55:29]
How should one combine having young children and pursuing newfound ambitions? [59:24]
How should I think about career capital when taking time off to be a stay-at-home parent? [1:03:19]

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP DIVE: Decoding the Productive Pause [2:43]

LISTENER CALLS:

Finding a research interests. [10:00]
Trading moments of your life for money. [13:23]
Scheduling more deep work. [23:14]
Handling the difficult switch from work to leisure and then back again. [27:30]
Creating temporal Eudamonia Machines. [32:31]
Leading a new team away from email. [39:14]

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

Are some people more suited for deep work than others? [4:54]
How do I tame post-shutdown excitement? [8:33]
How to I deal with ambiguous deep work? [14:41]
Can you (Cal) elaborate on the Friction/Flow/Finalization project pathway? [17:41]
How do you time-block plan in a company obsessed with last minute meetings? [23:21]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

Are you (Cal) a control freak? [41:16]
What have you (Cal) learned from the pandemic? [45:07]
Would you (Cal) do your CS research and writing if you couldn’t share it? [51:54]
How did you (Cal) never get tempted to join a social media platform? [56:11]
Is the monastic life the ultimate deep life? [59:24]

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

A conversation with Producer Jesse about my next book [1:48]

LISTENER CALLS:

Twitter FOMO for a journalist. [16:40]
Tracking small amounts of time. [25:12]
My quarterly planning process. [30:07]
Tedious tasks with an entry level job. [34:22]
Timeblock planners spiral bindings. [38:24]
Struggling to balance teaching with research (PLUS: a bonus rant about the coming knowledge work revolution). [42:15]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP DIVE: My October reading list [1:49]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

- How do you avoid burn out from deep work? [11:55]
- Are your (Cal's) systems for tracking deep work and for tracking GTD projects independent? [13:59]
- Does studying “on the go” incur cognitive burden? [18:07]
- What category of things do you track on your (Cal's) Trello boards? [26:42]
- What skills are most important for an undergraduate looking to become a professor? [32:12]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

- What would you recommend to a doctoral student without a mentor? [36:53]
- How do you balance physical and digital tools in productivity? [39:16]
- Do you suggest reading for quality or quantity with non-fiction books? [41:34]
- How do you apply your ideas to make sure your family can pursue a deeper life? [43:25]
- Is the deep life compatible with helping humanity? [48:27]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP DIVE: Is Overload Necessary? (Epic rant alert) [3:53]

LISTENER CALLS:

- Beyond the most important task of the day. [27:00]
- "Pseudo-blocking" household admin. [31:53]
- A doctor struggling to find leisure time. [36:47]
- Defanging the internet with strategic browser plug-ins. [44:26]
- Applying sprints outside of the tech sector. [49:35]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP DIVE: What would you say you do here? [3:05]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

What time management strategies do you suggest if I work a 9-5 and want to pursue master's or phd? [13:32]
How to overcome productivity pr0n?
Lifehacker addict is hung up on the fomo (fear of missing out) of potential shortcuts. [19:51]
could save time
How to time block deep work while juggling the demands of "in the moment questions". [25:03]
Pharmacist manager gets bogged down with constant questions despite needing time to do deep work.
How do you differentiate productive meditation with "day-dreaming mode" to solve problems? [32:28]
Relaxing the pre-frontal cortex
What are your thoughts on scaling up for sole proprietors? [35:37]
A digital marketer thinking of outsourcing for book keeping, etc.

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

What do you do/read to keep the path of living a deep life? [38:57]
What's your class policy regarding your students and their phone use? [42:38]
How do you combat confirmation bias as an author and academic? [44:58]
How do you balance reading new books and re-reading books (especially past ones that have proven valuable)?

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP DIVE: On Facebook, Misinformation, and the Death of Collaborative Curation [2:59]

LISTENER CALLS:

- My thoughts on speed reading. [21:29]
- My system for writing New Yorker articles (routinizing demanding work). [24:43]
- The importance of media for academic careers. [34:07]
- Re-assessing linked note-taking. [40:02]
- The absurdity of live study streams. [44:12]
- Time blocking without a time-block planner. [51:21]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

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DEEP DIVE: Is the Era of Social Media Ending? [2:37]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

- Did COVID-19 closures change my (Cal's) thoughts on my working situation? [18:01]
- Should I stick with management consulting? [37:06]
- How do I lead my organization away from email? [40:17]
- How do I pick a specialization in a broad field? [44:55]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

- Do I (Cal) use my smartphone for directions and photos? [48:48]
- How do I choose my minor? [51:37]
- What is something I (Cal) have changed my opinion on in recent years? [55:00]
- Should I publish this book? [56:53]
- Do I (Cal) regret becoming a public intellectual? [1:02:28]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP DIVE: Smartphones and moral panics. [3:43]

LISTENER CALLS:
- Scheduling when you've fallen behind. [12:29]
- Squandering autonomy. [18:06]
- Hacking habits and the shortcomings of raw discipline. [26:11]
- Tenure and valuable skills. [31:38]
- Adding more to your plate without it tipping over. [36:24]
- Frustration and the Deep Life (and an update on my next book). [42:41]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP DIVE: Will Offices Survive the Pandemic? [6:01]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS
- How do I practice my writing better? [22:07]
- Is it harder to write a dissertation or a book? [25:08]
- Will 10-minute sitting breaks destroy my concentration? [29:04]
- Am I good at time management or just lazy? [35:52]
- How do I get the most out of an assistant who handles my inbox? [40:24]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS
- How do I structure all my leisure time when I have no kids? [44:13]
- Is digital nomadism making a comeback? [46:53]
- Are RSS feeds a good alternative to social media? [52:37]
- How do I find fellow Deep Questions listeners to hang out with? [58:49]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

- Interacting with potential clients while avoiding constant distraction. [2:10]
- Self-promotion without social media. [8:21]
- Dealing with an overflowing "to read" folder. [13:19]
- Correcting weekly plan drift. [18:13]
- The secrets of my high-volume reading. [22:47]
- Personal vs. organizational productivity. [27:29]
- Balancing deep and shallow work. [36:10]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

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DEEP DIVE: Why Am I Uncomfortable With Facebook Backlash? [1:16]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

- How do I work deeper in a job that is inherently fractured? [17:29]
- How do I switch tasks without everything going to hell? [23:21]
- How do I build relationships with colleagues if I prioritize deep work? [26:50]
- How can I reduce the craziness of my college schedule? [33:39]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:
- How can I relaxed if I'm extremely driven? [38:49]
- Can on lead a life as a recognized intellectual outside of academia? [42:48]
- How do I get better at thinking critically? [47:38]

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

OPENING: Some Thoughts on Slow Productivity. [0:21]

LISTENER CALLS

- Taming client email as a busy lawyer.[3:44]
- How I maintain my systems. [11:42]
- The danger of too much productivity. [[17:02]
- Benjamin Franklin, tedious Harvard types, and awe. [22:54]
- Students and theory. [34:12]
- Reversing burnout. [38:05]

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS
- How do virtual office hours work with multiple participants? [4:26]
- Is time spent in front of a computer screen bad (bonus rant: we work too much!)? [8:18]
- How do I remember goals when I'm in danger of distraction? [14:20]
- Why do I ignore monthly planning? [16:26]
- How do I survive running two companies? [18:08]
- How do I make my YouTube channel popular? [22:43]
- How should I train new hires? [27:09]
- How do I avoid getting stuck waiting for a needed response? [30:43]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- Can I (Cal) give feedback to all submitted questions [32:48]
- Can my (Cal) philosophy be summarized as "deep intentionalism"? [34:33]
- Which phones and phone apps do you use? [37:18]
- What are some ideas for keystone habits in the creativity bucket? [38:41]
- How should a college student approach digital minimalism? [43:17]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

RANT FOLLOW-UP: A doctor's perspective on kids and smartphones. [0:35]

GUEST CHAT: Scott Young stops by to talk about our new online course. [5:00]

LISTENER CALLS:
- Returning to regular deep work after the pandemic. [22:06]
- Deciding what tasks to execute. [29:34]
- Integrating your values into your daily activities. [34:08]
- Lessons from Virginia Woolf. [39:44]
- Phone use degrading reading ability. [44:28]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP DIVE: Is the Desire to Produce Negative? [5:14]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS

- What are the most popular workflows used to escape excessive email? [17:07]
- How do I read academic papers effectively? [27:40]
- How much studying is enough for a college student? [31:38]
- How do I defeat the allure of distraction? (Plus: Why Soto should get more MVP votes than Harper) [35:17]
- Is it too inefficient to copy a time block schedule into Outlook? [36:51]
- Are the processes from A World Without Email productivity pr0n? [38:59]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- Why do you (Cal) not pursue FIRE? [42:52]
- How do you avoid confirmation bias? [49:50]
- Should I use TikTok because that's where people are? [54:07]
- Is deep work a philosophy? [55:26]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

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OPENING RANT: Facebook Knows It's Hurting Teenagers [3:22]

LISTENER CALLS:

- Interfacing with the hive mind. [17:45]
- The relationship between tasks and daily plans. [24:58]
- My weekly planning ritual. [31:04]
- Discovering books. [39:42]
- How I manage my non-work tasks. [46:25]

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

ANNOUNCEMENT: I'm hiring! [0:20]

DEEP DIVE: The Elements of the Deep Life [3:51]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS
- How should I get started in a new remote work job? [16:56]
- How I time block a purely reactive job? [21:56]
- Should I bother capturing tasks that are fast to complete? [25:26]
- How do I tame multiple concurrent projects? [29:00]
- How do I schedule optional deep work in an exhausting job? [31:58]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS
- How much time is left for family after goals and deep work? [38:32]
- Is there such a thing as deep fun? [41:20]
- I am addicted to my phone. What do I do? [43:24]
- How do I make a big life decision when I have lots of options? [49:11]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Balancing availability and depth as a leader. [5:12]
Being available to students without being overwhelmed. [12:08]
Rapid fire questions (each answer under 1 minute). [18:18]
-- Working eight hours in a row.
-- Quarterly plan format.
-- Reading metrics.
Sticking to a schedule once made. [26:36]
Keeping up with an academic literature. [30:24]
Taking breaks between big projects. [35:20]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP DIVE: Is Organization the Opiate of the Knowledge Work Masses? [1:02]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS

- How do I choose skills to work deeply on? [15:18]
- What if I don't know what I want to do with my career or life? [20:11]
- How do I stop my students from overwhelming me right before deadlines? [23:38]
- When should you say "no" to interesting projects? [27:13]
- How do I preserve deep work now that I'm back in a real offie? [30:08]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- What are my (Cal) plans regarding my next book? [40:50]
- Would I (Cal) consider interviewing my wife? [41:32]
- What are the origins of my (Cal) ideas on leisure? [44:12]
- How do we get our 13-year-old off his iPhone? [50:31]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

OPENING: My new reading habit [6:53]

LISTENER CALLS:

- Retaining information from books. [11:16]
- The value of an agile personal productivity system. [18:33]
- An impractical vision for a highly productive building. [26:16]
- Marketing a course without social media. [37:45]
- The art of "no". [43:14]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

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In today's episode, I am joined by longtime friend of the show Brad Stulberg, who has a new book out called THE PRACTICE OF GROUNDEDNESS (https://thegrowtheq.com/books/groundedness/).

Brad helps me answer your questions on topics including the decision to start a company, recovering from a pandemic-induced demotion, preventing productivity from diminishing leisure, and dealing with inertia.

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

My home office setup. [3:59]
Working while tired. [12:29]
Writing three hours a day. [17:19]
Details of my strategic plans. [26:09]
Ignoring strategic plans. [31:08]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP DIVE: How Reachable Should We Be? [1:48]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS

- What should I do if I finish a time block early? [8:31]
- How do I work deeply at home with a crying newborn? [12:57]
- How I work deeply while taking care of a child full time? [17:54]
- How do I manage a shared mailbox with my team? [23:14]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- What is discipline (and how do I get it)? [31:49]
- Should I take a harder job to get better faster? [39:35]
- What about people who don't want to do deep work? [43:21]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

- Organizing notes on technical articles and books. [3:00]
- Finding depth amidst a vast shallows. [8:35]
- Should I get an MBA if it's free? [24:12]
- Optimal counts of deep projects. [33:30]
- The value habit. [36:37]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS
- Does deep work apply to everybody? [5:15]
- Who watches your kids when you do deep work? [12:48]
- How do I design a deeper work environment from scratch? [19:23]
- What should I focus on as a postdoc? [23:39]
- Do I (Cal) really not work in the evening? [28:12]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS
- How much deep leisure should I schedule if I have kids? [36:40]
- How can I apply deep work in retirement? [41:28]
- What is my (Cal) daily routine? [44:36]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

- Naturally disorganized people. [3:23]
- Coping with highly reactionary schedules. [11:07]
- Digital versus analog weekly plans. [16:32]
- Summer reading (plus: my idea for a novel). [21:29]
- Prioritizing friendly connections. [32:25]
- Figuring out your values. [36:59]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

In today's episode, I am joined in studio by my longtime podcasting friend Srini Rao, host of the incredible Unmistakable Creative podcast (https://unmistakablecreative.com/), on which I've been a guest many times.

Srini helps me answer your questions on both deep work and the deep life. We also talk about his podcasting company recently raising a series A round of venture capital funding, and what it was like appearing on the Netflix reality show Indian Matchmaker.

I apologize that I don't have timestamps for the individual questions for this episode. In the moment, I forgot to take notes. In future collaborative Q&A episodes I'll make sure to get the questions written down so I can deliver the timestamps to you here.

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

- Saving a software team from the hyperactive hive mind. [3:21]
- Working from near home on a student budget [6:18]
- Students' diminishing focus. [13:10]
- Useful academic work. [24:15]
- Deep work subverting deep leisure. [29:09]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP DIVE: Does Accomplishment Require Overload? [3:16]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS
- How do you figure out what to get good at? [15:35]
- Should I quit teaching to become a lifestyle coach? [23:24]
- Why did I (Cal) become a computer scientist? [28;39]
- How do I stop my firm from killing itself with email? [34:07]
- As the multipurpose nature of computers a problem? [39:23]
- What do I (Cal) think about four day work weeks? [41:30]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS
- Should I reschedule miss deep work for later in the day? [46:56]
- Do you (Cal) ever fix your big picture plans once in motion? [48"37]
- Should I apply 4DX to my deep life buckets? [56:09]
- How does one balance deep work with a partner who is equally as ambitious? [1:01:42]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Stopping excess emails from students. [8:39]
Finding ideas for books. [16:46]
The nuances of weekly planning. [19:58]
A primer on my value-driven planning philosophy. [29:46]
Deep work for politicians. [43:47]
Inefficient workflows. [49:53]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS

- How do I find free time as a working mother? [2:10]
- How do I time block unpredictable support tasks? [13:56]
- How many items are on my (Cal's) task lists and how often do I review? [18:51]
- How do I stay productive without clear deadlines? [27:09]
- How do get started writing? [32:33]
- How do I know if an idea is good? [37:56]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- How do I integrate uncertainty into my goal setting? [43:01]
- How should I configure my smartphone notifications? (Rant Alert) [52:18]
- Should I quit my design job to become a writer? (Rant Alert #2) [57:50]
- How do I make progress on meaningful goals in difficult circumstances? [1:09:37]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

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In this episode, Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness join me to talk through Matt Crawford's classic 2009 book: "Shop Class as Soulcraft." We get into its impact on our own thinking, attempt to deconstruct its popularity, and seriously consider quitting our jobs to repair motorcycles.

For more on Brad and Steve: https://wthegrowtheq.com

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

In this episode, podcast maven Jordan Harbinger joins me for a collaborative deep dive on the topic of podcasting. We take a close look at the current state of this technology, including a look at specific numbers: How much money are people making? How many people are making that money? Why is SMARTLESS worth $20 million a year to Amazon?

We then tackle the future of the industry. Will independent audio-only podcasting as we know it today still be around in 5 years, or is this just a step toward a radical new configuration of the media landscape? (I have a theory on this which I run by Jordan for his opinion.)

We get into it all...

For more on Jordan and his massively successful show: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Balancing necessary shallow and important deep work. [3:23]
Increasing reading retention. [9:556]
Keeping track of goals or ideas for future pursuit. [13:59]
Growing a podcast without social media. [19:32]
Seasonal breaks from work. [30:51]
Community bucket struggles. [33:54]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

BOOK REPORT: The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin [1:30]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS

- How do I eliminate the hive mind from interaction with other departments? [13:36]
- How do I capture small tasks so I don't forget them? [23:23]
- How do I (Cal) feel about career counselors? [29:31]
- Are there professions for which time blocking doesn't work? [33:42]
- How do I organize my tasks without using task boards? [37:55]
- Should I build a radical setting to support the deep life? [39:50]
- How do I become the right person to write a book? [42:52]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- Can a digital minimalist use a fitness tracker? [54:33]
- When should I switch from work to leisure? [56:27]
- How do I get back on track with a deep life after a hard pandemic? [59:24]
- What is my (Cal's) top piece of parenting advice? [1:02:04]
- Cal's Curmudgeon Corner: How do I find meaning beyond simply expressing myself? [1:05:01]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Breaking up big projects into small tasks. [4:19]
The productivity baby steps (epic answer alert). [8:58]
Taming late night meetings. [26:02]
Best book of mine for college students. [34:45]
Shutdown routines with unpredictable schedules. [38:28]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

FROM THE NEWSLETTER: Notes on Quentin Tarantino's Writing Routine [3:39]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS

- How fluid are my quarterly plans? [17:00]
- What is a good approach to take notes in meetings? [19:59]
- What do you include ads o your podcast? [23:31]
- How do I install a deep work mindset in my team? [25:25]
- How do you (Cal) use Evernote? [32:37]
- Am I planning an app version of my time-block planner? [35:30]
- Any tips to help me actually do the things I have time blocked? [37:21]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- How do I stop embracing my distracting thoughts? [45:37]
- How does a high school student find things to be interested in? [55:24]
- How do I get started writing on an already popular topic? [59:42]
- How does deep work relate to Dave Epstein's idea go Generalists vs. Specialists? [1:05:45]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Why people get mad at me. [1:21]
Scheduling reading. [7:06]
Semester goals and time block planners. [11:41]
McKeown's effortlessness vs. Newport's automation. [25:05]
Translating the deep life into concrete action. [30:23]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

BOOK REPORT: The Square and the Tower [3:6]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS

- What should I do if I like my job but dislike the industry? [11:41]
- How hard should I push back against a shallow company culture? [16:15]
- Is productivity only for people with certain personality types? [25:05]
- What is the best strategy for an aspiring academic? [27:30]
- Should I ask experts or learn on my own? [29:23]
- Can you tell me more about the CIA's mail tubes? [34:45]
- How do I get on the New York Times bestseller list? [40:36]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS
- Is there value in keeping a daily record of significant activity? [49:50]
- Can I pursue the deep life if I have mental health issues? [56:06]
- Are there wrong ways to pursue the deep life? [1:00:22]
- How much time do I (Cal) spend reading? [1:04:09]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

The hyperactive hive mind and the return to the office. [2:57]
Becoming productive. [12:23]
Time tracking apps. [24:51]
Scheduling continuous projects. [27:19]
Struggling with time blocking. [36:51]
Working on problems past when it's useful. [41:47]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

How do I cultivate urgency for long-term projects? [2:49]
How do I learn more about deliberate practice? [11:54]
How do deal with an "open door" policy at work? [17:06]
How can I return to academia after taking an industry job? [19:57]
Does a commitment to deep work block me from management? [21:37]
How do I avoid distractions when working from home? [24:56]
Can condensed deep work rituals still be effective? [27:45]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

How should I use boredom? [37:09]
Will organized schedules undermine my social life? [45:42]
What is my (Cal) take on Clubhouse? [52:11]
How can someone with few resources cultivate meaningful leisure? [56:48]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

- Balancing work and school. [3:34]
- Deep work and ADHD. [8:28]
- Building career capital as an account executive. [15:15]
- Do I know Naval Ravikant? P22:35]
- Art without social media. [27:31]
- Pursuing a PhD purely for passion. [33:53]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

View Details

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS

- How do you apply deep work when your job is entirely shallow? [4:37]
- Is batching emails a few times a day a good practice? [12:20]
- Why are some tips for managing the flow of emails and texts from clients? [19:54]
- What am I (Cal) working during my teaching sabbatical this spring? [26:45]
- What are the ideal ratios for writing, thinking, and reading in a day? [29:47]
- Can I (Cal) elaborate on how I track deep work? [34:17]
- How do you avoid easing up on the gas after tenure? [35:58]
- How do I teach my kids to appreciate career capital? [40:08]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- How does Cal Newport handle stress? [46:44]
- how much news should I be reading? [51:55]
- Is there a connection between Stephen Covey's saw and Newport's buckets? [57:59]
- How do you (Cal) deal with failure and setbacks? [1:00:21]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

- Balancing the unpredictable demands of a small business. [3:16]
- Taming emails when it's hard to say "no". [10:02]
- Notebook overkill. [20:47]
- On adverting and social media.[29:52]
- My thoughts on video games. [35:45]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS

- How do you do deep work when you're not in the mood? [3:48]
- How do you mange time for side hustle projects? [13:38]
- What future technologies will have the biggest positive impact on focus and attention? [16:51]
- How do I avoid prioritizing other peoples' task needs above my own? [24:28]
- How do I build career capital without guidance? [30:12]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- How do I stop my social media relapses? [43:50]
- How do I remain committed to the deep life? [48:28]
- What is the relationship between order and well-being? [52:56]
- How do I (Cal) track my values? [1:00:45]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music

View Details

In this episode, author Brad Stulberg joins me in person at my Deep Work HQ (!) for a deep dive into the topic of busyness, burn out, and the quest to craft more sustainable professional lives.

For more on Brad: https://thegrowtheq.com/ or my interview from Episode 47.

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS

- Should I maintain a day free from all work? [3:55]
- How do I take notes on a Kindle? [9:06]
- How an I integrate accountability with my time-block planning? (Bonus rant on making workloads transparent.) [11:31]
- How do I avoid over-structuring my life as a student? [19:49]
- What is my (Cal) computer science research about? [21:35]
- What is the best productivity system for someone who manages hundreds of tasks across numerous projects? [25:26]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- How do you decide when to commit to a new role or project? [34:07
- Are my (Cal) ideas on passion in stark contrast to most philosophers? [39:44]
- Have I (Cal) started a new book yet? [44:25]
- Should I spend time on investing or my side project? [45:07]
- What is the role of productivity in the deep life? [51:19]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

- Dealing with time blocking overload. [4:13]
- Planning household admin. [9:04]
- How theoreticians schedule proof work. [16:24]
- Retyping notes (or not). [27:57]
- Becoming a better conductor. [34:15]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP DIVE: How Can I Significantly Reduce Email? [6:30]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

- How do I account for transition time between time blocks? [20:20]
- Rant Alert: How do I creeping combat corporate complexity?[21:58]
- How do I identify processes to optimize? [29:58]
- How much should one rely on technology to think? [33:10]
- How important is memorization in deep work? [36:07]
- Should I move to Sweden or make more money? [38:09]
- Should I take a promotion that requires lots of shallow work? [46:50]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

- Would people use Facebook if it cost money? [52:54]
- Do you (Cal) identify with philosophy of Ayn Rand? [57:56]
- How do you balance discipline and enjoyment in leisure? [59:03]
- What's the best way to prioritize which books to read? [1:03:18]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

- How long to keep items on a "done" list. [2:09]
- When is it worth spending money on productivity software? [4:57]
- Troubleshooting time blocks. [14:33]
- Scheduling short breaks (or not). [19:30]
- Avoiding distractions during planning. [30:04]
- Helping young people figure out their career. [33:31]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS

- How can I get others to accept a deeper work environment? [6:16]
- How can I escape meeting overload? [10:12]
- How can I ready myself for a deep work sessions? [18:00]
- Should I hire an assistant to help me with my emails? [22:14]
- How should indie authors use social media? [27:10]
- How do I stop being so distracted at work? [35:11]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- What is my (Cal) next book going to be about? [42:26]
- How do I preserve energy for home projects? [44:43]
- What do you (Cal) find valuable in the work of Abraham Joshua Heschel? [50:02]
- What is my (Cal) favorite Neil Postman book? [53:06]
- Can I write a novel if I'm a full-time computer programmer? [56:20]
- Nina how do you choose what to work deeply on? [58:56]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

- Managing a "waiting on" list. [2:57]
- Emotion-driven attention residue. [9:40]
- Drifting from time block schedules. [15:29]
- Relationship Counseling: Batching dirty dishes? [20:48]
- Organizing research. [25:39]
- Emotions, energy, and productivity. [32:20]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS

- What challenges will I face switching to time-block planning for the first time? [3:43]
- How do I time block very long days? [8:20]
- How do I move external colleagues and clients away from email collaboration? [11:10]
- How do I manage multiple email addresses? [18:57]
- How do I avoid Slack FOMO? [20:21]
- How can I avoid Twitter if it's where important updates are posted? [25:49]
- RANT ALERT: What do I (Cal) think about big tech data collection? [28:45]
- How do you hit a bestseller list without social media? [35:57]
- What were my (Cal's) early blogging habits? [40:21]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- Do I (Cal) listen to audio books? [50:10]
- How do I (Cal) remember thoughts from my walks? [51:31]
- Will social media usage go down oner time? [54:10]
- How do I be a digital minimalist in a maximalist family? [58:30]
- What are the drawbacks of working more seasonly? [59:52]
- How do I maintain the will to do deep work? [1:07:55]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

- Productivity with a chronic illness. [4:28]
- Coordinating strategic plans with a partner. [12:44]
- Getting your boss to bother you less. [17:56]
- High quality leisure for students [25:59]
- Feeling overwhelmed by Facebook Groups. [29:58]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP DIVE: What happens if you stop using your phone for a year? [3:55]

WORKING DEEPLY:

- How do I avoid the hyperactive hive mind in a new job? [11:36]
- How can the author of A WORLD WITHOUT EMAIL have an email list? [14:02]
- When did personal productivity become a thing? [16:25]
- Am I overcommitted or bad at time management? [25:47]
- How do I decide on roles for my task boards? [29:23]
- How can I become established as a content creator? (Or, the perils of "checklist productivity") [33:16]
- Recreating the water color in a world without email? [38:44]

LIVING DEEPLY:

- What are some good biographies for deep life inspiration? [46:38]
- What are my top 3 recommendations for someone looking to live deeper? [49:12]
- Can a commute be contemplative? [54:50]
- Where do I (Cal) write about "the deep life" in my books? [58:51]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

- Time block specificity (coercive versus collaborative productivity). [6:24]
- Balancing time spent on different types of work. [11:34]
- Project priorities. [18:34]
- Building a social life during a pandemic. [26:57]
- Making use of unexpected free time. [33:27]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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I'm joined in today's episode by Greg McKeown, author of the mega-bestseller Essentialism, and his new book, Effortless.We talk about the massive success of Essentialism, decoding why it did so well and discussing how it changed his life. We then get into the origin of the ideas that became Effortless, and use some of my own attempts to make essential work easier as a case study.

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Behind the Curtain: My Current Scheduling Setup [0:22]

Book Recommendation: The Unspoken Rules [9:34]

Listener Calls:

- Perfectionism and time-block schedules. [12:58]
- Constructing effective student schedules. [18:56]
- Organizing the tasks that make up a project. [26:58]
- Optimal task structure. [35:47]
- RANT ALERT: social media and danger of algorithmic attention. [40:32]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP DIVE: What Does "Productivity" Actually Mean? [5:04]

WORK QUESTIONS
- How do I stay productive after the pandemic? [17:56]
- How do I relearn how to think deeply? [22:51]
- Can I build a world without email with non-knowledge workers? [31:38]
- Are some people more aligned to some jobs than others? [34:47]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS
- Do I need a dumb phone? [38:48]
- How will the pandemic impact higher education? [42:28]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS
- Has my liberal arts education helped my CS career? [51:23]
- How do the "deep life" buckets related to quarterly planning? [56:05]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Determining if your work is deep. [3:21]
Limits for daily deep work. [6:30]
Taking notes in a time block planner. [11:17]
My notebooks. [17:24]
Instagram and artists. [24:16]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

WORK QUESTIONS

- What algorithm should I use to implement the Eisenhower Matrix? [6:21]
- Should I switch careers to pursue my dream? [9:34]
- How did I (Cal) fit research, teaching, and writing into my 9 to 5 graduate student schedule? [20:37]
- What advice should I give students about deep work? [23:55]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS

- Can I succeed in music without social media? [28:06]
- How can I avoid social media during Zoom classes? [32:28]
- What are my (Cal) favorite sources for book research? [40:03]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- How do I (Cal) decide what books to read? [42:00]
- How can I combine deep leisure with an exhausting job? [45:40]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Transferring tasks from capture to configure tools. [4:07]
Getting better at thinking while walking (plus bonus MIT nostalgia). [6:53]
Deep work breaks. [14:44]
Dedicated task lists for projects (what I do). [25:28]
Incompatible calendars. [30:43]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP DIVE: Are NFTs frivolous or fundamental? [6:57]

WORK QUESTIONS
- Does a world without email mean the return of voicemail? [23:42]
- Is Elon Musk right about not pursuing a PhD? [26:31]
- Is mastery incompatible with the deep life? [28:47]
- Do I need a todo list for my personal life? [39:15]
- How do you come up with catchy phrases like "hyperactive hive mind"? [41:26]
- Why am I wary of building a team? [44:12]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS
- How do I use the internet responsibly when there is so much information? [48:02]
- How do I learn to code while working a demanding job? [49:33]
- What are my (Cal) thoughts on Microsoft Teams? [55:41]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS
- How do I (Cal) spend my time outside of work and family? [58:49]
- How do I unplug from the "productivity machine" and relax? [1:01:10]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

- Scheduling multiple concurrent projects. [5:06]
- Prioritizing projects. [12:03]
- Work from home wardrobes (and virtual commutes). [15:58]
- Maintaining focusing during mini-delays. [23:49]
- Decorating an office to support deep work. [28:11]

Link for my Clubhouse conversation with Kevin Roose (3pm Eastern on 4/1): https://www.joinclubhouse.com/event/xeeZL4DE

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

WORK QUESTIONS

- How do I concentrate in an open office? [5:27]
- Do professors need to work 60+ hours a week? [9:10]
- What's the best workflow for student reference letters? [17:38]
- How does an MS student prepare to become a CS professor? [21:21]
- How can a high school principal find time to do deep work? [25:28]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS

- Can email itself be the work? [35:36]
- Do I need constant pings and messaging to foster community? [43:27]
- Must I stop watching TV and movies to be productive? [46:51]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- In what order should a teenager read the Cal Newport Canon? [53:42]
- Are Peloton badges just another digital addiction? [58:48]
- How do I stop avoiding the need to live deeper? [1:01:36]

Link for my Clubhouse conversation with Kevin Roose (3pm Eastern on 4/1): https://www.joinclubhouse.com/event/xeeZL4DE

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Taming scattered schedules. [3:10]
Phantom part time work in the office. [11:04]
The joys and sorrows of binge working. [18:12]
Organizing reading when you're slow at reading. [25:05]
Combatting administrative overload in academia (including a bonus unsolicited rant). [29:57]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP DIVE: What Are My Core Systems? [2:40]

WORK QUESTIONS

- How do I avoid burnout? [13:33]
- How do I measure effectiveness in a vague job? [19:58]
- How do I teach myself to become a better programmer? [22:19]
- What is a good way to become a better leader? [27:50]
- How do non-fiction writers become better at their craft? [30:56]
- What motivates a boss to promote you? (Plus a bonus digression on personal versus societal improvement) [34:27]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS

- Does personal email make people miserable? [39:40]
- Should I quit social media for good? [42:09]
- How do I help someone kick their TikTok addiction? [49:23]
- Is it possible to succeed in business without a personal brand? [56:40]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- How do we teach deep thinking to kids? (warning: your kids will now like my answer) [1:00:36]
- Why did I move to Takoma Park? [1:04:32]
- How do I focus when dealing with emotional turmoil? [1:15]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

- On the value of expensive productivity systems. [3:58]
- Phantom part-time jobs. [11:16]
- Working deeply after hard days. [16:24]
- Must all leisure be quality? [28:27]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP DIVE: Should this meeting have been an email? [5:30]

WORK QUESTIONS

- How do I recharge after a hard year of work? [17:14]
- How do I write blog posts? [20:46]
- How important is working from home for accomplishing deep work? [22:52]
- How can I apply productive meditation to work that requires a computer? [28:52]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS

- How do I step away from WhatsApp? [33:13]
- Are spaced repetition flashcard programs worth it? [36:47]
- What should I replace social media with in my life? [43:24]
- How can I start a business without social media? [51:19]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- Why are kitchens such appealing work locations? [54:53]
- How do I overcome deep procrastination during remote learning? [58:10]
- Should I time block after retirement?

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Active recall in the office. [4:58]
Processes for problem solving. [9:58]
Time blocking versus the pomodoro method. [14:20]
Time blocking versus bullet journaling. [23:51]
The necessity of a second brain. [28:46]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP DIVE: Does email have a mind of its own? [6:23]

WORK QUESTIONS

- How do I avoid boring research? [16:35]
- How do I learn new skills without becoming overwhelmed? [19:44]
- How do I better structure workplace communication? [23:34]
- How do I say "no" more often? [29:41]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS

- When should I stop listening to your podcast? [39:12]
- How do I deal with excessive browser tabs? [40:14]
- Will the world eventually force me to buy a smartphone? [49:08]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- (A brief meditation on the pleasures of regular autonomous creative work) [52:20]
- How long should planning take? [57:28]
- Is reading fiction a waste of time? [59:04]
- What is your opinion of Alexa? [1:02:41]
- Is a mission different than a passion? [1:06:22]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

- Updating strategic plans. [4:13]
- Capturing small projects. [8:26]
- Archiving tasks. [12:47]
- Email on speed (dealing with WhatsApp). [17:15]
- Coping with an abundance of depth. [31:28]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

In today's episode, I talk with Joshua Fields Milburn, who along with Ryan Nicodemus make up the powerhouse duo known simply as the Minimalists. You probably know Joshua from the wildly successful Netflix documentaries, MINIMALISM and LESS IS NOW, or the popular podcast he co-hosts with Ryan.

The story of how the Minimalists got started is well-told, so I thought I would focus on a natural follow question: what happened next? Starting with when I first met him in 2012, I ask Joshua to walk us through the building of the Minimalist brand -- how they went from an amateur blog to being recognized on the street a dozen times a day. In doing so, we learn a lot about the inspiring, value-driven approach that Joshua and Ryan have taken in their careers, in which living right is more important than making the most money or accusing the most likes.

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Spending too much time on Trello. [8:47]
Reducing instant messenger use. [18:33]
The inflexibility of time blocking. [27:30]
Finishing a thesis on time. [34:32]
Working deeply during a coup. [37:33]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

WORK QUESTIONS
- What makes a day "productive" for a researcher? [5:10]
- How do I get past imposter syndrome in academia? [9:29]
- Should I get a PhD to become a writer? [14:22]
- How can I make my team less reactive? [18:06]
- How do I make daily/weekly planning a habit that sticks? [28:12]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS
- Is attention training going to become an important sector? [31:47]
- How do I organize my electronic files and folders? [37:26]
- Where do I store random ideas? [44:46]
- How do I schedule my podcasting and blogging? [48:35]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS
- What do I do about a significant other who wallows in the shallows? [50:45]
- Can I become rich while living a deep life? [58:00]
- How do I cultivate a stronger sense of community? [1:01:56]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Excessive planning syndrome. [3:29]
Deep work and the distraction of social anxiety. [6:48]
Writing for top tier publications. [11:53]
Social media for artists. [17:16]
Hobby overload (and the curse of busyness). [30:18]
Getting started on hard creative work. [38:15]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP DIVE: The Autonomy Trap [7:25]

WORK QUESTIONS

- How do I focus when working on a distracting computer? [19:58]
- How do you maintain energy while increasing deep work? [23:34]
- Can the pomodoro technique help achieve deep work? [29:00]
- How can I time block when working with two kids in a small apartment? [31:29]
- Have I thought about updating my student books? [38:!7]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS

- Are project management tools like Basecamp just a fancier version oof email? [42:26]
- How can I integrate OmniFocus into daily, weekly, quarterly planned work schedules? [46:38]
- What about the social costs of missing invitations because you're not on social media? [55:09]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- How do I organize my life as a newly published author? [1:01:10]
- How do I balance rigor and accessibility in my non-fiction writing? [1:07:52]
- How young is too young for getting kids started on the deep life? [1:14:08]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

- Timing productive meditation. [6:32]
- Extracting wisdom from past plans. [14:00]
- Writing a thesis as a side project. [22:44]
- Adapting college advice to high school students (plus: a bonus digression on my experience writing books in academia). [30:00]
- Getting things done during an isolating pandemic. [36:30]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

WORK QUESTIONS

- How do I finish my day strong when time blocking? [5:09]
- What should I do to succeed as a new professor? [9:48]
- How do I protect deep work even as I become more recognized? [14:38]
- What are strategies for handling large ambiguous work tasks? [19:37]
- How do I stay productive in a one-bedroom apartment? [24:06]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS

- Can ASMR support deep work? [32:44]
- Do audiobooks count as long-form reading? [40:21]
- Should families use shared task lists? [40:45]
- How how I use YouTube while avoiding entertainment black holes? [46:29]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- How does one find joy in deep leisure? [50:00]
- It Eisenhower Box useful for constructing a deep life? [58:05]
- How do I escape the social media bubble the pandemic trapped me inside? [1:03:44]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

- Handling short tasks. [4:37]
- Time blocking with auto-scheduled meetings. [11:45]
- Taming excessive phone usage. [18:18]
- Hiring yourself as an assistant. [25:05]
- How to avoid losing steam during time off. [36:05]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

In today's episode I interview bestselling author Tim Harford. We talk about his path from economics to writing and broadcasting, his thoughts on using data to make sense of the world (without getting tricked), and his experience working for Malcolm Gladwell's podcasting company.

His latest book, called THE DATA DETECTIVE in the US and HOW TO MAKE THE WORLD ADD UP everywhere else, comes out this week and is available wherever you buy books.

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Taking notes in meetings. [3:41]
Switching from Bullet Journal to Trello. [8:42]
Speeding up time blocking. [13:56]
Scheduling daily tasks. [23:41]
Avoiding hard assignments (plus: a comment on YouTube addiction). [28:26]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

DEEP DIVE: Is productivity good or bad? [4:28]

WORK QUESTIONS

- How do you extract good career advice from successful people? [19:16]
- How do I improve my GRE score? [27:38]
- Is there a category of work between deep and shallow? [29:53]
- Should high school students time block? [31:53]
- How should I search for my first job during the pandemic? [37:33]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS

- Can psychedelics play a role in the deep life? [45:19]
- What are my favorite single-use technologies? [49:22]
- Are AI-based writing suggestions a problem? [52:20]
- What social internet technologies deserve a resurgence? [57:34]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- How can I work deeply in a small apartment? [1:01:58]
- How do I help people who hate self help? [1:08:18]
- How can I encourage my friends to be deeper? [1:12:18]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the topics covered in today's mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Dealing with boring (but important) work. [8:11]
Best tools for day planning. [18:26]
An insider look at my book research process. [20:31]
Advice for returning to school later in life. [32:46]
Making time for non-urgent pursuits. [38:35]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

WORK QUESTIONS

- How do I minimize meetings at my large corporation? [5:01]
- Hod do I accomplish deep work in a responsive role? [11:30]
- How do I prioritize self-learning when earning a PhD? [15:19]
- How do I optimize time spend waiting for data to crunch? [19:27]
- How do I get important work done with kids at home? [21:48]
- How do I encourage my teenagers to do deep work? [26:35]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS

- Will a digital shabbat make a difference? [31:04]
- Is LinkedIn Useful? [35:50]
- Do I worry about a lack of end-to-end encryption on Trello? [40:00]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- How I create challenge when my job has become boring? [47:26]
- How an I stay motivated after reaching the pinnacle of success? [54:29]
- How do I stay motivated when I'm not good? [57:40]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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Below are the topics covered in today's mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

"Thank you" emails and overload. [3:14]
Managing information contained in emails. [5:35]
Dividing time into ten minute chunks. [13:30]
Restarting a drive toward digital minimalism. [26:07]
Personal metrics and weekend planning. [34:21]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Deep Dive: Executing Big Projects [10:18]

WORK QUESTIONS

- Is pairing a problem for programmers? [20:21]
- When do you review past time block schedules? [25:46]
- How do I force myself to execute my plans? [29:48]
- How do you figure out what projects to pursue? [36:38]
- Should you take personality traits into mind when choosing a job? [41:39]
- Organizing rapidly expanding research rabbit holes. [47:27]
- How do I pursue depth surrounded by toddlers? [54:53]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS

- Why do I use Overleaf as my LaTex editor? [59:40]
- How do I stay informed about current events without falling into the "Twitter Trap"? [1:02:26]
- What is the deal with Zettelkasten note taking? [1:09:10]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- Should I time block personal time? [1:16:54]
- Should I relax between college and my first job? [1:20:39]
- How can I develop curiosity? [1:22:38]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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Below are the topics covered in today's mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Reflections on productivity during distracting events. [3:35]
Trouble getting started. [12:09]
Dealing with cognitive exhaustion after hard periods. [18:01]
Avoiding tool overload. [27:10]
Focused work that's not demanding. [32:01]
Metric tracking tune-ups. [39:58]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

WORK QUESTIONS

Preparing for deep work. [6:41]
Keeping on top of everything when you have many roles. [12:32]
Is it possible to time block without a clock? [18:25]
Overcoming graduate student procrastination. [24:18]
Predictable schedules with unpredictable children at home. [29:36]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS

Scheduling asynchronous classes. [34:49]
Plain text productivity using Markdown. [36:57]
Long Term storage of promising ideas. [49:59]
Overcoming fear of what other people will think. [58:49]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

Sports as a distraction. [1:02:55]
Leisure that’s very similar to your work. [1:06:19]
Why be productive? [1:09:55]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.

You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.

Here are the topics we cover:

Struggling with organizing tasks. [7:41]
Advice for becoming a fantastic graduate student. [14:18]
My research workflow. [19:43]
Book writing basics. [31:14]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about solidifying your shutdown routines, taming overflowing inboxes, and tuning core values, among many other topics. We also conclude our deep dive into the topic of the deep reset.

To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can also submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewport

Please consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).

Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:

DEEP DIVE: The Deep Reset, Part 5

WORK QUESTIONS

Advanced preparation for deep work blocks. [14:52]
Time blocking chaotic sales jobs. [18:07]
Being supportive of peer success. [20:11]
Shut down ritual troubles. [24:21]
Building the ideal home office. [27:31]
Dealing with deep work dips during busy periods. [31:29]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS

Are podcasts distractions? [35:00]
Dealing with an overflowing inbox. [41:10]
Time blocking household activities. [50:11]
Remembering what you read. [54:06]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

Updating core values and productivity roots. [57:02]
When productivity swamps out everything else. [1:01:06]
The deep life versus maximizing success. [1:05:54]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.

You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.

Here are the topics we cover:

- Using task boards to plan big projects. [2:49]
- Academic Twitter. [8:31]
- Time block breaks + Workflowy vs Trello. [13:04]
- Deep work while traveling. [19:46]
- Setting aside time for big projects. [26:02]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about working deeply with shallow teams, taking action on vague goals, and reducing screen time during a pandemic. We also celebrate reaching the million download milestone for this podcast.

To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can also submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewport

Please consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).

Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:

DEEP DIVE: The Deep Reset, Part 4

WORK QUESTIONS
* Overcoming failure to launch with self-help advice [12:19]
* Time blocking unpredictable events. [16:34]
* Working with people who are the opposite of deep. [18:60]
* Deep work for sales jobs (or managers, or support staff). [26:13]
* Juggling multiple big projects. [31:14]
* Pursuing vague goals. [33:55]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS
* Distraction withdrawal symptoms. [37:41]
* My tech setup. [45:12]
* Achieving video-game level concentration. [50:11]
* Learning algorithms on your own. [52:34]
* Building a brand without social media. [59:17]
* My podcast ingestion strategy. [1:01:42]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS
* Digital minimalism and human connection during lockdowns. [1:03:08]
* Scheduling free time. [1:13:24]
* How to review metrics. [1:16:36]
* Overcoming deep work avoidance. [1:17:42]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.

You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.

Here are the topics we cover:

- Clarifying capturing and configuring. [2:09]
- Time blocking for teachers. [9:24]
- Starting from scratch on a hard professional challenge. [15:20]
- Building professional skills as a stay-at-home parent. [25:35]
- Bottom up versus top down when reorganizing your life. [32:04]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about Stephen Covey's quad systems, the quixotic quest for a "perfect" productivity system, and reducing laziness, among many other topics.

To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can also submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewport

Please consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).

Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:

DEEP DIVE: The Deep Reset, Part 3

WORK QUESTIONS
- Why did I become a scientist? [13:50]
- Time blocking scrum teams. [18:27]
- Stephen Covey’s quad systems. [22:50]
- Is an MS essential? [27:28]
- Time blocking the night before. [28:52]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS
- The futility of perfecting productivity systems [31:41]
- Thoughts on pair programming. [41:44]
- Keeping track of novel connections between ideas. [52:14]
- Forced social media use [55:15]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS
- Deep living for stay-at-home parents. [1:02:02]
- Dealing with people not interested in personal development. [1:08:56]
- Reducing laziness. [1:12:51]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.

You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.

Here are the topics we cover:

* Capturing ideas outside the office. [4:31]
* Prioritizing leisure. [9:08]
* Coping with pandemic-induced shallow work. [11:58]
* Succeeding with a side hustle [21:59]
* Deep work at the organizational level [28:45]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about saying "no" when others will say "yes" to the same offer, building an email list without social media, and falling short of high expectations for your life, among many other topics.

To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can also submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewport

Please consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).

Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:

DEEP DIVE: The Deep Reset, Part 2

WORK QUESTIONS
- Saying “no” when others will say “yes” [12:51]
- Implicit time blocking [16:31]
- Academic overwhelm [19:31]
- Slogging through the early stages of writing [27:55]
- Working hard without being hard on yourself [31:15]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS
- Building an email list without social media [35:26]
- Reviewing metrics [41:45]
- Why I started this podcast [51:42]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS
- My thoughts on academia [56:24]
- Money/possessions in the deep life [1:00:03]
- Falling short of idealistic ideas [1:03:42]
- Is it worth trying to be exceptional? [1:09:46]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.

You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.

Here are the topics we cover:

* When deep work creates more shallow obligations. [2:49]
* Avoiding artificial overload. [10:00]
* Deep retirement. [23:06]
* Defusing deep procrastination. [27:00]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about organizing massive projects, taming IM, and elaborating the books I would include in the Deep Life Canon.

To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can also submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewport

Please consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).

Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:

DEEP DIVE: The Deep Reset, Part 1

WORK QUESTIONS

The limits of deliberate practice? [12:09]
Getting started on massive projects. [20:11]
Social media and the dissemination of academic research. [25:04]
Digital time blocking. [31:59]
My opinion on GTD-style contexts. [35:50]
When a job requires social media use. [40:01]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS

Taming IM. [42:13]
How to attend online classes. [50:08]
Breaking a YouTube addiction. [1:00:30]
Controlling heavy RSS use. [1:03:40]
On the phenomenology of technology. [1:06:31]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

Deciding when to give up on a book [1:12:25].
Dealing with an overwhelming amount of advice. [1:14:05]
Living deeply in high school. [1:17:30]
The Deep Life Canon. [1:23:47]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.

You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.

Here are the topics we cover:

Time blocking versus calendar planning [6:07]
Deep work for professional athletes [12:24]
Capturing non-urgent ideas [21:33]
Distracted by rumination [35:09]
Prioritizing interesting projects [43:17]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this episode of DEEP QUESTIONS we're joined by a guest host: Brad Stulberg.

Brad is a bestselling writer who focuses on human performance. He's known for his books PEAK PERFORMANCE and THE PASSION PARADOX, as well as for his popular "Do It Better" column for Outside Magazine.

We go deep on Brad's story, using it to illustrate timeless points on burnout, recovery, transformation, and intentional living. We also talk about the unexpected television commercial that helped vault his first book to success and, of course, answer your questions.

You can find out more about Brad at https://www.bradstulberg.com/

To submit your own questions for this podcast, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com.

Thank you to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.

You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.

Here are the topics we cover:

Opening: When did productivity become personal? (My new article for The New Yorker.)

Becoming so good they can't ignore you as a teacher [19:07]
Finding focused after receiving emotional emails [30:18]
Scheduling deep work amidst unpredictable childcare [43:19]
Fitting a large amount of leisure into a small amount of free time [52:19]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about dealing my Trello setup, reducing student screen time, and our collective need for a "deep reset," among many other topics.

To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewport

Please consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).

Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:

WORK QUESTIONS

Entry level jobs and shallow work [11:24]
The future of bullshit jobs [16:25]
Staying in the zone over the weekend [23:09]
Deciding what to read as an academic [26:45]
Calibrating academic service [29:15]
Revisiting my 2009 advice on grad school [34:43]
Deep work with a new kid [44:50]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS

My Trello setup [50:06]
Reducing student screen time [54:46]
Boredom versus high quality diversions [58:37]
Note-taking apps [1:07:25]
Agile methodologies and deep work [1:10:11]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

Young mother seeking better friends [1:17:05]
Young father seeking improvement [1:21:36]
Kids versus career [1:27:45]
Thoughts on the Astros [1:29:23]
My call for a “Deep Reset” [1:29:48]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.

You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.

Here are the topics we cover:

Prioritizing tasks when you have too much to do [9:28]
Making the most of the weekend [18:53]
Balancing my academic and writing obligations [26:42]
Improving reading habits [35:25]
Resisting radicalization (sermon alert) [41:07]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about dealing with unproductive days, avoiding curated content fatigue, and the importance of developing character, among many other topics.

To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewport

Please consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).

Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:

OPENING: The terribleness of my recent experiment with constant online news consumption.

WORK QUESTIONS

Dealing with unproductive days [11:50]
My system versus David Allen’s systems [15:16]
The timeline for developing deep habits [22:35]
Assessing your own career capital [31:17]
The road to academic superstardom [36:05]
Ideal number of working hours [45:28]
Building a reasonable schedule for an unreasonable workload [51:32]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS

Avoiding curated content fatigue [53:41]
Capture technology [58:22]
The plan for this podcast [1:00:19]
Music and concentration [1:07:01]
Instant messaging and distraction [1:08:02]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

Essentialism versus the deep life [1:13:48]
Deep home life [1:16:57]
My ideal work environment [1:23:37]
Character and the deep life [1:27:58]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this special episode of DEEP QUESTIONS, I rebroadcast a conversation recorded earlier this summer, featuring me and the bestselling author Greg McKeown. It originally aired on Greg's fantastic podcast, WHAT'S ESSENTIAL (https://gregmckeown.com/podcast/).

You probably know Greg from his influential 2014 book, ESSENTIALISM, which I recommend all the time. In this conversation, we talk about unplugging from distraction, the art of doing less (without accomplishing less), and how to improve your ability to focus.

I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks to our sponsors Magic Spoon (use magicspoon.com/CAL to receive free shipping) and Blinkist (use blinkist.com/DEEP for a 7 day free trial).

Also thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about selling your first book (and end up accidentally ranting about publishing industry misconceptions), going deep when your spouse is defiantly shallow, and day dreaming about my ideal schedule, among many other topics.

To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewport

Please consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).

Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:

WORK QUESTIONS

Planning unpredictable work [2:27]
On the supposed upsides of procrastination [12:02]
Cutting back on academic obligations [14:43]
Dropping out of grad school [18:02]
Publishing your first book (rant alert) [21:07]
Getting serious about personal productivity [30:35]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS

A look at my own phone usage [37:36]
On cannabis and deep work [40:16]
When your spouse is mad at you for reducing technology [47:12]
Rethinking education post-pandemic [53:09]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

Dream schedules for lovers of depth [1:01:01]
Staying motivated when school is online [1:03:51]
FIRE and the deep life [1:09:3]

Links to Special Offers from our Sponsors:
- blinkist.com/DEEP
- magicspoon.com/CAL

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.

You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.

Here are the topics we cover:

Notebooks for personal reflections vs. business organization. [5:50]
Elite quarterly planning tactics. [10:18]
Diminishing distracting day dreams. [18:37]
Combating burn out. [32:58]

Special Offer Links from Sponsors:
- magicspoon.com/CAL

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this episode of DEEP QUESTIONS we're joined by a guest host: David Epstein.

David is the New York Times bestselling author of THE SPORTS GENE and RANGE. I probably get asked questions about RANGE more than any other book by listeners of this podcast, so I knew we had to get David on the show to share his wisdom.

We talk about his career, his (short-lived) public feud with Malcolm Gladwell, and his research habits, but most importantly, we go deep on his breakthrough ideas about skills, practice, and meaning in careers -- answering many of your questions as well as a few of my own.

You can find out more about David at https://davidepstein.com.

To submit your own questions for this podcast, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com.

Thanks to our sponsor Magic Spoon (use magicspoon.com/CAL to receive free shipping).

Thank you to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.

You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.

Here are the topics we cover:

The difference between daily and weekly planning [10:08]
Fighting shallow work in medicine. [16:44]
On the value of taking off a work day each week. [24:14]
Maximizing home offices. [30:29]
Scheduling deep work with a chronic illness [43:08]
Taming jobs with large hour demands. [49:32]

Special Offer Sponsor Links:
- grammarly.com/DEEP
- indeed.com/QUESTIONS
- foursigmatic.com/DEEP

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about avoiding the planning fallacy, my thoughts on Inbox Zero, and the limits of the ethical technology movement, among many other topics.

To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewport

Please consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).

Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:

OPENING: The three stages of hard creative work.

WORK QUESTIONS

Cutting back on meetings. [23:06]
Improving your coworkers habits (without them knowing). [26:44]
Teaching depth to kids. [39:52]
Choosing between graduate school and a job. [46:30]
Scheduling side hustles. [48:55]
Career capital theory for parents. [49:44]
Avoiding the planning fallacy. [52:21]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS

My thoughts on Inbox Zero. [54:08]
Preventing short breaks from derailing depth. [57:47]
Reading on book per week. [1:04:04]
How much a serious college student should read. [1:12:33]
Digital minimalism for college students. [1:13:32]
On the limits of ethical technology (sermon alert). [1:20:20]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

Planning for family in the deep life. [1:36:02]
Fostering depth later in life. [1:41:00]
Living deeply during pandemic homeschooling. [1:44:12]

Special Offer Sponsor Links:
- grammarly.com/DEEP
- foursigmatic.com/DEEP
- indeed.com/QUESTIONS

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.

I also officially announce my new Time-Block Planner! Available for pre-order everyone you buy books. Find out more about the Time Block Academy event I'm holding for those who pre-order at calnewport.com/blog.

You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.

Here are the topics we cover:

* Trello versus Workflowy for task management. [9:08]
* Integrating life admin into your work day. [12:54]
* Finding time for deliberate practice in an unpredictable work day. [18:46]
* Rekindling a reading habit lost to distraction. [30:10]
* High-tech metric tracking. [36:46]

Offer links from this episode's sponsors:
* Optimize.me/deep
* ExpressVPN.com/deep
* Purple.com/deep10

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about deep work for managers, life without Facebook, and original thought in an age of information overload, among many other topics. I also continue our ongoing discussion of household productivity by sharing systems sent in by readers.

To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewport

Please consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).

Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:

WORK QUESTIONS
* Optimizing deep work retreats [17:57]
* Pomodoro versus longer focus sessions [23:02]
* Timeblocking in advance [24:55]
* How to choose a new career [26:42]
* Balancing quality and quantity in research [32:44]
* Deep work for managers [37:31]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS
* Online information gathering without distraction [45:35]
* Tracking academic papers [48:53]
* P vs NP [52:24]
* Life without Facebook [58:30]

BACKSTAGE PASS: Meeting Tristan Harris and HQ updates [1:06:49]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS
* Deep work and leisure activities [1:14:30]
* Non-digital interaction in the age of COVID [1:18:49]
* Deep work when dealing with mental health issues [1:25:19]
* Thinking for yourself in an age of information overload [1:32:34]

Offer links from this episode's sponsors:
* Optimize.me/deep
* ExpressVPN.com/deep
* Purple.com/deep10

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

View Details

In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.

You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.

Here are the topics we cover:

Productivity chimera's and processing captured tasks [9:53]
Thoughts on OmniFocus [16:37]
Taming a team's early email habit [21:39]
Finding time to write in a busy life [25:09]
Struggling to write even when you have the time [32:30]

Special thanks to our sponsor Blinkist. For a 7-day free trial and 25% off a subscription, go to blinkist.com/DEEP.

As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please considering subscribing or leaving a rating/review.

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about the hidden difficulties of delegation, the impact of pandemic childcare on productivity (hint: it's not good), and the balance between deep work and deep hobbies, among many other topics.

To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewport

Please consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).

Thanks to our sponsor Optimize. For a free trial and 10% off go to optimize.me/DEEP.

Thanks to our sponsor Blinkist. For a free trial and 25% off go to blinkist.com/DEEP.

Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:

WORK QUESTIONS
* Spreading yourself too thin [11:11]
* Willpower fatigue [16:58]
* Deciding when to delegate [20:06]
* Work hour equity [23:03]
* Pandemic-induced childcare [28:45]
* Digital minimalism in the entertainment industry [34:19]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS
* Storing longterm notes [43:38]
* The value of site/app blocking software [45:22]
* Concentration and pornography (rant alert) [46:44]

BACKSTAGE PASS [54:50]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS
* Deep work versus deep hobbies [1:00:49]
* Stopping ruminations [1:03:57]
* Binging on productivity videos [1:07:47]
* Seeking depth when hopelessly distracted [1:10:32]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.

You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.

Here are the topics we cover:

Tracking deliberate practice initiatives. [8:21]
Helping an overwhelmed teacher. [12:33]
Dealing with hard work. [23:54]
Shutting down when you have too much to do. [29:26]
Taming the emotional rigors of a deep work habit. [37:28]

Special thanks to our sponsor Optimize. For a 14-day free trial go to optimize.me/DEEP.

As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please considering subscribing or leaving a rating/review.

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this episode of Deep Questions we try something a little different: our first guest!

Bestselling author Ryan Holiday joins me to help answer reader questions, as well as more than a few queries from me. We cover a variety of topics, including his life as a writer living on a ranch, how he fosters discipline, the impact of our diminishing reading culture, and why everyone keeps trying to get me to move to Austin.

Be sure to check out Ryan's new book: LIVES OF THE STOICS (https://dailystoic.com/preorder).

To submit your own questions for the show, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com.

You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewport

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.

You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.

Here are the topics we cover:

Easing into time block planning. [6:24]
Keeping up when taking notes. [11:49]
Optimal delay between learning and recall. [17:12]
Planning big goals. [20:59]
Insider advice on book publishing [29:36]

Special thanks to our sponsor Grammarly. For 20% off Grammarly Premium go to Grammarly.com/DEEP. Use your laptop or desktop (this link doesn't always work on phones).

As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please considering subscribing or leaving a rating/review.

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about my daily routine, restarting a deep work practice, and embracing digital minimalism during a pandemic, among other topics.

To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewport

Please consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).

Thanks to our sponsor to Grammarly. For 20% off Grammarly Premium go to Grammarly.com/DEEP. Use your laptop or desktop (this link doesn't always work on phones).

Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:

WORK QUESTIONS

My daily routine. [3:56]
Ensuring employees are working deeply at home [9:09]
Keeping a to-do list constantly open. [12:18]
The best way to start deep working. [14:31]
Advice for someone just starting a job [22:38]
Restarting research after a stint in an administrative position. [32:01]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS

Speed reading versus strategic skimming. [39:05]
The cost of occasional hyper-distraction [41:00]
Thoughts on Reddit and Quora. [45:35]

BACKSTAGE PASS [50:17]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

Digital minimalism versus Covid-19. [58:05]
Struggling to find time for depth. [1:06:52]
Strategies for transitioning to a deep life. [1:12:48]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.

You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.

Here are the topics we cover:

Generating more eureka moments [3:59]
Working past shutdowns [8:08]
How I capture tasks [17:10]
Blocking distractions with music [23:22]
Solving excessive mass emails [27:18]

As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please considering subscribing or leaving a rating/review.

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about what’s on my weekly plan at the moment, the complicated impact of Slack, and pursuing depth among friends more interested in fun.

I will be sending out a new request for text questions to my mailing list soon. You can sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewport

Please consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).

Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:

WORK QUESTIONS

Is monthly planning necessary? (Bonus: A look at my current plans) [2:12]
Breaking up time blocks [10:03]
Debunking writer’s blocks [11:28]
Favoritism versus career capital [17:56]
When to stop studying [27:35]
Getting back up when struggling in your work [30:19]

QUESTION ROULETTE [34:58]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS

The productivity apps I use [42:49]
Do academics need good digital presences? [43:37]
Leaving social media when you can’t leave the house [45:13]
The mixed impact of the rise of Slack [50:53]

BACKSTAGE PASS [57:41]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

Finding a calling when you’re interesting in many things [1:01:57]
Sticking to the deep life when you’re friends are deeply into the fun life (Bonus: tales from my one day as a Dartmouth frat brother) [1:07:14]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.

You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.

Here are the topics we cover:

How I'm scheduling everything I have to do this fall [6:33]
Working on one thing at a time versus rotating between them [16:17]
Some tough love for a distracted listener [18:43]
The perils of context switching [25:48]
Can meetings be deep? [31:05]
Struggling with productive meditation [36:35]

As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please considering subscribing or leaving a rating/review.

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about shutdown rituals for college students, deep-to-shallow work ratios, and what I would do with $20 million (and why that's the wrong question). I also play some question roulette and give you a peak into my own efforts to live a deep life with my backstage pass segment.

I will be sending out a new request for text questions to my mailing list soon. You can sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewport

Please consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).

Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:

WORK QUESTIONS

Should I learn one hard thing or multiple easy things? [5:21]
Shutdown rituals for college students [6:39]
An optimal deep-to-shallow work ratio [12:56]
Getting better at writing scientific papers [15:05]
Richard Hamming's advice to keep your door pen [16:42]

Question Roulette [25:19]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS

Succeeding with blogging [28:51]
Bullet journals [35:51]
Getting my students to not use their phones in class [39:42]
Working with groups that only communicate on social media [40:44]

Backstage Pass [46:08]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

Developing personal life philosophies/politics/ethics [50:35]
Small versus big changes for transforming your life [56:43]
What I would do with $20 million [1:03:00]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this mini-episode, I take "calls" from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.

You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.

Here are the topics we cover:

Coping with surprise shallow tasks (aka., "slaying the productivity hydra") [2:09]
Reading strategies for PhD students [12:37]
Switching to a more fulfilling career [16:33]
Improve or quit in response to a challenging new job [24:32]

As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please considering subscribing or leaving a rating/review.

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about the puzzling connection between email and saunas, the best way to preach depth to your team, and the under-appreciated power of rooted productivity, among many other topics. I also take some time to answer an Audio Question of the Day.

I will be sending out a new request for text questions to my mailing list soon. You can sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewport

Please consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).

Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:

WORK QUESTIONS

Email saunas and the struggle for depth [6:08]
Saying "no" when new to a job [10:24]
Dealing with unexpected free time [14:57]
Should I become a professor? [17:55]
Getting others to buy in on Deep Work [25:12]
Find time for hard thinking in a job that focuses on soft skills [27:07]

AUDIO QUESTION OF THE DAY [31:51]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS

Effective reading [36:58]
Being productive in an organization that embraces Outlook [40:26]
Using entertainment-only devices [44:19]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

Exercise routines for focus [46:48]
Keeping track of your productivity habits [53:10]
Feeling stuck at home during the pandemic [59:56]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this mini-episode, I take "calls" from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.

You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.

Here are the topics we cover:

Seeking depth when working from home [2:22]
Feeling guilty about long afternoon naps [11:17]
Rant Alert: Fixing academia's email overload problem [18:15]
Advice for someone returning to school later in life [28:56]
Tackling projects one at a time versus in parallel [36:46]

As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please considering subscribing or leaving a rating/review.

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions on taming writer's block, the exaggerated importance of digital presence, and the miseries of digital living, among many other topics. I also play some question roulette and give an update on the current status and ambitious future plans for my Deep Work HQ.

I will be sending out a new request for text questions to my mailing list soon. You can sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewport

Please consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).

Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:

WORK QUESTIONS

Using music to help focus [1:58]
Limits on deep work quantities [3:07]
Teaching a team to value depth [7:36]
Taming writer's block [16:14]
Deciding whether to pursue an MBA [18:58]
Measuring success in academia [21:37]
Taking breaks from time blocking [25:03]

QUESTION ROULETTE [28:47]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS

Thoughts on iPads + Apple pencil as productivity booster [35:52]
Overcoming the paradox of choice with productivity apps [38:17]
YouTube detoxing [43:12]
Organizing academic research [44:59]
The false necessity of building a digital presence [47:19]

WHAT I'M UP TO
* A closer look at Deep Work HQ [53:08]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

Instilling focus in kids [1:02:22]
On the value of my hyper-focused fitness [1:05:55]
Conversing with distracted people [1:12:50]
Managing multiple projects [1:15:44]
Unsolicited Sermon: The miseries of a life lived on screens [1:19:53]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this mini-episode, I take "calls" from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.

You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.

Here are the topics we cover:

Problems settling on a productivity system [1:01]
Figuring out which professional skill to improve [7:20]
The difference between boredom and solitude [21:12]
Craving depth in a shallow job [32:20]
Keystone habits [38:39]

As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please considering subscribing or leaving a rating/review.

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions on calendar shaming, digital detox struggles, and the unexpected challenges of gaining more professional autonomy, among many other topics.

I will be sending out a new request for text questions to my mailing list soon. You can sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewport

Please consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).

Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:

WORK QUESTIONS

Modernizing GTD [2:18]
Calendar Shaming [7:59]
How I keep track of projects [14:15]
Staying relevant when less connected [16:29]
The inherent unpredictability of kids and facing the productivity dragon [19:21]
Quantifying career capital [25:09]

AUDIO QUESTION OF THE DAY [28:17]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS

Dealing with screen time overload [31:36]
Is a Kindle a screen? [36:32]
The relative depth of books versus podcasts [36.48]
Digital detox struggles [39:26]
Instagram struggles (hint: my suggestion starts with a ‘Q’ and rhymes with ‘bit’) [44:02]

QUESTION ROULLETE [45:49]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

Interviewing people you want to emulate [49:04]
Dealing with psychological hurdles such as negative self-talk and impostor syndrome [54:30]
Learning hard things fast [1:03:53]
Vitamin solitude [1:05:24]
The challenges of autonomy [1:07:54]
Understanding those upset by depth [1:11:05]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this mini-episode, I take "calls" from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.

You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.

Here are the topics we cover:

* outsourcing household work [1:46]

mitigating the damage caused by unavoidable distractions [6:45]
the utility of fancy flashcard software [12:43]
tips for becoming a professor [24:04]
productivity beyond basic lists [34:01]

As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please considering subscribing or leaving a rating/review.

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions on delegating without email, effective methods for fighting imposter syndrome, and my take on critical theory (which leads to an impromptu history seminar, which is the price one pays for asking an academic a question about academic theory), among many other topics.

I will be sending out a new request for text questions to my mailing list soon. You can sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewport

Please consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).

Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:

WORK QUESTIONS

Effective delegation (hint: don't send an email) [8:09]
Bosses with varied productivity styles [16:25]
Crucial skills for the 21st century [18:54]
The danger of using a pseudonym to evade imposter syndrome [23:34]
How I choose my career [26:23]
Optimal specificity for daily plans [29:40]
Advice for someone new to writing [33:55]

QUESTION ROULETTE [35:43]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS

My thoughts on smart watches [38:49]
Using "memory palaces" to train your brain (random story alert) [40:56]
Moving tasks out of email, even if annoying [44:52]
The limited use of social media for a non-established writer [46:29]
My thoughts on the Boycott Facebook movement [48:11]

DEEP LIFE QUESTION

The secret to my "smooth" answers to questions [50:38]
Getting back on track after a professional failure [54:14]
Sticking with a job you dislike [59:32]
An impromptu history seminar on critical theory [1:05:00]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this mini-episode, I take "calls" from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.

You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.

Here are the topics we cover:

Does capturing thoughts diminish deep work? [2:09]
Trouble relaxing after periods of intense focus. [7:37]
Should you list specific tasks on time block schedules? [14:23]
Time blocking for jobs with regular unexpected emergencies. [18:46]
What administrators can do to help teachers work deeply. [26:08]

As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please considering subscribing or leaving a rating/review.

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions on deep work in groups, the double-edge sword of deploying social media in politics, and a discussion of the most common objection about my work, among many other topics.

You can submit your audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewport

I will be sending out a new request for text questions to my mailing list soon. You can sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com.

Please consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).

Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:

Deep work in groups [1:42]
Rethinking the "Dorsey Exception" [3:52]
The wrong reason to pursue a PhD [9:04]
Background noise and distraction [10:10]
Managing tedious life admin [14:02]
Turning down a promotion to avoid shallow work [22:30]
Audio Question of the Day: Can attention residue ever be positive? [25:32]
Staying up on news in depressing times [30:57]
Thoughts on the Kindle [35:00]
Thoughts on the Pomodoro Technique [38:00]
Social media and politics [41:23]
Deep work versus social media [47:20]
Question Roulette: When will depth become mainstream? [50:31]
Habits to pick up in childhood [54:56]
How students can cultivate a deep life [57:02]
Recharging during deep work breaks [1:02]
Uncommon sources of high quality leisure [1:05]
Teaching the deep life to children [1:06]
The strongest arguments against my work [1:08]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this mini-episode, I take "calls" from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.

You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.

Here are the topics we cover:

Figuring out where to publish different types of writing [1:29]
Balancing two careers [7:08]
On productivity in support roles [13:04]
Keeping all aspects of the deep life in balance [22:22]

As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please considering subscribing.

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions on where I work (hint: an absurd number of different places), convincing students to disconnect, and applying deep work to deep social problems, among many other topics.

I need more audio questions for my habit tune-up mini-episodes. You can submit your audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewport

I will be sending out a new request for text questions to my mailing list soon. You can sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com.

Please consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners consider the show).

Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:

My (many) deep work environments [1:50]
Law firms are deep work disasters [6:42]
On the deepness of business development efforts [13:03]
Deep work for high school teachers [14:17]
The danger of using random masters degree to "fix" your professional life [17:04]
On becoming a great thinker (in graduate school) [18:26]
Question Roulette: coping with mission failure. [20:12]
My book writing toolbox [24:38]
The myth of the necessity of social media for professional success (rant alert!) [26:56]
Getting students to disconnect [31:19]
On social media and democratization movements [34:48]
The right order to teach my books [39:54]
Moving past repeated failures to minimize technology use [44:48]
Finding motivation to get things done (sermon alert!) [44:48]
Deep work on deep social problems [52:37]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this mini-episode, I take "calls" from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.

Here are the topics we cover:

Advice on using "office hours" to reduce email [1:51]
Random thoughts and internet rabbit holes [11:18]
Fear of mistakes crippling productivity [16:27]
Escaping to phone when tried at work [22:11]
The secret to making deep work deeper [25:10]

As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please considering subscribing.

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions on work resistance, the state of techno-criticism, tales from the MIT theory group, and the depth-destroying power of children. I also play some question roulette and tackle the audio question of the day. (Hint: it’s about my reading habits.)

To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com (I send a survey to this list soliciting questions on a semi-regular basis).

Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:

The organizational power of plain text files [1:18]
Confronting an overwhelming number of obligations [4:00]
Getting back on track after lockdown disrupted work habits [7:15]
Dealing with resistance to work [9:39]
Audio question of the day: managing a variety of different inputs [18:28]
Avoiding social media on the phone browser [23:26]
The need for a distraction-reducing phone operating system [26:06]
Tracking birthdays without Facebook [28:32]
My podcast habits [31:07]
Humane tools and the state of techno-criticism [33:57]
Question roulette: my book reading habits [43:46]
Life inside the MIT Theory Group (bonus: cracking the superstar code) [48:47]
The seeming impossibility of deep work with kids [1:02:42]
Curing your spouse’s Facebook addiction [1:14:10]
On the deep value of work [1:16:12]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions on battling email, online learning, and a game plan for escaping a shallow life. I also play some question roulette and answer the audio question of the day.

To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com (I send a survey to this list soliciting questions on a semi-regular basis.)

Full list of topics tackled in today’s episode:

[1:23] Fighting the email onslaught
[4:50] Shutting down when work never ends
[9:53] Abandoning work blocks
[11:03] Grad school later in life
[12:20] Getting into grad school
[14:15] How to win at grad school
[15:40] My deliberate practice routines
[21:45] Question roulette: overhaul deep work habits
[25:31] Schools and social media
[28:00] Adapting to online learning
[31:40] Bullet journaling: yay or nay?
[34:40] Audio question of the day: too many tasks
[37:50] Elite learning without schools (bonus rant: the future of higher education)
[45:09] My dharma
[48:17] Escaping a long stay in the shallows

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this mini-episode, I take "calls" from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.

Here are the topics we cover:

[1:30] Making an iPhone less distracting.

[9:08] Keystone habits to help deep work stick.

[12:45] Making progress on a non-urgent big project.

[17:29] Training your ability to focus.

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions on fleeing a collapsing career, taking notes on books, and building a deep life. I also play some question roulette and answer the audio question of the day.

To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com (I send a survey to this list soliciting questions on a semi-regular basis.)

Full list of topics tackled in today’s episode:

* Fleeing a collapsing career.

* The coming knowledge work productivity revolution.

* Configuring your tasks.

* Amending Deep Work.

* Audio Question: Finding depth in a social office.

* Taking notes on books (plus: Kindle versus physical)

* News from social media.

* Thoughts on LinkedIn.

* Running a business as a student.

* Optimal amounts of solitude.

* Finding quality leisure.

* How to build a deep life.

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this mini-episode, I take "calls" from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.

(Going forward, I plan to occasionally augment my standard full length weekly episode, where I go deep on many different topics, with these shorter mini-episodes, where I can focus on specific themes and experiment with new formats.)

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions on balancing the professional and the personal, unreasonable email expectations and using the internet to escape hard creative work. I also play some question roulette and attempt a lightening round in which I answer as many question as possible in a single minute.

To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com (I send a survey to this list soliciting questions on a semi-regular basis.)

Full list of topics tackled in today’s episode:

* Separating personal and professional when planning.
* Inducing a sense of urgency.
* Balancing work and relationships in lockdown.
* Getting into graduate school with bad grades.
* Starting a productivity journey.
* Resetting expectations about email response time.
* Tracking health metrics.
* Finding blog readers without social media.
* Lightening Round:
- how much deep work can fit in a day?
- what is minimum deep work block length?
- what are tips for overcoming resistance?
- what do you do during your downtime?
* A pastor seeking depth when on call.
* The origin of my discipline.
* A novelist struggling to work.
* Managing reading.
* On schools and the deep life.

As always, thank you to listener Bit Holiday for the original theme music and transition sound effect (bitholiday.net).

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions on tackling procrastination, building a productivity system from scratch, and the intellectual shallowness of social media. I also play some question roulette, and in a new segment, provide an update on what I'm up to in my own deep life at moment.

To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com

Full list of topics tackled in today’s episode:

* Deep work without alienating customers.
* Reducing attention residue.
* The distinction between deep and shallow work.
* Combating procrastination.
* Unpacking my work philosophy.
* The future of VR.
* Building a productivity system from scratch.
* Storing notes for future books and articles.
* The promises and peril of YouTube.
* The Study Hacks story.
* On smartphones and addiction.
* How to learn about the world. (Hint: not on Twitter.)
* Meditation skepticism.
* Getting started with a Deep Life.
* People not interested in depth. (Sermon alert.)

Thank you to listener Bit Holiday for the original theme music and transition sound effect (bitholiday.net).

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions on book publicity without social media, Facebook's fatal flaw, and escaping soul-crushing jobs. I also try out a new segment where I answer on the fly randomly selected questions I have not previously seen (to interesting effect).

To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com

Full list of topics tackled in today’s episode:

Do I plan to ever have guests on the podcast to help me answer questions? (Yes.)
Deep work in a reactive organization (rant alert).
Tackling an overwhelming number of obligations.
Dealing with unproductive days.
Building good depth rituals.
Deliberate practice and social skills.
When is a PhD program worth it?
Productive people who also use social media.
The good and bad sides of technology.
Side-stepping the YouTube rabbit hole.
Publicizing books when you don't use social media.
Reducing text volume when dating.
Encouraging teens to spend last time on their phones (difficult, but possible!).
Facebook's fatal flaw.
Dealing with a job that "eats" your soul.
Advice for teenagers about to start college.
Fear of failure while pursuing a PhD.
Quarantine ruts impacting productivity (sermon alert).
PLUS: two randomly selected questions (mega sermon alert)

Thank you to listener Bit Holiday for the original theme music and transition sound effect (bitholiday.net).

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader queries on the origin of my productivity obsession, how digital minimalists can form relationships in a distracted world, and how to care less about what people thing about you (hint: stop using social media).

To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com

Full list of topics tackled in today’s episode:

* Ideal length of deep work sessions.
* Origin of my productivity obsession.
* Making progress on projects in lockdown.
* Dealing with jobs that don’t respect deep work.
* My notebook habits.
* Finding relationships as a digital minimalist.
* How to study on a phone.
* Building a blog audience.
* Caring less about what people thing about you.
* The origins of drive.
* Cutting back on self-help.
* Advice for my 20-year-old self.
* Better organizing information.
* Solidifying lockdown lessons.

Thank you to listener Bit Holiday for the original theme music and transition sound effect (bitholiday.net).

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader queries on how to improve your ability to concentrate, books that proved influential on my thinking (including the origin of the term “deep work”), the complex process of figuring out what to devote your limited attention toward, and so much more.

For more about me about my writing: www.calnewport.com

This episode features the Swoosh 1 sound effect, used under a Sampling Plus 1.0 license (see here for details: http://soundbible.com/682-Swoosh-1.html).

View Details

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader queries on how I manage my tasks, the conflict between deep work and kids, moving beyond fairy tale messages when seeking purpose in difficult times, and so much more.

For more about me about my writing: www.calnewport.com

This episode features the Swoosh 1 sound effect, used under a Sampling Plus 1.0 license (see here for details: http://soundbible.com/682-Swoosh-1.html).

Deep Questions with Cal Newport: Recent Episodes

Cal Newport