Deep Questions with Cal Newport

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 q...

Transcribed - Published: 22 July 2024

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...

Transcribed - Published: 15 July 2024

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...

Transcribed - Published: 8 July 2024

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’...

Transcribed - Published: 1 July 2024

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 questi...

Transcribed - Published: 24 June 2024

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/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmediaDeep Dive: Is Time Blocking Oppressiv...

Transcribed - Published: 17 June 2024

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 dr...

Transcribed - Published: 10 June 2024

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 anyw...

Transcribed - Published: 3 June 2024

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 cov...

Transcribed - Published: 27 May 2024

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/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia- INTERVIEW: Cal bein...

Transcribed - Published: 20 May 2024

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=qEJ4hkpQW8Ewww.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/research/report/2023-cs-smartphone-research-report_final-for-web.pdftenochtitlan.thomaskole.nl/ Thanks to our Sponsors: drinklmnt.com/deepcozyearth.com/calexpressvpn.com/deepmybodytutor.com Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Transcribed - Published: 13 May 2024

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.

Transcribed - Published: 6 May 2024

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/deepmauinuivenison.com/deepquestionsnotion.com/callistening.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.

Transcribed - Published: 29 April 2024

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-reviewpodcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conversation-with-cal-newport-the-key-to/id1498802610?i=1000652834277 samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/363-knowledge-work Use this link to preorder a signed copy of “Slow Productivity”: https://peoplesbooktakoma.com/preorder-slow-productivity/ Thanks to our Sponsors: rhone.com/calshopify.com/deeppolicygenius.com/deepquestionsgrammarly.com/podcasttim.blog Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Transcribed - Published: 22 April 2024

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.

Transcribed - Published: 15 April 2024

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/slowpeoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/ twitter.com/HumanitiesGU/status/1772436799727472942youtube.com/watch?v=W3h9gV_z8OMyoutube.com/watch?v=tV6BbPTN5PQyoutube.com/watch?v=r0RqucKwIcw Thanks to our Sponsors: mybodytutor.comshopify.com/deepdrinklmnt.com/deepmauinuivenison.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.

Transcribed - Published: 8 April 2024

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.

Transcribed - Published: 1 April 2024

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/deeprhone.com/caldrinklmnt.com/deepshopify.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.

Transcribed - Published: 25 March 2024

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=448bf8afad0740d18f6b109b4bd40d51notebookstories.com/2013/05/06/picasso-sketchbook/anothermanmag.com/life-culture/10788/remembering-bruce-chatwin-the-greatest-travel-writer-that-ever-livednotebookstories.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: mintmobile.com/deeppolicygenius.com/deepquestionsnotion.com/calcozyearth.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.

Transcribed - Published: 18 March 2024

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: shopify.com/deep drinklmnt.com/deep mybodytutor.com blinkist.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.

Transcribed - Published: 11 March 2024

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 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.

Transcribed - Published: 4 March 2024

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-diedpnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1817407116newyorker.com/magazine/1994/01/10/e-mail-from-bill-gatesblog.rescuetime.com/communication-multitasking-switches/nytimes.com/2024/02/16/opinion/creative-work-productivity-seasonality.htmlUse 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/deeppolicygenius.com/deepquestionsblinkist.com/deepmoshlife.com/deepshopify.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.

Transcribed - Published: 26 February 2024

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 mintmobile.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.

Transcribed - Published: 19 February 2024

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 drinklmnt.com/deep 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.

Transcribed - Published: 12 February 2024

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.

Transcribed - Published: 5 February 2024

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: mauinuivenison.com/deepquestions blinkist.com/deep moshlife.com/deep policygenius.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.

Transcribed - Published: 29 January 2024

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: expressvpn.com/deep rhone.com/cal shopify.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.

Transcribed - Published: 22 January 2024

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.

Transcribed - Published: 15 January 2024

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

Transcribed - Published: 8 January 2024

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.

Transcribed - Published: 1 January 2024

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: rhone.com/cal shopify.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.

Transcribed - Published: 25 December 2023

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.

Transcribed - Published: 18 December 2023

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) https://www.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.

Transcribed - Published: 11 December 2023

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.

Transcribed - Published: 4 December 2023

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

Transcribed - Published: 27 November 2023

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: shopify.com/deep hensonshaving.com/cal mybodytutor.com blinkist.com/deep Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Transcribed - Published: 20 November 2023

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: rhone.com/cal mintmobile.com/deep cozyearth.com ladderlife.com/deep Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Transcribed - Published: 13 November 2023

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/ Thanks to our Sponsors: zocdoc.com/deep hensonshaving.com/cal blinkist.com/deep expressvpn.com/deep Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Transcribed - Published: 6 November 2023

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: rhone.com/cal grammarly.com/podcast policygenius.com/deepquestions mybodytutor.com Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Transcribed - Published: 30 October 2023

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 https://www.expressvpn.com/deep https://www.shopify.com/deep Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Transcribed - Published: 23 October 2023

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/ Thanks to our Sponsors: mintmobile.com/deep cozyearth.com blinkist.com/deep ladderlife.com/deep Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Transcribed - Published: 16 October 2023

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/ Thanks to our Sponsors: moshlife.com/deep zocdoc.com/deep hensonshaving.com/cal mybodytutor.com Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Transcribed - Published: 9 October 2023

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] Thanks to our Sponsors: grammarly.com/podcast policygenius.com blinkist.com/deep expressvpn.com/deep Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Transcribed - Published: 2 October 2023

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/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmediaDeep 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.com https://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.htmlThanks 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 https://www.rhone.com/cal https://www.shopify.com/deepThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Transcribed - Published: 25 September 2023

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: ladderlife.com/deep mybodytutor.com blinkist.com/deep expressvpn.com/deep Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Transcribed - Published: 18 September 2023

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: cozyearth.com hensonshaving.com/deep mintmobile.com/deep moshlife.com/deep Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Transcribed - Published: 11 September 2023

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/ Thanks to our Sponsors: blinkist.com/deep grammarly.com/go expressvpn.com/deep zocdoc.com/deep Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Transcribed - Published: 4 September 2023

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] Thanks to our Sponsors: mybodytutor.com policygenius.com shopify.com/deep cozyearth.com Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Transcribed - Published: 28 August 2023

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

Transcribed - Published: 21 August 2023

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: moshlife.com/deep mintmobile.com/deep expressvpn.com/deep 80000hours.org/deep Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Transcribed - Published: 14 August 2023