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 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 

Thanks to our Sponsors: 

• mintmobile.com/deep 
• rhone.com/cal 
• greenlight.com/deep 
• blinkist.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. 

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

 

Thanks to our Sponsors: 

• grammarly.com/podcast
• cozyearth.com/cal
• mybodytutor.com
• drinklmnt.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.

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.

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/

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
https://www.drinklmnt.com/deep
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.

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

shopify.com/deep

grammarly.com/podcast

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.

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
• cozyearth.com/cal
• 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.

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.

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 do I 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.

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
• blinkist.com/deep
• listening.com/deep
• drinklmnt.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.

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.