The Cal Newport Show

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: 

zocdoc.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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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: 

shopfiy.com/deep 

cozyearth.com 

grammarly.com/go 

policygenius.com 

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 

drinklmnt.com/deep 

80000hours.org/deep 

hensonshaving.com/cal 

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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/ 

Thanks to our Sponsors: 

mintmobile.com/deep 

blinkist.com/deep 

ladderlife.com/deep 

expressvpn.com/deep 

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 

Thanks to our Sponsors: 

drinklmnt.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. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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/ 

Thanks to our Sponsors: 

shopify.com/deep 

grammarly.com/go 

expressvpn.com/deep 

blinkist.com/deep 

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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] 

Thanks to our Sponsors: 

betterhelp.com/deepquestions 

cozyearth.com 

hensonshaving.com/cal 

drinklmnt.com/deep 

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

rhone.com/cal
ladderlife.com/deep
mybodytutor.com
blinkist.com/deep

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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: 

hensonshaving.com/cal 

drinklmnt.com/deep 

80000hours.org/deep 

zocdoc.com/deep 

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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: 

expressvpn.com/deep 

blinkist.com/deep 

policygenius.com 

grammarly.com/go 

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices