The Cal Newport Show

In today's episode, I am joined in studio by my longtime podcasting friend Srini Rao, host of the incredible Unmistakable Creative podcast (https://unmistakablecreative.com/), on which I've been a guest many times.

Srini helps me answer your questions on both deep work and the deep life. We also talk about his podcasting company recently raising a series A round of venture capital funding, and what it was like appearing on the Netflix reality show Indian Matchmaker.

I apologize that I don't have timestamps for the individual questions for this episode. In the moment, I forgot to take notes. In future collaborative Q&A episodes I'll make sure to get the questions written down so I can deliver the timestamps to you here.

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

 - Saving a software team from the hyperactive hive mind. [3:21]
 - Working from near home on a student budget [6:18]
 - Students' diminishing focus. [13:10]
 - Useful academic work. [24:15]
 - Deep work subverting deep leisure. [29:09]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.


DEEP DIVE: Does Accomplishment Require Overload? [3:16]


DEEP WORK QUESTIONS
 - How do you figure out what to get good at? [15:35]
 - Should I quit teaching to become a lifestyle coach? [23:24]
 - Why did I (Cal) become a computer scientist? [28;39]
 - How do I stop my firm from killing itself with email? [34:07]
 - As the multipurpose nature of computers a problem? [39:23]
 - What do I (Cal) think about four day work weeks? [41:30]


DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS
 - Should I reschedule miss deep work for later in the day? [46:56]
 - Do you (Cal) ever fix your big picture plans once in motion? [48"37]
 - Should I apply 4DX to my deep life buckets? [56:09]
 - How does one balance deep work with a partner who is equally as ambitious? [1:01:42]


Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

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

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.


- Stopping excess emails from students. [8:39]
- Finding ideas for books. [16:46]
- The nuances of weekly planning. [19:58]
- A primer on my value-driven planning philosophy. [29:46]
- Deep work for politicians. [43:47]
- Inefficient workflows. [49:53]


Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

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

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.


DEEP WORK QUESTIONS

 - How do I find free time as a working mother? [2:10]
 - How do I time block unpredictable support tasks? [13:56]
 - How many items are on my (Cal's) task lists and how often do I review? [18:51]
 - How do I stay productive without clear deadlines? [27:09]
 - How do get started writing? [32:33]
 - How do I know if an idea is good? [37:56]



DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

 - How do I integrate uncertainty into my goal setting? [43:01]
 - How should I configure my smartphone notifications? (Rant Alert) [52:18]
 - Should I quit my design job to become a writer? (Rant Alert #2) [57:50]
 - How do I make progress on meaningful goals in difficult circumstances? [1:09:37]


Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

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In this episode, Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness join me to talk through Matt Crawford's classic 2009 book: "Shop Class as Soulcraft." We get into its impact on our own thinking, attempt to deconstruct its popularity, and seriously consider quitting our jobs to repair motorcycles.
 
For more on Brad and Steve: https://wthegrowtheq.com

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

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

In this episode, podcast maven Jordan Harbinger joins me for a collaborative deep dive on the topic of podcasting. We take a close look at the current state of this technology, including a look at specific numbers: How much money are people making? How many people are making that money? Why is SMARTLESS worth $20 million a year to Amazon? 

We then tackle the future of the industry. Will independent audio-only podcasting as we know it today still be around in 5 years, or is this just a step toward a radical new configuration of the media landscape? (I have a theory on this which I run by Jordan for his opinion.)

We get into it all...

For more on Jordan and his massively successful show: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

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

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

- Balancing necessary shallow and important deep work. [3:23]
- Increasing reading retention. [9:556]
- Keeping track of goals or ideas for future pursuit. [13:59]
- Growing a podcast without social media. [19:32]
- Seasonal breaks from work. [30:51]
- Community bucket struggles. [33:54]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

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

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.


BOOK REPORT: The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin [1:30]


DEEP WORK QUESTIONS

 - How do I eliminate the hive mind from interaction with other departments? [13:36]
 - How do I capture small tasks so I don't forget them? [23:23]
 - How do I (Cal) feel about career counselors? [29:31]
 - Are there professions for which time blocking doesn't work? [33:42]
 - How do I organize my tasks without using task boards? [37:55]
 - Should I build a radical setting to support the deep life? [39:50]
 - How do I become the right person to write a book? [42:52]


DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

 - Can a digital minimalist use a fitness tracker? [54:33]
 - When should I switch from work to leisure? [56:27]
 - How do I get back on track with a deep life after a hard pandemic? [59:24]
 - What is my (Cal's) top piece of parenting advice? [1:02:04]
 - Cal's Curmudgeon Corner: How do I find meaning beyond simply expressing myself? [1:05:01]


Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

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

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast. 


- Breaking up big projects into small tasks. [4:19]
- The productivity baby steps (epic answer alert). [8:58]
- Taming late night meetings. [26:02]
- Best book of mine for college students. [34:45]
- Shutdown routines with unpredictable schedules. [38:28]


Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.

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