Ep. 228: A World Without Busyness

A common complaint about social media skepticism is that we’re falling into a classic moral panic. We’ve been concerned about many past mass media technologies, and ultimately came to realize that they’re not so bad. So why would we expect anything different about social media? In this episode, Cal tackles this complaint, drawing on an unexpected analogy to find clarity. He then answers listener questions and discusses the books he read in May, but not before first confronting a truly bizarre (or, perhaps, brilliant) piece of art work created by a fan of the show.Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmediaDeep Dive: Quit Social Media [6:18]- How can I become a better, more analytical thinker?  [23:04] - How can I stay motivated, productive, and balanced while working mostly alone during my first remote internship? [28:56]- How much time should I dedicate to developing secondary skills? [30:10]- How does TikTok seem to know so much about me? [32:09]- What are the best workflow strategies when using AI agents? [43:45]CASE STUDY: A simple, analog approach to productivity [49:31]CALL: Too focused on metrics [53:15]MAY BOOKS: The 5 Books Cal Read in May 2025 [1:03:19]May Books:Building: A Carpenter’s Notes on Life & the Art of Good Work (Mark Ellison)Thoreau’s Axe (Caleb Smith)9 Innings (Daniel Okrent)Let Them (Mel Robbins)Against the Machine (Paul Kingsnorth)Links:Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slowGet a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?amazon.com/Four-Days-Week-Life-Changing-Well-Being/dp/0063382431/rcalnewport.com/on-ultra-processed-content/podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cal-newport-5-28-19/id814550071?i=1000647135862rehearsal.so/blog/how_to_stay_in_flow_while_using_cursor_or_windsurfThanks to our Sponsors:cozyearth.com/deepshopify.com/deepharrys.com/deepcalderalab.com/deepThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

2 Kesä 1h 11min

A few years ago, in a spirit of post-pandemic experimentation, multiple countries ran formal trials to test a radical idea: shortening the workweek. In this episode, Cal returns to the results of these trials to identify an astounding finding that has critical implications about how we work in the 21st century and how this could be made much better. He then answers listener questions and concludes with a tech corner that addresses a simple question: when will AI begin to automate most of my work?Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmediaDeep Dive: The Workload Fairytale [3:39]- How would you rewrite A World Without Email to account for Slack? [18:16]- How should I manage multiple deadlines? [22:14]- How does Values-Based Lifestyle Centric Career Planning relate to Rutger Bregman's concept of Moral Ambition? [27:28]- How can I avoid burnout and use my career capital to find a less demanding job? [34:24]- Should I do my weekly plan on Sunday night to avoid the scaries? [40:32]CASE STUDY: A lawyer argues in front of the New York Court of Appeals [42:57]CALL: What exactly is considered task switching? [47:15]TECH CORNER: When will AI automate my job? [56:04]Links:Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slowGet a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?bbc.com/news/business-57724779theguardian.com/money/2023/feb/21/four-day-week-uk-trial-success-patterndw.com/en/german-firms-tested-4-day-workweek-heres-the-outcome/a-70685885calnewport.com/ai-and-work-some-predictions/Thanks to our Sponsors:udacity.com/deeplandroverusa.comcalderalab.com/deepThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

26 Touko 1h 14min

Summer is here. It’s time to slow down. In this episode, Cal discusses his radically simplified summer schedule and then suggests you similarly inject some “seasonality” into your life, offering tips for finding a slower gear without tanking your job. He then answers listener questions and reacts to the most important AI article that you likely missed last week. Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmediaDeep Dive: Summer Schedules [5:25]- How should I structure my summer vacation with a significant injury? [27:40]- How do I learn the secrets to publication if the faculty doesn’t know I exist? [32:10]- Should I even attempt long-term content or is it too hard? [33:31]- How can I develop a deliberate practice for crafting narratives for technical documents? [44:33]- Is there an alternative to formal education to improve quantitative skills? [45:13]CASE STUDY: A father balances his different roles [47:40]CALL #1: Finding a side hustle [51:16]CALL #2: College student wondering the tips to focus better [56:02]CAL REACTS: Is the AI boom slowing? [1:07:01]Links:Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slowGet a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?wsj.com/tech/ai/meta-is-delaying-the-rollout-of-its-flagship-ai-model-f4b105f7Thanks to our Sponsors:grammarly.com/podcastvanta.com/deepquestionsshopify.com/deepcozyearth.com/deepThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

19 Touko 1h 20min

When we think about important accomplishments, we think about grinding through long hours of work. But is this really necessary? In this episode, Cal turns to the lives of two famous authors to argue that sometimes a slow and steady approach can work just as well in the end, while making the journey more sustainable along the way. He then answers listener questions and concludes with a Tech Corner segment about a ridiculous new claim from the world of AI. Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com! Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia Deep Dive: It’s Okay to Slow Down [2:28]- How should I tell people my email responses will be delayed without using an autoresponder? [18:07]- Should I read for quantity or quality? [20:31]- How does “one email address” per project work and how do I implement it? [24:51]- Can you comment on Conan O’Brien’s burner phone? [30:42]- Am I working hard enough to get tenure? [38:00] CASE STUDY: Email processing protocol [44:25]CALL #1: Organizing creative work [49:19]CALL #2: Fan update about Inbox Zero [53:37]TECH CORNER: A.I. Welfare is a PR Stunt [58:36] Links:Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slowGet a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at https://peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?https://thestory.au/articles/daily-routines-famous-writers/https://youtu.be/cM8HlKoJCHA?si=N-UjnFu-4q-mTJEBhttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/24/technology/ai-welfare-anthropic-claude.html Thanks to our Sponsors: This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/deepquestions and get on your way to being your best self!https://www.mybodytutor.comhttps://www.oracle.com/deepquestionshttps://www.expressvpn.com/deep Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

12 Touko 1h 9min

Tyler Cowen recently wrote an article arguing that spending lots of time online is in fact a good thing. In this episode, Cal looks deeper at Cowen’s argument and finds some surprising common ground. The internet can be a major source of good in your life, he argues, but only if you use it in the right way. He then answers listener questions and reviews the books he read in April.Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmediaDeep Dive: Making the Internet Good Again [5:06]What are good activities for “deep breaks”? [28:38]How can I approach parenting without resenting the sacrifices to deep work? [31:36]How does the deep life compare to David Epstein’s book, “Range”? [38:06]What is the difference between a “winner-take-all” field of work and “auction” field of work? [41:12]Does “following your passion” have any connection to “lifestyle centric planning”? [47:39]CASE STUDY: Implementing the concept of “Eat The Frog” [52:48]CALL: Introducing seasonality and the meetings being the work [55:07]APRIL BOOKS: The 5 books Cal read in April, 2025 [1:06:08]I, Robot (Isaac Asimov)After Disney (Neil O’brien)The Baseball Book of Why (John McCollister)The Technology Republic (Alexander Karp and Nicholas Zamiska)Everything is Tuberculosis (John Green)Links:Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slowGet a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newportCal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?thefp.com/p/the-case-for-living-onlineThanks to our Sponsors:shopify.com/deepauraframes.com [Use promo code “DEEPQUESTIONS”]indeed.com/deepharrys.com/deepThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

5 Touko 1h 13min

The white whale of modern productivity discourse is achieving an empty email inbox; a goal state that’s often referred to simply as “inbox zero.” In this episode, Cal looks at why the original advice for achieving inbox zero failed and explores a strategy that might work better. He then answers listener questions and in a final segment reacts to a recent guest on the Tim Ferriss podcast who provides an interesting case study of the deep life in action.Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmediaDeep Dive: Is Inbox Zero Possible? [2:45]How can I perform beyond the bare minimum on “Survival Days”? [29:40]How can I remain sane with a job that changes schedules every week? [34:55]How are computer systems rewarded in AI? [37:08]How can I stop my boss from interrupting me with constant chatter? [41:34]CALL: Identifying the next action [44:02]CALL: Finding true depth during the final years of college [51:33]CAL REACTS: Craig Mod’s walks through Japan [1:01:18]Links:Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slowGet a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newportCal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?youtube.com/watch?v=z9UjeTMb3YkThanks to our Sponsors:cozyearth.com/deepauraframes.com [Promo Code “DEEPQUESTIONS”]kinsta.com/deepquestionsudacity.com/deepThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

28 Huhti 1h 9min

Cal talks a lot about his ideas for producing meaningful work in a distracted world. But how do other people tackle this goal? To help better under this question, Cal reacts to a 2018 article from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in which he details his productivity philosophy. Cal then answers listener questions and concludes with a dystopian tech corner.Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmediaDeep Dive: Sam Altman On Productivity [2:20]- How do I prevent administrative sprawl? [22:01]- When is the best time to schedule Deep Work? [31:12]- How can a gardener gain career capital? [32:43]- How can one go from good performance to exceptional performance? [36:21]- Is it better to write with a single monitor? [38:33]CALL: Slow Productivity in a changing world [43:09]CALL: Rory Mcllroy and his phone [48:35]TECH CORNER: Will AI Destroy Humanity by 2027? [56:46]Links:Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slowGet a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newportCal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?blog.samaltman.com/productivityai-2027.comdaveshap.substack.com/p/common-bad-takes-in-ai-safety-a-responseThanks to our Sponsors:shopify.com/deepzocdoc.com/deepvanta.com/deepquestionsexpressvpn.com/deepThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

21 Huhti 1h 12min

In this episode of IN-DEPTH, Cal is joined by David Dewane, the architect responsible for the “eudaimonia machine” featured in DEEP WORK. In this wide-ranging conversation, Cal and David talk about the challenges of finding depth in a distracted world, and the results of David’s personal experimentation in creating a deep life of his own. Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmediaINTERVIEW: Architecting a Deep Life (w/ David Dewane) [04:06]Links:https://www.calnewport.com/slowhttps://donedaily.com/ Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the theme music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

17 Huhti 1h 35min