Ep. 379: The Flexibility Myth

Ep. 379: The Flexibility Myth

When companies began instituting return-to-office plans after the pandemic, a disproportionate number of women chose instead to leave the workforce. Why? The obvious answer is that they wanted the flexibility of remote work. But in this episode, Cal draws on a recent New York Times op-ed that offers a deeper explanation – one that affects all knowledge workers. He then explores solutions to the problem, answers listener questions, and (God help him) respond to comments on his recent Superintelligence episode.

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 Flexibility Myth [0:02]

  • How should a venture backed startup team design their work schedule? [51:42]
  • How do I stop my boss from e-mailing me at all hours? [57:02]
  • How should a professor on break schedule his deep work? [1:02:35]
  • How can I better schedule my blocks to prepare for technical interviews? [1:09:59]
  • When considering lifestyle-centric planning, what practices may help determine the type of work to pursue? [1:12:16]

CASE STUDY: Completing a Thesis [1:19:08]

CALL: Details about time blocking [1:25:08]

CAL READS THE COMMENTS: The Case Against Superintelligence [1:33:58]

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?
nytimes.com/2025/11/02/opinion/women-work-force-flexibility-shifts.html
youtube.com/watch?v=y0RI5CnoDvs

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This episode is sponsored by Betterhelp.
betterhelp.com/deepquestions
expressvpn.com/deep
shopify.com/deep
mybodytutor.com

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro 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.

Jaksot(399)

Ep. 345: Are We Getting Dumber?

Ep. 345: Are We Getting Dumber?

Multiple listeners recently sent in a Financial Times article that asks whether humans have passed “peak intelligence.” In this episode, Cal looks closer at the data in this article to try to understa...

24 Maalis 20251h 8min

Ep. 344: You Are Not a Cog

Ep. 344: You Are Not a Cog

Modern knowledge work jobs should be cushy gigs. Fixed hours, air conditioning, no hard manual labor, flexibility. So why are we so often burnt out and what can we do about this reality? In this episo...

17 Maalis 20251h 25min

Ep. 343: A Minimal Protocol for Taking Control of Your LIfe

Ep. 343: A Minimal Protocol for Taking Control of Your LIfe

One of the most commonly recurring themes on this show is the conflict between too much versus not enough productivity. In this episode, Cal attempts to find new clarity in this debate by identifying ...

10 Maalis 20251h 30min

IN-DEPTH: Greatness on Trial (w/ Brad Stulberg and Clay Skipper)

IN-DEPTH: Greatness on Trial (w/ Brad Stulberg and Clay Skipper)

In this episode of IN-DEPTH, Cal is joined by the writers Brad Stulberg and Clay Skipper to talk about the topic of “greatness.” They attempt to pick apart the weird moment we are in where, on the one...

6 Maalis 20251h 18min

Ep. 342: The Good Life Algorithm

Ep. 342: The Good Life Algorithm

How do escape a life of shallowness and distraction to cultivate something deeper and more meaningful? In this episode, Cal draws from both algorithm theory and the habits of a reclusive author to hig...

3 Maalis 20251h 18min

Ep. 341: Drowning, Treading, or Swimming

Ep. 341: Drowning, Treading, or Swimming

Tim Ferris is working on a new book about saying “no” and has posted the introduction online. In this episode, Cal reads an excerpt from this introduction and then tries to make sense of it with a met...

24 Helmi 20251h 29min

Ep. 340: Productivity Rain Dances

Ep. 340: Productivity Rain Dances

Sometimes the quest for productivity can seem like the embrace of activity for the sake of activity, a prospect that inevitably leads to exhaustion. In today’s episode, Cal explores this idea by discu...

17 Helmi 20251h 20min

Ep. 339: Let Brandon Cook

Ep. 339: Let Brandon Cook

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com! In a recent appearance on the Tim Ferriss podcast, the prolific fantasy author Brandon Sanderson revealed how he reshaped his media company to help him...

10 Helmi 20251h 35min

Suosittua kategoriassa Koulutus

rss-murhan-anatomia
psykopodiaa-podcast
voi-hyvin-meditaatiot-2
rss-valo-minussa-2
adhd-podi
psykologia
rss-narsisti
salainen-paivakirja
rss-liian-kuuma-peruna
rss-duodecim-lehti
rahapuhetta
aloita-meditaatio
rss-vapaudu-voimaasi
rss-niinku-asia-on
kesken
rss-luonnollinen-synnytys-podcast
aamukahvilla
rss-uskonto-on-tylsaa
rss-selvat-savelet
rss-koira-haudattuna