Deep Questions with Cal Newport

In our current digital world, distracting world events have a way of completely destabilizing our ability to focus on work that matters. In today’s episode, Cal provides advice for escaping these destabilizing attention environments and regaining some sense of mental peace and depth. He then answers questions, takes a call, and reports on some fun sightings of his book Deep Work out in the wild.  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: Finding focus in distracting times [7:06]  - How can I convince my boss to stop interrupting me? [34:05] - Should I switch jobs? [41:13] - How do I integrate unpredictable calls into an otherwise structured schedule? [43:38] - What’s the ideal reading ratio of difficult to easy books? [47:25] - I just turned 30. Am I too late to apply the slow productivity principles? [50:32]  CASE STUDY: Using lifestyle-centered career planning to improve work and pursue a hobby [57:07]  CALL: Switching roles to an unstructured team [1:02:06]  CAL REACTS: Two Wild Deep Work Sightings [1:11:45]  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/interactive/2024/books/authors-top-books-21st-century.html  Thanks to our Sponsors:  oracle.com/deepquestions indeed.com/deep notion.com/cal shopify.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.

29 Heinä 20241h 18min

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.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

22 Heinä 20241h 20min

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/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmediaDeep 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/podcastcozyearth.com/calmybodytutor.comdrinklmnt.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.

15 Heinä 20241h 3min

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/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmediaDeep 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/slowGet 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/deepnotion.com/calshopify.com/deepexpressvpn.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.

8 Heinä 20241h 21min

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/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmediaDeep 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/deepquestionshttps://www.zocdoc.com/deephttps://www.drinklmnt.com/deephttps://www.ladder.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.

1 Heinä 20241h 19min

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/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmediaDeep 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-productivitynytimes.com/2023/03/24/opinion/yuval-harari-ai-chatgpt.htmlarxiv.org/pdf/2303.12712 Thanks to our Sponsors: moshlife.com/deepshopify.com/deepgrammarly.com/podcastrhone.com/calThanks 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.

24 Kesä 20241h 42min

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/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmediaDeep 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-witdeveloper.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2024/102/ Thanks to our Sponsors: drinklmnt.com/deepcozyearth.com/calmintmobile.com/deeppolicygenius.com/deepThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for 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.

17 Kesä 20241h 21min

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/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmediaDeep 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-Fcyoutube.com/c/jamesscholz Thanks to our Sponsors: drinklmnt.com/deepblinkist.com/deepmybodytutor.comshopify.com/deepThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for 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.

10 Kesä 20241h 20min