Deep Questions with Cal Newport

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

3 Jul 20231h 12min

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

26 Jun 20231h 18min

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/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmediaINTERVIEW: 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-isolationlauravanderkam.com/ Thanks to our Sponsors:rhone.com/calladderlife.com/deepmybodytutor.comblinkist.com/deepThanks 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.

19 Jun 20231h 38min

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

12 Jun 20231h 18min

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

5 Jun 20231h 10min

The art of thinking – plain, old-fashioned, hard concentration on useful ideas – is rapidly vanishing as our culture recasts humans as the custodians and recipients of digital computation. In this episode, Cal explains why this is a problem and what we should do in response.  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 is it important to preserve the vanishing art of thinking? [5:02]  - How do I integrate movies and shows into the deep life? [27:42] - Can I read after a long day of deep work? [33:30] - Is a digital “second brain” a good idea to keep up with the latest advancements in your field? [36:25] - Would Cal consider consolidating his notebooks? [42:37] - Is Maria Popva’s note-taking method better than Cal’s method? [51:40]  The Books I Read in April 2023 [1:04:29]  Links:  Edward Teller talking about John Von Neumann youtube.com/watcv=vQp70uqsBV4#t=55m0s Aristotle on “philosophic wisdom.” See book 10, section 7 of The Ethics: classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.7.vii.html  Arnold Bennet on training concentration (See chapter 7 of How to Live on 24 Hours a Day): gutenberg.org/cache/epub/2274/pg2274-images.html  Thanks to our Sponsors:  huel.com/questions rhone.come/cal hensonshaving.com/calmybodytutor.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.

29 Mai 20231h 19min

Do you live to work or work to live? In this episode, Cal talks with author Simone Stolfzoff about his provocative new book, THE GOOD ENOUGH JOB. Cal then answers listener questions about escaping professional unhappiness, and then switches gears in the Something Interesting segment to talk about the critical technological breakthrough that not enough people yet are talking about.  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: Cal talks about the Good Enough Job with author Simone Stolzoff [4:39]  - What kind of a job do I want? [59:31] - If I enjoy my job, why can’t I focus? [1:05:28] - Should I give up on finding an academic job? [1:17:23] - Should I cut my salary in half to escape the hyperactive hive mind? [1:25:07]  SOMETHING INTERESTING: Apple’s most interesting new tech strategy has nothing to do with A.I. [1:34:41]  Links:  wsj.com/articles/apple-is-breaking-its-own-rules-with-a-new-headset-80c9b36c  Thanks to our Sponsors:  This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/deepquestions  ladderlife.com/deep expressvpn.com/deep 80000hours.org/deep  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.

22 Mai 20231h 44min

Few professional experiences feel worse than overload. But what really causes this unfortunate state? In this episode, Cal takes a closer look at overload, identifying its main culprits, identifying solutions, and helping listeners with their specific overload-related questions.  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 overload actually operate? [3:54]  - Does Cal use an executive assistant? [26:15] - How do I write an effective communication policy for my team? [36:35] - Does overhead compound exponentially? [42:50] - How rare are high expectation/low overhead jobs? [48:05] - My job has few shallow obligations. What should I do with my free time? [51:41]  Something Interesting: The future of social media is less social [59:39]  Links:  wsj.com/articles/workers-say-its-harder-to-get-things-done-now-heres-why-2a5f1389 nytimes.com/2023/04/19/technology/personaltech/tiktok-twitter-facebook-social.html  Thanks to our Sponsors:  huel.com/questions blinkist.com/deep rhone.com/cal zocdoc.com/deep  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.

15 Mai 20231h 8min