Ep. 281: Learning Hard Things

Click Here To Take Cal’s Survey: https://bit.ly/3zMTLXpCal reacts to the news: TikTok and the Fall of the Social Media Giants [3:05]- How long should I wait for someone to respond to my email? [32:21]- Do you recommend having multiple email accounts? [35:21]- Is there a place for “Inbox Zero” in Cal’s productivity system? [38:15]Habit Tune-Up: Docket Clearing Meetings [44:44]- How do I balance my many interests after quitting my job? [55:33]- Why am I stuck in my pursuit of depth?  [1:01:30]- How can we convince the masses to live deeper? [1:06:57]Thanks to our Sponsors:Blinkist.com/DeepEightsleep.com/DeepMyBodyTutor.com80000hours.org/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.

15 Aug 20221h 12min

Habit Tune-Up: To-Do Lists Are Inhumane [2:03]- Is distracted deep work the same as shallow work? [18:10]- How does Cal do quarterly reviews? [23:03]- What should I include in my quarterly plan? [25:03]- How do I save my failing productivity system? [27:34]- Can I sell a book without social media? [36:12]The Five Books Cal Read in July 2022  [47:56]- How do I manage the anxiety of not achieving a goal? [1:11:22]- How do I handle having too many ideas? [1:15:05]Thanks to our Sponsors:Blinkist.com/DeepEightsleep.com/DeepExpressVPN.com/DeepPolicyGenius.comThanks 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.

8 Aug 20221h 21min

In today’s episode, we try something different: a special two-part conversation in which Cal coaches his longtime friend, comedian and podcast pioneer Jamie Kilstein, through a digital declutter. The first part of the conversation ends with Cal’s prescription for Jamie, while the second part picks up six weeks later to check in on how things actually went.Thanks to our Sponsors:Miracle.com/CalGrammarly.com/DeepBetterhelp.com/deepquestionsStamps.comThanks 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.

2 Aug 20221h 30min

With Cal away on vacation, he decides to tackle 8 questions in a row, all in one take, with no breaks! Ian Fleming’s writing process [1:13] - How can I get a tech job without credentials? [8:04]- How do I make progress on tasks in a chaotic job? [10:52]- Why do you have a problem with social media? [16:07]- What should I do to succeed in my first internship? [24:16]- What does Cal think about YouTube shorts? [26:37]- Is it possible to avoid studying all the time in medical school? [29:14]- What do you think of Oliver Burkeman’s work on productivity in Four Thousand Weeks? [37:51]- Can I maintain a social life if I move to the country? [43:41]  Thanks to our Sponsors: Blinkist.com/DeepWren.co/DeepZocdoc.com/DeepLadderlife.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.

25 Juli 202248min

With Jesse away on vacation, Cal decides to tackle 10 questions in a row, all in one take, with no breaks, covering everything from complaints about Cal’s inaccessibility, to teaching deep work in schools, to a long pontification (read: rant) on the podcasting industry.- Finding time to self-study [5:38]- Why Cal is a bad correspondent [11:44]- Can everyone become so good they can’t be ignored? [25:32]- Should temperament affect job choice? [29:06]- Teaching deep work in schools [33:20] - When does Cal listen to podcasts? [37:46]- How do I succeed in podcasting? [38:57]- Why is Cal so contrarian? [56:22]- How do I stay a digital minimalist after having a baby? [59:31]- How do I teach my family and friends about the deep life? [1:02:23]Thanks to our Sponsors:MyBodyTutor.com EightSleep.com/DeepZBiotics.com/CalBlinkist.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.

18 Juli 20221h 7min

Cal Reacts: A slow productivity case study [5:19]- What do you think about planning two weeks out instead of one? [25:52]- How can I brainwash my little brother to make him not follow his passion? [32:43]- Improving at deliberate practice with a slow feedback loop [42:33]- How can I stop overthinking? [49:53]The Six Books Cal Read in June 2022 [54:48]- Slow productivity and billable hours [1:20:24]- What are the key principles of living the deep life? [1:24:21]Thanks to our Sponsors:PolicyGenius.comTrymiracle.com/CalZbiotics.com/CalExpressVPN.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.

11 Juli 20221h 33min

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmediaCal Reacts: Journalists and Twitter [3:26]- When should kids get smartphones? [28:08]- What age should my kids start coding? [37:51]- How can a non-native English speaker widen his vocabulary for scientific writing? [46:21]Habit Tune-Up: Cal’s toolbox for taming meetings [47:25]- What should I read while waiting in line? [1:08:29]- Are some people not wired to focus? [1:11:39]Thanks to our Sponsors:Grammarly.com/DeepBetterhelp.com/DeepquestionsZocdoc.com/DeepEightsleep.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.

4 Juli 20221h 25min

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcastVideo from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmediaCal Reacts to the News: TikTok Dismisses Facebook [10:40]- Should I get a PhD in my 50’s? [32:29]- Do I need two shutdowns if I work on my side hustle in the evening? [40:21]- Good life vs. Deep life [44:39]Habit Tune-up: Process-Centric Email [49:49]- How can I succeed in an academic profession after a lackluster start? [1:07:16]- Helping young men live deeply  [1:15:07]Thanks to our Sponsors:Blinkist.com/deepEightsleep.com/deepMybodytutor.comWren.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.

27 Juni 20221h 22min