Advertise on podcast: Deep Questions with Cal Newport

How did we end up tyrannized by our inboxes? How is this related to Tyrannosaurus? What was it like working at a high-tech company at the exact moment email was introduced? In this episode, Cal weaves together all these questions into a story about the unexpected ways technology impacts our lives and what we can do after the fact to make things better. 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: The Email Catastrophe [3:47] - How do I deal with email overload in a government job? [45:34] - How do I deal with an employer who demands constant responsiveness?[55:36] - How can I concentrate when coding when I need to use my web browser? [58:27] - How do I overcome my fear of missing important emails? [1:02:35] - CALL: Can slow productivity work for an academic? [1:06:38] CAL REACTS: Reader Comments on his NYT Op-Ed [1:17:47] Links: newyorker.com/magazine/2019/04/08/the-day-the-dinosaurs-diedpnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1817407116newyorker.com/magazine/1994/01/10/e-mail-from-bill-gatesblog.rescuetime.com/communication-multitasking-switches/nytimes.com/2024/02/16/opinion/creative-work-productivity-seasonality.htmlUse this link to preorder a signed copy of “Slow Productivity”: peoplesbooktakoma.com/preorder-slow-productivity/ FREE download excerpt and 2 Bonuses for “Slow Productivity”: calnewport.com/slow   Thanks to our Sponsors:  zocdoc.com/deeppolicygenius.com/deepquestionsblinkist.com/deepmoshlife.com/deepshopify.com/deep Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

We’ve become so used to our phones in our lives that we’ve stopped realizing how arbitrary and unusual the content we’re watching really has become. In this episode, Cal looks closer at what we’re really spending time doing on our phones, then provides step-by-step instructions for healing this relationship.  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: Confronting Your Phone [4:30] - What does Cal think about Neil Postman’s “Amusing Ourselves To Death”? [28:35] - Can you pursue high quality leisure after a day filled with deep work? [33:14] - Can commercial breaks be used for high quality leisure? [37:24] - Will digital minimalism work in an age of augmented reality? [40:34] - How can a full time YouTuber practice digital minimalism? [46:53] -CALL: How to share content online? [52:38] CASE STUDY: Cost-benefit analysis of technology usage [1:00:39] CAL REACTS: J. R. R. Tolkien’s Search for Depth [1:06:43] Links: twitter.com/explore/tabs/trending instagram.com/explore/tags/popular/?hl=en tiktok.com/foryou?lang=en newcriterion.com/blogs/dispatch/the-consolations-of-fantasy Use this link to preorder a signed copy of “Slow Productivity”: peoplesbooktakoma.com/preorder-slow-productivity/ FREE download excerpt and 2 Bonuses for “Slow Productivity”: calnewport.com/slow Thanks to our Sponsors: ladderlife.com/deep mybodytutor.com rhone.com/cal mintmobile.com/deep Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

A deep life requires that you encounter and make sense of a large amount of incoming information, from narrow data relevant to a professional project, to broad insights into your purpose. How do you keep track of all of this? In this episode, Cal proposes a minimalist approach aimed at minimizing the friction required to keep tabs on what matters. 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: How to track information that matters [2:55] - How should I make use of non-cognitive time? [27:37] - Can people with ADHD become better at learning? [32:49] - What does Cal think of Gloria Mark’s “4 myths of attention span”? [36:31] - How can I concentrate on my dissertation when I have a full-time job? [47:04] - How can I stop wasting my afternoon time blocks? [53:20] - CALL: How can I better organize my idea notebooks? [1:01:38] CASE STUDY: Avoiding the hyperactive hive mind to work more efficiently [1:05:46]    CAL REACTS: Is it bad to be slow? [1:13:46] Links: dailystoic.com/try-not-to-be-so-slow/ gloriamark.com/attention-span Use this link to preorder a signed copy of “Slow Productivity”: peoplesbooktakoma.com/preorder-slow-productivity/ FREE download excerpt and 2 Bonuses for “Slow Productivity”: calnewport.com/slow Thanks to our Sponsors: grammarly.com/podcast drinklmnt.com/deep cozyearth.com (promo code “cal”) expressvpn.com/deep Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

A key step in cultivating a deep life is reflecting on what matters to you and the best strategies for pursuing it. This, in turn, requires that you engage in the consumption of some manner of self help. It’s here that many people sell themselves short, limiting this intake to short videos and the occasional advice guide. In today’s episode, Cal talks about cultivating a much richer approach to self-help in which you’re able to take in wisdom from a variety of sources of various levels of sophistication. 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: Rethinking Self Help [3:21] - How can I prevent hard tasks from derailing my productivity systems? [38:47] - Should I get ahead in my career with a project that I hate? [47:54] - How can I make progress on my novel when my day job drains me? [52:39] - Is there such a thing as too much deep work? [59:32] - CALL: Will short deep work sessions work to write effectively? [1:12:17] CASE STUDY: Reducing stress with slow productivity [1:18:40]  The 5 Books Cal Read in January 2024 [1:30:22]  Links: https://peoplesbooktakoma.com/preorder-slow-productivity/ FREE Download  for “Slow Productivity”: www.calnewport.com/slow Thanks to our Sponsors: https://www.grammarly.com/podcast https://www.drinklmnt.com/deep https://www.shopify.com/deep This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/deepquestions Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

One of the more interesting realities of people who live remarkable lives is that they are often much less busy than the rest of us. In this episode, Cal explores three ideas that help explain why this is true, then explains how we can use these ideas to reduce our own workloads. 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 Productivity Paradox [7:31] - How does a weekly plan work? [32:26] - Do errands or reading count toward fixed schedule productivity? [36:55] - How should a graduate embrace slow productivity? [40:11] - If I embrace slow productivity, how can I be sure I’m doing enough? [41:54] - Did Cal follow Slow Productivity in his 20’s? [47:45] - CALL: Uprooting a good planning system? [53:23] CASE STUDY: Playing video games with intention [58:05] CAL REACTS:  How to Have a Productive Year [1:06:34] Links: calnewport.com/if-youre-busy-youre-doing-something-wrong-the-surprisingly-relaxed-lives-of-elite-achievers/ newyorker.com/culture/office-space/how-to-have-a-more-productive-year FREE Download  for “Slow Productivity”: calnewport.com/slow Thanks to our Sponsors: mauinuivenison.com/deepquestions blinkist.com/deep moshlife.com/deep policygenius.com/deepquestions Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Call talks with Ali Abdaal about his journey from doctor to YouTube sensation, and then dives deep into Ali’s new book, “Feel-Good Productivity,” and the possibilities of making accomplishment something enjoyable. 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 INTERVIEW: YouTube Star Ali Abdaal [3:41] Cal Reacts: Dissecting Ali’s YouTube career path [1:32:27] Links: FREE download for “Slow Productivity”: calnewport.com/slow Thanks to our Sponsors: expressvpn.com/deep rhone.com/cal shopify.com/deep notion.com/cal Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

What is the correct first step in transforming your life into something deeper? Traditional advice says to start with a clear vision of what you value. Cal has been arguing that it’s instead more important to develop a foundation of discipline. In this episode, he explores a more specific variation of this idea: perhaps the best way to prepare to pursue the big is to first learn how to control the small. 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: How to organize your life [2:31] - How do I “stay deep” when facing major changes? [36:37] - How do I relax when I’m always so busy? [39:13] - What is the difference between rituals and routines? [43:09] - Can playing video games be part of a deep life? [51:27] - Can deep life buckets connect to strategic plans? [57:39] - CALL: Juggling multiple priorities to live a deep life [1:01:39] CASE STUDY: Becoming organized to prevent overwhelm [1:07:32] CAL REACTS:  How many books did you read in 2023? [1:13:47] Links: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/01/05/how-many-books-did-you-read-2023-see-how-you-stack-up/ FREE download for “Slow Productivity”: calnewport.com/slow Thanks to our Sponsors:  drinklmnt.com/deep mintmobile.com/deep cozyearth.com (promo code CAL) mybodytutor.com   Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

During the New Year season it is common to talk about how to be more productive. But what about the downtime between your major pursuits? In this episode, Cal argues for rewiring your brain to crave slow distractions over their faster (often digital) alternatives. The goal here is not to get more done but to transform your life into something slower and more meaningful. 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: Slow Distractions [2:25] - How do I work deeply as a stay-at-home parent? [29:12] - Isn’t it myopic not to let young children use smartphones? [36:44] - How do I succeed as a musician without social media? [38:09] - How do I make plans without social media? [48:37] - CALL: How to share ideas without allowing social media to take control [55:02] CAL REACTS: I’m a 33-year old woman without a job [1:05:55] Links: youtu.be/YQLVWficcwc?si=lOIBa23I_0-4sJl6 Download a FREE chapter from my upcoming book, "Slow Productivity" HERE: https://www.calnewport.com/slow Thanks to our Sponsors: expressvpn.com/deep notion.com/cal shopify.com/deep grammarly.com/podcast Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

One of the more important abilities to cultivate for the year ahead is comfort learning complicated (and therefore valuable) new things. In this episode, Cal tackles the myths surrounding mastery and presents a new mental model for internalizing non-trivial information. As he elaborates, there is both good news and bad news when it comes to this topic: you can learn almost anything, but you can’t learn everything. 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: Learning Hard Things [2:50] - When it comes to taking notes, what really matters? [29:49] - Can I fit all of my hobbies into my week? [36:02] - Can YouTube teach me to be a better student? [39:40] - How do I figure out what to learn next? [46:09] - How do I learn something fast when I already have a busy schedule? [48:23] - CALL: How does “So Good They Can’t Ignore You” relate to “Slow Productivity”? [55:11] CASE STUDY: Slow Productivity affinity group [1:03:46] The 5 books Cal read in December 2023 [1:13:28] Thanks to our Sponsors: drinklmnt.com/deep zocdoc.com/deep This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/deepquestions Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

The mega-bestselling writer Arthur Brooks is one of the rare individuals to have both lived a carefully cultivated deep life and written a book on the topic (co-authored with Oprah!). In today’s episode, Cal interviews Brooks, going deep into the details of his unusual and inspiring career and extracting proven rules from his experience. 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 INTERVIEW: Mega-bestselling writer Arthur Brooks [6:39] Cal’s Favorite Completely Unnecessary and Embarrassingly Geeky Things for 2024 [1:16:04] Links: https://www.calnewport.com/slow Thanks to our Sponsors: rhone.com/cal shopify.com/deep notion.com/cal Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

We talk a lot on this show about getting more done, but what’s the best way to handle the inevitable situation in which you have too much to do? Cal walks through a sensible response to the crazy-making reality of overload. 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: Controlling Overload [4:48] - Is building a “second brain” important? [37:53] - How can I bill 40 hours a week without getting overloaded? [43:30] - What book should I buy my department to best increase their work quality? [46:31] - How do I make progress on projects that have lots of overhead? [51:53] - How can my wife deal with her new position and the overload that comes with it? [57:35] - CALL: What is Cal excited to gif this holiday season? [1:06:14] CASE STUDY: Quitting Twitter to build a better life [1:09:55] CAL REACTS: Why did students get dumber starting in 2012? [1:17:31] Links: https://twitter.com/DKThomp/status/1734436486727254218 Thanks to our Sponsors: https://www.ladderlife.com/deep https://www.blinkist.com/deep https://www.hensonshaving.com/cal This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/deepquestions Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

One of the most important skills for cultivating a satisfying and high impact life is one we rarely discuss: the art of serious thinking. In this episode, Cal makes the case for serious thinking as an ability to specifically cultivate, then describes five specific practices you can put into place to launch a crash course in developing an effective life of the mind. 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: How to Think [4:07] - Does reading count as Deep Work? [38:50] - How do I make sense of the topics I think about? [41:48] - How should I manage boredom in a job without hurting my ability to focus? [45:12] - How can I provide quick answers to management if I’m a slow thinker? [50:40] - CALL: How should I structure my Deep Holiday? [56:44] CASE STUDY: A successful Digital Detox allowing one to think in peace. [59:55] CAL REACTS: Does collaboration make us less creative? [1:07:29] Thanks to our Sponsors: https://www.shopify.com/deep https://www.mintmobile.com/deep https://www.cozyearth.com (promo code: CAL) https://www.mybodytutor.com Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.