The Cal Newport Show

Latest Episodes:

IN-DEPTH: The Art of Non-Conformity (w/ Chris Guillebeau) Jun 12, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of IN-DEPTH, Cal is joined by Chris Guillebeau, the author of the new book, TIME ANXIETY, and creator of the beloved Art of Non-Conformity blog and World Domination Summit annual conferences. Cal and Chris reminisce about their old days as early advice bloggers and dive into his new ideas about re-thinking our relationship with time.

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

INTERVIEW: The Art of Non-Conformity (w/ Chris Guillebeau) [03:50]

Links:
https://www.calnewport.com/slow

Sponsors:
https://www.donedaily.com

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the theme music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Ep. 356: How Much Should We Work? Jun 09, 2025

Show notes

The data shows knowledge workers really are more exhausted and more prone to burnout than ever before. But why? In this episode, Cal draws inspiration from an unlikely source to help unpack this troubling trend and then suggest a perhaps radical solution. He then answers listeners’ questions and discusses his latest New Yorker article on the challenges of taming AI. As a bonus, he briefly discusses Cal Network’s new bestselling book.

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

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 Much Should We Work? [3:33]

- What’s your advice on having a career backup plan? [28:27]
- Do you know of any executive coaches who teach your principles? [30:33]
- Is my retirement plan too ambitious? [35:13]
- Are accountability support tools acceptable to use in order to build discipline? [38:43]
- How can I identify if I have an inventory of "rare and valuable skills"? [41:21]

CASE STUDY: Crafting a storytelling profession [43:14]

CALL: Creating a life dashboard [46:14]

TECH CORNER: Why Can’t We Tame AI? (Cal’s latest New Yorker article) [52:08]

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?
newyorker.com/culture/open-questions/what-isaac-asimov-reveals-about-living-with-ai

Thanks to our Sponsors:

drinklmnt.com/deep
oracle.com/deepquestions
indeed.com/deep
vanta.com/deepquestions

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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Ep. 355: Quit Social Media (For Real This Time) Jun 02, 2025

Show notes

A common complaint about social media skepticism is that we’re falling into a classic moral panic. We’ve been concerned about many past mass media technologies, and ultimately came to realize that they’re not so bad. So why would we expect anything different about social media? In this episode, Cal tackles this complaint, drawing on an unexpected analogy to find clarity. He then answers listener questions and discusses the books he read in May, but not before first confronting a truly bizarre (or, perhaps, brilliant) piece of art work created by a fan of the show.

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

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: Quit Social Media [6:18]

- How can I become a better, more analytical thinker? [23:04]
- How can I stay motivated, productive, and balanced while working mostly alone during my first remote internship? [28:56]
- How much time should I dedicate to developing secondary skills? [30:10]
- How does TikTok seem to know so much about me? [32:09]
- What are the best workflow strategies when using AI agents? [43:45]

CASE STUDY: A simple, analog approach to productivity [49:31]

CALL: Too focused on metrics [53:15]

MAY BOOKS: The 5 Books Cal Read in May 2025 [1:03:19]

May Books:

Building: A Carpenter’s Notes on Life & the Art of Good Work (Mark Ellison)
Thoreau’s Axe (Caleb Smith)
9 Innings (Daniel Okrent)
Let Them (Mel Robbins)
Against the Machine (Paul Kingsnorth)

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?
amazon.com/Four-Days-Week-Life-Changing-Well-Being/dp/0063382431/r
calnewport.com/on-ultra-processed-content/
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cal-newport-5-28-19/id814550071?i=1000647135862
rehearsal.so/blog/how_to_stay_in_flow_while_using_cursor_or_windsurf

Thanks to our Sponsors:

cozyearth.com/deep
shopify.com/deep
harrys.com/deep
calderalab.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.

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Ep. 354: The Workload Fairytale May 26, 2025

Show notes

A few years ago, in a spirit of post-pandemic experimentation, multiple countries ran formal trials to test a radical idea: shortening the workweek. In this episode, Cal returns to the results of these trials to identify an astounding finding that has critical implications about how we work in the 21st century and how this could be made much better. He then answers listener questions and concludes with a tech corner that addresses a simple question: when will AI begin to automate most of my work?

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

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 Workload Fairytale [3:39]

- How would you rewrite A World Without Email to account for Slack? [18:16]
- How should I manage multiple deadlines? [22:14]
- How does Values-Based Lifestyle Centric Career Planning relate to Rutger Bregman's concept of Moral Ambition? [27:28]
- How can I avoid burnout and use my career capital to find a less demanding job? [34:24]
- Should I do my weekly plan on Sunday night to avoid the scaries? [40:32]

CASE STUDY: A lawyer argues in front of the New York Court of Appeals [42:57]

CALL: What exactly is considered task switching? [47:15]

TECH CORNER: When will AI automate my job? [56:04]

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?
bbc.com/news/business-57724779
theguardian.com/money/2023/feb/21/four-day-week-uk-trial-success-pattern
dw.com/en/german-firms-tested-4-day-workweek-heres-the-outcome/a-70685885
calnewport.com/ai-and-work-some-predictions/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

udacity.com/deep
landroverusa.com
calderalab.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.

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Ep. 353: Summer Schedules May 19, 2025

Show notes

Summer is here. It’s time to slow down. In this episode, Cal discusses his radically simplified summer schedule and then suggests you similarly inject some “seasonality” into your life, offering tips for finding a slower gear without tanking your job. He then answers listener questions and reacts to the most important AI article that you likely missed last week.

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

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: Summer Schedules [5:25]

- How should I structure my summer vacation with a significant injury? [27:40]
- How do I learn the secrets to publication if the faculty doesn’t know I exist? [32:10]
- Should I even attempt long-term content or is it too hard? [33:31]
- How can I develop a deliberate practice for crafting narratives for technical documents? [44:33]
- Is there an alternative to formal education to improve quantitative skills? [45:13]

CASE STUDY: A father balances his different roles [47:40]

CALL #1: Finding a side hustle [51:16]

CALL #2: College student wondering the tips to focus better [56:02]

CAL REACTS: Is the AI boom slowing? [1:07:01]

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?
wsj.com/tech/ai/meta-is-delaying-the-rollout-of-its-flagship-ai-model-f4b105f7

Thanks to our Sponsors:

grammarly.com/podcast
vanta.com/deepquestions
shopify.com/deep
cozyearth.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.

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Ep. 352: It’s Okay to Slow Down May 12, 2025

Show notes

When we think about important accomplishments, we think about grinding through long hours of work. But is this really necessary? In this episode, Cal turns to the lives of two famous authors to argue that sometimes a slow and steady approach can work just as well in the end, while making the journey more sustainable along the way. He then answers listener questions and concludes with a Tech Corner segment about a ridiculous new claim from the world of AI.

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

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: It’s Okay to Slow Down [2:28]

- How should I tell people my email responses will be delayed without using an autoresponder? [18:07]

- Should I read for quantity or quality? [20:31]

- How does “one email address” per project work and how do I implement it? [24:51]

- Can you comment on Conan O’Brien’s burner phone? [30:42]

- Am I working hard enough to get tenure? [38:00]

CASE STUDY: Email processing protocol [44:25]

CALL #1: Organizing creative work [49:19]

CALL #2: Fan update about Inbox Zero [53:37]

TECH CORNER: A.I. Welfare is a PR Stunt [58:36]

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://thestory.au/articles/daily-routines-famous-writers/

https://youtu.be/cM8HlKoJCHA?si=N-UjnFu-4q-mTJEB

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/24/technology/ai-welfare-anthropic-claude.html

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/deepquestions and get on your way to being your best self!

https://www.mybodytutor.com

https://www.oracle.com/deepquestions

https://www.expressvpn.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.

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Ep. 351: Making the Internet Good Again May 05, 2025

Show notes

Tyler Cowen recently wrote an article arguing that spending lots of time online is in fact a good thing. In this episode, Cal looks deeper at Cowen’s argument and finds some surprising common ground. The internet can be a major source of good in your life, he argues, but only if you use it in the right way. He then answers listener questions and reviews the books he read in April.

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

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: Making the Internet Good Again [5:06]

What are good activities for “deep breaks”? [28:38]
How can I approach parenting without resenting the sacrifices to deep work? [31:36]
How does the deep life compare to David Epstein’s book, “Range”? [38:06]
What is the difference between a “winner-take-all” field of work and “auction” field of work? [41:12]
Does “following your passion” have any connection to “lifestyle centric planning”? [47:39]

CASE STUDY: Implementing the concept of “Eat The Frog” [52:48]

CALL: Introducing seasonality and the meetings being the work [55:07]

APRIL BOOKS: The 5 books Cal read in April, 2025 [1:06:08]

I, Robot (Isaac Asimov)
After Disney (Neil O’brien)
The Baseball Book of Why (John McCollister)
The Technology Republic (Alexander Karp and Nicholas Zamiska)
Everything is Tuberculosis (John Green)

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?
thefp.com/p/the-case-for-living-online

Thanks to our Sponsors:

shopify.com/deep
auraframes.com [Use promo code “DEEPQUESTIONS”]
indeed.com/deep
harrys.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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ep. 350: Is Inbox Zero Possible? Apr 28, 2025

Show notes

The white whale of modern productivity discourse is achieving an empty email inbox; a goal state that’s often referred to simply as “inbox zero.” In this episode, Cal looks at why the original advice for achieving inbox zero failed and explores a strategy that might work better. He then answers listener questions and in a final segment reacts to a recent guest on the Tim Ferriss podcast who provides an interesting case study of the deep life in action.

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

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: Is Inbox Zero Possible? [2:45]

How can I perform beyond the bare minimum on “Survival Days”? [29:40]
How can I remain sane with a job that changes schedules every week? [34:55]
How are computer systems rewarded in AI? [37:08]
How can I stop my boss from interrupting me with constant chatter? [41:34]

CALL: Identifying the next action [44:02]

CALL: Finding true depth during the final years of college [51:33]

CAL REACTS: Craig Mod’s walks through Japan [1:01:18]

Thanks to our Sponsors:

cozyearth.com/deep
auraframes.com [Promo Code “DEEPQUESTIONS”]
kinsta.com/deepquestions
udacity.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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ep. 349: Sam Altman On Productivity Apr 21, 2025

Show notes

Cal talks a lot about his ideas for producing meaningful work in a distracted world. But how do other people tackle this goal? To help better under this question, Cal reacts to a 2018 article from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in which he details his productivity philosophy. Cal then answers listener questions and concludes with a dystopian tech corner.

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

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: Sam Altman On Productivity [2:20]

- How do I prevent administrative sprawl? [22:01]
- When is the best time to schedule Deep Work? [31:12]
- How can a gardener gain career capital? [32:43]
- How can one go from good performance to exceptional performance? [36:21]
- Is it better to write with a single monitor? [38:33]

CALL: Slow Productivity in a changing world [43:09]

CALL: Rory Mcllroy and his phone [48:35]

TECH CORNER: Will AI Destroy Humanity by 2027? [56:46]

Thanks to our Sponsors:

shopify.com/deep
zocdoc.com/deep
vanta.com/deepquestions
expressvpn.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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

IN-DEPTH: Architecting a Deep Life (w/ David Dewane) Apr 17, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of IN-DEPTH, Cal is joined by David Dewane, the architect responsible for the “eudaimonia machine” featured in DEEP WORK. In this wide-ranging conversation, Cal and David talk about the challenges of finding depth in a distracted world, and the results of David’s personal experimentation in creating a deep life of his own.

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

INTERVIEW: Architecting a Deep Life (w/ David Dewane) [04:06]

Links:
https://www.calnewport.com/slow

https://donedaily.com/

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the theme music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices