The Cal Newport Show

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 348: Manage Your Time in 5 Minutes a Day Apr 14, 2025

Show notes

Cal has been writing about time management for a *long* time. In this episode, he returns to a chapter from a book he wrote twenty years ago that is titled “manage your time in 5 minutes a day.” He revisits his old advice to see what he thinks still works and what needs updating. He then answers listener questions and returns to the tech corner to get back in the weeds on a topic involving 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: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

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

Deep Dive: Manage Your Time in 5 Minutes a Day [3:11]

- How specific should I make my Quarterly Plan? [27:28]

- Does reading Mangas count as reading? [29:30]

- How do I store information related to tasks? [34:14]

- How do I speak better at work in spontaneous conversations? [38:31]

- Are paper and pencil calendars suitable to use if my work is in two different time zones? [45:42]

CALL: Utilizing coaching [51:38]

CALL: Embracing boredom [57:48]

TECH CORNER: RL vs. LLM [1:08:04]

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?

Thanks to our Sponsors:

grammarly.com/podcast

cozyearth.com/deep

oracle.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.

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Ep. 347: The Forgotten Phone Harms Apr 07, 2025

Show notes

Phones have been receiving a lot of criticism recently, but what if these concerns are missing the mark? In this episode, Cal introduces the difference between primary and secondary phone harms, and argues how our obsession with the former hides the importance of the latter. He then answers reader questions and reviews the books he read in March 2025.

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 Forgotten Phone Harms [3:32]

- What do you do when your writing doesn’t quite feel right? [24:32]

- How should I prioritize responding to different types of communication? [33:29]

- Should personal and work tasks be split into different Trello boards? [39:10]

- What is the difference between a two-status board and a reverse task list? [41:47]

CASE STUDY: A student adopts the Tao of Cal [45:17]

CALL: Structuring weekly templates [49:00]

MARCH BOOKS: The 5 books Cal read in March 2025 [57:24]

- Believe (Ross Douhut)

- How to Winter (Kari Leibowitz)

- Letter and the Scroll (Jonathan Sacks)

- I and Thou (Martin Buber)

- Coming into the Country (John McPhee)

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?

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/deepquestions and get on your way to being your best self.

shopify.com/deep

indeed.com/deep

mybodytutor.com

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. 346: Getting Smarter in a Dumb World Mar 31, 2025

Show notes

In last week’s episode, Cal discussed data that indicate that the rise of the smartphones is making humans measurably dumber. Here he discusses aggressive strategies for resisting this reality. He then answers listener questions and ends with a 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: Getting Smarter in a Dumb World [3:47]

- With remote work dwindling, should I change careers to achieve my ideal lifestyle? [31:14]

- Should a 24-year-old ditch his college degree to pursue another field? [36:25]

- How should merit be rewarded in a revenue-constrained environment? [40:40]

- How can one find and engage with these more niche online communities? [44:34]

- How can partners support each other in building a deep life? [46:48]

CASE STUDY: Using lifestyle planning to turn down a promotion [48:53]

TECH CORNER: How do AI’s “reason”? [57:53]

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?

Thanks to our Sponsors:

zocdoc.com/deep

kinsta.com/deepquestions

udacity.com/deep [Use code DEEP]

notion.com/cal

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. 345: Are We Getting Dumber? Mar 24, 2025

Show notes

Multiple listeners recently sent in a Financial Times article that asks whether humans have passed “peak intelligence.” In this episode, Cal looks closer at the data in this article to try to understand why we seem to be getting dumber, and more importantly, what are the practical steps individuals can take to avoid the trend. He then answers listener questions and ends with a tech corner segment that highlights a blind spot in current discussions 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: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

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

Deep Dive: Are We Getting Dumber? [2:58]

- Is it possible to build a better Twitter? [24:58]

- Should I ditch my higher paying job to avoid stress? [29:59]

- Can I remain relevant with younger, tech-savvy colleagues? [34:56]

- How should I navigate my time during while receiving severance? [38:35]

- What should I do next after being fired from my federal job? [41:18]

- CALL: Practicing focus on the weekends [45:01]

CASE STUDY: An engineering Kansan system [48:41]

TECH CORNER: The AI Blind Spot [1:00:04]

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?

on.ft.com/3DIItJK

Thanks to our Sponsors:

factormeals.com/deep50off

landroverusa.com

expressvpn.com/deep

grammarly.com/podcast

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. 344: You Are Not a Cog Mar 17, 2025

Show notes

Modern knowledge work jobs should be cushy gigs. Fixed hours, air conditioning, no hard manual labor, flexibility. So why are we so often burnt out and what can we do about this reality? In this episode, Cal draws a lesson from an unexpected corner of computer science, computer security research, about how we can fix some of the big problems of work in a digital age. He then answers listener questions and returns once again to the topic of AI in a final tech corner segment.

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: You Are Not a Cog [11:00]

- Should I break my large tasks into many small ones? [38:18]

- How will AI affect living the deep life? [42:47]

- How can I say “no” to more incoming requests? [48:14]

- Should an architect take on broader roles that don’t necessarily add to career capital? [52:03]

- Can a nurse implement time blocking? [54:33]

- Can a Kansan system work across all departments without being overly complex? [58:11]

- CALL: Organizing the details of a Trello board [1:03:19]

CASE STUDY: Lifestyle centric value based planning for a young family [1:07:58]

TECH CORNER: AGI is not Super-intelligence [1:15:35]

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?

medium.com/@tony.infisical/password-requirements-are-still-confusing-in-2023-also-heres-our-flavor-44ce03a3255c

youtube.com/watch?v=ZzJMxh68RGI

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This episode is sponsored by to you BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/deepquestions

mybodytutor.com

upliftdesk.com/deep

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.

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Ep. 343: A Minimal Protocol for Taking Control of Your LIfe Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

One of the most commonly recurring themes on this show is the conflict between too much versus not enough productivity. In this episode, Cal attempts to find new clarity in this debate by identifying a minimal viable productivity system – that is, what are the bare minimum components needed to escape the chaos and stress of total disorganization. He then answers listener questions and dives into a A.I. themed Tech Corner segment.

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: A Minimal Protocol for Taking Control of Your Life [3:23]

- Is “finding purpose” and “following your passion” the same thing? [32:38]

- How can I capture key takeaways from podcasts if I’m always on the move? [37:18]

- Can you elaborate on project work with your PhD students? [39:22]

- How can I deal with my federal job with drastic priority changes due to political party shifts? [41:40]

- Is it possible for some managers to avoid pseudo-productivity? [49:15]

- CALL: Writing a book as a side hustle [51:58]

CASE STUDY: An athletic trainer makes a career transition [59:19]

TECH CORNER: A.G.I. versus SkyNet [1:07:30]

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/2025/03/04/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-ben-buchanan.html

Thanks to our Sponsors:

cozyearth.com/deep

byloftie.com (Code: DEEP20)

oracle.com/deepquestions

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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: Greatness on Trial (w/ Brad Stulberg and Clay Skipper) Mar 06, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of IN-DEPTH, Cal is joined by the writers Brad Stulberg and Clay Skipper to talk about the topic of “greatness.” They attempt to pick apart the weird moment we are in where, on the one hand, we feel aversion to performative demonstrations of “pseudo-greatness” (think: Elon Musk on-stage with his chainsaw) but on the other, still admire useful skill and seek it in our own lives.

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

INTERVIEW: Greatness on Trial (w/ Brad Stulberg and Clay Skipper)

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

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. 342: The Good Life Algorithm Mar 03, 2025

Show notes

How do escape a life of shallowness and distraction to cultivate something deeper and more meaningful? In this episode, Cal draws from both algorithm theory and the habits of a reclusive author to highlight an effective strategy for achieving this goal – one that underscores the advantages of the small targeted changes versus major grand leaps. He then answers listener questions and reviews the five books he read in February.

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 Good Life Algorithm [1:42]

- How should a federal worker navigate all the negative news? [23:56]

- How do I get my non-geeky partner on board with the deep life! [26:40]

- How can I develop a schedule with flexibility following a health setback? [29:08]

- How should I reshape a once successful aerospace company? [35:06]

- Are there perceived benefits to pseudo productivity? [43:32]

- CALL: What does it mean to work enough each week? [50:19]

CASE STUDY: Can knowledge workers be happy doing less? [58:55]

FEBRUARY BOOKS: The 5 Books Cal Read in February, 2025 [1:07:50]

- Moral Ambition (Rutger Bregman)

- Brotherhood of the Rose (David Morell)

- How Dante Can Save Your Life (Rod Dreher)
- Buzz Saw (Jesse Dougherty)
- The Siren’s Call (Chris Hayes)

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/office-space/the-hollow-core-of-elon-musks-productivity-dogma

tim.blog/2019/02/18/jim-collins/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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shopify.com/deep

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vanta.com/deepquestions

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. 341: Drowning, Treading, or Swimming Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

Tim Ferris is working on a new book about saying “no” and has posted the introduction online. In this episode, Cal reads an excerpt from this introduction and then tries to make sense of it with a metaphor about a shipwreck that helps unwind the complexity of dealing with the scourge of having too much to do. Cal then answers listener questions and reacts to a productivity meme inspired by a recent episode.

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: Drowning, Treading, or Swimming [6:27]

- Will AI productivity gains reduce quality? [27:30]

- Can you elaborate on the Digital Declutter? [33:38]

- Is reading a book considered deep work? [38:41]

- What are Cal’s thoughts on content aggregator services such as Inoreader? [43:49]

- Can a large team with ever-changing demands avoid pseudo-productivity? [51:47]

- CALL: Dealing with doom-scrolling [58:31]

CASE STUDY: A UFC announcer applies Cal’s principles [1:07:40]

CAL REACTS: Productivity Meme [1:19:42]

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?

tim.blog/2025/01/13/the-no-book/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

expressvpn.com/deep

zocdoc.com/deep

oracle.com/deepquestions

landroverusa.com

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. 340: Productivity Rain Dances Feb 17, 2025

Show notes

Sometimes the quest for productivity can seem like the embrace of activity for the sake of activity, a prospect that inevitably leads to exhaustion. In today’s episode, Cal explores this idea by discussing “productivity rain dances,” why they’re dangerous, and what works better instead. He then answers listener questions and ends with a Tech Corner segment in which he fact checks Joe Rogan’s understanding of ChatGPT.

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: Productivity Rain Dances [7:04]

- How should I take notes during a meeting? [26:31]

- How could a layman (not a computer scientist) test the veracity of the claims of an AI system or its potential? [28:53]

- How can I utilize my full-days in my cube with cancelled telework to best make progress on my phantom “part-time” job? [33:37]

- Can I be a CS instructor with a PhD? [37:45]

- Can I convince my advisor to “do fewer experiments” for my doctoral thesis? [42:47]

- CALL: College in the modern digital environment [48:28]

CASE STUDY: Managing multiple email inboxes [54:22]

TECH CORNER: Does ChatGPT have “survival instincts”? [1:05:17]

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?

x.com/firelog_io/status/1887541363287138445

x.com/ChrisWillx/status/1800198794107064646?lang=en

youtube.com/watch?v=HigVe4IqsBM

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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

shopify.com/deep

upliftdesk.com/deep

mybodytutor.com

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

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