The Cal Newport Show

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 322: The Discipline Ladder Oct 14, 2024

Show notes

Do you struggle to consistently make progress on hard things that are important to you? In today’s episode, Cal describes a way to improve this state of affairs: a systematic training regime called the discipline ladder. He then answers listener questions about their own struggles with discipline and reacts to an article claiming that professors are lazy (gasp!).

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 Discipline Ladder [4:29]

- How can I overcome procrastination? [24:42]

- How can I make my daily metrics more personal? [27:16]

- How can I get my discipline back on track after a negative event? [32:47]

- How can I be more disciplined to find time for my part-time project? [39:50]

- How can my organization adopt slow productivity principles? [43:49]

- CALL: Process centered emails [50:41]

CASE STUDY: Leveraging Career Capital [58:02]

CAL REACTS: Are Professor’s Lazy? [1:07:19]

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?

city-journal.org/article/professor-mia

newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-inquiry/what-kind-of-writer-is-chatgpt

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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. 321: Escaping Your Phone Oct 07, 2024

Show notes

It has become second nature to maintain a continuous partial participation in the world of digital networks. In today’s episode, Cal reflects on a week in which he spent too much time online, and argues why this continuous partial participation is dehumanizing, and what you can do to escape. He then takes questions and calls from listeners and reviews the five books he read in September.

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 Your Phone Is Changing You [1:43]

- How do I teach my bosses to be deeper? [28:34]

- How can I focus as a doctor when I have to keep switching from one patient to the next?” [35:46]

- How do I overcome notebook overwhelm? [39:13]

- Can “creativity” be added to the deep life buckets? [40:47]

- How do I overcome the guilt of no longer being pseudo-productive? [44:51]

- CALL: The Pomodoro Technique and overcoming distraction [49:33]

CASE STUDY: A 39-year-old changes careers [54:21]

FINAL SEGMENT: The 5 Books Cal Read in September 2024 [1:02:50]

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

zocdoc.com/deep

shopify.com/deep

zbiotics.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. 320: Jobs and the Deep Life Sep 30, 2024

Show notes

One of the single most important factors in your attempts to cultivate a deep life is your job. Yet, many people don’t give much thought to the role their work will play in their conception of a life well-lived. In this episode, Cal looks deeper at this topic. He starts by outlining four common traps people fall into when thinking about their work and happiness, then offers an alternative model that works better. He continues by answering listener questions about jobs and happiness, and ends with a look at Robert Caro’s writing shack.

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: Jobs and the Deep Life [3:43]

- How can I tame my 12-hour work days? [26:25]
- Should I worry about having too many daily metrics? [29:49]
- How can I create an inspiring deep work environment if I work out of my car? [33:24]
- How can I remain accessible to my kid's daycare without being constantly distracted? [35:36]
- How can I use the principles of slow productivity for my MBA studies? [39:58]
- CALL: Applying Cal’s principles as a new parent [45:49]

CASE STUDY: Focused work for a PhD program [51:37]

CAL REACTS: Robert Caro’s Budget Writing Shack [1:01:18]

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?tumblr.austinkleon.com/post/761805215728009216/in-the-shack-with-robert-caro-he-bought-the-prefab

Thanks to our Sponsors:

notion.com/cal
mintmobile.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

IN-DEPTH: Systematic Depth (w/ Ryan Holiday) Sep 26, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of IN-DEPTH, a new semi-regular interview series with people at the frontiers of deep living, Cal interviews bestselling author Ryan Holiday about the systematic construction of an intentional life. They begin by talking about lessons from Ryan’s new book. RIGHT THING, RIGHT NOW, then go deep on Ryan’s own journey from a college drop-out working in a Hollywood talent agency to becoming a fully independent and massively successful writer and media personality.

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

INTERVIEW: Mega-bestselling writer Ryan Holiday [3:33]

Links:
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.

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

Ep. 319: Reclaim Your Time Sep 23, 2024

Show notes

Why can you never seem to find enough time to make progress on the non-urgent but important priorities that can move you closer to the ideal of the deep life? In this episode, Cal reviews three common “time destroyers,” and for each offers solutions to fight back. He then takes questions and calls from his listeners and ends with a discussion of Amazon and the bureaucracy mailbox.

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: Reclaim Your Time [3:43]

- Is Agile compatible with slow productivity? [34:20]
- How can I better structure my days as a master’s student with a job? [36:37]
- How often and in what medium should I check my calendar? [42:43]
- On days when I have no time, does reading for 20 minutes actually do anything? [46:52]
- Will slow productivity make me less ambitious? [52:16]
- CALL: Different types of Deep Work [58:04]

CASE STUDY: A teacher’s shutdown ritual [1:03:55]

CAL REACTS: A Bureaucracy Mailbox [1:10:24]

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?aboutamazon.com/news/company-news/ceo-andy-jassy-latest-update-on-amazon-return-to-office-manager-team-ratio

Thanks to our Sponsors:

drinklmnt.com/deep
greenlight.com/deep
expressvpn.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.

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

Ep. 318: Take a Break Sep 16, 2024

Show notes

One of the more viral suggestions from Cal’s recent book, SLOW PRODUCTIVITY, was to occasionally skip out of work to see a movie. In this episode, Cal dives deep into criticisms of this advice and decodes what this tells us about where knowledge work is faltering and how we can make things better. He then answers questions from listeners and reacts to some productivity advice given from a well-known CEO.

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: [7:47]

- Can I work deeply in my chaotic job? [27:17]

- Can I use my inbox as a task list? [31:36]

- How do you look at travel within your plans for a deep life? [35:12]

- How can I get my partner to stop talking about work? [41:14]

- How do I practice slow productivity with health issues? [44:54]

- CALL: How can I decide on what career path to pursue? [49:14]

CASE STUDY: Switching careers after a 20 year law stint [56:11]

CAL REACTS: The CEO Who Swears by Time Blocking [1:05:04]

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?

cnbc.com/2024/05/09/want-to-boost-your-productivity-hit-the-movies-during-work-expert-says.html

cnbc.com/amp/2024/09/09/whole-foods-ceo-swears-by-time-blocking-to-boost-productivity.html

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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. 317: The 10-Year Rule Sep 09, 2024

Show notes

Becoming notably good at something valuable is one of the most powerful tools for crafting a deep life. But how do people do this? In this episode, Cal explores three useful rules for getting good in search of depth. He then answers listener questions and reacts to a remarkable collection of advice from almost seven decades ago.

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 10-Year Rule [2:29]

- Why can’t I succeed with Cal’s time management system? [32:03]
- Can RSS feeds make “fast content” slow? [39:06]
- Can persuading people be considered deep work? [45:05]
- How can I guide my teenage son towards a deep life? [47:05]
- How do I find time to launch my new business? [49:53]
- CALL: Testing a book idea without social media [55:04]

CASE STUDY: A professional athlete utilizing career capital [1:06:10]

CAL REACTS: C.S. Lewis’s Advice for Writers [1:15:32]

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?texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/ryan-holiday-stoic-king-bastrop-painted-porch/
youtube.com/watch?v=hB3tBI-KNLk
twitter.com/InfiniteB88ks/status/1824108211081019821

Thanks to our Sponsors:

shopify.com/deep
drinklmnt.com/deep
expressvpn.com/deep
factor.com/deep50

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. 316: Weekly Templates Sep 02, 2024

Show notes

The fall is the perfect time to tune up your productivity and organizational systems. With this in mind, in this episode, Cal discusses a tool he has long used in his own life but never discussed before in public: the weekly template. He then answers questions on the theme of personal productivity from listeners and reviews the books he read in August.

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: Weekly Templates [3:29]

- How does Cal schedule his evening writing sessions? [26:08]

- How can I leverage my current career capital to become an entrepreneur? [30:30]

- How do I find time for non-urgent but interesting deep work? [35:59]

- Is afternoon deep work possible? [39:16]

- Can I use slow productivity to help prepare for a job interview? [45:49]

- CALL: How do I not be reactionary during my busy season? [51:42]

CASE STUDY: Using Cal’s toolkit while working in the Peace Corps [56:52]

FINAL SEGMENT: The 5 Books Cal Read in August 2024 [1:06:05]

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

zocdoc.com/deep

notion.com/cal

ladderlife.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. 315: The Surprising Myth of Doing Less Aug 26, 2024

Show notes

In this classic episode, Cal talks about the surprising myth of doing less. Cal then answers questions about discipline and solving complicated problems. Cal concludes the episode with a review of the books he read back in April 2022.
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 Surprising Math of Doing Less [3:33]
- How do I improve my discipline? [20:01]
- How do you break down a complicated problem? [31:04]
- CALL: Has Cal read “Stolen Focus”? [34:07]
The Books I Read in April 2022 [40:28]
LISTENER CALL: Playbook for writing in The New Yorker [1:05:30]
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?

Thanks to our Sponsors:
drinklmnt.com/deep
indeed.com/deep
shopify.com/deep
factormeals.com/deep50

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. 314: Elements of the Deep Life Aug 19, 2024

Show notes

In this classic episode Cal talks about the elements of the Deep Life. He then answers a variety of questions about work, family, and phone distractions.
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 Elements of the Deep Life [2:31]

- How should I get started in a new remote work job? [17:39]
- How I time block a purely reactive job? [22:49]
- Should I bother capturing tasks that are fast to complete? [26:20]
- How do I tame multiple concurrent projects? [29:53]
- How do I schedule optional deep work in an exhausting job? [32:51]
- How much time is left for family after goals and deep work? [39:56]
- Is there such a thing as deep fun? [42:44]
- I am addicted to my phone. What do I do? [44:48]
- How do I make a big life decision when I have lots of options? [50:35]

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?

Thanks to our Sponsors:

cozyearth.com/cal
mintmobile.com/deep
policygenius.com/deepquestions
blinkist.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