The Cal Newport Show

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 184: REPLAY: The Productivity Baby Steps Mar 24, 2022

Show notes

This episode is a replay from July 12, 2021.
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/calnewportmedia
- Breaking up big projects into small tasks. [5:33]
- The productivity baby steps (epic answer alert). [10:12]
- Taming late night meetings. [27:16]
- Best book of mine for college students. [36:34]
- Shutdown routines with unpredictable schedules. [40:17]
Thanks to our Sponsors:
Blinkist.com/Deep
AthleticGreens.com/Deep
ExpressVPN.com/Deep
NewRelic.com/Deep
Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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

Ep. 183: Crazy or Deep? Mar 21, 2022

Show notes

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/calnewportmedia
DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:
- How do I “practice” my job? [12:41]
- Does software with too many features distract us? [22:12}
- How can an overloaded minister juggle the demands of people and planning? [31:24]
- Should I stop teaching my stock investing course to get better at investing at stocks? (Bonus rant: why you’re not going to beat the stock market) [43:42]
- What lessons for life can we extract from the military experience? [45:47]
Thanks to our Sponsors:
Blinkist.com/Deep
AthleticGreens.com/Deep
ExpressVPN.com/Deep
NewRelic.com/Deep
Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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

Ep. 182: Cal’s Business Model Mar 17, 2022

Show notes

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/calnewportmedia
Update on Cal’s writing [0:43]
- Tips for preparing for an upcoming training. [19:32]
- Your business model. [24:06]
- Managing guiding documents. [35:26]
- Becoming a better writer. [44:21]
- Curing deep procrastination. [51:02]
Thanks to our Sponsors:
MyBodyTutor.com
Blinkist.com/Deep
Grammarly.com/Deep
Workable.com/podcast
Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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

Ep. 181: Should I Quit My Lawyer Job? Mar 14, 2022

Show notes

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/calnewportmedia
CORE IDEA: The Case Against Email [2:52]
DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:
- How do I balance writing and marketing? [30:32]
- How do I find time to time an overwhelming work load? [36:10]
- How do I work even deeper? [40:22]
- Should I read before or after I write? [45:51]
DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:
- Deep living in retirement? [53:07]
- Should I quit my lawyer job? [55:24]
- Does context switching reduce reading comprehension? [1:07:32]
- Does Nicholas Carr’s hyperlink critique hold up? [1:08:15]
Thanks to our Sponsors:
MyBodyTutor.com
Blinkist.com/Deep
Grammarly.com/Deep
Workable.com/podcast
Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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

Ep. 180: CALLS: Four Day Weeks Aren’t Enough Mar 10, 2022

Show notes

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: https://youtube.com/calnewportmedia
- Article challenging Cal’s take on productivity. [17:07]
- Alternatives to Cal’s career capital theory. [29:58]
- Cal’s thoughts on shorter work weeks. [37:53]
- Obsessive reading. [51:59]
Thanks to our Sponsors:
PolicyGenius: policygenius.com
Workable: workable.com/podcast
ExpressVPN: expressvpn.com/deep
Athletic Green: athleticgreens.com/deep
Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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

Ep. 179: Do Techniques Beat Talent? Mar 07, 2022

Show notes

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/calnewportmedia
The Books I Read in February 2022 [4:45]
DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:
- Can you implement Cal’s productivity tips without time-blocking? [32:46]
- Does technique beat talent? [37:28]
- Do you recommend multiple email accounts for someone who works at different institutions? [43:12]
- Can intense collaborative work be considered deep? [44:52]
DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:
- Are podcasts good for you? [52:11]
- Can you elaborate on concentration calisthenics? [57:29]
Thanks to our Sponsors:
PolicyGenius: policygenius.com
Workable: workable.com/podcast
ExpressVPN: expressvpn.com/deep
Athletic Green: athleticgreens.com/deep
Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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

Ep. 178: CALLS: On Doing Hard Things Mar 03, 2022

Show notes

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: tinyurl.com/b2rkctfj
DEEP DIVE: On Doing Hard Things [4:42]
LISTENER CALLS:
- People who are bad at planning [31:56]
- What did Cal learn from his mom the computer programmer [40:42]
- Students working on weekends [45:49]
- Living a deep life with anxiety (warning: lecture alert) [56:52]
Thanks to our Sponsors:
Blinkist: Blinkist.com/Deep
Athletic Greens: Athleticgreens.com/deep
JUST EGG
New Relic: Newrelic.com/deep
Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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

Ep. 177: Is Ambition Worth It? Feb 28, 2022

Show notes

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: tinyurl.com/b2rkctfj
DEEP DIVE: Is Ambition Worth It? [2:45]
DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:
- Should you ditch your to-do list with slow productivity mindset? [27:20]
- What should I do while waiting for code to compile? [33:20]
- What do you do when you get tired? [36:26]
- How do I succeed as a postdoc? [39:17]
- What do you eat to support Deep Work? [42:04]
- What is your updated advice about “temporary plans”? [49:53]
DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:
- How do I balance deep work personal pursuits? [56:35]
- At what age will Cal allow his kids to have phones and social media? [1:00:11]
- Is Cal’s outlook on the future too optimistic? [1:02:52]
- I followed my passion. Am I screwed? [1:08:51]
Thanks to our Sponsors:
Blinkist: Blinkist.com/Deep
Athletic Greens: Athleticgreens.com/deep
JUST EGG
New Relic: Newrelic.com/deep
Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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

Ep. 176: CALLS: Taming Information Overload Feb 24, 2022

Show notes

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: tinyurl.com/b2rkctfj
DEEP DIVE: Is TikTok a Good Thing? [2:47]
CALLS:
- Deep work for sales. [16:10]
- Where to find arguments I disagree with. [20:18]
- Little bets. [25:37]
- Taming information overload. [39:45]
- Minimalism as a med student. [48:56]
Thanks to our Sponsors:
Headspace: Headspace.com/QUESTIONS
Blinkist: Blinkist.com/DEEP
Munk Pack: MunkPack.com - Enter code DEEP
JUST Egg
Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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

Ep. 175: What is the Deep Life? Feb 21, 2022

Show notes

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: tinyurl.com/b2rkctfj
CORE IDEAS: The Deep Life [4:55]
DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:
- Does time blocking work with ADHD? [33:39]
- How should I approach my PhD? [35:38]
- How can I meet other deep workers? [39:40]
- How can I improve Zoom meetings? [44:19]
- How do I shutdown while watching kids? [47:21]
DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:
- How do I balance my personal and professional life? [57:12]
- How do I pick a major if I can’t follow my passion? [59:27]
- Is there a place where I can find all of the ideas from this podcast? [1:04:45]
Thanks to our Sponsors:
Headspace: Headspace.com/QUESTIONS
Blinkist: Blinkist.com/DEEP
Munk Pack: MunkPack.com - Enter code DEEP
JUST Egg
Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected