The Cal Newport Show

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 104: LISTENER CALLS: Saying "No" Without Saying "No" Jun 10, 2021

Show notes

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.
- Balancing the unpredictable demands of a small business. [3:16]
- Taming emails when it's hard to say "no". [10:02]
- Notebook overkill. [20:47]
- On adverting and social media.[29:52]
- My thoughts on video games. [35:45]
Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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Ep. 103: What is the Relationship Between Order and Well-Being? Jun 07, 2021

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.
DEEP WORK QUESTIONS
- How do you do deep work when you're not in the mood? [3:48]
- How do you mange time for side hustle projects? [13:38]
- What future technologies will have the biggest positive impact on focus and attention? [16:51]
- How do I avoid prioritizing other peoples' task needs above my own? [24:28]
- How do I build career capital without guidance? [30:12]
DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS
- How do I stop my social media relapses? [43:50]
- How do I remain committed to the deep life? [48:28]
- What is the relationship between order and well-being? [52:56]
- How do I (Cal) track my values? [1:00:45]
Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music

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Ep. 102: BRAD STULBERG: How Do We Work Less? Jun 03, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, author Brad Stulberg joins me in person at my Deep Work HQ (!) for a deep dive into the topic of busyness, burn out, and the quest to craft more sustainable professional lives.
For more on Brad: https://thegrowtheq.com/ or my interview from Episode 47.
Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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Ep. 101: Does Productivity Impede the Deep Life? May 31, 2021

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.
DEEP WORK QUESTIONS
- Should I maintain a day free from all work? [3:55]
- How do I take notes on a Kindle? [9:06]
- How an I integrate accountability with my time-block planning? (Bonus rant on making workloads transparent.) [11:31]
- How do I avoid over-structuring my life as a student? [19:49]
- What is my (Cal) computer science research about? [21:35]
- What is the best productivity system for someone who manages hundreds of tasks across numerous projects? [25:26]
DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS
- How do you decide when to commit to a new role or project? [34:07
- Are my (Cal) ideas on passion in stark contrast to most philosophers? [39:44]
- Have I (Cal) started a new book yet? [44:25]
- Should I spend time on investing or my side project? [45:07]
- What is the role of productivity in the deep life? [51:19]
Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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Ep. 100: LISTENER CALLS: Scheduling Household Admin May 27, 2021

Show notes

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.
- Dealing with time blocking overload. [4:13]
- Planning household admin. [9:04]
- How theoreticians schedule proof work. [16:24]
- Retyping notes (or not). [27:57]
- Becoming a better conductor. [34:15]
Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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Ep. 99: Should I Move to Sweden or Make Money? May 24, 2021

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.
DEEP DIVE: How Can I Significantly Reduce Email? [6:30]
DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:
- How do I account for transition time between time blocks? [20:20]
- Rant Alert: How do I creeping combat corporate complexity?[21:58]
- How do I identify processes to optimize? [29:58]
- How much should one rely on technology to think? [33:10]
- How important is memorization in deep work? [36:07]
- Should I move to Sweden or make more money? [38:09]
- Should I take a promotion that requires lots of shallow work? [46:50]
DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:
- Would people use Facebook if it cost money? [52:54]
- Do you (Cal) identify with philosophy of Ayn Rand? [57:56]
- How do you balance discipline and enjoyment in leisure? [59:03]
- What's the best way to prioritize which books to read? [1:03:18]
Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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Ep. 98: LISTENER CALLS: Choosing the Right Job May 20, 2021

Show notes

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.
- How long to keep items on a "done" list. [2:09]
- When is it worth spending money on productivity software? [4:57]
- Troubleshooting time blocks. [14:33]
- Scheduling short breaks (or not). [19:30]
- Avoiding distractions during planning. [30:04]
- Helping young people figure out their career. [33:31]
Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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Ep. 97: Should I Outsource My Inbox? May 17, 2021

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.
DEEP WORK QUESTIONS
- How can I get others to accept a deeper work environment? [6:16]
- How can I escape meeting overload? [10:12]
- How can I ready myself for a deep work sessions? [18:00]
- Should I hire an assistant to help me with my emails? [22:14]
- How should indie authors use social media? [27:10]
- How do I stop being so distracted at work? [35:11]
DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS
- What is my (Cal) next book going to be about? [42:26]
- How do I preserve energy for home projects? [44:43]
- What do you (Cal) find valuable in the work of Abraham Joshua Heschel? [50:02]
- What is my (Cal) favorite Neil Postman book? [53:06]
- Can I write a novel if I'm a full-time computer programmer? [56:20]
- Nina how do you choose what to work deeply on? [58:56]
Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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Ep. 96: LISTENER CALLS: Emotional Distractions May 13, 2021

Show notes

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.
- Managing a "waiting on" list. [2:57]
- Emotion-driven attention residue. [9:40]
- Drifting from time block schedules. [15:29]
- Relationship Counseling: Batching dirty dishes? [20:48]
- Organizing research. [25:39]
- Emotions, energy, and productivity. [32:20]
Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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Ep. 95: How Do I Maintain the Will to Do Deep Work? May 10, 2021

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.
DEEP WORK QUESTIONS
- What challenges will I face switching to time-block planning for the first time? [3:43]
- How do I time block very long days? [8:20]
- How do I move external colleagues and clients away from email collaboration? [11:10]
- How do I manage multiple email addresses? [18:57]
- How do I avoid Slack FOMO? [20:21]
- How can I avoid Twitter if it's where important updates are posted? [25:49]
- RANT ALERT: What do I (Cal) think about big tech data collection? [28:45]
- How do you hit a bestseller list without social media? [35:57]
- What were my (Cal's) early blogging habits? [40:21]
DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS
- Do I (Cal) listen to audio books? [50:10]
- How do I (Cal) remember thoughts from my walks? [51:31]
- Will social media usage go down oner time? [54:10]
- How do I be a digital minimalist in a maximalist family? [58:30]
- What are the drawbacks of working more seasonly? [59:52]
- How do I maintain the will to do deep work? [1:07:55]
Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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