The Cal Newport Show

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 44: Habit Tune-Up: Prioritizing Tasks, Balancing My Many Endeavors, and Resisting Radicalization Nov 12, 2020

Show notes

In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.
You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.
Here are the topics we cover:
* Prioritizing tasks when you have too much to do [9:28]
* Making the most of the weekend [18:53]
* Balancing my academic and writing obligations [26:42]
* Improving reading habits [35:25]
* Resisting radicalization (sermon alert) [41:07]
Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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Ep. 43: Unproductive Days, Content Fatigue, and Cultivating Character | DEEP QUESTIONS Nov 09, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about dealing with unproductive days, avoiding curated content fatigue, and the importance of developing character, among many other topics.
To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewport
Please consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).
Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:
OPENING: The terribleness of my recent experiment with constant online news consumption.
WORK QUESTIONS
* Dealing with unproductive days [11:50]
* My system versus David Allen’s systems [15:16]
* The timeline for developing deep habits [22:35]
* Assessing your own career capital [31:17]
* The road to academic superstardom [36:05]
* Ideal number of working hours [45:28]
* Building a reasonable schedule for an unreasonable workload [51:32]
TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS
* Avoiding curated content fatigue [53:41]
* Capture technology [58:22]
* The plan for this podcast [1:00:19]
* Music and concentration [1:07:01]
* Instant messaging and distraction [1:08:02]
DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS
* Essentialism versus the deep life [1:13:48]
* Deep home life [1:16:57]
* My ideal work environment [1:23:37]
* Character and the deep life [1:27:58]
Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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Ep. 42: GREG MCKEOWN and I Discuss Unplugging, Doing Less, and Finding Focus Nov 05, 2020

Show notes

In this special episode of DEEP QUESTIONS, I rebroadcast a conversation recorded earlier this summer, featuring me and the bestselling author Greg McKeown. It originally aired on Greg's fantastic podcast, WHAT'S ESSENTIAL (https://gregmckeown.com/podcast/).
You probably know Greg from his influential 2014 book, ESSENTIALISM, which I recommend all the time. In this conversation, we talk about unplugging from distraction, the art of doing less (without accomplishing less), and how to improve your ability to focus.
I hope you enjoy it.
Thanks to our sponsors Magic Spoon (use magicspoon.com/CAL to receive free shipping) and Blinkist (use blinkist.com/DEEP for a 7 day free trial).
Also thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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Ep. 41: Selling Your First Book, Shallow Spouses, and My Dream Schedule | DEEP QUESTIONS Nov 02, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about selling your first book (and end up accidentally ranting about publishing industry misconceptions), going deep when your spouse is defiantly shallow, and day dreaming about my ideal schedule, among many other topics.
To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewport
Please consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).
Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:
WORK QUESTIONS
* Planning unpredictable work [2:27]
* On the supposed upsides of procrastination [12:02]
* Cutting back on academic obligations [14:43]
* Dropping out of grad school [18:02]
* Publishing your first book (rant alert) [21:07]
* Getting serious about personal productivity [30:35]
TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS
* A look at my own phone usage [37:36]
* On cannabis and deep work [40:16]
* When your spouse is mad at you for reducing technology [47:12]
* Rethinking education post-pandemic [53:09]
DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS
* Dream schedules for lovers of depth [1:01:01]
* Staying motivated when school is online [1:03:51]
* FIRE and the deep life [1:09:3]
Links to Special Offers from our Sponsors:
- blinkist.com/DEEP
- magicspoon.com/CAL
Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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Ep. 40: Habit Tune-Up: Optimal Notebook Usage, Quarterly Planning, and Combating Burn Out Oct 29, 2020

Show notes

In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.
You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.
Here are the topics we cover:
* Notebooks for personal reflections vs. business organization. [5:50]
* Elite quarterly planning tactics. [10:18]
* Diminishing distracting day dreams. [18:37]
* Combating burn out. [32:58]
Special Offer Links from Sponsors:
- magicspoon.com/CAL
Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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Ep. 39: DAVID EPSTEIN on Skills, Practice, and the Subtle Art of Cultivating a Meaningful Career Oct 26, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of DEEP QUESTIONS we're joined by a guest host: David Epstein.
David is the New York Times bestselling author of THE SPORTS GENE and RANGE. I probably get asked questions about RANGE more than any other book by listeners of this podcast, so I knew we had to get David on the show to share his wisdom.
We talk about his career, his (short-lived) public feud with Malcolm Gladwell, and his research habits, but most importantly, we go deep on his breakthrough ideas about skills, practice, and meaning in careers -- answering many of your questions as well as a few of my own.
You can find out more about David at https://davidepstein.com.
To submit your own questions for this podcast, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com.
Thanks to our sponsor Magic Spoon (use magicspoon.com/CAL to receive free shipping).
Thank you to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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Ep. 38: Habit Tune-Up: Daily vs. Weekly Planning, Supercharging Home Offices, and Taming Demanding Jobs Oct 22, 2020

Show notes

In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.
You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.
Here are the topics we cover:
* The difference between daily and weekly planning [10:08]
* Fighting shallow work in medicine. [16:44]
* On the value of taking off a work day each week. [24:14]
* Maximizing home offices. [30:29]
* Scheduling deep work with a chronic illness [43:08]
* Taming jobs with large hour demands. [49:32]
Special Offer Sponsor Links:
- grammarly.com/DEEP
- indeed.com/QUESTIONS
- foursigmatic.com/DEEP
Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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Ep.37: The Planning Fallacy, Inbox Zero, and the Limits of Ethical Technology | DEEP QUESTIONS Oct 19, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about avoiding the planning fallacy, my thoughts on Inbox Zero, and the limits of the ethical technology movement, among many other topics.
To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewport
Please consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).
Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:
OPENING: The three stages of hard creative work.
WORK QUESTIONS
* Cutting back on meetings. [23:06]
* Improving your coworkers habits (without them knowing). [26:44]
* Teaching depth to kids. [39:52]
* Choosing between graduate school and a job. [46:30]
* Scheduling side hustles. [48:55]
* Career capital theory for parents. [49:44]
* Avoiding the planning fallacy. [52:21]
TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS
* My thoughts on Inbox Zero. [54:08]
* Preventing short breaks from derailing depth. [57:47]
* Reading on book per week. [1:04:04]
* How much a serious college student should read. [1:12:33]
* Digital minimalism for college students. [1:13:32]
* On the limits of ethical technology (sermon alert). [1:20:20]
DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS
* Planning for family in the deep life. [1:36:02]
* Fostering depth later in life. [1:41:00]
* Living deeply during pandemic homeschooling. [1:44:12]
Special Offer Sponsor Links:
- grammarly.com/DEEP
- foursigmatic.com/DEEP
- indeed.com/QUESTIONS
Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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Ep. 36: Habit Tune-Up: Scheduling Life Admin, Finding Time for Practice, and High-Tech Metric Tracking Oct 15, 2020

Show notes

In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.
I also officially announce my new Time-Block Planner! Available for pre-order everyone you buy books. Find out more about the Time Block Academy event I'm holding for those who pre-order at calnewport.com/blog.
You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.
Here are the topics we cover:
* Trello versus Workflowy for task management. [9:08]
* Integrating life admin into your work day. [12:54]
* Finding time for deliberate practice in an unpredictable work day. [18:46]
* Rekindling a reading habit lost to distraction. [30:10]
* High-tech metric tracking. [36:46]
Offer links from this episode's sponsors:
* Optimize.me/deep
* ExpressVPN.com/deep
* Purple.com/deep10
Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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

Ep. 35: Managing Deeply, Quitting Facebook, and Thinking for Yourself in an Age of Information Overload | DEEP QUESTIONS Oct 12, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about deep work for managers, life without Facebook, and original thought in an age of information overload, among many other topics. I also continue our ongoing discussion of household productivity by sharing systems sent in by readers.
To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewport
Please consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).
Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:
WORK QUESTIONS
* Optimizing deep work retreats [17:57]
* Pomodoro versus longer focus sessions [23:02]
* Timeblocking in advance [24:55]
* How to choose a new career [26:42]
* Balancing quality and quantity in research [32:44]
* Deep work for managers [37:31]
TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS
* Online information gathering without distraction [45:35]
* Tracking academic papers [48:53]
* P vs NP [52:24]
* Life without Facebook [58:30]
BACKSTAGE PASS: Meeting Tristan Harris and HQ updates [1:06:49]
DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS
* Deep work and leisure activities [1:14:30]
* Non-digital interaction in the age of COVID [1:18:49]
* Deep work when dealing with mental health issues [1:25:19]
* Thinking for yourself in an age of information overload [1:32:34]
Offer links from this episode's sponsors:
* Optimize.me/deep
* ExpressVPN.com/deep
* Purple.com/deep10
Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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

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