Deep Questions with Cal Newport
Cal Newport is a computer science professor and a New York Times bestselling author who writes about the impact of technology on society, and the struggle to work and live deeply in a world increasingly mired in digital distractions. On this podcast, he answers questions from his readers and offers
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Technology
Ep. 293: Can A.I. Empty My Inbox?
Imagine a world in which AI could handle your email ...
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Mar 25 2024 1h 36m
Chapter 1 40 mins
Deep Dive: Can A.I. Empty My Inbox?Chapter 2 4 mins
Should I continue to study programming if AI will eventually replace software jobs?Chapter 3 6 mins
Is it bad to use ChatGPT to assist with your writing?Chapter 4 4 mins
How do I reclaim my workspace for Deep Work?Chapter 5 2 mins
How do I decide what to do on my scheduled mini-breaks at work?Chapter 6 6 mins
CALL: Heideger’s view on technologyChapter 7 10 mins
CALL: Seasonality with a partner and kidsChapter 8 10 mins
CASE STUDY: A Silicon Valley Chief of Staff balancing work and egoChapter 9 6 mins
General Grant’s Slow Productivity
Ep. 292: Single-Purpose Notebooks
On his recent book tour, Cal found great success usi...
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Mar 18 2024 1h 16m
Chapter 1 22 mins
Deep Dive: Single-Purpose NotebooksChapter 2 7 mins
If “pseudo-productivity” isn’t effective, why is it so common?Chapter 3 4 mins
Can you explain the difference between limiting missions, projects, and daily goals?Chapter 4 8 mins
Should everyone buy a $50 notebook?Chapter 5 4 mins
How does “Slow Productivity” relate to mental models and first principles?Chapter 6 2 mins
Should I read your new book slowly?Chapter 7 5 mins
CALL: Does Cal ever stress about work?Chapter 8 8 mins
CASE STUDY: Applying lifestyle-centric career planningChapter 9 7 mins
SOMETHING INTERESTING: TikTok Falters
Ep. 291: Do Better, Do Less
What does the story of the rise of the singing super...
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Mar 11 2024 1h 8m
Chapter 1 33 mins
Deep Dive: Doing Better, Do LessChapter 2 4 mins
Is my job too hard?Chapter 3 2 mins
How do I sell myself better?Chapter 4 3 mins
How do I convince myself to do actual hard work?Chapter 5 4 mins
How do I find time to get better if I'm busy?Chapter 6 8 mins
What is the values plan?Chapter 7 7 mins
The 5 books Cal read in February 2024
Ep. 290: Financing the Deep Life (w/ Noah Kagan)
One of the most common strategies for achieving a po...
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Mar 4 2024 1h 31m
Chapter 1 1 hr 19 mins
INTERVIEW: Marketing guru Noah Kagan
Ep. 289: The Email Catastrophe
How did we end up tyrannized by our inboxes? How is ...
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Feb 26 2024 1h 31m
Chapter 1 41 mins
Deep Dive: The Email CatastropheChapter 2 10 mins
How do I deal with email overload in a government job?Chapter 3 2 mins
How do I deal with an employer who demands constant responsiveness?Chapter 4 4 mins
How can I concentrate when coding when I need to use my web browser?Chapter 5 4 mins
How do I overcome my fear of missing important emails?Chapter 6 11 mins
CALL: Can slow productivity work for an academic?Chapter 7 14 mins
CAL REACTS: Reader Comments on his NYT Op-Ed
Ep. 288: Confronting Your Phone
We’ve become so used to our phones in our lives that...
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Feb 19 2024 1h 14m
Chapter 1 24 mins
Deep Dive: Confronting Your PhoneChapter 2 4 mins
What does Cal think about Neil Postman’s “Amusing Ourselves To Death”?Chapter 3 4 mins
Can you pursue high quality leisure after a day filled with deep work?Chapter 4 3 mins
Can commercial breaks be used for high quality leisure?Chapter 5 6 mins
Will digital minimalism work in an age of augmented reality?Chapter 6 5 mins
How can a full time YouTuber practice digital minimalism?Chapter 7 8 mins
CALL: How to share content online?Chapter 8 6 mins
CASE STUDY: Cost-benefit analysis of technology usageChapter 9 7 mins
CAL REACTS: JRR Tolkien’s Search for Depth
Ep. 287: Minimalist Notes
A deep life requires that you encounter and make sen...
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Feb 12 2024 1h 21m
Chapter 1 24 mins
Deep Dive: How to track information that mattersChapter 2 5 mins
How should I make use of non-cognitive time?Chapter 3 3 mins
Can people with ADHD become better at learning?Chapter 4 10 mins
What does Cal think of Gloria Mark’s “4 myths of attention span”?Chapter 5 6 mins
How can I concentrate on my dissertation when I have a full-time job?Chapter 6 8 mins
How can I stop wasting my afternoon time blocks?Chapter 7 4 mins
CALL: How can I better organize my idea notebooks?Chapter 8 8 mins
CASE STUDY: Avoiding the hyperactive hive mind to work more efficientlyChapter 9 7 mins
CAL REACTS: Is it bad to be slow?
Ep. 286: Rethinking Self Help
A key step in cultivating a deep life is reflecting ...
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Feb 5 2024 1h 43m
Chapter 1 35 mins
Deep Dive: Rethinking Self HelpChapter 2 9 mins
How can I prevent hard tasks from derailing my productivity systems?Chapter 3 4 mins
Should I get ahead in my career with a project that I hate?Chapter 4 6 mins
How can I make progress on my novel when my day job drains me?Chapter 5 12 mins
Is there such a thing as too much deep work?Chapter 6 6 mins
CALL: Will short deep work sessions work to write effectively?Chapter 7 11 mins
CASE STUDY: Reducing stress with slow productivityChapter 8 12 mins
The 5 Books Cal Read in January 2024
Ep. 285: The Productivity Paradox
One of the more interesting realities of people who ...
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Jan 29 2024 1h 15m
Chapter 1 24 mins
Deep Dive: The Productivity ParadoxChapter 2 4 mins
How does a weekly plan work?Chapter 3 3 mins
Do errands or reading count toward fixed schedule productivity?Chapter 4 1 min
How should a graduate embrace slow productivity?Chapter 5 5 mins
If I embrace slow productivity, how can I be sure I’m doing enough?Chapter 6 5 mins
Did Cal follow Slow Productivity in his 20’s?Chapter 7 4 mins
CALL: Uprooting a good planning system?Chapter 8 8 mins
CASE STUDY: Playing video games with intentionChapter 9 8 mins
CAL REACTS: How to Have a Productive Year
Ep. 284: Feel-Good Productivity (w/ Ali Abdaal)
Call talks with Ali Abdaal about his journey from do...
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Jan 22 2024 1h 42m
Chapter 1 1 hr 28 mins
INTERVIEW: YouTube Star Ali AbdaalChapter 2 10 mins
Cal Reacts: Dissecting Ali’s YouTube career path
Ep. 283: How To Organize Your Life
What is the correct first step in transforming your ...
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Jan 15 2024 1h 20m
Chapter 1 34 mins
Deep Dive: How to organize your lifeChapter 2 2 mins
How do I “stay deep” when facing major changes?Chapter 3 3 mins
How do I relax when I’m always so busy?Chapter 4 8 mins
What is the difference between rituals and routines?Chapter 5 6 mins
Can playing video games be part of a deep life?Chapter 6 4 mins
Can deep life buckets connect to strategic plans?Chapter 7 5 mins
CALL: Juggling multiple priorities to live a deep lifeChapter 8 6 mins
CASE STUDY: Becoming organized to prevent overwhelmChapter 9 6 mins
CAL REACTS: How many books did you read in 2023?
Ep. 282: Slow Distractions
During the New Year season it is common to talk abou...
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Jan 8 2024 1h 19m
Chapter 1 26 mins
Deep Dive: Slow DistractionsChapter 2 7 mins
How do I work deeply as a stay-at-home parent?Chapter 3 1 min
Isn’t it myopic not to let young children use smartphones?Chapter 4 10 mins
How do I succeed as a musician without social media?Chapter 5 6 mins
How do I make plans without social media?Chapter 6 10 mins
CALL: How to share ideas without allowing social media to take controlChapter 7 13 mins
CAL REACTS: I’m a 33-year old woman without a job
Ep. 281: Learning Hard Things
One of the more important abilities to cultivate for...
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Jan 1 2024 1h 27m
Chapter 1 26 mins
Deep Dive: Learning Hard ThingsChapter 2 6 mins
When it comes to taking notes, what really matters?Chapter 3 3 mins
Can I fit all of my hobbies into my week?Chapter 4 6 mins
Can YouTube teach me to be a better student?Chapter 5 2 mins
How do I figure out what to learn next?Chapter 6 6 mins
How do I learn something fast when I already have a busy schedule?Chapter 7 8 mins
CALL: How does “So Good They Can’t Ignore You” relate to “Slow Productivity”?Chapter 8 9 mins
CASE STUDY: Slow Productivity affinity groupChapter 9 14 mins
The 5 books Cal read in December 2023
Ep. 280: Proven Rules for Deep Living (w/ Arthur Brooks)
The mega-bestselling writer Arthur Brooks is one of ...
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Dec 25 2023 1h 37m
Chapter 1 1 hr 9 mins
INTERVIEW: Mega-bestselling writer Arthur BrooksChapter 2 21 mins
Cal’s Favorite Completely Unnecessary and Embarrassingly Geeky Things for 2024
Ep. 279: Confronting Overload
We talk a lot on this show about getting more done, ...
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Dec 18 2023 1h 26m
Chapter 1 33 mins
Deep Dive: Controlling OverloadChapter 2 5 mins
Is building a “second brain” important?Chapter 3 3 mins
How can I bill 40 hours a week without getting overloaded?Chapter 4 5 mins
What book should I buy my department to best increase their work quality?Chapter 5 5 mins
How do I make progress on projects that have lots of overhead?Chapter 6 8 mins
How can my wife deal with her new position and the overload that comes with it?Chapter 7 3 mins
CALL: What is Cal excited to gif this holiday season?Chapter 8 7 mins
CASE STUDY: Quitting Twitter to build a better lifeChapter 9 8 mins
CAL REACTS: Why did students get dumber starting in 2012?
Ep. 278: How to Think
One of the most important skills for cultivating a s...
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Dec 11 2023 1h 21m
Chapter 1 34 mins
Deep Dive: How to ThinkChapter 2 2 mins
Does reading count as Deep Work?Chapter 3 3 mins
How do I make sense of the topics I think about?Chapter 4 5 mins
How should I manage boredom in a job without hurting my ability to focus?Chapter 5 6 mins
How can I provide quick answers to management if I’m a slow thinker?Chapter 6 3 mins
CALL: How should I structure my Deep Holiday?Chapter 7 7 mins
CASE STUDY: A successful Digital Detox allowing one to think in peace.Chapter 8 13 mins
CAL REACTS: Does collaboration make us les creative?
Ep. 277: From Chaos to Calm (in 1 day)
We talk a lot on this show about remaining organized...
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Dec 4 2023 1h 45m
Chapter 1 39 mins
Deep Dive: Getting organized in a distracted worldChapter 2 8 mins
How do I get more excited about my work plans?Chapter 3 6 mins
How do I get my classmates to get better about time management?Chapter 4 4 mins
How should I organize my deep work blocks?Chapter 5 39 sec
How do I account for contingencies in my quarterly plan?Chapter 6 5 mins
When does Cal find time to read?Chapter 7 5 mins
CALL: How to train Deep Focus musclesChapter 8 7 mins
CASE STUDY: Investing concentrated timeChapter 9 21 mins
The 5 books Cal read in November 2023
Ep. 276: Lazy or Disorganized?
One of the most common types of messages sent in fro...
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Nov 27 2023 1h 37m
Chapter 1 35 mins
Deep Dive: Overcoming lazinessChapter 2 5 mins
How should I track small projects?Chapter 3 8 mins
How do I find time to bodybuilder when I have a demanding job?Chapter 4 6 mins
How do I remain motivated to work after graduation?Chapter 5 3 mins
How do I make the shift from warehouse work to web development?Chapter 6 4 mins
How do I deal with decision fatigue?Chapter 7 3 mins
CALL: Implementing advice from pragmatic non-fiction booksChapter 8 11 mins
CASE STUDY: Pursuing a life of depthChapter 9 14 mins
CAL REACTS: Algorithms act as conveyor belts
Ep. 275: Accomplishing Hard Goals
How you accomplish important goals: The type that c...
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Nov 20 2023 1h 32m
Chapter 1 40 mins
Today’s Deep Question: How do I follow through on transformative goals?Chapter 2 7 mins
How do I prepare for an upcoming change to my professional life?Chapter 3 4 mins
How do I schedule abundant free time?Chapter 4 6 mins
Should I feel guilty that I’m so efficient I barely work?Chapter 5 7 mins
How do I avoid doing too much?Chapter 6 6 mins
How do I time block work of unknown durations?Chapter 7 7 mins
CALL: Pursuing a career with two different pathsChapter 8 11 mins
CAL REACTS: Joe Rogan and The Rock Talk Passion
Ep. 274: The Deep Life Stack v2.0
Based on extensive feedback from listeners and new r...
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Nov 13 2023 1h 22m
Chapter 1 33 mins
Deep Dive: The Deep Life Stack 2.0Chapter 2 3 mins
Does prioritizing deep work grow your task list?Chapter 3 5 mins
Does deep work impede the development of soft skills?Chapter 4 5 mins
How do I shutdown work without clean stopping points?Chapter 5 5 mins
CALL: Intrusive thoughts while doing deep workChapter 6 2 mins
CALL: How does Cal organize his working memory.txtChapter 7 7 mins
CASE STUDY: Using slow productivity to build a houseChapter 8 14 mins
CAL REACTS: Should you “burn the boats” to motivate ambitious action?
Ep. 273: A Deep Response to Distraction
A viral video making the rounds recently argues that...
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Nov 6 2023 1h 22m
Chapter 1 31 mins
Deep Dive: Can we make learning as addictive as social media?Chapter 2 7 mins
Can I be happy in a job that doesn’t require me to learn?Chapter 3 6 mins
How can I fight deep procrastination to learn better?Chapter 4 4 mins
How can I identify the school for my kid to learn better?Chapter 5 3 mins
How can I reflect on work concepts without feeling the urge to work?Chapter 6 2 mins
How does Ultralearning apply to Slow Productivity?Chapter 7 2 mins
CALL: Recommendations on learningChapter 8 9 mins
CASE STUDY: Designing a system to learnChapter 9 12 mins
The 5 books Cal read in October 2023
Ep. 272: The Essential Tools (w/ David Epstein)
In this episode, Cal reviews what he believes to be ...
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Oct 30 2023 1h 33m
Chapter 1 32 mins
Deep Dive: The Productivity ToolkitChapter 2 8 mins
What is the most underrated productivity superpower?Chapter 3 4 mins
Should I journal?Chapter 4 3 mins
How do I build a system to help me remember things?Chapter 5 2 mins
Can I use a split-day strategy to time block a reactive job?Chapter 6 21 mins
Help! I”m stuck at age 30. How do I get unstuck?Chapter 7 17 mins
CAL REACTS: How can we make learning as addictive as social media?
Ep. 271: The Long Game
Much of the advice we discuss is about how to improv...
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Oct 23 2023 1h 8m
Chapter 1 22 mins
Deep Dive: What can you do now to stay content later?Chapter 2 5 mins
What habits help you escape complacency?Chapter 3 5 mins
How do I know if I need a major change to my life?Chapter 4 4 mins
How can I rediscover my drive to live deep with a boring (but stable) job?Chapter 5 6 mins
CALL: Avoiding the stress of having a large “to-do” listChapter 6 8 mins
CASE STUDY: Designing a deep work t-shirt to be productiveChapter 7 12 mins
CAL REACTS: Is Social Media a Collective Trap?
Ep. 270: Depth vs. Distraction
An increasing number of people are suffering from “s...
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Oct 16 2023 1h 15m
Chapter 1 28 mins
Deep Dive: Taking control of your life from super distractionsChapter 2 4 mins
How can I stay productive while in between goals?Chapter 3 3 mins
Will I become depressed from a dopamine fast?Chapter 4 6 mins
How can I overcome negative thoughts?Chapter 5 8 mins
Are there rituals to help me handle shallow work more efficiently?Chapter 6 8 mins
CASE STUDY: Success with an electronic detoxChapter 7 8 mins
Cal Reacts: NPR left Twitter and the effects are negligible
Ep. 269: Don’t Get Started
After an episode in which Cal reviewed ancient wisdo...
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Oct 9 2023 1h 19m
Chapter 1 29 mins
Deep Dive: Getting started is overratedChapter 2 4 mins
How can I become more confident in social settings?Chapter 3 5 mins
Is it ok to be an ordinary person?Chapter 4 2 mins
Is it important to have friends?Chapter 5 7 mins
I took a pay cut to become a teacher again. How can I better organize my life to prioritize craft?Chapter 6 7 mins
Is it ok to use YouTube to discover new ideas?Chapter 7 14 mins
Reader’s React: Is Productivity Natural?