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 advice about cultivating focus, productivity, and meaning amidst the noise that pervades our lives.
Cal Newport revisits a time management system he created 20 years ago, analyzing its strengths and weaknesses for modern knowledge workers. He emphasizes full capture, intentional time use, and low friction, while also stressing the need for focus in today's distraction-filled world. The episode further addresses listener questions on quarterly planning, reading habits, task management, communication skills, and managing multiple time zones.
Cal Newport discusses the overlooked 'secondary harms' of phone use, focusing on lost connections and autonomy. He contrasts this with 'primary harms' like radicalization, and advocates for intentional living. The episode includes listener questions, a student case study, and book reviews, offering practical strategies for a deeper, more meaningful life.
Cal Newport discusses aggressive strategies for resisting the dumbing-down effects of smartphones, including interval training, dialectical reading, and digital diets, to cultivate a sharper mind. He addresses listener questions on career changes, rewarding merit, finding niche online communities, and supporting partners in building a deep life. He also explores how AI models "reason" in the tech corner.
Cal Newport examines an article questioning whether humans have passed peak intelligence, exploring the role of smartphones and attention-grabbing apps. He suggests practical steps individuals can take to counteract this trend, emphasizing cognitive exercise routines and mindful technology use. The episode also features listener questions on career strategy and a tech corner discussing a blind spot in AI discussions.
Cal Newport discusses how a human-centric approach, borrowed from computer security, can help knowledge workers combat burnout by focusing on sustainable practices over isolated efficiency. He addresses listener questions on task management, AI's impact, and saying no to requests, offering practical strategies for a deeper, more intentional work life. The episode also covers lifestyle-centric planning and the distinctions between AGI and superintelligence.
Cal Newport discusses a minimal viable productivity system, including task, workload, and time management. He also answers listener questions about passion vs purpose, capturing podcast ideas, project work with PhD students, and navigating values in federal work. The episode wraps up with a tech corner on AGI and AI safety.
Cal Newport, Brad Stulberg, and Clay Skipper dissect the concept of "greatness" in today's society, exploring the tension between performative displays of success and genuine skill. They analyze Elon Musk's work ethic, discuss the impact of social media, and differentiate between pseudo and real productivity. The conversation navigates the complexities of ambition, fulfillment, and the pursuit of excellence, offering practical advice for listeners to define and achieve their own versions of greatness.
Cal Newport discusses cultivating a meaningful life by using a "Good Life Algorithm", emphasizing iterative changes over grand leaps, inspired by Jim Collins' data-driven approach. He also answers listener questions on topics like managing news stress, relationships, and productivity, while reviewing the books he read in February. The episode highlights strategies for deep work, slow productivity, and resisting shallow distractions for a more fulfilling existence.
Cal Newport discusses overload and productivity using a shipwreck metaphor, drawing from Tim Ferriss's upcoming book on saying "no." He explores the balance between productivity systems and consciously limiting commitments. Cal also answers listener questions on AI's impact, digital decluttering, deep work, and offers advice on reclaiming focus through alternative activities.
Sometimes the quest for productivity can seem like the embrace of activity for the sake of activity, a prospect that inevitably leads to exhaustion. In today’s episode, Cal explores this idea by discussing “productivity rain dances,” why they’re dangerous, and what works better instead. He then answers listener questions and ends with a Tech Corner segment in which he fact checks Joe Rogan’s understanding of ChatGPT. Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com! Below are the questions covere...
Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com! In a recent appearance on the Tim Ferriss podcast, the prolific fantasy author Brandon Sanderson revealed how he reshaped his media company to help him do what he does best. In this episode, Cal explores the idea, and asks the key question: why is this not more common? While exploring an answer, Cal uncovers a bigger issue in modern digital knowledge work and points towards potential answers. He then answers listener questions and concludes with a...
Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com! One of the most common complaints from listeners to the podcast is the feeling that they’re too distracted; both at work and at home. In today’s episode, Cal reviews five major explanations for this current state of affairs, and then uses this new understanding to identify concrete actions to make things better. He then answers reader questions and reviews the five books he read in January. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with ...
Remote work is a hot discussion topic right now as president Trump moves to eliminate it from government work. For those who are still allowed to work from home this new focus provides a good chance to rethink how to get the most out of these arrangements. In today’s episode, Cal presents three foundational ideas from his reporting about what makes remote work actually work , and for each provides concrete advice individuals can apply to make their own virtual setups better. He then answers read...
In a recent article for The Atlantic, Derek Thompson writes about the troubling trends toward increased solitude. In this episode, Cal looks at the role technology plays in these trends, pointing out some surprising factors and then using these insights to come up with a practical plan for reconnecting with the world. He then answers listener questions and concludes with a tech corner segment inspired by yet another New Yorker column. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with thei...
One of the most popular and most derided topics in online productivity spaces are so-called morning routines. In this episode, Cal wades into this content, identifying three major categories of these routines. For each, he explores what’s good and what’s bad. In the end, he uses these lessons to update his own daily routines in some highly specific ways. He then answers reader questions and ends with a “tech corner” segment that builds on Cal’s latest essay for The New Yorker. Below are the ques...
In this episode, Cal talks about his journey into the tinsel-tinged world of Hallmark Christmas movies, where he discovered an unexpected connection between these low-budget productions and a key idea in the quest to cultivate a deep life in a distracted world. He then answers questions from listeners and reviews the books he read in December. 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...
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: 4 Pieces of Advice to Start 2025 [2:14] - How do I stop doom-scrolling before bed? [32:47] - What is the role of craft in Cal’s “Deep Life Stack 2.0” idea? [36:09] - How do I save money? [41:04] - Do writers need social media audiences? [50:12] - How should I make the most of 90 minutes o...
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 - Who are Cal’s “must read” writers? [6:03] - Does Cal think he can get better at writing? [13:37] - When does Cal find time for academic papers? [24:09] - How do you get unstuck? [26:44] - How should students pick a college? [34:04] - What is Cal’s shutdown ritual? [43:00] - Does Cal think about re...
In this episode of IN-DEPTH, Cal welcomes the bestselling author Michael Easter to talk about the importance of embracing discomfort in the quest to cultivate a deep life. Drawing from Michael’s two books, THE COMFORT CRISIS and SCARCITY BRAIN, as well as Michael’s personal journey from an unhappy office worker with an alcohol problem to a full-time writer who enjoys daily hikes in the desert, Cal and Michael get into the weeds of our human wiring and what it feels like to build an intentional l...
One of the most important but often overlooked elements of cultivating a deep life is the role of money. In this episode, Cal takes a contrarian look at this topic, arguing that the monetary cost of your vision is not actually the most important metric. He then answers listener questions and reacts to an article that many people sent him this past week. 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 ...
Australia recently passed a world-first law banning social media use for kids under the age of 16. In this episode, Cal looks carefully at the arguments in favor and against this new law before detailing his thoughts. He then connects this specific argument to all of our larger battles to tame technology’s impact in our lives. This is followed by listener questions and a review of the books Cal read in November. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your...
This IN-DEPTH is brought to you by Defender . In this episode of IN-DEPTH, Cal welcomes the bestselling author Kendra Adachi to talk about her new book, THE PLAN, which introduces the innovative idea of “compassionate time management.” Kendra and Cal discuss how to move beyond the forever pursuit of “greatness” to instead seek satisfaction in your current life; the ways in which time management and productivity writing ignores the specific concerns of women; and why flexibility and pivoting are ...
We cover a lot of advice on this podcast, covering a lot of different topics. In today’s episode, Cal takes on the challenge of summarizing every big idea he promotes in less than five minutes. He then provides some theoretical connective tissue to explain how they all connect. This is followed by reader questions and a rant about “productivity.” 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 f...
There’s a video trending on the internet at the moment arguing that its audience (presumably, young men) should disappear from the world to focus on going “beast mode” on their goals. Cal takes a closer look at this video and argues that it points toward a much larger issue – a mismatch between the modern digital environment and our human brains – that affects all of us. He then answers listener questions and calls and concludes with a tech corner segment. Below are the questions covered in toda...
Almost everyone feels uneasy about their relationships with their smartphones. But the question is why? In today’s episode, Cal looks past the most common answers to seek a deeper understanding built on an unexpected source: the moral philosophy of Immanuel Kant. He then answers listener questions and ends the show with another edition of the tech corner segment. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.l...
During the election season our devices take a particularly hard tole on our health and happiness. Now that the votes have been cast and counted, Cal proposes it’s time to take a temporary but radical break from the exhausting digital chatter. He then answers questions from his listeners and discusses Martha Stewart and the problems of “aesthetic productivity.” Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3...
A common theme on this show is the importance of focus and the need to train the ability. This can be a long term project, but are there things you can do right away to improve your ability to concentrate? In this episode, Cal explores five easy ideas that will immediately improve your focus ability. He then answers listener questions and reviews the books he read in October 2024. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here...
We talk a lot on this show about how to organize your professional efforts. But what about all your obligations outside of work? The personal goals, the household repairs, the family tasks? In this episode, Cal discusses organizational strategies custom-fit to these types of obligations. He then answers listener questions and checks in on a hidden trend in the world of technology. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here...
One of the most common complaints from people attempting to cultivate a deep life in our distracted world is procrastination. You want to make regular progress on something important but find you just can’t get going. In this episode, Cal discusses a less well understood cause of some procrastination and offers unconventional advice for facing it. He also answers listener questions and reacts to an article about a famous author’s unexpected regret. Below are the questions covered in today's epis...
In this episode of IN-DEPTH, a semi-regular interview series with people at the frontiers of deep living, Cal welcomes the bestselling author Oliver Burkeman to the Deep Work HQ to talk about his new book, MEDITATIONS FOR MORTALS, and more generally the tension between wanting to get your act together and becoming unhealthily obsessed with productivity. Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia INTERVIEW: New York Times best seller Oliver Burkeman [3:40] Links: https://www.calnewpo...
