One of the most commonly recurring themes on this show is the conflict between too much versus not enough productivity. In this episode, Cal attempts to find new clarity in this debate by identifying a minimal viable productivity system – that is, what are the bare minimum components needed to escape the chaos and stress of total disorganization. He then answers listener questions and dives into a A.I. themed Tech Corner segment. Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com ! Below are the qu...
Mar 10, 2025•2 hr 31 min•Ep 343•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of IN-DEPTH, Cal is joined by the writers Brad Stulberg and Clay Skipper to talk about the topic of “greatness.” They attempt to pick apart the weird moment we are in where, on the one hand, we feel aversion to performative demonstrations of “pseudo-greatness” (think: Elon Musk on-stage with his chainsaw) but on the other, still admire useful skill and seek it in our own lives. Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia INTERVIEW: Greatness on Trial (w/ Brad Stulberg...
Mar 06, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Transcript available on Metacast How do escape a life of shallowness and distraction to cultivate something deeper and more meaningful? In this episode, Cal draws from both algorithm theory and the habits of a reclusive author to highlight an effective strategy for achieving this goal – one that underscores the advantages of the small targeted changes versus major grand leaps. He then answers listener questions and reviews the five books he read in February. Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com ! Below are the questi...
Mar 03, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Ep 342•Transcript available on Metacast Tim Ferris is working on a new book about saying “no” and has posted the introduction online. In this episode, Cal reads an excerpt from this introduction and then tries to make sense of it with a metaphor about a shipwreck that helps unwind the complexity of dealing with the scourge of having too much to do. Cal then answers listener questions and reacts to a productivity meme inspired by a recent episode. Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com ! Below are the questions covered in toda...
Feb 24, 2025•1 hr 29 min•Ep 341•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Feb 17, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Ep 340•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Feb 10, 2025•2 hr 35 min•Ep 339•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
Feb 03, 2025•1 hr 28 min•Ep 338•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Jan 27, 2025•2 hr 41 min•Ep 337•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Jan 20, 2025•2 hr 31 min•Ep 336•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Jan 13, 2025•2 hr 35 min•Ep 335•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Jan 06, 2025•1 hr 17 min•Ep 334•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Dec 30, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Ep 333•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Dec 23, 2024•2 hr 40 min•Ep 332•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Dec 19, 2024•1 hr 22 min•Ep 332•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
Dec 16, 2024•1 hr 23 min•Ep 331•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Dec 09, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Ep 330•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
Dec 05, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep 330•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Dec 02, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Ep 329•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Nov 25, 2024•1 hr 29 min•Ep 328•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Nov 18, 2024•1 hr 29 min•Ep 327•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Nov 11, 2024•2 hr 33 min•Ep 326•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Nov 04, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Ep 325•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Oct 28, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Ep 324•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Oct 21, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Ep 323•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Oct 17, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Ep 324•Transcript available on Metacast Do you struggle to consistently make progress on hard things that are important to you? In today’s episode, Cal describes a way to improve this state of affairs: a systematic training regime called the discipline ladder. He then answers listener questions about their own struggles with discipline and reacts to an article claiming that professors are lazy (gasp!). Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.l...
Oct 14, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Ep 322•Transcript available on Metacast It has become second nature to maintain a continuous partial participation in the world of digital networks. In today’s episode, Cal reflects on a week in which he spent too much time online, and argues why this continuous partial participation is dehumanizing, and what you can do to escape. He then takes questions and calls from listeners and reviews the five books he read in September. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Ca...
Oct 07, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Ep 321•Transcript available on Metacast One of the single most important factors in your attempts to cultivate a deep life is your job. Yet, many people don’t give much thought to the role their work will play in their conception of a life well-lived. In this episode, Cal looks deeper at this topic. He starts by outlining four common traps people fall into when thinking about their work and happiness, then offers an alternative model that works better. He continues by answering listener questions about jobs and happiness, and ends wit...
Sep 30, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep 320•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of IN-DEPTH, a new semi-regular interview series with people at the frontiers of deep living, Cal interviews bestselling author Ryan Holiday about the systematic construction of an intentional life. They begin by talking about lessons from Ryan’s new book. RIGHT THING, RIGHT NOW, then go deep on Ryan’s own journey from a college drop-out working in a Hollywood talent agency to becoming a fully independent and massively successful writer and media personality. Video from today’s e...
Sep 26, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Ep 320•Transcript available on Metacast Why can you never seem to find enough time to make progress on the non-urgent but important priorities that can move you closer to the ideal of the deep life? In this episode, Cal reviews three common “time destroyers,” and for each offers solutions to fight back. He then takes questions and calls from his listeners and ends with a discussion of Amazon and the bureaucracy mailbox. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here...
Sep 23, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Ep 319•Transcript available on Metacast 
