Deep Questions with Cal Newport – Details, episodes & analysis

In this classic episode, Cal talks about the surprising myth of doing less. Cal then answers questions about discipline and solving complicated problems. Cal concludes the episode with a review of the books he read back in April 2022.

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: The Surprising Math of Doing Less [3:33]

- How do I improve my discipline?  [20:01]
- How do you break down a complicated problem? [31:04]
- CALL: Has Cal read “Stolen Focus”? [34:07]

The Books I Read in April 2022 [40:28]

LISTENER CALL: Playbook for writing in The New Yorker [1:05:30]

Links:
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

Thanks to our Sponsors:

drinklmnt.com/deep
indeed.com/deep
shopify.com/deep
factormeals.com/deep50

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

In this classic episode Cal talks about the elements of the Deep Life. He then answers a variety of questions about work, family, and phone distractions.

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: The Elements of the Deep Life [2:31] 

- How should I get started in a new remote work job? [17:39] 
- How I time block a purely reactive job? [22:49] 
- Should I bother capturing tasks that are fast to complete? [26:20] 
- How do I tame multiple concurrent projects? [29:53] 
- How do I schedule optional deep work in an exhausting job? [32:51] 
- How much time is left for family after goals and deep work? [39:56] 
- Is there such a thing as deep fun? [42:44] 
- I am addicted to my phone. What do I do? [44:48] 
- How do I make a big life decision when I have lots of options? [50:35] 

Links: 

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow 

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/ 

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba? 

Thanks to our Sponsors: 

 cozyearth.com/cal 
mintmobile.com/deep 
policygenius.com/deepquestions 
blinkist.com/deep 

 Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering. 

Oliver Burkeman recently noted that time blocking seems oppressive? In this episode, Cal responds to this reaction in a surprising way. He then answers questions from listeners and reacts to this podcast being featured at the recent Apple WWDC event.

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:  Is Time Blocking Oppressive? [2:38]

- Can Cal elaborate on his experience with his Acceptance and Commitment therapy? [26:46]
- How can I sustain my deep life program? [35:03]
- How can I stop my girlfriend from always checking her phone? [38:07]
- How long are your time blocks in your planner? [43:07]
- How do I obsess over quality with filling into procrastination? [47:07]
- CALL: Getting back on track after travel [55:10]
 
CASE STUDY: Adopting principles from Cal’s book to design my life [1:00:11]

CAL REACTS: Deep Questions featured at Apple’s WWDC! [1:10:32] 

Links:

• Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
• Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
• Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?v=448bf8afad0740d18f6b109b4bd40d51
• shows.acast.com/farewell/episodes/045-the-reason-you-cant-ever-get-through-your-to-do-list-wit
• developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2024/102/

 
Thanks to our Sponsors: 

• drinklmnt.com/deep
• cozyearth.com/cal
• mintmobile.com/deep
• policygenius.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Link to submit questions: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

- Interesting Mail Bag [7:10]

- Does walking help or hurt my work? [25:01]
- How do I tame the flow of work from outside teams? [29:10]
- Do performers need an active social media presence? [33:12]
- CALL: Should Robert keep on a writing role? [35:18]
- CALL: Should Robert be worried about his full-time job discovering his side job? [39:18]
- Are newsletters the new blogs? [44:34]
- How can I prevent my law clients from interrupting me so much? [53:33]
- Is Cal’s prediction about the rise of virtual screens a ‘hellscape’? [56:22]

- CASE STUDY: What should I put on my new website? [1:10:46]

- How do I complete things on time? [1:18:04]
- How do I take notes on a complicated project? [1:19:56]
- How can I buckle down and finish my novel? [1:22:17]

Thanks to our Sponsors:

zocdoc.com/deep
amazon.com/deep
blinkist.com/deep
hensonshaving.com/cal  (enter Cal at checkout for 100 free blades)

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Link to submit questions: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

- INTERVIEW with Ryan Holiday [10:00]
- Cal and Jesse talk about Holiday interview [1:13:57]

Thanks to our Sponsors:

mybodytutor.com
wren.co/deep
notion.com
hensonshaving.com/cal  (enter Cal at checkout for 100 free blades)

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Link to submit questions: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

- Deep Dive: Quiet Quitting [4:00]

- How can I motivate my kids to have Cal’s work ethic? [24:28]
- What are Cal’s tips for writing better articles? [34:48]
- Are someday/maybe lists worth it? [44:33]
- How can a researcher embrace slow productivity? [48:24]
- Why did Cal switch from Roam to Obsidian note-taking software? [53:47]

CASE STUDY: A World Without Email got my team through a crisis [57:01]

- How can I concentrate on work with so many bad things happening in the world? [1:09:31]
- What if I don’t enjoy the deep life I designed? [1:20:16]

Thanks to our Sponsors:

hensonshaving.com/cal  (enter Cal at checkout for 100 free blades)
eightsleep.com/deep
blinkist.com/deep
expressvpn.com/deep


Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

- Deep Dive: The art of “no” [7:06]

- CALL: Anxiety and timeblock planning [27:38] 
- How do I choose a hobby to master? [37:01]
- Should I leave my job? [43:31]
- How do I break into a knowledge work? [49:00]
- How do I overcome career anxiety? [53:55]
 
CASE STUDY: Closet Office [1:05:10]

- CALL: Thoughts on Monday.com [1:13:38]
- What’s the difference between a quarterly and strategic plan? [1:21:45]
- How do I figure out my values? [1:23:10]

Thanks to our Sponsors:

https://www.blinkist.com/deep
https://www.sleep.me/cal
https://www.80000hours.org/deep
https://www.policygenius.com

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

- Deep Dive: Will 4-Day Weeks Solve Burnout? [7:01]

- How do I know if I’m doing too much? [24:03]
- Who invented the idea to “follow your passion”? [34:11]
- How can an ER doctor manage his schedule? [41:46]
- CALL: How do you know when it’s time to rest? [45:48]
- Nerd Alert: Is the future of computing more local? [49:59]

- Books Cal read in August 2022 [59:31]

- CALL: What watch does Cal use? [1:16:51]
- How do I create a Feedback Council? [1:25:04]
- Did Jordan Peterson and Bret Weinstein get weirder after leaving academia? [1:28:06]

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.

expressvpn.com/deep
betterhelp.com/deepquestions
ladderlife.com/deep
mybodytutor.com

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

- Deep Dive: How does Cal organize his life? [4:47]

- How do I improve my estimates of how long a task will take?  [27:49]
- How does Cal feel about open office spaces? [30:01] 
- Does listening to a podcast count as reading? [40:54]
- How do I plan a wedding without drowning in minutia? [43:40]
- I lost my love for work. Should I try to get it back? [50:03]

- Does Cal struggle with comparing himself to others? [59:18]
- How do I reset my ambitions after buring out? [1:08:06]

Thanks to our Sponsors:

Grammarly.com/Deep
Wren.co/Deep
80000.org/Deep
Givingwhatwecan.org/Deep


Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Please take a moment to provide feedback on the podcast using this survey:
bit.ly/3zMTLXp

DEEP DIVE: Loops, Networks, and Links [5:32]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS

- How do I track a long-term project? [30:52]
- How often should I check email? [36:23]
- How do I get my workplace to be less “hyperactive”? [42:14]

LISTENER CASE STUDY: Diane rents an office near her house [46:08]

DEEP LIFE ACADEMY: Lifestyle-centric career planning [53:39]

—

Thanks to our Sponsors:

MagicSpoon.com/Cal
TryMiracle.com/CAL25
ZocDoc.com/DEEP
LadderLife.com/deep


Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.