Deep Questions with Cal Newport – Details, episodes & analysis

Multiple listeners recently sent in a Financial Times article that asks whether humans have passed “peak intelligence.” In this episode, Cal looks closer at the data in this article to try to understand why we seem to be getting dumber, and more importantly, what are the practical steps individuals can take to avoid the trend. He then answers listener questions and ends with a tech corner segment that highlights a blind spot in current discussions of AI.

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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: Are We Getting Dumber? [2:58]

- Is it possible to build a better Twitter? [24:58]

- Should I ditch my higher paying job to avoid stress? [29:59]

- Can I remain relevant with younger, tech-savvy colleagues? [34:56]

- How should I navigate my time during while receiving severance? [38:35]

- What should I do next after being fired from my federal job? [41:18]

- CALL: Practicing focus on the weekends [45:01]

CASE STUDY: An engineering Kansan system [48:41]

TECH CORNER: The AI Blind Spot [1:00:04]

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?

on.ft.com/3DIItJK

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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

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 reader questions and ends with a tech corner focused on what the law says about whether social media should be banned for kids.

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: Hacking Remote Work [4:58]

- How does Cal explain time management vs. focus and attention management? [40:53]

- How can I self study hard, technical concepts? [50:12]

- Should I quit my PhD program after 3.5 years? [54:13]

- Does Slow Productivity work for college students? [1:08:35]

- CALL: Organizing a writing sabbatical [1:16:55]

CASE STUDY: A software engineer removes distractions [1:25:41]

TECH CORNER: Is Social Media More Like Cigarettes or Junk Food? [1:33:11]

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?

newyorker.com/culture/infinite-scroll/is-social-media-more-like-cigarettes-or-junk-food

youtu.be/-U7D4Fw67Zs?si=srHaYr3inZ9uAd0p

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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

Productivity YouTube is filled with breathless videos about optimizing systems and squeezing every ounce of speed out of your common habits. But does all of this efficiency really end up improving the quality of the most important things you produce? In this episode, Cal takes a deeper look at the different ways that productivity systems and tools can help your professional life, separating the boring but effective from the exciting but over-hyped. 

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 

Today’s Deep Question: Does working faster make work better? [3:56] 

- Why doesn’t Cal agree with other productivity YouTubers about apps? [27:50] 

- How can I be productive if my organization bans third-party tools? [32:36] 

- How do top writers keep their research process “efficient”? [37:29] 

- How do I stop teaching from devouring all my time? [44:00] 

- Is it a problem that I don’t feel overwhelmed? [50:19] 

Something Interesting: The Productivity Diet & A Hotel for Book Lovers [1:02:33] 

Links: 

kickstarter.com/projects/mikevardy/the-productivity-diet-by-mike-vardy 

sylviabeachhotel.com/ 

Thanks to our Sponsors: 

expressvpn.com/deep 

blinkist.com/deep 

policygenius.com 

grammarly.com/go 

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

The art of thinking – plain, old-fashioned, hard concentration on useful ideas – is rapidly vanishing as our culture recasts humans as the custodians and recipients of digital computation. In this episode, Cal explains why this is a problem and what we should do in response. 

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 

Today’s Deep Question: Why is it important to preserve the vanishing art of thinking? [5:02] 

- How do I integrate movies and shows into the deep life? [27:42] 

- Can I read after a long day of deep work? [33:30] 

- Is a digital “second brain” a good idea to keep up with the latest advancements in your field? [36:25] 

- Would Cal consider consolidating his notebooks? [42:37] 

- Is Maria Popva’s note-taking method better than Cal’s method? [51:40] 

The Books I Read in April 2023 [1:04:29] 

Links: 

Edward Teller talking about John Von Neumann 

youtube.com/watcv=vQp70uqsBV4#t=55m0s

Aristotle on “philosophic wisdom.” See book 10, section 7 of The Ethics: 

classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.7.vii.html 

Arnold Bennet on training concentration (See chapter 7 of How to Live on 24 Hours a Day): 

gutenberg.org/cache/epub/2274/pg2274-images.html 

Thanks to our Sponsors: 

huel.com/questions 

rhone.come/cal 

hensonshaving.com/cal

mybodytutor.com 

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

Do you live to work or work to live? In this episode, Cal talks with author Simone Stolfzoff about his provocative new book, THE GOOD ENOUGH JOB. Cal then answers listener questions about escaping professional unhappiness, and then switches gears in the Something Interesting segment to talk about the critical technological breakthrough that not enough people yet are talking about. 

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: Cal talks about the Good Enough Job with author Simone Stolzoff [4:39] 

- What kind of a job do I want? [59:31] 

- If I enjoy my job, why can’t I focus? [1:05:28] 

- Should I give up on finding an academic job? [1:17:23] 

- Should I cut my salary in half to escape the hyperactive hive mind? [1:25:07] 

SOMETHING INTERESTING: Apple’s most interesting new tech strategy has nothing to do with A.I. [1:34:41] 

Links: 

wsj.com/articles/apple-is-breaking-its-own-rules-with-a-new-headset-80c9b36c 

Thanks to our Sponsors: 

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at 

betterhelp.com/deepquestions 

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

Few professional experiences feel worse than overload. But what really causes this unfortunate state? In this episode, Cal takes a closer look at overload, identifying its main culprits, identifying solutions, and helping listeners with their specific overload-related questions. 

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 

Today’s Deep Question: How does overload actually operate? [3:54] 

- Does Cal use an executive assistant? [26:15] 

- How do I write an effective communication policy for my team? [36:35] 

- Does overhead compound exponentially? [42:50] 

- How rare are high expectation/low overhead jobs? [48:05] 

- My job has few shallow obligations. What should I do with my free time? [51:41] 

Something Interesting: The future of social media is less social [59:39] 

Links: 

wsj.com/articles/workers-say-its-harder-to-get-things-done-now-heres-why-2a5f1389 

nytimes.com/2023/04/19/technology/personaltech/tiktok-twitter-facebook-social.html 

Thanks to our Sponsors: 

huel.com/questions 

blinkist.com/deep 

rhone.com/cal 

zocdoc.com/deep 

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

We talk a lot on this show about how to be more organized and intentional in how you spend your time at work. But what about at home? In this episode, Cal is joined by Sarah Hart-Unger (https://theshubox.com/), a leading thinker on the challenges of staying organized amidst the chaotic busyness that defines family life, to help explore strategies for organizing life outside of work. 

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 

Today’s Deep Question: How do I adapt professional productivity techniques to my life outside of work? (With Sarah Hart-Unger) [7:16] 

To learn more about Sarah, read her blog, or subscribe to her podcasts, visit: https://theshubox.com/

— What system does Cal use to track his life admin? [1:05:55] 

— Don’t I need some sort of plan for time outside of work? [1:11:46] 

— How do I stay on top of ongoing projects, initiatives, or hobbies? [1:15:36] 

— Should I calculate the monetary cost of household tasks? [1:20:20] 

Something Interesting: The AI Null Hypothesis [1:33:24] 

Thanks to our Sponsors: 

huel.com/questions 

expressvpn.com/deep 

hensonshaving.com/cal 

fieldofgreens.com (promo code: Deep) 

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

Are smartphones bad for kids? Cal walks through the data on this question, including how researchers came to be worried, their findings, critiques of their findings, and where we are today. He then gives recommendations for how to think about technology when it comes to your kids.

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

Today’s Deep Question: Are smartphones bad for kids? [3:10]

- Is the deep life dull? [49:35]

- How do I stop doom-scrolling when I’m tired? [53:49]

- Are smartphones bad for older people? [57:35]

- How does Cal decide to adopt new technology or software? [1:02:06]

- How do I stay deep while traveling at conferences? [1:06:33]

The Books Cal read in March 2023 [1:12:38]

Thanks to our Sponsors:

grammarly.com/go

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

In this episode Cal – against his better judgment – answers questions on the fly, with no advance plan or preparation. He also does a Deep Dive about the  Twitter fog dissipating and discusses something interesting.

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: What was Twitter anyway? [4:46]

- Is there a difference between passion and calling? [27:09]
- What are the four principles to reimagine knowledge work? [31:50]
- Is movie watching part of the Deep Life? [36:05]
- Does fixed schedule productivity work on a weekly scale? [38:54]
- How does effective altruism fit in value-based lifestyle career planning? [41:01]
- What are Cal’s thoughts on David Graber’s book, “Bull Shit Jobs”? [44:00]
- Do distracted adolescents risk losing the ability to focus as they grow older? [46:57]
- Does slow productivity assist with parenting and professional development? [48:29]

Something Interesting: Rob Drydek’s productivity system [1:00:37]   

Links:

nytimes.com/2023/04/18/magazine/twitter-dying.html

Thanks to our Sponsors:

fieldofgreens.com Promo Code: Deep
hensonshaving.com/cal
rhone.com/cal
huel.com/questions

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

Are new AI technologies like ChatGPT about to massively disrupt our world? Drawing from his recent New Yorker article on the topic, Cal explains exactly how programs like ChatGPT work, and uses this knowledge to explain why we can calm our fears about this new technology.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Today’s Deep Question: How does ChatGPT work? (And should we worry about it?)  [11:24]

- Is there anything AI won’t do better than humans? [57:30]

- How will AI end up disrupting knowledge work? [1:02:27]

- Should I quit web development before AI eliminates the industry? [1:07:32] 

- Will AI create mass job loss in the next five years? [1:11:52]

SOMETHING INTERESTING:

- NPR leaves Twitter [1:21:11]

npr.org/2023/04/12/1169269161/npr-leaves-twitter-government-funded-media-label  

Links:

newyorker.com/science/annals-of-artificial-intelligence/what-kind-of-mind-does-chatgpt-have

twitter.com/tqbf/status/1598513757805858820

twitter.com/goodside/status/1598077257498923010 

nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/chatgpt-passes-mba-exam-wharton-professor-rcna67036

time.com/6240569/ai-childrens-book-alice-and-sparkle-artists-unhappy/

nytimes.com/2023/02/16/technology/bing-chatbot-microsoft-chatgpt.html 

nytimes.com/2023/03/24/opinion/yuval-harari-ai-chatgpt.html

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/deepquestions

zocdoc.com/deep

ladderlife.com/deep

blinkist.com/deep 

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