Deep Questions with Cal Newport – Details, episodes & analysis

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 more important skills than precise planning. 

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

Links:
https://www.landroverusa.com
https://www.calnewport.com/slow

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

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 from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: The Tao of Cal [2:53] 

- Why is time blocking more demanding than using a weekly template? [25:04] 

- Is moving to the country a bad idea? [29:54] 

- How can I consolidate my email accounts without being stressed out? [34:47] 

- What’s the best approach to read for general knowledge? [36:20] 

- How do I apply Slow Productivity without losing career capital? [43:12] 

- CALL: Should I adjust my deep life lifestyle? [45:58] 

CASE STUDY: Cultivating the deep work muscle [56:38]  

CAL REACTS (e.g., Rants): “Productivity” Tracking Software [1:05:58] 

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?

reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/1gwg7rk/employee_monitoring_software_has_gone_off_the/?rdt=41693

Thanks to our Sponsors: 

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

zocdoc.com/deep

grammarly.com/podcast

shopify.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. 

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 Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

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

Deep Dive: How Your Phone Is Changing You [1:43] 

- How do I teach my bosses to be deeper? [28:34] 

- How can I focus as a doctor when I have to keep switching from one patient to the next?” [35:46] 

- How do I overcome notebook overwhelm? [39:13] 

- Can “creativity” be added to the deep life buckets? [40:47] 

- How do I overcome the guilt of no longer being pseudo-productive? [44:51] 

- CALL: The Pomodoro Technique and overcoming distraction [49:33] 

CASE STUDY: A 39-year-old changes careers [54:21] 

FINAL SEGMENT: The 5 Books Cal Read in September 2024 [1:02:50] 

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: 

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

zocdoc.com/deep

shopify.com/deep

zbiotics.com/cal
 

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

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: Why are lumberjacks happier than lawyers? [3:06]

- Should I leave a good job to gain more autonomy? [32:34]
- Should I quit my trainer job? [38:31]
- What does Cal’s workday look like? [45:52]
- How can I create a career without skills? [54:48]

CASE STUDY: The Slow Lawyer [58:38]

Books Cal Read in December [1:05:33]

Links:

- washingtonpost.com/business/2023/01/06/happiest-jobs-on-earth/
- frugalwoods.com/2021/09/15/mr-fw-retired-and-we-paid-off-our-mortgage-frugalwoods-fire-is-complete/
- bench.co/blog/small-business-stories/paul-jarvis/
- calnewport.com/blog/2017/05/22/john-grishams-15-hour-workweek/
- itsfreetime.com/about


Thanks to our Sponsors:

This episode is sponsored by Better Help: betterhelp.com/deepquestions
huel.com/questions
policygenius.com
notion.com/cal

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

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:  Work Cycles [6:57]

- Should I leave my relaxing job to make more money? [33:54]
- Is there a need for deep work retreats? [45:59]
- How do I find time to work deeply when I’m busy? [53:07]

Case Study: On Walking and Remote Work [57:25]

- Can Cal explain more about the “celebration” bucket? [1:02:09]

SOMETHING INTERESTING:

- Deep work cafe [1:10:28]
cbsnews.com/news/manuscript-cafe-in-tokyo-serves-an-antidote-to-writers-block/

- Gloria Mark’s new book [1:12:50]
amazon.com/Attention-Span-Finding-Fighting-Distraction/dp/1335449418

Links:

basecamp.com/handbook/09-how-we-work
bluemountaincenter.org/life-at-bmc
cnn.com/travel/article/amtrak-free-residency/index.html
myfranciscan.org/visit/hermitage/


Thanks to our Sponsors:

80000hours.org/deep
blinkist.com/deep
ladderlife.com/deep
zocdoc.com/deep

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

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: How well are you living? [11:14]

- How do you track deep life habits? [28:07]
- How do I become more social? (Bonus: How does Cal avoid being killed by Jocko?) [34:15]
- How do I distill essential ideas from complex topics? [46:13]
- How does Cal research his articles? [53:49]
- Should I get a Deep Life tattoo? [59:41]

THREE INTERESTING THINGS:

- Guillermo Del Toro Bought a Second House to Boost his Creativity [1:13:33]
kpcc.org/show/the-frame/2016-07-22/bleak-house-a-tour-inside-guillermo-del-toros-creative-man-cave

- Kary Mullis’s Nobel-Winning Moment of Insight [1:19:56]
nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/1993/mullis/lecture/

- Charles Dickens Wrote “A Christmas Carol” on Foot [1:22:38]



Thanks to our Sponsors:

stamps.com/deep
grammarly.com/deep
hensonshaving.com/cal
mybodytutor.com

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

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

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

Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

QUESTIONS:

- How do I find time to study for a better job? [5:14]
- How do I find rare and valuable skills to develop? [8:37]
- How do I develop discipline if I have an easy job? [12:33]

CASE STUDY: A graduate student with 5 kids takes control of his life [30:06]

- Should I work or spend all my time with my son? [35:50]
- How do I manage a strategic plan with lots of unpredictable projects? [42:54]
- How does role-based communication work? [46:09]
- How do I plan projects with unpredictable time demands? [50:58]
- Should I move my family across the country to accept my dream job? [52:56]
- How do you make time for Quality time with your wife with such a busy schedule? [58:43]
- Does Cal write reports on the books he reads? [1:01:18]
- Does slow productivity apply only to knowledge workers? [1:07:17]
- Why do my side hustles fail? [1:10:35]

Thanks to our Sponsors:

https://www.notion.com/cal
https://www.cozyearth.com
https://www.blinkist.com/deep
https://www.expressvpn.com/deep

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

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

Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

DEEP DIVE: A World Without Busyness? [4:51]

- In an era of Quiet Quitting is it easier to become a star? [22:09]
- How do I resist my job’s demand for out-of-hours work? [29:52]
- Should new writers use social media to get feedback? [35:31]
- Should I use social media to promote my filmmaking website? [46:11]
- Am I too busy find new ideas? [53:54]

THREE INTERESTING THINGS:

- On Teenage Luddites [1:03:07]
calnewport.com/blog/2022/12/16/on-teenage-luddites/

- Deep Work in Stocism [1:07:48]

- Finding the Deep Life in the Mountains [1:09:09]
outsideonline.com/culture/essays-culture/moving-to-a-ski-town-steamboat-springs-colorado-no-regrets/




Thanks to our Sponsors:

ladderlife.com/deep
eightsleep.com/deep
wren.co/deep
zocdoc.com/deep

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

Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

- DEEP DIVE: Should I Manage Time or Stress? [2:50]

-  How do I switch from a push to pull model of task management? [27:05]
- Where should I live? [40:13]
- Is “rare and valuable” the same as “impressive”? [49:01]
- CALL: Integrating Deep Work to create a Deep Life [54:43]
- How do I reconcile my lifestyle vision with my husbands very different vision? [58:09]
- How does Cal structure his values document? [1:04:12]

THREE INTERESTING THINGS:

Twitter, Attention, and Democracy [1:14:28]
(nytimes.com/2022/12/11/opinion/what-twitter-can-learn-from-quakers.html)

Research: Walking Helps Thinking [1:22:10]
(apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/xlm-a0036577.pdf )

Novelist Ian Rankin’s Slow Productivity [1:23:47]
(theguardian.com/books/2016/may/07/my-writing-day-ian-rankin)


Thanks to our Sponsors:

shopify.com/deep
rhone.com/cal
blinkist.com/deep
masterclass.com/deep

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

Get your questions answered by Cal!
Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

- CALL: How do I balance different productivity systems? [5:24]
- How do I deal with a sudden increase in my work responsibilities? [12:29]
- How use the “waiting for” column on my task board when crafting a weekly plan? [18:39]

- If I adopt a natural pace to my work will I lose the race to success? [30:57]
- Should I quit my job to pursue a new business idea? [45:04]
- How do I handle a short period of having too much work? [50:20]
- I’ve lost my will to work. What do I do? [56:28]
- Does Cal get annoyed when people incorrectly cite his ideas? [1:02:56]

Books I Read in November 2022 [1:11:39]

Thanks to our Sponsors:

mybodytutor.com
rhone.com/cal
blinkist.com/deep
expressvpn.com/deep

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