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Cal Newport

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.

Deep Questions with Cal Newport

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader queries on how to improve your ability to concentrate, books that proved influential on my thinking (including the origin of the term “deep work”), the complex process of figuring out what to devote your limited attention toward, and so much more.

For more about me about my writing: www.calnewport.com

This episode features the Swoosh 1 sound effect, used under a Sampling Plus 1.0 license (see here for details: http://soundbible.com/682-Swoosh-1.html).

Ep. 2: Improving Concentration, Influential Books, and Figuring Out What to Focus On | DEEP QUESTIONS

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

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

Deep Dive: Tackling Social Media’s Hidden Dangers [2:08]

- How do I find friends now that I don’t use social media? [37:13]

- Is continuous hard activity desirable? [42:47]

- How does Cal research his books and articles? [46:49]

CASE STUDY: A Phone Addict Seeks a Fresh Start [51:08] 

- How does the idea of the idea of the deep life “Longer Short Way” connect to Slow Productivity? [1:02:07]

FINAL SEGMENT: The 5 Books Cal Read in November, 2024 [1:10:34]

Links:

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

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

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

cnn.com/2024/11/28/australia/australia-passes-social-media-law-intl-hnk/index.html

apnews.com/article/australia-social-media-children-ban-safeguarding-harm-accounts-d0cde2603bdbc7167801da1d00ecd056

Thanks to our Sponsors

mybodytutor.com

cozyearth.com/deep

drinklmnt.com/deep

byloftie.com (use code: DEEP20)

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

Ep. 330: Tackling Social Media’s Hidden Dangers

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

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

Deep Dive: Money and the Deep Life [3:17]

- How can I tame my wandering mind when reading? [23:34]

- How should I schedule time blocks as a real estate agent? [27:21]

- How can I improve my quarterly planning? [32:33]

- How can I balance intense motivation with finding inner peace? [38:29] 

- How can a jobseeker demonstrate actual productivity? [45:37]

- CALL: Trying to do more with a newborn [53:34]

CASE STUDY: A 39-year-old juggling school and work [1:00:18]

CAL REACTS: ‘Brain Rot’ [1:12:51]

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?

corp.oup.com/news/brain-rot-named-oxford-word-of-the-year-2024/

youtu.be/mHU_K1o3B-4?si=Tsk1GEgzrhlCiaGw

 

Thanks to our Sponsors:

mintmobile.com/deep

shopify.com/deep

expressvpn.com/deep

policygenius.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.

Ep. 331: Money and the Deep Life

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 life.

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

INTERVIEW: Bestselling author Michael Easter [5:56]

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.

IN-DEPTH: The Comfort Crisis (w/ Michael Easter)

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 retirement? [48:00]
- CAL REACTS: Elon and Twitter [54:30]
- Is cal still using his ReMarkable? [1:03:17]
- What’s Cal’s post-mortem on his latest book? [1:08:10]

FINAL SEGMENT: Checking in on Cal’s New Year Plan [1:26:10]

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?
washingtonpost.com/business/interactive/2024/see-how-elon-musks-online-audience-dwarfs-donald-trumps/?itid=hp_world-biz-tech_p006_f008

Thanks to our Sponsors:

notion.com/cal
drinklmnt.com/deep
blinkist.com/deep
zbiotics.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.

Ep. 332: Jesse Takeover!

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 of commute time? [53:57]

- CALL: Life after a career in law [57:31]

CASE STUDY: A digital declutter with LinkedIn? [1:01:53]

TECH CORNER: Is Social Media Like Dying Malls? (A Debate) [1:07:46]

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?
honest-broker.com/p/are-social-media-platforms-the-next

Thanks to our Sponsors:

landroverusa.com
zbiotics.com/deep
eightsleep.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.

Ep. 333: New Year Course Correction

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 today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

 

Deep Dive: Hallmark Movies and the Deep Life [2:31]

 

- Does Cal use a Commonplace book? [22:53]

- How do I create an effective weekly template? [25:54]

- Is your monthly book reading separate from “work” reading? [31:18] 

- What are the best strategies for a college student to learn calculus? [36:38]

- What are other book recommendations that dive deeper into Slow Productivity? [43:50]

- CALL: Struggling to apply multi-scale planning to grow a business [46:15]

 

CASE STUDY: Transitioning to knowledge work [52:18]

 

DECEMBER BOOKS: The 5 Books Cal Read in December, 2024 [1:03:17]

 

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?

nytimes.com/2024/12/08/arts/christmas-movies-hallmark-lohan.html

imdb.com/title/tt29378386/

 

Thanks to our Sponsors:

 

landroverusa.com

rhone.com/cal

shopify.com/deep

drinklmnt.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.

Ep. 334: Hallmark Movies and the Deep Life

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 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: On Morning Routines [4:04]

 

- How should I choose what podcasts to listen to? [41:49]

- How does Cal track daily steps? [52:57]

- Can I switch my office hours around? [57:23]

- How long should I remain at a large marketing firm? [1:02:37]

- How can I reject meetings? [1:10:02]

- CALL: How to obsess over quality while researching [1:13:22]

 

CASE STUDY: A career transition to become a pastor [1:18:57]

 

TECH CORNER: YouTube and the Creative Middle Class [1:28:18]

 

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?

x.com/jockowillink

tiktok.com/@spartan/video/7259530421099056427

nbcnews.com/better/lifestyle/i-tried-miracle-morning-routine-month-here-s-what-happened-ncna981786

youtube.com/watch?v=roK4g1e28mM

newyorker.com/culture/rabbit-holes/a-lesson-in-creativity-and-capitalism-from-two-zany-youtubers

 

Thanks to our Sponsors:

 

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

cozyearth.com/deep (Use code: DEEP)

mybodytutor.com

byloftie.com (Use code: DEEP20)

 

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

Ep. 335: On Morning Routines

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 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: On Screens and Solitude [3:09]

 

- How can I study at night after my doctor work? [26:49]

- Can you comment on Leopold Aschenbrenner’s Situational Awareness essay? [36:45]

- How do I successfully pursue my non-work values? [51:33]

- How can I become a better writer? [1:00:56]

- Can someone break into the top 0.1% of their respective field without periods of unsustainable and obsessive work? [1:02:44]

- CALL: Managing active projects [1:08:42]

 

CASE STUDY: A follow-up from Episode 323 [1:13:02]

 

CAL REACTS: An Offline Person Tries TikTok for the First Time [1:19:34]

 

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?

axios.com/2024/06/23/leopold-aschenbrenner-ai-future-silicon-valley

theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/02/american-loneliness-personality-politics/681091/

newyorker.com/culture/infinite-scroll/what-happened-when-an-extremely-offline-person-tried-tiktok

 

Thanks to our Sponsors:

 

upliftdesk.com/deep

landrover.com/usa

expressvpn.com/deep

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.

Ep. 336: On Screens and Solitude

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:

 

zocdoc.com/deep

oracle.com/deepquestions

notion.com/cal

indeed.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.

Ep. 337: Hacking Remote Work

A blockbuster new study out of MIT takes a closer look at the impact of writing with the help of AI. In today’s episode, Cal breaks down this paper with the help of author Brad Stulberg (who made waves online recently with his reaction to its findings), picking apart the role of AI in deep work activities. Cal then answers listeners questions, and presents a twist on his typical final segment in which he now describes what he is not reading this week, which provides him a thinly-concealed excuse to rant about AI coverage.

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: Should We Fear Cognitive Debt? [2:15]

 • Can AI be creative? [44:35]
 • What’s the smallest change I can make to address my disorganization? [48:31]
 • How do I find time for personal projects? [53:12]
 • How should I choose my next internship? [1:06:08]
 • How did you develop your goal-setting philosophy? [1:11:46]

CALL: Inbox Zero and Notion [1:14:50]

CASE STUDY: A Thoreau Schedule [1:24:01]

WHAT I’M (NOT) READ: AI CEO’s hot takes on work [1:32:49]

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?
fortune.com/2025/06/20/openai-ceo-sam-altman-ai-phds-entry-level-corporate-job-cuts-what-is-left-gen-z-college-gradautes/

Thanks to our Sponsors: 

shipstation.com/deep
smalls.com (Use code “DEEP”)
notion.com/cal
harrys.com/deep

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

Ep. 359: Should We Fear Cognitive Debt?

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