Deep Questions with Cal Newport Cal Newport

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 
 
ladderlife.com/deep 
expressvpn.com/deep 
80000hours.org/deep 
 
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
stamps.com/deep
mybodytutor.com
blinkist.com/deep 


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.