Deep Questions with Cal Newport

This episode is a replay from July 12, 2021.
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
- Breaking up big projects into small tasks. [5:33]
- The productivity baby steps (epic answer alert). [10:12]
- Taming late night meetings. [27:16]
- Best book of mine for college students. [36:34]
- Shutdown routines with unpredictable schedules. [40:17]
Thanks to our Sponsors:
Blinkist.com/Deep
AthleticGreens.com/Deep
ExpressVPN.com/Deep
NewRelic.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.

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: https://tinyurl.com/b2rkctfj
CORE IDEA: Time Management [4:37]
DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:
- What does deliberate practice look like for computer programming? [30:15]
- Is it rational to quit your job if it implies a potential harm to society? [36:04]
- When is deep work not the most important metric? [39:04]
- Should I stay a job where the management actively tries to stifle productivity? [42:46]
- What are your (Cal’s) tips for a mother of two small kids getting her masters? [51:15]
DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:
- Is raising kids part of the deep life or an obstacle to achieving it? [1:00:22]
- Is listening to audiobooks just as beneficial as reading hard-copy books? [1:04:55]
- How do I accomplish a digital detox when all of my leisure involves my phone? [1:06:07]
- How can high school students excel without SATs? [1:11:06]
- Should I worry about social media getting me fired from my job? [1:12:21]
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
DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:
- How do I “practice” my job? [12:41]
- Does software with too many features distract us? [22:12}
- How can an overloaded minister juggle the demands of people and planning? [31:24]
- Should I stop teaching my stock investing course to get better at investing at stocks? (Bonus rant: why you’re not going to beat the stock market) [43:42]
- What lessons for life can we extract from the military experience? [45:47]
Thanks to our Sponsors:
Blinkist.com/Deep
AthleticGreens.com/Deep
ExpressVPN.com/Deep
NewRelic.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). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.
Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia
Cal Reacts: Making a Living Online [8:26]
- How do you get over the fear of starting a business? [39:21]
- How can I convince my wife I’m unavailable during deep work sessions? [43:09]
- Struggling to focus because of a personal crisis [54:49]
- What is the potential of AI in productivity optimization? [1:00:30]
Interesting Mail Bag [1:05:52]
- Can you reduce attention residue? [1:19:01]
- Impact of Cal’s podcast on his idea process [1:22:31]
Thanks to our Sponsors:
Betterhelp.com/DeepQuestions
Stamps.com/Deep
Trybasis.com/Cal
Zbiotics.com/Cal
Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.