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Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Deep Questions with Cal Newport

450 episodes — Page 9 of 9

Ep 50Ep. 50: Habit Tune-Up: Artificial Overload, Deep Retirement, and Motivational Crises

In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.Here are the topics we cover: * When deep work creates more shallow obligations. [2:49] * Avoiding artificial overload. [10:00] * Deep retirement. [23:06] * Defusing deep procrastination. [27:00]Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 3, 202038 min

Ep 49Ep. 49: Organizing Massive Projects, Taming IM, and Exploring the Deep Life Canon

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about organizing massive projects, taming IM, and elaborating the books I would include in the Deep Life Canon.To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can also submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewportPlease consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:DEEP DIVE: The Deep Reset, Part 1WORK QUESTIONS - The limits of deliberate practice? [12:09] - Getting started on massive projects. [20:11] - Social media and the dissemination of academic research. [25:04] - Digital time blocking. [31:59] - My opinion on GTD-style contexts. [35:50] - When a job requires social media use. [40:01] TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS - Taming IM. [42:13] - How to attend online classes. [50:08] - Breaking a YouTube addiction. [1:00:30] - Controlling heavy RSS use. [1:03:40] - On the phenomenology of technology. [1:06:31] DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS - Deciding when to give up on a book [1:12:25]. - Dealing with an overwhelming amount of advice. [1:14:05] - Living deeply in high school. [1:17:30] - The Deep Life Canon. [1:23:47]Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 30, 20201h 34m

Ep 48Ep. 48: Habit Tune-Up: Deep Athletes, Idea Capture, and Distracting Rumination

In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.Here are the topics we cover:* Time blocking versus calendar planning [6:07]* Deep work for professional athletes [12:24]* Capturing non-urgent ideas [21:33] * Distracted by rumination [35:09]* Prioritizing interesting projects [43:17]Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 26, 202049 min

Ep 47Ep. 47: BRAD STULBERG on Burn Out, Career Transformation, and Intentional Living

In this episode of DEEP QUESTIONS we're joined by a guest host: Brad Stulberg.Brad is a bestselling writer who focuses on human performance. He's known for his books PEAK PERFORMANCE and THE PASSION PARADOX, as well as for his popular "Do It Better" column for Outside Magazine.We go deep on Brad's story, using it to illustrate timeless points on burnout, recovery, transformation, and intentional living. We also talk about the unexpected television commercial that helped vault his first book to success and, of course, answer your questions.You can find out more about Brad at https://www.bradstulberg.com/To submit your own questions for this podcast, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com.Thank you to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 23, 20201h 48m

Ep 46Ep. 46: Habit Tune-Up: Mastering Teaching, Containing Emotional Emails, and Working Deeply with a Newborn

In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.Here are the topics we cover: Opening: When did productivity become personal? (My new article for The New Yorker.)* Becoming so good they can't ignore you as a teacher [19:07]* Finding focused after receiving emotional emails [30:18]* Scheduling deep work amidst unpredictable childcare [43:19]* Fitting a large amount of leisure into a small amount of free time [52:19]Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 19, 20201h 1m

Ep 45Ep. 45: My Trello Setup, Student and Screens, My Call for a Deep Reset | DEEP QUESTIONS

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about dealing my Trello setup, reducing student screen time, and our collective need for a "deep reset," among many other topics.To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewportPlease consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:WORK QUESTIONS* Entry level jobs and shallow work [11:24]* The future of bullshit jobs [16:25]* Staying in the zone over the weekend [23:09]* Deciding what to read as an academic [26:45]* Calibrating academic service [29:15]* Revisiting my 2009 advice on grad school [34:43]* Deep work with a new kid [44:50]TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS* My Trello setup [50:06]* Reducing student screen time [54:46]* Boredom versus high quality diversions [58:37]* Note-taking apps [1:07:25]* Agile methodologies and deep work [1:10:11]DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS* Young mother seeking better friends [1:17:05] * Young father seeking improvement [1:21:36] * Kids versus career [1:27:45]* Thoughts on the Astros [1:29:23]* My call for a “Deep Reset” [1:29:48] Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 16, 20201h 38m

Ep 44Ep. 44: Habit Tune-Up: Prioritizing Tasks, Balancing My Many Endeavors, and Resisting Radicalization

In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.Here are the topics we cover: * Prioritizing tasks when you have too much to do [9:28]* Making the most of the weekend [18:53]* Balancing my academic and writing obligations [26:42]* Improving reading habits [35:25]* Resisting radicalization (sermon alert) [41:07]Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 12, 202057 min

Ep 43Ep. 43: Unproductive Days, Content Fatigue, and Cultivating Character | DEEP QUESTIONS

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about dealing with unproductive days, avoiding curated content fatigue, and the importance of developing character, among many other topics.To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewportPlease consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:OPENING: The terribleness of my recent experiment with constant online news consumption.WORK QUESTIONS* Dealing with unproductive days [11:50] * My system versus David Allen’s systems [15:16] * The timeline for developing deep habits [22:35]* Assessing your own career capital [31:17] * The road to academic superstardom [36:05] * Ideal number of working hours [45:28] * Building a reasonable schedule for an unreasonable workload [51:32]TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS* Avoiding curated content fatigue [53:41]* Capture technology [58:22]* The plan for this podcast [1:00:19]* Music and concentration [1:07:01]* Instant messaging and distraction [1:08:02] DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS* Essentialism versus the deep life [1:13:48] * Deep home life [1:16:57] * My ideal work environment [1:23:37]* Character and the deep life [1:27:58] Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 9, 20201h 37m

Ep 42Ep. 42: GREG MCKEOWN and I Discuss Unplugging, Doing Less, and Finding Focus

In this special episode of DEEP QUESTIONS, I rebroadcast a conversation recorded earlier this summer, featuring me and the bestselling author Greg McKeown. It originally aired on Greg's fantastic podcast, WHAT'S ESSENTIAL (https://gregmckeown.com/podcast/).You probably know Greg from his influential 2014 book, ESSENTIALISM, which I recommend all the time. In this conversation, we talk about unplugging from distraction, the art of doing less (without accomplishing less), and how to improve your ability to focus.I hope you enjoy it. Thanks to our sponsors Magic Spoon (use magicspoon.com/CAL to receive free shipping) and Blinkist (use blinkist.com/DEEP for a 7 day free trial).Also thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 5, 202053 min

Ep 41Ep. 41: Selling Your First Book, Shallow Spouses, and My Dream Schedule | DEEP QUESTIONS

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about selling your first book (and end up accidentally ranting about publishing industry misconceptions), going deep when your spouse is defiantly shallow, and day dreaming about my ideal schedule, among many other topics.To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewportPlease consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:WORK QUESTIONS * Planning unpredictable work [2:27] * On the supposed upsides of procrastination [12:02] * Cutting back on academic obligations [14:43] * Dropping out of grad school [18:02] * Publishing your first book (rant alert) [21:07] * Getting serious about personal productivity [30:35]TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS * A look at my own phone usage [37:36] * On cannabis and deep work [40:16] * When your spouse is mad at you for reducing technology [47:12] * Rethinking education post-pandemic [53:09]DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS * Dream schedules for lovers of depth [1:01:01] * Staying motivated when school is online [1:03:51] * FIRE and the deep life [1:09:3]Links to Special Offers from our Sponsors: - blinkist.com/DEEP - magicspoon.com/CALThanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 2, 20201h 20m

Ep 40Ep. 40: Habit Tune-Up: Optimal Notebook Usage, Quarterly Planning, and Combating Burn Out

In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.Here are the topics we cover: * Notebooks for personal reflections vs. business organization. [5:50]* Elite quarterly planning tactics. [10:18]* Diminishing distracting day dreams. [18:37]* Combating burn out. [32:58]Special Offer Links from Sponsors: - magicspoon.com/CALThanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oct 29, 202053 min

Ep 39Ep. 39: DAVID EPSTEIN on Skills, Practice, and the Subtle Art of Cultivating a Meaningful Career

In this episode of DEEP QUESTIONS we're joined by a guest host: David Epstein.David is the New York Times bestselling author of THE SPORTS GENE and RANGE. I probably get asked questions about RANGE more than any other book by listeners of this podcast, so I knew we had to get David on the show to share his wisdom.We talk about his career, his (short-lived) public feud with Malcolm Gladwell, and his research habits, but most importantly, we go deep on his breakthrough ideas about skills, practice, and meaning in careers -- answering many of your questions as well as a few of my own.You can find out more about David at https://davidepstein.com.To submit your own questions for this podcast, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com.Thanks to our sponsor Magic Spoon (use magicspoon.com/CAL to receive free shipping).Thank you to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oct 26, 20201h 45m

Ep 38Ep. 38: Habit Tune-Up: Daily vs. Weekly Planning, Supercharging Home Offices, and Taming Demanding Jobs

In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.Here are the topics we cover: * The difference between daily and weekly planning [10:08]* Fighting shallow work in medicine. [16:44]* On the value of taking off a work day each week. [24:14]* Maximizing home offices. [30:29]* Scheduling deep work with a chronic illness [43:08]* Taming jobs with large hour demands. [49:32]Special Offer Sponsor Links: - grammarly.com/DEEP - indeed.com/QUESTIONS - foursigmatic.com/DEEPThanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oct 22, 202055 min

Ep 37Ep.37: The Planning Fallacy, Inbox Zero, and the Limits of Ethical Technology | DEEP QUESTIONS

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about avoiding the planning fallacy, my thoughts on Inbox Zero, and the limits of the ethical technology movement, among many other topics.To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewportPlease consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:OPENING: The three stages of hard creative work.WORK QUESTIONS* Cutting back on meetings. [23:06]* Improving your coworkers habits (without them knowing). [26:44]* Teaching depth to kids. [39:52]* Choosing between graduate school and a job. [46:30] * Scheduling side hustles. [48:55]* Career capital theory for parents. [49:44]* Avoiding the planning fallacy. [52:21] TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS* My thoughts on Inbox Zero. [54:08]* Preventing short breaks from derailing depth. [57:47]* Reading on book per week. [1:04:04]* How much a serious college student should read. [1:12:33]* Digital minimalism for college students. [1:13:32]* On the limits of ethical technology (sermon alert). [1:20:20]DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS* Planning for family in the deep life. [1:36:02]* Fostering depth later in life. [1:41:00]* Living deeply during pandemic homeschooling. [1:44:12]Special Offer Sponsor Links: - grammarly.com/DEEP - foursigmatic.com/DEEP - indeed.com/QUESTIONSThanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oct 19, 20201h 52m

Ep 36Ep. 36: Habit Tune-Up: Scheduling Life Admin, Finding Time for Practice, and High-Tech Metric Tracking

In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.I also officially announce my new Time-Block Planner! Available for pre-order everyone you buy books. Find out more about the Time Block Academy event I'm holding for those who pre-order at calnewport.com/blog.You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.Here are the topics we cover: * Trello versus Workflowy for task management. [9:08] * Integrating life admin into your work day. [12:54] * Finding time for deliberate practice in an unpredictable work day. [18:46] * Rekindling a reading habit lost to distraction. [30:10] * High-tech metric tracking. [36:46]Offer links from this episode's sponsors: * Optimize.me/deep * ExpressVPN.com/deep * Purple.com/deep10Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oct 15, 202046 min

Ep 35Ep. 35: Managing Deeply, Quitting Facebook, and Thinking for Yourself in an Age of Information Overload | DEEP QUESTIONS

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about deep work for managers, life without Facebook, and original thought in an age of information overload, among many other topics. I also continue our ongoing discussion of household productivity by sharing systems sent in by readers.To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewportPlease consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:WORK QUESTIONS * Optimizing deep work retreats [17:57] * Pomodoro versus longer focus sessions [23:02] * Timeblocking in advance [24:55] * How to choose a new career [26:42] * Balancing quality and quantity in research [32:44] * Deep work for managers [37:31]TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS * Online information gathering without distraction [45:35] * Tracking academic papers [48:53] * P vs NP [52:24] * Life without Facebook [58:30]BACKSTAGE PASS: Meeting Tristan Harris and HQ updates [1:06:49]DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS * Deep work and leisure activities [1:14:30] * Non-digital interaction in the age of COVID [1:18:49] * Deep work when dealing with mental health issues [1:25:19] * Thinking for yourself in an age of information overload [1:32:34] Offer links from this episode's sponsors: * Optimize.me/deep * ExpressVPN.com/deep * Purple.com/deep10Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oct 12, 20201h 46m

Ep 34Ep. 34: Habit Tune-Up: Productivity Chimeras, OmniFocus, and Finding Time to Write

In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.Here are the topics we cover: * Productivity chimera's and processing captured tasks [9:53] * Thoughts on OmniFocus [16:37] * Taming a team's early email habit [21:39] * Finding time to write in a busy life [25:09] * Struggling to write even when you have the time [32:30] Special thanks to our sponsor Blinkist. For a 7-day free trial and 25% off a subscription, go to blinkist.com/DEEP.As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please considering subscribing or leaving a rating/review.Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oct 9, 202040 min

Ep 33Ep 33: Rethinking Delegation, Pandemic Childcare, and Balancing Deep Work with Deep Hobbies

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about the hidden difficulties of delegation, the impact of pandemic childcare on productivity (hint: it's not good), and the balance between deep work and deep hobbies, among many other topics.To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewportPlease consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).Thanks to our sponsor Optimize. For a free trial and 10% off go to optimize.me/DEEP.Thanks to our sponsor Blinkist. For a free trial and 25% off go to blinkist.com/DEEP. Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:WORK QUESTIONS * Spreading yourself too thin [11:11] * Willpower fatigue [16:58] * Deciding when to delegate [20:06] * Work hour equity [23:03] * Pandemic-induced childcare [28:45] * Digital minimalism in the entertainment industry [34:19]TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS * Storing longterm notes [43:38] * The value of site/app blocking software [45:22] * Concentration and pornography (rant alert) [46:44]BACKSTAGE PASS [54:50]DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS * Deep work versus deep hobbies [1:00:49] * Stopping ruminations [1:03:57] * Binging on productivity videos [1:07:47] * Seeking depth when hopelessly distracted [1:10:32]Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oct 5, 20201h 18m

Ep 32Ep. 32: Habit Tune-Up: Tracking Deliberate Practice, Getting Over the Fact Work is Hard, and Taming the Emotional Rigors of Depth

In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.Here are the topics we cover: * Tracking deliberate practice initiatives. [8:21]* Helping an overwhelmed teacher. [12:33]* Dealing with hard work. [23:54]* Shutting down when you have too much to do. [29:26]* Taming the emotional rigors of a deep work habit. [37:28]Special thanks to our sponsor Optimize. For a 14-day free trial go to optimize.me/DEEP.As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please considering subscribing or leaving a rating/review.Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oct 1, 202047 min

Ep 31Ep. 31: RYAN HOLIDAY on Ranch Life, Fostering Discipline, and the Loss of Reading Culture

In this episode of Deep Questions we try something a little different: our first guest!Bestselling author Ryan Holiday joins me to help answer reader questions, as well as more than a few queries from me. We cover a variety of topics, including his life as a writer living on a ranch, how he fosters discipline, the impact of our diminishing reading culture, and why everyone keeps trying to get me to move to Austin.Be sure to check out Ryan's new book: LIVES OF THE STOICS (https://dailystoic.com/preorder).To submit your own questions for the show, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewportThanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sep 28, 20201h 15m

Ep 30Ep. 30: Habit Tune-Up: Easing into Time Blocks, Planning Big Goals, and the Story of How I Sold My First Book

In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.Here are the topics we cover: * Easing into time block planning. [6:24]* Keeping up when taking notes. [11:49]* Optimal delay between learning and recall. [17:12]* Planning big goals. [20:59]* Insider advice on book publishing [29:36]Special thanks to our sponsor Grammarly. For 20% off Grammarly Premium go to Grammarly.com/DEEP. Use your laptop or desktop (this link doesn't always work on phones).As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please considering subscribing or leaving a rating/review.Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sep 24, 202045 min

Ep 29Ep. 29: My Daily Routine, Returning to Deep Work, and Digital Minimalism During a Pandemic | DEEP QUESTIONS

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about my daily routine, restarting a deep work practice, and embracing digital minimalism during a pandemic, among other topics.To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewportPlease consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).Thanks to our sponsor to Grammarly. For 20% off Grammarly Premium go to Grammarly.com/DEEP. Use your laptop or desktop (this link doesn't always work on phones).Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:WORK QUESTIONS* My daily routine. [3:56]* Ensuring employees are working deeply at home [9:09]* Keeping a to-do list constantly open. [12:18]* The best way to start deep working. [14:31]* Advice for someone just starting a job [22:38]* Restarting research after a stint in an administrative position. [32:01]TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS* Speed reading versus strategic skimming. [39:05]* The cost of occasional hyper-distraction [41:00]* Thoughts on Reddit and Quora. [45:35]BACKSTAGE PASS [50:17]DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS* Digital minimalism versus Covid-19. [58:05]* Struggling to find time for depth. [1:06:52]* Strategies for transitioning to a deep life. [1:12:48]Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sep 20, 20201h 22m

Ep 28Ep. 28: Habit Tune-Up: Multiplying Eureka Moments, My Capture Setup, and Reducing Mass Email Destruction

In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.Here are the topics we cover: * Generating more eureka moments [3:59]* Working past shutdowns [8:08]* How I capture tasks [17:10]* Blocking distractions with music [23:22]* Solving excessive mass emails [27:18]As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please considering subscribing or leaving a rating/review.Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sep 17, 202039 min

Ep 27Ep. 27: Inside My Planning Discipline, the Joys and Sorrows of Slack, and Finding Depth Among Shallow Friends | DEEP QUESTIONS

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about what’s on my weekly plan at the moment, the complicated impact of Slack, and pursuing depth among friends more interested in fun.I will be sending out a new request for text questions to my mailing list soon. You can sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewportPlease consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:WORK QUESTIONS* Is monthly planning necessary? (Bonus: A look at my current plans) [2:12] * Breaking up time blocks [10:03]* Debunking writer’s blocks [11:28]* Favoritism versus career capital [17:56]* When to stop studying [27:35]* Getting back up when struggling in your work [30:19]QUESTION ROULETTE [34:58]TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS* The productivity apps I use [42:49]* Do academics need good digital presences? [43:37]* Leaving social media when you can’t leave the house [45:13]* The mixed impact of the rise of Slack [50:53]BACKSTAGE PASS [57:41]DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS* Finding a calling when you’re interesting in many things [1:01:57]* Sticking to the deep life when you’re friends are deeply into the fun life (Bonus: tales from my one day as a Dartmouth frat brother) [1:07:14]Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sep 14, 20201h 19m

Ep 26Ep. 26: Habit Tune-Up: My Fall Schedule, Tough Love for a Distracted Listener, and Deep Meetings

In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.Here are the topics we cover: * How I'm scheduling everything I have to do this fall [6:33]* Working on one thing at a time versus rotating between them [16:17]* Some tough love for a distracted listener [18:43]* The perils of context switching [25:48]* Can meetings be deep? [31:05]* Struggling with productive meditation [36:35]As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please considering subscribing or leaving a rating/review.Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sep 10, 202043 min

Ep 25Ep. 25: Student Shutdown Rituals, Optimal Deep-to-Shallow Ratios, and the $20 Million Question | DEEP QUESTIONS

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about shutdown rituals for college students, deep-to-shallow work ratios, and what I would do with $20 million (and why that's the wrong question). I also play some question roulette and give you a peak into my own efforts to live a deep life with my backstage pass segment.I will be sending out a new request for text questions to my mailing list soon. You can sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewportPlease consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:WORK QUESTIONS* Should I learn one hard thing or multiple easy things? [5:21]* Shutdown rituals for college students [6:39]* An optimal deep-to-shallow work ratio [12:56]* Getting better at writing scientific papers [15:05]* Richard Hamming's advice to keep your door pen [16:42]Question Roulette [25:19]TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS* Succeeding with blogging [28:51]* Bullet journals [35:51]* Getting my students to not use their phones in class [39:42]* Working with groups that only communicate on social media [40:44]Backstage Pass [46:08]DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS* Developing personal life philosophies/politics/ethics [50:35]* Small versus big changes for transforming your life [56:43]* What I would do with $20 million [1:03:00]Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sep 6, 20201h 9m

Ep 24Ep. 24: Habit Tune-Up: Slaying the Productivity Hydra, Upgrading Careers, and Mastering a Difficult Job

In this mini-episode, I take "calls" from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.Here are the topics we cover: * Coping with surprise shallow tasks (aka., "slaying the productivity hydra") [2:09]* Reading strategies for PhD students [12:37]* Switching to a more fulfilling career [16:33]* Improve or quit in response to a challenging new job [24:32]As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please considering subscribing or leaving a rating/review.Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sep 3, 202038 min

Ep 23Ep. 23: Email Saunas, Preaching Depth, and Rooted Productivity | DEEP QUESTIONS

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about the puzzling connection between email and saunas, the best way to preach depth to your team, and the under-appreciated power of rooted productivity, among many other topics. I also take some time to answer an Audio Question of the Day.I will be sending out a new request for text questions to my mailing list soon. You can sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewportPlease consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:WORK QUESTIONS* Email saunas and the struggle for depth [6:08]* Saying "no" when new to a job [10:24]* Dealing with unexpected free time [14:57]* Should I become a professor? [17:55]* Getting others to buy in on Deep Work [25:12]* Find time for hard thinking in a job that focuses on soft skills [27:07]AUDIO QUESTION OF THE DAY [31:51]TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS* Effective reading [36:58]* Being productive in an organization that embraces Outlook [40:26]* Using entertainment-only devices [44:19]DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS* Exercise routines for focus [46:48]* Keeping track of your productivity habits [53:10]* Feeling stuck at home during the pandemic [59:56]Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aug 30, 20201h 9m

Ep 22Ep. 22: Habit Tune-Up: Seeking Depth When Working from Home, Academia's Email Problem, and Sequencing Projects

In this mini-episode, I take "calls" from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.Here are the topics we cover: * Seeking depth when working from home [2:22]* Feeling guilty about long afternoon naps [11:17]* Rant Alert: Fixing academia's email overload problem [18:15]* Advice for someone returning to school later in life [28:56]* Tackling projects one at a time versus in parallel [36:46]As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please considering subscribing or leaving a rating/review.Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aug 27, 202042 min

Ep 21Ep. 21: Taming Writer's Block, the Exaggerated Importance of a Digital Presence, and the Miseries of Digital Living | DEEP QUESTIONS

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions on taming writer's block, the exaggerated importance of digital presence, and the miseries of digital living, among many other topics. I also play some question roulette and give an update on the current status and ambitious future plans for my Deep Work HQ.I will be sending out a new request for text questions to my mailing list soon. You can sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewportPlease consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:WORK QUESTIONS* Using music to help focus [1:58]* Limits on deep work quantities [3:07]* Teaching a team to value depth [7:36]* Taming writer's block [16:14]* Deciding whether to pursue an MBA [18:58]* Measuring success in academia [21:37]* Taking breaks from time blocking [25:03]QUESTION ROULETTE [28:47]TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS* Thoughts on iPads + Apple pencil as productivity booster [35:52]* Overcoming the paradox of choice with productivity apps [38:17]* YouTube detoxing [43:12]* Organizing academic research [44:59]* The false necessity of building a digital presence [47:19]WHAT I'M UP TO * A closer look at Deep Work HQ [53:08]DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS* Instilling focus in kids [1:02:22]* On the value of my hyper-focused fitness [1:05:55]* Conversing with distracted people [1:12:50]* Managing multiple projects [1:15:44]* Unsolicited Sermon: The miseries of a life lived on screens [1:19:53]Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aug 23, 20201h 38m

Ep 20Ep. 20: Habit Tune-Up: Productivity System Indecision, Embracing Boredom, and Craving Depth in a Shallow Job

In this mini-episode, I take "calls" from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.Here are the topics we cover: * Problems settling on a productivity system [1:01] * Figuring out which professional skill to improve [7:20] * The difference between boredom and solitude [21:12] * Craving depth in a shallow job [32:20] * Keystone habits [38:39]As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please considering subscribing or leaving a rating/review.Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aug 20, 202046 min

Ep 19Ep. 19: Calendar Shaming, Digital Detox Struggles, and the Unexpected Challenges of Autonomy | DEEP QUESTIONS

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions on calendar shaming, digital detox struggles, and the unexpected challenges of gaining more professional autonomy, among many other topics.I will be sending out a new request for text questions to my mailing list soon. You can sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewportPlease consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:WORK QUESTIONS* Modernizing GTD [2:18]* Calendar Shaming [7:59]* How I keep track of projects [14:15]* Staying relevant when less connected [16:29]* The inherent unpredictability of kids and facing the productivity dragon [19:21]* Quantifying career capital [25:09]AUDIO QUESTION OF THE DAY [28:17]TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS* Dealing with screen time overload [31:36]* Is a Kindle a screen? [36:32]* The relative depth of books versus podcasts [36.48]* Digital detox struggles [39:26]* Instagram struggles (hint: my suggestion starts with a ‘Q’ and rhymes with ‘bit’) [44:02]QUESTION ROULLETE [45:49]DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS* Interviewing people you want to emulate [49:04]* Dealing with psychological hurdles such as negative self-talk and impostor syndrome [54:30]* Learning hard things fast [1:03:53]* Vitamin solitude [1:05:24]* The challenges of autonomy [1:07:54]* Understanding those upset by depth [1:11:05]Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aug 17, 20201h 26m

Ep 18Ep. 18: Habit Tune-Up: Outsourcing Chores, Mitigating Unavoidable Distractions, and Productivity Beyond Basic Lists

In this mini-episode, I take "calls" from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.Here are the topics we cover: * outsourcing household work [1:46]* mitigating the damage caused by unavoidable distractions [6:45]* the utility of fancy flashcard software [12:43] * tips for becoming a professor [24:04] * productivity beyond basic lists [34:01] As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please considering subscribing or leaving a rating/review.Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aug 13, 202043 min

Ep 17Ep. 17: Delegation Without Email, Fighting Imposter Syndrome, and My Thoughts on Critical Theory | DEEP QUESTIONS

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions on delegating without email, effective methods for fighting imposter syndrome, and my take on critical theory (which leads to an impromptu history seminar, which is the price one pays for asking an academic a question about academic theory), among many other topics.I will be sending out a new request for text questions to my mailing list soon. You can sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewportPlease consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:WORK QUESTIONS* Effective delegation (hint: don't send an email) [8:09]* Bosses with varied productivity styles [16:25]* Crucial skills for the 21st century [18:54]* The danger of using a pseudonym to evade imposter syndrome [23:34]* How I choose my career [26:23]* Optimal specificity for daily plans [29:40]* Advice for someone new to writing [33:55]QUESTION ROULETTE [35:43]TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS* My thoughts on smart watches [38:49]* Using "memory palaces" to train your brain (random story alert) [40:56]* Moving tasks out of email, even if annoying [44:52]* The limited use of social media for a non-established writer [46:29]* My thoughts on the Boycott Facebook movement [48:11]DEEP LIFE QUESTION* The secret to my "smooth" answers to questions [50:38]* Getting back on track after a professional failure [54:14]* Sticking with a job you dislike [59:32]* An impromptu history seminar on critical theory [1:05:00]Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aug 10, 20201h 39m

Ep 16Ep. 16: Habit Tune-Up: Why Relaxation is Overrated and the Importance of Facing the Productivity Dragon

In this mini-episode, I take "calls" from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.Here are the topics we cover: * Does capturing thoughts diminish deep work? [2:09]* Trouble relaxing after periods of intense focus. [7:37]* Should you list specific tasks on time block schedules? [14:23]* Time blocking for jobs with regular unexpected emergencies. [18:46]* What administrators can do to help teachers work deeply. [26:08]As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please considering subscribing or leaving a rating/review.Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aug 6, 202037 min

Ep 15Ep. 15: Deep Work in Groups, Social Media in Politics, and Confronting Common Arguments Against My Work | DEEP QUESTIONS

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions on deep work in groups, the double-edge sword of deploying social media in politics, and a discussion of the most common objection about my work, among many other topics.You can submit your audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewportI will be sending out a new request for text questions to my mailing list soon. You can sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com.Please consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:* Deep work in groups [1:42]* Rethinking the "Dorsey Exception" [3:52]* The wrong reason to pursue a PhD [9:04]* Background noise and distraction [10:10]* Managing tedious life admin [14:02]* Turning down a promotion to avoid shallow work [22:30]* Audio Question of the Day: Can attention residue ever be positive? [25:32]* Staying up on news in depressing times [30:57]* Thoughts on the Kindle [35:00]* Thoughts on the Pomodoro Technique [38:00]* Social media and politics [41:23]* Deep work versus social media [47:20]* Question Roulette: When will depth become mainstream? [50:31]* Habits to pick up in childhood [54:56]* How students can cultivate a deep life [57:02]* Recharging during deep work breaks [1:02]* Uncommon sources of high quality leisure [1:05]* Teaching the deep life to children [1:06]* The strongest arguments against my work [1:08]Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aug 3, 20201h 26m

Ep 14Ep. 14: Habit Tune-Up: Publishing Strategies, Surviving Side Hustles, Productivity for Support Roles, and Cultivating Balance in the Pursuit of Depth

In this mini-episode, I take "calls" from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.Here are the topics we cover: * Figuring out where to publish different types of writing [1:29]* Balancing two careers [7:08]* On productivity in support roles [13:04]* Keeping all aspects of the deep life in balance [22:22]As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please considering subscribing. Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jul 29, 202034 min

Ep 13Ep. 13: Where I Work, Convincing Students to Disconnect, and Applying Deep Work to Deep Social Problems | DEEP QUESTIONS

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions on where I work (hint: an absurd number of different places), convincing students to disconnect, and applying deep work to deep social problems, among many other topics.I need more audio questions for my habit tune-up mini-episodes. You can submit your audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewportI will be sending out a new request for text questions to my mailing list soon. You can sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com.Please consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners consider the show).Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps: * My (many) deep work environments [1:50] * Law firms are deep work disasters [6:42] * On the deepness of business development efforts [13:03] * Deep work for high school teachers [14:17] * The danger of using random masters degree to "fix" your professional life [17:04] * On becoming a great thinker (in graduate school) [18:26] * Question Roulette: coping with mission failure. [20:12] * My book writing toolbox [24:38] * The myth of the necessity of social media for professional success (rant alert!) [26:56] * Getting students to disconnect [31:19] * On social media and democratization movements [34:48] * The right order to teach my books [39:54] * Moving past repeated failures to minimize technology use [44:48] * Finding motivation to get things done (sermon alert!) [44:48] * Deep work on deep social problems [52:37] Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jul 27, 20201h 5m

Ep 12Ep. 12: Habit Tune-Up: Office Hours, Rabbit Holes, Perfectionism, Phones as Escape, and Making Deep Work Deeper

In this mini-episode, I take "calls" from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.Here are the topics we cover: * Advice on using "office hours" to reduce email [1:51] * Random thoughts and internet rabbit holes [11:18]* Fear of mistakes crippling productivity [16:27]* Escaping to phone when tried at work [22:11]* The secret to making deep work deeper [25:10]As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please considering subscribing. Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jul 23, 202031 min

Ep 11Ep. 11: Work Resistance, Techno-Criticism, Tales from MIT, and the Depth-Destroying Power of Children | DEEP QUESTIONS

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions on work resistance, the state of techno-criticism, tales from the MIT theory group, and the depth-destroying power of children. I also play some question roulette and tackle the audio question of the day. (Hint: it’s about my reading habits.)To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com (I send a survey to this list soliciting questions on a semi-regular basis).Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:* The organizational power of plain text files [1:18]* Confronting an overwhelming number of obligations [4:00]* Getting back on track after lockdown disrupted work habits [7:15]* Dealing with resistance to work [9:39]* Audio question of the day: managing a variety of different inputs [18:28]* Avoiding social media on the phone browser [23:26]* The need for a distraction-reducing phone operating system [26:06]* Tracking birthdays without Facebook [28:32] * My podcast habits [31:07]* Humane tools and the state of techno-criticism [33:57]* Question roulette: my book reading habits [43:46]* Life inside the MIT Theory Group (bonus: cracking the superstar code) [48:47]* The seeming impossibility of deep work with kids [1:02:42]* Curing your spouse’s Facebook addiction [1:14:10]* On the deep value of work [1:16:12]Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jul 20, 20201h 30m

Ep 10Ep. 10: Battling Email, Online Learning, and a Game Plan for Escaping a Shallow Life | DEEP QUESTIONS

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions on battling email, online learning, and a game plan for escaping a shallow life. I also play some question roulette and answer the audio question of the day.To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com (I send a survey to this list soliciting questions on a semi-regular basis.)Full list of topics tackled in today’s episode:* [1:23] Fighting the email onslaught* [4:50] Shutting down when work never ends* [9:53] Abandoning work blocks* [11:03] Grad school later in life* [12:20] Getting into grad school* [14:15] How to win at grad school* [15:40] My deliberate practice routines* [21:45] Question roulette: overhaul deep work habits* [25:31] Schools and social media* [28:00] Adapting to online learning * [31:40] Bullet journaling: yay or nay?* [34:40] Audio question of the day: too many tasks* [37:50] Elite learning without schools (bonus rant: the future of higher education)* [45:09] My dharma* [48:17] Escaping a long stay in the shallowsThanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jul 13, 20201h 2m

Ep 9Ep. 9: Habit Tune-Up: Dumbing Down Smartphones, Deep Habits, Progress on Non-Urgent Projects and Training Focus

In this mini-episode, I take "calls" from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.Here are the topics we cover: [1:30] Making an iPhone less distracting.[9:08] Keystone habits to help deep work stick.[12:45] Making progress on a non-urgent big project.[17:29] Training your ability to focus.Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jul 9, 202027 min

Ep 8Ep. 8: Fleeing a Collapsing Career, Taking Notes on Books, Building a Deep Life | DEEP QUESTIONS

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions on fleeing a collapsing career, taking notes on books, and building a deep life. I also play some question roulette and answer the audio question of the day.To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com (I send a survey to this list soliciting questions on a semi-regular basis.)Full list of topics tackled in today’s episode: * Fleeing a collapsing career. * The coming knowledge work productivity revolution. * Configuring your tasks. * Amending Deep Work. * Audio Question: Finding depth in a social office. * Taking notes on books (plus: Kindle versus physical) * News from social media. * Thoughts on LinkedIn. * Running a business as a student. * Optimal amounts of solitude. * Finding quality leisure. * How to build a deep life.Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jul 6, 20201h 13m

Ep 7Ep. 7: Habit Tune-Up: Time Blocking, Document Collaboration, Protecting Time and Doing Too Much

In this mini-episode, I take "calls" from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.(Going forward, I plan to occasionally augment my standard full length weekly episode, where I go deep on many different topics, with these shorter mini-episodes, where I can focus on specific themes and experiment with new formats.)Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jul 3, 202025 min

Ep 6Ep. 6: Balancing the Personal and Professional, Unreasonable Email Expectations, and Avoiding Hard Creative Work | DEEP QUESTIONS

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions on balancing the professional and the personal, unreasonable email expectations and using the internet to escape hard creative work. I also play some question roulette and attempt a lightening round in which I answer as many question as possible in a single minute.To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com (I send a survey to this list soliciting questions on a semi-regular basis.)Full list of topics tackled in today’s episode: * Separating personal and professional when planning. * Inducing a sense of urgency. * Balancing work and relationships in lockdown. * Getting into graduate school with bad grades. * Starting a productivity journey. * Resetting expectations about email response time. * Tracking health metrics. * Finding blog readers without social media. * Lightening Round: - how much deep work can fit in a day? - what is minimum deep work block length? - what are tips for overcoming resistance? - what do you do during your downtime? * A pastor seeking depth when on call. * The origin of my discipline. * A novelist struggling to work. * Managing reading. * On schools and the deep life.As always, thank you to listener Bit Holiday for the original theme music and transition sound effect (bitholiday.net). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jun 28, 20201h 7m

Ep 5Ep. 5: Tackling Procrastination, Building a Productivity System from Scratch, and the Intellectual Shallowness of Social Media | DEEP QUESTIONS

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions on tackling procrastination, building a productivity system from scratch, and the intellectual shallowness of social media. I also play some question roulette, and in a new segment, provide an update on what I'm up to in my own deep life at moment. To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.comFull list of topics tackled in today’s episode: * Deep work without alienating customers. * Reducing attention residue. * The distinction between deep and shallow work. * Combating procrastination. * Unpacking my work philosophy. * The future of VR. * Building a productivity system from scratch. * Storing notes for future books and articles. * The promises and peril of YouTube. * The Study Hacks story. * On smartphones and addiction. * How to learn about the world. (Hint: not on Twitter.) * Meditation skepticism. * Getting started with a Deep Life. * People not interested in depth. (Sermon alert.)Thank you to listener Bit Holiday for the original theme music and transition sound effect (bitholiday.net). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jun 21, 20201h 10m

Ep 4Ep. 4: Promoting Books without Social Media, Facebook's Fatal Flaw, and Escaping Soul-Crushing Jobs | DEEP QUESTIONS

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions on book publicity without social media, Facebook's fatal flaw, and escaping soul-crushing jobs. I also try out a new segment where I answer on the fly randomly selected questions I have not previously seen (to interesting effect). To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.comFull list of topics tackled in today’s episode: * Do I plan to ever have guests on the podcast to help me answer questions? (Yes.) * Deep work in a reactive organization (rant alert). * Tackling an overwhelming number of obligations. * Dealing with unproductive days. * Building good depth rituals. * Deliberate practice and social skills. * When is a PhD program worth it? * Productive people who also use social media. * The good and bad sides of technology. * Side-stepping the YouTube rabbit hole. * Publicizing books when you don't use social media. * Reducing text volume when dating. * Encouraging teens to spend last time on their phones (difficult, but possible!). * Facebook's fatal flaw. * Dealing with a job that "eats" your soul. * Advice for teenagers about to start college. * Fear of failure while pursuing a PhD. * Quarantine ruts impacting productivity (sermon alert). * PLUS: two randomly selected questions (mega sermon alert)Thank you to listener Bit Holiday for the original theme music and transition sound effect (bitholiday.net). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jun 14, 20201h 11m

Ep 3Ep. 3: Origin of my Productivity Obsession, Analog Relationships, and Detaching from Digital Judgment | DEEP QUESTIONS

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader queries on the origin of my productivity obsession, how digital minimalists can form relationships in a distracted world, and how to care less about what people thing about you (hint: stop using social media).To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.comFull list of topics tackled in today’s episode: * Ideal length of deep work sessions. * Origin of my productivity obsession. * Making progress on projects in lockdown. * Dealing with jobs that don’t respect deep work. * My notebook habits. * Finding relationships as a digital minimalist. * How to study on a phone. * Building a blog audience. * Caring less about what people thing about you. * The origins of drive. * Cutting back on self-help. * Advice for my 20-year-old self. * Better organizing information. * Solidifying lockdown lessons.Thank you to listener Bit Holiday for the original theme music and transition sound effect (bitholiday.net). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jun 9, 202050 min

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

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.comThis 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). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jun 1, 202050 min

Ep 1Ep. 1: My New Task System, Deep Work with Kids, and Finding Purpose in Distracted Times | DEEP QUESTIONS

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader queries on how I manage my tasks, the conflict between deep work and kids, moving beyond fairy tale messages when seeking purpose in difficult times, and so much more.For more about me about my writing: www.calnewport.comThis 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). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

May 28, 202049 min