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Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Deep Questions with Cal Newport

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.

294 - Ep. 293: Can A.I. Empty My Inbox?
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  • 294 - Ep. 293: Can A.I. Empty My Inbox?

    Imagine a world in which AI could handle your email inbox on your behalf. No more checking for new messages every five minutes. No more worries that people need you. No more exhausting cognitive context shifts. In this episode, Cal explores how close cutting-edge AI models are to achieving this goal, including using ChatGPT to help him answer some real email. He then dives into his latest article for The New Yorker, which explains the key technical obstacle to fully automated email and how it might be solved. This is followed by reader questions and a look at 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: Can A.I. Empty My Inbox? [4:33]
    - Should I continue to study programming if AI will eventually replace software jobs? [44:40]
    - Is it bad to use ChatGPT to assist with your writing? [49:22]
    - How do I reclaim my workspace for Deep Work? [55:24]
    - How do I decide what to do on my scheduled mini-breaks at work? [1:00:11]
    - CALL: Heidegger’s view on technology [1:02:48]
    - CALL: Seasonality with a partner and kids [1:09:11]

    CASE STUDY: A Silicon Valley Chief of Staff balancing work and ego [1:20:07]

    Something Interesting: General Grant’s Slow Productivity [1:30:08]

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

    newyorker.com/science/annals-of-artificial-intelligence/can-an-ai-make-plans


    Thanks to our Sponsors: 

    listening.com/deeprhone.com/caldrinklmnt.com/deepshopify.com/deep


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

    Mon, 25 Mar 2024
  • 293 - Ep. 292: Single-Purpose Notebooks

    On his recent book tour, Cal found great success using a small notebook dedicated to developing a single idea. In this episode, he explores this “single-purpose notebook” strategy, identifying when it makes sense and why it works. He also takes listener questions about his new book, “Slow Productivity,” and reacts to a recent article about TikTok’s stumbles.

    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: Single-Purpose Notebooks [5:02]

    - If “pseudo-productivity” isn’t effective, why is it so common? [27:07]
    - Can you explain the difference between limiting missions, projects, and daily goals? [34:59]
    - Should everyone buy a $50 notebook? [39:21]
    - How does “Slow Productivity” relate to mental models and first principles? [48:12]
    - Should I read your new book slowly? [52:44]
    - CALL: Does Cal ever stress about work? [55:24]

    CASE STUDY: Applying lifestyle-centric career planning [1:00:31]

    SOMETHING INTERESTING: TikTok Falters [1:08:56]

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

    bramses.notion.site/bramses/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?v=448bf8afad0740d18f6b109b4bd40d51notebookstories.com/2013/05/06/picasso-sketchbook/anothermanmag.com/life-culture/10788/remembering-bruce-chatwin-the-greatest-travel-writer-that-ever-livednotebookstories.com/2023/12/22/a-notebook-in-the-movie-elf/com/tech/personal-tech/quitting-tiktok-less-swiping-more-sleeping-1e166a39?page=1newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/tiktok-and-the-fall-of-the-social-media-giants



    Thanks to our Sponsors: 

    mintmobile.com/deeppolicygenius.com/deepquestionsnotion.com/calcozyearth.com (Use promo code “Cal”)


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

    Mon, 18 Mar 2024
  • 292 - Ep. 291: Do Better, Do Less

    What does the story of the rise of the singing superstar Jewel teach us about escaping busyness in our knowledge work jobs? In this episode, Cal makes the connection, extracting a key lesson about quality as an engine for slowness, and then providing concrete advice and examples for applying this lesson to your own professional life. Also: listener questions and the books Cal read in February.

    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: Doing Better, Do Less [5:00]

    - Is my job too hard? [38:25]
    - How do I sell myself better? [42:52]
    - How do I convince myself to do actual hard work? [45:42]
    - How do I find time to get better if I'm busy? [48:46]
    - What is the values plan? [53:23]

    The 5 books Cal read in February 2024 [1:01:45]

    The Sabbath (AJ Heschel)
    Making Movies (Sidney Lumet)
    Killer of the Flower Moon (David Grann)
    Orthodoxy (G.K. Chesterton)
    The Good Shepherd (CA Forestor)

    Links:
    FREE download excerpt and 2 Bonuses for “Slow Productivity”:
    calnewport.com/slow

    Thanks to our Sponsors:

    shopify.com/deep
    drinklmnt.com/deep
    mybodytutor.com
    blinkist.com/deep

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

    Mon, 11 Mar 2024
  • 291 - Ep. 290: Financing the Deep Life (w/ Noah Kagan)

    One of the most common strategies for achieving a powerful ideal lifestyle vision is to leverage entrepreneurial activities to find a stable source of income that allows autonomy and flexibility. To help understand how to succeed in such ventures, Cal interviews the entrepreneur and author Noah Kagan about his new book, "The Million Dollar Weekend." Recording on the road as part of his book tour for "Slow Productivity," Cal also shares some lessons about what he's been observing.

    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

    INTERVIEW: Marketing guru Noah Kagan [11:06]

    Links:
    Use this link to preorder a signed copy of “Slow Productivity”:
    peoplesbooktakoma.com/preorder-slow-productivity/
    FREE download excerpt and 2 Bonuses for “Slow Productivity”:
    calnewport.com/slow

    Thanks to our Sponsors:

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

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

    Mon, 04 Mar 2024
  • 290 - Ep. 289: The Email Catastrophe

    How did we end up tyrannized by our inboxes? How is this related to Tyrannosaurus? What was it like working at a high-tech company at the exact moment email was introduced? In this episode, Cal weaves together all these questions into a story about the unexpected ways technology impacts our lives and what we can do after the fact to make things better.

    Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo

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

    Deep Dive: The Email Catastrophe [3:47]

    - How do I deal with email overload in a government job? [45:34]
    - How do I deal with an employer who demands constant responsiveness?[55:36]
    - How can I concentrate when coding when I need to use my web browser? [58:27]
    - How do I overcome my fear of missing important emails? [1:02:35]
    - CALL: Can slow productivity work for an academic? [1:06:38]

    CAL REACTS: Reader Comments on his NYT Op-Ed [1:17:47]

    Links:

    newyorker.com/magazine/2019/04/08/the-day-the-dinosaurs-diedpnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1817407116newyorker.com/magazine/1994/01/10/e-mail-from-bill-gatesblog.rescuetime.com/communication-multitasking-switches/nytimes.com/2024/02/16/opinion/creative-work-productivity-seasonality.htmlUse this link to preorder a signed copy of “Slow Productivity”: peoplesbooktakoma.com/preorder-slow-productivity/FREE download excerpt and 2 Bonuses for “Slow Productivity”: calnewport.com/slow

     
    Thanks to our Sponsors: 

    zocdoc.com/deeppolicygenius.com/deepquestionsblinkist.com/deepmoshlife.com/deepshopify.com/deep


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

    Mon, 26 Feb 2024
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