Podcasts about Cal Newport

I'm re-releasing this popular episode because so many of you have been sharing how hard it is to focus on your work right now. The answer? Work smarter, not harder. My guest is a best-selling author and professor at Georgetown University, Cal Newport, and he shares exactly how to work less and get way more done (while also feeling happier and calmer). So many of us are stuck in a cycle of answering emails all day, sitting on Zoom meetings, but never really moving the ball forward in our work or in our lives, and this episode is going to change that. I've used so many of the tactics from this interview to restructure my workdays and how I run my business.

Cal Newport talks with Brad Stulberg to explain the optimization paradox in Episode 414 of the Deep Questions podcast. 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:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) The Optimization Paradox (2:12) Interview with Brad Stulberg (35:12) Health optimization (1:09:16) Tail end development   Links: Buy Cal's latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.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? Thanks to our Sponsors:  https://wealthfront.com/deep https://calderalab.com/deep https://cozyearth.com (Use code “DEEP”) Cal Newport is not a Wealthfront client. Wealthfront's high-yield cash account: ⁠https://www.wealthfront.com/deep⁠. This experience may not be representative of other Wealthfront clients, and there is no guarantee of future performance or success. Experiences will vary. Cal Newport receives cash compensation from Wealthfront Brokerage for paid endorsement in his podcast, creating a conflict of interest. The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC, member FINRA/SIPC.  Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The base APY is 3.30% on cash deposits as of January 30, 2026, is representative, subject to change, and requires no minimum. If eligible for the overall boosted rate of 4.05% offered in connection with this promo, your boosted rate is also subject to change if the base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period. Additional terms and conditions apply, which can be found on ⁠wealthfront.com/deep⁠.  Funds in the Cash Account are swept to program banks, where it earns the variable APY. Investment advisory services are provided by Wealthfront Advisers LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Securities investments: not bank deposits, bank-guaranteed or FDIC-insured, and may lose value. Thanks to Jesse Miller for production and mastering, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever notice how you're still thinking about that last email while your kid is talking to you in the kitchen? That's attention residue, and it's slowing you down more than you know.In this episode, Steph talks about the concept of attention residue, first coined by University of Washington professor Sophie Leroy, and why it's draining focus, energy, and presence from modern life. She breaks down why every notification, phone check, and quick task switch leaves a cognitive trace that follows us into whatever comes next, and why that trace is just as powerful whether we're jumping between massive projects or just glancing at a text. Drawing on research and a story about catching her own teenage daughter in an unconscious phone-tapping habit, Steph makes the case that most of our modern exhaustion isn't really about being busy. It's about being scattered. She shares the magnifying glass analogy that reframes how to think about focus, and offers a simple challenge for reclaiming deep, concentrated attention this week.In this episode you'll discover:What attention residue actually is and why it happens every time you switch tasksWhy small distractions (a quick email check, a social scroll) cost your brain just as much as switching between major projectsHow to start noticing your own unconscious "checking" habits before you can change themYour takeaways:Every task switch leaves a cognitive residue that can take 5 to 12 minutes to fully clear, so stacking small interruptions adds up fastAwareness is the starting point for change. You can't manage a habit you haven't noticed yetConcentrated, protected time (phone away, timer on) produces dramatically better focus and output than trying to multitask your way through the dayResources mentioned:2021 Superhuman report on email-checking Cal Newport "Deep Work"

In this episode Shell is joined again by organisational psychologist Dr Amantha Imber to talk through practical strategies from her book, The Energy Game, to recharge and rebuild energy. They touch on:Boost strategies:

Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News. Video from today's episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) Anthropic's new research report (2:05) Digging into the paper (3:32) High level tutorial on LLMs (6:18) Detail on annotations (13:50) What the Anthropic paper found (20:39) Why this is interesting research (26:28) Conclusion on consciousness Links: Buy Cal's latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow  https://www.anthropic.com/research/global-workspace https://x.com/RileyRalmuto/status/2074195587616964757 https://www.axios.com/2026/07/06/anthropic-claude-ai-conscious https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/07/09/1140293/anthropic-found-a-hidden-space-where-claude-puzzles-over-concepts/ Thanks to Jesse Miller for production and mastering and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News. Video from today's episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) Does business actually understand AI? (2:52) Quote #2 (6:20) Taking a step back (7:06) Quote #3 (11:39) Quote #4 (17:02) Idea for journalists Links: Buy Cal's latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/02/world/europe/germany-sap-ai-jobs-skilled-workers.html https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/nvidia-ceo-begs-execs-stop-fired-ai https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/marc-andreessen-says-every-large-033008122.html https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/sam-altman-says-initially-wrong-132000485.html Thanks to Jesse Miller for production and mastering and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Most knowledge workers are trapped by pseudo-productivity, mistaking busyness for actual progress. This book summary reveals how Cal Newport's Slow Productivity principles offer a surprising escape.

Last year I went on a business retreat in Austin that completely changed how I think about working, and it all comes down to one thing: deep work. In this episode I break down Cal Newport's framework from the book Deep Work, the four rules for building a focused work practice, and exactly how I've implemented it into my own life and business.What I cover:

Back in 2019, Cal published one of the first books arguing that we rethink our personal relationship with online tools. Can his advice still work in an age of TikTok and ChatGPT? In today's episode, Cal dives deep into the r/DigitalMinimalism sub-reddit to see what advice contemporary digital minimalists are following and offers his own thoughts and recommendations.    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: youtube.com/calnewportmedia   (0:00) Can I be a Digital Minimalist in 2026? (39:13) How can I capture notes if I'm land lining? (40:39) For cognitive fitness, is it better to be handwriting or typing? (42:07) A note on art museum visits (43:46) Reactions to an article about AI and software engineering (49:39) What the Deep Life really is (50:46) What Cal read (52:08) What Cal watched   Books:  The Jewish Way to a Good Life (Rabbi Shira Stuntman)   Links: Buy Cal's latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.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? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeNNYMJwZtI https://www.reddit.com/r/digitalminimalism/ https://www.reddit.com/r/digitalminimalism/comments/1tv0k77/for_the_past_2_years_ive_been_living_like_its_the/ https://www.reddit.com/r/digitalminimalism/comments/1to631b/three_years_of_digital_minimalism_the_rewiring_is/ https://www.reddit.com/r/digitalminimalism/comments/1ty27lz/limited_my_14f_screen_time_to_3_hours_a_day_and/ https://www.reddit.com/r/digitalminimalism/comments/1tm9rce/where_do_you_still_find_human_curation/ https://www.reddit.com/r/digitalminimalism/comments/1txskw9/deciding_once_instead_of_every_morning_is_the/ https://www.reddit.com/r/digitalminimalism/comments/1u74dob/ran_a_30day_intentional_solitude_experiment/ https://www.normaltech.ai/p/why-ai-hasnt-replaced-software-engineers   Thanks to our Sponsors:   https://www.vanta.com/deepquestions https://www.drinklmnt.com/deep https://www.expressvpn.com/deep https://www.wealthfront.com/deep   Cal Newport is not a Wealthfront client.   Thanks to Jesse Miller for production and mastering, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Looking for your next great read? In this episode, Marc shares five (okay, six!) books that have shaped how he thinks about mindset, power, and productivity, spanning over 60 years of publication. From a rock star's surprising business wisdom to a productivity formula that could save you from burnout, these are the books Marc says are worth your time! Do you have something that helps coaches, like a program, a product or a service? If you'd like to get your offer out to about 100,000 coaches, Marc currently has openings for partnerships (with a special summer offer), and you can get the details and book a call to chat with him about it at www.jvwithmarc.com/!  This episode was edited and produced by Marc's brother Matt and his team and PodAssist, and right now they're offering listeners of this show a very special discount on their services. You can now get your brand-new audio podcast launched in as little as 2 weeks for just $297 US, which is $400 off their regularly-priced package by mentioning this show. That's just $297 to get personally coached and supported by Matt, from concept to your show going live, and all you have to do is visit PodAssist.com to learn more and book a call. But hurry, being a small team their spots are limited, and don't forget to mention that Marc sent you!  What You'll Hear In This Episode: The "Robinson Crusoe" lesson from one book that explains why people stay stuck in bad relationships, jobs, and businesses long after they know better. Why one specific book is the most highlighted, dog-eared book in Marc's entire collection and what made it so impactful to him. The surgeon analogy that reframes what it really means to be "ruthless but not evil" when making tough decisions. What a famous rockstar's book taught Marc about treating yourself like a business, and why so many coaches resist that mindset. A formula from one of his favourite books for high-quality work, and why intensity of focus matters more than hours logged. The "one major initiative" strategy Marc got from a book that helps fight burnout, and how Marc restructured his own calendar around it. Why Marc no longer forces himself to finish a bad book, and what changed his mind on this over the years. LINKS:  The New Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz (edited/updated by Dan Kennedy)  Thick Face, Black Heart by Chin-Ning Chu  Me, Inc.: Build an Army of One, Unleash Your Inner Rock God, Win in Life and Business by Gene Simmons On Power: My Journey Through the Corridors of Power by Gene Simmons  Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport  Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnoutby Cal Newport  Episode #959: From Matthew McConaughey to Ray Kroc: Unconventional Books Every Coach Should Read   Book a no-obligation 1:1 strategy call with Marc for your coaching business: http://www.chatwithmarcm.com If you'd like more coaching clients without sending cold messages or spending money on ads, the Natural Born Coach Program is for you. Get the details here! http://www.nbcprogram.com Join The Coaching Jungle Facebook Group! http://www.thecoachingjungle.com   Become a Coaching Jungle VIP member which includes special posting perks in the group to reach almost 30,000 potential clients! http://www.myjunglevip.com   Grow your business with The Coaching Jungle Mastermind! http://www.coachingjunglemastermind.com If you have a product or service that helps coaches, and you'd like to get it in front of 100,000 of them: http://www.jvwithmarc.com  

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 4063: Cal Newport challenges the popular advice that success begins with immediate action, arguing that rushing to start often leads to wasted effort and abandoned ambitions. By exploring survivor bias, long periods of exploration, and the power of sustained diligence, he makes the case that the most successful people carefully vet pursuits before committing deeply enough to see them through. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.calnewport.com/blog/2008/06/27/dangerous-ideas-getting-started-is-overrated/ Quotes to ponder: "The most important thing you can do is to get started!" "Steve Martin noted that the key to becoming really good at something (so good that they can't ignore you), is diligence, which he defines as effort over time to the exclusion of other pursuits." "My advice: resist starting. Spend lots of time learning about different pursuits, but put off action until an idea begins to haunt your daydreams and refuses to be dislodged from your aspirational psyche." Episode references: The Millionaire Next Door: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/thomas-j-stanley/the-millionaire-next-door/9781589795471/ Steve Martin: https://www.stevemartin.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summer is officially underway, but in Russian-occupied Crimea, residents are facing fuel shortages, rolling blackouts and cancelled summer camps. It's all part of a new phase in Russia's war, as Ukraine expands its campaign into the invader's heartland. Now the Wall Street Journal reports the Kremlin is pressuring Belarus to open another front as Russia struggles on the battlefield. Joining the show to discuss this is WSJ chief European political correspondent Bojan Pancevski, whose  new book, "The Nord Stream Conspiracy," reveals the inside story about one of the most consequential acts of sabotage in recent history, and the secret team most likely behind it.  Also on today's show: Wafa Mustafa & Waad Al-Kateab, co-directors, "Maybe Tomorrow"; Cal Newport, Professor of Computer Science, Georgetown University / Host, "Deep Questions" podcast    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Llevas días diciéndote que vas a usar menos el teléfono. Aguantas tres días. Al cuarto, el pulgar ya está deslizando otra vez. El problema no es tu fuerza de voluntad: los pequeños recortes no funcionan contra algo diseñado para engancharte. En este episodio Luis Ramos te explica el método de 30 días de Cal Newport —probado con más de 1.600 personas— para recuperar el control de tu vida digital: ✅ Cómo distinguir tecnologías opcionales de las que realmente necesitas ✅ Por qué rellenar el tiempo con actividades analógicas es tan importante como dejar el teléfono ✅ Las tres preguntas para reintroducir apps con criterio y sin recaer #MinimalismoDigital #HábitosTecnológicos #ProductividadPersonal #PasaALaAccion

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 4063: Cal Newport challenges the popular advice that success begins with immediate action, arguing that rushing to start often leads to wasted effort and abandoned ambitions. By exploring survivor bias, long periods of exploration, and the power of sustained diligence, he makes the case that the most successful people carefully vet pursuits before committing deeply enough to see them through. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.calnewport.com/blog/2008/06/27/dangerous-ideas-getting-started-is-overrated/ Quotes to ponder: "The most important thing you can do is to get started!" "Steve Martin noted that the key to becoming really good at something (so good that they can't ignore you), is diligence, which he defines as effort over time to the exclusion of other pursuits." "My advice: resist starting. Spend lots of time learning about different pursuits, but put off action until an idea begins to haunt your daydreams and refuses to be dislodged from your aspirational psyche." Episode references: The Millionaire Next Door: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/thomas-j-stanley/the-millionaire-next-door/9781589795471/ Steve Martin: https://www.stevemartin.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 4063: Cal Newport challenges the popular advice that success begins with immediate action, arguing that rushing to start often leads to wasted effort and abandoned ambitions. By exploring survivor bias, long periods of exploration, and the power of sustained diligence, he makes the case that the most successful people carefully vet pursuits before committing deeply enough to see them through. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.calnewport.com/blog/2008/06/27/dangerous-ideas-getting-started-is-overrated/ Quotes to ponder: "The most important thing you can do is to get started!" "Steve Martin noted that the key to becoming really good at something (so good that they can't ignore you), is diligence, which he defines as effort over time to the exclusion of other pursuits." "My advice: resist starting. Spend lots of time learning about different pursuits, but put off action until an idea begins to haunt your daydreams and refuses to be dislodged from your aspirational psyche." Episode references: The Millionaire Next Door: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/thomas-j-stanley/the-millionaire-next-door/9781589795471/ Steve Martin: https://www.stevemartin.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News. Video from today's episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) Stop the “doom trolling” (6:53) Cal's recent New York Times article (9:00) Cal's argument (10:16) The 2nd option (12:54) Conclusion (15:58) Stop playing along with Doom Trolling game (20:09) Use the term “doom trolling” Links: Buy Cal's latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow  https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/17/opinion/ai-dangerous-openai-anthropic.html https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/24/opinion/yuval-harari-ai-chatgpt.html https://www.newyorker.com/science/annals-of-artificial-intelligence/what-kind-of-mind-does-chatgpt-have https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/opinion/anthropic-ai-claude-mythos.html https://www.anthropic.com/institute/recursive-self-improvement https://x.com/sapinker/status/2067231673268273547 https://x.com/edzitron/status/2067308832053936276 Thanks to Jesse Miller for production and mastering and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co --- BUCKLE UP! This episode is CHOCK FULL of powerful insights from bestselling author Cal Newport! This episode is for you if: 1 - You are overwhelmed by the supposed “AI Art-pocalypse” and why this computer scientist doesn't believe the hype (most hopeful take I have ever heard btw!). 2 - You are overwhelmed by admin like e-mail and need a different approach. 3 - You are brainsick from screen time and short form video. 4 - You need a mental emotional motivational boost! This will do it! SHOW NOTES: Cal Newporthttps://calnewport.com Deep Questions with Cal Newporthttps://www.thedeeplife.com/listen/ Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.coAudio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.coSoundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.comSpotify Playlist of WHY? Songs Used on This Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ZIE7PHG5I1Ddg1BuVGRzj?si=4x_BzDZjQgqSpoaLXdVACg&pi=h4HsIKG0SP6Kg   SPONSORS:SQUARESPACEHead to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK RULARula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/peptalk #rulapod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

¿Te gustaría recuperar las horas que el teléfono te roba cada día sin que te des cuenta? ¿Poder estar con tu gente en una cena, en un parque, sin esa necesidad nerviosa de mirar la pantalla cada dos minutos? La mayoría intenta arreglarlo con trucos: apagar notificaciones, dejar el móvil fuera del dormitorio. Y durante unos días parece que funciona... hasta que vuelves exactamente al mismo sitio. En este episodio resumimos Minimalismo Digital (Digital Minimalism, 2019), de Cal Newport, profesor de informática que nunca ha tenido una cuenta en redes sociales. Su tesis es clara: tu relación con la tecnología no la vas a arreglar con fuerza de voluntad. Lo que necesitas es una filosofía completa basada en lo que de verdad valoras. Newport explica que estas aplicaciones no son neutrales: hay miles de millones de dólares invertidos para que mires la pantalla un rato más. Dos fuerzas lo hacen posible: el refuerzo positivo intermitente (el botón de like funciona exactamente igual que una máquina tragaperras) y el ansia de aprobación social que las redes han secuestrado de tu cerebro prehistórico. El propio cofundador de Facebook lo admitió. No es tu culpa. Es el modelo de negocio de ellos. En este episodio vas a llevarte: ✅ Por qué los trucos no funcionan y qué filosofía sí resuelve el problema de raíz ✅ Las dos fuerzas psicológicas que te tienen enganchado al móvil, diseñadas a propósito ✅ La nueva economía de Thoreau: el costo de una herramienta digital medido en vida, no en dinero ✅ Por qué la soledad es una necesidad que estás dejando de cubrir (y qué le pasó a Lincoln) ✅ Cómo recuperar la conversación real y un ocio que de verdad te llene Este episodio abre un nuevo bloque de cuatro semanas dedicadas a atención y enfoque.

Cal Newport explains about if you're lazy or overstimulated in episode 410 of the Deep Questions podcast. 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:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) Am I lazy or overstimulated? (28:29) A reaction to Cal's recent New Yorker article (38:23) Positive lessons from box offices  successes of Gen Z films  (46:24) An old school tool for a woodshed (47:32) A new solution to landlining (49:30) What Cal is reading Links: Buy Cal's latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.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? https://www.newyorker.com/culture/open-questions/instead-of-taking-your-job-ai-might-transform-it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKGhxMi50y8 https://aprilowens.substack.com/p/the-art-we-actually-need Thanks to our Sponsors:  https://www.scribe.how/deep https://www.shopify.com/deep https://www.cozyearth.com/deep (Use code “DEEP”) https://www.calderalab.com/deep Thanks to Jesse Miller for production and mastering, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News. Video from today's episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) Was the Mythos ban justified? (5:32) Is Fable 5 actually dangerous? (11:03) Is Fable 5 without guardrails actually a unique national security concern? (15:13) Should the government be more involved with AI? Links: Buy Cal's latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow  https://www.anthropic.com/glasswing https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/09/technology/anthropic-ai-claude-fable-mythos.html https://x.com/DavidSacks/status/2065853007619588171 https://www.economist.com/business/2026/06/14/donald-trumps-blocking-of-anthropic-is-capricious-and-chaotic https://x.com/deanwball/status/2066151868556865860 https://x.com/GaryMarcus/status/2066166713453060512 https://x.com/DavidSacks/status/2065853007619588171 https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/opinion/anthropic-ai-claude-mythos.html https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/06/promoting-advanced-artificial-intelligence-innovation-and-security/ Thanks to Jesse Miller for production and mastering and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sometimes making just one small change to how you work can significantly boost your productivity, and today's episode from the vault is loaded with practical ideas! Annabelle Bishop from Boldside joins Shell on the show to share what she does to optimise her time and energy at work, touching on:

Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News. Video from today's episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) Are we about to lose control of AI? (3:04) How much should we be afraid of recursive self improvement? (7:52) Are these fears justified? (9:36) Faster software development doesn't equal smarter AI (12:25) These tools are completely controllable (16:52) Taking a step back Links: Buy Cal's latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow  https://www.anthropic.com/institute/recursive-self-improvement Thanks to Jesse Miller for production and mastering and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can't concentrate? What about thinking deeply? Attention spans are shrinking rapidly. Cal Newport, a professor of computer science at Georgetown University and the author of the bestselling book 'Deep Work' says we're facing a crisis — an attack on our ability to think. He's calling for what he calls a revolution in defence of thinking. He outlines the steps for reclaiming your attention.

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 4043: Joshua Fields Milburn and Ryan Nicodemus explore the difference between merely thinking you should change and emotionally deciding you must change. They also examine how seeking other perspectives can either reinforce existing beliefs or spark meaningful personal growth by challenging your assumptions and encouraging independent thought. Read along with the original article(s) here: http://www.theminimalists.com/deciding/  &  http://www.theminimalists.com/pov/ Quotes to ponder: "You can't have it both ways: you can't want it to be one way when your actions are the other way." "Once you understand the necessity for change on an emotional level, you're able to turn your shoulds into musts." "This is where real growth happens: when we're willing to step away from dogma, to step back from our own opinions, and examine the world through a different pair of eyes." Episode references: Stephen Fry: https://www.stephenfry.com/ Cal Newport: https://calnewport.com/ Sam Harris: https://www.samharris.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport (2016)

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 4043: Joshua Fields Milburn and Ryan Nicodemus explore the difference between merely thinking you should change and emotionally deciding you must change. They also examine how seeking other perspectives can either reinforce existing beliefs or spark meaningful personal growth by challenging your assumptions and encouraging independent thought. Read along with the original article(s) here: http://www.theminimalists.com/deciding/  &  http://www.theminimalists.com/pov/ Quotes to ponder: "You can't have it both ways: you can't want it to be one way when your actions are the other way." "Once you understand the necessity for change on an emotional level, you're able to turn your shoulds into musts." "This is where real growth happens: when we're willing to step away from dogma, to step back from our own opinions, and examine the world through a different pair of eyes." Episode references: Stephen Fry: https://www.stephenfry.com/ Cal Newport: https://calnewport.com/ Sam Harris: https://www.samharris.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 4043: Joshua Fields Milburn and Ryan Nicodemus explore the difference between merely thinking you should change and emotionally deciding you must change. They also examine how seeking other perspectives can either reinforce existing beliefs or spark meaningful personal growth by challenging your assumptions and encouraging independent thought. Read along with the original article(s) here: http://www.theminimalists.com/deciding/  &  http://www.theminimalists.com/pov/ Quotes to ponder: "You can't have it both ways: you can't want it to be one way when your actions are the other way." "Once you understand the necessity for change on an emotional level, you're able to turn your shoulds into musts." "This is where real growth happens: when we're willing to step away from dogma, to step back from our own opinions, and examine the world through a different pair of eyes." Episode references: Stephen Fry: https://www.stephenfry.com/ Cal Newport: https://calnewport.com/ Sam Harris: https://www.samharris.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Take Back Your Time: Cut Phone and Email Distractions for Agency OwnersMatt Dietz hosts Agency Launch, a show about running an insurance agency through staffing, retention, marketing, and sales, and invites listeners to join his texting community by texting “free” to 208-213-8809 for free resources. He shares a coaching-call lesson with a high-performing agent who thought he needed to work more, but realized he was mainly unorganized and distracted. Matt argues that phones and platforms are designed to capture attention and that business owners must be fanatical with time, recommending Cal Newport's books Digital Minimalism and Deep Work. Practical steps include turning off email notifications, reducing how often email pushes to the phone (e.g., hourly), silencing text sounds, using Do Not Disturb on an Apple Watch, and setting up location-based Focus Modes at the office and home to limit notifications and calls. He also directs viewers to agencylaunch.net for coaching options and notes he's active on LinkedIn.00:00 Welcome to Agency Launch00:16 Free Texting Community00:55 Working More vs Organized01:49 Devices Steal Attention02:59 Books to Reclaim Focus03:53 Stop Email Interruptions05:40 Silence Texts and Watch06:47 Focus Modes at Work Home08:37 Final Advice and Next Steps

Actor Lili Taylor is an avid birder, and she has written a book about her passion, Turning to Birds: The Power and Beauty of Noticing. Show notes: Lili Taylor Turning to Birds: The Power and Beauty of Noticing Merlin Bird ID Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow How to Use Images in Your Scrivener Projects: Advanced Techniques for Ebooks (how to link to external images) Cal Newport, Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World Verlyn Klinkenborg, Several Short Sentences About Writing Learn more about Scrivener, and check out the ebook Take Control of Scrivener. If you like the podcast, please follow it on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app. Leave a rating or review, and tell your friends. And check out past episodes of Write Now with Scrivener.

Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News. Video from today's episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) Did AI just “solve” math? (2:38) What OpenAI did (6:30) Question #1 - Is this result that important? (7:34) Question #2 - Does this mean LLMs are now smarter than human mathematicians? (17:50) Question #3 - Does this mean all equally hard challenges will now be conquered by AI? (23:27) Question #4 - What is the future of math? (28:27) Concluding thoughts Links: Buy Cal's latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow  https://openai.com/index/model-disproves-discrete-geometry-conjecture/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br4l9YjCyRU https://x.com/PeterDiamandis/status/2058956956077871275 https://cdn.openai.com/pdf/74c24085-19b0-4534-9c90-465b8e29ad73/unit-distance-remarks.pdf Thanks to Jesse Miller for production and mastering and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For a lot of entrepreneurs, sitting still feels wrong. You might even find yourself jumping up to look busy the second you hear someone coming. This episode is about the programming running underneath that, and how to approach productivity with a little more mindfulness.  You're Invited to Podcast Club: Starting in June, listeners of The Conscious Edge are coming together on Thursdays at 1pm ET for Podcast Club. Think book club, but for the podcast. We'll talk about the episodes, what landed, where it's challenging us, and how to actually apply it. It's a chance to meet other business owners, get into real two-way conversation, and stop just consuming content. RSVP for the dates you want at consciousedge.com/club.  Get full show notes at www.consciousedge.com/ep106 Instagram:@aleciastg In this Mindfulness Matters conversation, Alecia and Jonathan unpack why our culture has trained us to equate busyness with worth, what mindful productivity actually looks like in real life, and why the productivity hacks you keep Googling never seem to stick. They get into the research that says 90 minutes of focused work outperforms six hours of distracted effort, why office workers switch tasks roughly 70 times a day without realizing it, and the 333 method that gives you a usable structure for deep work without the all-or-nothing crash. This is the episode for the entrepreneur who's been operating in summer mode for years, who knows they're depleting themselves, and who hasn't been able to figure out why the focus and follow-through they used to have feels so far away.

Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News.   Video from today's episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia   (0:00) Has AI conquered coding? (3:21) Lars Faye quote (5:25) Skipping the struggle step (6:42) Point #1 (7:08) Point #2 (7:28) Point #3 (7:39) Point #4 (8:35) Solution   Links: Sign up for Cal's newsletter at www.calnewport.com/ideas Buy Cal's latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow https://larsfaye.com/articles/agentic-coding-is-a-trap https://www.infoworld.com/article/4143101/pity-the-developers-who-resist-agentic-coding.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQSNhk5ICTI Thanks to Jesse Miller for production and mastering and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tue, 19 May 2026 22:00:00 GMT http://relay.fm/focused/256 http://relay.fm/focused/256 David Sparks and Mike Schmitz David & Mike discuss the difference between task triage and time architecture when designing your week and using rituals to help you transition from one task to the next. David & Mike discuss the difference between task triage and time architecture when designing your week and using rituals to help you transition from one task to the next. clean 3646 David & Mike discuss the difference between task triage and time architecture when designing your week and using rituals to help you transition from one task to the next. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Vitally: Your Copilot for AI-Powered Customer Success. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting. Keeper: Get 60% off personal and family plans. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Video version of this episode Focused #250: Planning Your Week Don't Plan Your Week, Design It | Practical PKM The Deep Life by Cal Newport #316: Weekly Templates David's Ideal Week Template Mike's Ideal Week Template Plan Your Ideal Week | Free Tool by Mike Schmitz Timery Day One Obsidian Keychron K2 HE Wireless Keyboard Mike's guitar What You're Made For by George Raveling

Tue, 19 May 2026 22:00:00 GMT http://relay.fm/focused/256 http://relay.fm/focused/256 Calendar Modes & Transitions Rituals 256 David Sparks and Mike Schmitz David & Mike discuss the difference between task triage and time architecture when designing your week and using rituals to help you transition from one task to the next. David & Mike discuss the difference between task triage and time architecture when designing your week and using rituals to help you transition from one task to the next. clean 3646 David & Mike discuss the difference between task triage and time architecture when designing your week and using rituals to help you transition from one task to the next. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Vitally: Your Copilot for AI-Powered Customer Success. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting. Keeper: Get 60% off personal and family plans. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Video version of this episode Focused #250: Planning Your Week Don't Plan Your Week, Design It | Practical PKM The Deep Life by Cal Newport #316: Weekly Templates David's Ideal Week Template Mike's Ideal Week Template Plan Your Ideal Week | Free Tool by Mike Schmitz Timery Day One Obsidian Keychron K2 HE Wireless Keyboard Mike's guitar What You're Made For by George Raveling

Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News.   Video from today's episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia   (0:00) Is AI about to “eat everything”? (2:53) What does the METR chart measure? (8:08) What do these measurements actually capture? (12:31-) How are the models getting better? (21:26) Does this mean AI is about to “eat everything”? (26:16) So, what's with all of these hysterical tweets?   Links: Buy Cal's latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow https://metr.org/time-horizons/ https://x.com/SydSteyerhart/status/2053082873847070911 https://x.com/AISafetyMemes/status/2053169358919328172 https://x.com/ramez/status/2041946766598402459?s=61   Thanks to Jesse Miller for production and mastering, Nate Mechler for research and newsletter, and Jay Kerstens for theme music. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cal Newport, computer scientist and author of Deep Work, joins Offline to explain why we need a revolution in cognitive fitness, and how AI is going to get in the way. Cal and Jon explore how smartphones and AI are destroying our ability to concentrate, how our attention spans are a third of what they were just twenty years ago, and how we can practice “deep work” in our constantly interrupted digital environment.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast, episode title, and episode date.

Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News. Video from today's episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) Is the AI doom fever breaking? (4:30) Have the AI CEOs changed their tuen? (7:23) Why did they change? (11:21) Why did they ever think this was a good idea? (24:26) Conclusion Links: Buy Cal's latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFnoQkYUqgU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWxHOrn8-rs https://x.com/sama/status/2050229058425045178 https://fortune.com/2026/05/02/jensen-huang-nvdia-ceo-god-complex-ai-apocalypse-warnings-shortages-critical-jobs/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Kpb8eu1pEY https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/03/opinion/ai-jobs-unemployment-silicon-valley.html https://nickbostrom.com/existential/risks.pdf Thanks to Jesse Miller for production and mastering and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What happens when you delete every app off your phone for 21 days? In this solo episode, Erik shares what he discovered during a Christmas break internet break — and what the research says about why so many of us feel like we can't put the phone down in the first place.In this episode, Erik covers:How We Got Here Without Deciding To: The boiled frog drift into five-to-seven hours of daily screen time wasn't a choice anyone made — it happened gradually, and the data from researcher Gloria Mark at UC Irvine shows exactly what it's cost our attention spans.It's Not Just Social Media: Email, Slack, the news app — your brain doesn't distinguish between Instagram and Outlook. The real pattern is letting an outside ping decide what you think about next, and that pattern is everywhere.The Research That Should Actually Motivate You: Studies from the University of Bath and Beth Israel found measurable reductions in anxiety, depression, and insomnia after just one week off social media — improvements that typically take months of therapy to achieve.The Five-Level Detox Ladder: From turning off notifications and going grayscale all the way to Cal Newport's 30-day deep reset protocol, Erik walks through a tiered framework so you can pick the experiment that fits your life right now.The Healthy Cadence Framework: A reset alone isn't enough — Erik lays out how to build purposeful, sustainable habits around when and why you use each channel, so you don't just slide back to baseline.If you've ever felt less busy the moment you put your phone down — or wondered what your brain might feel like with a little less noise in it — this episode is the permission slip and the practical roadmap to find out. Connect with Erik:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This Podcast is Powered By:Brain.fm - 20% off your first month⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Descript⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Descript 101⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Castmagic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ecamm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podpage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rodecaster Pro⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Make sure to grab Shortcasts from Beyond The To-Do List by Blinkist. A Shortcast is a 7-10 min version of a podcast where you get the core takeaways. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 2039: Cal Newport argues that perfectionism delivers minimal gains while creating disproportionate stress, making it a losing strategy for meaningful work. He shows that true value comes from developing underlying skills and meeting a reasonable quality threshold, not endless polishing. By focusing on long-term improvement instead of obsessive tweaking, you can achieve better results while maintaining a more sustainable and enjoyable life. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.calnewport.com/blog/2012/07/24/perfectionism-is-a-losers-strategy/ Quotes to ponder: "The vast majority of your product's value comes from your underlying ability." "Perfectionism, by contrast, can be incredibly stressful. It puts you in a state of constant worry that you're on the brink of failure." "This is why I call perfectionism a loser's strategy: you're generating a disproportionate amount of stress for a small amount of value." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News. Video from today's episode also at: youtube.com/calnewportmedia 0:00 Is AI About to Automate Every Office Job? 3:02 Other Tech Leaders Don't Agree 5:49 -We Aren't Seeing Enough Progress 14:09 -LLMS Are Limited 24:19 Conclusion Links: Buy Cal's latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow  https://www.reddit.com/r/AI4tech/comments/1r4tukp/microsoft_ai_ceo_mustafa_suleyman_says_most_if/ https://x.com/TheChiefNerd/status/2045947286518157395 https://www.reddit.com/r/ClaudeAI/comments/1snhfzd/claude_opus_47_is_a_serious_regression_not_an/  https://x.com/mattshumer_/status/2047376179414421957 https://www.newyorker.com/culture/2025-in-review/why-ai-didnt-transform-our-lives-in-2025 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDOmNa9inA4 https://www.ft.com/video/2c428045-bf4f-45bd-ada2-8ba53983cd81 Thanks to Jesse Miller for production and mastering and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Many of us offload heavy thinking to A.I., and our brains are going soft in the process. Cal Newport, professor of computer science at Georgetown University, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how employing computers to do our deepest thinking dulls our ability to concentrate and the things we can do right now to keep us sharp and alert. His recent essay published in The New York Times is “There's a Good Reason You Can't Concentrate.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Read my new book, The Price of Becoming. www.LearningLeader.com/Becoming The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk This is brought to you by Insight Global. If you need to hire one person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world has the hustle and grit to deliver. My guest: David Epstein is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Range and The Sports Gene. A former investigative reporter at ProPublica and senior writer at Sports Illustrated. His new book is called Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better. Notes   Be part of "Mindful Monday" -- Text Hawk to 66866 Key Learnings The easier move is to let it go. David found a factual error in Ryan's new/my new book. David was supposed to read it and write a blurb on it - but went further and challenged a factual error. The kind move, what great leaders actually do, is being willing to point things out, even if it could cause a little friction.  There is such a thing as too much autonomy. After Range became mega viral, David optimized for autonomy. He individualized his whole life. He no longer was writing about what others assigned him. A year later, he realized there is a thing as too much autonomy. He missed the structure of a work day, the deadlines, the annoyances of working with other people's schedules. This total freedom ended up feeling terrible. "The great thing about being committed by your own choice is that you can stop wondering how to live and start living."  This quote by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi hit David when he was on a dating app for book topics, just swiping and swiping. That day he said, "I'm really interested in constraints. I need some myself. I'm writing a book proposal on this." Two weeks later he was 10 times more interested because he decided to dive into it. Cal Newport says "system shutting down" at the end of his workday. It seems silly, but when you have all that freedom, you need something to close the workday so you can recover and be ready for the next day. Your brain is made for preventing you from having to think whenever possible. Cognitive scientist Daniel Willingham says thinking is energetically costly. So when your calendar is too open, all you'll do is what's convenient. Your brain will be lazy. The path of least resistance. The mere urgency effect: when schedule and structure is too open, people do things that seem urgent even if they're unimportant. When you're too unstructured, you end up doing huge volumes of low value stuff just to have checked off doing something. What David's workday looks like now:  Batching work: people at work check their email on average 77 times a day. The way people are usually doing that is they're toggling all the time between email and something else. When you do that, it lowers your productivity and massively increases your stress. David doesn't start his day with his inbox. He'll check it at the end of the workday because emails can take him away from the most important work at the beginning of the day.  Stress + Rest = Growth. The workday ends when David's son gets home. When writing, you have to program in rest, just like you would if you were an athlete in training.  Daniel Kahneman said writing "Thinking Fast and Slow" was the worst few years of his life. David had lunch with Kahneman and praised the book. Kahneman said, "Never again." He said it was so isolating. He was used to working with a partner or multiple partners and colleagues. He felt so isolated that he said he'd never write a book again, or if he did, he would write it with somebody else. And that's what he did. And David could empathize with that.  David made a one-page architectural outline for how "Inside the Box" would look. If it's not on that page, it is not in the book. He wrote as small as possible to try to defeat his own system. The book's 20% shorter than his other two. He thinks it's much tighter writing. He was so much more efficient that he doesn't feel nearly as burned out. After a mega hit book, two things matter: (1) A lot is out of your control, and (2) Identify as a craftsman. David's colleague at Sports Illustrated told him, "If a book about genetics and vampires comes out the same day, you're screwed, and there's nothing you can do about it." He was right. But David very strongly identifies as a writer now, as a craftsman. He's taken fiction writing courses just to learn about craft. With Inside the Box, he did a structural experiment that he found so engaging because he was focused on the craft itself, not just the commercial outcome. "Docendo discimus" - by teaching, we learn. This is a quote from Seneca. If people think they're going to have to teach certain material, they organize it more coherently in their own mind. They start pulling out main ideas and attaching different ideas together. Teaching it is even better, but just making someone think they're going to have to teach it makes them learn in a much more coherent way. Narrative values: the recurring themes that give coherence to a life. David went back and looked at his life and identified: curiosity, open-mindedness, diligence, and resilience. Now that he's started telling his story in that way, it shows up everywhere. But going forward, he also wanted some things in his story that he didn't have. So he identified forgiveness in particular because that has not been a strong suit for him. Ben Helfgott: the only living Olympian to have survived a concentration camp. Almost everybody in his family was killed in the Holocaust. He just preached forgiveness all the time. When David saw what Ben did, these petty grudges he's holding are nothing. You're just poisoning yourself when you hold these grudges. So David decided he wanted forgiveness to become one of his narrative values.  Herbert Simon won the highest award in computer science, psychology, and the Nobel Prize in economics. His quote serves as the epigraph of the book: "It is a myth, widely believed but not less mythical for that, that people are most creative when they're most free." Simon coined the term "satisficing." It's a combination of satisfy and suffice. It means having good enough decision rules. He contrasted that with maximizing. From a mountain of psychological research, it is almost always bad to be a maximizer. Maximizers are less happy with their decisions, less happy with their lives, more prone to regret. There's not much evidence they actually make better decisions most of the time. Simon was a proactive satisficer. He said you need three sets of clothing: one on your back, one in the wash, and the next one ready to wear. He simplified all the decisions in his life so he could save cognitive bandwidth for the really important ones. He famously said, "The perfect is the enemy of the good." Choose when to choose. Choose when to save and when to use your cognitive bandwidth.  Good enough doesn't mean you have low standards. It means you're saving your bandwidth for the most important things. "How you do anything is how you do everything" is completely wrong. This is one of David's least favorite quotes. It's wrong. Herbert Simon did the same mundane thing, the same breakfast every day, the same socks, so he could crush it in his work. He wasn't doing everything the way he was doing his work. The Fredkins Paradox: We spend the most energy on the least important decisions because we agonize when the options are really similar. General Magic: They invented the smartphone in 1990. The iPhone would not exist without them. They had infinite degrees of freedom. They could do anything. When the device came out, it didn't solve a clear customer problem. It had a 200-page manual. They sold 3,000 units in the first six months. Meanwhile, people inside General Magic who bit off much smaller chunks had success. One low-level engineer started Auction Web. His bosses said no, too small. He left and changed the name to eBay. Another created Graffiti. He said "I'm going to solve a clear customer problem. Busy professionals want contacts and calendars on the go." He did just a calendar, contacts, and a memo pad. That was the Palm Pilot. By doing way less. By doing something, not everything. Tony Fadell (the "podfather"): "If you don't have constraints, make up constraints."  Bill Gurley said, "We have a saying in venture: more startups die of indigestion than starvation." When Tony co-founded Nest, he made his team work inside a literal box. He made them prototype the box before they had the product. If it didn't fit in that box, it was not a priority. Reflection Questions What area of your life has too much freedom right now? Where could you add a constraint (a deadline, a ritual, a boundary) that would actually make you more productive or creative? If you had to pick three narrative values that run through your life story, what would they be? Are they the ones you want, or do you need to add an aspirational value like David did with forgiveness? What's one decision you're maximizing (trying to find the perfect choice) when you should be satisficing (good enough and move on)? How much time and energy would you free up if you applied Herbert Simon's approach? More Learning #310 - David Epstein: Why Generalists Will Rule the World #582 - Cal Newport: Obsess Over Quality #660 - James Clear: The 4 Laws to Behavioral Change Podcast Chapters00:00 The Price of Becoming - Ryan's New Book 01:15 Meet David Epstein 02:39 The Fact Checker: What Great Leaders Do 04:27 Dedication Easter Eggs 05:50 The Problem With Too Much Autonomy 10:47 Why You Actually Need Constraints 12:29 Batching Work: The 77 Email Checks Problem 17:20 Lunch with Kahneman: Thinking Fast and Slow Was Miserable  22:18 What To Do After A Viral Book 27:07 Docendo Discimus: By Teaching, We Learn  29:13 Why Leaders Should Regularly Teach 31:09 Desirable Difficulties 31:56 Narrative Values: The Themes That Define Your Life 34:31 Adding Forgiveness As an Aspirational Value 36:13 Chips on Shoulders vs. Proving People Right 39:10 Herbert Simon: The Man Who Won Everything 40:20 Satisficing Over Maximizing 42:40 Choosing When To Choose 44:29 Good Enough Doesn't Mean Low Standards 46:13 Why "How You Do Anything" is Completely Wrong 47:25 General Magic: Do Something, Not Everything 52:49 One Year From Now: What Are You Celebrating? 54:54 EOPC

Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News. Video from today's episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia 0:00 What has *Actually* Happened in AI in 2026?  3:07 Open Claw 27:53 Anthropic and the Department of War 49:06 Data Centers Links: Buy Cal's latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow  https://www.axios.com/2026/01/31/ai-moltbook-human-need-tech https://www.macstories.net/stories/clawdbot-showed-me-what-the-future-of-personal-ai-assistants-looks-like/ https://www.anthropic.com/news/statement-department-of-war https://futurism.com/science-energy/data-centers-construction-supply Thanks to Jesse Miller for production and mastering and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This isn't the timeline I'm supposed to be on, you think. This isn't how it was supposed to go. But what if it is?Reading Marcus Aurelius can change your life, but only if you know how to read his work

Episode Description:In this From the Archive episode, James talks with Cal Newport about a simple but uncomfortable idea: most people are working hard on the wrong things.Newport breaks down the difference between deep work—focused, cognitively demanding effort that produces rare and valuable output—and shallow work, which fills time but doesn't move the needle. In a world engineered to fragment attention, the ability to focus without distraction is becoming both rarer and more valuable.The conversation moves from theory to application. Newport explains why “follow your passion” is misleading, how career capital actually drives opportunity, and why deliberate practice—not repetition—is what builds real skill. The thread tying it together is practical: if you want meaningful work and success, you have to train your ability to concentrate and aggressively eliminate distractions.What makes this episode useful is that it reframes productivity entirely. It's not about working more hours or hustling harder—it's about doing fewer things, better, with full attention.What You'll Learn:Why becoming “so good they can't ignore you” is more reliable than chasing passionThe difference between deep work and shallow work—and why most people overvalue the latterHow career capital (rare and valuable skills) creates leverage for autonomy and successWhy deliberate practice—not repetition—is the fastest path to masteryHow attention residue and constant distraction quietly destroy cognitive performanceTimestamped Chapters:[02:00] The attention economy and why distraction is engineered[02:17] The “deep life” and prioritizing focus[03:01] Why success comes from rare and valuable output[04:16] Why better content beats growth hacks[05:00] “Be so good they can't ignore you” explained[05:57] Why deep work is becoming rare—and valuable[06:29] The Steve Martin story and mastery over shortcuts[08:08] Innovation only happens at the cutting edge[09:00] Why passion is often discovered, not predefined[10:00] Passion follows skill—not the other way around[11:11] Career capital: what it is and why it matters[13:00] How to build leverage in your career[14:53] Real-world example: designing a flexible life through skill[16:00] Deliberate practice vs repetition[17:34] Why discomfort is required for improvement[19:50] The cost of distraction and attention fragmentation[20:20] The “deep life” as an intentional lifestyle[21:21] Why eliminating low-value communication matters[23:25] Training focus as a skill, not a habit[25:00] Fighting your brain and attention residue[27:00] How deep work actually improves output[30:12] Balancing academic work and writing[32:00] Why audience engagement has diminishing returns[34:00] The danger of the “any benefit” mindset[36:00] Why busyness is not productivity[38:00] Limits of deep work and cognitive intensity[39:25] Embracing boredom to retrain attention[41:05] The future of knowledge work[42:20] Goals vs process: a historical perspective[44:29] Why biographies teach excellence best[45:07] Teddy Roosevelt as a deep work example[46:43] Deep work as a “superpower”[47:15] Handling disappointment through craft[48:22] Passion follows skill—final takeawayAdditional Resources:Deep WorkSo Good They Can't Ignore YouCal Newport's official websiteLittle Bets by Peter SimsThe Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund MorrisSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is developing discipline one of the most effective bulwarks against the constant flood of distraction we face daily? And if so, what's the best way to accomplish this goal? In this Monday Advice episode of the show, Cal Newport investigates these questions with the help of Brad Stulberg, who writes about these ideas in his most recent book, the New York Times bestseller “The Way of Excellence.”   Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Send an email to podcast@calnewport.com.   Video from today's episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia   2:27 Do I Need More Discipline? (w/ Brad Stulberg)   1:07:33 Dealing with abundance of choice in media 1:11:45 Using typewriters for first drafts 1:14:44 Success with “information walkabout”   1:17:22 What I've been doing 1:19:54 What I've been reading Books:   A World Appears (Michael Pollan)   Links: Buy Cal's latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.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? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdvqpqHSQas   Thanks to our Sponsors:  https://www.cozyearth.com/deep (Use code “DEEP”) https://www.monarch.com (Use code “DEEP”) https://www.shopify.com/deep https://www.drinkag1.com/deep   Thanks to Jesse Miller for mastering and production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3984: Cal Newport draws on the myth of Odysseus to reveal how disruption can become a catalyst for building a deeper, more meaningful life. Instead of resisting hardship or numbing ourselves, he shows how embracing struggle, restoring order, and then intentionally reinventing ourselves leads to lasting fulfillment. This perspective reframes difficult moments as rare opportunities for profound personal transformation. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.calnewport.com/blog/2020/05/14/the-deep-reset/ Quotes to ponder: “The best response to deep disruption, in other words, is often a deep reset.” “Odysseus's journey is a metaphor for the proper human response to unexpected difficulty.” “It's one of the earliest extant works to describe a pattern absolutely fundamental to the human condition: hardship unlocking a deeper, more authentic, more satisfying life.” Episode references: The Odyssey by Homer: https://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-Homer/dp/0140268863 The Archetypes and The Collective Unconscious by Carl Jung: https://www.amazon.com/Archetypes-Collective-Unconscious-Collected-Works/dp/0691018332 Falling Upward: https://www.amazon.com/Falling-Upward-Spirituality-Two-Halves/dp/0470907754 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#707: Joe and I traveled to the campus of Texas A&M University-Texarkana for a very special live recording. We were joined by Jay Davis, the Executive Director of Financial and Entrepreneurship Engagement, to answer questions from an incredible audience of students. Whether you're just starting your career or looking to "reset" your habits, this episode covers the essential transition from the classroom to the professional world.  Student Questions Hannah (Psychology Major): How do I navigate the trade-offs between passion, a paycheck, and peace of mind in my 20s without having regrets later? Hannah (Second Student): As I move from a student budget to a professional salary, how do I prevent "lifestyle creep" from eating my first big raise? Gabriel: How do I find the middle ground between being responsible for "Future Me" and actually enjoying my life while I'm young? Stephano: When is the right time to start investing, and how do I balance that with paying down student loans? Valarie: How do I build a solid credit score as a student without falling into the trap of high-interest debt? Thomas: What are the most important "marketable skills" I should be developing now to ensure financial security later? Key Takeaways Follow Curiosity Over Passion: Passion is often a side effect of mastery, not the starting point. Follow your curiosity into deep learning; the fulfillment (autonomy, mastery, and purpose) will follow once you become an expert in your craft. Build Your "Bravery Fund": High marketable skills and a solid emergency fund give you the freedom to take risks. If you have a financial cushion and low fixed costs, you have the "bravery" to pivot careers if your first choice isn't the right fit. Automate Your Success: The most effective way to beat lifestyle creep is to "hide" your raise from yourself. Set up automated transfers to retirement accounts or debt repayment for the same day your paycheck hits your account. Beware of High Fixed Costs: Avoid the "new grad" trap of heavy car payments ($700–$1,000/month). These high monthly obligations are the biggest inhibitors to your future housing flexibility and career mobility. The 24-Hour "Fun" Rule: To balance current enjoyment with future savings, create a deliberate "yes" list. If you want to spend on a hobby or experience, wait 24 hours to ensure it's a conscious choice rather than an impulse. Resources mentioned: Don't miss the YFRP Webinar on May 12th! ⁠https://affordanything.com/rental2026 A&M University Website: https://www.tamut.edu Grab a copy of Deep Work by Cal Newport: https://amzn.to/4truxs3 Receive our newsletters https://affordanything.com/newsletter Don't miss the YFRP Webinar on May 12th! https://affordanything.com/rental2026 YNAB for students: https://www.ynab.com/college Chapters Note: Timestamps are approximate and may vary across listening platforms due to dynamically inserted ads.  (00:00) The Abridged Live Performance from Texas A&M Texarkana (01:19) Hannah's Question: Passion vs. Paycheck (06:31) The "Bravery Fund" & Your Freedom to Pivot (13:35) Hannah's Question: Defeating Lifestyle Creep (20:43) Gabriel's Question: Future You vs. Present You (30:57) Stephano's Question: Debt vs. Investing (41:55) Valarie's Question: Building Credit Responsibly (50:15) Thomas's Question: Developing Marketable Skills Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News. Today's episode on YouTube: youtube.com/calnewportmedia 0:00 What's Really Going on with Mythos?  10:09 Security systems 21:27 Conclusion Links: Buy Cal's latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRsycWRQrc8 https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/opinion/anthropic-ai-claude-mythos.html https://arxiv.org/abs/2404.08144 https://x.com/clementdelangue/status/2041953761069793557?s=61 https://x.com/stanislavfort/status/2041922370206654879 https://www.aisi.gov.uk/blog/our-evaluation-of-claude-mythos-previews-cyber-capabilities Thanks to Jesse Miller for production and mastering and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

AI Reality Check: Is AI Stealing Entry-Level Jobs? Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News. Video from today's episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia OPENING: Is AI stealing entry-level jobs? [1:29] MAIN STORY: Torsten Slok essay [3:06] CONCLUSION: AI is not stealing entry-level jobs now [11:32] Links: Buy Cal's latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/ai-entry-level-jobs-graduates-b224d624 https://www.apolloacademy.com/busting-the-ai-youth-unemployment-myth/ https://www.theatlantic.com/economy/2026/04/job-market-artificial-intelligence/686659/ Thanks to Jesse Miller for production and mastering and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices