Deep Questions with Cal Newport

• Ep. 346: Getting Smarter in a Dumb World

  In last week’s episode, Cal discussed data that indicate that the rise of the smartphones is making humans measurably dumber. Here he discusses aggressive strategies for resisting this reality. He then answers listener questions and ends with a tech corner. Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com! 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: Getting Smarter in a Dumb World [3:47] - With remote work dwindling, should I change careers to achieve my ideal lifestyle? [31:14]- Should a 24-year-old ditch his college degree to pursue another field? [36:25]- How should merit be rewarded in a revenue-constrained environment? [40:40]- How can one find and engage with these more niche online communities? [44:34]- How can partners support each other in building a deep life? [46:48] CASE STUDY: Using lifestyle planning to turn down a promotion [48:53] TECH CORNER:  How do AI’s “reason”? [57:53] Links:Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slowGet a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba? Thanks to our Sponsors: zocdoc.com/deepkinsta.com/deepquestionsudacity.com/deep [Use code DEEP]notion.com/cal Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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• You Might Also Like: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

  Introducing David Blaine: I Nearly Died Doing This (How to Conquer Fear and Push Your Limits) from On Purpose with Jay Shetty.Follow the show: On Purpose with Jay ShettyWhat’s a fear you want to overcome? How do you stay calm under pressure? What if the only limits you had were the ones you refused to break? Today, in this spellbinding episode, world-renowned illusionist, endurance artist, and master of the impossible, David Blaine, sits down for a deep and insightful conversation that goes far beyond magic. Known for his jaw-dropping stunts, being buried alive, standing encased in ice for days, and holding his breath underwater for over 17 minutes, David has captivated audiences worldwide. But behind the spectacle lies a profound philosophy of discipline, resilience, and the boundless potential of the human mind. Jay and David explore what drives someone to willingly push themselves to their absolute limits, both physically and mentally. David opens up about his mindset, revealing how he prepares for extreme feats that defy human expectations. He explains the power of visualization, breathwork, and sheer willpower in overcoming pain, fear, and doubt. But this conversation isn’t just about physical endurance, it’s about the mental and emotional strength required to navigate life’s greatest challenges. David shares personal stories of setbacks and perseverance, showing that even in moments of failure, there is wisdom to be gained. In this interview, you'll learn: How to Train Your Mind to Overcome Fear How to Build Unbreakable Mental Resilience How to Use Breathwork to Enhance Endurance How to Stay Calm Under Extreme Pressure How to Push Past Your Physical Limits How to Cultivate Childlike Curiosity for Creativity How to Reframe Failure as a Stepping Stone No matter what obstacles stand in your way, remember: you are stronger than you think, and capable of more than you realize. Believe in yourself, stay curious, and never stop challenging what’s possible. With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here. Join Jay for his first ever, On Purpose Live Tour! Tickets are on sale now. Hope to see you there! What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro 01:41 The Subway Trick that Started It All 04:39 Lessons from the Above the Below 09:10 What Happens When You Don’t Feel Hunger 11:34 Pushing the Body Beyond Its Limit 17:25 The Capabilities of the Human Body 22:52 The Knife Stunt 26:25 The Bullet-Catch Trick 30:12 Break Free from Your Comfort Zone 32:27 Push the Boundaries of Your Growth 34:41 Some Stunts are Just Too Dangerous 41:46 Pushing Yourself Without Risking Your Life 45:04 Failure Leads to Continuous Learning 47:26 The Riskiest Illusion 49:29 Processing the Pain of Grief 53:32 Everything is About Perspective 57:14 Open Up Your Mind with Books 01:01:24 Every Person is Unique 01:03:06 The Bridge Jump, Anything is Possible 01:09:13 David on Final Five Episode Resources: David Blaine | Website David Blaine | YouTube David Blaine | Instagram David Blaine | Facebook David Blaine | X David Blaine Do Not AttemptSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

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• Ep. 345: Are We Getting Dumber?

  Multiple listeners recently sent in a Financial Times article that asks whether humans have passed “peak intelligence.” In this episode, Cal looks closer at the data in this article to try to understand why we seem to be getting dumber, and more importantly, what are the practical steps individuals can take to avoid the trend. He then answers listener questions and ends with a tech corner segment that highlights a blind spot in current discussions of AI. Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com! 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: Are We Getting Dumber? [2:58] - Is it possible to build a better Twitter? [24:58]- Should I ditch my higher paying job to avoid stress? [29:59]- Can I remain relevant with younger, tech-savvy colleagues? [34:56]- How should I navigate my time during while receiving severance? [38:35]- What should I do next after being fired from my federal job? [41:18]- CALL: Practicing focus on the weekends [45:01] CASE STUDY: An engineering Kansan system [48:41] TECH CORNER: The AI Blind Spot [1:00:04] Links:Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slowGet a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?on.ft.com/3DIItJK  Thanks to our Sponsors: factormeals.com/deep50offlandroverusa.comexpressvpn.com/deepgrammarly.com/podcast Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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• Ep. 344: You Are Not a Cog

  Modern knowledge work jobs should be cushy gigs. Fixed hours, air conditioning, no hard manual labor, flexibility. So why are we so often burnt out and what can we do about this reality? In this episode, Cal draws a lesson from an unexpected corner of computer science, computer security research, about how we can fix some of the big problems of work in a digital age. He then answers listener questions and returns once again to the topic of AI in a final tech corner segment. Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com! 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: You Are Not a Cog [11:00] - Should I break my large tasks into many small ones? [38:18]- How will AI affect living the deep life? [42:47]- How can I say “no” to more incoming requests? [48:14]- Should an architect take on broader roles that don’t necessarily add to career capital? [52:03]- Can a nurse implement time blocking? [54:33]- Can a Kansan system work across all departments without being overly complex? [58:11]- CALL: Organizing the details of a Trello board [1:03:19] CASE STUDY: Lifestyle centric value based planning for a young family [1:07:58] TECH CORNER: AGI is not Super-intelligence [1:15:35] Links:Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slowGet a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?medium.com/@tony.infisical/password-requirements-are-still-confusing-in-2023-also-heres-our-flavor-44ce03a3255cyoutube.com/watch?v=ZzJMxh68RGI Thanks to our Sponsors: This episode is sponsored by to you BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/deepquestionsmybodytutor.comupliftdesk.com/deepshopify.com/deep Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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• Ep. 343: A Minimal Protocol for Taking Control of Your LIfe

  One of the most commonly recurring themes on this show is the conflict between too much versus not enough productivity. In this episode, Cal attempts to find new clarity in this debate by identifying a minimal viable productivity system – that is, what are the bare minimum components needed to escape the chaos and stress of total disorganization. He then answers listener questions and dives into a A.I. themed Tech Corner segment. Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com! 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: A Minimal Protocol for Taking Control of Your Life [3:23] - Is “finding purpose” and “following your passion” the same thing? [32:38]- How can I capture key takeaways from podcasts if I’m always on the move? [37:18]- Can you elaborate on project work with your PhD students? [39:22]- How can I deal with my federal job with drastic priority changes due to political party shifts? [41:40]- Is it possible for some managers to avoid pseudo-productivity? [49:15]- CALL: Writing a book as a side hustle [51:58] CASE STUDY: An athletic trainer makes a career transition [59:19] TECH CORNER: A.G.I. versus SkyNet [1:07:30] Links:Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slowGet a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?nytimes.com/2025/03/04/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-ben-buchanan.html Thanks to our Sponsors: cozyearth.com/deepbyloftie.com (Code: DEEP20)oracle.com/deepquestionsindeed.com/deep Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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