What does Walt Disney’s malaise in the 1940s have to do with our current struggles with our screens? In this episode, Cal uses a little-known story from Disney’s midlife to identify an effective strategy for escaping the nerve-deadening, dull state created by spending more and more of your professional and personal life on screens. He then answers listener questions (with an unusual level of spiciness), tries to calm himself with a reprise of the SLOW PRODUCTIVITY CORNER theme music, and concludes with a discussion of a recent essay he wrote about how no one really knows anything about AI.

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: [1:47]

• How should I pursue two different goals after leaving my software engineering career? [21:10]
• Should I leave my business analyst job and buy a retail business? [24:32]
• I’ve tried writing for editors (and publications) before with no success. Any suggestions on how to break through? [30:08]
• How do I convince my company that AI assistance is not the answer? [35:27]
• Is inspiration perishable like Naval Ravikant says? [38:11]

CALL: Inbox anxiety [43:15]

CASE STUDY: A public school teacher with a blog [51:27]

WHAT I’M WRITING: No One Knows Anything About AI [59:13]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
amusingplanet.com/2019/01/walt-disneys-backyard-railway-carolwood.html
youtu.be/KyfUysrNaco?si=uE6tJkPuFhdnbla2&t=2490
calnewport.com/no-one-knows-anything-about-ai/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

drinklmnt.com/deep
cozyearth.com (Use code “DEEP”)
calderalab.com/deep
shipstation.com/deep

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

When we think about unhealthy phone usage, we think about the flashing apps, like TikTok and Instagram, in which billions of dollars have been spent to grab our attention. In this episode, Cal points to an unassuming culprit that may be just as responsible: simple messaging apps. He explores research that connects the social stress of pending messages to phone addiction, and explores ways to free yourself from constant messaging without having to isolate yourself socially. He then answers listener questions and discusses what he’s been reading.

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: The Texting Dilemma [5:35]

• How can I structure my mornings with my sales job if I don’t have two hours for deep work? [31:44]
• How should I handle mandatory overtime at my aerospace job? [33:18]
• How can I handle too many open loops with my shutdown ritual? [35:54]
• How can I better organize communication with my university students? [40:38]
• Should I take on extra-curricular roles during my first year of my PhD? [44:00]

CALL: Household chore task list [48:01]

CASE STUDY: 30-day declutter [51:45]

WHAT TO READ: An author quits social media [59:45]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0747563214007626
journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/691462
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9671478/
carolinecrampton.com/im-done-with-social-media/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

calderalab.com/deep
miro.com
shopify.com/deep
grammarly.com/podcast

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

Are you worried that you’re using your phone too much? An app blocker might make sense. But how do they work, and which one is right for you? In this episode, Cal goes deep into the motivation, technology, and ultimate end game of this distraction fighting technology. He then answers listener questions and discusses some intriguing comments he’s been seeing about limits to AI’s ability to code.

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: Do You Need an App Blocker? [4:35]

- How do I succeed with task management? [29:07]
- How can I put boundaries on my administrative work for my university job? [33:58]
- How should I manage X if I only use it on my desktop? [39:31]
- How should I read through my weekly collection of newsletters? [41:11]
- What do you think about Polyphasic sleep to prepare for deep work? [44:22]

CASE STUDY: A ticketing system in action [45:21]

WHAT TO READ: On the Limits of “Vibe Coding” [50:58]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
sciencefocus.com/science/youre-not-actually-addicted-to-your-smartphone
nytimes.com/2020/01/20/style/quit-smartphone.html
support.apple.com/guide/iphone/get-started-with-screen-time-iphbfa595995/ios
youtu.be/OuizzRCALCU?si=FqHzEEFdq7k4ao13
x.com/AglaiaCodes/status/1942636133248061590
x.com/GaryMarcus/status/1942478390323552588/photo/1

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This show is sponsored by BetterHelp:
betterhelp.com/deepquestions
mybodytutor.com
expressvpn.com/deep
indeed.com/deep

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