Sometimes the quest for productivity can seem like the embrace of activity for the sake of activity, a prospect that inevitably leads to exhaustion. In today’s episode, Cal explores this idea by discussing “productivity rain dances,” why they’re dangerous, and what works better instead. He then answers listener questions and ends with a Tech Corner segment in which he fact checks Joe Rogan’s understanding of ChatGPT.

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: Productivity Rain Dances [7:04]

- How should I take notes during a meeting? [26:31]

- How could a layman (not a computer scientist) test the veracity of the claims of an AI system or its potential? [28:53]

- How can I utilize my full-days in my cube with cancelled telework to best make progress on my phantom “part-time” job? [33:37]

- Can I be a CS instructor with a PhD? [37:45]

- Can I convince my advisor to “do fewer experiments” for my doctoral thesis? [42:47]

- CALL: College in the modern digital environment [48:28]

CASE STUDY: Managing multiple email inboxes [54:22]

TECH CORNER: Does ChatGPT have “survival instincts”? [1:05:17]

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?

x.com/firelog_io/status/1887541363287138445

x.com/ChrisWillx/status/1800198794107064646?lang=en

youtube.com/watch?v=HigVe4IqsBM

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This episode is sponsored by to you BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/deepquestions and get on your way to being your best self.

shopify.com/deep

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mybodytutor.com

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

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

In a recent appearance on the Tim Ferriss podcast, the prolific fantasy author Brandon Sanderson revealed how he reshaped his media company to help him do what he does best. In this episode, Cal explores the idea, and asks the key question: why is this not more common? While exploring an answer, Cal uncovers a bigger issue in modern digital knowledge work and points towards potential answers. He then answers listener questions and concludes with a tech corner about Alan Turing.

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: Let Brandon Cook [4:56]

- What is your opinion on mind mapping and have you ever used it? [32:35]

- What “really matters” to develop career capital for a civil servant? [36:28]

- What’s your view on Daniel Immerwahr’s recent New Yorker article on the attention crisis? [42:23]

- How does mentoring fit into knowledge work development? [49:54]

- Is it possible to use Paul Jarvis’s approach to start a company to merge the divide with Slow Productivity? [57:20]

- CALL: A 15-year-old and a smartphone [1:03:28]

CASE STUDY: Using AI to expand work skills [1:07:59]

TECH CORNER: Let Turing Cook [1:21:41]

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?

tim.blog/2025/02/05/brandon-sanderson/

spectrum.ieee.org/alan-turings-delilah

podcast.feedspot.com/computer_science_podcasts/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

cozyearth.com/deep

byloftie.com (Code: DEEP20)

indeed.com/deep

grammarly.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.

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com!

One of the most common complaints from listeners to the podcast is the feeling that they’re too distracted; both at work and at home. In today’s episode, Cal reviews five major explanations for this current state of affairs, and then uses this new understanding to identify concrete actions to make things better. He then answers reader questions and reviews the five books he read in January.

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: Why You’re Always Distracted [3:50]

- How should I use social media for my documentary film project? [29:40]

- How can I master a new job skill in a busy schedule? [37:11]

- Any advice for developing and nurturing my “second mountain” values? [42:10]

- How can overcome project paralysis? [48:41]

- Is my knowledge work role doomed to fail? [52:10]

- CALL: Supporting a spouse during stressful career planning [58:01]

CASE STUDY: The benefits of a commute [1:05:35]

JANUARY BOOKS: The 5 Books Cal Read in January, 2025 [1:14:13]

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?

Thanks to our Sponsors:

thrivemarket.com/deep

shopify.com/deep

landroverusa.com

vanta.com/deepquestions

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