logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2023
1h 42m

Cal Newport: Lifestyle Design, Slow Prod...

Ali Abdaal
About this episode

If you were to imagine the lifestyle you want and reverse engineer your career from that start point, what would your life look like? How much control do you have over your schedule? What’s your work life balance? What are you known for? This week I sat down for a conversation with one of the most highly requested guests yet, Cal Newport. Cal is a computer science professor at Georgetown University and New York Times bestselling author of seven books including Digital Minimalism and Deep Work where he writes about the intersection of digital technology and culture. In the episode we discuss how to design a career that’s fulfilling to you, the creator business model and how to take control of your productivity in a world where you’re confronted by forces trying to throw you off track. Enjoy!

Sponsored by Huel - go to https://www.huel.com/deepdive and with your first order you’ll get a free t-shirt and shaker.

Sponsored by Trading 212 - download the Trading 212 app https://trading212.com/promocodes/ALI and use the promo code "ALI" after signing up and depositing to receive a random free share worth up to £100. This is not financial advice. Investments can fall and rise. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Other fees may apply*. Capital is at risk.

Sponsored by WeWork - visit https://www.we.co/ali and use the code ‘ALI’  at checkout to redeem 50% off your first booking.

📚Check out my New York Times Bestselling book Feel-Good Productivity!
Amazon
Website

(00:00) Intro
(02:01) How do you approach the word productivity?
(05:24) What does a week in your life look like?
(13:43) Creator businesses vs academia
(27:17) The social status and complexities of careers
(33:43) The creatorpreneur lifestyle
(43:05) How to design your lifestyle and career
(47:18) Book writing
(55:59) Contrarian writing
(01:07:27) Do you get criticism about Deep Work?
(01:11:59) What's your take on toxic productivity?
(01:17:09) Personal productivity in corporate jobs doesn't work
(01:21:58) What is slow productivity?
(01:37:12) What's your note taking method?

Creators & Guests

  • Amber Baxter-Clarke - Producer
  • Ali Abdaal - Host

🔗 CONNECT WITH CAL

🎥 YouTube Channel
💻 Website
🐦 Twitter

🔗 CONNECT WITH ALI

📚 Download my FREE 100 Books To Live Your Best Life Reading List
🎥 YouTube Channel
💻 Website
📸  Instagram
🐦  Twitter
👥 Linkedin


Find the show notes and the transcript on the website: https://aliabdaal.com/podcast/


Leave a review

If you enjoy listening to the podcast, please do leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts - even one line helps! You can also Tweet @AliAbdaal with any feedback, thoughts from the lessons you've learnt from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏

Want to start your own podcast? We use Transistor! https://go.aliabdaal.com/transistor


Check out the episode on the Deep Dive YouTube Channel.

See privacy policy at https://transistor.fm/privacy


Up next
Jan 2025
How I’m Scaling My Business from 7 to 8 Figures
To get free fractional shares worth up to £100, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link - https://www.trading212.com/join/ALI . Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn’t guarantee futur ... Show More
49m 27s
Dec 2024
The Science of Productivity
To get free fractional shares worth up to £100, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link - https://www.trading212.com/join/ALI . Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn’t guarantee futur ... Show More
41m 35s
Dec 2024
How to start a 7-figure business in 2025: Advice from 4 millionaires
To get free fractional shares worth up to £100, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link - https://www.trading212.com/join/ALI. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future ... Show More
38m 10s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2022
Deep Work, Digital Minimalism and Becoming So Good They Can’t Ignore You with Cal Newport
#63: New York Times bestselling author and professor, Cal Newport, joins Chris to discuss building and living what he calls a “deep life.” We also delve into strategies that increase efficiency and quality of output, why constant email and messages are making you less productive ... Show More
1h 10m
Dec 2020
#86: Time is a Choice: How to Harness Productivity with Laura Vanderkam
“Time keeps passing, whether you think of how you are spending it or not.” Everyone has the same 24 hours in a day. And yet, the busiest people are not necessarily the most productive. How can we best allocate that time that we are given? Laura Vanderkam is a bestselling author, ... Show More
1h 3m
Sep 2021
Roll On: Work Is a False Idol
We live in a culture where identity is inextricably linked to our careers—but who we are is not what we do.And work is not a substrate for identity.In addition to philosophizing on capitalism, hedonistic altruism, and rest as resistance, in today’s edition of ‘Roll On’ Adam Skoln ... Show More
2h 37m
Jun 2024
456 - How to Quit Hustling AND Be More Productive with Cal Newport
This episode is for you if: Hustle culture and social media are destroying your creativity You’ve lost hope of ever being able to do enough You intuitively know the pace of the world and industry isn’t conducive to creative productivity but need language to understand why You nee ... Show More
44m 59s
May 2021
319 - 3 Things to Do When You’re Afraid The Times are Moving Faster Than Your Slow Progress
Listen & Subscribe on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-pep-talk/id929743897 TRANSCRIPT - - - SHOW NOTES - - - Derek DelGaudio https://www.inandofitselfshow.com/ https://www.amazon.com/AMORALMAN-True-Story-Other-Lies/dp/0525658556 Brian McDonald https: ... Show More
43m 9s
Nov 2022
How to Get Paid As a Freelancer, Entrepreneur, or Creative
I often tell people that I’m allergic to fluorescent lights. It’s, of course, not actually true, but I’ve really only had one W-2 9-5 job in my life and have always been an entrepreneur and freelancer at heart. There are a lot of perks that come with freelancing like the ability ... Show More
40m 4s
Nov 2015
#118: How Philosophy Can Change Your Life, Alain de Botton
Alain de Botton (@alaindebotton) is many things, but I think of him as a rare breed of practical philosopher. In 1997, he turned away from writing novels and instead wrote an extended essay titled How Proust Can Change Your Life, which became an unlikely blockbuster. His subseque ... Show More
1h 55m
Jul 2023
Building minimum lovable products, stories from WeWork and Airbnb, and thriving as a PM | Jiaona Zhang (Webflow, WeWork, Airbnb, Dropbox)
Brought to you by Brave—An independent, global search index you can use to power your search or AI app | Miro—A collaborative visual platform where your best work comes to life | Superhuman—The fastest email experience ever made—Jiaona Zhang (JZ) is a product leader with a strong ... Show More
1h 7m
Apr 2022
Why Living Simply Can Create Life-Life-ChangingWealth
Living simply is one of the best ways to create wealth. Living in only 150 square feet for years, Ryan Mitchell has learned a thing or two about living simply. From downsizing, to life simplification, and designing a life that’s right for you, Ryan brings a lot of experience and ... Show More
40m 43s