logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2024
1h 20m

Ep. 304: Seinfeld on The Deep Life

CAL NEWPORT
About this episode

In a recent interview, held to promote his new Netflix movie, Jerry Seinfeld went on a remarkable 10-minute run in which he rattled off one insight after another about deep work, procrastination, and the quest to live an intentional life in a distracted world. In this episode, Cal extracts four key lessons from this segment of Jerry’s interview. He then takes listener questions and ends with a segment in which he apologizes to an internet personality whom he incorrectly associated with the dreaded “hustle culture.”

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:  Seinfeld on The Deep Life [4:31]

- Do I need to practice outside of work to improve my craft? [30:26]
- Can I tackle learning goals sequentially? [38:44]
- How do I get through “grinding” at work? [43:10]
- How can I build my craft to grow my YouTube channel? [49:56]
- Can Cal talk about being an assistant professor with young kids? [54:49]

CASE STUDY: Using lifestyle-centric career planning to upgrade my job and life [1:00:09]

CAL REACTS: James Scholz studies twelve hours a day [1:05:19]

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/
youtube.com/watch?v=TXAvkqXD-Fc
youtube.com/c/jamesscholz

Thanks to our Sponsors:

drinklmnt.com/deep
blinkist.com/deep
mybodytutor.com
shopify.com/deep

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

Up next
Jun 30
Ep. 359: Should We Fear Cognitive Debt?
A blockbuster new study out of MIT takes a closer look at the impact of writing with the help of AI. In today’s episode, Cal breaks down this paper with the help of author Brad Stulberg (who made waves online recently with his reaction to its findings), picking apart the role of ... Show More
1h 48m
Jun 23
Ep. 358: Are Parents (Finally) Ready to Fight Smartphones?
Back in 2023, Cal gave a detailed deep dive that described the three phases of scientific understanding of smartphones, social media, and kids. In today’s episode, Cal argues that we’ve entered a fourth phase; one that will finally lead to (perhaps rapid) cultural changes about w ... Show More
1h 2m
Jun 16
Ep. 357: What Worries the Internet’s Favorite Philosopher?
Few philosophers in recent memory have enjoyed as much attention as Byung-Chul Han. His mix of profundity and pithiness in tackling some of the big issues of the modern technical environment has made him “the internet’s new favorite philosopher” (to quote The New Yorker). But is ... Show More
1h 12m
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2024
2024 GREATS: 950: Slowing Down to Boost Productivity and Ease Stress with Cal Newport
Cal Newport shows how to achieve more by doing less.  — YOU’LL LEARN — 1) Why we’re measuring productivity all wrong 2) The surprising math showing how doing less means achieving more 3) The trick to eliminating tasks that don’t serve you  Subscribe or visit AwesomeAtYourJob.com/ ... Show More
49m 40s
Jul 2024
How to Focus and Think (Cal Newport)
Check out my book Million Dollar Weekend, which helps you start businesses in just 48 hours. Check it out at milliondollarweekend.com.   In today's episode, I caught up with a talented, award-winning author and professor of computer science at Georgetown University, Cal Newport.  ... Show More
57m 4s
Jan 2025
How to be a Productivity Ninja | Graham Allcott
Are you drowning in information overload? Do you disappear down a rabbit hole of social media just when you need to focus? Productivity expert Graham Allcott can help. Graham Allcott is the founder of Think Productive, author of 5 books, and the host of podcast "Beyond Busy." In ... Show More
38m 42s
Dec 2024
Sunday Pick: How to be productive without burning out with Cal Newport | ReThinking
Each Sunday, TED shares an episode of another podcast we think you'll love, handpicked for you… by us. This is an episode of ReThinking with Adam Grant. Cal Newport knows a thing or two about productivity: when he’s not teaching computer science at Georgetown, he’s writing for Th ... Show More
42m 40s
Jul 2024
314: Practical Tips for Better One-on-One Meetings with Steven Rogelberg
Have you ever felt that your one-on-one meetings aren’t as effective as they should be?Before you write them off your calendar, consider this: a Gallup study reveals that employees are three times more engaged when they experience regular one-on-ones.But let’s face it—one-on-ones ... Show More
31m 22s
Apr 2024
Conversation with Cal Newport — The Key to Productivity without Burnout
Cal Newport, a professor of computer science at Georgetown University and bestselling author, joins Scott to discuss productivity, the importance of work-life balance, and the disruption of AI on work. Learn more about Cal here, and his book, “Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of A ... Show More
48m 11s
Jul 2024
How to Master your Nervous System for Productivity and Joy - Jonny Miller
Sponsored by Brilliant - visit https://brilliant.org/DeepDive/ and the first 200 of you will get 20% off Brilliant's annual premium subscription.GIVEAWAY: We've hit 500,000 subscribers 🎉 To say thank you we're giving away a bunch of special prizes 🎁 To enter hit the link (it's ... Show More
1h 48m
Aug 2024
Jerry Seinfeld And Preparing For Interviews | Ep #578
Austin shares what Jerry Seinfeld can teach you about preparing for your interviews!Time Stamped Show Notes:[0:25] - What Jerry Seinfeld can teach you about interviews[1:45] - You don’t prepare enough for your interviews[2:57] - How Austin prepared for interviews at Twitter, Micr ... Show More
7m 52s