logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2024
1h 21m

Ep. 308: The Power of the Quiet Mind

CAL NEWPORT
About this episode

One of the trickiest aspects of new technology is that it can sometimes destabilize parts of our lives that we didn’t even realize existed and are important. In this episode, Cal talks about one such idea: the quiet mind. Our constant phone usage is eliminating this critical cognitive state, and by doing so is diminishing our humanity. Cal makes the case for the importance of the quiet mind, and then gives concrete ideas for cultivating it in a distracted world. He also answers questions from listeners and reviews the five books he read in June.


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 Power of the Quiet Mind [3:58]


- What are the benefits of walking meditation? [29:13]

- How can a new dad find time to advance his career? [34:16]

- How do I manage a temporary increase in admin responsibilities? [38:48]

- How can my son organize his sports and school schedule? [43:31]

- How can I do less when my colleagues are getting ahead for doing more? [45:54]

- CALL: Pre-scheduling with a pull system [51:14]

 

CASE STUDY: Collaborating with colleagues to effectively do hard work [57:54]


FINAL SEGMENT: The 5 Books Cal Read in June 2024 [1:08:05]


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:


indeed.com/deep

notion.com/cal

shopify.com/deep

expressvpn.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.

Up next
Yesterday
Ep. 367: What if AI Doesn’t Get Much Better Than This?
In recent years, it’s been hard not to react to the possibilities of generative AI without a mixture of euphoria or dread. But after OpenAI’s lackluster GPT-5 launch, a new, almost heretical-seeming question has emerged: what if progress on AI is stalled well short of the wild pr ... Show More
1h 37m
Aug 18
Ep. 366: How to Reinvent Your Life in 4 Months (Classic Episode from August, 2023)
In this replay of one of the more popular episodes from the Deep Questions archives, originally aired in August ,2023, Cal explores some of his early strategies for cultivating a deeper life.Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your ques ... Show More
1h 17m
Aug 11
Ep. 365: What Technology Wants (and How to Push Back)
Why do we end up entangled with tools that don’t have our best interests in mind? How can we fix this situation? In this episode, Cal dives deep into the difference between additive and extractive technologies, telling a story that weaves old technology with old versions of moder ... Show More
1h 2m
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2024
520 | Can Micro Habits and Micro Workouts Help - with Jeremy Nagel
This week, Jeremy Nagel joins Eric on the show!  Jeremy is a neuro-spicy software developer turned startup founder who is slightly obsessed with habits!  He likes to start each day with a 2-hour morning routine and sometimes surprises colleagues by busting out a set of pushups du ... Show More
48m 32s
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
#787: How to Be in The Present Moment — Guided Meditation with Zen Master Henry Shukman
This episode is a new experiment called Meditation Monday. The teacher, Henry Shukman, has been on my podcast twice before. He is one of only a few dozen masters in the world authorized to teach Sanbo Zen, and now, he’ll be your teacher.In addition to my long-form interviews each ... Show More
15m 57s
Feb 2025
#793: How to Calm Your Inner Storm — A Guided Meditation to Tame Restlessness with Zen Master Henry Shukman
This episode is part of a new experiment called Meditation Monday. The teacher, Henry Shukman, has been on my podcast twice before. He is one of only a few dozen masters in the world authorized to teach Sanbo Zen, and now, he’ll be your teacher.In addition to my long-form intervi ... Show More
13m 53s
Jan 2025
#789: Ease Into Stillness — Guided Meditation with Zen Master Henry Shukman
This episode is part of a new experiment called Meditation Monday. The teacher, Henry Shukman, has been on my podcast twice before. He is one of only a few dozen masters in the world authorized to teach Sanbo Zen, and now, he’ll be your teacher.In addition to my long-form intervi ... Show More
12m 46s
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
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
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
Mar 2025
Episode 454: Tracking productivity? and my CTO is ChatGPT
In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: I’m a manager on a Product team. I’ve been asked by upper management to measure “story points completed per developer per sprint” and display the results publicly each sprint to motivate lower-performing employees. I expla ... Show More
28m 11s
Oct 2024
170. Where Does The Time Go? – with David Buck
In this week's episode we're tackling the world of time management with expert and coach David Buck. We'll delve into:Finding focusOvercoming distractionsAvoiding procrastinationThe importance of self-care And how to schedule your calendar for a healthy balanceMent ... Show More
38m 51s