logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2025
1h 25m

Ep. 344: You Are Not a Cog

CAL NEWPORT
About this episode

Modern knowledge work jobs should be cushy gigs. Fixed hours, air conditioning, no hard manual labor, flexibility. So why are we so often burnt out and what can we do about this reality? In this episode, Cal draws a lesson from an unexpected corner of computer science, computer security research, about how we can fix some of the big problems of work in a digital age. He then answers listener questions and returns once again to the topic of AI in a final tech corner segment.


 

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: You Are Not a Cog [11:00]


 

- Should I break my large tasks into many small ones? [38:18]

- How will AI affect living the deep life? [42:47]

- How can I say “no” to more incoming requests? [48:14]

- Should an architect take on broader roles that don’t necessarily add to career capital? [52:03]

- Can a nurse implement time blocking? [54:33]

- Can a Kansan system work across all departments without being overly complex? [58:11]

- CALL: Organizing the details of a Trello board [1:03:19]


 

CASE STUDY: Lifestyle centric value based planning for a young family [1:07:58]


 

TECH CORNER: AGI is not Super-intelligence [1:15:35]


 

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?

medium.com/@tony.infisical/password-requirements-are-still-confusing-in-2023-also-heres-our-flavor-44ce03a3255c

youtube.com/watch?v=ZzJMxh68RGI


 

Thanks to our Sponsors:


 

This episode is sponsored by to you BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/deepquestions

mybodytutor.com

upliftdesk.com/deep

shopify.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
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
Apr 7
Episode 455: UX designer without a mentor and I get bored too easily and stressed too easily
In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: A listener named Dakota asks, I’m a UX designer, and I’m constantly looking for growth opportunities. I’m having trouble finding mentors to help challenge me, as every time my boss/senior designer leaves the company, I ass ... Show More
33 m
Jun 3
Now is the time to rethink engineering productivity
Are your teams feeling the intense pressure to "produce more" in an era increasingly dominated by AI?Join hosts Ben Lloyd Pearson and Dan Lines as they unpack a major shift in how engineering organizations must now approach productivity. Dan reveals the urgent challenges he hears ... Show More
40m 20s
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
May 9
Old School Productivity: Getting Things Done
Daily Boost Podcast Show Notes Old School Productivity: Getting Things Done May 9, 2025 | Episode 5090 Host: Scott Smith Episode Description Ready to escape the rabbit hole of productivity advice? In today’s episode, Scott takes you back to basics with a simple yet powerful syste ... Show More
11m 30s
Sep 2021
016 How to Claw Back Some Time to Make More Money
I've got many messages from the community asking me how I manage to be everywhere, do everything, and spend quality time with my family, so we will talk about time today. In this episode, we will differentiate being busy from being productive, we will discuss the dangers of compa ... Show More
28m 10s