Search a title or topic

Over 20 million podcasts, powered by 

Player FM logo
Artwork

Content provided by Cal Newport. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Cal Newport or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.
Player FM - Podcast App
Go offline with the Player FM app!

Ep. 363: Escaping the Digital Doldrums

1:09:27
 
Share
 

Manage episode 496984182 series 2701426
Content provided by Cal Newport. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Cal Newport or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

What does Walt Disney’s malaise in the 1940s have to do with our current struggles with our screens? In this episode, Cal uses a little-known story from Disney’s midlife to identify an effective strategy for escaping the nerve-deadening, dull state created by spending more and more of your professional and personal life on screens. He then answers listener questions (with an unusual level of spiciness), tries to calm himself with a reprise of the SLOW PRODUCTIVITY CORNER theme music, and concludes with a discussion of a recent essay he wrote about how no one really knows anything about AI.

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: [1:47]

  • How should I pursue two different goals after leaving my software engineering career? [21:10]
  • Should I leave my business analyst job and buy a retail business? [24:32]
  • I’ve tried writing for editors (and publications) before with no success. Any suggestions on how to break through? [30:08]
  • How do I convince my company that AI assistance is not the answer? [35:27]
  • Is inspiration perishable like Naval Ravikant says? [38:11]

CALL: Inbox anxiety [43:15]

CASE STUDY: A public school teacher with a blog [51:27]

WHAT I’M WRITING: No One Knows Anything About AI [59:13]

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?
amusingplanet.com/2019/01/walt-disneys-backyard-railway-carolwood.html
youtu.be/KyfUysrNaco?si=uE6tJkPuFhdnbla2&t=2490
calnewport.com/no-one-knows-anything-about-ai/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

drinklmnt.com/deep
cozyearth.com (Use code “DEEP”)
calderalab.com/deep
shipstation.com/deep

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

  continue reading

371 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 496984182 series 2701426
Content provided by Cal Newport. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Cal Newport or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

What does Walt Disney’s malaise in the 1940s have to do with our current struggles with our screens? In this episode, Cal uses a little-known story from Disney’s midlife to identify an effective strategy for escaping the nerve-deadening, dull state created by spending more and more of your professional and personal life on screens. He then answers listener questions (with an unusual level of spiciness), tries to calm himself with a reprise of the SLOW PRODUCTIVITY CORNER theme music, and concludes with a discussion of a recent essay he wrote about how no one really knows anything about AI.

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: [1:47]

  • How should I pursue two different goals after leaving my software engineering career? [21:10]
  • Should I leave my business analyst job and buy a retail business? [24:32]
  • I’ve tried writing for editors (and publications) before with no success. Any suggestions on how to break through? [30:08]
  • How do I convince my company that AI assistance is not the answer? [35:27]
  • Is inspiration perishable like Naval Ravikant says? [38:11]

CALL: Inbox anxiety [43:15]

CASE STUDY: A public school teacher with a blog [51:27]

WHAT I’M WRITING: No One Knows Anything About AI [59:13]

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?
amusingplanet.com/2019/01/walt-disneys-backyard-railway-carolwood.html
youtu.be/KyfUysrNaco?si=uE6tJkPuFhdnbla2&t=2490
calnewport.com/no-one-knows-anything-about-ai/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

drinklmnt.com/deep
cozyearth.com (Use code “DEEP”)
calderalab.com/deep
shipstation.com/deep

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

  continue reading

371 episodes

All episodes

×
 
Loading …

Welcome to Player FM!

Player FM is scanning the web for high-quality podcasts for you to enjoy right now. It's the best podcast app and works on Android, iPhone, and the web. Signup to sync subscriptions across devices.

 

Copyright 2025 | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | | Copyright
Listen to this show while you explore
Play