Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Ep. 113: How Do I Become a Deep Life Radical?

Jul 12, 2021

Explore the fascinating evolution of Benjamin Franklin and his transformative journey through colonial America. Discover effective communication strategies to enhance productivity and collaboration. Learn how to organize tasks without traditional boards and the significance of a strong author concept when writing nonfiction. Delve into the balance of work and leisure post-pandemic and the influence of digital minimalism on daily life. Cal shares his top parenting advice and critiques the notion of self-expression in favor of seeking deeper meaning.

01:19:39

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Highlights

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Episode notes

Balancing Work and Leisure Activities

01:29

You Have to Have Your Act Together, Your Kids Will See This

00:55

Self Expression Is Not Enough For Meaning and Resilience

00:48

Intro

7min

The Evolution of Franklin: A Journey Through Colonial America

5min

Reflections on Teaching and Healthy Living

8min

Optimizing Team Communication and Productivity

29min

Crafting Nonfiction: Essentials for Success and Effective Tools

6min

Navigating Productivity and Parental Influence

25min

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

BOOK REPORT: The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin [1:30]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS

- How do I eliminate the hive mind from interaction with other departments? [13:36]
- How do I capture small tasks so I don't forget them? [23:23]
- How do I (Cal) feel about career counselors? [29:31]
- Are there professions for which time blocking doesn't work? [33:42]
- How do I organize my tasks without using task boards? [37:55]
- Should I build a radical setting to support the deep life? [39:50]
- How do I become the right person to write a book? [42:52]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- Can a digital minimalist use a fitness tracker? [54:33]
- When should I switch from work to leisure? [56:27]
- How do I get back on track with a deep life after a hard pandemic? [59:24]
- What is my (Cal's) top piece of parenting advice? [1:02:04]
- Cal's Curmudgeon Corner: How do I find meaning beyond simply expressing myself? [1:05:01]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.