How Do I Finish Meaningful Projects? | Monday Advice

How Do I Finish Meaningful Projects? | Monday Advice

Author: Cal Newport August 10, 2026 Duration: 1:04:53
Only 8% of people finish their yearly goals. At the same time, the percentage of people feeling a sense of meaning of purpose in their life is falling. These two numbers are connected: the more we struggle to accomplish meaningful projects, the less meaningful our lives might feel. In this episode, Cal looks back to a classic article he wrote nearly twenty years ago to both better understand why this problem is getting worse and how we can solve it. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) How do I finish meaningful projects? (39:36) A new study about children with cellphones having poorer reading comprehension  (43:14) A nurse practitioner in search of deep work (45:45) Using AI to improve both your work and life (52:24) A recent Wall Street Journal article about AI and jobs (1:00:07) What Cal is up to July 2026 Books Orality and Literacy (Walter Ong) Lost (Rachel Harrington) Sapiens (Yuval Harari) More Everything Forever (Adam Becker) Disneyland the Rise of Automation (Roland Bethencourt) A Brief History of Intelligence (Max Bennett) Links: Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow  Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at https://peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/  Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba? https://www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/science-says-92-percent-of-people-dont-achieve-goals-heres-how-the-other-8-perce.html https://news.gallup.com/poll/711836/gen-zers-missing-sense-meaning-purpose-life.aspx https://calnewport.com/the-einstein-principle-accomplish-more-by-doing-less/ https://futureoftuesday.substack.com/p/techno-analog https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/owning-a-cell-phone-associated-with-poorer-reading-comprehension-schoolchildren https://www.wsj.com/business/big-companies-are-starting-to-hire-again-defying-predictions-of-ai-wipeout-f4974e99?mod=hp_lead_pos10 Thanks to our Sponsors:  https://www.scribe.how/deep https://www.superhuman.com https://www.mybodytutor.com https://www.factormeals.com/deep50off Thanks to Jesse Miller for production and mastering, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cal Newport, a computer science professor and bestselling author, brings his thoughtful exploration of technology's role in our lives into an audio format with Deep Questions with Cal Newport. Moving beyond the pages of his books, this podcast creates a direct dialogue where he addresses the real-world challenges submitted by his readers. Each episode feels like a focused conversation, tackling the practicalities of building a meaningful and productive life in an age of constant connectivity. You’ll hear specific strategies for cultivating sustained focus, designing a work life that allows for depth, and establishing boundaries with the digital tools that so often fragment our attention. The discussions are grounded in his research and philosophy, avoiding simplistic life-hacks in favor of sustainable systems. Whether it's navigating the demands of a distracted workplace, finding time for deep hobbies, or managing technology without feeling overwhelmed, Newport provides nuanced advice that connects the dots between personal effectiveness and broader societal trends. This isn't just another productivity podcast; it's a consistent source for rethinking how we engage with our work, our time, and our devices to reclaim a sense of purpose and control. The overall tone is both analytical and accessible, making complex ideas about living and working deeply feel immediately applicable to daily routines. Tuning into this podcast offers a regular opportunity to step back from the noise and consider a more intentional approach to everything you do.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Deep Questions with Cal Newport
Podcast Episodes
Am I Lazy or Overstimulated? | Monday Advice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:01
Cal Newport explains about if you're lazy or overstimulated in episode 410 of the Deep Questions podcast. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! He…
Do I Need a “Brain Gym”? | Monday Advice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:24
In the 1960s, doctors avoided people to avoid exercise. Then everything changed. Now physical fitness is a $100 billion industry. What would it look like if we got equally as serious about cognitive fitness? In this epis…
Are We About to Lose Control of AI? | AI Reality Check [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:37
Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News. Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) Are we about to lose control of AI? (3:04) How much should we be afraid of recursive self improvement? (…
Should I Press Pause? | Monday Advice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:09
Sometimes the best way to get unstuck is to press pause on your busy life and take a moment to look toward new possibilities. But how is this possible if you can’t afford to literally stop everything and get away? In thi…
How Do I Escape the “Busyness Singularity”? | Monday Advice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:08
There has been lots of discussion recently about AI eliminating jobs. But what if the real fear is that AI will instead make existing jobs miserable? In this episode, Cal argues that LLM–based tools are poised to acceler…
How Do I Reclaim My Schedule? (w/ Laura Vanderkam) | Monday Advice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:10
It’s common to feel like you don’t have enough time in your schedule to build a life that’s both professionally successful and personally deep. But is this true? In today’s episode, Cal interviews time management expert…
Has AI Conquered Coding? (It’s Not So Simple…) | AI Reality Check [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:33
Cal Newport takes a critical look at recent AI News. Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) Has AI conquered coding? (3:21) Lars Faye quote (5:25) Skipping the struggle step (6:42) Point #1 (7:08)…
Am I Addicted to My Phone? (w/ Anna Lembke) | Monday Advice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28:38
Many of us ask the question if phone addiction is similar to other addictions. In this episode, Cal is joined by the #1 New York Times bestselling author Anna Lembke to explore this question. They dive deep into her book…