Best Clay Skipper Podcasts (2025)

1
How to Be Excellent, Actually 47:35

21h ago47:35

47:35

On the inaugural episode of our rebranded podcast "excellence, actually," Steve Magness, Brad Stulberg, and Clay Skipper discuss the rebrand of the show (previously FAREWELL), define what they mean by excellence, and show how it's available to all of us—starting with three counter-intuitive but significant mindset shifts that will help you in the p…

1
Ep. 358: Are Parents (Finally) Ready to Fight Smartphones? 1:02:08

4d ago1:02:08

1:02:08

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 what we think is appropriate when it comes to these tools and kids. He …

1
How to Take Better Breaks: Mastering Rest & Recovery 47:59

8d ago47:59

47:59

We all know we need to take breaks to allow ourselves to rest and recover, both physically and cognitively. But it can be especially hard to do when we feel like we need to keep pushing. So today, we're tackling that problem: What would it look like to design our days around sustainable rhythms rather than maximum output—and how do we do this while…

1
Ep. 357: What Worries the Internet’s Favorite Philosopher? 1:12:50

11d ago1:12:50

1:12:50

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 he saying that is making such an impact? In this episode, Cal seeks to…

1
IN-DEPTH: The Art of Non-Conformity (w/ Chris Guillebeau) 1:07:41

15d ago1:07:41

1:07:41

In this episode of IN-DEPTH, Cal is joined by Chris Guillebeau, the author of the new book, TIME ANXIETY, and creator of the beloved Art of Non-Conformity blog and World Domination Summit annual conferences. Cal and Chris reminisce about their old days as early advice bloggers and dive into his new ideas about re-thinking our relationship with time…

1
How to Know When to Grit vs. When to Quit 48:41

15d ago48:41

48:41

How do you know when to persevere through a rough patch—and when to give up entirely? And if you do decide to push through, what are the most effective tools to bolster your resilience and get you through to the other side? That's what we're breaking down on today's episode. We'll help you recognize when to continue striving despite setbacks and wh…

1
Ep. 356: How Much Should We Work? 1:03:30

18d ago1:03:30

1:03:30

The data shows knowledge workers really are more exhausted and more prone to burnout than ever before. But why? In this episode, Cal draws inspiration from an unlikely source to help unpack this troubling trend and then suggest a perhaps radical solution. He then answers listeners’ questions and discusses his latest New Yorker article on the challe…

1
9 Important Life Lessons We've Learned from Exercise 40:55

22d ago40:55

40:55

Exercise isn't just a way to better yourself physically. In fact, through our years of running, competing, and working out, we've found some of exercise's greatest gifts to be the lessons it teaches us about ourselves and about life. Here we are sharing nine of our favorites that you'll find useful whether you exercise or not: how to stay patient, …

1
Ep. 355: Quit Social Media (For Real This Time) 1:11:35

25d ago1:11:35

1:11:35

A common complaint about social media skepticism is that we’re falling into a classic moral panic. We’ve been concerned about many past mass media technologies, and ultimately came to realize that they’re not so bad. So why would we expect anything different about social media? In this episode, Cal tackles this complaint, drawing on an unexpected a…

1
120 - A 66-Year-Old Powerlifter with 71 World Records on the Secrets to Long-Term Success (with David Ricks) 36:50

29d ago36:50

36:50

David Ricks first competed in a powerlifting competition in 1981, when he was 21 years old. At 66, he is still competing. Along the way, he's won 13 world championships, 32 national championships, and 71 world records. You might say he knows a thing or two about mastery, excellence, and sustaining both over a long period of time. Today, he shares h…

1
Ep. 354: The Workload Fairytale 1:14:24

1M ago1:14:24

1:14:24

A few years ago, in a spirit of post-pandemic experimentation, multiple countries ran formal trials to test a radical idea: shortening the workweek. In this episode, Cal returns to the results of these trials to identify an astounding finding that has critical implications about how we work in the 21st century and how this could be made much better…

1
119 - How to Turn Your Inner Critic Into a Coach 44:54

1M ago44:54

44:54

By some estimates, the voice in your head can spew up to 4000 words per minute, making it all the more important that we learn how to live with it. This can be especially hard when it's loud and critical, which (maybe you've noticed) it has a tendency to be at some of the most inopportune times: right before an important event. Today we discuss str…

1
Ep. 353: Summer Schedules 1:20:56

1M ago1:20:56

1:20:56

Summer is here. It’s time to slow down. In this episode, Cal discusses his radically simplified summer schedule and then suggests you similarly inject some “seasonality” into your life, offering tips for finding a slower gear without tanking your job. He then answers listener questions and reacts to the most important AI article that you likely mis…

1
118 - How to Build Discipline 43:18

1M ago43:18

43:18

Why are some people disciplined and others aren’t? It’s not because of an innate character trait, but because disciplined people have simply trained the skill of being disciplined. Today we break down how to do that by discussing how motivation and inspiration can (and often do) get in the way of discipline, the power of routines and constraints, s…

1
Ep. 352: It’s Okay to Slow Down 1:09:36

2M ago1:09:36

1:09:36

When we think about important accomplishments, we think about grinding through long hours of work. But is this really necessary? In this episode, Cal turns to the lives of two famous authors to argue that sometimes a slow and steady approach can work just as well in the end, while making the journey more sustainable along the way. He then answers l…

1
117 - The Masculinity Crisis, and Why It Matters for All of Us (Part 2) 56:08

2M ago56:08

56:08

This is the second of two episodes we're devoting to the topic of masculinity. Last week, in part one, we spoke with Richard Reeves about how changing ideas of what it means to be a man have left many men feeling adrift. Today, Brad, Steve, and Clay discuss that episode, reflect on some clips from a few other voices who've thought deeply about this…

1
Ep. 351: Making the Internet Good Again 1:13:33

2M ago1:13:33

1:13:33

Tyler Cowen recently wrote an article arguing that spending lots of time online is in fact a good thing. In this episode, Cal looks deeper at Cowen’s argument and finds some surprising common ground. The internet can be a major source of good in your life, he argues, but only if you use it in the right way. He then answers listener questions and re…

1
116 - The Masculinity Crisis, and Why It Matters for All of Us (Part 1) 54:56

2M ago54:56

54:56

Over the next two weeks, we're going to be exploring the topic of masculinity—more specifically, how changing ideas of what it means to be a man have left many men feeling adrift, and what a path to a more positive masculinity might look like, particularly amid a backdrop of hyper-productivity, optimization, and toxic influences like Andrew Tate. T…

1
Ep. 350: Is Inbox Zero Possible? 1:09:28

2M ago1:09:28

1:09:28

The white whale of modern productivity discourse is achieving an empty email inbox; a goal state that’s often referred to simply as “inbox zero.” In this episode, Cal looks at why the original advice for achieving inbox zero failed and explores a strategy that might work better. He then answers listener questions and in a final segment reacts to a …

1
115 - Mailbag: Daily Health Checklist, Rut vs. Burnout, & Taking Good Breaks 32:30

2M ago32:30

32:30

You've got questions, we've got answers. Today, we dive into listener emails and voicemails to answer some of your questions. 1) Can you give me a minimalist daily health checklist? 2) How do I tell the difference between a rut and burnout? 3) What do "good" breaks actually look like? 4) How do I stay committed to long-term goals when short-term st…

1
Ep. 349: Sam Altman On Productivity 1:12:04

2M ago1:12:04

1:12:04

Cal talks a lot about his ideas for producing meaningful work in a distracted world. But how do other people tackle this goal? To help better under this question, Cal reacts to a 2018 article from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in which he details his productivity philosophy. Cal then answers listener questions and concludes with a dystopian tech corner. Fi…

1
IN-DEPTH: Architecting a Deep Life (w/ David Dewane) 1:35:21

2M ago1:35:21

1:35:21

In this episode of IN-DEPTH, Cal is joined by David Dewane, the architect responsible for the “eudaimonia machine” featured in DEEP WORK. In this wide-ranging conversation, Cal and David talk about the challenges of finding depth in a distracted world, and the results of David’s personal experimentation in creating a deep life of his own. Video fro…

1
114 - Choke, Recover, Repeat: Mastering the Art of Resilience 47:44

2M ago47:44

47:44

In the world of sport and performance, a lot is made of executing under pressure. "Don't choke," we often say. However, what is perhaps more impressive (not to mention realistic) is being able to bounce back from choking. (In some ways, this is what Rory McIlroy displayed in his Masters victory this past weekend, winning in a one-hole playoff after…

1
Ep. 348: Manage Your Time in 5 Minutes a Day 1:22:45

2M ago1:22:45

1:22:45

Cal has been writing about time management for a *long* time. In this episode, he returns to a chapter from a book he wrote twenty years ago that is titled “manage your time in 5 minutes a day.” He revisits his old advice to see what he thinks still works and what needs updating. He then answers listener questions and returns to the tech corner to …

1
113 - Playing the Long Game in a Quick-Fix World 34:56

3M ago34:56

34:56

As we often say, people have a tendency to drastically overestimate what they can do in a day and drastically underestimate what they can do in a year, particularly these days when so much of our world is oriented towards instant gratification. So today we're talking about the art of sustainable success and how to play the long game. We discuss how…

1
Ep. 347: The Forgotten Phone Harms 1:09:17

3M ago1:09:17

1:09:17

Phones have been receiving a lot of criticism recently, but what if these concerns are missing the mark? In this episode, Cal introduces the difference between primary and secondary phone harms, and argues how our obsession with the former hides the importance of the latter. He then answers reader questions and reviews the books he read in March 20…

1
112 - Building True Confidence: The Practical Path from Bravado to Belief 39:51

3M ago39:51

39:51

Today we're breaking down confidence. We discuss what it is (earned self-belief) and what it isn't (bravado, arrogance, positive thinking, or the absence of doubt and insecurity); how to build and maintain it; the cons (and some surprising pros!) of delusional confidence; how to keep from tipping over into complacency or arrogance; and practical st…

1
Ep. 346: Getting Smarter in a Dumb World 1:10:01

3M ago1:10:01

1:10:01

In last week’s episode, Cal discussed data that indicate that the rise of the smartphones is making humans measurably dumber. Here he discusses aggressive strategies for resisting this reality. He then answers listener questions and ends with a tech corner. Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com! Below are the questions covered in today's …

1
111 - How to Better Manage Stress 33:33

3M ago33:33

33:33

Today, we talk about how to navigate life and athletic performance amidst stress. We discuss the impact of mental and emotional stress on physical performance, and share personal anecdotes and scientific insights on the interplay between cognitive stress and physical endurance, including effects on the immune system and cortisol levels. We've also …

1
Ep. 345: Are We Getting Dumber? 1:08:48

3M ago1:08:48

1:08:48

Multiple listeners recently sent in a Financial Times article that asks whether humans have passed “peak intelligence.” In this episode, Cal looks closer at the data in this article to try to understand why we seem to be getting dumber, and more importantly, what are the practical steps individuals can take to avoid the trend. He then answers liste…

1
110 - Bracketology: Who is the World's Top Performer? 45:15

3M ago45:15

45:15

March Madness is back! In honor of its return, we put together a special edition FAREWELL bracket with sixteen of the world's best performers, across sports and entertainment. Following a random seeding, we broke down each matchup until we had our lone champion. So give it a listen and find out who took home the title of World's Top Performer. And …

1
Ep. 344: You Are Not a Cog 1:25:57

3M ago1:25:57

1:25:57

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 wor…

1
109 - How (and Why) to Spend Some Time Alone in Your Head 53:32

4M ago53:32

53:32

"All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone." The French philosopher Blaise Pascal said this in 1654. A study published in 2014 found this to be true: many subjects chose to administer an electric shock to themselves rather than sit alone with their thoughts. It's a universal difficulty being with the discom…

1
Ep. 343: A Minimal Protocol for Taking Control of Your LIfe 1:30:50

4M ago1:30:50

1:30:50

One of the most commonly recurring themes on this show is the conflict between too much versus not enough productivity. In this episode, Cal attempts to find new clarity in this debate by identifying a minimal viable productivity system – that is, what are the bare minimum components needed to escape the chaos and stress of total disorganization. H…

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