Podcast
Focused
Hosted by Relay · EN
David Sparks and Mike Schmitz are not nearly as productive as they’d like to be. Join these fellow travelers (and a bunch of special guests) as they share the best ways to get focused, and talk through their successes and failures along the way. Hosted by David Sparks and Mike Schmitz.
34episodes
Episodes
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252: Donkey Work
Mar 2401:15:06Tap to summarizeDavid has a new Field Guide, and both he & Mike discuss the ways they're using AI to have their robot assistants help with the donkey work. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Gusto: Payroll, HR, Benefits. Simplified. Get 3 months free. Incogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code FOCUSED with this link and get 60% off an annual plan. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Video for this episode Robot Assistant Field Guide | MacSparky Field GuidesSave 10% with code FOCUSROBOT LifeTheme Cohort Did the AI Job Apocalypse Just Begin? (Hint: No.) | Cal Newport's AI Reality Check OpenClaw Claude The Ultimate AI Masterclass For Businesses in 2026 | The Nathan Barry Show Claude for Chrome Obsidian FreshBooks DJI Osmo Pocket 3 The Science of Storytelling by Will Storr By Hand & Eye
Transcribe →251: Not Throwing Away My Shot, with Joe Casabona
Mar 1001:15:46Tap to summarizePodcast coach and Streamlined Soloprenuer founder Joe Casabona joins us to talk about building systems, effective delegation, and when to actually automate. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED. Guest Starring: Joe Casabona Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Joe's Website Joe Casabona | LinkedIn Focused #249: What if This Were Easy? with Ernie Svenson Toggl Focus app | App Store Brick | Take Back Control of Your Screen Time Sponsor Games Balatro A World Without Email by Cal Newport Streamlined Solopreneur #520: 3 Steps to Reclaim Your Life from Email Onlinejobs.ph Tella SaneBox The End of Burnout by Jonathan Malesic Zapier OpenClaw David's OpenClaw video reMarkable Paper Pro Move reMarkable 2 Supernote Nomad USB Hub | Elgato Keychron Q3 QMK Custom Mechanical Keyboard Keychron K2 HE Wireless Magnetic Switch Custom Keyboard The Iliad by Homer The Odyssey by Homer Walden by Henry David Thoreau
Transcribe →250: Planning Your Week
Feb 2401:08:54Tap to summarizeDavid & Mike discuss how to plan your week and share their own weekly planning workflows. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Gusto: Payroll, HR, Benefits. Simplified. Get 3 months free. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Productivity Field Guide 2026 (Pro Edition) | MacSparky Field Guides The 4 Disciplines of Execution Supernote Nomad Analog Weekly Cards | Ugmonk The End of Burnout by Jonathan Malesic The Peace Of Wild Things by Wendell Berry
Transcribe →249: What if This Were Easy? with Ernie Svenson
Feb 1000:59:00Tap to summarizeDavid's personal Yoda is back to talk about curiosity, creativity, and the role of AI in focused work. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Incogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code FOCUSED with this link and get 60% off an annual plan. Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED. Guest Starring: Ernie Svenson Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Ernie the Attorney Circle | The complete community platform Creativity by John Cleese Wispr Flow | Effortless Voice Dictation The War of Art by Steven Pressfield The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey Writing Without Teachers by Peter Elbow The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron The Pathless Path by Paul Millerd Alchemy by Rory Sutherland Influence by Robert Cialdini Day One Journal App | Your Journal For Life OpenClaw The Overthinker's Guide to Making Decisions by Joseph Nguyen The Tools of Excellence by Nicholas Bate The Science of Storytelling by Will Storr Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro Ready Player One by Ernest Cline The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Red Rising by Pierce Brown His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novick
Transcribe →248: Seriously, A Heroic Journey
Jan 2700:57:45Tap to summarizeDavid & Mike discuss the Hero's Journey and how focus can help in your own epic quest. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Gusto: Payroll, HR, Benefits. Simplified. Get 3 months free. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Video version of this episode Productivity Field Guide 2026 (Pro Edition) | MacSparky Field GuidesUse coupon code FOCUSEDPFG for 10% off. Die Empty by Todd Henry How many career changes in a lifetime? | The University of Queensland Hero's Journey Overview | Wikipedia Joseph Campbell and The Power of Myth | BillMoyers.com From Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks The Library Community The Personal Retreat Planner
Transcribe →247: Getting Intentional, with Chris Bailey
Jan 1301:09:39Tap to summarizeChris Bailey is back to talk about his new book, The Intention Stack, fundamental human values, and why S.M.A.R.T. goals aren't very smart. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Incogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code FOCUSED with this link and get 60% off an annual plan. Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED. Guest Starring: Chris Bailey Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Focused on YouTube Chris' website Intentional by Chris Bailey Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey An Overview of the Schwartz Theory of Basic Values Overcoming Procrastination (Chris' course) The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey How to Calm Your Mind by Chris Bailey Notes on Being a Man by Scott Galloway The Wealthy Barber by David Chilton Proust and the Squid by Maryanne Wolf Reader, Come Home by Maryanne Wolf The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus How to Calm Your Mind by Chris Bailey
Transcribe →246: A Cleansing Palette of Joy
Dec 3001:21:05Tap to summarizeDavid & Mike reflect on everything that happened in 2025 and set their intentions for the new year. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Incogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code FOCUSED with this link and get 60% off an annual plan. Gusto: Payroll, HR, Benefits. Simplified. Get 3 months free. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Video for this episode The Practical PKM Cohort is Now Open! David's Newsletter Mike's Newsletter Building a Master Content Calendar in Obsidian with Bases Introduction to Obsidian Bases Mike's Video on moving from Dataview to Obsidian Bases Sublime Plotter Leather Binder Refills Intentional by Chris Bailey
Transcribe →245: Fashionable & Functional, with Patrick Rhone
Dec 1601:22:41Tap to summarizePatrick Rhone is back to talk about his love for calendars and why curiosity is essential if you want to become a knower of things. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Incogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code FOCUSED with this link and get 60% off an annual plan. Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast. Guest Starring: Patrick Rhone Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. YouTube video for this episode Patrick's website Enough by Patrick Rhone Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things Whoa to Wow BusyCal Pocket Briefcases | Levenger Analog™ | The original to-do system by Ugmonk Nanami Seven Seas Tomoe River Notebooks GTD Guided Mindsweep Patrick's Now page The Nathan Barry Show | How To Live a Meaningful Life Using Design ThinkingThe episode Mike mentions where the authors tell us to "stop shoulding ourselves." Trello ProWritingAid: The Storyteller's Toolkit YearCompass Excalidraw Obsidian plugin Sketch Your Mind Derek Sivers Hunter Gatherer 21C How to Beat ChatGPT by Nicholas Bate Daily MEDS by Nicholas Bate The Notebook by Roland Allen
Transcribe →244: You're Holding It Wrong
Dec 201:12:33Tap to summarizeDavid & Mike catch up on listener feedback and discuss productivity myths, focus struggles, and their favorite episodes from the last year. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED. Incogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code FOCUSED with this link and get 60% off an annual plan. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Video for this episode Focused YouTube channel Give the Gift of Relay The Focused Calendar Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff Time Timer The Personal Retreat Planner The Blanc Media 8-Week Work Cycle with Sabbaticals Focused #239: How to Focus Like a Roman Emperor, with Donald J. Robertson Focused #225: Tiny Experiments, with Anne-Laure Le Cunff Focused #232: Useful Not True, with Derek Sivers Focused #242: The Case for Analog 1911 KOP Ebonite Naginata-Togi Fountain Pen Pen Review: Pilot Custom Heritage 912 with PO Nib | The Gentleman Stationer Diamine Writer's Blood Ink Review | The Pen Addict Why My Platinum Century 3776 Fountain Pens Have Architect Grinds | Chicana Writes Ink Review #189: Robert Oster Bondi Blue | Mountain of Ink Rolls MS111 Mic Switch Latching or Momentary Microphone Mute Switch | Amazon Toxic Grit by Amanda Goetz Apple in China by Patrick McGee
Transcribe →243: The Single Source of Truth is On the Fridge, with Thom Gibson
Nov 1901:21:25Tap to summarizeSocial Media Content Specialist Thom Gibson joins us to talk about Sunday meetings, journaling in broad strokes, and the struggles that come with working from home. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast. Guest Starring: Thom Gibson Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Work-From-Home Dads Kolbe A™ Index Takes Two Hunt, Gather, Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff Plus Minus Next Journaling | Ness Labs Moleskine Notebooks Pilot G2 0.7mm Black Fine Retractable Gel Ink Pen Rollerball | Amazon Day Pass by Sling TV Explore Stream Deck | Elgato Sparky's BIonics | YouTube The 5 Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom Make Time by Jake Knapp & John Zeratsky Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman Wisdom Takes Work by Ryan Holiday Focused #239: How to Focus Like a Roman Emperor, with Donald J. Robertson Notes on Being a Man by Scott Galloway The WFH Dad’s 6-Hour Workday Playbook
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