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
Newest firstAll episodes
227: Quarterly Planning
Apr 8, 202501:02:41Tap to summarizeDavid & Mike discuss their quarterly planning processes and share their intentions for the next quarter. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. The Focused Calendar How to Do a Personal Retreat in Obsidian Webinar Replay Postcard Cabins Whisper Memos The Library | A private PKM community for curious sensmakers The People Note: The Key to Rolling Up Tasks & Project in Obsidian | YouTube An Honest Review of Obsidian in 2025 | YouTube Thumbnail Masterclass Skylight | Smart Family Calendar Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy The 5 Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: 50th Anniversary Edition by Shunryu Suzuki
Transcribe →226: The Importance of Review
Mar 25, 202501:06:42Tap to summarizeDavid & Mike discuss the power of review and reflection in your focused productivity system. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast. Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. MacSparky Productivity Field Guide 2025 (Plus Edition) The 12 Week Year by Brian Moran and Michael Lennington Mike's Personal Retreat Handbook Focused #225: Tiny Experiments, with Anne-Laure Le Cunff Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff Whisper Memos Plotter USA Drafts | Where Text Starts Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy I've Got Time by Paul Loomens Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman KNODY Travel Cribbage Boards TRMNL | E-ink dashboard to stay focused
Transcribe →225: Tiny Experiments, with Anne-Laure Le Cunff
Mar 12, 202501:09:43Tap to summarizeAnne-Laure Le Cunff joins us to talk about the value of tiny experiments and how they enable us to live more focused, intentional lives. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED. Cleft: Capture and Share Notes With Cleft's AI Scribe. Guest Starring: Anne-Laure Le Cunff Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff Ness Labs Newsletter Liminal Thinking by Dave Gray Your Life in Weeks | Wait But Why Atomic Habits by James Clear Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown Ness Labs | Mindful Productivity School for Knowledge Workers
Transcribe →224: Chasing Valuable Rabbits, with Chenell Basilio
Feb 26, 202501:17:05Tap to summarizeChenell Basilio joins us to talk about cultivating curiosity, finding your people, and avoiding burnout. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast. Cleft: Capture and Share Notes With Cleft's AI Scribe. Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free. Guest Starring: Chenell Basilio Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Chenell's Craft + Commerce Talk Growth in Reverse Growth In Reverse Podcast Creator Science (Jay Clouse) Focused #135: Don't Eat the Frog, with Jesse J. Anderson Extra Focus by Jesse J. Anderson Notion Calendar Ness Labs
Transcribe →223: Solving the Actual Problem, with Ian Byrd
Feb 11, 202501:00:40Tap to summarizeIan Byrd is back to talk about flexibility, focus traps, and finding balance. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED. Guest Starring: Ian Byrd Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Byrdseed TV | Taking work off of teachers' plates. Byrdseed | Lessons that get kids’ brains sweating. Wacom Tablets Notability Goodnotes | Notes Reimagined ROOM | Soundproof Office Phone Booths & Office Pods
Transcribe →222: The 2025 Productivity Field Guide
Jan 28, 202500:58:45Tap to summarizeDavid reflects on a year of teaching the Productivity Field Guide, talks about what's new and what's changed, and Mike shares the details of his interesting twist to time-blocking. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Jelly: A better way to share an inbox. Get 15% off your first year. Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Productivity Field Guide 2025 (Standard Edition)Use coupon code PFG10 to get 10% off. Productivity Field Guide 2025 (Plus Edition)Use coupon code PFG10 to get 10% off. Mike's Newsletter on Block Priming Mike's Task Management YouTube Video Mike's Block Priming Video Stripe Press Online Version of Poor Charlie’s Almanack Poor Charlies Almanack: The Essential Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger I've Got Time by Paul Loomens Steam Deck Sid Meier's Civilization VII
Transcribe →221: A Focus on Creativity
Jan 14, 202501:03:32Tap to summarizeDavid & Mike consider the relationship between productivity & creativity, how focus plays a role in the creative process, and the details of their own creativity systems. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED. Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Mike's Practical PKM Cohort Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon Everything is a Remix (Original Series) | YouTube The Creative Act by Rick Rubin Focused #163: The Laws of Creativity, with Joey Cofone The Laws of Creativity by Joey Cofone Mike's Creativity Flywheel Course Drafts Obsidian MindNode Productivity Field Guide | MacSparky Field Guides OmniFocus David's Bookshelf Drawing Discbound Analog | Ugmonk A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Karla's Choice by John le Carré
Transcribe →220: 2024 Retrospective
Dec 31, 202401:04:09Tap to summarizeDavid & Mike reflect on the things that worked (and the things that didn't) in 2024 and set their intentions for 2025. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Practical PKM (Mike's Newsletter) Mike's YouTube channel LifeHQ (Mike's done-for-you Obsidian vault) Postcard Cabins (formerly Getaway House) David's Productivity Field Guide Bookworm podcast Paracord Marlin Spike Atmos Vacuum Canister | Fellow Meditations by Marcus Aurelius – Ryan Holiday's Fancy Version Meditations by Marcus Aurelius Free Time by Jenny Blake
Transcribe →219: A Focused Smorgasbord
Dec 17, 202401:20:04Tap to summarizeDavid & Mike catch up with listener feedback regarding the use of AI, reading workflows, anxious parenting, and what the heck even is a sabbatical. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free. Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Co-Intelligence by Ethan Mollick Time Timer | Visual Timers For Time Management ADHD Gift Guide 2024: 30 Dopamine-Friendly Gifts Ethan Mollick | Substack Readwise Reader Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman Obsidian Web Clipper Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal Of Boys and Men by Richard Reeves Book Series: The Complete Works of Lucius Annaeus Seneca Shortform | The World's Best Book Summaries Bookworm | Podcast Book Club Anti-Time Management by Richie Norton 211: Anti-Time Management by Richie Norton | Bookworm Hell Yeah or No | Derek Sivers What I’m doing now | Derek Sivers What I’m Doing Now | MacSparky
Transcribe →218: Turning Down the Volume, with Stephen Hackett
Dec 3, 202401:24:45Tap to summarizeStephen Hackett joins us to talk about his recent sabbatical experience and share what he learned from taking an extended break. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED. Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast. Guest Starring: Stephen Hackett Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Sabbatical | 512 Pixels Photos from Stephen's Sabbatical | Instagram Relay for St. Jude Departures #11: Relay 10 | Relay FM The Blanc Media 8-Week Work Cycle with Sabbaticals | The Focus Course Give the Gift of Relay Mac Power Users
Transcribe →