Getting Things Done Podcast: Slice of GTD Life with Drew Domkus

Episode 329 | September 24, 2025
Guest: Drew Domkus | Host: John Forrester

Main Theme

This episode offers an engaging look into the personal and professional GTD journey of Drew Domkus—longtime podcaster, GTD social media coordinator, and media creative. Drew shares the evolution of his productivity habits, unique rural lifestyle, hybrid GTD system, and how hands-on coaching transformed his work and life. Listeners will gain practical tips, relatable stories, and hear Drew's advice for both GTD newcomers and veterans.

Episode Highlights & Insights

1. Drew's Background and Setting

• Location: Southeast Wisconsin, surrounded by cornfields; lives on a former dairy "hobby farm" (01:15).
• Podcasting Accolades: Inducted into the Podcast Hall of Fame (2016) for “The Don and Drew Show,” one of podcasting's earliest and longest-running shows (01:57).
• Current Ventures:
  • Skatosis: A skateboarding podcast and creative outlet.

    “I’m 100% obsessed with skateboarding... Skatosis is a bit of a release valve for me.” (02:53)

  • Old Dude Skate Co.: Personal brand and creative playground.
  • Social Media & Editing: Produces audio/video content for David Allen Co. and manages their social feeds.

    “I get to reinforce all of David’s principles every time I’m working on a project… and it’s helping me as I’m doing it.” (06:28)

  • Next for Me: Newsletter/community for career transitions, co-run with longtime GTDer Jeff Tidwell (07:15).

2. Drew’s GTD Journey

• Coaching Experience:
  • Underwent full GTD coaching virtually, which was transformative:

    “100%. Like maybe 150%. I was not a practitioner by any means… When I got involved with you guys, going through that coaching put it all in context… It became part of my day-to-day right away.” (05:13)

    • Felt initial self-doubt, but each coaching session reinforced progress.
    • Quick adoption helped by being naturally process-oriented, but acknowledges “falling off the wagon” at times.
• Benefits Realized:
  • Immediate stress relief from getting things out of his head and onto lists.

    “100%, because I was starting to put things on paper and getting them out of my head… right away it brings so much relief…” (28:37)

  • Wife noticed and appreciated the change; helps keep him accountable (25:40).

    “She notices first when I'm slacking… She loves it. She's bummed the biggest when I'm not on top of it.” (25:40)

• Advice for Beginners:

  “Make sure you give it time and not expect it to be an overnight thing… You will notice change right away.” (27:56)

3. Tools & Workflow

• System Overview: Hybrid approach anchored in pen & paper + Mac/Apple digital tools:

  • Lists: Paper notepad split into work and personal columns, always visible for checking off items (08:53).
  • Digital Tools:
    • Notes: Apple Notes (syncs between Mac and iPhone, used for capturing ideas/minute marks for editing).
    • Calendar: Apple Calendar App.
    • Email: Gmail—browser-based for desktop, Apple Mail for iPhone; uses email only as input, not as a to-do list (10:28).
    • Social Media Management: Chunked using browser windows/tabs: separate clusters for GTD, personal, and work (15:47).
  • Editing & Content Creation:
    • Video: Final Cut Pro is now his primary tool (“my most comfortable tool where Photoshop used to be”—12:33).
    • Audio: GarageBand, chosen for simplicity and long familiarity (13:04).
    • Graphics: Photoshop and Illustrator as needed.

• Notable Quote:

  "If my computer went down, what would I be doing? I'd be thinking of that list." (08:53)

4. GTD Practice Details

• Contexts:

  • Keeps task contexts simple, usually project or client-based, not by app or tool (13:38).
  • Once inside an app (GarageBand, Final Cut), operates on "cruise control."

  “When I'm in Final Cut, it's totally cruise control… If I don't know how to do it, I just find a tutorial…” (14:08)

• Inboxes:

  • Multiple digital inboxes due to work/life blend. Email, social channels (FB, IG, Twitter), notifications on both GTD and personal accounts—all count as inboxes.

  “That's probably my biggest problem… I’ve got a whole world of inboxes.” (15:47)

  • Uses tabs to manage focus across contexts.

• Input Processing & Two-Minute Rule:

  • Handles most social inputs in "quick scan mode," deals with easy items immediately.
  • Non-trivial issues become projects on the master list (e.g., when the GTD YouTube channel was down for weeks—21:04).

  “If it’s not a two minute thing, it just ends up on my list.” (23:47)

• Capturing On-the-Go:

  • Uses Apple Notes to capture minute-markers or ideas when not at desk (24:57).

• Review & Rhythm:

  • More productive at night; does main project work after daily life winds down (17:44, 18:13).

  “I try to knock all my stuff out late at night.” (18:18)

• Project Planning:

  • Does NOT explicitly use GTD's Natural Planning Model (“I don't use it as an actual process, I guess”—31:47), but trusts his less formal methods due to alignment with his workflow and environment.

5. Navigating Social Media & Digital Challenges

• Handling Big Issues:

  • Treats system outages or platform problems as full projects (21:04; 23:04).
  • Recent issues included: YouTube shutting down the GTD channel unexpectedly (needed multi-channel troubleshooting), Facebook’s random copyright flags.

• Capturing Social Insights:

  • Listens to David Allen content while doing chores; jots down timestamps with insights for later content creation (24:04).

6. Influence, Advocacy, and Family

• Impact on Relationships:

  • Subtle advocacy among friends and podcast followers—shares successes, doesn’t evangelize aggressively (29:44).
  • Family remains skeptical of non-inbox-based systems, but Drew sets an example:

  “I just give my little five minute spiel, blah, blah, blah… never works.” (30:49)

• Spousal Support:

  • Wife is not a formal GTD practitioner but “just naturally cruise-control-y” and encourages Drew to stay on track (25:40, 26:58).

7. Notable Moments & Quotes

• On podcasting longevity:

  “Podcasting was brand new, and we had a lot of attention… If we put out a show, the feed would kind of come back to life, but it's been running ever since.” (02:09)

• On the rural, farm-based lifestyle:

  “I live out in the farm life… I hardly see people as it is, and so I kind of am thriving [in the pandemic].” (15:02)

• On learning and growth:

  “I really wish I had this coaching in my previous job, because I was in the cubicle world with a mega-micromanager—it was just the worst. Now… I can do all the things I need to do.” (32:29)

Key Timestamps

| Time | Segment | |-----------|-------------------------------------------| | 00:51 | Drew's rural home & lifestyle | | 01:57 | Podcast Hall of Fame & Don and Drew Show | | 02:53 | Skateboarding obsession & Skatosis | | 05:13 | GTD Coaching Experience | | 06:28 | Social media work for David Allen Co. | | 08:53 | GTD system: hybrid analog/digital | | 10:28 | Email as (not) inbox | | 12:33 | Video/audio tools: Final Cut, GarageBand | | 13:38 | Task contexts: client/project-based | | 15:47 | Multiplicity of inboxes | | 18:13 | Night owl workflow | | 21:04 | Processing complex social media inputs | | 24:57 | Capturing insights on the go | | 25:40 | Wife's reaction and accountability | | 27:56 | Advice for GTD newcomers |

Final Takeaways

• Give Yourself Time: Adopting GTD is a process—expect noticeable relief quickly, but mastery is ongoing.
• Mix Your Tools: The right blend of analog and digital depends on personal comfort and workflow.
• Stay Flexible: Even as a "GTD social media wizard," Drew sometimes slips—self-compassion and regular review help recalibrate.
• Make It Your Own: Whether you're tracking tasks on paper, segmenting browser tabs as contexts, or using Final Cut Pro as a creative anchor, GTD can flex to your life.
• Let Success Speak: Subtle advocacy through example is more effective than preaching—friends will notice your change.

Memorable Closing (from David Allen, 33:14)

“All of us with this GTD methodology and this set of practices go through cycles… You may find yourself going through cycles of this… much like if you've ever read a software manual. You find it’s a gold mine of stuff… Many have read Getting Things Done more than three or four times, and every time, they get something new out of it.” (33:14)

A slice of GTD life with Drew Domkus is a reminder that productivity is personal, iterative, and best when you make it fit you—not the other way around.