Focused

By Relay

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 throug... more

4.3

116116 ratings

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FAQs about Focused:

How many episodes does Focused have?

The podcast currently has 223 episodes available.

Focused episodes:

February 11, 2025223: Solving the Actual Problem, with Ian Byrd
Ian 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
...more
1h 1min
January 28, 2025222: The 2025 Productivity Field Guide
David 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
...more
59min
January 14, 2025221: A Focus on Creativity
David & 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
...more
1h 4min
December 31, 2024220: 2024 Retrospective
David & 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
...more
1h 5min
December 17, 2024219: A Focused Smorgasbord
David & 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
...more
1h 21min
December 03, 2024218: Turning Down the Volume, with Stephen Hackett
Stephen 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
...more
1h 25min
November 19, 2024217: The Anxious Generation
David & Mike consider the hidden costs of prioritizing the virtual world over the real world and discuss ways that we can fight for focus in an age of distraction.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free.
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt Mike's Minimalist iPhone Home Screen Experiment The Light Phone Day One Typefully What I’m Doing Now | Derek Sivers What I’m Doing Now | MacSparky Mike's Newsletter Sonnet Mechanical Keyboard | Mode Designs Plotter USA Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman Bookworm #209: Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman Free Time by Jenny Blake
...more
1h 19min
November 05, 2024216: Wholehearted Transformation, with Amy Wicks
Business and life coach Amy Wicks joins us to talk about the Enneagram personality assessment and showing up as our true selves.
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:
Amy Wicks
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. The FOCUSED Calendar Amy's Book Amy's Podcast The Enneagram Institute Kolbe A™ Index Simply Wholehearted Enneagram Quiz The Story of You by Ian Morgan Cron The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron Your Enneagram Coach Radical Candor by Kim Scott Good Work by Paul Millerd Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman Of Boys and Men by Richard Reeves The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt The Snowball System by Mo Bunnell Give to Grow by Mo Bunnell Amy's Instagram
...more
1h 10min
October 22, 2024215: The Sparky Language Model
David & Mike revisit the topic of AI to consider what's changed in the last year and discuss how it can be helpful for those of us who strive to live a focused life.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months 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. The 2025 FOCUSED Calendar | NeuYear.net Focused #189: Focus & AI Liminal Thinking by Dave Gray Co-Intelligence by Ethan Mollick Meet the Guys Dating A.I. Bots | Apple News Spiral Delphi Deep Work by Cal Newport Whisper Memos Otter.ai SaneBox Grammarly A System for Writing by Bob Doto Focused #209: A System for Writing, with Bob Doto RØDECaster Video | Video and Audio Production Console Gridfinity Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
...more
1h 25min
October 08, 2024214: Solving Gnarly Problems, with Clarke Ching
Clarke Ching ("The Bottleneck Guy") joins us to talk about finding solutions and fixing systems, both personally and professionally.
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:
Clarke Ching
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Clarke Ching | The Bottleneck Guy LifeHQ | Practical PKM Simple Marketing For Smart People by Billy Boras and Tiago Forte The Goal: 40th Anniversary Edition by Eliyahu Goldratt Rolling Rocks Downhill by Clarke Ching Kolbe.com | Home of the Kolbe A™ Index Unique Ability | Find Your Purpose In Life And Define Your Best Self Why Every Racoon Needs an Architect The Bottleneck Detective Bootcamp (free email course) The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth About Extraordinary Results The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt Hyperefficient by Mithu Storoni Good Work by Paul Millerd Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks How to Manage Tasks in Obsidian | YouTube Morgen Calendar and Task Manager Motion Clarke Ching | LinkedIn CorkScrew Solutions: by Clarke Ching The Bottleneck Rules by Clarke Ching
...more
1h 20min

FAQs about Focused:

How many episodes does Focused have?

The podcast currently has 223 episodes available.

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