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

4.4

119119 ratings

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FAQs about Focused:

How many episodes does Focused have?

The podcast currently has 231 episodes available.

Focused episodes:

June 03, 2025231: Overwhelm, AI, and Life's Balancing Acts
In this feedback episode, David & Mike tackle listener questions about their use of AI, reset rituals, quitting books, and a variety of other focus-related topics.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED.
TRMNL: Clarity, at a glance. Get $15 off for 1 week only.
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 episodes with bonus deep dive content. On Teachers and the 2025 Productivity Academy | MacSparky The Deep Life by Cal Newport Deep Work by Cal Newport Spiral MindNode Bookworm podcast The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey Mark Twain by Ron Chernow What I’m Doing Now | MacSparky Mike's Steam Deck dock 8BitDo Ultimate Controller with Charging Dock Superhuman The Confident Mind by Nate Zinser
...more
1h 8min
May 20, 2025230: Journaling & Intention, with Joe Moyer
Journaling Guide Joe Moyer joins us to talk getting started with journaling, navigating major life transitions, and the power of a regular reflection practice.
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.
Incogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code FOCUSED with this link and get 60% off an annual plan.
Guest Starring:
Joe Moyer
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. 24 Letters The Journaling Guide
Joe's newsletter
When by Daniel Pink Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain Meditations by Marcus Aurelius Your Story Matters: Overcoming the Perfect Journal Fallacy | 24 Letters Day One Readwise Focused #196: Focus & The Reading Life, with Maryanne Wolf How to Think Like a Roman Emperor by Donald Robertson Letters from a Stoic by Seneca You Need a Manifesto by Charlotte Burgess-Auburn The Enchiridion by Epictetus @thejournalingguide on Threads @thejournalingguide on Bluesky
...more
1h 20min
May 06, 2025229: Workflow Check-In
David & Mike revisit some old workflows (time blocking, weekly review, reading, and writing) and talk about what's changed.
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. Mike's Practical PKM Hybrid Cohort David's newsletter Focused #228: Time Surfing, with Paul Loomans Focused #225: Tiny Experiments, with Anne-Laure Le Cunff Mike's Plus Minus Next video Mike's Plus Minus Next Shortcut
Requires Actions for Obsidian to work.
Actions For Obsidian Voicepal Whisper Memos Readwise Reader The Ultimate Jim Rohn Library Audiobook | Free with trial Mike's new website Walt Disney's Flywheel Shure MVX2u | Sweetwater Letters on Ethics: To Lucilius, Seneca, Graver, Long The 5 Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom Hollyland Lark M2S Combo | Hollyland Store
...more
1h 4min
April 22, 2025228: Time Surfing, with Paul Loomans
Author Paul Loomans joins us to talk about time surfing, a zen approach to keeping time on your side.
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.
Guest Starring:
Paul Loomans
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Timesurfing | The zen approach to keeping time on your side I've Got Time by Paul Loomans Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh
...more
1h 13min
April 08, 2025227: Quarterly Planning
David & 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
...more
1h 3min
March 25, 2025226: The Importance of Review
David & 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
...more
1h 7min
March 12, 2025225: Tiny Experiments, with Anne-Laure Le Cunff
Anne-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
...more
1h 10min
February 26, 2025224: Chasing Valuable Rabbits, with Chenell Basilio
Chenell 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
...more
1h 18min
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

FAQs about Focused:

How many episodes does Focused have?

The podcast currently has 231 episodes available.

More shows like Focused