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

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about Focused:

How many episodes does Focused have?

The podcast currently has 238 episodes available.

Focused episodes:

September 10, 2025238: Knitting Our Parachutes
David & Mike catch up on listener feedback, including how to say no more often, deep vs. shallow work, and when to abandon a focus area. Also, David made an app?!?
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Nexos.ai: All-in-one AI platform for enterprises. Get a 14 day free trial now.
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.
HelloFresh: Get 10 Free Meals + a Free Item for Life!
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Relay for St. Jude Practical PKM (Mike's Newsletter) David's Newsletter The No List (David's app) Knitting Your Parachute | MacSparky Focused #237: Everything is Figureoutable, with Max Roberts Mike's YouTube channel Practical PKM Hybrid Cohort The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey Eat That Frog! Fourth Edition by Brian Tracy ChatGPT's Impact On Our Brains According to an MIT Study | TIME Field Notes | Memo Books, Notebooks, Journals & Planners The Capture System | Ugmonk Numerics Zapier: Automate AI Workflows, Agents, and Apps The Extended Mind by Annie Murphy Paul Focused #146: The Extended Mind, with Annie Murphy Paul Nintendo Switch 2 Zelda Breath of the Wild Upgrade Pack How to Think Like a Roman Emperor by Donald Robertson
...more
1h 31min
August 26, 2025237: Everything is Figureoutable, with Max Roberts
Max Roberts is a podcaster, video editor, and technical writer who joins us to talk about using AI in the writing process, video games, and the importance of staying curious.
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.
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.
1Password: Discover SaaS applications, automate lifecycle management, and optimize SaaS spend.
Guest Starring:
Max Roberts
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Point of Curvature Max Frequency Max Roberts Video Essays Max's Podcasts Obsidian Field Guide (Plus Edition) Practical PKM Hybrid Cohort Google NotebookLM ChatGPT Grammarly Claude Lex.page ‎Singin' In the Bathtub by John Lithgow How to ADHD by Jessica McCabe How to ADHD | YouTube Failing at Normal: An ADHD Success Story | Jessica McCabe | TEDxBratislava - YouTube Business Made Simple Extra Focus by Jesse J. Anderson Field Notes | Memo Books, Notebooks, Journals & Planners The Library Community TaskForge | Obsidian Tasks Made Easy From Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks Dark Age by Pierce Brown Somebody And The Three Blairs by Marilyn Tolhurst Lake of Souls by Ann Leckie The Unknown Craftsman by Soetsu Yanagi
...more
1h 24min
August 12, 2025236: Focus Traps
David & Mike talk about focus traps, consider the ones they tend to fall into, and discuss how to create systems to help avoid them.
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.
HelloFresh: Get 10 Free Meals + a Free Item for Life!
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Tot Drafts Field Notes Focused #228: Time Surfing, with Paul Loomans Postcard Cabins NotePlan Ecamm Live Miro Powerbeats Pro 2 | Electric Orange BLE caberQU The Complete Works of Epictetus AI Snake Oil by Arvid Narayanan & Sayash Kapoor Co-Intelligence by Ethan Mollick
...more
1h 13min
July 29, 2025235: Practical Wisdom for Mindful Living, with John Chandler
Freelance WordPress developer and spiritual director John Chandler joins us to talk about the pursuit of practical wisdom and being intentional about being intentional.
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.
Guest Starring:
John Chandler
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. John's website John's YouTube Channel Macstock Conference & Expo Foundation | Apple TV+ Personal Socrates by Marc Champagne Focused #149: Asking Questions, with Marc Champagne From Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks Bookworm Mac Power Users #82: Cooking Ideas John's journaling video Day One Journal App How to Know a Person by David Brooks The Perfect Edge by Ron Hock Moonshot by Mike Massimino Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station The Capture System | Ugmonk Micro.blog
...more
1h 11min
July 16, 2025234: Intentional Friction
David & Mike discuss the role of friction and where they choose to add it into their own focused workflows.
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. David's Whiteboard Focused #228: Time Surfing, with Paul Loomans Field Notes | Memo Books, Notebooks, Journals & Planners Drafts | Where Text Starts Mike's Note-Making Video Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff Nathan Barry's Podcast with Anne-Laure Le Cunff Mac Power Users #799: The State of Apple, with Jason Snell Insta360 Link Mike's Video on Tiny Experiments
...more
59min
July 01, 2025233: I Wanna Be Me When I Grow Up, with Kara Monroe
Kara Monroe joins us to talk about creative problem solving, the power of coaching, and why you should have a Facts of Life book.
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.
Guest Starring:
Kara Monroe
Links and Show Notes: I Wanna Be Me When I Grow Up The Library Community Kara's Facts of Life Book course Bookworm podcast The Confident Mind by Nate Zinser Ultralearning by Scott Young Ultraspeaking | The best way to learn public speaking Stream Deck Keyboard Maestro AirFly Pro 2 | Twelve South The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins Walden by Henry David Thoreau The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
...more
51min
June 17, 2025232: Useful Not True, with Derek Sivers
Derek Sivers joins us to talk about personal agency, idea ownership, saying no, and (of course) journaling.
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.
Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
Guest Starring:
Derek Sivers
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. Derek Sivers CD Baby Hell Yeah or No | Derek Sivers How to Start a Movement | TED Talk Useful Not True | Derek Sivers Anything You Want | Derek Sivers Your Music and People | Derek Sivers How to Live | Derek Sivers How to do what you love and make good money | Derek Sivers One big choice shapes a hundred more | Derek Sivers Vim Scripting News The Confident Mind by Nate Zinser Mark Twain by Ron Chernow The Political Thought of Xi Jinping Book I've Read | Derek Sivers Pandoc What I’m doing now | Derek Sivers What I’m Doing Now | MacSparky Contact | Derek Sivers
...more
1h 17min
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

FAQs about Focused:

How many episodes does Focused have?

The podcast currently has 238 episodes available.

More shows like Focused