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

118118 ratings

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FAQs about Focused:

How many episodes does Focused have?

The podcast currently has 228 episodes available.

Focused episodes:

June 22, 2021128: Communication
Mike and David tackle one of the most difficult subjects of focus, Communication.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
TextExpander, from Smile: Communicate Smarter. Get 20% off.
Indeed: Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post.
Literati: A bestselling book subscription service that offers curated book clubs for all readers. Start your free trial.
Links and Show Notes: Credits
The Hosts
Mike Schmitz
David Sparks
The Editor
Jim Metzendorf
The Fixer
Kerry Provanzano
Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. Focus Mode and Contextual Computing — MacSparky 322: The Communication Episode | seanwes podcast Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People How to Win Friends & Influence People Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
...more
1h 19min
June 08, 2021127: Focusing a Team, with Ken Case
Ken Case joins us to talk about how the Omni Group focuses their work teams, the lessons they've learned from forced changes due to COVID, and the benefits of planning for disruption.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Memberful: Best-in-class membership software for independent creators, publishers, educators, podcasters, and more. Get started now, no credit card required.
Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free.
Guest Starring:
Ken Case
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. The Omni Group OmniFocus Getting Things Done by David Allen | Amazon A World Without Email by Cal Newport | Amazon Mac Power Users #254: Reviewing GTD with David Allen Focused #116: The Big Reset Richard Feynman | YouTube Omni Roadmap 2021
...more
1h 26min
May 25, 2021126: Productivity vs. Grinding
Mike and David get into note-taking (and note-making), listener feedback, and the pesky problem of productivity vs. grinding.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
TextExpander, from Smile: Communicate Smarter. Get 20% off.
Indeed: Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post.
Gabi: Get a better insurance. It’s totally free to check and there’s no obligation. Click this link to get started.
* Cross Promo: Parallel: A tech podcast with accessibility sprinkles. Listen now.
Links and Show Notes: Credits
The Hosts
Mike Schmitz
David Sparks
The Editor
Jim Metzendorf
The Fixer
Kerry Provanzano
Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. Readwise renehernandez/obsidian-readwise: Sync Readwise highlights into your obsidian vault Focused #73: Productivity and Art with Bob Reynolds - Relay FM Line 6 Freewrite: Distraction-Free Writing Tools Is the cult of productivity finally over? - Focused - MPU Talk Logitech Craft Wireless Keyboard for Advanced Creativity & Productivity The Power of Obsidian's Local Graph – The Sweet Setup PKM Primer: An Introduction to Personal Knowledge Management for Creatives – The Sweet Setup Focused #122: Linking Your Thinking with Nick Milo - Relay FM The Now Habit by Neal Fiore Ikigai
...more
1h 28min
May 11, 2021125: Professional Nerd, with Rosemary Orchard
Rosemary Orchard joins us to talk about juggling projects, automation, kanban boards, and keeping the jobby job.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Indeed: Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post.
Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free.
Guest Starring:
Rosemary Orchard
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. Nested Folders Podcast Automators | Relay FM iOS Today | TWiT How to Become a Straight-A Student by Cal Newport | Amazon Focused #65: Hyperfocused with Chris Bailey | Relay FM Yoda's Hut | YouTube Dark Noise ‎Piano Peace | Apple Music Maker, Manager, Consumer | MacSparky Journaling Using Daily Questions in Obsidian | The Sweet Setup Effortless by Greg McKeown | Amazon The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande | Amazon Project Status Board | MacSparky Nested Folders Episode 52: Juggling Projects Airtable Obsidian Dataview plugin Obsidian Kanban plugin A World Without Email by Cal Newport | Amazon M.C. Squares Magic Whiteboard | Amazon Obsidian vs. Roam | The Sweet Setup
...more
1h 30min
April 27, 2021124: Reading and Learning
In this episode, Mike and David talk about PKM planets and how they read, process, and learn from books and other media.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Memberful: Best-in-class membership software for independent creators, publishers, educators, podcasters, and more. Get started now, no credit card required.
PDFpen, from Smile: Powerful PDF editing on your Mac.
Indeed: Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post.
Links and Show Notes: Credits
The Hosts
Mike Schmitz
David Sparks
The Editor
Jim Metzendorf
The Fixer
Kerry Provanzano
Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. What is PKM? What is Personal Knowledge Management? - YouTube Focused #122: Linking Your Thinking with Nick Milo - Relay FM Mac Power Users #583: The Obsidian Deep Dive - Relay FM Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative: Kleon, Austin: 8601300471914: Amazon.com: Books Pensieve | Harry Potter Wiki | Fandom Focused #117: Roles & Goals - Relay FM Journaling Using Daily Questions in Obsidian – The Sweet Setup Craft - Create Amazing Documents Roam Research – A note taking tool for networked thought. Obsidian DEVONtechnologies | DEVONthink, professional document and information management for the Mac and iOS Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World: Newport, Cal: 9781455586691: Amazon.com: Books Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time eBook: Tracy, Brian: Books Blinkist: Big ideas in small packages Shortform - The World's Best Book Summaries Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration (8601400995709): Catmull, Ed, Wallace, Amy: Books How to Train Your Mind by Chris Bailey | Audiobook | Audible.com Work the System: The Simple Mechanics of Making More and Working Less eBook: Carpenter, Sam: Kindle Store How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading: Mortimer J. Adler, Charles Van Doren: 0042516291251: Amazon.com: Books Readwise Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones: Clear, James: 9780735211292: Amazon.com: Books XXL Hammock Chair Swing by Hammock Sky Mindset: The New Psychology of Success: Dweck, Carol S.: 9780345472328: Amazon.com: Books Bookworm – Podcast Book Club
...more
1h 26min
April 13, 2021123: A Focus on Time
David & Mike talk about the different ways they track their time, what tools they use, and share the focus & productivity benefits they glean from the process.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Spox: The best story wins. Get 25% off when you mention this show.
Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free.
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. The Best Time Tracking App | The Sweet Setup Focused #121: Analog Focus, with Jeff Sheldon Focused #122: Linking Your Thinking, with Nick Milo Mac Power Users #583: The Obsidian Deep Dive Obsidian Focused #118: Tasks and Habits Focused #65: Hyperfocused with Chris Bailey Streaks Timing Timing on Setapp Timery Mike's iOS Time Tracking Dashboard | The Sweet Setup RescueTime A Review of the Timeular Time Tracker | The Sweet Setup Toggl Automators #15: Automated Time Tracking The Intentional Family podcast Focused #74: Moving the Needle Fantastical Sorted³ The Time-Block Planner by Cal Newport | Amazon Due The FOCUSED Calendar | NeuYear.net The Hyper-Scheduling Experiment | MacSparky Simple Time Management course | The Sweet Setup
...more
1h 28min
March 30, 2021122: Linking Your Thinking with Nick Milo
Nick Milo from Linking Your Thinking joins this week to consider the role of focus in idea development and knowledge management.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Timing: The automatic time tracking app for macOS. Use this link to save 10% on your purchase.
Spox: The best story wins. Get 25% off when you mention this show.
Indeed: Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post.
Guest Starring:
Nick Milo
Links and Show Notes: Credits
The Hosts
Mike Schmitz
David Sparks
The Editor
Jim Metzendorf
The Fixer
Kerry Provanzano
Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. Nick Milo (@NickMilo) / Twitter Linking Your Thinking Workshop Linking Your Thinking - YouTube Why Obsidian Will Overtake Roam - YouTube Craft - Create Amazing Documents Obsidian Roam Research – A note taking tool for networked thought. Drafts | Where Text Starts Building My Personal Cross-Reference Library in Obsidian PKM Primer: An Introduction to Personal Knowledge Management for Creatives – The Sweet Setup The Practice: Shipping Creative Work eBook: Godin, Seth: Kindle Store Die Empty: Unleash Your Best Work Every Day: Henry, Todd: 9781591846994: Amazon.com: Books The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business: Duhigg, Charles: 8601406381322: Amazon.com: Books Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones: Clear, James: 9780735211292: Amazon.com: Books The Great Mental Models Volume 1: General Thinking Concepts eBook: Parrish, Shane, Beaubien, Rhiannon: Kindle Store Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative: Kleon, Austin: 8601300471914: Amazon.com: Books Foundation series - Wikipedia Foundation — Teaser | Apple TV+ - YouTube
...more
1h 28min
March 16, 2021121: Analog Focus, with Jeff Sheldon
Jeff Sheldon from Ugmonk joins us to talk about his Analog productivity system, connecting dots, intentional constraints, and being a geek for the details.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
TextExpander, from Smile: Work smarter, not harder. Get 20% off your first year.
Indeed: Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post.
Microsoft Lists: A Microsoft 365 app that helps you track information and organize work.
Guest Starring:
Jeff Sheldon
Links and Show Notes:
Focused listeners can save 10% at ugmonk.com using this link. (This is an affiliate link.)
Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. Ugmonk Analog system The Practice by Seth Godin | Amazon Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon | Amazon Getting Things Done by David Allen | Amazon Discbound Heirloom Journal (Brown) | Ugmonk Bullet Journal Building My Bullet-Journal-Based Hybrid Productivity System | The Sweet Setup Analog Tips | Ugmonk Due Gather | Ugmonk The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor | Amazon Jeff Sheldon (@ugmonk) | Twitter Jeff Sheldon (@ugmonk) | Instagram
...more
1h 22min
March 02, 2021120: Caveday with Jake Kahana
Jake Kahana from Caveday joins to talk about his journey and how Cavedays can help you get your focus mojo back.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free.
Indeed: Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post.
Guest Starring:
Jake Kahana
Links and Show Notes: Credits
The Hosts
Mike Schmitz
David Sparks
The Editor
Jim Metzendorf
The Fixer
Kerry Provanzano
Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. Jake on the Web About Jake
Email Refrigerator sign up at the bottom of the page.
Jake's Writing Caveday
Use this link for a Caveday discount.
Learn More About Caveday Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World - Cal Newport
...more
1h 16min
February 16, 2021119: Productivity & Meditation, with Chris Bailey
Author Chris Bailey joins us to talk about the productivity benefits of meditation, conquering resistance, and the path of least regret.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
PDFpen, from Smile: The all-purpose PDF editor for Mac, iPad & iPhone.
Indeed: Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post.
Guest Starring:
Chris Bailey
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. A Life of Productivity The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey | Amazon 30 Lessons for Living by Karl Pillemer | Amazon Focused #65: Hyperfocused with Chris Bailey Focused #117: Roles & Goals Triggers by Marshall Goldsmith The Molecule of More by Daniel Lieberman | Amazon How to Train Your Mind by Chris Bailey | Audible.com The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor | Amazon Insight Timer Calm Headspace Mindfulness in Plain English by Bhante Gunaratana | Amazon Streaks The Best Habit Tracking App for iOS | The Sweet Setup Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy | Amazon Toggl Becoming Better Podcast | A Life of Productivity Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey | Amazon
...more
1h 34min

FAQs about Focused:

How many episodes does Focused have?

The podcast currently has 228 episodes available.

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