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

120120 ratings

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FAQs about Focused:

How many episodes does Focused have?

The podcast currently has 264 episodes available.

Focused episodes:

May 21, 2024204: Analog Productivity, with Jeff Sheldon
Ugmonk founder Jeff Sheldon is back to talk about designing and building physical products, how our environments shape our ability to focus, and finding joy in the analog.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
Vitally: A new era for customer success productivity. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting.
Harvard Business Review: The leading destination for smart management thinking. Subscriptions start at just $10/month with code FOCUSED.
Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast.
Guest Starring:
Jeff Sheldon
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Analog™ | The original to-do system by Ugmonk Gather: Your Desk Simplified | Ugmonk Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal Mike's Fancy Notecards Analog Weekly Kit (Walnut) | Ugmonk Due: The Superfast Reminder App for iPhone & iPad Discbound Heirloom Journal (Brown) | Ugmonk Mike's Obsidian Task Dashboard image How to Do Cal Newport Style Multi-Scale Planning in Obsidian | YouTube Journaling in Obsidian Using Daily Questions | YouTube How to Do a Personal Retreat in Obsidian | YouTube Jeff's Newsletter The Extended Mind by Annie Murphy Paul Aeron Chair | Herman Miller Store Useful Not True | Derek Sivers Every Tool's a Hammer by Adam Savage Super Thinking by Gabriel Weinberg & Lauren McCann The Great Mental Models Volume 1: General Thinking Concepts
...more
1h 23min
May 07, 2024203: The Little Lies You Tell Yourself, with Jason Snell
Jason Snell is back to talk about staying focused as an indie and his unique spin on off-site personal retreats.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Nom Nom: Healthy, fresh food for dogs formulated by top Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists. Prepped in our kitchens with free delivery to your door. Get 50% off.
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:
Jason Snell
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. David's Personal Retreat PDF Mike's Personal Retreat in Obsidian video Good to Great by Jim Collins Getaway House | Tiny Cabin Vacation Rentals Runestone text editor Six Colors Upgrade | Relay FM Downstream | Relay FM The Incomparable | Smart, funny pop culture podcasts
...more
1h 24min
April 23, 2024202: Slow Productivity
David & Mike consider Cal Newport's philosophy on organizing knowledge work in a sustainable and meaningful manner.
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.
Vitally: A new era for customer success productivity. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting.
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Slow Productivity by Cal Newport Mike's Notes for Slow Productivity by Cal Newport How to Calm Your Mind by Chris Bailey Productivity Field Guide (Plus Edition) Daily Rituals by Mason Currey The Extended Mind by Annie Murphy Paul Focused #146: The Extended Mind, with Annie Murphy Paul The 12 Week Year by Brian Moran and Michael Lennington David's Newsletter Focused #155: 12 Favorite Problems Liminal Thinking by Dave Gray Avoiding Email: Do the Hard Stuff Instead | MacSparky Ep. 284: Feel-Good Productivity (w/ Ali Abdaal) | The Deep Life by Cal Newport Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal Ghost Town Living by Brent Underwood Ember Mug 2 LifeFocus | Life Planning That’s Simple, Fun, and Effective
...more
1h 17min
April 09, 2024201: What to Do When Things Don't Go Your Way, with Haemin Sunim
Bestselling author & Zen Buddhist teacher Haemin Sunim joins David & Mike to talk about gratitude, mindfulness, compassion, and dealing with disappointment when things don't go your way.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Nom Nom: Healthy, fresh food for dogs formulated by top Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists. Prepped in our kitchens with free delivery to your door. Get 50% off.
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:
Haemin Sunim
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Mike's Reading Masterclass When Things Don't Go Your Way by Haemin Sunim Love for Imperfect Things by Haemin Sunim The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down by Haemin Sunim Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull A Chinese Farmer Story by Alan Watts | YouTube Haemin Sunim | Official Site
...more
1h 12min
March 26, 2024200: Favorite Productivity Hacks
David & Mike celebrate 200 episodes by sharing their favorite productivity hacks.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
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 Focus Course Focused #138: Hyper-Scheduling Revisited Nom Nom Automators | Relay FM Productivity Field Guide (Plus Edition) | MacSparky Field Guides Atomic Habits by James Clear Focus Timer The Deep Life by Cal Newport Slow Productivity by Cal Newport Mastery by Robert Greene Company Of One by Paul Jarvis How to Calm Your Mind by Chris Bailey David's Book Notes Mike's Reading Workshop
...more
1h 3min
March 12, 2024199: Repotting & Retirement, with Jim Eager
Jim Eager joins us to talk about how to navigate the 4 phases of retirement with meaning and purpose.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Vitally: A new era for customer success productivity. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting.
Nom Nom: Healthy, fresh food for dogs formulated by top Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists. Prepped in our kitchens with free delivery to your door. Get 50% off.
Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast.
Guest Starring:
Jim Eager
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. The 4 phases of retirement by Dr. Riley Moynes | TEDx Focused #165: On the River, with Chris Upchurch | Relay FM The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey Deep Work by Cal Newport Discover the best apps and workflows for your iPhone, Mac, and iPad — The Sweet Setup Personal Retreat Video | MacSparky Focused #117: Roles & Goals Ikigai by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles Ikigai visual (Mike's newsletter on ikigai) Original Mac Guy Productivity Field Guide (Plus Edition)
...more
1h 31min
February 27, 2024198: Revisiting Journaling
David & Mike revisit the topic of journaling for personal growth and share how their workflows have evolved.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
Vitally: A new era for customer success productivity. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting.
Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast.
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. Thanks by Robert Emmons Mac Power Users #726: Journaling Update: Apple’s New App, Day One Updates & More Day One Journal App Obsidian QuickAdd for Obsidian How to Create a Life Progress Bar in Obsidian Using Template Variables | YouTube Obsidian University Starter Vault Triggers by Marshall Goldsmith Using Shortcuts for Daily Questions Journaling in Obsidian | YouTube Mike's Daily Note template Mike's Daily Questions Dashboard Mike's Habit Tracking Dashboard Bullet Journal The Five Minute Journal Bullet Journal Basics | YouTube The Extended Mind by Annie Murphy Paul Apple Vision Pro ESR MagSafe 3-in-1 Travel Wireless Charging Stand Six Thinking Hats by Edward de Bono Personal Kanban by Jim Benson & Tonianne DeMaria Post-it Super Sticky Full Stick Notes
...more
1h 34min
February 13, 2024197: Feel Good Productivity
David & Mike consider the role of happiness & joy in meaningful productivity.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Vitally: A new era for customer success productivity. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting.
Nom Nom: Healthy, fresh food for dogs formulated by top Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists. Prepped in our kitchens with free delivery to your door. Get 50% off.
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.
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Focused #196: Focus & The Reading Life, with Maryanne Wolf The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler The Rook by Daniel O'Malley PodHighlighter David's PodHighlighter video Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal Bookworm #188: Feel Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal Mike's Notes for Feel Good Productivity Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans The Deep Life #284: Feel-Good Productivity (w/ Ali Abdaal)
...more
1h 27min
January 30, 2024196: Focus & The Reading Life, with Maryanne Wolf
Cognitive neuroscientist and reading warrior Dr. Maryanne Wolf joins us to talk about the science of reading and how what we read changes our brains.
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.
Harvard Business Review: The leading destination for smart management thinking. Subscriptions start at just $10/month with code FOCUSED.
Guest Starring:
Maryanne Wolf
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. Proust and the Squid by Maryanne Wolf Reader, Come Home by Maryanne Wolf The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler Tales of Literacy for the 21st Century by Maryanne Wolf How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler Maryanne Wolf
...more
1h 19min
January 16, 2024195: The Productivity Field Guide
After several years in production, the Productivity Field Guide is here! Mike interviews David about what's in it, how much went into it, and why it's so important to David.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door.
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.
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. Mike's Practical PKM cohort Productivity Field Guide (Standard Edition) Productivity Field Guide (Plus Edition)
...more
1h 10min

FAQs about Focused:

How many episodes does Focused have?

The podcast currently has 264 episodes available.

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