Focused

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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 through their successes and failures along the way. Hosted by David Sparks and Mike Schmitz.

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23 episodes
fortnightly
Avg 1 hr 9 min
English

Episodes 23

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#264
September 8 · 1 hr 31 min
264: The Accountability-Shaped Hole
David & Mike discuss chronotypes, capacity as a metric, tracking inputs, the delegation tax, and more in this feedback episode.
#263
August 26 · 1 hr 6 min
263: Removing the Roadblocks, with Cat Mulvihill
Cat Mulvihill joins us to talk about building momentum, the immunity to change framework, and dealing with our dreaded identity so we can finally focus on what's really important.
#262
August 11 · 1 hr
262: The Strategic Deployment of Friction
David & Mike discuss owning your ideas and staying sharp with the values-based application of AI.
#261
July 28 · 46 min
261: Metrics of Success
David & Mike discuss Goodhart's Law, why effort matters more than outcomes, and how to maintain a healthy relationship with the numbers you use to keep score.
#260
July 14 · 1 hr 15 min
260: Quarterly Planning and Riding Roller Coasters
David & Mike look back on Q2, share their plans for Q3, and talk about the ups and downs that come with being marginally challenged.
#259
June 30 · 1 hr 8 min
259: Nobody's Perfect, with Kathy Campbell
Kathy Campbell joins us to talk about building systems, the art of delegation, and what to do when things don't go your way.
#258
June 16 · 58 min
258: Personal Defaults
David & Mike discuss protecting your capacity, honoring your chronotype, and changing your personal defaults.
#257
June 3 · 1 hr 15 min
257: I Go By Vibes, with Stephen Robles
Stephen Robles joins us to talk about reading, intentional technology use, directing AI, and the golden era of the generalist.
#256
May 19 · 1 hr
256: Calendar Modes & Transitions Rituals
David & Mike discuss the difference between task triage and time architecture when designing your week and using rituals to help you transition from one task to the next.
#255
May 5 · 59 min
255: Get Your Machete Out
In this feedback episode, David and Mike discuss slowing down, complicated second brains, and the minimum viable productivity system.
#254
April 21 · 1 hr 16 min
254: Battling Burnout
David & Mike discuss the many different flavors of burnout, why productivity nerds are so susceptible, and what you can do to fight back against this insidious foe of focus.
#253
April 7 · 1 hr 4 min
253: Finding Focus in the Midst of Chaos, with David Roth
Corporate lawyer David Roth joins to talk about the challenges of staying focused in a fast-paced profession where small mistakes can cost millions of dollars.
#252
March 24 · 1 hr 15 min
252: Donkey Work
David has a new Field Guide, and both he & Mike discuss the ways they're using AI to have their robot assistants help with the donkey work.
#251
March 10 · 1 hr 15 min
251: Not Throwing Away My Shot, with Joe Casabona
Podcast coach and Streamlined Soloprenuer founder Joe Casabona joins us to talk about building systems, effective delegation, and when to actually automate.
#250
February 24 · 1 hr 8 min
250: Planning Your Week
David & Mike discuss how to plan your week and share their own weekly planning workflows.
#249
February 10 · 59 min
249: What if This Were Easy? with Ernie Svenson
David's personal Yoda is back to talk about curiosity, creativity, and the role of AI in focused work.
#248
January 27 · 57 min
248: Seriously, A Heroic Journey
David & Mike discuss the Hero's Journey and how focus can help in your own epic quest.
#247
January 13 · 1 hr 9 min
247: Getting Intentional, with Chris Bailey
Chris Bailey is back to talk about his new book, The Intention Stack, fundamental human values, and why S.M.A.R.T. goals aren't very smart.
#246
Dec 30, 2025 · 1 hr 21 min
246: A Cleansing Palette of Joy
David & Mike reflect on everything that happened in 2025 and set their intentions for the new year.
#245
Dec 16, 2025 · 1 hr 22 min
245: Fashionable & Functional, with Patrick Rhone
Patrick Rhone is back to talk about his love for calendars and why curiosity is essential if you want to become a knower of things.

Showing 1–20 of 23 episodes