Show overview
Focused has been publishing since 2016, and across the 10 years since has built a catalogue of 266 episodes. That works out to roughly 310 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a fortnightly cadence.
Episodes typically run an hour to ninety minutes — most land between 1h 1m and 1h 22m — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-US-language Business show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 3 days ago, with 20 episodes already out so far this year. Published by Relay.
From the publisher
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.
Latest Episodes
View all 266 episodes266: The Ultimate Shiny New Object
265: How to Try Again, with Steve Kamb
264: The Accountability-Shaped Hole
263: Removing the Roadblocks, with Cat Mulvihill
262: The Strategic Deployment of Friction
261: Metrics of Success
260: Quarterly Planning and Riding Roller Coasters
259: Nobody's Perfect, with Kathy Campbell
258: Personal Defaults
257: I Go By Vibes, with Stephen Robles
256: Calendar Modes & Transitions Rituals
255: Get Your Machete Out
254: Battling Burnout
253: Finding Focus in the Midst of Chaos, with David Roth
Ep 252252: 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.
Ep 251251: 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.
Ep 250250: Planning Your Week
David & Mike discuss how to plan your week and share their own weekly planning workflows.
Ep 249249: 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.
Ep 248248: Seriously, A Heroic Journey
David & Mike discuss the Hero's Journey and how focus can help in your own epic quest.
Ep 247247: 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.