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Focused

Relay
Productivity
Focus
Attention
Task Management
Deep Reading
Literacy
Empathy
Journaling
Cognitive Science
Mindfulness
Digital Distractions
Reading Brain
Personal Development
Personal Growth
Cal Newport
Technology Impact On Reading
Neuroplasticity
Personal Retreat
Calendars
Mindfulness Meditation

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.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes239Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
CareersBusiness

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Artwork for Focused

Latest Episodes

Cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist & author Donald J. Robertson joins us to talk about ancient philosophy as a tool for focus.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

• Incogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code FOCUSED with t... more

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 ent... more

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 d... more

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 us... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

John Chandler
Spiritual director and content creator focused on wisdom and mindful living.
Episode: 235: Practical Wisdom for Mindful Living, with John Chandler
Kara Monroe
Coach, consultant, creative problem solver, and content creator
Episode: 233: I Wanna Be Me When I Grow Up, with Kara Monroe
Derek Sivers
Founder of CD Baby and author known for insightful writings on self-development
Episode: 232: Useful Not True, with Derek Sivers
Joe Moyer
Writer and creator of 24 Letters
24 Letters
Episode: 230: Journaling & Intention, with Joe Moyer
Paul Loomans
Author and Zen monk with a focus on time management and productivity.
Episode: 228: Time Surfing, with Paul Loomans
Anne-Laure Le Cunff
Neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and author of 'Tiny Experiments'
Episode: 225: Tiny Experiments, with Anne-Laure Le Cunff
Chenell Basilio
Newsletter creator and marketing expert focusing on audience growth.
Growth in Reverse
Episode: 224: Chasing Valuable Rabbits, with Chenell Basilio
Ian Byrd
Former teacher specialized in advanced children; founder of Byrdseed.tv
Byrdseed
Episode: 223: Solving the Actual Problem, with Ian Byrd
Stephen Hackett
Content creator and podcaster, co-founder of Relay FM.
Relay FM
Episode: 218: Turning Down the Volume, with Stephen Hackett

Hosts

David Sparks
Co-host of the podcast and known for his thoughtful insights on productivity and focus, as well as practical applications related to personal organization.
Mike Schmitz
Co-host and a notable figure in the productivity space, Mike brings a wealth of experience in personal development and organizational strategies to the discussions.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 236 ratings
  • Super insightful!

    Mike & David provide simple and helpful advice for being more focused. Their episodes are super insightful. I love how grounded and down-to-earth they are. You can tell they genuinely care about helping us. I definitely recommend giving their podcast a listen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ashao FreeSky
    Canada4 years ago
  • Awesome Podcast!!!

    David and Mike, hosts of the Focused Podcast, highlights all productivity, success, careers and more in this can’t miss podcast! The host and expert guests offer insightful advice and information that is helpful to anyone that listens!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    roweereyes
    Philippines4 years ago
  • Thoughtful conversations!

    Mike and David ask thoughtful questions and have meaningful conversations around focus and productivity which is a refreshing change from basic hacks and tips. Highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mridu Parikh
    United States4 years ago
  • Great show!

    The hosts highlight all aspects of success and more in this can’t miss podcast! The hosts and expert guests offer insightful advice and information that is helpful to anyone that listens!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    malfoxley
    United States4 years ago
  • A couple of narcissists…

    …who think every aspect of their mundane lives need to be recorded, databased, perused, obsessed over and curated. Get over yourselves, guys. Life is short, stop typing and navel gazing. If you think you have any ideas of real importance (which is unlikely) get a notebook and a pen.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    strummermax
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Episodes focus on meaningful discussions rather than mere hacks, which listeners find refreshing.
Some listeners express a desire for tighter editing and more concise content, indicating areas for improvement.
The content is praised for being insightful and relatable, with many appreciating the openness about personal productivity challenges.
Hosts provide practical advice that resonates with listeners looking to enhance their productivity.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#74
United States/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#209
Canada/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#218
United Kingdom/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#45
Australia/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#167
Italy/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#184
Germany/Business/Careers

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

238: Knitting Our Parachutes
Q: When is it time to abandon a focus area that just isn't serving you anymore?
It involves a personal review process to determine if past commitments still align with current values and goals.
238: Knitting Our Parachutes
Q: How do you distinguish between procrastination and productive incubation when you're not doing something important?
Productive incubation involves selective procrastination, allowing ideas to simmer instead of forcing clarity.
238: Knitting Our Parachutes
Q: What is knitting your parachute?
Planning for a career change takes time and effort; it shouldn't be done impulsively.
238: Knitting Our Parachutes
Q: Have you ever intentionally chosen to not pursue a goal, even a good one, because it didn't fit your focus for the season?
Yes, focusing on important tasks and saying no to certain commitments is necessary for clarity and productivity.
230: Journaling & Intention, with Joe Moyer
Q: How did you start journaling?
I think it was because my friends were journaling and I was inspired by historical writers.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Focused

What is Focused about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast explores themes surrounding productivity, personal growth, and mindfulness through engaging discussions and guest interviews. Hosts David Sparks and Mike Schmitz openly share their own experiences with interruptions and struggles in maintaining focus, while offering practical advice on managing tasks and achieving personal goals. Notably, the integration of insights from various guests, who are often experts in their fields, adds depth to the conversations.

Recurring topics include the importance of reflection, journaling, and effective time management techniques such as time blocking and quarterly planning. The hosts also embrace a holistic view of productivity, emphasizing that true progress involves understanding one's valu... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Focused?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Focused. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Focused and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Focused get?

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What are the audience demographics for Focused?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Focused, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Focused have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Focused has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Focused?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Focused:

1. Mac Power Users
2. AppStories
3. Connected
4. Upgrade
5. Cortex

How many episodes of Focused are there?

Focused launched 9 years ago and published 239 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Focused?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Focused?

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What guests have appeared on Focused?

Recent guests on Focused include:

1. John Chandler
2. Kara Monroe
3. Derek Sivers
4. Joe Moyer
5. Paul Loomans
6. Anne-Laure Le Cunff
7. Chenell Basilio
8. Ian Byrd

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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