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Focused

Relay
Productivity
Burnout
Work-Life Balance
Time Management
Journaling
Personal Growth
Creativity
Focus
Reflection
Writing
Personal Development
Personal Knowledge Management
Time Blocking
Social Media
Task Management
Attention
Weekly Planning
The Anxious Generation
Mental Health
Sabbatical

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 monthlyEpisodes260Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
CareersBusiness

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Artwork for Focused

Latest Episodes

David & Mike look back on Q2, share their plans for Q3, and talk about the ups and downs that come with being marginally challenged.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

• Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain us... more

Kathy Campbell joins us to talk about building systems, the art of delegation, and what to do when things don't go your way.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

• Keeper: Get 60% off personal and family plans.

• Incogni: Take your personal d... more

David & Mike discuss protecting your capacity, honoring your chronotype, and changing your personal defaults.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

• Vitally: Your Copilot for AI-Powered Customer Success. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you... more

Stephen Robles joins us to talk about reading, intentional technology use, directing AI, and the golden era of the generalist.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

• Keeper: Get 60% off personal and family plans.

• Squarespace: Save 10% off y... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Contact Information
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Recent Guests

Kathy Campbell
The Internet's favorite unicorn, CEO of Unicorn Sidekick
Unicorn Sidekick
Episode: 259: Nobody's Perfect, with Kathy Campbell
Stephen Robles
Guest on Focused, beard.fm founder
Beard.fm / Mac Power Users veteran
Episode: 257: I Go By Vibes, with Stephen Robles
David Roth
Corporate lawyer with 35 years in big law and in-house counsel; focuses on focus, systems, and personal productivity
Max Berkey Labs
Episode: 253: Finding Focus in the Midst of Chaos, with David Roth
Joe Casabona
Podcast coach, solopreneur advisor
Casabona.org
Episode: 251: Not Throwing Away My Shot, with Joe Casabona
Ernie Svenson
Former attorney and founder of Law Firm Autopilot
Law Firm Autopilot
Episode: 249: What if This Were Easy? with Ernie Svenson
Chris Bailey
Author and productivity expert
Author of 'Intentional: How to Finish What You Started'
Episode: 247: Getting Intentional, with Chris Bailey
Patrick Rhone
Writer, Technology Consultant, and Home Restorer
Episode: 245: Fashionable & Functional, with Patrick Rhone
Thom Gibson
Content creator and founder of Work From Home Dads
Episode: 243: The Single Source of Truth is On the Fridge, with Thom Gibson
Austin L. Church
Founder of Freelance Cake, author, and business coach
Freelance Cake
Episode: 241: Less But Better, with Austin L. Church

Hosts

David Sparks
Co-host of Focused; long-time productivity author and speaker
Mike Schmitz
Co-host of Focused; producer and facilitator of discussions on productivity

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 247 ratings
  • Focused… but on the hosts’ businesses

    Has lost its way a bit. Latest episode features AT THE START 12 minutes’ adverts for the older host’s paid courses. He talks a lot about how empathetic he is. One for the paying fans.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    BobRoberts2025
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • More of an advert for the hosts’ businesses

    Has lost its way a bit. Latest episode features AT THE START 12 minutes’ adverts for the oldest host’s paid courses. One for the paying fans.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    BobRoberts2025
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • Focused

    Good show

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BobRoberts2025
    United Kingdom8 months ago
  • 30 mins in

    What are we 30 mins in and haven't even scratched the topic

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    jillbobby1123
    Canada8 months ago
  • 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

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate thoughtful, practical discussions on focus and sustainable productivity.
Guests and hosts are seen as grounded and helpful, offering actionable takeaways rather than gimmicks.
Ads and sponsor messages are noted by some as intrusive but many praise the depth of content.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

259: Nobody's Perfect, with Kathy Campbell
Q: If you could go back and give your earlier self advice during tough times, what would you say?
She would advise starting therapy earlier, recognizing that past challenges weren't caused by personal failure, and that seeking support helps navigate difficult periods while balancing caregiving and business growth.
259: Nobody's Perfect, with Kathy Campbell
Q: All right. in the opening, for people who are not familiar with you, what you do, Kathy, give us the short version. What are the hats you wear?
Kathy explains she runs Unicorn Sidekick (an online business manager agency), helps owners focus on their core business, hosts multiple podcasts (Relay, Conduit, Roboism), leads the Dragon Mount Wheel of Time community, and works as a photographer.
255: Get Your Machete Out
Q: From Jason, you talked about burnout, but what about the guilt that comes with slowing down? How do you manage that?
The host suggests recognizing burnout, giving yourself permission to slow down, and meditating to uncover the specific sources of guilt; then addressing those causes directly while maintaining margins to protect long-term health and productivity.
250: Planning Your Week
Q: How do you balance planning with being present?
I would argue the answer is planning allows presence, it enables it.
250: Planning Your Week
Q: Do you ever skip weekly planning? What happens if you do?
It happens sometimes, and the trick is get back on the horse. Don't let the fact that you missed it one week mean that you don't do it anymore.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Focused

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

Two productivity-focused hosts share practical strategies for staying focused, building systems, and avoiding burnout. Recent episodes emphasize pacing, margins, and meaning over endless optimization, with discussions ranging from weekly planning and personal retreats to tooling choices, automation, and the tension between speed and accuracy in knowledge work. Noteworthy is the recurring emphasis on sustainable routines, honest reflections, and the role of meaningful boundaries, often featuring guest perspectives from law, tech, and entrepreneurship that broaden the conversation beyond single-tool hacks.

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?

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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. Getting Things Done

How many episodes of Focused are there?

Focused launched 10 years ago and published 260 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. Kathy Campbell
2. Stephen Robles
3. David Roth
4. Joe Casabona
5. Ernie Svenson
6. Chris Bailey
7. Patrick Rhone
8. Thom Gibson

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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