
Focused
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

132 snips
Jun 3, 2025 • 1h 8min
231: Overwhelm, AI, and Life's Balancing Acts
David and Mike dive into practical strategies for managing overwhelm and achieving balance in a busy world. They discuss the role of AI in productivity, advocating for mindful use alongside personal reflection. The challenges of choosing the right books and the importance of supportive relationships are explored, emphasizing a mindful approach to tasks. The conversation also examines career transitions, highlighting the mental toll of high-stress jobs and the importance of individual decision-making. Listeners are encouraged to embrace intentional imbalance and prioritize personal growth.

162 snips
May 20, 2025 • 1h 20min
230: Journaling & Intention, with Joe Moyer
Joe Moyer, writer at 24 Letters and author of The Journaling Guide newsletter, shares his insights on the transformative power of journaling. He discusses navigating life transitions and highlights a 10-day journaling challenge to enhance personal growth. Exploring emotional challenges in parenting, Moyer emphasizes journaling as a self-therapy tool. He also delves into the differences between digital and traditional journaling, advocating for personal exploration in finding the right method. Moyer's reflections inspire listeners to embrace intentional living through regular reflection.

282 snips
May 6, 2025 • 1h 3min
229: Workflow Check-In
David and Mike dive into evolving workflows, revisiting time blocking and weekly reviews. They discuss innovative self-review techniques that blend AI with traditional methods to spark creativity. The pair explores their changing reading habits, debating the merits of digital formats versus audiobooks, while offering tips for enhancing comprehension. They also reflect on their shifting interests in media, opting for immersive literary experiences over screen time. Plus, they share insights on unearthing wealth beyond money and optimizing content strategies.

132 snips
Apr 22, 2025 • 1h 12min
228: Time Surfing, with Paul Loomans
Paul Loomans, author of 'I've Got Time' and 'Timesurfing', shares his zen approach to time management. He introduces the metaphor of 'gnawing rats' versus 'white sheep' to address task avoidance. The conversation delves into mindful productivity, urging listeners to embrace mindfulness and intentionality. Loomans emphasizes the importance of taking 'breathers' to enhance creativity and clarity. He also advocates for a flexible approach to tasks, allowing intuition to guide decision-making for a more fulfilling life.

193 snips
Apr 8, 2025 • 1h 3min
227: Quarterly Planning
David and Mike dive into their quarterly planning routines, sharing practical tips for reflection and goal-setting. They discuss the concept of personal retreats and innovative journaling techniques, emphasizing the need for balance in project management. The creation of a knowledge community is highlighted, aimed at enhancing personal growth and productivity. They also touch on leveraging AI for organizational tasks and explore ways to streamline family and workspace management. The journey through impactful literature and Zen teachings adds a deeper layer to their personal development discussions.

263 snips
Mar 25, 2025 • 1h 7min
226: The Importance of Review
Discover the transformative power of reflection and review in enhancing productivity. The hosts dive into techniques that differentiate successful individuals from those who struggle. Explore the Zygarnik effect and how unfinished tasks impact focus, along with the significance of self-kindness in personal evaluations. Learn about creating structured review routines and the benefits of verbal processing for deeper insights. Lastly, enjoy a lighthearted story about an ideal travel cribbage board that ties in with tech solutions for staying focused.

530 snips
Mar 12, 2025 • 1h 10min
225: Tiny Experiments, with Anne-Laure Le Cunff
Anne-Laure Le Cunff, a neuroscientist and author of "Tiny Experiments," shares her unique journey from a failed startup to writing about mindful productivity. She emphasizes the power of tiny experiments to foster personal growth and an experimental mindset over cynicism. Through relatable insights, Anne-Laure advocates for intentionality in productivity, contrasting rigid habits with flexible experimentation. Her engaging approach encourages listeners to embrace curiosity and collaboration, leading to more fulfilling lives and authentic definitions of success.

32 snips
Feb 26, 2025 • 1h 17min
224: Chasing Valuable Rabbits, with Chenell Basilio
Chenell Basilio, creator of the 'Growth in Reverse' newsletter, shares insights on cultivating curiosity and building supportive communities. She discusses transitioning from passion to platform while navigating social media's evolution. Chenell tackles the importance of authenticity to engage audiences and offers strategies to combat burnout, emphasizing value in connections. Personal anecdotes reveal the challenges of project attachment, her workflow for productivity, and how walking stimulates creativity and clarity in thought.

193 snips
Feb 11, 2025 • 1h 1min
223: Solving the Actual Problem, with Ian Byrd
Ian Byrd, an educator and entrepreneur, discusses innovative productivity methods while transitioning from in-person teaching to online resources. He emphasizes engaging students with shorter, interactive educational videos. The conversation touches on enhancing productivity through technology, including digital note-taking. Ian shares strategies for achieving a healthy work-life balance, navigating remote work, and maintaining focus. He also highlights the transformative power of personal retreats for self-reflection, essential for navigating life's challenges.

126 snips
Jan 28, 2025 • 59min
222: The 2025 Productivity Field Guide
The hosts dive into updates on the Productivity Field Guide, emphasizing personal growth through the Greek concept of arete. They unveil an enhanced productivity course featuring over 70 videos and a new 12-week program with live webinars. Innovative time-blocking techniques like 'block priming' are introduced, along with tools like Obsidian and the Morgan app for streamlined task management. The discussion also touches on ethical living inspired by Hellenistic philosophy and their excitement over new gaming experiences.