

Practical PKM
Mike Schmitz
Weekly tips to help you get more out of your notes & ideas and use your PKM system to do your best creative work. This is the audio version of my newsletter.
Episodes
Mentioned books

13 snips
Nov 17, 2025 • 17min
The Ultimate Guide to Mind Mapping: Unlock Your Creative Potential
Discover how mind mapping can unlock your creative potential by bridging analytical and radiant thinking. Learn to create mind maps, and understand their role in idea development through practical use cases like article research and video planning. Explore Tony Buzan's ten laws that ensure effective mind maps and the benefits of improved memory and creativity they offer. Get tips on choosing the right app and making mind mapping an essential tool in your creativity workflow. Transform your notes into actionable insights!

Nov 10, 2025 • 4min
Be a River, Not a Reservoir
Explore the fascinating concept of the creation-to-consumption ratio and how it impacts your personal knowledge management. Discover why it's crucial for your mind to have outputs, preventing stagnation and stress. Writing is highlighted as a key method for clarifying thoughts and processing ideas. The metaphor of rivers versus reservoirs illustrates the importance of letting your notes flow, not getting trapped in tools. Finally, the emphasis is on valuing creation from quality inputs over fixating on ratios.

Oct 27, 2025 • 4min
Why Curiosity is Your AI-Proof Superpower
This is the audio version of my email newsletter. Links and images can be found in the accompanying blog post.

Oct 20, 2025 • 4min
Master Complex Ideas with the Feynman Technique
Discover the power of the Feynman Technique for mastering complex ideas. Learn how to breakdown your knowledge into digestible steps, starting by identifying what you know. Teach concepts in simple language to uncover gaps in understanding. Find out how simplifying your explanations can lead to deeper learning. Plus, hear tips on distilling books into concise summaries, and how to navigate your personal knowledge management effectively. Unlock your potential by explaining simply to understand deeply!

Oct 13, 2025 • 5min
How to Avoid The Slope of Terribleness
Dive into the concept of the Slope of Terribleness, exploring its impact on social media. Discover how your usage patterns, rather than the platforms themselves, shape your experience. Learn valuable filtering questions to assess the voices you allow in your life. Hear about the importance of auditing your information sources, including cutting out negativity for mental clarity. Emphasize the value of choosing platforms like LinkedIn that enrich your experience and investing attention only in information that aligns with your goals.

Oct 6, 2025 • 5min
Changing Your Default Currency
This is the audio version of my email newsletter. All of the links and images can be found in the accompanying blog post.

Sep 29, 2025 • 13min
How to Migrate to Obsidian Bases from Dataview
This is the audio version of my email newsletter. All of the links and screenshots can be found in the accompanying blog post.

Sep 22, 2025 • 3min
Quantity is the Path to Quality
This is the audio version of my email newsletter. All the images and links can be found in the accompanying blog post.

Sep 15, 2025 • 6min
The Power of the Personal Retreat
Discover the transformative benefits of personal retreats inspired by Bill Gates' Think Weeks. Learn how stepping away from daily distractions can enhance clarity and motivation. The discussion highlights the importance of reviewing personal values, reflecting on past achievements, and setting future goals. A supportive environment is emphasized as a key factor in maximizing productivity and personal growth.

Sep 8, 2025 • 4min
Embrace the Chaos
Disorder can be a powerful catalyst for creativity. The episode dives into how embracing chaos can challenge our conventional views of thinking. Additionally, it highlights the importance of writing and forming meaningful connections to boost personal knowledge management. Tune in for insights on transforming chaos into an asset!


