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Focused

Relay
Productivity
Focus
Attention
Task Management
Deep Reading
Empathy
Literacy
Journaling
Cognitive Science
Mindfulness
Digital Distractions
Reading Brain
Personal Development
Work-Life Balance
Personal Growth
Neuroplasticity
Technology Impact On Reading
Personal Retreat
Calendars
Rapt

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 monthlyEpisodes244Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
CareersBusiness

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Artwork for Focused

Latest Episodes

David & Mike catch up on listener feedback and discuss productivity myths, focus struggles, and their favorite episodes from the last year.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

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

Social Media Content Specialist Thom Gibson joins us to talk about Sunday meetings, journaling in broad strokes, and the struggles that come with working from home.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

• Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million busi... more

David & Mike revisit the role of analog in their focused workflows and share some of their favorite analog tools.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

• Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED.

more

Freelance business coach Austin L. Church joins us to talk about avoiding burnout and building more sustainable systems.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

• Incogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code FOCUSED with this link... 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

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
Donald J. Robertson
Psychotherapist and author who specializes in stoicism and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Episode: 239: How to Focus Like a Roman Emperor, with Donald J. Robertson
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

Hosts

David Sparks
Co-host of the podcast, focusing on productivity techniques and sharing personal experiences with listeners.
Mike Schmitz
Co-host who provides insights on focus and productivity from his personal perspectives and professional coaching background.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 240 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 States5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Valuable insights into work-life balance, appealing to a diverse audience with varying experiences.
Hosts are appreciated for their honesty and vulnerability in sharing their own productivity struggles.
Some critiques mention episodes could benefit from tighter editing to enhance the content flow.
Highly regarded for providing actionable productivity advice and relatable discussions on meaningful living.
Community-oriented approach that welcomes listener feedback, indicating a listener-friendly atmosphere.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#114
United States/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#209
Canada/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#229
United Kingdom/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#129
Australia/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#166
Italy/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#38
Philippines/Business/Careers

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

244: You're Holding It Wrong
Q: Do you prefer episodes that are more philosophical about focus and productivity or more tactical with specific systems and tools?
I like both of them, but probably I enjoy talking a little bit more about the philosophical stuff and the why behind the things that we do.
241: Less But Better, with Austin L. Church
Q: How do you avoid the same burnout traps that you fell into?
Engage in ongoing reflection and strategically subtract non-essential tasks from your life.
241: Less But Better, with Austin L. Church
Q: What should someone do if they feel they're approaching burnout?
Take inventory of everything in your life and cut everything that is non-essential.
239: How to Focus Like a Roman Emperor, with Donald J. Robertson
Q: What is the relationship there between the societal virtues and the individual values?
The Stoics believed in a particular set of virtues that were their fundamental values, with wisdom being the most important, which helps assign value to everything else in life.
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.

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 focuses on enhancing productivity and maintaining focus in a busy world. Each episode features hosts David Sparks and Mike Schmitz, who share personal strategies, tools, and philosophies that aim to help listeners effectively structure their lives. Topics such as work-life balance, the use of both digital and analog productivity tools, the challenges of freelance life, and philosophical underpinnings of productivity are frequently discussed. A unique aspect is the integration of listener feedback, allowing for a community-oriented approach that addresses listener queries and experiences, making it relatable for those striving for focus in their diverse personal and professional endeavors. Through thoughtful conversation and ins... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Focused?

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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. Cortex
3. Upgrade
4. Deep Questions with Cal Newport
5. Accidental Tech Podcast

How many episodes of Focused are there?

Focused launched 9 years ago and published 244 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?

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What guests have appeared on Focused?

Recent guests on Focused include:

1. Thom Gibson
2. Austin L. Church
3. Donald J. Robertson
4. John Chandler
5. Kara Monroe
6. Derek Sivers
7. Joe Moyer
8. Paul Loomans

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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