Focused

About 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.

Publisher

Relay

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

26 Jul 2016

Latest episode

7 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

74 of 266 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   7 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   266: The Ultimate Shiny New Object

   Host David and guest Mike explore AI's distraction potential and reveal strategies to overcome common focus pitfalls like tool tourism and endless collaboration.

2. 

   22 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   265: How to Try Again, with Steve Kamb

   Author Steve Kamb shares insights on embracing failure and breaking free from negative cycles to successfully try again.

3. 

   8 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   264: The Accountability-Shaped Hole

   David and Mike explore chronotypes, capacity, and delegation in this feedback episode, offering insights into personal productivity.

Who has been a guest on Focused

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Steve Kamb
• Cat Mulvihill
• Kathy Campbell
• Stephen Robles
• Ernie Svenson

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.3 / 5

125 ratings

Spotify

4.8 / 5

29 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 60 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

83

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

96

Contact Focused

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Focused