Free Agents

Corporate lawyer David Roth joins to talk about the challenges of staying focused in a fast-paced profession where small mistakes can cost millions of dollars. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED. Guest Starring: David Roth Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Video for this episode David Roth | Attorney & Technologist Remember The Milk Getting Things Done® OmniFocus Things | Cultured Code NotePlan Obsidian Mac Power Users #756: Exploring NotePlan with David Roth Claude Cowork | Anthropic Robot Assistant Field Guide | MacSparky Field Guides Enchiridion of Epictetus | Wikipedia Readwise Cleft Notes Leatherman ARC Multi-tool MacBook Neo | Apple MacBook Pro | Apple Basecamp Orange - iPhone 16 Pro | Ridge Wallet for MagSafe - Basecamp Orange | RIdge Power Bank - 10k mAh - Basecamp Orange | Ridge MV88 USB-C | Shure Sponsor Games Apple in China by Patrick McGee Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin The 6 Types of Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni The Score by C. Thi Nguyen

David has a new Field Guide, and both he & Mike discuss the ways they're using AI to have their robot assistants help with the donkey work. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Gusto: Payroll, HR, Benefits. Simplified. Get 3 months free. Incogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code FOCUSED with this link and get 60% off an annual plan. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Video for this episode Robot Assistant Field Guide | MacSparky Field GuidesSave 10% with code FOCUSROBOT LifeTheme Cohort Did the AI Job Apocalypse Just Begin? (Hint: No.) | Cal Newport's AI Reality Check OpenClaw Claude The Ultimate AI Masterclass For Businesses in 2026 | The Nathan Barry Show Claude for Chrome Obsidian FreshBooks DJI Osmo Pocket 3 The Science of Storytelling by Will Storr By Hand & Eye

Podcast coach and Streamlined Soloprenuer founder Joe Casabona joins us to talk about building systems, effective delegation, and when to actually automate. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED. Guest Starring: Joe Casabona Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Joe's Website Joe Casabona | LinkedIn Focused #249: What if This Were Easy? with Ernie Svenson Toggl ‎Focus app | App Store Brick | Take Back Control of Your Screen Time Sponsor Games Balatro A World Without Email by Cal Newport Streamlined Solopreneur #520: 3 Steps to Reclaim Your Life from Email Onlinejobs.ph Tella SaneBox The End of Burnout by Jonathan Malesic Zapier OpenClaw David's OpenClaw video reMarkable Paper Pro Move reMarkable 2 Supernote Nomad USB Hub | Elgato Keychron Q3 QMK Custom Mechanical Keyboard Keychron K2 HE Wireless Magnetic Switch Custom Keyboard The Iliad by Homer The Odyssey by Homer Walden by Henry David Thoreau

David & Mike discuss how to plan your week and share their own weekly planning workflows. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Gusto: Payroll, HR, Benefits. Simplified. Get 3 months free. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Productivity Field Guide 2026 (Pro Edition) | MacSparky Field Guides The 4 Disciplines of Execution Supernote Nomad Analog Weekly Cards | Ugmonk The End of Burnout by Jonathan Malesic The Peace Of Wild Things by Wendell Berry

David's personal Yoda is back to talk about curiosity, creativity, and the role of AI in focused work. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Incogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code FOCUSED with this link and get 60% off an annual plan. Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED. Guest Starring: Ernie Svenson Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Ernie the Attorney Circle | The complete community platform Creativity by John Cleese Wispr Flow | Effortless Voice Dictation The War of Art by Steven Pressfield The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey Writing Without Teachers by Peter Elbow The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron The Pathless Path by Paul Millerd Alchemy by Rory Sutherland Influence by Robert Cialdini Day One Journal App | Your Journal For Life OpenClaw The Overthinker's Guide to Making Decisions by Joseph Nguyen The Tools of Excellence by Nicholas Bate The Science of Storytelling by Will Storr Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro Ready Player One by Ernest Cline The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Red Rising by Pierce Brown His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novick

David & Mike discuss the Hero's Journey and how focus can help in your own epic quest. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Gusto: Payroll, HR, Benefits. Simplified. Get 3 months free. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Video version of this episode Productivity Field Guide 2026 (Pro Edition) | MacSparky Field GuidesUse coupon code FOCUSEDPFG for 10% off. Die Empty by Todd Henry How many career changes in a lifetime? | The University of Queensland Hero's Journey Overview | Wikipedia Joseph Campbell and The Power of Myth | BillMoyers.com From Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks The Library Community The Personal Retreat Planner

Chris Bailey is back to talk about his new book, The Intention Stack, fundamental human values, and why S.M.A.R.T. goals aren't very smart. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Incogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code FOCUSED with this link and get 60% off an annual plan. Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED. Guest Starring: Chris Bailey Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Focused on YouTube Chris' website Intentional by Chris Bailey Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey An Overview of the Schwartz Theory of Basic Values Overcoming Procrastination (Chris' course) The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey How to Calm Your Mind by Chris Bailey Notes on Being a Man by Scott Galloway The Wealthy Barber by David Chilton Proust and the Squid by Maryanne Wolf Reader, Come Home by Maryanne Wolf The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus How to Calm Your Mind by Chris Bailey

David & Mike reflect on everything that happened in 2025 and set their intentions for the new year. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Incogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code FOCUSED with this link and get 60% off an annual plan. Gusto: Payroll, HR, Benefits. Simplified. Get 3 months free. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Video for this episode The Practical PKM Cohort is Now Open! David's Newsletter Mike's Newsletter Building a Master Content Calendar in Obsidian with Bases Introduction to Obsidian Bases Mike's Video on moving from Dataview to Obsidian Bases Sublime Plotter Leather Binder Refills Intentional by Chris Bailey

Patrick Rhone is back to talk about his love for calendars and why curiosity is essential if you want to become a knower of things. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Incogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code FOCUSED with this link and get 60% off an annual plan. Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast. Guest Starring: Patrick Rhone Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. YouTube video for this episode Patrick's website Enough by Patrick Rhone Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things Whoa to Wow BusyCal Pocket Briefcases | Levenger Analog™ | The original to-do system by Ugmonk Nanami Seven Seas Tomoe River Notebooks GTD Guided Mindsweep Patrick's Now page The Nathan Barry Show | How To Live a Meaningful Life Using Design ThinkingThe episode Mike mentions where the authors tell us to "stop shoulding ourselves." Trello ProWritingAid: The Storyteller's Toolkit YearCompass Excalidraw Obsidian plugin Sketch Your Mind Derek Sivers Hunter Gatherer 21C How to Beat ChatGPT by Nicholas Bate Daily MEDS by Nicholas Bate The Notebook by Roland Allen

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 domain using code FOCUSED. Incogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code FOCUSED with this link and get 60% off an annual plan. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Video for this episode Focused YouTube channel Give the Gift of Relay The Focused Calendar Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff Time Timer The Personal Retreat Planner The Blanc Media 8-Week Work Cycle with Sabbaticals Focused #239: How to Focus Like a Roman Emperor, with Donald J. Robertson Focused #225: Tiny Experiments, with Anne-Laure Le Cunff Focused #232: Useful Not True, with Derek Sivers Focused #242: The Case for Analog 1911 KOP Ebonite Naginata-Togi Fountain Pen Pen Review: Pilot Custom Heritage 912 with PO Nib | The Gentleman Stationer Diamine Writer's Blood Ink Review | The Pen Addict Why My Platinum Century 3776 Fountain Pens Have Architect Grinds | Chicana Writes Ink Review #189: Robert Oster Bondi Blue | Mountain of Ink Rolls MS111 Mic Switch Latching or Momentary Microphone Mute Switch | Amazon Toxic Grit by Amanda Goetz Apple in China by Patrick McGee

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 businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast. Guest Starring: Thom Gibson Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Work-From-Home Dads Kolbe A™ Index Takes Two Hunt, Gather, Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff Plus Minus Next Journaling | Ness Labs Moleskine Notebooks Pilot G2 0.7mm Black Fine Retractable Gel Ink Pen Rollerball | Amazon Day Pass by Sling TV Explore Stream Deck | Elgato Sparky's BIonics | YouTube The 5 Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom Make Time by Jake Knapp & John Zeratsky Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman Wisdom Takes Work by Ryan Holiday Focused #239: How to Focus Like a Roman Emperor, with Donald J. Robertson Notes on Being a Man by Scott Galloway The WFH Dad’s 6-Hour Workday Playbook

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. Gusto: Payroll, HR, Benefits. Simplified. Get 3 months free. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Apple Productivity Suite Field Guide (Expert) Apple Productivity Suite Field Guide (Essentials) The Pen Is Mightier Than the Keyboard | Pam A. Mueller, Daniel M. Oppenheimer, 2014 Focused #83: Ideas Over Art, with Mike Rohde The Sketchnote Handbook by Mike Rohde Focused #196: Focus & The Reading Life, with Maryanne Wolf The Brain vs. The List A Guide to Sketchnoting on iPad (using GoodNotes) | The Sweet Setup The Personal Retreat Planner The 2026 Focused Calendar Obsidian Morgen The Capture System | Ugmonk Goodnotes reMarkable 2 Plotter Mildliner Analog | Ugmonk Field Notes Day One Blackwing pencils rOtring 800+ Kuru Toga mechanical pencils Mitsubishi Pencil K9852EWHB Weekly Schedule Refill 2026 PLT0002 (A5 Size) Hobonichi Techo 2026 Official Website Otoño Blend | Intelligentsia Coffee Ruby Coffee Roasters Ottomatic® 2.0 | Chemex Made to Stick by Chip & Dan Heath Switch by Chip & Dan Heath Decisive by Chip & Dan Heath Wisdom Takes Work by Ryan Holiday

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 and get 60% off an annual plan. Gusto: Payroll, HR, Benefits. Simplified. Get 3 months free. Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast. Guest Starring: Austin Church Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. The 2026 Focused Calendar Freelance Cake Content Entrepreneur Expo Free Money by Austin L. Church Essentialism by Greg McKeown Time Anxiety by Chris Guillebeau Who Not How by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy Full Focus Planner The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron Duolingo FC™ 26 Mildliner $100M Money Models by Alex Hormozi Sponsor Magnet by Justin Moore Austin L. Church | LinkedIn

David & Mike attempt to end 2025 on a high note by reviewing the last quarter and planning the next one. Also, Mike made a planner. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED. Incogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code FOCUSED with this link and get 60% off an annual plan. Gusto: Payroll, HR, Benefits. Simplified. Get 3 months free. HelloFresh: Get 10 Free Meals + a Free Item for Life! Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. The Personal Retreat Planner The 2026 Focused Calendar Mike's essay on Cranking vs. Creating Productivity Field Guide 2025 (Standard Edition) Mike's Personal Book Notes Obsidian Vault Content Entrepreneur Expo Lulu | Online Self-Publishing Book & Ebook Company Tilt Publishing Bookworm #232: Published by Chandler Bolt Anderson Pens Closing Announcement | YouTube Cardinal Pens & Paper (formerly Anderson Pens) Plotter Quartet app iReal Pro The Beauty of Everyday Things by Soetsu Yanagi Time Anxiety by Chris Guillebeau

Cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist & author Donald J. Robertson joins us to talk about ancient philosophy as a tool for focus. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Incogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code FOCUSED with this link and get 60% off an annual plan. Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free. Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast. 1Password: Discover SaaS applications, automate lifecycle management, and optimize SaaS spend. Guest Starring: Donald Robertson Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Donald's Substack (Newsletter + Podcast) How to Think Like Socrates by Donald J. Robertson How to Think Like a Roman Emperor by Donald J. Robertson All of Donald's books Meditations by Marcus Aurelius The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh

David & Mike catch up on listener feedback, including how to say no more often, deep vs. shallow work, and when to abandon a focus area. Also, David made an app?!? This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Nexos.ai: All-in-one AI platform for enterprises. Get a 14 day free trial now. Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED. Incogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code FOCUSED with this link and get 60% off an annual plan. HelloFresh: Get 10 Free Meals + a Free Item for Life! Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Relay for St. Jude Practical PKM (Mike's Newsletter) David's Newsletter The No List (David's app) Knitting Your Parachute | MacSparky Focused #237: Everything is Figureoutable, with Max Roberts Mike's YouTube channel Practical PKM Hybrid Cohort The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey Eat That Frog! Fourth Edition by Brian Tracy ChatGPT's Impact On Our Brains According to an MIT Study | TIME Field Notes | Memo Books, Notebooks, Journals & Planners The Capture System | Ugmonk Numerics Zapier: Automate AI Workflows, Agents, and Apps The Extended Mind by Annie Murphy Paul Focused #146: The Extended Mind, with Annie Murphy Paul Nintendo Switch 2 Zelda Breath of the Wild Upgrade Pack How to Think Like a Roman Emperor by Donald Robertson

Max Roberts is a podcaster, video editor, and technical writer who joins us to talk about using AI in the writing process, video games, and the importance of staying curious. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Incogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code FOCUSED with this link and get 60% off an annual plan. Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free. Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast. 1Password: Discover SaaS applications, automate lifecycle management, and optimize SaaS spend. Guest Starring: Max Roberts Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Point of Curvature Max Frequency Max Roberts Video Essays Max's Podcasts Obsidian Field Guide (Plus Edition) Practical PKM Hybrid Cohort Google NotebookLM ChatGPT Grammarly Claude Lex.page ‎Singin' In the Bathtub by John Lithgow How to ADHD by Jessica McCabe How to ADHD | YouTube Failing at Normal: An ADHD Success Story | Jessica McCabe | TEDxBratislava - YouTube Business Made Simple Extra Focus by Jesse J. Anderson Field Notes | Memo Books, Notebooks, Journals & Planners The Library Community TaskForge | Obsidian Tasks Made Easy From Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks Dark Age by Pierce Brown Somebody And The Three Blairs by Marilyn Tolhurst Lake of Souls by Ann Leckie The Unknown Craftsman by Soetsu Yanagi

David & Mike talk about focus traps, consider the ones they tend to fall into, and discuss how to create systems to help avoid them. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED. Incogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code FOCUSED with this link and get 60% off an annual plan. HelloFresh: Get 10 Free Meals + a Free Item for Life! Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Tot Drafts Field Notes Focused #228: Time Surfing, with Paul Loomans Postcard Cabins NotePlan Ecamm Live Miro Powerbeats Pro 2 | Electric Orange BLE caberQU The Complete Works of Epictetus AI Snake Oil by Arvid Narayanan & Sayash Kapoor Co-Intelligence by Ethan Mollick

Freelance WordPress developer and spiritual director John Chandler joins us to talk about the pursuit of practical wisdom and being intentional about being intentional. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free. Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast. Guest Starring: John Chandler Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. John's website John's YouTube Channel Macstock Conference & Expo Foundation | Apple TV+ Personal Socrates by Marc Champagne Focused #149: Asking Questions, with Marc Champagne From Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks Bookworm Mac Power Users #82: Cooking Ideas John's journaling video Day One Journal App How to Know a Person by David Brooks The Perfect Edge by Ron Hock Moonshot by Mike Massimino Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station The Capture System | Ugmonk Micro.blog

David & Mike discuss the role of friction and where they choose to add it into their own focused workflows. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED. Incogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code FOCUSED with this link and get 60% off an annual plan. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. David's Whiteboard Focused #228: Time Surfing, with Paul Loomans Field Notes | Memo Books, Notebooks, Journals & Planners Drafts | Where Text Starts Mike's Note-Making Video Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff Nathan Barry's Podcast with Anne-Laure Le Cunff Mac Power Users #799: The State of Apple, with Jason Snell Insta360 Link Mike's Video on Tiny Experiments