The Matt Townsend Show

Matt Townsend specializes in energizing and involving audiences with his unique approach to building and maintaining successful relationships. Known as one of America’s top presenters in the field of Human Relations and Development, Matt blends humor and story telling with interactive, real-life solutions that motivate and inspire his listeners.

Latest Episodes:

Biases That Lead to Bad Money Decisions, Why We Mourn Animals Jul 10, 2018

Show notes

Cognitive Biases That Lead to Bad Money Decisions (14:03) Kristin Wong is an award-winning writer. Her contributions to MSN Living’s The Heart Beat blog won her an award from the Society of Professional Journalists. She regularly contributes to NBC News, Lifehacker, and Bankrate. Why is budgeting such a challenge for some of us? Well money isn’t hard because of the math, it’s the psychology that trips us up. How can we retake control of our minds and our wallets? Kristin Wong explains the cognitive biases that lead to bad money decisions. Why We Mourn Animals (1:01:44) Kurt Gray, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor of Social Psychology and Author of the book “The Mind Club” . He studies the mysteries of subjective experience and presents the phenomenon of mind perception. Nothing seems more real than the minds of other people. When you consider what your boss is thinking or whether your spouse is happy, you are admitting them into the "mind club." It's easy to assume other humans can think and feel, but what about a cow, a computer, a corporation? What kinds of mind do they have? And why do humans react so strongly to the deaths of animals? Dr. Kurt Gray explains. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:14:03 - Cognitive Biases That Lead to Bad Money Decisions 01:61:44 - Why We Mourn Animals

How to Break Your Addiction to Work, Cost of Mental Health Care Jul 09, 2018

Show notes

How to Break Your Addiction to Work (15:33) Rebecca Knight is a freelance journalist in Boston and a lecturer at Wesleyan University where she also teaches writing courses. She has written many pieces focused on personal finances and business education. Her work has been published in The New York Times, USA Today, and The Financial Times. For many of us, working simply feels good. But just because it feeds your ego or makes you feel important, that doesn’t mean it’s actually good for you. How do you break the cycle of working long hours at the office and constantly checking email at home? How do you persuade those around you — similarly work-obsessed colleagues or a demanding boss — that working all the time isn’t healthy? Rebecca Knight explains how to break your addiction to Work. Cost of Mental Health Care (59:12) Dr. Charles Roehrig is a Vice President, Institute Fellow, and founding director of Altarum’s Center for Sustainable Health Spending. His research interests include timelier tracking of health spending, determining its sustainable growth rate, and modeling its future growth. Healthcare is a billion-dollar industry. Within the healthcare industry, what does America spend the most money on? It’s not cancer, trauma and injury, or even heart conditions (although heart conditions were the costliest 10 years ago). Dr. Charles Roehrig talks about the study he conducted about the rising epidemic of mental health costs. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:15:33 - How to Break Your Addiction to Work 00:59:12 - Cost of Mental Health Care

Optimists Find Jobs Easier, Thoughts to Change Your Marriage Jul 07, 2018

Show notes

Optimists are Better at Finding New Jobs (15:18) Michelle Gielan is the Founder of the Institute for Applied Positive Research. She is an Executive Producer of “The Happiness Advantage” Special on PBS and a featured professor in Oprah’s Happiness course. Michelle Gielan is the author of the book "Broadcasting Happiness". Michelle Gielan wrote a Harvard Business Review article on how “optimists are better at finding new jobs”. She explains what she has discovered. Nine Thoughts That Can Change Your Marriage (58:34) Sheila Wray Gregoire is a mother, blogger, public speaker and author of 8 books including "Nine Thoughts That Can Change Your Marriage". Marriage can be wonderful and it can be tough. The tough times can be difficult to manage but by looking at your relationship and asking insightful questions challenges can be overcome. Sheila Wray Gregoire shares ideas that can help your marriage because a Great Relationship Doesn't Happen by Accident. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:15:18 - Optimists are Better at Finding New Jobs 00:58:34 - Nine Thoughts That Can Change Your Marriage

Invention of Dating, Don't Be Fooled, Screen Cleaning Jul 06, 2018

Show notes

Labor of Love: The Invention of Dating (13:09) Moira Weigel is a PhD Student at Yale University, in Comparative Literature and Film and Media Studies. She earned her BA (summa cum laude) from Harvard University and is the author of "Labor of Love: The Invention of Dating", her first book. Men and women used to go out on dates but now seems that it’s all snapchat and tinder. But is that really as awful as it seems? How did we decide what’s appropriate for dating? And how did dating even start? Moira Weigel explains the history of dating. How to Not Be Fooled by Jerks (58:04) Jeremy Sherman, Ph.D., is a founding member of an 18 year old research project founded by Harvard/Berkeley biologist Terrence Deacon. He received his PhD in decision theory he has written over 475 articles for Psychology Today. Do you have a friend who just can’t seem to recognize they’re being duped? They don’t realize that the door-to-door salesman fooled them, or that Facebook is never going to give away free money when they copy and paste a status. But how can you recognize it and they miss it? For that matter, are you being duped and just can’t see it? Dr. Sherman explains how to avoid being a sucker or a jerk. Screen Cleaning (1:28:54) Jeff Simpson talks about movies and TV, helping you find family-friendly options. Kids shows aren't always the most entertaining, and if a screen is your babysitter you might get sick of the same shows over and over again. Today Jeff and Cole discuss some of their favorite kids shows that adults can enjoy too! Also hear what they have to say about the new realeases in theaters Ant-Man and the Wasp and Won't You Be My Neighbor. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:13:09 - Labor of Love: The Invention of Dating 00:58:04 - How to Not Be Fooled by Jerks 01:88:54 - Screen Cleaning

Mind in the Making, Psychology of Baby Names Jul 05, 2018

Show notes

Mind in the Making (10:27) Ellen Galinsky is President and Co-Founder of Families and Work Institute. She helped establish the field of work and family life during the time she was at Bank Street College of Education, where she was on the faculty for 25 years. Her more than 100 books and reports include the best-selling Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs. Ellen Galinsky shares skills you can teach your children the skills they need for success. She is the author of "Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs". Psychology of Baby Names (52:09) Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D., is currently a professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is the author of over 160 refereed articles and book chapters and 16 books. Dr. Whitbourne explains the impact a name can have on a person's life and different factors to keep in mind when choosing a name for a child. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:10:27 - Mind in the Making 00:52:09 - Psychology of Baby Names

Good Husband, Great Marriage, Virtual and Real World Jul 04, 2018

Show notes

Good Husband, Great Marriage (11:28) Robert and Jane Alter are the authors of “Good Husband, Great Marriage”, a hard-hitting, no-nonsense guidebook for men and women to help them fix their marriages. Robert Alter's central, controversial argument: the man is primarily responsible for the marital problems. Robert and Jane Alter explain how men have responsibility to make changes to fix their marriage. Learning to Balance the Virtual and Real World (53:16) Holland Haiss is a successful business consultant that mentors and facilitates clients to reach their goals. She coaches on the art of leadership, the value of communication marketing strategies, and how to reach personal and financial goals. Her book is "Consciously Connecting: A Simple Process to Reconnect in a Disconnected World". Holland Haiis with some ideas on how to live in a connected world. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:11:28 - Good Husband, Great Marriage 00:53:16 - Learning to Balance the Virtual and Real World

Why You Like What You Like, Music for Anxiety and Depression Jul 03, 2018

Show notes

Why You Like What You Like (11:44) Tom Vanderbilt is a contributing Editor at Wired (U.K.), Outside, and Artforum and the author of New York Times Best Seller: Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do. Tom Vanderbilt is also the author of "You May Also Like: Taste in an Age of Endless Choice". Tom Vanderbilt explains why we like what we like. Using Music to Treat Anxiety and Depression (52:54) Dr. Steven Hayes is the foundation professor of behavioral analysis at the University of Nevada Reno. Dr. Hayes has authored 38 books, he is the developer of the Relation Frame Theory and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Have you ever had a strange or wild idea that you had to force out of your mind? For those who suffer from OCD, pushing out intrusive thoughts can be an overwhelming battle. But turning your worries into a catchy tune might be a solution for those who suffer from intrusive thoughts. Dr. Steven Hayes discusses intrusive thoughts and the power of song. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:11:44 - Why You Like What You Like 00:52:54 - Using Music to Treat Anxiety and Depression

Train the Brain to Lose Weight, Benefits of a Bromance Jul 02, 2018

Show notes

Train the Brain to Lose Weight (9:52) Laurel Mellin, Ph.D., is a health psychologist who founded and developed emotional brain training. She is an associate clinical professor of family and community medicine and pediatrics at the University of California San Francisco. Dr. Mellin has authored papers on the science and efficacy of EBT and is a New York Times bestselling author of four books on the method. Dr. Mellin explains how to take control of your brain to meet personal goals like weight loss. Benefits of a Bromance (49:23) Amy Morin, LCSW is a psychotherapist, college psychology instructor and the author of the bestselling book "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do". She’s a regular contributor to Forbes, Inc., Psychology Today, and Huffington Post. Amy Morin wrote an article about how men can experience improved life satisfaction by having close male friends, what is otherwise known as a bromance. Amy and Dr. Matt explore the positive elements of the "bromance."

Switched On, If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Happy? Jun 30, 2018

Show notes

Switched On: A Memoir of Brain Change and Emotional Awakening (12:19) John Elder Robison is a New York Times Best Selling Author for his book, "Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's". Imagine living without one of your senses and one day it’s switched on. Suddenly you can hear for the first time or see color. John Elder Robison, knows what that feels like, but John wasn’t blind or deaf before this miraculous change. Mr. Robison has Asperger’s, a form of autism, that left him without the ability to read emotions, and he’s here to talk about how his life suddenly changed. If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Happy? (53:07) Dr. Raj Raghunathan is an award-winning Professor of Marketing at the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. He studies the impact that people’s judgments and decisions have on their own happiness and fulfillment. Everyone knows success and happiness are linked right? The more successful you are in your career the happier you are. Right? Actually the idea of career success at any cost is resulting in more and more people being dissatisfied with their life. Dr. Raghunathan discusses his book "If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Happy?” 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:12:19 - Switched On: A Memoir of Brain Change and Emotional Awakening 00:53:07 - If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Happy?

College of Chinese Philosophers, Blind Solo Runner, Screen Cleaning Jun 29, 2018

Show notes

What We Can Learn from Chinese Philosophers (11:12) Michael Puett, Ph.D., is the Walter C. Klein Professor of Chinese History and Chair of the Committee on the Study of Religion at Harvard University. Christine Gross-Loh is a journalist and author of several books, including the book we’re talking about today: "The Path: What Chinese Philosophers Can Teach Us About the Good Life". Both share what Chinese philosophers taught and how that can improve our daily lives. Blind Solo Runner (56:36) Simon Wheatcroft is an ultramarathon runner who completes hundreds of miles of races, by himself, despite the fact that he is blind. Most of us will never attempt to run 160 miles, even less will do it solo through the Namibian desert, but only one person is attempting all of that while also being completely blind. Simon Wheatcroft explains how he finishes the race and what drives him. Screen Cleaning (1:27:08) Jeff Simpson talks about movies and TV, helping you find family-friendly options. Today Jeff and Cole discuss the Jurassic franchise and also have a discussion with two animation students from BYU, Jedi Lion and Chris Fish, that helped create an award winning video game (1:41:14). 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:11:12 - What We Can Learn from Chinese Philosophers 00:56:36 - Blind Solo Runner 01:87:08 - Screen Cleaning 01:101:14 - video game

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