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:

Factfullness, Principles of Intuitive Eating, Screen Cleaning Apr 27, 2018

Show notes

Why We're Wrong About the World (13:47) Anna Rosling Rönnlund is the co-founder of Gapminder, a program designed to promote a fact-based worldview everyone can understand. She also developed Dollar Street. She spoke on Dollar Street in her TED talk in 2017. Anna is the co-writer of Factfulness and a mom of three. When asked simple questions about global trends like, ‘what percentage of the world’s population lives in poverty,’ ‘why is the world’s population increasing,’ or ‘how many girls finish school,’ we systematically get the answers wrong. Do you think your guesses would be too high, or too low? Anna Rosling Ronnlund talks about why things may actually be better than we think is. Principles of Intuitive Eating (59:19) Karen Mangum is a licensed, registered dietitian, seasoned recipe developer, food blogger, and nutrition consultant. She is the author and producer of Inside Karen’s Kitchen, a healthy food blog, where she shares recipes that nourish and heal along with insightful nutrition musings which attempt to sort fact from fiction. Karen is married to Michael and the mother of five almost grown children, including BYU football starting quarterback, Tanner Mangum. Karen Mangum shares more of her Principles of Intuitive Eating. Screen Cleaning (1:34:17) Jeff Simpson talks about movies and TV helping you find family-friendly options. Today we pull back the curtain and talk about some personal favorites in movie and tv that had an impact on our lives. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:13:47 - Why We're Wrong About the World 00:59:19 - Principles of Intuitive Eating 01:94:17 - Screen Cleaning

Child Care Maternity Leave, Americans to Volunteer, Help Your Shy Kid Apr 26, 2018

Show notes

Joya Misra - The US is stingier with child care and maternity leave than the rest of the world (11:35) Joya Misra, Ph.D., is a Professor of Sociology and Public Policy at the University of Massachusetts. Her research and teaching primarily focus on social inequality, including inequalities by gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, and educational level. Nearly 1 in 4 children in the U.S. are in single-parent households, and in the majority of two-parent households both parents are working, yet childcare is generally unaffordable and paid leave is not available to most U.S. parents. Is the US stingier with child care and maternity leave than the rest of the world? Joya Misra with the info. How to get more Americans to volunteer (57:35) Rebecca Nesbit, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Public Administration and Policy at the University of Georgia. She studies specializing in nonprofit management, volunteerism, and philanthropy. Can you remember the last time that you volunteered? Hopefully, you can but many people probably can’t as U.S volunteering numbers are dipping. Rebecca Nesbit discusses her article on how to get more Americans to volunteer. How to help your shy kid participate in school (1:45:09) Paul Jenkins, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist. He is the author of Pathological Positivity. He is a member of the American Psychological Association, the American Psychology-law Society, and the Utah Psychological Association. Today Dr. Paul joins us to share how to help your shy kid participate in school. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:11:35 - Joya Misra - The US is stingier with child care and maternity leave than the rest of the world 00:57:35 - How to get more Americans to volunteer 01:105:09 - How to help your shy kid participate in school

What the flu, Game Theory Parenting, Anxiety and Depression Apr 25, 2018

Show notes

What the flu does to your body (12:40) Laura Haynes, Ph.D., is a professor of Immunology at the University of Connecticut Health. The Flu season is coming to an end, a pretty nasty one. But, what exactly is the flu and how does it affect our bodies. Laura Haynes explains why the flu makes you feel horrible and how that is a good thing. The Game Theorist's Guide to Parenting (1:00:18) Kevin Zollman, Ph.D, is an associate professor of philosophy at Carnegie Mellon University and co-author of the Book (along with Paul Raeburn) “The game theorist's guide to parenting”. Game Theory, is the mathematical analysis of conflict resolution. So game theory obviously has its place in decision making between international businessmen, heads of state, and with your 5-year-old?!? Dr. Zollman explains art of benevolent manipulation. Anxiety and Depression (1:46:42) Ganel-Lyn Condie is an author, and has recently published her book “You Are Magnificent.” She is a motivational speaker and has appeared on television and radio shows. Some of the most common regrets parents have in life deal with not spending enough time with their kids. Family relationships require time and patience to build. Ganel-Lyn Condie talks about how better deal with Anxiety and Depression. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:12:40 - What the flu does to your body 01:60:18 - The Game Theorist's Guide to Parenting 01:106:42 - Anxiety and Depression

Language and Tolerance, Ask For Help, Mental Health Foods Apr 24, 2018

Show notes

How learning a new language improves tolerance (12:01) Amy Thompson, Ph.D., is the Associate Professor of Linguistics at the University of South Florida. Less than 1% of American adults today are proficient in a foreign language that they studied in a U.S. classroom. With that in mind, Professor Amy Thompson sees that there are benefits that make learning a second language worthwhile when it comes to improving tolerance. Why You Don't Ask For Help (1:00:30) Mark Bolino, Ph.D., is a professor of management at the Price College of Business at the University of Oklahoma. He specializes in organizational behavior, international business, and human resources management. His research interests include impression management in the workplace and global careers. All of us find it difficult to ask for help sometimes. Maybe it is because we don’t trust a co-worker, or perhaps we are just trying to be self-reliant. Whatever the reason, studies have shown that when we don’t ask for help our individual and team performance suffers. Mark Bolino explains. Mental Health and Brain Foods (1:45:42) Ron Hager, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Exercise Sciences in the College of Life Sciences at Brigham Young University. His area is expertise is Chronic Disease Prevention. Dr. Hager talks about how our diets impact our mental health. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:12:01 - How learning a new language improves tolerance 01:60:30 - Why You Don't Ask For Help 01:105:42 - Mental Health and Brain Foods

North Korea and GOP, Peter Principal, ScreamFree Parenting Apr 23, 2018

Show notes

North Korea and GOP (11:55) Joe Cannon is the CEO of the Fuel Freedom Foundation, former Chairman of the Utah Republican Party, past assistant administrator in the US EPA, and editor of the Deseret News. Joe Cannon talks about the funeral of Barbara Bush, Paul Ryan stepping down, and North Korea. Do People Really Get Promoted to Their Level of Incompetence? (56:38) Alan Benson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Work & Organizations, in the Carlson School of Management of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. If you have ever worked in sales, it can be a cutthroat industry with everyone looking to reach the top. This environment was seen as a perfect opportunity to test the concept called the Peter Principal. The Peter Principle states that the selection of a candidate for a position is based on the candidate's performance in their current role, rather than on abilities relevant to the intended role. Alan Benson talks about what the Peter Principal is and the study he conducted. ScreamFree Parenting (1:46:23) Hal Runkel is a success coach, consultant, New York Times bestselling author and one of the world’s most trusted resources for life improvement. He is the founder of ScreamFree and The Pause Platform. Parenting is full of stress and sometimes screaming, but getting flustered or angry is not the best way to react to these stressful situations. Instead, we need to take a step back, think about the situation, and then calmly respond to the situation. Hal Runkel, New York Times Bestseller of the book, ScreamFree Parenting, teaches us how to be a calmer parent. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:11:55 - North Korea and GOP 00:56:38 - Do People Really Get Promoted to Their Level of Incompetence? 01:106:23 - ScreamFree Parenting

Divorce-Proof Marriage, South Health Problem, Better Grandparent Apr 21, 2018

Show notes

Ways to Divorce-Proof your Marriage (12:25) James J. Sexton, Esq., is a trial lawyer with two decades of experience negotiating and litigating high-conflict divorces. Author of “If You’re in My Office, It’s Already Too Late”. Love is a beautiful thing, but when things go sideways in a relationship it can get ugly. According to the American Psychological Association around 45% of first marriages end in divorce. James Sexton shares some ideas on how to divorce-proof your marriage. Why the South has a Health Problem (57:44) Jay Maddock, Ph.D., is the DPh.D.of the School of Public Health at Texas A&M University. He is internationally recognized for his research in social ecological approaches to increasing physical activity. What does Massachusetts, Hawaii, Vermont, Utah, and Connecticut all have in common? In 2017 they were all rated the healthiest states in the Union. On the other hand, West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi are all in the South and are at the bottom of the list. Why is this the case? Jay Maddock explains why the South seems to have a health problem. How to be a better Grandparent (1:39:43) Leslie Zinberg and Kay Ziplow are co-founders of the website GrandParentLink. Zinberg is an interior designer and has been married for 48 years with two children and two grandchildren. Currently, she is co-writing a book on mindful grandparenting. Grandparents can have a big impact on the lives of grandchildren. Likewise, Grandparents can be an important source of information for their children who are trying to raise their kids. What is the role of a Grandparent? Leslie Zinberg shares some tips on how to be a better Grandparent. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:12:25 - Ways to Divorce-Proof your Marriage 00:57:44 - Why the South has a Health Problem 01:99:43 - How to be a better Grandparent

Online Shopping Traffic, Accepting a Compliment, Screen Cleaning Apr 20, 2018

Show notes

Online Shopping Traffic (11:09) Anne Goodchild, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and Director at the Supply Chain Transportation and Logistics Center for the University of Washington. Her research interests lie in the analysis of logistics systems, with an emphasis on freight transportation. Zappos, Etsy, eBay, and Amazon are some of the largest online retailers in the world. Online shopping continues to grow, but what does this mean for delivery trucks? Cities, like Seattle, that were built long before UPS and long before next-day deliveries need to revamp the way they manage commercial vehicles to avoid a sea of traffic. Dr. Goodchild shares her research with the Urban Freight Lab. Why can't you accept a Compliment (57:06) Katherine Hawley is a Ph.D. in the Department of Philosophy at St Andrews University in Scotland. There is an art to congratulate and compliment others and sometimes we feel awkward or resentful when given a compliment. Katherine Hawley explains how that stems from a mix of mistrust and misunderstanding. Screen Cleaning (1:33:13) Jeff Simpson talks about movies and TV helping you find family-friendly options. Actress Marsha Dietlein joins the show today to talk about a new film she was in, Getting Grace. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:11:09 - Online Shopping Traffic 00:57:06 - Why can't you accept a Compliment 01:93:13 - Screen Cleaning

College Food Scholarships, Lead With Authority, Mind of the Leader Apr 19, 2018

Show notes

Food scholarships could help more students finish college (11:51) Daphne Hernandez, Ph.D., earned her PhPh.D.in Applied Developmental & Educational Psychology at Boston College. She is currently an assistant professor in the department of health and human performance at the University of Houston. Her research is centered around family-related factors, such as poverty and family structure, and their influence on food insecurity/food assistance program participation (i.e. indicators of poverty) and obesity. With the cost of a college education rising more and more students are struggling to make ends meet. As a result, some students are going hungry and that makes it incredibly difficult for them to focus and succeed in school. Dr. Daphne Hernandez believes campus hunger is a significant factor behind inequality in college completion rates, and that “food scholarships” may be a solution. How to Lead when you Lack Authority (58:43) Clay Scroggins is the lead pastor of North Point Community Church, providing visionary and directional leadership for all the local church staff and congregation. Clay works for Andy Stanley and understands firsthand how to manage the tension of leading when you’re not in charge. Good leadership begins in one place. Yourself. If you we can learn to lead ourselves, we will have the knowledge and confidence to lead others, even if we do not have the title that is so often associated with it. Clay Scroggins, author of the book How to lead when you are not in charge, teaches us how we can lead ourselves and become great leaders. The Mind of the Leader (1:44:48) Jacqueline Carter is an International Partner and the North American Director for Potential Project. She has over twenty years of experience working with organizations around the globe to enhance effectiveness and improve performance. She is also the co-author of the book “The Mind of the Leader”. When some people think of leaders sometimes the phrase, “they talk the talk but can they walk the walk” comes to mind. With high exp 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:11:51 - Food scholarships could help more students finish college 00:58:43 - How to Lead when you Lack Authority 01:104:48 - The Mind of the Leader

Social Media Regulation, Pay Attention, Relationships Working Out Apr 18, 2018

Show notes

Government Regulation of Social Media (11:03) Paul Levinson, Ph.D., is Professor of Communication & Media Studies at Fordham University in NYC. Social media is something we cannot avoid; it is part of our world. Last week, Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg, testified in front of Congress for its part in the Cambridge Analytics leak of information. Would government regulation solve these problems? Paul Levinson explains how regulation of social media would be a bad idea. Control What You Pay Attention To (58:02) Maura Nevel Thomas is an award-winning international speaker and trainer on individual and corporate productivity and work-life balance, and the most widely-cited authority on attention management. Life gives us a million things to do sometimes. With so many attention demanding things, we can feel lost, overwhelmed or out of control. Maura Thomas shares the advice “To control your life, control what you pay attention to.” Why Relationships Are Like Working Out (1:42:26) Brian Willoughby, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University. Dr. Willoughby's research focuses on young adult dating and relationship patterns. Dr. Willoughby is the co-author of the book "The Marriage Paradox" Dr. Willoughby discusses how a relationship is like working out. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:11:03 - Government Regulation of Social Media 00:58:02 - Control What You Pay Attention To 01:102:26 - Why Relationships Are Like Working Out

South Health Problem, Better Grandparent, Importance of Etiquette Apr 17, 2018

Show notes

Why the South has a Health Problem (11:37) Jay Maddock, Ph.D., is the Dean of the School of Public Health at Texas A&M University. He is internationally recognized for his research in social-ecological approaches to increasing physical activity. What does Massachusetts, Hawaii, Vermont, Utah, and Connecticut all have in common? In 2017 they were all rated the healthiest states in the Union. On the other hand, West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi are all in the South and are at the bottom of the list. Why is this the case? Jay Maddock explains why the South seems to have a health problem. How to be a better Grandparent (0:53:36) Leslie Zinberg and Kay Ziplow are co-founders of the website GrandParentsLink. Leslie Zinberg is an interior designer and has been married for 48 years with two children and two grandchildren. Currently, she is co-writing a book on mindful grandparenting. Grandparents can have a big impact on the lives of grandchildren. Likewise, Grandparents can be an important source of information for their children who are trying to raise their kids. What is the role of a Grandparent? Leslie Zinberg shares some tips on how to be a better Grandparent. Importance of Etiquette (1:44:37) Cynthia R. Grosso is a national etiquette expert, an award-winning speaker, columnist, and author. She is the founder of the Charleston School of Protocol and Etiquette and the host of Your Manners Matter syndicated radio show. In a world of changing values and mixed opinions, we often forget some of the most basic and fundamental parts of our culture- manners. Sometimes it’s hard to know what the polite and proper thing to do it anymore. But national etiquette expert, Cynthia Grosso, says, “Your manners and etiquette are not just actions… they are an attitude that is closely related to your self-confidence, your position in business and personal life, as well as your ability to build successful relationships, teams, and organizations.” Cynthia Grosso shares with us a time when things were 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:11:37 - Why the South has a Health Problem 00:53:36 - How to be a better Grandparent 01:104:37 - Importance of Etiquette

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