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:

Myth of Excessive Work, Your Kid's Friends, Screen Cleaning Mar 09, 2018

Show notes

Myth of Excessive Work (20:53) Peter Fleming is a professor of business and society at Cass Business School, City University London. He is a columnist for the Guardian and the author of The Mythology of Work. Work is how many define themselves and gives them purpose and direction in their lives. But like anything, there are limits. All work and no play can lead to serious health consequence. Research shows that more than 12 hours of inactivity per day (like sitting at a desk) can have similar effects as smoking. Peter Fleming explains how the myth of excessive work is spread and what is a more realistic expectation of work. What to Do When You Hate Your Kid's Friends (1:09:22) Sean Grover is a psychotherapist, author, and speaker with 25 years’ experience helping parents fend off nervous breakdowns (including his own). Sean’s most recent parenting book is WHEN KIDS CALL THE SHOTS: How to Seize Control from Your Darling Bully--and Enjoy Parenting Again. It is no secret that who your kid befriends matters a lot. Numerous studies have demonstrated that kids who associate with teenagers who adopt risky behaviors are much more likely to engage in those behaviors themselves. Furthermore, these friend choices can teach you a lot about your own kid. Sean Grover teaches us what to do when we disapprove of our kid’s friends. Jeff Simpson - Screen Cleaning (1:39:13) Jeff Simpson talks about movies and TV helping you find family-friendly options. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:20:53 - Myth of Excessive Work 01:69:22 - What to Do When You Hate Your Kid's Friends 01:99:13 - Jeff Simpson - Screen Cleaning

Why aren’t you a lefty?,Moving in With the Parents, Great Relationships Mar 08, 2018

Show notes

Why aren’t you a lefty? (18:24) Thomas Merritt, Ph.D. is a professor and Canada Research Chair at Laurentian University. His research involves using genomics and bioinformatics to investigate the connection between genotypes and phenotypes, which will hopefully lead to a better understanding of the molecular complexity and protein function. What do we know about the genetics of being right- or left-handed, or even ambidextrous? Thomas Merritt found that roughly 90% of people are right-handed, but why? Here to answer the question you may be asking yourself of ‘why am I not a lefty? Under One Roof Again (1:01:46) Susan Newman Ph.D., is a Social psychologist, parenting expert and best-selling author of 15 books in the relationship and parenting fields. Her research and books examine such areas as building strong family bonds, raising only children, grandparenting and interactions between adult children and their parents and in-laws, as well as the difficulties of raising a family and working, among others. An economic crisis, social anxiety, and many other causes are contributing to kids and parents living together again as adults. According to Pew Research Study, one-third of 18 to 34-year-olds live with their parent’s. Shame and discomfort are often associated with it when it doesn’t have to be. Susan Newman discusses her book Under One Roof Again: All Grown up and Relearning to live together Happily. Building A Great Relationship with Yourself (1:55:31) Van Moody serves as a pastor of the Worship Center in Birmingham, Alabama and is on the board of Joel Osteen’s Champions Network, is a member of Dr. Oz’s Core Team, and is an associate trainer in Japan for Dr. John Maxwell’s EQUIP leadership organization. Van is the author of a few books including, “The People Factor” and his newest book, “The I Factor: How Building a Great Relationship with Yourself Is the Key to a Happy, Successful Life.” It’s so easy when bad things happen in life to blame your circumstances. Maybe you grew up in a broken home or lost a j 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:18:24 - Why aren't you a lefty? 01:61:46 - Under One Roof Again 01:115:31 - Building A Great Relationship with Yourself

Promoting Equity, Nurturing Boys, Positive Work Energy Mar 07, 2018

Show notes

Promoting Equity for Children, Families, and Communities (18:36) Laura Bronstein, Ph.D., is dean of the College of Community and Public Affairs, professor of social work, and executive director of the Institute for Multigenerational Studies at Binghamton University, State University of New York. The most important lessons for children to learn is best taught in the home, from family members who love and care for them. Schools should be a child’s second resource for learning. But what if parents are not able to provide their children with the educational, health, physical resources for schools to supplement? Dr. Bronstein shares her book, School-Linked Services: Promoting Equity for Children, Families, and Communities and how to make a difference in the lives of all kids and families. Ways to Nurture Boys (1:06:14) Jennifer L.W. Fink is a professional writer, Registered Nurse, mother, and educator. Jennifer began writing in 1998, shortly after the birth of her first son. Jennifer is the creator of BuildingBoys.net, a resource for parents, educators and others who care about building healthy boys. Have you ever sat in a room with little boys and girls? It is very easy to see differences between them. Boys can be wild and crazy in need of supervision. According to a study, boys are 30% more likely to flunk or drop out of school compared to girls. Jennifer Fink, a nurse, writer, and educator, stresses the importance of how we nurture our boys now to become the men of the future. Positive Energy for a Better Workday (1:56:37) Kim Cameron, Ph.D., is William Russell Kelly Professor of Management and Organizations at the University of Michigan. His current research focuses on virtuousness in and of organizations--such as forgiveness, gratitude, kindness, and compassion--and their relationship to performance. Every day, we interact with many different people. Some lift you up and make you smile. Others seem to drain you of energy and are real downers. Well, it turns out, the interactions you have at work can eit 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:18:36 - Promoting Equity for Children, Families, and Communities 01:66:14 - Ways to Nurture Boys 01:116:37 - Positive Energy for a Better Workday

Working Parents, World Changing Innovators, Positive Social Media Mar 06, 2018

Show notes

Working Parents in Control (19:21) Daisy Dowling is the Founder and CEO of Workparent, a company that provides advice and solutions to working parents and to the organizations that employ them. Daisy provides high-impact training to employees at all levels on how to effectively address the challenges of working parenthood. In today’s economy and political climate, more parents are either finding that they both need or want to be a part of the workforce. But, how do you feel in control when you are balancing work and a family life? Daisy Dowling provides advice and possible solutions for working parents. Quirky: Innovators Who Changed the World (1:03:56) Melissa A. Schilling is the Herzog Family Professor of Management at New York University Stern School of Business. Professor Schilling’s research focuses on innovation and strategy in high technology industries such as smartphones, video games, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, electric vehicles, and renewable energies. If you take a stroll down History Lane you will see many famous names etched in the fine woodwork of human achievements like Einstein, Tesla, and Jobs. If you look at our greatest inventors and innovators, you can find a common thread. In simple language, we would call them strange or even weird in some regard. In her new book, Quirky: The Remarkable Story of the Traits, Foibles, and Genius of Breakthrough Innovators Who Changed the World, Melissa Schilling argues that their weirdness made them who they are. Positive Approach to Social Media (1:54:05) Nancy Smith has over 12 years of experience teaching about social media use. She is the author of Social Citizens: A Positive Approach to Social Media and Parenting in a Digital World. The Social Citizens movement gives parents information on how to raise healthy and responsible kids in the ever-changing digital age. Kids these days are spending hours a week on the computer, tablets, and smartphones, and that can be a scary thing for some parents. Well, it doesn’t have to be. Nancy Smith talks a 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:19:21 - Working Parents in Control 01:63:56 - Quirky: Innovators Who Changed the World 01:114:05 - Positive Approach to Social Media

Theologies of Relationality, Overcoming Anxiety, What Others Think Mar 05, 2018

Show notes

Commonwealth and Covenant: Economics, Politics, and Theologies of Relationality (20:57) Marcia Pally is a Professor at New York University in Multilingual Multicultural Studies and at Fordham University and is a regular guest professor at Humboldt University’s Theology Faculty. Her research interests are culture, religion, and politics as well as culture and language. Author of Commonwealth and Covenant: Economics, Politics, and Theologies of Relationality. Professor Pally explains how being less selfish would improve politics and public policy. Overcome Anxiety (1:12:48) Reid Wilson, Ph.D., is an international expert in the treatment of anxiety disorders, with books published in 9 languages. He is the director of the anxiety disorders treatment center in Chapel Hill, NC. He is currently serving as the expert for WebMD’s Panic and Anxiety Community. Dr. Reid Wilson, one of the foremost experts on anxiety and is the author of the book Stopping the Noise in Your Head. He talks about the struggles some have with anxiety and helps guide us to overcome our fears. Caring too much about what Others Think (1:59:29) Kim Giles, President, and founder of Clarity Point Life Coaching. Named one of the top 20 advice gurus in the country by Good Morning America in 2010. Writes a regular column on KSL.com every Monday in the Happy Living Section. Kim Giles is the author of the Book Choosing Clarity: A Path to Fearlessness. Kim and Executive Life Coach Nicole Cunningham discuss 12 types of people in the world and the science of Psychological Inclinations. Today Kim and Dr. Matt talk about how not to care so much about what other people think. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:20:57 - Commonwealth and Covenant: Economics, Politics, and Theologies of Relationality 01:72:48 - Overcome Anxiety 01:119:29 - Caring too much about what Others Think

Autonomous Vehicles, Bonding With Kids, Flawed Medical System Mar 03, 2018

Show notes

Future Autonomous Vehicles (19:38) Eric Williams is a professor at the Golisano Institute of Sustainability at Rochester Institute of Technology. He works on models of energy systems to inform policy, e.g. renewable subsidies and efficiency targets. Are you behind on your favorite TV show, work or even sleep? The answer to all your problems might be to have more hours in a day or a car that can drive itself. Eric Williams discusses his research into how autonomous vehicles could change our lives in the future. Overlooked Factor that Helps You Bond With Your Kids (1:05:37) Erin Leyba, LCSW, Ph.D. is a social work professor and an individual and couples counselor in Oak Brook, Illinois. She is the author of the new book Joy Fixes for Weary Parents: 101 Ideas for Overcoming Fatigue, Stress, and Guilt - and Building a Life You Love, and speaks on topics related to mindful and joyful parenting. To master a certain skill, it is estimated that it takes more than 10,000 hours of practice and training. That means we should all be masters of family life right? Wrong. As we grow and develop we find constant roadblocks. Forging bonds on love and communication can be difficult, especially if you have young children. Dr. Erin Leyba shares some forgotten factors that can help you bond with your family and children. Flaw in our Medical System (1:51:59) Morten Wendelbo is a Research Fellow at the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs and a faculty member of Texas A & M University. His research focuses on disaster preparedness and response, domestic and international both, and in that capacity, he has advised several governments. The United States’s I-V saline comes mainly from Puerto Rico, but after the hurricane, our supplies are running short. This is just one thing contributing to one of the worst flu seasons on record. Morten Wendolbo explains the problem and suggests some solutions. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:19:38 - Future Autonomous Vehicles 01:65:37 - Overlooked Factor that Helps You Bond With Your Kids 01:111:59 - Flaw in our Medical System

Media & Mass Shooters, What People Think, Screen Cleaning Mar 02, 2018

Show notes

How the Media Covers Mass Shooters (21:02) Russell Frank, Ph.D., worked for newspapers in California and Pennsylvania as a reporter and editor for 12 years before joining the College of Communications faculty at Pennsylvania State University in 1998. He teaches news writing, feature writing, column writing, news media ethics and the literature of journalism. There’s no question that we humans are deeply curious about those who commit crimes. Our movies, television shows, video games and media coverage all reflect it, but can stoking this fascination cause harm? Should the media think twice about how they portray mass shooters? Professor Russell Frank explains. Not Caring what Other People think is your Superpower (1:11:16) Edward Latimore, professional boxer, author, motivational speaker, member of the national guard and pursuing a physics degree. In this day and age of Instagram models and face filters, many live in constant state of checking their followers and showing off. What people think of us is becoming more important than ever right? Edward Latimore, a professional boxer and author of the book “Not Caring what other people think is a superpower,” would argue the opposite by arguing that caring exclusively what people think suffocates our actions and steals our potential away. Edward Latimore explains that by using our dormant superpower of not caring what other people think we can do all that we choose to do. Jeff Simpson - Screen Cleaning (1:38:45) Jeff Simpson talks about movies and TV helping you find family-friendly options.

Test-Optional College, Fear of Failure, Weight Loss Journey Mar 01, 2018

Show notes

Test-Optional College (18:09) Kelly Rosinger, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Education Policy Studies and a research associate in the Center for the Study of Higher Education at Penn State University. Her research focuses on the barriers students face going to and through college. Did you know that some colleges and universities have made the SAT an optional part of the admissions process? The hope was that it would expand access to the nation’s most selective institutions to groups that had historically been shut out. Is this decision working? Kelly Rosinger explains. How to Conquer Fear of Failure (1:01:04) Theo Tsaousides, Ph.D., is a neuropsychologist, assistant professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, and author of Brainblocks: Overcoming the 7 Hidden Barriers to Success. Dr. Theo is a brain-training expert with extensive clinical and research experience. His work focuses on training in creative problem solving and emotional intelligence. The old saying “to err is to be human” is very true. But that doesn’t mean we like it. We spend most of our time to be as perfect as possible because we want so badly to avoid failure. We live in this constant state of fear that can paralyze us if we let it. Dr. Theo Tsaousides in his article “How to conquer fear of failure” give us a roadmap on our path to success and he joins us now. Weight Loss Journey (1:49:50) Jeanette Bennett is founder and editor-in-chief at Bennett Communications, where she primarily focuses on Utah Valley Magazine, BusinessQ Magazine, and Prosper Magazine. Jeanette earned a bachelor's and master's degree in journalism from BYU and has been a regular guest on HuffPostLive. Sometimes people step away from a job because of health issues, family emergencies, or other personal issues. Jeanette Bennett talks about her weight loss journey. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:18:09 - Test-Optional College 01:61:04 - How to Conquer Fear of Failure 01:109:50 - Weight Loss Journey

Medical System Flaw, No Mean Girls, Family Charter Feb 28, 2018

Show notes

Flu Flaw in our Medical System (18:55) Morten Wendelbo is a Research Fellow at the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs and a faculty member of Texas A & M University. His research focuses on disaster preparedness and response, domestic and international both, and in that capacity, he has advised several governments. The United States’s I-V saline comes mainly from Puerto Rico, but after the hurricane, our supplies are running short. This is just one thing contributing to one of the worst flu seasons on record. Morten Wendolbo explains the problem and suggests some solutions. No more Mean Girls (1:07:19) Katie Hurley, LCSW, is a child and adolescent psychotherapist, parenting expert, and writer. She is the founder of “Girls Can!” empowerment groups for girls between ages 5-11. Of every creature and thing that lives on this Earth, one of the most complicated is a woman. Girls have a strange way of competing with one another and that competition starts earlier and earlier with every passing year. While some view this as a way to get ahead in life, child psychotherapist and author of the book No More Mean Girls Katie Hurley urges us to help girls unify, rely and work with each other, Family Charter (1:52:47) Geoffrey Redick is a freelance writer, podcast/radio producer and voice-over artist. He is also is a stay at home dad. A new parent wishes for a “How to raise your child” book to come the same time as the new baby but even Amazon doesn’t carry a such a manual. Teenagers are even more fun because rebellion reaches its high point and time outs don’t work as discipline anymore. Geoffrey Redick produced a family charter that changed his family dynamic and talks about the lessons he has learned from this experiment. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:18:55 - Flu Flaw in our Medical System 01:67:19 - No more Mean Girls 01:112:47 - Family Charter

Autonomous Cars, Bonding With Your Kids, Peanut Butter Healthy Feb 27, 2018

Show notes

Future of Autonomous Vehicles (19:39) Eric Williams, Ph.D., is a professor at the Golisano Institute of Sustainability at Rochester Institute of Technology. He works on models of energy systems to inform policy, e.g. renewable subsidies and efficiency targets. Are you behind on your favorite TV show, work or even sleep? The answer to all your problems might be to have more hours in a day or a car that can drive itself. Eric Williams discusses his research into how autonomous vehicles could change our lives in the future. Overlooked Factor that Helps You Bond With Your Kids (1:05:37) Erin Leyba, LCSW, Ph.D. is a social work professor and an individual and couples counselor in Oak Brook, Illinois. She is the author of the new book Joy Fixes for Weary Parents: 101 Ideas for Overcoming Fatigue, Stress, and Guilt - and Building a Life You Love, and speaks on topics related to mindful and joyful parenting. To master a certain skill, it is estimated that it takes more than 10,000 hours of practice and training. That means we should all be masters of family life right? Wrong. As we grow and develop we find constant roadblocks. Forging bonds on love and communication can be difficult, especially if you have young children. Dr. Erin Leyba shares some forgotten factors that can help you bond with your family and children. Is Peanut Butter Healthy? (1:52:28) 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 answers the question: Is peanut butter healthy? 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:19:39 - Future of Autonomous Vehicles 01:65:37 - Overlooked Factor that Helps You Bond With Your Kids 01:112:28 - Is Peanut Butter Healthy?

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