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:

Intuition vs. Evidence, Power Of Dads, Screen Cleaning Oct 20, 2017

Show notes

Valuing Intuition vs. Valuing Evidence (18:21) Kelly Garrett, Ph.D., teaches Communication at Ohio State University. His research interests include the study of online political communication, online news, and the ways citizens and activists use technologies to shape their engagement with political topics. In a world, with conspiracy theories, fake news, attention-grabbing headlines, and filter bubbles it can be hard to tell what’s truth and what’s not. But have you ever seen a news story and thought to yourself, “I’ll bet that’s true,” before you had all the facts? Most people probably have at some point. Where people differ is in how often they do so. Professor Kelly Garrett shares his research on the ways citizens value intuition vs. value evidence. The Power Of Dads: Why Dads Need To Invest In Their Parenting (1:07:31) Melissa Benaroya, LICSW, is a parent coach, speaker, and author in the Seattle area. Melissa provides parents with the tools and support they need to raise healthy children and find more joy in parenting. Fathers have huge impacts on the lives of their children. Gone are the days that limit a Father's influence to only the role of a provider. Fathers are now taking a bigger role in all aspects of childrearing. The latest research points to several areas where dads have an especially profound effect on their daughter's’ health and wellbeing. Melissa Benaroya, is a parent coach, speaker, and author in the Seattle area wrote an article titled The Power Of Dads: Why Dads Need To Invest In Their Parenting. Melissa shares some research about the power dads have in the development of daughters. Makena Bauss - Why Race Is Not a Thing (1:31:12) The more scientists look at the genetics of the human race they find that despite the color of our skin or what region of the planet our ancestors came from, we are all alike, we are all family. Producer Makena Bauss shares the the finding. Screen Cleaning (1:37:35) Jeff Simpson talks about movies and TV helping you find family-friendly options. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:18:21 - Valuing Intuition vs. Valuing Evidence 01:67:31 - The Power Of Dads: Why Dads Need To Invest In Their Parenting 01:91:12 - Makena Bauss - Why Race Is Not a Thing 01:97:35 - Screen Cleaning

Blue Zones, Best Leaders are Servants, Rescue Relationships Oct 19, 2017

Show notes

Blue Zones of Happiness (20:59) Dan Buettner is a National Geographic Fellow and multiple New York Times, bestselling author. His new book is “The Blue Zones of Happiness: Lessons From the World’s Happiest People.”What makes you happy? Watching videos of puppies on Facebook personally, makes me feel happy. Everyone does different things to make them happy, but why are some people so much happier than others? Author Dan Buettner discovered what makes the happiest people around the world so happy and is here today to share with us what he has learned. Servant Leaders (1:06:06) Jude Rake is a proven leader with a 30+ year track record of building businesses to create economic value. His new book is “The Bridge to Growth: How Servant Leaders Achieve Better Results and Why it Matters Now More Than Ever.” Many people see leaders as the commanding, born-to-lead type. Yet, not all leaders are born to lead. Leadership expert Jude Rake believes the best type of leader to be is a “servant” leader. Jude is shares about how leaders can focus on serving others. Liana Tan - What is Halloween? (1:31:13) Millions of people celebrate Halloween every year. Do we know where Halloween came from or how it has changed over the years? Producer Liana Tan explains the history of Halloween. Rescue a Struggling Relationships (1:51:34) There are many things that get in the way of a relationship. Life is hectic and kids take time away from a couple spending time together. These other responsibilities can "suffocate" a relationship and may lead to a break-up. Diane Barth is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She leads private study groups in New York and workshops for therapists around the country. Diane wrote an article that explains how to Rescue a Struggling Relationship. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:20:59 - Blue Zones of Happiness 01:66:06 - Servant Leaders 01:91:13 - Liana Tan - What is Halloween? 01:111:34 - Rescue a Struggling Relationships

Rise of Non Partisan Journalism, School Anxiety, Marriage Fear Oct 18, 2017

Show notes

End of Nonpartisan Journalism (17:44) Mitchell Stephens, a professor of journalism at the Carter Institute at New York University, is the author of A History of News, a New York Times “notable book of the year.” The decline of non-partisan journalism has many people calling out “fake news.” But is it possible that non-partisan journalism is a good thing? Mitchell Stephens explains how the media may be returning to its roots of partisanship and it may be a good thing for our country. Parenting tips for managing back to school anxiety (1:06:30) Michelle Bermani, Ed.D., Director at Brookville Center for Children’s Services on Long Island. Anxious feelings are normal and expected during times of transition or change. This is especially true for children going back to school. This change in routine can be stressful and disruptive for the entire family. Michelle Bermani gives advice about how we can soften the blow of change and school is and how to help the anxious child adjust. Makena Bauss - Smart Worker Damage (1:30:53) If an employee is overqualified for their role, they can cause more trouble for a company than they are worth. Bored or disinterested employees can affect the bottom line and effectiveness of a workgroup. Producer Makena Bauss shares some statistics of how "smart workers" can be harmful in the workplace. Scared of Marriage (1:53:52) 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 the fear of marriage and commitment. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:17:44 - End of Nonpartisan Journalism 01:66:30 - Parenting tips for managing back to school anxiety 01:90:53 - Makena Bauss - Smart Worker Damage 01:113:52 - Scared of Marriage

Great CEOs Are Lazy, Teamworking Housework, Spooky Parents Oct 17, 2017

Show notes

Great CEOs Are Lazy (19:11) Jim Schleckser, the CEO of Inc. CEO Project and the Author of “Great CEO’s Are Lazy.” Key Indicators are figures that show if your company is growing or failing. But, they can also help us in our personal life whether you are learning the piano or trying to lose weight. Jim Schleckser speaks with us about key performance indicators and how to make better decisions by thinking through the problem before you act. Teaming Up on Housework (1:09:23) Renata Forste was recently appointed as the director of the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies at Brigham Young University, and as an associate international vice president. Her research focuses on the well-being of women and children in Latin America, Africa, and the U.S. How do you divide up the chores at your house? Household chores have traditionally been a woman’s responsibility, even though today more women are in the workforce than ever. A study conducted recently shows that women spend about 14 hours per week doing housework, compared with men who only spend about 9 hours per week. Renata Forste shares about why household chores should be equally divided in a relationship. Liana Tan - Corn Maze Survival (1:32:07) Last week producer Liana Tan shares with us her apprehension to go to a "haunted corn maze". This week she reports on her experience and shares exclusive found audio of what it was like in the corn maze. Spooky Parents (1:55:59) Julie Nelson (the "Child Whisperer") has a master's degree in Marriage, Family, and Human Development. She teaches classes such as Applied Parenting and Marriage and Relationship Skills at Utah Valley University. She is the author of a couple of parenting books including "Keep is Real and Grab a Plunger". You can read more from Julie at her blog "A Spoonful of Parenting." Julie shares funny Halloween parenting stories. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:19:11 - Great CEOs Are Lazy 01:69:23 - Teaming Up on Housework 01:92:07 - Liana Tan - Corn Maze Survival 01:115:59 - Spooky Parents

Health Care, Explain Terrorism to Kids, Balance Digital Habits Oct 16, 2017

Show notes

Iran and HealthCare (21:32) 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 President Trumps moves against the Iran Nuclear deal and ObamaCare. How to Talk to Your Kids About Terrorism (1:09:48) Mary L. Pulido, Ph.D., Executive Director of The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, oversees all program activities where she lends her extensive experience in the mental health field. Mary has over three decades of practice addressing the needs of fragile families and abused and neglected children. In light of recent terrorist attacks, we as adults can be deeply affected. What we don’t think about as often is that these events can cause anxiety and fear for children as well, particularly younger ones. Parents may worry about how to have a conversation with their child about these devastating events and Dr. Mary Pulido shares some suggestions for us today on how we can broach this sensitive topic with our kids. Makena Bauss - Computer Brains (1:35:45) Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk wants to apply computer elements to the human brain to enhance performance and perhaps expand capabilities. Can this really happen and is this a path we, as a people, want to go down? Producer Makena Bauss with the info. Digital Habits for a More Balanced Life (1:58:05) Arlene Pellicane is a speaker, author, media personality, and blogger. She has written six books including “Growing Up Social,” “31 Days to a Younger You,” and her latest, “Calm, Cool, and Connected: 5 Digital Habits for a More Balanced Life.” How many of you reached over and grabbed your phone the minute you woke up? It’s become second nature to us to have our phones in our hands or be wired in every second. But how is our obsession with technology affecting our families, health, and careers? Arlene Pellicane, the author of the new the ook, “Calm, Cool, and Connected,” says, “No matter what the 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:21:32 - Iran and HealthCare 01:69:58 - How to Talk to Your Kids About Terrorism 01:95:45 - Makena Bauss - Computer Brains 01:118:05 - Digital Habits for a More Balanced Life

Eating Habits, Take a Photo Let it Go, Blue State to Red State Oct 14, 2017

Show notes

Eating Habits and the Brain (21:43) Terry L. Davidson, Ph.D., is the founding Director of the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience and Professor in the Department of Psychology at American University in Washington, DC. Davidson and his students aim to increase understanding of how learning and memory processes contribute to the control of food intake and body weight and; how dietary and other environmental factors that promote obesity might impair the function of brain areas that underlie those cognitive processes. Take a Photo and Let it Go (1:07:33) Karen Page Winterich, Ph.D., is a Frank and Mary Smeal Research Fellow and Associate Professor of Marketing at the Pennsylvania State University. Winterich conducts research in the area of consumer behavior, with specific interests in the effects of consumer identities and emotions on consumer judgments and decision-making. Her research focuses on examining the effect of cultural and moral identities on charitable giving and brand evaluations as well as the impact of emotions on consumer decisions and consumption. Sometimes it can be difficult for us to let go of our material possessions especially if there is sentimental value attached to it. Nobody wants a house full of cluttered items we haven’t used in years but at the same time, we don’t want to get rid of them. Karen Winterich and a team of consumer psychologists examined why it’s so hard to leave things behind us an how we can move forward and better cherish those memories. Blue State to Red State (1:54:21) Leah Singer is a freelance writer based in Terre Haute, Indiana. A Midwest transplant from Southern California, she writes stories about life in Indiana to help people understand individuals living in Middle America and outside of the coastal bubbles. Most of the time, you choose to live around people who have the same ideals as you. But what happens when your job situation takes you somewhere else? That is what happened to a freelance writer and her family, she went from Blue California to the middle 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:21:42 - Eating Habits and the Brain 01:67:33 - Take a Photo and Let it Go 01:114:21 - Blue State to Red State

Big Company Hacks, Mood Elevator, Screen Cleaning Oct 13, 2017

Show notes

Why don’t big companies keep their computer systems up-to-date? (20:43) Douglas C. Schmidt, Ph.D., is an Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor, the Associate Chair of Computer Science and Engineering, and a Senior Researcher at the Institute for Software Integrated Systems, at Vanderbilt University. The Equifax hack exposed 143 million people’s personal data to unknown cybercriminals starting in March and wasn’t made public until mid-September. Doug Schmidt believes that this attack was entirely avoidable because Equifax, like many other big companies, was using out-of-date software that made them even more vulnerable. The Mood Elevator: Take Charge of Your Feelings, Become a Better You (1:07:58) Larry Senn, PhD, is an author, speaker, CEO coach, and fitness enthusiast. His new book is The Mood Elevator: Take Charge of Your Feelings, Become a Better You. He is the founder and chair of Senn Delaney, a successful organizational culture-shaping firm. Dr. Senn has been referred to in business journals as “the father of corporate culture.” His early experience included running a traditional consulting firm. As humans, we experience many different emotions on a daily basis. Larry Senn has researched these emotional up’s and down’s and says that they are all part of a “mood elevator.” Larry Sen talks about how to control the “mood elevator” so that we can more easily deal with life’s challenges. Makena Bauss - Athleisure in the Office (1:33:03) Are tracksuits and exercise clothes the future of professional dress for the office? Producer Makena Bauss introduces us to the latest fashing trend in office attire. Screen Cleaning (1:37:13) Jeff Simpson talks about movies and TV helping you find family-friendly options. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:20:43 - Why don't big companies keep their computer systems up-to-date? 01:67:58 - The Mood Elevator: Take Charge of Your Feelings, Become a Better You 01:93:03 - Makena Bauss - Athleisure in the Office 01:97:13 - Screen Cleaning

Thoughts and Prayers, Louder Than Words, Event Planning Oct 12, 2017

Show notes

Thoughts and Prayers (18:40) Kevin Ladd(https://www.iusb.edu/psych/people/kladd.php\\) is currently a Professor of Psychology at Indiana University South Bend and his research interests include the interface of science, religion, prayer, and wisdom. Kevin Ladd is the co-author, along with Bernard Spilka, of the book The Psychology of Prayer: A Scientific Approach. After the deadliest gun attack in modern U.S. history left 59 dead and hundreds injured in Las Vegas many took to Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to express—with some variation—that their “thoughts and prayers” are with the victims. Kevin Ladd shares what the science says about “thoughts and prayers.” Louder Than Words (1:02:43) Todd Henry teaches leaders and organizations how to establish practices that lead to everyday brilliance. He is the author of three books, and he speaks and consults across dozens of industries on creativity, leadership, and passion for work. Henry shares his latest book, "Louder Than Words," is about how to develop an authentic voice that resonates and creates impact. Liana Tan - Haunted Houses (1:31:46) Around this time of year, people visit haunted attractions like houses and corn mazes. Producer Liana Tan does not understand why people want to be scared. She shares her thoughts and some interviews with friends on why people like to be scared. Event Planning (1:59:22) 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. Have you ever seen someone and you can just tell that they’re happy? What is it that makes those happy people so happy? Whether you are organizing a business event or a kids birthday party, Jeanette Bennett has some ideas on how to plan the perfect event.

Moving to a Red State, Social Awkwardness, Purposeful Exercise Oct 11, 2017

Show notes

Blue State to Red State (20:00) Leah Singer is a freelance writer based in Terre Haute, Indiana. A Midwest transplant from Southern California, she writes stories about life in Indiana to help people understand individuals living in Middle America and outside of the coastal bubbles. Most of the time, you choose to live around people who have the same ideals as you. But what happens when your job situation takes you somewhere else? That is what happened to a freelance writer and her family, she went from Blue California to the middle of Red America. Leah Singer shares with us why this experience changed her life for the better. Awkward: The Science of Why We're Socially Awkward and Why That's Awesome (1:06:22) Ty Tashiro is a psychologist and the author. He received his Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Minnesota and has been an award-winning professor at the University of Maryland and University of Colorado. He lives in New York City. As humans, we all need to belong. While modern social life can make even the best of us feel gawky, for some of us navigating its challenges is consistently overwhelming. We may recognize we have awkward dispositions, we rarely understand why that is and that can make it hard for us to know how to adjust. In his new book, AWKWARD: The Science of Why We’re Socially Awkward and Why That’s Awesome, psychologist and interpersonal relationship expert Ty Tashiro helps us better understand this widely shared trait and its origins. He considers how awkward people view our complex world and explains how they can more comfortably navigate it, and these same characteristics that make people socially clumsy can be harnessed to produce remarkable achievements. Makena Bauss - Confidence (1:29:19) For some women, building confidence can be a challenge. A lack of confidence can lead to a woman being less likely to seek promotion, speak up in meetings, and rise into leadership positions. A neuroscientist in the UK has researched the impact her work can play in boosting confidence.

Corker vs. Trump, Words for Influence, Misbehaving Children Oct 10, 2017

Show notes

Corker vs. Trump (19:04) 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 conflict between Sen. Bob Corker (TN) and President Trump Liana Tan - Ridiculous Spending (43:31) We spend our money on many different things in life. Food, clothing, and a place to live are some of the basics. But our producer Liana Tan points out some of the items and experiences that some people spend money that doesn't seem to make much sense. Many of these examples can be seen as "ridiculous spending" The Magic Words for Influence and Impact (1:10:00) Phil Jones speaks on sales training and is a best-selling author. His new book is Exactly What to Say: The Magic Words for Influence and Impact. He entered into the business world at the age of 14 washing cars and has since been involved in many different businesses. It’s hard to know exactly what to say to motivate others to do what you want. If only you could snap your fingers and everyone would do what you want them to do. What if there were some “magic” words you could say to influence people? Phil M. Jones teaches us exactly what to say and the “magic words” to persuade and influence others. The Reason Children Misbehave (2:01:56) Thomas Winterman is a father, husband, therapist, school counselor, author, and blogger who lives in Panama City, Florida. He has worked in the mental health field for a number of years, mostly serving underprivileged children at a non-profit agency as both a social worker and a clinical counselor. It’s a new month and a great time to make new goals. Every minute you are changing into a new person, for the better or for the worse. Thomas Winterman discusses his book, “The Thrive Life,” and help us understand some of the reasons children misbehave and different ways parents can respond.

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