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:

Hacking Your Motivation, Healthy Without Dieting, More Creative Aug 23, 2017

Show notes

Hack Your Motivation (18:38) Bob Hoffman, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Central Florida is a Psychology Today blogger. He is the author of over 50 publications and four books and an internationally known speaker for his work on the application of motivational science to solve personal and professional challenges. Sometimes we just don’t want to do something, but we do it anyway. Whether your motivation is your family, money, or maybe even anger, motivation is the drive that keeps us going. Bob Hoffman is the author of Hack Your Motivation and shares ideas on how to maximize their untapped potential. Healthy Without Dieting (1:07:29) Emily Fonnesbeck is a Registered Dietitian who owns her own private practice in southern Utah. Her nutrition passion lies in helping individuals gain confidence with food without relying on food rules or diets. Eating “healthy” can mean many different things depending on who you ask. To some, it means resisting the leftover chocolate cake, and to others, it means eating your veggies. Often, people turn to dieting, and then give up when their diet doesn’t work out. About 45 million Americans go on a diet each year, and yet chronic diseases related to poor quality of diet have increased. About half of all American adults have one or more of these diseases, which include obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Maybe dieting isn’t the only solution if there are so many Americans battling with these diseases. Emily Fonnesbeck teaches us about how to eat healthy without going on a diet. More Creative, Less Productive (1:56:03) Art Markman, Ph.D., is the director of the Human Dimensions of Organizations at the University of Texas and is a member of the editorial board of Cognitive Psychology. He joins us today to There are so many responsibilities at work. Do you ever feel that your superiors constantly want fresher ideas, better products, or new advancements but you just don’t have the time to think of something new?

Better Sleep, Neglected Friends, Back-to-School Meals Aug 22, 2017

Show notes

How to Sleep (17:25) Dr. James Hamblin is a writer and senior editor at The Atlantic. He hosts the video series If Our Bodies Could Talk, for which he was a finalist in the Webby awards for Best Web Personality. After medical school at Indiana University, he did three years of residency before joining The Atlantic to develop a health section and write. In a society where we feel like we have a lack of things, one of the top things on most of our list is the coveted nighttime Zzzzzs. Sleep is one of those things that we seemingly can’t get enough of. Here to speak with us today is Dr. James Hamblin, the author of If Our Bodies Could Talk: A Guide to Operating and Maintaining a Human Body. talks about the importance of sleep. Being Too Busy for Friends Won't Help Your Career (1:05:55) Neal Roese, Ph.D., is a globally recognized theorist and expert in the psychology of judgment and decision-making. His research examines basic cognitive processes underlying choice, focusing on how people think about decision options, make predictions about the future, and revise understandings of the past. He is the John L. and Helen Kellogg Professor of Marketing at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and is jointly appointed as Professor of Psychology at Northwestern University. He teaches MBA, Ph.D., and executive education audiences about the psychology of decision making, consumer behavior, and brand strategy. Today, it is harder to maintain friendships than ever before with our busy schedules and demanding careers. Friendship is changing in this modern age of technology, and people now have larger social networks with weaker intimate ties. However, it is still just as important to prioritize stronger friendships, because having these friendships helps you to perform better at work and even to earn more. Neal Roese discusses why being too busy for friends won’t help with your career. Back to School Easy Family Meals (1:53:13) Karen Mangum is a licensed, registered dietitian, seasoned recipe develo

Bannon Out, Jobs and Gender, Solar Eclipse Aug 21, 2017

Show notes

Bannon Out (18:21) 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 discusses Steve Bannon leaving The White House and the fall out from Charlottesville. How a job acquires a gender (1:08:45) Laura Doering is an Assistant Professor of Strategy and Organization, McGill University. Professor Doering researches the impact of sociological forces on economic development in emerging markets. Her work examines how factors like personal relationships, status characteristics, household constraints, and spatial location shape economic outcomes for entrepreneurs and organizations. Ph.D. in Sociology and Business Administration, University of Chicago. Why is it that some jobs are seen as best suited for women and other jobs are for men? Women are assigned receptionist, nursing, and childcare while men get construction, mechanic, and managerial jobs. Laura Doering explains how Gender bias in the workplace can disadvantage women and men. Solar Eclipse (1:55:22) Darin Ragozzine is an Assistant Professor at Brigham Young University where he specializes in Planetary Science, Astrophysics, Exoplanets, and Astrostatistics. He has been the Science Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on multiple NASA grants and the Principal Investigator of multiple Hubble Space Telescope proposals/grants. A solar eclipse will be viewable in the United States on August 21st. This is the first total solar eclipse in the United States since June 8, 1918, and it will be the last one until the year 2024. Darin Ragozzine shares the significance of this event.

Health Insurance, Investigating Politicians, Peak Performance Aug 19, 2017

Show notes

How did health insurance get so complicated (18:48) J.B. Silvers, PhD, is the John R. Mannix Medical Mutual of Ohio Professor of Health Care Finance and professor of banking and finance at Weatherhead School of Management with a joint appointment in the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Health insurance and how you feel it should be administered has quickly been added to the list of “no, nos” that you should not talk about at work. Why does something so simple seem so complicated? J.B. Silvers explains why health insurance is so complicated. The US is terrible at investigating politicians (1:05:31) Mark Tushnet is a professor at Harvard Law. His research includes studies examining (skeptically) the practice of judicial review in the United States and around the world.The investigation into the Trump Campaign and the Russian allegations have followed President Donald Trump his whole Presidency. He fired the FBI Director… criticized the Special prosecutor and calls the media fake news. Why does it seem so hard for the U.S government to investigate our top politicians? Here is a hint: It’s in the Constitution. Mark Tushnet explains how we investigate politicians and how it can be better. Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game (1:54:23) Brad Stulberg researches, writes, speaks, and coaches on health and the science of human performance. He is co-author of the new book, Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, And Thrive with the New Science of Success. His past experience includes working for the international consulting firm McKinsey and Company and at the White House with the National Economic Council. Tom Hanks, Michael Phelps, Ellen DeGeneres, and Beyoncé all probably feel an intense pressure to go above and beyond while performing in their areas of expertise. Although we don’t have thousands of fans and paparazzi following every move we make, we also may feel the pressure to perform well, whether it be at school, work, or the gym. Have you ever felt the pressure to perform? 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:18:48 - How did health insurance get so complicated 01:65:31 - The US is terrible at investigating politicians 01:114:23 - Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game

Chinese Thought Process, Kids with Anxiety, Screen Cleaning Aug 18, 2017

Show notes

Bryan W. Van Norden - The US doesn’t understand Chinese thought (19:25) Bryan William Van Norden, Ph.D., currently teaches in the Humanities at Yale – National University of Singapore and is the author of the forthcoming book, Taking Back Philosophy: A Multicultural Manifesto. He received his Ph.D. from Stanford University. With the ongoing conflict with North Korea, tensions rising in the South China Sea along with China's growing influence on the world economy, the United States would stand to benefit from a better understanding of how the Chinese people think and how they look at the world. Very few universities in the United States teach traditional Chinese philosophies and that could lead to future problems if there is a lack of historical expertise when it comes to negotiating with the Chinese government. Bryan William Van Norden discusses the importance of understanding Chinese thought. Help for Parents of Children with Anxiety or Depression (1:05:39) Heather Nelson has been a counselor for more than 14 years. She has a unique ability to build relationships with people of all ages. She has specialized in treating children with abuse issues, teen issues, and adult depression and anxiety. She has been an Adjunct Professor at Boise State University and has been a supervisor to other clinicians. Heather has recently moved her practice to Utah. Being a parent can be very difficult in more ways than one. Watching your children go through hard times can be very painful, especially if he or she is dealing with a disorder like anxiety or depression. Depression is the most common mental health disorder among adults after anxiety disorders, and it is becoming more and more common. So how do you effectively parent a child dealing with one or both of these disorders? How do know whether this is just a phase or professional help is needed? Heather Nelson talks about Anxiety or Depression in Children. Screen Cleaning (1:33:54) Jeff Simpson talks about movies and TV helping you find family friendly options. Today R

Left Handed History, Dream App, Leadership in Business Aug 17, 2017

Show notes

Left Handed History (18:13) Howard I. Kushner is the Nat C. Robertson Distinguished Professor of Science & Society Emeritus at Emory University and John D. Adams Professor of History Emeritus at San Diego State University. A visiting scholar in the Laboratory of Comparative Human Cognition at the University of California–San Diego. Did you know that Aristotle, Napoleon, Queen Victoria, and Helen Keller were all left handed? Or that 5 out of the last 10 presidents were left handed? For most of history, left-handedness has been stigmatized. In the book, On the Other Hand, Howard I. Kushner studies the impact of being left handed and how it affects human behavior, culture, and health. Dream App (1:06:57) James Gaskin, Ph. D. is a professor of information systems in the Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University in Utah. Dr. Gaskin’s research focuses on human computer interaction, digital innovation, and mixed reality. He is a well-published scientist with 80+ publications in the top journals and conferences in his field. He has a large online presence with a view count of over 10 million from his YouTube channel and Wiki focused on advanced statistical techniques. Dr. Gaskin is also a mobile app developer and entrepreneur. James Gaskin shares his latest venture, uDreamed, is a dream analytics and social networking app used by people all over the world. Business and Leadership (1:51:19) 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. Jeanette discusses how business, leadership, and life intersect.

Investigating Politicians, Peak Performance, Interfaith Marriage Aug 16, 2017

Show notes

The US is terrible at investigating politicians (17:50) Mark Tushnet is a professor at Harvard Law. His research includes studies examining (skeptically) the practice of judicial review in the United States and around the world.The investigation into the Trump Campaign and the Russian allegations have followed President Donald Trump his whole Presidency. He fired the FBI Director… criticized the Special prosecutor and calls the media fake news. Why does it seem so hard for the U.S government to investigate our top politicians? Here is a hint: It’s in the Constitution. Mark Tushnet explains how we investigate politicians and how it can be better. Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game (1:06:42) Brad Stulberg researches, writes, speaks, and coaches on health and the science of human performance. He is co-author of the new book, Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, And Thrive with the New Science of Success. His past experience includes working for the international consulting firm McKinsey and Company and at the White House with the National Economic Council. Tom Hanks, Michael Phelps, Ellen DeGeneres, and Beyoncé all probably feel an intense pressure to go above and beyond while performing in their areas of expertise. Although we don’t have thousands of fans and paparazzi following every move we make, we also may feel the pressure to perform well, whether it be at school, work, or the gym. Have you ever felt the pressure to perform? In order to reach peak performance, many top performers add something vital to their routines that most people wouldn’t expect—rest. For example, Bernard Lagat, one of the best American runners, always takes a 5-week training break at the end of the year. Brad Stulberg talks with us about how to reach your own peak performance. Faith in Your Interfaith Marriage (1:52:10) Brian Willoughby, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University. Dr. Willoughby is also the Director of the RELATE Institute, a non-profit organization

Health Insurance, Grammar Rules, Diet Depression Aug 15, 2017

Show notes

Complicated Health Insurance (18:49) J.B. Silvers, PhD, is the John R. Mannix Medical Mutual of Ohio Professor of Health Care Finance and professor of banking and finance at Weatherhead School of Management with a joint appointment in the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Health insurance and how you feel it should be administered has quickly been added to the list of “no, nos” that you should not talk about at work. Why does something so simple seem so complicated? J.B. Silvers explains why health insurance is so complicated. The Sense of Style: A New Approach to Grammar Rules (1:05:49) Steven Pinker, Ph. D, is a Johnstone Family Professor in the Department of Psychology at Harvard University. He conducts research on language and cognition, writes for publications such as the New York Times, Time and The Atlantic, and is the author of ten books, including "The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person's Guide to Writing in the 21st Century." Steve Pinker discusses how language evolves and how to improve your writing style. Diet Depression (1:52:16) 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 your diet can lead to depression.

Charlottesville Violence, Spam, Teaching Kids Boundaries Aug 14, 2017

Show notes

Charlottesville Violence (17:34) 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 discusses the violence in Charlottesville, VA and the current news out of North Korea. History of Spam (1:06:37) Ayalla Ruvio is a professor at the Broad College of Business at Michigan State University. She is a consumer behavior researcher, and her research focuses on how people express who they are through possessions and experiences. Her research has been featured in many media outlets all around the world, including CNN, Today Show, Good Morning America, TIME magazine, The New York Times, and Forbes. When you think of Spam you probably envision the dark blue can with rounded edges and bright yellow lettering, and the picture of a Spam sandwich. Most people can picture in their minds what Spam looks like, even if they’ve never tried it. Since Spam first went on supermarket shelves in 1937, over 8 Billion cans of Spam have been sold in 44 countries around the world. How did Spam become so successful? Spam is both one of the greatest business success stories and also a cultural phenomenon. Ayalla Ruvio shares her research on Spam’s successful journey. Teaching Kids and Adults to Have Boundaries (1:51:11) Nicole Cunningham is a Master Executive Coach with 15 years of coaching and consulting experience. Nicole has dedicated her career to assisting companies, individuals and families in Australia, Malaysia, UK, Singapore and America to understand, change and improve human behavior and relationships. Nicole is a people whisperer, she has an incomparable understanding of all aspects of human nature and she is the creator behind the 12 Psychological Inclinations. She is also the COO at Clarity Point Coaching. Nicole Cunningham talks about Teaching kids and adults to have boundaries.

Cable TV, Marriage Is Hard, America’s Prisons Problems Aug 12, 2017

Show notes

Future of Cable TV (16:40) Amanda Lotz is a professor of media studies at the University of Michigan. She is the author of the soon to be released We Now Disrupt this Broadcast: How Cable Transformed Television and the Internet Revolutionized It All. Her research focuses on U.S. television, specifically the industrial shifts since the end of the network era and on representations of gender on television and in the media. Early this Spring, ESPN announced that they were laying off more people. Over the past two years, ESPN has lost around 7 million subscribers. Cable subscriptions, in general, have been on a decline since companies such as Sling, Netflix, and Hulu has taken over the entertainment industry. But does the downfall of ESPN show a stronger trend in the decline of cable television? Amanda Lotz explains where she thinks the TV industry is headed in the future. Marriage Is Harder in 2017 (and What You Can Do About It) (1:05:54) Jordan Johnson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). For the past 8 years, Jordan has been helping individuals, couples, and families overcome issues that get in the way of living a productive and fulfilled life. It's no secret that marriage looks a lot different today than it has in years past. Change is inevitable, and as time progresses each new generation of married couples has a fresh set of distinct challenges and problems to navigate. With the increasing societal acceptance of cohabitation, out of wedlock births and single parenting, the institution of marriage has become less important in society’s eyes. Jordan Johnson on how to deal with the difficulties of marriage in 2017. Behind the walls of America’s prisons (1:52:22) Heather Ann Thompson, Ph.D., is a native Detroiter and historian on the faculty of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in the departments of Afro-American and African Studies, History, and the Residential College. She is the author of the book, Bloo 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:16:40 - Future of Cable TV 01:65:54 - Marriage Is Harder in 2017 (and What You Can Do About It) 01:112:22 - Behind the walls of America's prisons

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