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:

Algorithms to Live By, Life Teaching You, Ready for Marriage Jun 14, 2017

Show notes

Algorithms to Live By (17:40) Brian Christian, a co-author of the book, Algorithms to Live By: The Computer Science of Decisions. Every day we are faced with problems which we need to solve by making decisions. What if all the answers we needed about anything: relationships, job advice, or problems with n-laws were all sitting on your computer? Although this might seem strange, computers do have a lot to teach us about our decision procedures. Brian Christian talks about the computer science of decision making. Bob Taibbi: What Has Life Taught You So Far? (1:03:59) Bob Taibbi is a graduate of Rutgers University and the University of South Carolina and has served as adjunct professor at several universities. He provides training nationally and internationally in the areas of couple therapy, family therapy, brief therapy and clinical supervision. He is currently in private practice in Charlottesville, Virginia. Research shows that older people are happier with themselves and their lives when compared to younger people who may be just starting out in life. The reason is that the older people have experienced the good and bad of life and gained experience and knowledge from those situations. Bob Taibbi helps us learn how to identify those learning lessons. Marriage: Ready or Not (1:51:19) Brian Willoughby, Ph.D. is an Associate 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 dedicated to studying and improving romantic relationships. Dr. Willoughby's research focuses on young adult dating and relationship patterns. Dr. Willoughby's specific expertise areas include dating, sexuality, cohabitation, marriage formation, and marital attitudes/beliefs. Dr. Willoughby talks about how to know if you a ready for marriage.

Retail Meltdown, Hope in Political Turmoil, Emotionally Honest Jun 13, 2017

Show notes

Retail Meltdown of 2017 (17:50) Richard Kestenbaum, an investment banker doing mergers and acquisition for consumer companies. America has more malls per capita than any other country in the world. But malls are quickly on the decline due to companies like Amazon and programs like Amazon Prime. For just under one hundred dollars you can get anything you want to be sent to your home in two days with free shipping. Richard Kestenbaum talks about why malls and retail stores on the decline. Hope and Connection In These Political Times (1:02:55) Sam Osherson, Ph. D. a private therapist and Professor of Psychology at the Fielding Graduate University. After the November election, some people went into hiding and are still trying to come out. Since then the ongoing, often- daily, the flow of news is taking a significant toll on our mental health. Some are left feeling alone, yet we have a unique opportunity and obligation to our democracy to climb out of isolation. Sam Osherson helps us find ways we can make a difference and improve ourselves and community. Teaching Man to Be Emotionally Honest (1:53:01) Andrew Reiner is a writer for the New York Times and is a frequent contributor to the Washington Post magazine. Andrew teaches writing, literature and cultural studies in the Honors College at Towson University. Research shows that baby boys are more emotive than baby girls, but then boys stifle their vulnerability as they grow and society teaches them that showing emotion is not ‘manly.’ Andrew Reiner, suggests that society’s definition of masculinity actually damages men’s relationships and performance later on in life. Andrew Reiner discusses his article, “Teaching Men to be Emotionally Honest.”

End of Work, How to Speak, Outgoing Introvert Jun 12, 2017

Show notes

The End of Work: Rise and Fall of the Job (16:02) Ray Williams is the President of Ray Williams Associates, a firm based in Vancouver, providing executive coaching and professional speaking services. Jobs as we know them are ending. According to research conducted by C.B. Frey and M.A. Osborne in 2013 at Oxford University machines may replace 47% of active workers in the future. Of 1,896 prominent scientists, analysts, and engineers questioned in a recent Pew survey on the future of jobs, 48% of them said the AI revolution will be a permanent job killer on a vast scale. In his article, The End of Work: The Rise and Fall of the Job, Ray Williams discusses the dangers and issues facing the job market. How to Speak so that People Want to Listen (1:05:59) Julian Treasure is a top-rated international speaker. Collectively his five TED talks on various aspects of sound and communication have been viewed an estimated 30 million times. He has been widely featured as a sound and communication expert in the world’s media. Julian Treasure shares tips on how to be a better speaker so people will listen to you. Signs You're an Outgoing Introvert (1:54:01) Jenn Granneman, founder of IntrovertDear.com- the largest community and blog for introverts and highly sensitive people on the web- says, “Introversion and extroversion are not black and white.” She joins us today to discuss a category of people she likes to call “ambiverts.” Jenn Granneman explains what an Outgoing Introvert is and how.

Measure Relationship Health, Fix College Sports, Fight Dads Jun 10, 2017

Show notes

Measure Relationship Health (15:44) Suzanne Degges-White, Ph.D., LPC, LMHC, NCC, is professor and chair of the Counseling, Adult and Higher Education Department at Northern Illinois University. She is a licensed counselor whose focus includes working with individuals and families facing transitions. Suzanne Degges-White discusses a way to measure relationship health. Fix College Sports (1:03:26) Gerald Gurney is an assistant professor of Adult and Higher Education at the University of Oklahoma (OU), where he teaches in the subject areas of athletics in higher education, athletics academic reform and ethics in athletics. Gurney has been featured in popular documentaries on college sports including Schooled, the Price of College Sports and HBO Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. The purpose of collegiate sports is a way to help students with different talents receive an education through scholarships. But is that the real purpose of college sports? Has the NCAA derailed from their original goal? Here to speak with us today is Gerald Gurney, an assistant professor of adult and higher education at the University of Oklahoma and the author of Unwinding Madness: What Went Wrong with College Sports—and How to Fix It. Dads Who Stay and Fight (1:49:06) Greg Trimble writes about business, religion, and life. He founded a tech company, sold the tech company, and is now fully focused on building Yalla (which is an online team management system) and Lemonade Stand (an online marketing agency). He is the author of the book "Dads who stay and fight," a book to help future dads, new dads, and even seasoned dads leave a legacy, be remembered, and be a hero to their families. With Father's Day on June 18th, we thought this would be a perfect time to talk about dads. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:15:44 - Measure Relationship Health 01:63:26 - Fix College Sports 01:109:06 - Dads Who Stay and Fight

Future of Energy, Setting Boundaries, Screen Cleaning Jun 09, 2017

Show notes

Are solar and wind really killing coal, nuclear and grid reliability? (16:09) Joshua D. Rhodes holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Rhodes is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in The Webber Energy Group and the Energy Institute at the University of Texas at Austin. His current research is in the area of smart grid and the bulk electricity system, including spatial system-level applications and impacts of energy efficiency, resource planning, distributed generation, and storage. There has been concern about the environment and a lot of talk about the Paris Agreement lately. Joshua Rhodes talks about the balance of wind and solar power versus coal and nuclear. He also discusses the future of energy in the US. When Guilt Keeps You From Setting Boundaries (1:06:12) Ilene S. Cohen, Ph.D., is a psychotherapist, blogger, and adjunct professor in the Department of Counseling at Barry University. Ilene’s work has appeared in Psych Central, Tiny Buddha, and Psychology Today. She is passionate about helping people achieve their goals, build a strong sense of self, and lead fulfilling and meaningful lives filled with rewarding relationships. Beliefs about what it means to be a good person are very powerful. They can keep us from having and maintaining fulfilling relationships with other people. People whose beliefs are motivated by guilt often fail to set necessary boundaries in their relationships. This guilt comes from believing that prioritizing oneself over others is wrong. Ilene S. Cohen with some ideas no why we feel that guilt and how to get past that feeling to live a better life. Screen Cleaning (1:35:44) Jeff Simpson offers family friendly entertainment options and discusses the intersection of pop culture and everyday life. Jeff talks with Matt Meese from BYU TV's Studio C

Giving Ourselves Cancer, Time Over Money, Summer Fun Jun 08, 2017

Show notes

We Are Giving Ourselves Cancer (18:50) Dr. Rita Redberg is a cardiologist specializing in heart disease in women. Redberg has written, edited and contributed to many books, including "You Can Be a Woman Cardiologist," "Heart Healthy: The Step-by-Step Guide to Preventing and Healing Heart Disease," and "Coronary Disease in Women: Evidence-Based Diagnosis and Treatment." Cancer is currently the second leading cause of death for Americans, second only to heart disease. The number of lives cancer takes is increasing every year, and Dr. Rita Redberg explains how we may be inflicting some of this on ourselves through the use of CT scans. Coaches Corner: Value of Fathers (34:16) Dr. Matt Townsend shares some ideas on how you can express to your father how much you appreciate all he has done Valuing Time Over Money (1:04:47) Ashley Whillans is a doctoral student in social psychology at the University of British Columbia. She was the lead researcher for the recent publication: "Valuing Your Time More Than Money Is Linked To Happiness," which was published in Social Psychological and Personal Science, an online journal. Ashley talks with Dr. Townsend about how valuing time leads to happiness. Lauren Simpson - Hole Trivia (1:28:06) One of our show producers Lauren Simpson has this app called pocket points, have you heard of this? It’s where you leave the app open on your smartphone with your smartphone off, and you get points for not being on your phone while on college campuses. The idea is to keep students off of their phones while at school. These points can be used to claim coupons from local businesses – and Lauren used her points for a free dozen donuts from Krispy Kream. Making Summer Matter (1:53:42) Heather Johnson, M.S., has been an adjunct faculty member at Brigham Young University for nearly 10 years. She is passionate about teaching students the principles behind successful families and the importance of families spending time together. Heather and Dr. Matt talk about low maintenance mothers. Heath

End of International Cooperation, Nature of Anxiety, Persuasion Jun 07, 2017

Show notes

End of International Cooperation (17:00) William Magnuson, a professor of law at Texas A&M University of Law. His primary research interests are in the areas of business associations, mergers and acquisitions, international business transactions and international law. The United Kingdom is backing out of the European Union. President Trump is pulling the US out of the Paris Climate Accord, backing out of international trade deals, and failed to reaffirm support for Article 5 of the NATO charter. Are we seeing the end of international cooperation? William Magnuson talks about the trends we are seeing and what they mean going forward. Anxiety Is A Part of Human Nature (1:03:38) Peg O’Connor, Ph.D., a Professor of Philosophy at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota. It is natural to experience anxiety but we give it too much power when it keeps us from acting on our principles, commitments, and dreams. Danish philosopher Søren (Sow-ran) Kierkegaard said that “Whoever learns to be anxious in the right way has learned the ultimate.” Kierkegaard argued that anxiety was just a part of human nature and that everyone experiences it to some degree. He went on to address how we can use anxiety to our advantage and regain our freedom. Doctor Peg O’Connor discusses just how natural is anxiety. Lessons in Persuasion (1:54:44) Laura Vanderkam is the author of several time management and productivity books, including I Know How She Does It, What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, and 168 Hours. Her work has appeared in publications including Fast Company, Fortune, and USA Today. Laura Vanderkam talks with Dr.Townsend about her article "Lessons In Persuasion From People Who Get Kids To Eat Veggies"

Fix College Sports, Dads Who Fight, Drink Water Jun 06, 2017

Show notes

Fix College Sports (16:54) Gerald Gurney is an assistant professor of Adult and Higher Education at the University of Oklahoma (OU), where he teaches in the subject areas of athletics in higher education, athletics academic reform and ethics in athletics. Gurney has been featured in popular documentaries on college sports including Schooled, the Price of College Sports and HBO Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. The purpose of collegiate sports is a way to help students with different talents receive an education through scholarships. But is that the real purpose of college sports? Has the NCAA derailed from their original goal? Here to speak with us today is Gerald Gurney, an assistant professor of adult and higher education at the University of Oklahoma and the author of Unwinding Madness: What Went Wrong with College Sports—and How to Fix It. Dads Who Stay and Fight (1:02:34) Greg Trimble writes about business, religion, and life. He founded a tech company, sold the tech company, and is now fully focused on building Yalla (which is an online team management system) and Lemonade Stand (an online marketing agency). He is the author of the book "Dads who stay and fight," a book to help future dads, new dads, and even seasoned dads leave a legacy, be remembered, and be a hero to their families. With Father's Day on June 18th, we thought this would be a perfect time to talk about dads. Drink Some Water (1:49:36) Ron Hager, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Exercise Sciences in the College of Life Sciences at Brigham Young University. One of his areas of interest is Chronic Disease Prevention. Ron Hager talks about the benefits of drinking water over other beverage options.

London Attacks, Relationship Health, Positive in Bad Situations Jun 05, 2017

Show notes

London Attacks (15:23) 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 attack in London, Trump taking the US out of the Paris Accords, and congressional distraction. Measuring Relationship Health (1:03:35) Suzanne Degges-White, Ph.D., LPC, LMHC, NCC, is professor and chair of the Counseling, Adult and Higher Education Department at Northern Illinois University. She is a licensed counselor whose focus includes working with individuals and families facing transitions. Suzanne Degges-White discusses a way to measure relationship health. Positive Attitude (1:50:05) 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 Dr. Matt talk about ways to stay positive when things go bad.

Irrational Politics, Remembering Good Times, First Amendment Jun 03, 2017

Show notes

Why Irrational Politics Appeals (16:34) Mari Fitzduff is the Founding Director of the International Masters programs in Conflict Resolution and Coexistence at the Heller School at Brandeis University. The program is a professional program and has had participants from over 60 countries, many of them in active conflicts. She is the author of Why Irrational Politics Appeals: Understanding the Allure of Trump. Many people are questioning the rationality of President’s Trump's comments, Trump'sions, and promises. The United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union was seen as an extreme choice. Is there something about irrationality that is appealing? Mari Fitzduff explains the psychology behind these types of decisions. Remembering Good Times (1:04:37) Andrea Bartz is a Brooklyn-based journalist and copywriter who covers health, travel, psychology, lifestyle, and more. Her work has appeared in USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, and a whole constellation of other outlets. She's also a budding thriller novelist and former editor of several magazines. Did you know that technology can actually tamper with our ability to remember the important moments in life? Cameras and smartphones are usually on every traveler’s checklist but our guest today has some advice on why we should just leave those things in our hotel room. Andrea Bartz explains how to create lasting memories without your smartphone. Soul of the First Amendment (1:48:43) Floyd Abrams is the author of The Soul of the First Amendment and a senior partner in the Cahill Gordon & Reindel law firm. Floyd received his education from Yale Law School and is currently America’s preeminent First Amendment lawyer. Mr. Abrams has spoken out on the most controversial free-speech issues of our time and argued frequently in the Supreme Court in First Amendment cases ranging from the Pentagon Papers case to Citizens United. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution protects the American people’s right to voice their opinions freely. Floyd Abrams ta 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:16:34 - Why Irrational Politics Appeals 01:64:37 - Remembering Good Times 01:108:43 - Soul of the First Amendment

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Matt Townsend Show

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected