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:

Positive Leadership, Power of Holding Hands, Movies Apr 28, 2017

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The Power of Positive Leadership (14:36) Jon Gordon is a graduate of Cornell University and holds a Masters in Teaching from Emory University. He and his training/consulting company are passionate about developing positive leaders, organizations, and teams. Jon’s best-selling books and talks have inspired readers and audiences around the world. His principles have been put to the test by numerous NFL, NBA, and college coaches and teams, Fortune 500 companies, school districts, hospitals, and non-profits. He is the author of The Wall Street Journal bestseller "The Energy Bus." Being a positive leader is not just a nice way to lead, it's the way to lead if you want to build a great culture, unite your organization, develop a connected and committed team and achieve excellence. Jon Gordon shares his book, The Power of Positive Leadership. Power of Holding Hands (57:25) Tiffany Field, PhD, is a professor in the department of Pediatrics and PsyPsychiatry and under and Director of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami/Miller School of Medicine. She is the author of more than 400 journal papers and 38 books including The Amazing Infant, several volumes on Stress and Coping, Complementary and Alternative Therapies, Yoga Research and Touch. There’s something special about holding hands with another human being. All of us are innately conscious of how this simple act can stir an instant intimacy, heighten our awareness and express a deep connection. This alchemy of two hands touching has so deeply captured our collective imagination, it’s been the subject of our highest artistic achievements, from the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, to the poetry of Romeo and Juliet, to the lyrics of the Beatles. But what is it about holding hands, exactly, that makes it so powerful? Tiffany Field explains. Parent Previews - Age Appropriate (1:47:05) Rod Gustafson from Parent Previews talks with Jeff Simpson about issues surrounding age appropriate movies. When is a movie right for your kids? How do you decide whethe

Automation in Health Care, Procrastination, Zest for Life Apr 27, 2017

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Automation in Healthcare (13:33) Dr. Thomas Hooven is a Clinical Instructor of Pediatrics in the Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center. His current research focuses on infectious diseases that affect the fetus and newborn. Have you ever wondered why we can land a 400-ton airplane in fog but lifesaving equipment isn’t automated? Machines that save lives still require a person to manually press buttons and turn knobs. Thomas Hooven shares his research on how automation in healthcare could save lives. Why It’s Easy to Procrastinate? (1:06:58) Seth J. Gillihan, Ph.D. is a clinical assistant professor of psychology in the Psychiatry Department at the University of Pennsylvania. He has published research articles and book chapters on the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety and depression. Habits are notoriously hard to break and they can be tricky to overcome when procrastination is involved. There are good reasons to put something off, like giving us more time to make a decision, or the possibility that the problem will resolve itself. The problem is that when we justify it too much it can become crippling and affect our performance. So why do we procrastinate? Some common reasons can include the fear we won’t do a good job and the dread of the amount of time and work we have to put in. Seth Gillihan discusses why we procrastinate and the 7 strategies we can use to break the habit of procrastination. Rediscovering a Zest for Life (1:51:48) Sean Doyle has been a lawyer for over 20 years but also did his graduate training in applied positive psychology. He teaches positive psychology at North Carolina State University in addition to his law career. His goals in writings are to inject hope, affection and meaning into the world. Infusing the mundane routines of life with “microadventures” has proven to improve psychological health and can help us to rediscover happiness and fulfillment in our lives. Microadventures are exactly what they sound like, little

Taxes and Recession, Five Longings, Death Anxiety Apr 26, 2017

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Taxes and Recession (14:23) Jay Zagorsky, Ph.D. is an Economist and Research Scientist at The Ohio State University. His research is focused on understanding the causes and consequences of poverty and wealth. He has published in a range of different disciplines including economics, sociology, demography, and health. Although the Economy might seem unpredictable to the average joe, economists dedicate their lives to figuring out the science of the wealth and resources of a country. Jay Zagorsky, Ph.D. explains the science of predicting recessions and how to prepare for a downturn and the impact of tax policy on the little guy. Makena Bauss - Legalize Lemonade Stands (41:53) Lawmakers in Utah have legalized lemonade stands, letting minors run small, temporary businesses without a license. Such a law shouldn’t be necessary, but every so often overzealous government officials bring the weight of the regulatory state down on children trying to raise a few bucks. Producer Makena Bauss with the info The Five Longings (1:04:38) David Richo, PhD, MFT, is a psychotherapist, teacher, workshop leader, and writer who works in Santa Barbara and San Francisco California. He combines Jungian, poetic, and mythic perspectives in his work with the intention of integrating the psychological and the spiritual. We have all wondered what motivates us, is it just an instinct for survival or is there something driving us to search for meaning. A longing is a deep desire of our heart, a longing gives us the motivation to act and to keep acting. According to a psychotherapist, David Richo, there are five major longings of the human soul that shape our nature; love, meaning, freedom, happiness, and growth. Each of these longings can reveal our identities, showing what we want, what our ideals are, and what motivates us. David Richo shares his book The Five Longings: What We've Always Wanted-and Already Have Caitlin Thomas - Hobbies and Work (1:30:44) Can you think back to when you were a kid or even a teenager, or perhaps a young

Medical Marijuana, Compassionate Achiever, Need of Sleep Apr 25, 2017

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Medical Marijuana Research (13:27) Dr. Staci Gruber is director of the Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Core and associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. She is also the Director of the Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery, or MIND, project. Although the effects of tobacco and alcohol have been studied for several decades, where are we with marijuana research? Many states have legalized marijuana for medical use but what are the long and short-term effects? Dr. Staci Gruber explains the current status of medical marijuana research. The Compassionate Achiever: How Helping Others Fuels Success (1:02:00) Christopher L. Kukk, Ph.D., is a professor of political science and social science at Western Connecticut State University; founding director of the Center for Compassion, Creativity, and Innovation; and faculty advisor for the University and City of Compassion initiatives. He is also the author of the book “ The Compassionate Achiever”- a book that focuses on kindness in relationships and how it can promote success. Cultivating a culture of compassion and support in our environments promotes more success than an individualistic view. This culture can also lower blood pressure and depression, build resilience toward stress, and boost self-esteem and morale. Chris Kukk discusses those benefits and what we can do to become a more compassionate person. Need of Sleep (1:49:04) 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. This is Sleep Awareness week and Dr. Hager talks about the importance of sleep and what a lack of sleep does to the human body.

First 100 Days, Great Problem Solvers, Marriage Intimacy Apr 24, 2017

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First 100 Days (14:08) 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 Trump "First 100 Days" and possible tax proposals. Behaviors of Great Problem Solvers (1:03:48) Nat Greene attended the Harvard Business School Owner/President Management program and joined the Young Presidents’ Organization to improve his organizational leadership skills. Recently he joined Converge Venture Partners to further develop his entrepreneurial toolkit. Nat Greene is the author Stop Guessing: The 9 Behaviors of Great Problem Solvers, aimed at developing a million great problem-solvers to solve the hardest and most pressing problems facing the world. When the challenging problems go unsolved in our lives they can make us suffer in ways that we might not even recognize. We solve countless simple problems on a daily basis, sometimes unconsciously. However, there are different levels of difficulty to the practical problems of life. Simple problems are easily solved by step-by-step methods or guessing, but the harder problems can’t be solved in the same way. Instead of throwing all of our research, time, and money at the “hard” problems, there are several behaviors we can develop to become great problem solvers. Nat Greene shares how we can “Stop Guessing” and “go solve some problems”. Makena Bauss - Singapore Creating More Land (1:31:07) Countries across the globe are working to reclaim disappearing shorelines by building more land. Producer Makena Bauss explains how Singapore is dealing with their loss of land. Marriage Intimacy (1:52:54) 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. Today Kim and Dr. Matt how to ad

Hidden Potential, Nonpartisan Journalism, Beautiful Revenge Apr 22, 2017

Show notes

Discover Your Hidden Potential (17:38) Barbara Oakley, Ph.D., is a professor of engineering at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan; a Visiting Scholar at the University of California, San Diego; and Coursera’s inaugural “Innovation Instructor.” Her research involves bioengineering with a focus on the complex relationship between neuroscience and social behavior. People may feel like they’re at a disadvantage if they pursue a new field later in life, consequently falling into career ruts and feeling pigeon-holed into their career track. It’s easy to feel stuck or stagnant in life, and not know how to keep progressing. Mindshift: Break Through Obstacles to Learning and Discover Your Hidden Potential by Barbara Oakley is solidly based on cutting edge science about how to change your brain to feel passion for learning something new and different—even things you thought you always disliked. Nonpartisan Journalism Future (1:04:13) Justin Buchler is a professor of Political Science at Case Western University. He studies elections, political parties, and Congress. He has written extensively on the nature of competitive elections and their place in a democracy. This past election cycle has caused many journalists to look at their profession to determine what the future of journalism is. Whenever a nonpartisan journalist fact checked the President, they chose to be labeled as part of the liberal media or to intentionally leave the fact unchecked. Did this past election cycle have any nonpartisan media coverage? Does nonpartisan journalism have a future in modern day politics? Justin Buchler shares his thoughts. Revenge Can Be Beautiful (1:54:18) Susan D. Boon is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Calgary. A social psychologist by training, she is passionate about the topic of personal relationships and has a particular fascination with their darker sides. “An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.” - Mahatma Gandhi. Today we’re discussing revenge, why do 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:17:38 - Discover Your Hidden Potential 01:64:13 - Nonpartisan Journalism Future 01:114:18 - Revenge Can Be Beautiful

Gentrification Problems, Science of Apology, Parent Previews Apr 21, 2017

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Gentrification and Inequality (12:29) Peter Moskowitz is a journalist and writer based out of Philadelphia. His work focuses on the intersection of the environment and human lives. He is the author of the book, How to Kill a City: Gentrification, Inequality, and the Fight for the Neighborhood. The term gentrification has become a buzzword to describe the changes in urban neighborhoods across the country, but we don't realize just how threatening it is. Peter Moskowitz discusses his book, How to Kill a City: Gentrification, Inequality, and the Fight for the Neighborhood. Coach's Corner - Think About Your Neighborhoods (37:00) Dr. Matt Townsend expands on the thoughts of Peter Moskowitz and shares some ideas on what should be important elements of any neighborhood. Makena Bauss - ‘Pacemaker’ for the Brain (41:18) Well-timed pulses from electrodes implanted in the brain can enhance memory in some people, scientists reported on Thursday, in the most rigorous demonstration to date of how a pacemaker-like approach might help reduce symptoms of dementia, head injuries and other conditions. Elements of an Effective Apology (58:16) Professor Roy J. Lewicki is the lead scholar in the study of trust development and trust repair, negotiation, and conflict management processes. Lewicki is the author of 40 books including textbooks on negotiation. Apologies are important tools in resolving conflicts and repairing relationships. It’s human nature to make mistakes, so why is it so hard to admit that we are wrong and initiate a good apology? Genuine apologies should show we care about other people and are willing to take responsibility for our actions. New research has explored why it’s so difficult to accept fault and how we can craft an effective and sincere apology. Roy Lewicki, Ph.D explains his research on effective apologies. Parent Previews (1:49:15) Rod Gustafson from Parent Previews joins the show to review the new movie out on home video and movies that are based on a true story.

Art of Productivity, Momentum Isn't Magic, Healthy Controversy Apr 20, 2017

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The Art of Productivity: Your Competitive Edge (17:12) Jim Stovall has enjoyed success as an author, athlete, investment broker, and entrepreneur while dealing with the challenge of blindness. During his remarkable life, Jim has been a national champion Olympic weightlifter, as well as the author of more than 30 books. Jim Stovall, the author of The Art of Productivity, extends the challenge to give yourself an honest assessment of where you are in life, and ask yourself, “Are you where you want to be?” Jim discusses his suggestions on how we can live a life of a more productive and successful individual. Joshua Miller and Adam Sanjurjo - Momentum Isn't Magic (1:06:31) Joshua Miller is an Affiliate at IGIER and Assistant Professor of Decision Sciences at Bocconi University. Adam Sanjurjo is an Assistant Professor of Economics, Universidad de Alicante in Spain. His research interests are Microeconomic Theory, Cognitive/Behavioral, and Experimental Economics. With the conclusion of the NCAA basketball tournament and the beginning of the NBA playoffs, teams are experiencing "magic moments" where hours of practice meet opportunity creating game winning shots or dominating performances. Nearly every basketball player, coach or fan believes that some shooters have an uncanny tendency to experience the hot hand – also referred to as being “on fire,” or “in the zone. When players hit a scoring streak they refer to it as the “hot hand.” Joshua Miller and Adam Sanjurjo discuss this phenomenon Caitlin Thomas - Nailing an Interview (1:31:36) Spring is a time for all things new. New flowers, new relationships, new goals, and maybe even time for a new job. Times are changing and jobs are too. So, our almost college graduate, Caitlin Thomas teaches us more about what we need to know to nail a job interview. Heather Johnson - Healthy Controversy (1:55:24) 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 be

Democratic Party Crisis, Pornography, Relationship Guarantee Apr 19, 2017

Show notes

Democratic Party Crisis (18:26) Musa al-Gharbi, Ph.D. is a Paul F. Lazarsfeld Fellow in Sociology at Columbia University and a research associate with the Heterodox Academy based out of New York University. When President Obama first took office, the Democratic Party was a place for young, college-educated, minorities, and women. It was predicted that this would be the progressive party of the future as minority voices multiplied and as white votes declined due to immigration and interracial unions. Since then, the demographics have not changed, endangering the Democratic party. Musa al-Gharbi shares the data. Makena Bauss - Season Birth Personality (44:34) The day of your birth really makes no difference about who you are and how your personality develops. but that doesn't mean the same thing is true for your season of birth. Here, scientists are building up a small but increasingly persuasive body of evidence that there may indeed be some cause and effect at work. Producer Makena Bauss shares the info. Pornography Addiction (1:06:28) Vauna Davis is Executive Director of Utah Coalition Against Pornography (UCAP) and works to help people live happier lives free from pornography. With UCAP she organizes the largest anti-pornography conference in the world. She enjoys connecting national leaders in the movement by facilitating the Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation Prevention Task Force. In today’s world of technology, there is unlimited access to information, movies, news, and videos. People are able to make connections with friends from all over the world. However, in recent years we have also seen a spike in pornography consumption and now pornography addictions. Vauna Davis helps us navigate and understand more about this addiction. 100% Relationship Guarantee (1:54:14) 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

Nonpartisan Journalism, Beauty of Revenge, Kids and Phones Apr 18, 2017

Show notes

Nonpartisan Journalism Future (16:49) Justin Buchler, Ph.D. is a professor of Political Science at Case Western University. He studies elections, political parties, and Congress. He has written extensively on the nature of competitive elections and their place in a democracy. The last election cycle has caused many journalists to look at their profession to determine what the future of journalism is. Whenever a nonpartisan journalist fact checked the President, they chose to be labeled as part of the liberal media or to intentionally leave the fact unchecked. Did this past election cycle have any nonpartisan media coverage? Does nonpartisan journalism have a future in modern day politics? Justin Buchler shares his thoughts. Revenge Can Be Beautiful (1:06:54) Susan D. Boon, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Calgary. A social psychologist by training, she is passionate about the topic of personal relationships and has a particular fascination with their darker sides. “An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.” - Mahatma Gandhi. What is revenge and why do we seek it? Does revenge make us feel better? Susan Boon Ph.D. with some answers. Caitlin Thomas - Spring Cleaning (1:34:19) Spring is in the air folks. The Easter Bunny has come and gone and the sun has decided to come out full time now, which also means one thing: spring cleaning. Why is this something we do during the spring time and not the winter? Caitlin Thomas is here with us to tell us more about it. Ways to Connect with your Kids Using Cellphones (1:56:52) 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. Julie has written two books about parenting including Keep it Real and Grab a Plunger. Cell phones, along with all technology, are usually given the hex curse by parents and researchers of family studies. But instead of ta

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