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:

Fix the Olympics, Believing in UFOs?, Smartphones and ADHD Dec 27, 2016

Show notes

Fix the Olympics (13:10) Dr. Paul Christesen, Professor in the Department of Classics at Dartmouth College. His areas of expertise include ancient Greek history (with a particular focus on Sparta), sport history (including the ancient Olympics), and the relationship between sport and political systems. The 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games are underway and Rio is facing some difficult challenges with the threat of the Zika virus, civil unrest, political turmoil, & construction cost overruns. Dr. Christensen feels that the games have become too big and has some ideas on how to adjust the games so they can be better managed and enjoyed all over the world. Listen to this interview here: https://goo.gl/mVAdvn Why are people starting to believe in UFOs again (56:21) Dr. Joseph P Laycock is an assistant professor of religious studies at Texas State University. He teaches courses on world religions, religion in America, new religious movements, and the intersection of religion and popular culture. Dr. Laycock discusses why American’s flip flop belief in UFO’s and the presidential candidate who may support further research. Listen to this interview here: https://goo.gl/Mu8gVG Smartphones and ADHD (1:40:16) Dr. Kosta Kushlev is a research faculty at the University of Virginia. He studies how factors like technology, money, and parenthood can influence personal well-being. ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, can cause many problems. Among them, Trouble paying attention or staying still. Dr. Kushlev found that people not suffering from ADHD may unknowingly give themselves the symptoms of ADHD, through Smartphone notifications. Listen to this interview here: https://goo.gl/qNzIwd

Presidential Intelligence Briefings, Working With Millennials Dec 23, 2016

Show notes

Presidential Intelligence Briefings (12:39) Dr. David Priess is currently the Director of Analytic Advantage, Inc. He is a former intelligence officer during Bill Clinton and George W. Bush administrations and is the former manager and daily intelligence briefer at the CIA. Have you ever wondered what kind of information you would have access to as the President of the United States? Dr. Priess is the author of The President’s Book of Secrets: The Untold Story of Intelligence Briefings to America’s Presidents from Kennedy to Obama shares an inside look at the information that has been given in the Oval Office.Dr. Priess discusses his book and the kind of information Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will soon be receiving. Listen to this interview here: https://goo.gl/VbkyFs Working With Millennials (53:06) Jamee Tenzer is an Executive Coach, Trainer and Mentor. For the past 15 years she has been privileged to coach and train executives and managers and to work internationally as a coach mentor and trainer. She has successfully worked with Executives and Managers in many industries including; entertainment, non-profit and technology. Jamee Tenzer discusses how to better work with the younger generation in the workplace. Listen to this interview here: https://goo.gl/DFffWu Vice Presidential Influence (1:35:06) Dr. Kyle Kopko, Associate Professor of Political Science at Elizabethtown College and Dr. Chris Devine Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Dayton, are authors of the book The VP Advantage: How Running Mates Influence Home State Voting in Presidential Elections. Presidential Candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have chosen their vice presidential candidates and now Tim Kaine and Mike Pence have arrived as vice presidential candidates. What effect will the VP's have on the election? Dr. Kopko and Dr. Devine explain. Listen to this interview here: https://goo.gl/hMhl7t 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:12:39 - Presidential Intelligence Briefings 00:53:06 - Working With Millennials 01:95:09 - Vice Presidential Influence

Congressional Term Limits, Holiday Movies, Kids Need to Play Dec 22, 2016

Show notes

Congressional Term Limits (18:21) Dr. Thad Kousser is Professor of Political Science and Department Chair at UC San Diego. He studies include American state and national politics, government reform, direct democracy, interest group influence, and the use of social media by politicians. The hashtag, “DraintheSwamp” is Trumps promise to enact term limits on Congress and to stop career politicians from clogging up and slowing down the political system. What would it take to enact term limits? Will term limits actually help America progress? Dr. Kousser share his thoughts. The Best Movies of Christmas (46:20) In an effort to help you save time by picking the best entertainment this holiday season Jeff Simpson shares his Top Christmas Movies. Parent Previews - Rogue One and Collateral Beauty (1:10:00) Rod Gustafson from Parent Previews joins the show to review the new movies La La Land and Sing Caitlin Thomas - Christmas Trivia (1:32:38) Christmas, it’s practically here! We are three days away from, I would say, the most anticipated holiday of the year. Our trees are up, stockings hung, and gifts are being wrapped… but how much do we actually know about the history of our favorite holiday? Caitlin Thomas is here with us to quiz me on the history behind Christmas. Kids Need to Play Outside (1:56:54) Dr. Sandra Russ from Case Western Reserve University's Department of Psychological Sciences. She is the author of “Pretend Play in Childhood: Foundation of Adult Creativity.” Have you ever stood in the doorway and just watched your child play out a story? Whether they’re playing with puppets or Barbies or action figures, it can be quite entertaining. But kids don’t just play pretend to keep their mind off of adult things, it is actually a vital part of their development. Watching your kids play can give you a lot of insight on your kid’s mind. Dr. Sandra Russ teaches us the importance of imaginative play and how we can foster it for our children.

Unilateral Presidential Power, Raising Teens to Adulthood Dec 21, 2016

Show notes

How does Obama’s use of unilateral powers compare to other presidents? (15:21) Mark Major is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Political Science at Penn State University. He is the author of The Unilateral Presidency and the News Media: The Politics of Framing Executive Power. He specializes in American presidency and political communications. As holding with tradition, President-elect Donald Trump will continue the use of executive unilateral powers to shape and remake America, just as President Obama did. But, what are the executive unilateral powers and where do they come from? Mark Major explains. 1-2-3 Magic Teen: Communicate, Connect, and Guide Your Teen to Adulthood (1:04:43) Dr. Thomas W. Phelan is a registered clinical psychologist who has worked with children, adults and families for over 35 years. He is a member of the American Psychological Association and the Illinois Psychological Association. From rule-breaking and risk-taking to defensive communication and disrespect, parenting a teenager can feel like modern warfare--but it doesn't have to be that way. Internationally renowned parenting expert Dr. Thomas Phelan. discuss how to communicate with your teens, help your children open up more, and set boundaries for your teens. All of this and more can be found in his book ” 1-2-3 Magic Teen: Communicate, Connect, and Guide Your Teen to Adulthood” The Worst Movies of Christmas (1:30:42) In an effort to help you save time by skipping or avoiding below average entertainment Jeff Simpson shares his Top Worst Christmas Movies. The I-Factor: Building A Great Relationship with Yourself (1:52:32) 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

Holiday Cyber Crimes, Who's the Boss, Importance of Exercise Dec 20, 2016

Show notes

Holiday Cyber Crimes (15:33) SSA Jim Lamadrid manages the FBI Salt Lake City Cyber Task Force has investigated both criminal and national securing intrusions, internet fraud, and crimes against children. The Holiday season is a time for family, laughter and for sharing. Unfortunately, many families also let their guard down during this season. How can we as consumers protect ourselves from scammers? SSA Lamadrid of the FBI gives us tips to step up our internet shopping habits. For more info and where to report internet fraud go to: https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx How Little Kids Figure Out Who’s in Charge (1:05:39) Dr. Selin Gülgöz is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Washington in the Social Cognitive Development Lab. She received her Ph.D. in developmental psychology from the University of Michigan, and is interested in how young children learn and reason about their social world. Whether you may think so or not, research shows that kids are paying attention and soaking up all the complexities of life as a social human. By 13 months, they have a pretty decent understanding of tense, complex social situations, making mental notes of who witnessed the offending incident and whether it was purposeful or accidental. Now, new research is also shedding some light on how kids learn about power dynamics in social situations. Dr. Selin Gulgoz shares her research. Caitlin Thomas - Giving Service Around Christmas (1:26:00) Most often when we think about Christmas we think about the gifts we are giving to friends and family, and how pretty you can wrap it up. We normally think about giving gifts to familiar faces- our friends, family members, maybe even neighbors. But this year, Caitlin Thomas and her family had a different sort of Christmas experience, and she is here this morning to share it with us and help us feel a different sort of Christmas spirit. The Dirty Word “Exercise” (1:53:01) Dr. Ron Hager is an Associate Professor of Exercise Sciences in the College of Life Sciences at Brigham Young

Electoral College, Kids and Sleep, Christmas Comparison Dec 19, 2016

Show notes

Electoral College (18:50) Joe Cannon is our Washington Insider. Joe served as an assistant administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from 1983-1985. Was a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1992. He served as the Chairman of the Utah Republican Party from 2002 to 2006. He was named editor of the Deseret Morning News on December 8, 2006. Joe currently is the CEO of Fuel Freedom Foundation. Joe and Dr. Townsend discuss the Electoral College and Russia Hacking. Parents Confidence Can Play Role in Kids Sleep Duration? (1:04:44) Dr. Corrina Rea is an attending in the Division of General Pediatrics at Boston Children's Hospital, and an Instructor at Harvard Medical School. Many families struggle to get their kids to sleep not just on Christmas eve but every night of the year. Dr. Corrina Rea, recently completed a study that might help parents get their kids to sleep and shares her findings. Christmas without Comparison (1:52:06) 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. Author of the Book Choosing Clarity: A Path to Fearlessness. Kim Giles shares her article on how to have a Christmas without Comparison, how to avoid comparing, jealousy or judgment with friends and family around the holiday's.

Benefits of Baby Talk, Rogue One Dec 16, 2016

Show notes

Here’s why ‘baby talk’ is good for your baby (56:22) Dr. Catherine Laing is a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University. Her research focuses on early language development, studying how babies transition from babble to their first real words, and how parents support this transition into language. There are a lot of theories in the world about how you should talk to your new-born baby. Some people think “baby talk” is the correct way to make sure your baby understands you. Others say “baby talk” is the worst thing you could possibly do for the development of your child. With so many different opinions, it’s hard to know exactly what’s the best thing to do. Dr. Laing shares her research. Parent Previews - Rogue One and Collateral Beauty (1:46:40) Rod Gustafson from Parent Previews joins the show to review the new movies Rogue One and Collateral Beauty

Four Types of A.I., Exercise as a Treatment, Santa Claus Dec 15, 2016

Show notes

Understanding the four types of AI (18:29) Dr. Arend Hintze is an Assistant Professor of Integrative Biology & Computer Science and Engineering at Michigan State University. He researches the evolution of natural and artificial intelligence by using computational modeling to understand what environments and evolutionary pressures give rise to intelligence, and how cognitive mechanisms evolved. Artificial Intelligence development has come a long way over the past few years, and some are wondering “what could be next?” In October, the White House released a report expressing their expectation that “machines will reach and exceed human performance on more and more tasks” in the next 20 years. Dr. Hintze explains. Chronic Illnesses and Exercise (1:07:56) Sheri R. Colberg, PhD, is Professor Emerita of Exercise Science from Old Dominion University. She is an internationally recognized authority on diabetes and exercise who has shaped physical activity guidelines for many professional organizations. When we contract a disease or virus, many people’s first thoughts turn to doctors and drugs. New research, however, says that doctors are under prescribing one remedy that might be just as effective. According to a recent review in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, exercise can deliver comparable benefits to drugs and surgeries with fewer side effects. Dr. Sheri Colberg-Ochs explains how exercise can help with chronic illness. Caitlin Thomas - Entertaining Kids During the Holidays (1:31:40) Well, it’s here folks. Christmas time is officially only 10 days away, which means our kids will soon be at home with us during the day again. All parents know that the worst thing in the world is bored kids- they make messes everywhere and spend most of the day whining about how bored they are. It can be a lot to handle. Caitlin Thomas teachs us about some ways that we can keep kids entertained while they are home for the holidays What Should Parents Tell Kids About Santa (2:10:09) Dr Chris Boyle is a pyschologist and an

Global Authoritarianism, Laws of Trust, Ways To Unplug Dec 14, 2016

Show notes

Rise of Global Authoritarianism (17:15) Dr. Manu Bhagavan, a professor of History at Hunter College, The City University of New York. Blaming the world’s problems on a specific group of people is an easy solution to many of the challenges we see today. History has shown us that political leaders will sometimes use this tactic to gain power and keep it. Dr. Bhagavan explains the global shift towards authoritarianism. Laws of Trust (1:05:50) Joel Peterson is the Chairman of the Board of Overseers at the Hoover Institution at Stanford as well as the Chairman of the Board at JetBlue Airways. He is on the faculty at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University and has been since 1992. Peterson is the Founding Partner and Chairman of Peterson Partners, a Salt Lake City-based investment management firm. Joel Peterson shares insights from his book The 10 Laws of Trust: Building the Bonds That Make a Business Great. Ways To Unplug When You're Short On Time (1:51:05) Paula Davis-Laack is is the Founder and CEO of the Stress & Resilience Institute, a former practicing lawyer, an internationally-published writer, media contributor, and a stress and resilience expert. As part of her post-graduate training, she taught and trained resilience skills to more than 25,000 soldiers as part of the Army’s Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness program. She is the author of “Addicted to Busy: Your Blueprint for Burnout Prevention” Paula share tips on how to reduce stress, improve resilience and unplug.

Promoting Equity, Weight Regain, Holiday Overspending Dec 13, 2016

Show notes

Promoting Equity for Children, Families, and Communities (17:17) Dr. Laura Bronstein 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. Coaches Corner - Families and Success (42:44) Dr. Matt Townsend discusses the need to pay attention to those around you who may be struggling to make ends meet or deal with all the stresses and requirement so of life. Why so Many People Regain Weight after Dieting (1:02:46) Dr. Kenneth McLeod, Director of the Clinical Science and Engineering Research Laboratory at Binghamton University. His research interest are primarily in physiologic adaption, or how the body tissues adapt to the mechanical and electromagnetic forces to which they are exposed. The new year is just around the corner, and a common New Years Resolution is to work off those couple of extra pounds gained from Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. The strategy seems simple: Just exercise to burn more calories and reduce your calorie intake. Many studies, though, now shown that simple strategy doesn’t work very well for the majority of people. Dr. Kenneth McLeod explains the reasons why keeping weight off is so tough. Caitlin Thomas - Tip for Finals Week (1:29:25) This time of year is incredibly busy for most families for a lot of different reasons. Moms and dads are shopping, while the kids are being drowned in homework and final exams. So, with all this stress and

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