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:

Wisconsin Recount, Time Getting Ready, Unsolicited Advice Nov 28, 2016

Show notes

Death of Castro (17:48) 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 a potential presidential vote recount and the Secretary of State fight with Mitt Romney. Why Women Spend so Much Time Getting Ready (1:06:34) Jaclyn Wong, a research assistant at the University of Chicago. Her research interests lie in the gendered patterns of work and family. In addition to this work, she is a research assistant on the National Social Life Health and Aging Project (NSHAP), a nationally representative study of older Americans, and a research assistant at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy Center for Survey Research. Jaclyn Wong is here with us this morning to discuss the science and the psychology behind female attractiveness. Why Unsolicited Advice Can Ruin Relationships (1:55:01) Dr. Richard Joelson has been a clinical social work psychotherapist, educator, and administrator for 46 years. He has practiced social work in various places including Liberia, and has his own private practice in New York. It can be tempting to want to fix everyone’s problems and immediately go into psychoanalyst mode to figure out how you can help them. But sometimes, even with the best intentions, giving advice can do more harm than good. Dr. Joelson author of the book, “Help Me! A Psychotherapist’s Tried-and- True Techniques for a Happier Relationship with Yourself and the People You Love,” teaches us why unsolicited advice can ruin relationships and how we can communicate better.

Presidential Transition, Millionaire Mystique, Jerks Nov 25, 2016

Show notes

Presidential Transition (9:54) Dr. Heath Brown, an assistant professor of public policy at John Jay College and author of the book New President: Interests in Transition. Although America is a fairly young country, one of the biggest successes of the US is its peaceful transfer of power from one executive leader to the next. While these transitions can be described as peaceful, they cannot necessarily be described as organized. Dr. Brown discusses presidential transition. Listen to this interview here: http://goo.gl/4ZLiSO The Millionaire Mystique (55:42) Dr. Jude Miller Burke has extensive corporate experience in management and leadership. During her tenures at Honeywell and UnitedHealth Group, she directed small and large work groups throughout the country. There is about three million people in the US who are million or multi-millionaires. About one-third of those millionaires are women. You may ask yourself, how did all these people become so rich? Dr. Burke had the same question, so she interviewed millionaires and made some interesting discoveries which she included in her book “Millionaire Mystique: How Working Women Become Wealthy - And How You Can, Too!” Dr. Jude Miller Burke discusses what she learned. Listen to this interview here: http://goo.gl/bUZ3XP Why Some People are Jerks (1:34:02) Dr. Dave Rand is an associate professor of Psychology, Economics, and Management at Yale University, he is also a member of the Yale Institute for Network Science, Institution for Social and Policy Studies, and Cognitive Sciences Program, and the director of Yale University’s Human Cooperation Laboratory. A study at Yale University by Dave Rand and Adam Bear answers the question ‘why some people are jerks, yet others are nice even to strangers’. Dr. Rand explains. Listen to this interview here: http://goo.gl/2xeeFQ 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:09:54 - Presidential Transition 00:55:42 - The Millionaire Mystique 01:94:02 - Why Some People are Jerks

Baby Names Psychology, Gawker, Invention of Dating Nov 24, 2016

Show notes

The Psychology of Baby Names (11:57) Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D., is currently a professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is the author of over 160 refereed articles and book chapters and 16 books. Dr. Whitbourne explains the impact a name can have on a person's life and different factors to keep in mind when choosing a name for a child. Gawker and the First Amendment (56:44) Dr. Clay Calvert is a professor at the University of Florida. He is the Brechner Eminent Scholar in Mass Communication and Director of the Marion B. Brechner First Amendment Project at the University of Florida. Just a few weeks ago, news broke of Pay-Pal co-founder, Peter Thiel, funding wrestler Hulk Hogan’s privacy lawsuit against online media outlet, Gawker. Peter Thiel’s personal vendetta stems from a 2007 report from Gawker publicly outing him as Gay. With Thiel’s personal ties to an already $140 million case, questions regarding third-party financed litigation and free press laws come to light. Dr. Calvert explains how this case creates a blueprint for wealthy individuals to challenge the free press. Labor of Love: The Invention of Dating (1:44:40) Moira Weigel is a PhD Student at Yale University, in Comparative Literature and Film and Media Studies. She earned her BA (summa cum laude) from Harvard University and is the author of Labor of Love: The Invention of Dating, her first book. Men and women used to go out on dates but now seems that it’s all snapchat and tinder. But is that really as awful as it seems? How did we decide what’s appropriate for dating? And how did dating even start? Moira Weigel explains the history of dating. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:11:57 - The Psychology of Baby Names 00:56:44 - Gawker and the First Amendment 01:104:40 - Labor of Love: The Invention of Dating

Fall of American Business, Foster Care Crisis, Singing Anxiety Nov 23, 2016

Show notes

Makers and Takers: The Rise of Finance and the Fall of American Business. (12:10) Rana Foroohar is the Assistant managing editor at Time and the magazine’s economics columnist. She is the author of Makers and Takers: The Rise of Finance and the Fall of American Business.The presidential race has brought to light the country’s frustration with the current economic state. While wages are up and the slow growth of the economy looks promising, many are still feeling left behind. Rana Foroohar tells us more about our nation’s trend towards financialization and the damage it has caused. Foster Care Crisis (59:23) Mike Hamblin is the Director of Recruitment at Utah Foster Care Foundation. Utah Foster Care is a private non-profit with a contract with the State of Utah to do all of the recruitment and training for state licensed foster families. As of 2014 there were 415,129 children in foster care in the United States with 39% 5 years old or under. 46% of those 400,000 children are living in a Foster Family Home which means they are living with non-relative caregivers. In 2014 only 238,230 children exited foster care. Many problems exist in the Foster Care system including the overuse of group homes, kids aging out of the system without proper support, and Foster Parents need more support to deal with the many challenges they face in caring for these children. Mike Hamblin discusses the many issues in the foster care system and how we can help. Singing to Treat Anxiety and Depression (1:44:00) Dr. Steven Hayes is the foundation professor of behavioral analysis at the University of Nevada Reno. Dr. Hayes has authored 38 books, he is the developer of the Relational Frame Theory and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Have you ever had a strange or wild idea that you had to force out of your mind? For those who suffer from OCD, pushing out intrusive thoughts can be an overwhelming battle. But turning your worries into a catchy tune might be a solution for those who suffer from intrusive thoughts. Dr. Steven Hayes di 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:12:10 - Makers and Takers: The Rise of Finance and the Fall of American Business. 00:59:23 - Foster Care Crisis 01:104:00 - Singing to Treat Anxiety and Depression

President and War, Kids and Digital Media, Healthy Holiday Nov 22, 2016

Show notes

Greed, Power, and the Conflicts That Made Our Greatest Presidents (16:56) Dr. Alastair Smith, a professor of politics at New York University and the Author of The Spoils of War. We consider Presidents such as George Washington, James Madison, and Abraham Lincoln some of the greatest Presidents of the United States. But for what reason? Dr. Smith explains what Americans consider a great president. Liana Tan - Gratefulness (44:17) This week gives us all a great opportunity to think about and remember what we’re grateful for. Today, our producer, Liana Tan, is going to share with us 5 people she’s grateful for who have changed her life without knowing it. How should we teach our kids to use digital media? (1:07:53) Dr. Jenny Radesky is an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Michigan. She earned her MD at Harvard Medical School. She is a developmental behavioral pediatrician focused on low-income urban patient populations. Mobile devices have made our lives incredibly convenient. With a single click you can find out where your kids are, order groceries, or check next week’s weather. But with that convenience comes the danger of losing a sense of reality. That danger is extended to children, so how do you make wise decisions on how your children use digital devices? Dr. Jenny Radesky explains. Caitlin Thomas - Unique Thanksgiving Meals (1:32:19) It’s Thanksgiving week folks, and I am getting ready to stuff myself with some turkey and potatoes! But, Caitlin Thomas joins us today to talk with us about some families who don’t do the traditional meal for Thanksgiving, and we are going to decide which ones sound good and which ones sound just bad. Healthy Holidays (1:55:41) Dr. Ron Hager 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. Ron with some ideas on how to have a healthy holiday.

Trump Appointments, Talking to Kids About Weight, Be a Hero Nov 21, 2016

Show notes

Trump Appointments (17:03) 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 Donald Trump's presidential appointments and the possibility of Mitt Romney as Secretary of State This Is The Worst Way To Talk To Your Children About Weight (1:04:36) Dr. Dianne Neumark-Sztainer is Mayo Professor and Head of the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, both at the University of Minnesota. Her research focuses on adolescent nutrition and the prevention of weight-related problems including eating disorders, unhealthy weight control behaviors, body dissatisfaction and obesity. A recent article about the link between parents’ weight comments and a child’s body dissatisfaction and weight gain sparked a major debate among The Huffington Post readers. Disagreement centered over the balance between concern for a child’s health and the psychological and physical damage that can result from cruel or clueless comments about weight. One theme, however, kept popping up over and over again in readers’ comments: People who had been hurt in childhood by cruel weight comments are now resolved to spare their own children from the self-loathing and disordered eating struggles that they had to deal with as kids. Dr. Dianne Neumark-Sztainer shares her findings. Coaches Corner - Words Can Hurt and Heal (1:29:18) Dr. Matt Townsend discusses the importance of learning how to talk to children. Listening to their concerns and helping instead of trying to fix the problem. How to be a Hero in your Current Situation (1:49:38) Kim Giles, President and founder of Clarity Point Life Coaching. Named one of

Realist Democracy, Strong Mothers and Sons, Parent Previews Nov 18, 2016

Show notes

Democracy for Realists: Why Elections Do Not Produce Responsive Government (19:03) Dr. Larry Bartels is a Political scientist at Vanderbilt. In the book Democracy for Realists Larry Bartels and his co-author Christopher H. Achen explore election returns, economic statistics, and survey data to reach their almost grim conclusion that elections do not produce responsive government. Professor Larry Bartels discusses his finding. Rappin the News (46:04) We like to wrap up the week in news by letting our correspondent Edsel and Agatha Dinwoody rap the news. Strong Mothers, Strong Sons: Lessons Mothers Need to Raise Extraordinary Men (1:04:43) Dr. Meg Meeker's popularity as a speaker on key issues confronting American families has created a strong following across the nation and around the world. She serves as the co-host for Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk radio show, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, certified by The American Board of Pediatrics, and serves on the Advisory Board of The Medical Institute. Dr. Meg Meeker, author of the book “Strong Mothers, Strong Sons”. In this book, Dr. Meeker calls upon thirty years of experience to share the secrets that every mother needs to know in order to strengthen or rebuild a relationship with her son. Liana Tan - Holiday Travel (1:32:59) On this show we like to give you tips and advice and tools for how to make your life healthier and happier. Thanksgiving is just next week so many of you will probably be making some long trips home so one of our producers, Liana Tan, is going to share with us 5 of her tips on how to avoid holiday travel disasters this next week. Parent Previews - Fantastic Beasts, Edge of Seventeen (1:53:41) Rod Gustafson from Parent Previews joins the show to review the new movies Fantastic Beasts and Edge of Seventeen

Our Energy Future, Love Your Life, What to Say in Marriage Nov 17, 2016

Show notes

Future of Coal (19:18) Kimball Rasmussen, CEO of Utah based Deseret Power Electric Cooperative. Deseret owns 223 miles of transmission lines and 550 Megawatts of generation. The question of how we are going to meet our growing populations electrical needs has led to developments in ... and public funding for ... renewable energy sources like solar power and wind generation. Our nation’s current electrical needs are met in a large part by coal burning power plants. Developments in "Clean Coal" technology have helped to reduce the amount of harmful emissions. Those looking for a more “green” approach to meeting our nation’s energy needs have vilified the use of Coal. What is the future of coal in the United States and can we find a balance between coal power and green options? Kimball Rasmussen with some answers. Love Your Life, Not Theirs (1:07:15) Rachel Cruze , a #1 New York Times best-selling author and seasoned communicator, she helps Americans learn the proper ways to handle money and stay out of debt. Rachel Cruze has authored two best-selling books: Love Your Life, Not Theirs and Smart Money Smart Kids. The daughter of Dave Ramsey, she joined Ramsey Solutions in 2010 and uses the knowledge and experiences from growing up in the Ramsey household to educate others. When we look at everyone else’s lives we might think, “Why is everything in my life such a mess?” We look at their bigger house, nicer car, and put together family and put ourselves down for not being more like them. Are we really living the lives we want, or are we chasing someone else's dream, just trying to keep up appearances on social media, at church, and in our community? Rachel Cruze teaches us more about who we can become happy in our own financial circumstances. Caitlin Thomas - Turkey Facts (1:27:42) When we think of Thanksgiving I think a lot of us think of Turkey. Turkey was eaten by the Pilgrims and the Native Americans in what is traditionally called “The First Thanksgiving,” which took place in 1621. And now, it is estimated

Supreme Court, Lying, Importance of Make-Believe Nov 16, 2016

Show notes

New Supreme Court term (18:29) Eric Segall is a Professor of Law the Georgia State University, College of Law. He also clerked for both the Northern District of Georgia and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. His career eventually let him to the United States Department of Justice. Professor Segall teaches about federal courts and constitutional law. When Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia passed away unexpectedly in February, Senate Majority Leader Mitch Connell immediately announced that the seat would remain empty until the next President took office. This left the Supreme Court with only 8 members, 4 conservative Justices and 4 liberal Justices. How has this affected the 2015-2016 term? How will President-elect, Donald Trump, change the current Supreme Court make up? How will that affect the average American? Professor Segal explains. Why you shouldn’t blame lying on the brain (1:05:00) Dr. Richard Gunderman is Chancellor's Professor of Radiology, Pediatrics, Medical Education, Philosophy, Liberal Arts, Philanthropy, and Medical Humanities and Health Studies at Indiana University. A recent study from the University College of London has resulted in some news outlets claiming ‘You can blame lying on your brain’. These misleading headlines has our next guest concerned. Dr. Richard Gunderman sets the record straight on what role the blame plays in lying is . Liana Tan - Halvsie (1:28:48) Life in tough enough but for Producer Liana Tan there is an added challenge of being half Asian and half white. From living up to expectations to dealing with stereotypes Liana shares her experiences. Importance of Make-believe (1:52:18) Dr. Tracy Gleason is a Professor of psychology and the Psychological Director at the Wellesley College Child Study Center. She is a former preschool teacher and the mom of 10-year-old twins. you were at work and heard someone talking to no one- you might be a little weirded out. Talking to an imaginary person can sometimes be seen as social awkwardness. But for young children, t

Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, Sports Villains, Kinder Children Nov 15, 2016

Show notes

Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (17:39) Dr. Valerie J. Harwood, Professor of Biology and Chair at University of South Florida. Dr. Harwood’s laboratory focuses on water quality and is best known for its work on microbial source tracking. One of Dr. Harwood’s major areas of expertise is microbial source tracking (MST), which endeavors to determine the source(s) of fecal pollution in water. Each year, scientist and doctors change flu vaccinations in order to protect people from the newest mutated strands of the flu. The Flu and Cold season is in full swing and is expected to peak early in the New Year. Bacteria, like viruses become more resistant to the medicine and treatments that we have today. How does bacteria and viruses become resistant and how are they introduced to the environment? Dr. Valerie J. Harwood explains. Why Sports Fans Need Villains (1:05:13) Dr. Vassilis Dalakas is a professor of marketing at Cal State University San Marcos and also a visiting professor of sports marketing at the Sports MBA program at San Diego State University. His research examines social identity and sports fandom including a focus on topics relevant to rivalries, Schadenfreude, and sponsorships. November is a sports fan’s dream. The baseball season is wrapping up, basketball is starting up, football is in mid-season form, and hockey is ready to go. With every sport comes the favorite to win the title, and most recently, the villain. Dr. Vassilis Dalakas shares what makes a sports team a villain, and if that a title that can be passed around from team to team. Caitlin Thomas - Teach Millennials to Date (1:30:59) With our younger generations becoming more and more dependent on technology, we are seeing a decline in old social traditions. Caitlin Thomas is here with us this morning to talk about one social aspect of our culture that she thinks shouldn’t be forgotten and we should continue to pass down to our kids. How to Raise Kinder, Less Entitled Kids (1:53:37) Julie Nelson (the "Child Whisperer") has a master's degr

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Matt Townsend Show

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected