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:

Trump Fallout, Vocal Point, Roadtripping with 11 Kids Nov 14, 2016

Show notes

Trump Fallout (17:55) 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 some of the early administrative moves by Donald Trump and the public reaction to the Republican presidential win. BYU Vocal Point - Christmas Under the Stars (1:07:47) Vocal Point was founded in 1991 by two students at Brigham Young University. BYU’s School of Music to establish Vocal Point as a permanent tradition of contemporary a cappella at the university. The group has won several awards including three Pearl Awards. Vocal Point was also the winner of the 2006 International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA). In 2011, It also placed fifth on NBC's third season of The Sing Off. Vocal Point performs for over 50,000 people each year, regularly selling out shows weeks in advance. Vocal Point’s Youtube channel already has 150,000 subscribers and over 20 million views. Vocal Point previews their upcoming Christmas Under the Stars concert airing November 26th at 6pm MT on BYUtv? Roadtripping with 11 Kids (1:55:15) Michael and Megan Knorpp are consultants, teachers, and coaches for the essential oil company, DoTerra. They built a multi-million dollar business, adopted 5 kids from China, and are now travelling the continent with their 9 kids in an RV. They share what they have learned as a family and how traveling has brought their family closer together.

European Extremism, Smartphones and Weight, Box Office Nov 11, 2016

Show notes

Nearly Half The Adults In Britain And Europe Hold Extremist Views (27:29) Joe Twyman is Head of Political and Social Research for Europe, Middle East and Africa at YouGov.uk and was a founding director of the company back in 2000. Joe is an affiliated lecturer at the University of Cambridge, a visiting professor at the University of Sheffield, a visiting Research Fellow at the University of Manchester. A groundbreaking new study from YouGov, an international internet-based market research firm, of 12 European countries has revealed how far anti-immigrant, nationalist, and authoritarian attitudes have spread from the political fringes. Joe Twyman explains some of the findings and how they relate to US politics. Maxim Maximov's Maxims- Watch Out for that Tree (1:00:10) Show correspondent Maxim Maximov, live from his maximum security Russian prison, offers advice to criminals who need to improve their planning and execution of their chosen career path. Today Maxim gives advice to a Michigan man who knocked himself unconscious running from police after a home invasion robbery. Smartphones and Teen Weight Control (1:04:02) Dr. Chad Johnson is a professor of psychology at Brigham Young University, he earned his PhD. From the University of Kansas. Dr. Johnson program of research addresses prevention of and intervention for childhood and adolescent obesity and related disorders. Teens use smartphones successfully to do almost anything: learn new skills, communicate with friends, do research and catch Pokémon. But are smartphones useful for helping teens maintaining weight loss? Dr. Johnson conducted a study to see if smartphones might help adolescents lose weight and share his findings. Liana Tan - Veterans Day (1:28:47) We want to thank all our veterans today in honor of Veteran’s Day. In memory of their service, one of our producers, Liana Tan, is going to spark the patriotism in all of us and share 5 things that she loves about America. Parents Preview - Arrival and Almost Christmas (1:52:41) Rod Gustafson f

President Trump, Grade-Skipping a Gifted Kid, Disappointment Nov 10, 2016

Show notes

Where is the GOP going to go from here? (18:37) Enid Greene Mickelsen was the third woman and first Republican woman ever elected to congress from Utah. Enid became the acting chair of the Utah Republican Party upon the resignation of Joe Cannon in November 2006, and was unanimously elected to serve as state party chair in February 2007. She was a delegate at the 2012 Republican National convention, served as chair of the 2016 Republican National Convention Site Selection Committee, and was recently appointed by RNC Chair Reince Priebus as chair of the 2016 Republican Convention Rules Committee. After 8 years the republicans have won the presidency. Wednesday night the votes came in, showing Donald Trump winning by a large margin in electoral votes. Enid Greene Mickelsen talks about the future of the Republican Party. Should I grade-skip my gifted child? (1:07:50) Dr. Susan G. Assouline is the director of the University of Iowa Belin-Blank Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development. Dr. Assouline earned her PhD in Education at the University of Iowa where she is currently a Professor of Psychology. The American school system puts students in grades based on age. However, for a some students, being with same-age peers in the classroom might not be the best option. Dr. Susan Assouline discuss her work as an expert in ‘academic acceleration.’ Caitlin Thomas - Post Election Vacation (1:31:46) Amongst all the craziness and chaos we have been experiencing lately, I think it’s time we all take a nice little vacation. The Holiday season is upon us and there is no better time than the Fall to go and explore a new place. Caitlin Thomas is here with us this morning to give us some ideas of new places we could travel. Helping our Children Deal with Disappointment (1:54:27) 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 tog

President Elect Trump, Depression and Gender Nov 09, 2016

Show notes

President Elect Trump (16:42) 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 Trumps presidential win. Depression and Gender (1:07:02) Dr. Shervin Assari is a research investigator of psychiatry and public health at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more women are affected by depression than men. This pattern is seen in countries around the world, including the United States. Cross-national and cross-cultural studies have indicated that the prevalence of depression among women is higher at any given time than among men. This pattern does not seem to have many exceptions. However, research is also shedding light into the fact that men might be more vulnerable to depression caused by stressful events. Dr. Shervin Assari shares his thoughts. Coaches Corner - Stress and Depression (1:29:24) Dr. Matt Townsend talks about the problems of stress and depression. He shares some ideas on how to be aware of the symptoms in others and yourself. SCPD Night Shift (1:48:32) South Carolina Police Department Night Shift is a new television show the follows along with law enfocement officers as they carry out their duties. It is like COPS but different.

Donald Trump in Court, Jerks and Suckers, Stress Relief Nov 08, 2016

Show notes

Potential Impeachment of Donald Trump (16:53) Christopher Peterson is a Professor of Law at the University of Utah's S.J. Quinney College of Law where he teaches contracts, commercial law, and consumer protection courses. Litigation, accusations, and public relation fails have plagued Donald Trump’s campaign from day one. Could Trump’s past actions, especially his pursuit in giving quality higher education, actually come back to haunt him if he wins the Oval Office? Professor Peterson is the author of “Trump University and Presidential Impeachment.” Coaches Corner - Election Day (35:50) Dr. Matt Townsend explains how he is dealing with the end of the Presidential Election. We are all all tired of the race but that doesn't make voting any less important How to Not Be Fooled by Jerks. Or Become One (1:03:54) Dr. Jeremy Sherman is a founding member of an 18 year old research project founded by Harvard/Berkeley biologist Terrence Deacon. He received his PhD in decision theory he has written over 475 articles for Psychology Today. Do you have a friend who just can’t seem to recognize they’re being duped? They don’t realize that the door-to-door salesman fooled them, or that Facebook is never going to give away free money when they copy and paste a status. But how can you recognize it and they miss it? For that matter are you being duped and you can’t see it? Dr. Sherman explains how to avoid being a sucker or a jerk. Caitlin Thomas - Election Decompress (1:29:17) Today is the day everyone! The day our country will decide who we want to be our leader for the next 4 years. It’s been a crazy election season, and the day is finally here. This whole election thing has been really exhausting for most of us, so Caitlin Thomas is here with us today to talk about ways we can relax and rejuvenate after voting day is over. Stress Relief (1:35:20) 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

Election Preview, Smartphone Law, Benefits of Not Forgiving Nov 07, 2016

Show notes

Election Preview (17:25) Dr. Michael Barber, Assistant Professor for the BYU Department of Political Science. How has the FBI and Clinton's emails changed the election? Is the election rigged? What happens after the election? Dr. Barber talks about where we stand as a nation a day before Election Day. Smartphones and The Law (1:04:42) Tim Holbrook is a professor of law at Emory University School of Law. He is one of the nation's leading patent law experts, with commentary appearing in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, CNN, Scientific American and Science on the patent system and on the Apple v. Samsung smartphone wars. On October 11th, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments over a $400 million verdict against Samsung for infringing several Apple iPhone design patents like the smartphone’s ability to create links automatically to webpages and phone numbers, and the “slide to unlock” screen function. The key to this case is that the Supreme Court case is about design patents, not utility patents. But what’s the difference, and why is that important? Tim Holbrook explains. Coaches Corner - Self Improvement (1:18:16) Dr. Matt Townsend discuss the benifits of self improvement. How working on yourself will make your life better Liana Tan - Goodbye letter to the World (1:28:00) This week is a big week for our country. Today is an unrecognized national holiday- election day eve. Tomorrow’s results could mean some big changes for the future of America. Today our producer, Liana Tan, will share her thoughts on these last few hours leading up to election day. The Benefits of Not Forgiving (1:15:02) 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 The Benefits of Not Forgiving.

Wells Fargo Fraud, Unexpected Beauty, Parent Previews Nov 04, 2016

Show notes

Wells Fargo Fraud (18:03) Professor Elizabeth C. Tippett is the Assistant Professor at the University of Oregon School of Law and Conflict and the Dispute Resolution Master’s Program Faculty Co-Director. Professor Tippett researches behavioral ethics, employment law, and decision-making. The CEO of the third largest bank in the US stepped down this past month in wake of fraud and scandal charges. Professor Elizabeth Tippett talks about how Wells Fargo encouraged employees to commit fraud by providing the opportunity and the pressure to do it. Rappin' the News (44:46) Our seasoned correspondents Edsel and Agatha Dinwoody recap the week in news. The Simple Beauty of the Unexpected (1:05:36) Dr. Marcelo Gleiser is a professor of physics and astronomy at Dartmouth College. He specializes in cosmology, nonlinear physics, and astrobiology. His main research interests fall into two general areas. The first is the interface between cosmology (which studies the universe as a whole) and particle physics (which studies the smallest material constituents of the universe). Fishing is a sport of leisure. You might go out early in the morning alone, and wait hours until you have a bite. In those hours, many people sit in silent reflection, but few people spend their time pondering about particle cosmology. But Dr. Marcelo Gleiser does just that, his book “The Simple Beauty of the Unexpected” describes how he travels the world to attend scientific conferences, fishing wherever he goes. At each stop, he considers how physics and his hobby inform each other. Liana Tan - Save Time (1:32:45) Most people would say that they are rushed and overscheduled. How can we save time and do more with our day? Producer Liana Tan shares some ideas. Parent Previews - Trolls, Hacksaw Ridge and Dr. Strange (1:53:20) Rod Gustafson from Parent Previews joins the show to review Trolls, Hacksaw Ridge and Dr. Strange.

Health Care Question, Overwhelmed at Work, Marriage Exercise Nov 03, 2016

Show notes

Where do you go when you suddenly need health care? (17:20) Dr. Keith Kocher is an emergency physician and health services researcher studying the delivery and performance of acute care, and has written extensively on the value of the emergency department as a setting of care within the health system. He is also an Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Michigan. If you get a runny nose or suddenly don’t feel well where do you go? Do you go to a health center, urgent care, a clinic, or even the emergency room at the hospital? Depending on the symptoms and the time of day, where to go can be confusing. Professor Keith Kocher sheds some light on this topic. Overwhelmed: When No One Has Time (1:04:27) Brigid Schulte is the author of the New York Times bestselling book on time pressure, Overwhelmed: Work, Love & Play when No One has the Time, which named one of the notable books of the year by the Washington Post and NPR. She has spoken all over the world about the causes and consequences of our unsustainable, always-on culture, and how to make time for “The Good Life.” According to the Leisure Studies Department at the University of Iowa, true leisure is "that place in which we realize our humanity." If that’s true then we're doing dangerously little in realizing of our humanity. Brigid Schulte talks more about why leisure time is important and how we can be sure to make it a larger priority in our lives. Caitlin Thomas - Mean Tweets (1:29:08) Social media and internet use is at an all-time high and growing, especially among teenagers and young adults. Have you ever wondered what they might be saying to others through that screen? Is it always nice? Caitlin Thomas is here with us this morning to talk more about what happens when we forget that people can read everything we are typing. Is Working Out Better Than Couples Therapy? (1:54:27) Kelley Kitley is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice and has treated patients in Santa Monica and Chicago for th

Economic Value of Religion, Value of Exercise, Thrive Life Nov 02, 2016

Show notes

Value of Religion (19:52) Dr. Brian Grim is president president of the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation and an Associate Scholar at Georgetown University. He is a leading expert on the socioeconomic impact of restrictions on religious freedom and international religious demography. Earlier this month, 17 faith leaders from around America sent a letter to President Obama rejecting the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights’ report on religious freedom. The Commission’s chairman questioned the societal worth of religious freedom, calling it a hypocritical code for discrimination, intolerance and racism. But, what is the monetary worth of US religion? The estimated annual worth of US religion is at $1.2 trillion and could be considered the 15th largest economy in the world. Brian Grim explains the Value of Religion in America. FBI Truthiness (1:04:05) Dr. Matt Townsend talks with FBI Information Officer Jim Gophers about the reopened FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton's email. Value of Exercise (1:10:51) Dr. Carson Smith is from the University of Maryland school of Public Health and is focused on understanding how exercise and physical activity affect human brain function and mental health. It is estimated that 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s, and as the baby boomers continue to age that number is expected to rise. Currently the disease has no cure. Dr. Smith shares his research. Liana Tan - Christmas Music (1:34:28) We’ve entered the time of year that just has one holiday after another. Have you heard any Christmas music on the radio today? It seems like as soon as Halloween is over, people just want to jump right into Christmas. You might’ve changed the station if you heard holiday music on the radio today, but our producer, Liana Tan, is an advocate for Christmas music and is going to tell us why we should give Christmas music before Thanksgiving a shot. The Thrive Life (1:56:30) Thomas Winterman is a father, husband, therapist, school counselor, author, and blogger who lives in Panama Cit

Clean Energy Economy, Five-Hour Rule, Mastering Life Habits Nov 01, 2016

Show notes

Clean Energy Economy (19:14) Dr. Heidi Garrett-Peltier is an Assistant Research Professor in the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Her main area of research is the employment impacts of the transition to a low-carbon economy. Clean energy is a issues discussed by presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. She says that clean energy will generate jobs. Dr. Heidi Garrett-Peltier explains why this may or may not be true. The 5-hour Rule (1:06:32) Michael Simmons is an award-winning social entrepreneur, bestselling author, and contributor to publications like Forbes, Fortune, Inc., Entrepreneur, Time, Business Insider, and HBR. Michael’s company, Empact, helps build the entrepreneurship ecosystem globally. Empact has held over 600 events at colleges, high schools, workforce development organizations, corporations, and Small Business Development centers in 7 countries. We have been told for years and year that “practice will make perfect” but does having a successful business require more than just practice from employees? Is there something more we can do? Michael Simmons explains what he calls the “5-hour rule.” Caitlin Thomas - Most Hated Songs (1:27:14) Can you think of that one song that always comes on the radio, drives you insane and stays in your head all day, but you just can’t turn it off when it comes on? Well they exist, and apparently there are a lot of people out there with an opinion on their least favorite songs. Caitlin Thomas joins us today to talk more about some of the most annoying songs we can think of. Mastering the habits of Our Everyday Lives (1:49:35) Gretchen Rubin is a graduated from Yale Law School. She began with a career in law but is now one of the most thought-provoking and influential writers on habits and happiness. She is the author of many books including Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives. Gretchen Rubin gives us tips on all our unanswered questions about the behind the scenes of forming habits.

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