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:

End of Birtherism, Wrong Personality for a Job, Anxious vs. Rude Sep 19, 2016

Show notes

End of Birtherism (18:22) 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 reversing his stand on birtherism, the bombing in New York and New Jersey, and Hillary Clinton's health. Wrong Personality for the Job Dr. Anna Hartley is a postdoctoral research scientist who works on personality judgement and measurement. She works for the psychology department at Wake Forest University. Her research looks into how we perceive people and how we form judgements about others because of these perceptions and how to measure behaviors over time. Her work focuses on the importance of people and relationships. Dr. Hartley discusses what to do if you have the wrong personality for the job Caitlin Thomas - Scholarship Pageant (1:20:24) Scholarship Pageant or beauty pageants have a difficult reputation. Our producer Caitlin Thomas, a former Miss Lehi Utah, explains why the pageants are a positive experience and give participants skills they can use for the rest of their lives. Liana Tan - Elections (1:33:05) Election season can be tough. You want to be a responsible voter and educate yourself on the issues so you can make an informed decision. But who do you listen to, what should you read and who can you trust? Student producer Liana Tan feels your pain and shares her thoughts on the Election of 2016. I'm Not Rude, I'm Anxious (1:54:09) Dr. David Rettew is an associate professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and director of our Pediatric Psychiatry Clinic. He is the author of the book, “Child Temperament: New Thinking About the Boundary Between Traits and Illness.” David Rettew discusses how rudeness or d

Democracy Causes Political Paralysis, Exercise, Box Office Sep 16, 2016

Show notes

America's Failing Experiment (16:16) Dr. Kirby Goidel is professor in the Department of Communication and the Public Policy Research Institute at Texas A&M University. Goidel is the author of, America's Failing Experiment: How We the People Have Become the Problem.“Passing the Buck” also known as, “The Blame Game” is often been seen as elected officials, governments, and presidential candidate’s favorite pastime. Are the American People guilty of playing the same game? Are we truly in charge of our own democracy? Dr. Goidel explains. Healthy Amount of Exercise (1:02:07) Andrea Ovard currently works at the University of Utah hospital as a clinical dietitian in the cardiac ICU and medical units. She is a registered dietitian who completed a degree in Dietetics. She is the writer and creator of the blog “The Baking Dietitian” which focuses on healthy cooking, workout routines and nutrition tips with her readers. Her motto for overall health is simple: all in things in moderation. Andrea Ovard is here with us today to discuss the problems that come with exercising too much, and how we can find the right balance between too little and too much. Parent Preview - Snowden (1:47:40) Rod Gustafson from Parent Previews joins the show to review the new movie Snowden.

Measuring Water Scarcity, Emotional Agility, Relationship? Rescue Sep 15, 2016

Show notes

We Are not Running out of Water (15:53) Dr. Kate Brauman, lead scientist for the Global Water Initiative at the Institute on the Environment, at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. How much do you know about our current water situation? Do we have a scarcity of water on the earth? How do we measure this? Dr. Kate Brauman explains our current water situation. Emotional Agility (1:04:46) Susan David, Ph.D., is a psychologist on the faculty of Harvard Medical School; cofounder and codirector of the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital; and CEO of Evidence Based Psychology, a boutique business consultancy. Susan David draws on her more than twenty years of research to show that emotionally agile people are not immune to stresses and setbacks. Dr. David shares her book Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work Life. Liana Tan - Affordable Happiness (1:30:18) Did all those summer vacations run your savings dry? Are you dreading this season because you know it means penny-pinching to save up for the holidays? America has the largest economy and is one of the richest countries in the world. So why do so many Americans find themselves in debt and struggling to make ends meet even if they have pretty well-paying jobs? Our producer, Liana Tan, is going to give us some financial advice from her perspective and teach us five ways we can start saving more and living happier. Rescue a Struggling Relationship (1:51:40)? Dr. Diane Barth is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Along with leading private study groups in New York and workshops for therapists around the country, Diane has published articles in the Clinical Social Work Journal, Psychoanalytic Dialogues, Psychoanalytic Psychology, and other professional journals, and published a book entitled, Daydreaming: Unlock the Creative Power of Your Mind. Dr. Barth talks about her article How to Rescue a Struggling Relationship

Voting Systems, Laziness, Relationship Mind Reader Sep 14, 2016

Show notes

Why the US Voting System Does Not Work. (16:42) Dr. Michel Balinski Emeritus Chaired Research Professor of France's National Center for Scientific Research, at E-cole Poly-technique. He is the author of Fair Representation: Meeting the Ideal of One Man, One Vote. Are Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump the voice of the American people, OR are they the voice of a failed voting system? Michel Balinski shares his research into problems concerning political representation and elections. Being Lazy is a Sign of High Intelligence (1:05:23) Dr. Todd McElroy is a Psychology Professor at Florida Gulf Coast, Dr. McElroy earned his PhD. At University of North Carolina Greensbro. His research is largely focused in the area of Social Judgment and Decision Science. Do you enjoy spending time watching Netflix? Do you prefer the great IN-doors? Well maybe that’s just a sign that you’re smarter than you think. Dr. Todd McElroy conducted a study that suggests being lazy is a sign of high intelligence. Fantasy Sports (1:30:12) With the kick-off of the football season thousands of fans held drafts, picked their teams and are now playing fantasy football. Fantasy Sports are a multi million dollar year round industry driven by obsessed sports fans looking for a way to feed their need for more sports. Our Producer Liana Tan gives us a look inside fantasy sports. Relationship Mind Reader (1:52:45) Dr. Brian Willoughby is an assistant 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 with Dr. Townsend about how to talk with your partner about relationship issues with out having to be a mind reader.

Presidential Economic Policies, Vanishing Barber Shop, E-Cigs Sep 13, 2016

Show notes

Presidential Candidates Economic Policies (17:52) Dr. Christian vom Lehn is an Assistant Professor of Economics at Brigham Young University. He received his PhD in Economics from Princeton University. His primary research interests are in macroeconomics and labor economics. With the general election quickly approaching many are wondering what it could mean for our economy. Issues like minimum wage and trade have been a hot topic for both of the presidential candidates and other issues such as taxes, jobs, and immigration have come up frequently as well. Dr. vom Lehn explains both candidates economic plans. Disappearing Barber Shop (1:03:48) Dr. Kristen Barber received her Ph.D. from University of Southern California. She is a professor at Southern Illinois University, her research and teaching focus on issues of gender and social inequalities. She is the author of Styling Masculinity: Gender, Class, and Inequality in the Men's Grooming Industry. The all-male barbershop is one piece of Americana that is on the decline. Why Barbershops are disappearing and what’s replacing them? Dr. Kristen Barber shares here research. E-Cigarettes and Vaping (1:51:46) Dr. Ron Hager is an Associate Professor of Exercise Sciences in the College of Life Sciences at Brigham Young University. His area of expertise is Chronic Disease Prevention. Dr. Hager and Dr. Townsend talk about E-Cigarettes and Vaping

Syrian Refugees Next Door, Adulting, Gift of Failure Sep 12, 2016

Show notes

Syrian Refugees Next Door (15:32) Dr. Jeffrey Cohen is a Professor of Anthropology at The Ohio State University. His research focus in migration and Refugees, Economics and Development, Nutrition, and Research Methodology. Following the bombings in Paris and again in Brussels, fears surrounding refugee placement in the U.S. has surged. Many of the republican presidential candidates issued statements regarding their hesitancy to allow further refugee placement. Dr. Cohen, whose recent article, Syrian refugees next door? Aims to answer these and other questions regarding the estimated 5 million Syrians now seeking refuge. Adulting: How to Become a Grown-Up (1:01:09) Kelly Williams Brown is the author of Adulting: How to Become a Grown-Up in 468 Easy(ish) Steps. Growing up is an ever challenging, ever changing endeavor. Each generation deals with it in their own way. Kelly Brown has literally written the book on growing up and shares what she has leaned from interviewing people from all walks of life. Liana Tan - Make the Most of Any Job (1:26:28) Remember the high school days when you would do anything for a spare dollar- and you did? You might be grateful that those high school jobs are in your past, but you never know what life could throw at you. Those part time so-called ‘starter’ jobs might be all that’s offered in the future. But there are definitely a few things we can learn from those part time burger-flipping jobs. Our producer, Liana Tan, is going to teach us five things we can do to pass the time at work and make any job more enjoyable. The Gift of Failure (1:47:33) Jessica Lahey is the author of The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed. She is an educator, speaker and writer. She writes biweekly Parent-Teacher Conference advice column for the New York Times and is a contributor to the Atlantic. What do we learn from failure? Jessica Lahey, suggests that the best parents learn to let go so their children can succeed.

Policing in Public Schools, College Grads and Jobs, Movies Sep 09, 2016

Show notes

Policing in Public Schools (16:23) Dr. Jason P. Nance is an Associate Professor of Law and the Associate Director for Education Law and Policy at the Center on Children and Families at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. His research focuses on educational law: racial inequalities in the public education system, school discipline, the school-to-prison pipeline, and student’s rights. What are the effects of Policing in our public schools? Dr. Nance explains his research. College Grads and Jobs (1:04:25) Dr. Michael Betz is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Sciences at The Ohio State University. His expertise is in regional and rural/urban economics. His research explores factors that drive local labor markets and demographic change in the United States with a particular focus on difference between rural and urban areas. Finding a job afer college graduation can be tough. Are college graduates looking for the same things as they did in the earlier decades? Or has a changing world affected what attracts educated workers? Dr. Betz with the info. Liana Tan - Computer Solutions (1:27:56) Computers have become an essential part of everyday life. But they are also a source of frustration for many users. Our producer, Liana Tan, shares her frustration with computers and some tips on how to make using your laptop, desktop, or phone much easier. Parents Preview - The Wild Life and Sully (1:48:43) Rod Gustafson from Parent Previews joins the show to review the new movies The Wild Life and Sully.

Economic Impact of Immigration, Selfishness is Learned, Redirect Sep 08, 2016

Show notes

Economic Impact of Immigration (18:07) Dr. Kevin Shih, an Assistant Professor of Economics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. His research interest include immigration, education, labor, public policy and international trade. Although once praised as the trailblazers of America, immigrants are now considered a threat to Americans jobs, interest, and economy. Dr. Shih shares an article he wrote and explains why this isn’t the case. Selfishness is Learned (1:03:28) Matt Hutson has written for Newsweek, Wired, The Atlantic, Scientific American Mind, Popular Mechanics, and dozens of other publications. Matt also has written for Psychology Today, where he was the News Editor for four years. He is the Author of the book: THE 7 LAWS OF MAGICAL THINKING: How Irrational Beliefs Keep Us Happy, Healthy, and Sane. What is our inherent nature? Are we born good or are we born selfish? Matt Hutson discusses his article “Selfishness is learned." Redirect: Changing the Stories We Live By (1:52:25)? Dr. Timothy D. Wilson is a renowned psychologist and Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia. He has published over 100 articles in scholarly journals and edited books, primarily on the topics of self-knowledge, unconscious processing, and the applications of social psychology to addressing social problems. Everyone has their own trials they have to work through every day--- getting through depression, overcoming trauma, working out family problems, making difficult decisions, you name it. Dr. Wilson discusses his book, “Redirect: Changing the Stories We Live By,” to teach us how to begin overcoming these life difficulties through our very own thoughts.

Active Voters, Better Meetings, Positive Purposeful Parenting Sep 07, 2016

Show notes

Voters Who Oppose Politicians Are the Most Active (17:14) Dr. Richard Perry is a distinguished University Professor of psychology at The Ohio State University. Petty's research focuses broadly on the situational and individual difference factors responsible for changes in beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. Dr. Petty finds that opposition inspires more confidence in a voter’s position than support. According to Dr. Petty, “Knowing whether candidate preferences are driven by support or opposition, and by anger or fear, can help more accurately determine who is likely to donate money, show up for caucuses and ultimately vote for the chosen candidate.” So what influences a voter’s confidence and how does it affect their behavior? Dr.Petty explains. Make Meetings Better (1:03:20) For over 30 years, Bob Frisch has worked with Senior Executive Teams and Boards on their most vital strategic and organizational challenges. He is considered one of the world’s leading strategic facilitators. Bob is the author of four Harvard Business Review articles and his first book, Who’s In The Room? How Great Leaders Structure and Manage the Teams Around Them, quickly became an Amazon bestseller. He is the founder of the Strategic Offsites Group Company. Bob Frisch shares his article about how to make meeting better. Become A More Positive, Purposeful Parent Arlene Pellicane earned a Masters in Journalism from Regent and formerly worked as the Associate Producer for Turning Point Television. Along with coauthoring the book, “Growing up Social,” Arlene has authored “31 Days to a Happy Husband” and “31 Days to Becoming a Happy Wife.” Arlene Pellicane shares her post about how to be a more Positive, Purposeful Parent.

Making of Donald Trump, Getting Stuff Done, Power of Smells Sep 06, 2016

Show notes

The Making of Donald Trump (16:18) David Cay Johnston is the author of New York Times Best Seller The Making of Donald Trump. David earned a Pulitzer Prize in 2001 for his work in for enterprise reporting that uncovered loopholes and inequities in the U.S. tax code. He is a columnist for The Daily Beast, The National Memo, and US Today. David Johnston has covered Donald Trump for almost 30 years and shares insights and details of the Republican Presidential Candidates life. How to Get Stuff Done (1:05:53) Jason Zook is best known for being the guy that made over $1,000,000 wearing t-shirts for a living and selling his last name (twice). For a lot of us, getting back up once we have already fallen is not always an easy task, and getting over the wall of incomplete projects can become vastly overwhelming. We are joined here this morning with Jason Zook, creator of Jasondoesstuff.com, to talk about some things that can help us get over that wall and back into the groove of success. Power of Smells (1:53:06) 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. Dr. Matt and Julie talk about the Power of Smell to affect our behavior.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Matt Townsend Show

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected