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:

Violent Crime, Tech and Mental Health, Make-Believe Jul 07, 2016

Show notes

The Rise and Fall of Violent Crime in America (15:31) Dr. Barry Latzer, Emeritus Professor of Criminal Justice at John Jay College, In his book The Rise and Fall of Violent Crime in America he describes trends that led to a surge of violence in the 1960s and how America has actually become less violent sence that tumultuous decade. Psychiatry: Technologies Role in Treatment (1:01:32) Dr. Nina Vasan is Resident Physician in Psychiatry at Stanford University Hospital, co-author of the #1 Amazon best-selling book "Do Good Well: Your Guide to Leadership, Action and Innovation", and the founder of the Psychiatry Innovation Lab, an event that looks at needs in psychiatric care and suggest technologies, apps or tools to solve them. Dr. Vasan explains the goals of the Psychiatry Innovation Lab and how technology can play a role in mental health. Liana Tan - Hardest Word (1:24:00) Producer, Liana Tan, found the hardest word to pronounce in the English language. She took to the streets to ask innocent bystanders to make an attempt to pronounce the word and explains why this word could change to world if we use it more. Importance of Make-believe (1:46:04) 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, these imaginary friends could actually be the ones who teach kids social skills to begin with. Dr. Gleason discuss the role imiginary friends play in the lives of children.

Student Debt, Female Supervisors, Breast Cancer Prevention Jul 06, 2016

Show notes

Student Debt (16:52) Dr. Richard Fossey, professor of Education at the University of Louisiana, and Dr. Neal Hutchens, professor of higher education at the University of Mississippi. 43% of people who have borrowed money from the government are currently behind on their payments or no longer even making payments. This number doesn’t even account for the millions of borrowers who also struggle to pay loans but have declared bankruptcy. Dr. Fossey and Dr. Hutchens discuss their extensive research on the student debt crisis. How to Report to a Woman If You're a Man (1:02:54) Anna Redmond is a writer and investor. Anna is a graduate of Harvard University with an undergraduate degree in Economics Information Technology and a master’s degree in History of Science. She also recently published her first novel ‘the golden arrow’. Anna is the co-founder of Hippo Reads a website that features academic writings and has been described as “Ted-Talks for readers.” Many men don’t perform as well under the supervision of women as they do under other men. Anna Redmond explains the work place issue and how to improve professional interaction between men and women in the workplace. Breast Cancer Prevention (1:50:14) Former Matt Townsend Show producer, Lizz Miller, and her mother, Janiel, have had to undergo genetic tests, bilateral mastectomies, and countless surgeries in their journey through cancer prevention. Lizz is a BYU graduate from American Fork with a Bachelors in Media arts and worked on the Matt Townsend Show up until graduation. She left the studios a few months ago and headed to the hospitals to begin the same fight breast cancer prevention that her mother went through.

Tour de France, Clinton Email, ADHD Meds, Freedom to Choose Jul 05, 2016

Show notes

Tour de France and Clinton Email (15:44) 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 talks about the Tour de France, Trump and the Star of David, and Hillary Clinton and her email. ADHD Medications (1:02:53) Dr. Frank Ninivaggi is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Child Psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine Child Study Center in New Haven, Connecticut, member of the Yale-New Haven Community Medical Group, and the Medical Director of the Devereux Glenholme School in Washington, Connecticut. He has many publications including his most recent books, Biomental Child Development: Perspectives on Psychology and Parenting, and Envy Theory. Dr. Ninivaggi discuss the treatment of ADHD and how medication is not always the answer. Freedom to Choose (1:51:02) 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 how we have the right o choose to be healthy.

The Poverty Industry, Kids and Gender Stereotypes, Tarzan Jul 01, 2016

Show notes

The Poverty Industry (16:12) Daniel Hatcher is a professor of law at the University of Baltimore. He previously served as the assistant director of advocacy for public benefits and economic stability with the Maryland Legal Aid Bureau. He is the author of “The Poverty Industry: The Exploitation of America’s Most Vulnerable Citizens.”One thing that sets America apart from many other countries is its safety-net programs. America has a lot of programs meant to help out poor and vulnerable citizens like foster care and Medicaid. But what happens when those institutions start abusing the privileges the government gives them to help others? Daniel Hatcher, suggests that some of these safety-net programs could be using federal money for themselves instead of using that money to help the poor and vulnerable. Coaches Corner - Scope Creep (42:44) When you have a project with a targeted goal and the scope of the project grows beyond the intended goal that is called scope creep. This happens with government programs intended to help the poor and needy in our communities. Dr. Matt Townsend with some comments. http://matttownsend.com/ Parenting Beyond Pink & Blue (1:01:50) Dr. Christia Brown, is an Associate Professor of Developmental Psychologist at the University of Kentucky. She is the author of Parenting Beyond Pink and Blue: Raising Kids Free of Gender Stereotypes. Studies on gender and child development show that, on average, parents talk less to baby boys and are less likely to use numbers when speaking to little girls. Without meaning to, we constantly color-code children, segregating them by gender, based on their presumed interests. Our social dependence on these norms has far-reaching effects, such as leading girls to dislike math or increasing aggression in boys. Dr. Brown explains how to parent beyond Pink & Blue. Why are beards popular? (1:28:24) We are stationed here at BYU where we have a unique policy where men need to be clean-shaven at all times which might seem strange to other college-aged kids

Leadership and Coaching, Spirituality: Mind and Body Jun 30, 2016

Show notes

BYU Football Media Day (28:21) Kicking off BYU Football Media Day BYU Athletic Director Tom Holmoe & Head Football Coach Kalani Sitake join Dr. Matt Townsend to discuss leadership, the challenges of a new head coach, and the importance of team unity. Spirituality: Mind & Body (1:10:42) Dr. Lisa Miller is a Professor of Psychology and Education, Director of Clinical Psychology, and Director of the Spirituality & Mind Body Institute at Teachers College Columbia University. She is the author of the book "The Spiritual Child: The New Science on Parenting for Health and Lifelong Thriving" So much of our early education focuses on cognitive skills. We learn cursive and spelling, math and science. But teaching principles that the heart needs to understand is a different matter entirely and a delicate one. Dr. Miller discusses how spirituality helps people develop emotionally.

Children in Hot Cars, The Big Picture, Serengeti Rules Jun 29, 2016

Show notes

Epidemic of Children Dying in Hot Cars (17:34) Dr. David Diamond is a professor of Psychology, Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Director, Neuroscience Collaborative Program and Center for Preclinical and Clinical Research on PTSD at the University of South Florida. Since 2004 over 300 children have died or suffered brain damage as a result of being left in hot cars. These heart wrenching accidents leave families and communities devastated, but they CAN be prevented. Dr. Diamond explains more about this epidemic, what causes parents to “forget” and how we can prevent future tragedies. Coaches Corner - Hold Judgment (43:06) Dr. Matt Townsend on why we should not be quick to judge others when tragedy strikes. The Big Picture (1:03:17) Dr. Christine Whelan is a clinical professor in the School of Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is the author of the Book “The Big Picture: A guide to finding your purpose in life.” More than 86% of young adults say that making decisions in line with their purpose is what makes them an adult. But only 43% say they have a clear picture of what they want in life. How can millennials coming into their adulthood find their purpose and find a path that fulfills that purpose? Dr. Whelan explains. Serengeti Rules (1:48:00) Dr. Sean B. Carroll is an award-winning scientist, writer, educator, and executive producer. He is vice president for science education at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Allan Wilson Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Have you ever wondered how there seem to be just the right amount of fish in the sea or just the right number of cells in our bodies? Has it ever crossed your mind how miraculous it all is? Is it chance or is there some sort of regulation behind it all? These seem like such simple, fundamental questions, but they have a huge impact on our lives. Dr. Carrol, joins us to discuss his book, The Serengeti Rules, and tell us how the discoveries of these profoundly im

Common Beauty Myths, Music Teacher, Coach's Corner Jun 28, 2016

Show notes

The Truth About Common Beauty Myths (17:24) Autumn Whitefield-Madrano author of Face Value: The Hidden Ways Beauty Shapes Women’s Lives. Her book takes a deeper look at the relationship between appearance and science, social media, friendship, and many other societal influences. Fashion trends fade in and out, and with them, the idea of beauty shifts just as frequently. What was considered the ideal women 40 years ago, looks entirely different in today’s society. So what exactly is it that influences the idea of beauty? And how does this impact the lives of women? Autumn Whitefield-Madrano explains. Coaches Corner - Truth about Beauty (40:57) Dr. Matt Townsend talks about outward beauty verses inward beauty. He shares about the importance about drawing from within for possitive self esteem. Why Music Lessons Need to Keep Up With the Times (1:02:39) Dr. Clint Randles, Associate Professor of Music Education at the University of South Florida. Music is ever-evolving. Now artists use keyboards, touch pads, and computer software to create music. That raises the question, are music teachers teaching what students want and need to learn? Dr. Randles on how to teach music a better way.

Brexit and Trump, Why We Mourn Animals, Creative Productivity Jun 27, 2016

Show notes

Brexit and Trump (27:01) 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 talks about how politicians have handled the "Brexit" result. Why We Mourn Animals (1:14:34) Dr. Kurt Gray is Assistant Professor of Social Psychology and Author of the book “The Mind Club” . He studies the mysteries of subjective experience and presents the phenomenon of mind perception. Nothing seems more real than the minds of other people. When you consider what your boss is thinking or whether your spouse is happy, you are admitting them into the "mind club." It's easy to assume other humans can think and feel, but what about a cow, a computer, a corporation? What kinds of mind do they have? Dr. Kurt Gray explains. Coaches Corner - Power of Thoughts (1:38:10) Thoughts and ideas lead to action. Negative thoughts will leed to a undesirable outcome. Dr. Matt Townsend with ideas on how to control or eliminate negative thoughts so we can achieve more possitive results. More Creative, Less Productive (2:00:40) Dr. Art Markman is the director of the Human Dimensions of Organizations at the University of Texas and is a member of the editorial board of Cognitive Psychology. He joins us today to There are so many responsibilities at work. Do you ever feel that your superiors constantly want fresher ideas, better products, or new advancements but you just don’t have the time to think of something new? Creativity is one of the most valuable qualities in an employee, but productivity is one of the most measured qualities in the workplace. Sometimes it seems that these two qualities clash even though managers look for both. Dr. Markman discuss his article, “To Get More Creative, Become Less Productive.”

Presidential Humanity, Cognitive Bias in Money Decisions Jun 24, 2016

Show notes

There a Bit of Donald Trump in Each of Us? (17:32) Dr. Wendy Patrick sits on the Board of Directors of the California District Attorneys Association. She is a faculty member of San Diego State University, teaches business ethics and law enforcement. Dr. Patrick is the co-author of Reading People and author of Red Flags: How to Spot Frenemies, Underminers, and Other Toxic People in Every Area of Your Life. Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump face difficulties with their view in the public eye. Both candidates are strategizing to appeal to the general public in their unique ways; however, Dr. Wendy Patrick claims that in order to win over the public, these presidential candidates will need to play “the human card.” Coaches Corner - Emotional Management (1:00:43) Dr. Matt Townsend explains the concept of emotional management. Why is it important and how to develope the ability to deal with day to day challenges in a more healthy way. Cognitive Biases That Lead to Bad Money Decisions (1:10:55) Kristin Wong is an award-winning writer. Her contributions to MSN Living’s The Heart Beat blog won her an award from the Society of Professional Journalists. She regularly contributes to NBC News, Lifehacker, and Bankrate. Why is budgeting such a challenge for some of us? Well money isn’t hard because of the math, it’s the psychology that trips us up. How can we retake control of our minds and our wallets? Kristin Wong explains the cognitive biases that lead to bad money decisions. Rorschach Radio (1:57:53) The inkblot test for Radio. The Rorschach test is a psychological test in which subjects' perceptions of inkblots are recorded and then analyzed using psychological interpretation. Dr Matt Townsend shares odd audio with our new student producer Sadie Maughan to get a better idea of her internal motivation.

Tuition Free Policy, Cost of Mental Health Care, IHOP Hero Jun 23, 2016

Show notes

Tuition Free Policy (17:10) Dr. Lindsay Page is an assistant professor of research methodology at the University of Pittsburgh. She is a research scientist at the Learning Research and Development Center at the University of Pittsburgh. College nowadays is incredibly expensive—just ask any current or prospective college student and they’ll tell you. The average cost of college tuition is $32,405 at private universities and around $53,000 if you’re an ivy league student. Since many students struggle with the cost of tuition while maintaining decent grade point averages, Democratic presidential candidates are proposing that universities adopt debt-free or tuition-free policies. Dr. Page claims that tuition-free policies alone aren’t enough to ensure academic success. Cost of Mental Health Care (1:10:06) Dr. Charles Roehrig is a Vice President, Institute Fellow, and founding director of Altarum’s Center for Sustainable Health Spending. His research interests include timelier tracking of health spending, determining its sustainable growth rate, and modeling its future growth. Healthcare is a billion-dollar industry. Within the Healthcare industry, what does America spend the most money? It’s not cancer, Trauma and Injury, or even heart conditions (although heart conditions were the costliest 10 years ago). Dr. Charles Roehrig talks about the study he conducted about the rising epidemic of Mental Health costs. IHOP Hero (1:46:21) Sherman Fleek is a retired Army Lt. Col, served for 25 years. He is currently Command historian for the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. He is the recipient of the Secretary of the Army Award for Valor, a civilian awarded that acknowledges acts of heroism or bravery. Imagine waiting to be seated for breakfast at a IHOP, when suddenly you hear a loud noise to look up and see the place is being robbed. What’s your reaction, lay low? Hide? Maybe try and call 9-1-1? Retired Lt. Col. Sherman Fleek didn’t do any of those things. He stepped in and made a difference. A real “H

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