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:

Brazil Olympic Turmoil, Enable the Future, Procrastination Jun 22, 2016

Show notes

Brazil Olympic Turmoil (17:51) Shannon Sims is an Independent journalist and former fellow of the Institute of Current World Affairs in Brazil. For four years, she has reported from Brazil on business, sports, and society in Latin America. As political unrest grows in Brazil, and the threat of the Zika virus stays ever so present, many worry the 2016 Summer Olympics are on the verge of failure. With the opening ceremony set to commence on August 5th, all eyes are on the shaky grounds of Rio. What will the Olympic Games look like in the midst of political uncertainty, how will the health and safety of athletes and spectators be protected, and will Brazil be able to unite as a nation to host? Shannon Sims with the details of what is happening in Brazil. Follow Shannon Sims on Twitter at https://twitter.com/shannongsims Enable The Future (1:04:48) Ivan Owen, along with his wife Jen, are the founders of Enabling the Future. The online community that helps create and distribute prosthetics to those in need for free. Ivan designed the first prosthetic to be 3-D printed, that design became the catalyst for the online. Ivan explains how he got involved with this worthwhile endeavor. Coaches Corner - Becoming Part of a Community (1:21:05) Dr. Matt Townsend talks about why it will benefit you to become part of your community by volunteering and caring for others. By reaching beyond yourself you can find a richer more fulfilling life. Strength Versus Structure (1:49:09) Dr. Timothy Pychyl is the director of the Procrastination Research Group at Carleton University. Sometimes we don’t get things done because we are too busy or too stressed or depressed. Sometimes we procrastinate because we don’t know how to accomplish a task or don’t have enough resources. But have you ever procrastinated simply because you “just didn’t feel like doing anything”? Even when we are at our healthiest and most energetic times, sometimes we just don’t feel like getting things done. Dr. Pychyl discusses how to combat procrastination and h

Terrorism Policy, Breaking Work Addiction, Alzheimers Jun 21, 2016

Show notes

Policymaking After Terror Attacks (18:05) Ilya Somin is a law professor at George Mason University and regular writer for the law and politics blog of the Washington Post. He is the author of Democracy and Political Ignorance: Why Smaller Government is Smarter and The Grasping Hand: Kelo v. City of New London Limits of Eminent Domain. Emotions ran high after last week’s mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, leaving 49 people dead and many others hospitalized. The nation has been gripped with a number of completely justifiable emotions all directed at different venues. This will inevitably lead politicians to make and change policies, as can already be seen with the 15 hour filibuster on gun control this past weekend. Ilya Somin explains why intense emotion after a harrowing event like the Orlando shooting is a poor guide to policymaking. Coaches Corner - Reactive Rules (40:41) Dr. Matt Townsend talks about going too far with rules and shares a story about a school who has stopped using whistles at recess because the sound is "too aggressive". How To Break Your Addiction To Work (1:01:59) Rebecca Knight is a freelance journalist in Boston and a lecturer at Wesleyan University where she also teaches writing courses. She has written many pieces focused on personal finances and business education. Her work has been published in The New York Times, USA Today, and The Financial Times. For many of us, working simply feels good. But just because it feeds your ego or makes you feel important, that doesn’t mean it’s actually good for you. How do you break the cycle of working long hours at the office and constantly checking email at home? How do you persuade those around you — similarly work-obsessed colleagues or a demanding boss — that working all the time isn’t healthy? Rebecca Knight explains How to Break Your Addiction To Work. Coaches Corner - Work/Life Balance (1:26:48) Dr. Matt Townsend on the importance of making time for yourself and family and not focusing on work every waking moment. Memory loss

Politics and Brexit, Change Your Marriage, Suffering is Optional Jun 20, 2016

Show notes

Politics and Brexit (16:14) 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 Trump and the forces mobilising against him and the "Brexit" vote coming up this week Nine Thoughts That Can Change Your Marriage (1:02:52) Sheila Wray Gregoire is a mother, blogger, public speaker and author of 8 books including Nine Thoughts That Can Change Your Marriage. Marriage can be wonderful and it can be tough. The tough times can be difficult to manage but by looking at your relationship and asking insightful questions challenges can be overcome. Sheila Wray Gregoire shares ideas that can help your marriage because a Great Relationship Doesn't Happen by Accident. Coaches Corner - Shift Your Paradigm (1:22:49) Dr. Matt Townsend shares his thoughts about how to fix life's problems by changing the way you think about the issue to find a new perspective. Maybe you can find a better approach to the complication by stepping back and taking a different angle. Life is Hard, Suffering is Optional (1:47:26) 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 LIFE is hard - suffering is Optional .

Internet Access Rights, Optimism and Job Hunting, Finding Dory Jun 17, 2016

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Internet Access Rights (15:56) Bill Callahan is the Director of Connect Your Community, an organization aiming to develop sustainable strategies that empower tens of thousands of Cleveland and Detroit residents to join the digital mainstream. Constant access to the internet has almost become a necessity in our everyday life’s. We’ve grown dependent on the instant information and ease it provides us. However, in many major U.S. cities, there is a glaring inequality in internet access. This divide is preventing many American’s from creating a better future for themselves. Bill Callahan explains how important being connected to the internet should be viewed on the level of civil rights. Liana Tan - Vacation Tips (40:43) Now that school’s out and summer’s here, you might be wondering what to do with your very limited vacation days. Whether you plan on basking in the Bahamas or packing the family in an RV and hitting the road, our producer Liana Tan has some of her very own tips to make this summer’s vacations trips to remember. Optimists are Better at Finding New Jobs (1:01:44) Michelle Gielan is the Founder of the Institute for Applied Positive Research. She is an Executive Producer of “The Happiness Advantage” Special on PBS and a featured professor in Oprah’s Happiness course. Michelle Gielan is the author of the book Broadcasting Happiness. Michelle Gielan wrote a Harvard Business Review article on how “Optimists are better at finding new jobs” . She explains what she has discovered. Parent Previews - Finding Dory and Central Intelligence (1:47:56) Rod Gustafson from Parent Previews joins the show to review the new movies Finding Dory and Central Intelligence

Oil Industry, Don't Let Jerks Fool You, Toxic Relationships Jun 16, 2016

Show notes

Oil industry’s knowledge of potential environmental damage (16:27) Carroll Muffett is the President and CEO of the Center for International Environmental Law, a nonprofit organization that uses the power of law to protect the environment, promote human rights and ensure a just and sustainable society. He previously served as the Executive Director of the Climate Law & Policy Project and Deputy Campaigns Director at Greenpeace USA. According to an almost 50 year old report, uncovered by Washington-based Center for International Environmental Law, oil executives have been well aware of the serious climate risks associated with carbon dioxide emissions for decades. This extensive cover-up mirrors the controversy big tobacco companies faced and many are looking for oil companies to claim responsibility for the cover-up. Carroll Muffett shares what has been discovered. How to Not Be Fooled by Jerks. Or Become One (1:02:17) 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. Coaches Corner - Informed Opinion (1:27:57) Dr. Matt Townsend shares some ideas on how avoid being taken advantage of and how to develop an informerd opinion. 5 Ways Toxic Relationships are Ruining Your Life (1:51:10) Susie Albert Miller is a relationship coach and has been a therapist and coach for the last 20+ years. She is the bestselling author of Listen, Learn, Love: How to Dramatically Improve Your Relationships in 30 Days or Less! Susie consults with businesses as a facilitator

Gawker and First Amendment, Labor of Love, Mother's Voice Jun 15, 2016

Show notes

Gawker and the First Amendment (23:56) 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 (1:10:27) 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. Coaches Corner - Dating Difficulties (1:38:08) It is becoming increasingly difficult for some people to find someone to date. Between social norms, expected behavior, and the rise of technology the act of dating is becoming complicated. Dr Matt Townsend shares what he has learned from helping people find that special someone. Mom's voice has powerful effect on children (1:59:17) Dr. Daniel Arthur Abrams is an Instructor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University. he earned his PhD at Northwestern University, in Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience. He authored the study Neural circuits underlying mother’s voice perception predict social communication abilities in children. Dr Abrams shares his research into what happens

Orlando Shooting, Baby Name Psychology, Fathers Day Quiz Jun 14, 2016

Show notes

Orlando Shooting Update (18:30) Dr. Matt Townsend discussed the latest developments in the Orlando Night Club Shooting. He offers some thoughts on how tough it will be to avoid future mass shootings with the current partisan climate in Congress. The Psychology of Baby Names (1:01:52) 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. Coaches Corner - The Importance of Tone (1:24:24) We all have disagreements. Many times the thing that escalates the disagreement is the tone of the argument. High pitches, raised voices or sarcasm can cause the calm discussion to turn into a fight. Dr. Matt Townsend shares some thoughts on how to deal with arguments. Julie Nelson - Fathers Day Quiz (1:49:09) 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. Julie quizes Dr. Matt with Father's Day trivia.

Orlando and Politics, Mind in the Making?, Overcoming Addiction Jun 13, 2016

Show notes

Orlando and Politics (15:41) 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 Cannon and Matt Townsend talk about the political response to the Orlando shooting. Coaches Corner - Find a Place to Escape (42:24) Life is stressful. Sometimes you need a place to escape from the day to day things of the world. Dr. Matt Townsend with some ideas on how to get away for a few moments to decompress. Mind in the Making (1:03:06)? Ellen Galinsky is President and Co-Founder of Families and Work Institute. She helped establish the field of work and family life during the time she was at Bank Street College of Education, where she was on the faculty for 25 years. Her more than 100 books and reports include the best-selling Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs. Ellen Galinsky shares skills you can teach your children the skills they need for success. She is author of Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Overcoming Addiction (1:49:38) Court McGee is a proud father of two awesome boys and married to his high school sweetheart, Chelsea. Currently, Court is a Mixed Martial Arts fighter and ranked as one of the world’s best in the UFC’s Welterweight division. Despite his recent success, Court remembers how it feels to be powerless over the disease of addiction. Before his UFC career, Court struggled with alcoholism and drug addiction which culminated in his accidental drug overdose in 2005. After eight minutes with no heartbeat and no pulse, he was pronounced legally dead. Miraculously, Court survived and has since soared to the heights of the UFC. Through the miracle of recovery, Court found the hope to keep fighting. Sadly, there

Future of Netflix, Digital Detox, Beat Boxing Jun 10, 2016

Show notes

Future of Netflix (16:57) Dr. Amanda Lotz is a Professor of Communication Studies and Screen Arts and Cultures at the University of Michigan. Her research examines the operations of the U.S. television and the representation of gender on television. We’ve all sat down on the couch over the long weekend, turned on Netflix and…. Binged. Before you even realize it, you’ve watched a whole series in just two days. The addictive nature of Netflix is what has launched them as a competitive force amongst major TV networks. Dr. Lotz explains why Nextflix is changing the future of how we watch TV. Liana Tan - Wake Up (39:40) Waking up in the morning can be tough. Student producer Liana Tan explains what you should avoid to have a great start to the day Learning to Balance Virtual and Real World (1:02:57) Holland Haiss is a successful business consultant that mentors and facilitates clients to reach their goals. She coaches on the art of leadership, the value of communication marketing strategies, and how to reach personal and financial goals. Her book is Consciously Connecting: A Simple Process to Reconnect in a Disconnected World. Holland Haiis with some ideas on how to live in a connected world. Meet the Producers - How to Beat Box (1:54:43) Student producers Liana Tan and Caitlin Thomas along with special guest David Waterbury teach Dr. Matt Townsend how to beatbox. Beatboxing is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of mimicking drum machines using one's mouth, lips, tongue, and voice.

Cyber Bombing, Good Husbands, Kindergartners and Play Jun 09, 2016

Show notes

Cyber Bombing (16:32) Dr. Sean Lawson is an Associate Professor of Communication at the University of Utah. He authored of the book, Nonlinear Science and Warfare: Chaos, Complexity, and the U.S. Military in the Information Age. Dr. Lawson's research focuses on the relationships among science, technology, and the development of military theory and discourse, in particular the intersections of national security and military thought with new media, information, and communication technologies. Dr. Lawson explains what a "Cyber Bomb" is, if the US military is using this technology, and what the future of cyber warfare will be. Good Husband, Great Marriage (1:02:38) Robert and Jane Alter authors of “Good Husband, Great Marriage” which is a hard-hitting, no-nonsense guidebook for men and women to help them fix their marriages. Robert Alter's central, controversial argument: the man is primarily responsible for the marital problems. Robert and Jane Alter explain how men have responsiblity to make changes to fix their marriage. Marriage is Hard (1:28:39) Marriage takes work. Marriage takes time and effort. Dr. Matt Townsend with some ideas on how to think of your spouse first and find a way to feel love for your partner before bringing up a tough issue of having a difficult conversation. Kindergartners and Playtime (1:50:39) Dr. Christopher Brown, Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction in Early Childhood Education at the University of Texas, suggests that recess and play time for kindergartners might not just be a break from schoolwork, but also a vital part of their education. He joins us today to tell us why play matters for our kids so much and why it might deserve more than 15 minutes of a kindergartner’s day.

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