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 and Rhetoric, Relative Race, Medical Error Related Deaths May 10, 2016

Show notes

Trump and Rhetoric (16:59) Dr. Jennifer Mercieca, who studies political communication and presidential rhetoric, explains why Trump seems to be able to say things that others can’t. Dr. Mercieca an associate professor of Communication at Texas A&M. Week after week it seems there’s another story about a controversial statement made by Presidential candidate, Donald Trump. The remaining republican candidate has lined the campaign trail with countless prejudice remarks leaving many feeling ostracized and fearful of a possible Trump presidency. Dr. Mercieca explains why is it that Trump “get’s away with saying things other candidates can’t." Coaches Corner - When To Speak (40:55) Dr. Matt Townsend on knowing when to speak and when not to speak. How “saying it how it is” can lead to a lack of trust. Some subjects need to be handled without name calling. Relative Race (1:10:24) Dan J Debenham is the host of BYUtv’s new show, Relative Race. He is also the Principal and Vice President, LENZ-works Productions. Do you know who your fourth cousin twice removed is? What if he or she showed up at your front door one day? Do you think you’d look alike? What kinds of stories could you share? This kind of experience is at the forefront of BYUtv’s new show, Relative Race. Medical Error Related Deaths (1:48:40) Dr. Ron Hager is an Associate Professor of Exercise Sciences in the College of Life Sciences at Brigham Young University. Medical errors are said to claim more than 251,000 lives every year in the US. That is 700 per day and 6.9% of total deaths annually. Martin Makary, lead author and professor of surgery at the Jonhs Hopkins University School of Medicine said the deaths from medical error stem from bad doctors to breakdowns in communication. In an interview with the Washington Post Makary said, “It boils down to people dying from the care that they receive rather than the disease for which they are seeking care.” Dr. Ron Hager on what this study means for your next hospital stay.

Trump vs. GOP, Mom's and Marriage, Crucial Accountability May 09, 2016

Show notes

Trump vs. GOP (14:42) 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 explains what could come out of the current conflict between Donald Trump and the GOP. What Your Mom Has to Do With Marriage (1:03:05) Liz Higgins is a Marriage and Family Therapist Associate in Dallas, Texas. Liz work focuses on helping millennial couples. Liz is an active blogger at lizhigginsMFT.com and is a contributor for the Huffington Post. Mother’s Day has a changing role in people’s lives as they get older and go through different phases. Which brings the question, what role should a mother play once you get married? Liz Higgins has the answer. Coaches Corner - Parenting Tips (1:25:23) Parenting in tough. Whether you have young kids or your children are grown and married being a parent can be tricky. Dr. Matt Townsend shares some ideas and tips on how to “drive within the point of prevention”. Crucial Accountability (1:48:51) Dr. Joseph Grenny, leading social scientist, and New York Times bestselling author, Joseph Grenny. Along with Crucial Accountability, you can read more of his bestselling books such as Crucial Conversations, Influencer, and Change Anything. Joseph Greeny joins the show to speak about his New York Times bestselling book, “Crucial Accountability.

Uninformed Voter, Resolve Conflicts, Bathroom Mistakes May 06, 2016

Show notes

Uninformed Voter (14:48) Dr. Arthur Lupia is the Hal R Varian Collegiate Professor of Political Science at University of Michigan. Studies decision making and learning. His topics of expertise include information processing, persuasion, strategic communication, and civic competence. With a wealth of misinformation and an ever-growing population of citizen disinterested in politics, many experts think less informed citizen should just stay out of politics. However, our guest today, Dr. Arthur Lupia, argues in his book, Uninformed: Why People Seem to Know So Little about Politics and What We Can Do about It, that we can actually increase competence among voters. Dr. Lupia more explains the issues surrounding political education and his solutions to this rising issue. Resolve Emotionally-Charged Conflicts (1:03:02) Dr. Daniel Shapiro is the founder and director of the Harvard International Negotiation Program, which pioneers innovative strategies and teaching methodologies to address the human dimensions of conflict resolution. Dr. Shapirois is the author of the book Negotiating the Nonnegotiable: How to Resolve Your Most Emotionally Charged Conflicts and explains how to deal with emotional arguments. Liana Tan - Bathroom Mistakes (1:30:07) The Matt Townsend Show is all about giving you the tips and tools to live healthier, happier lives- and that includes living sanitary lives as well! We figured there is one place all of our listeners can relate to- one place we all spend some time every day- and that is the bathroom. So we sent our producer, Liana Tan, to find some advice on how you can improve your bathroom procedures and be on your way to healthier, germ-free living. Parent Previews - Captain America: Civil War (1:49:51) Rod and Donna Gustafson from Parent Previews joins the show to review the new movie Captain America: Civil War Meet the Producers - Mother's Day (1:57:45) Student Producers Liana Tan and Caitlin Thomas share their thoughts on Mother's Day with Dr. Matt Townsend.

Ranking College Athletes, Metabolism, Outgoing Introvert May 05, 2016

Show notes

Ranking College Athletes (18:18) Zach Knowlton recent BYU graduate in Statistics. In the world of sport’s predictions, there is no, “sure thing.” Brackets are busted and bets are lost, all in the name of upsets. But what if you had a way of knowing how well a player is going to perform throughout the season? Joining us today in the studio, is Zach Knowlton. Zach and his team at BYU developed a statistical model, rating athlete performance as a way to better guide coaches weekly decisions. Zach shares more about his statistical master-play and just how important the numbers off the field are. Firing Up Your Metabolism (1:01:38) Claudia Norris is a Nutritional Therapist and Eating Psychology Coach. She is an experienced public speaker and has spoken to CEOs and Senior Managers at London Business School. She Blogs for The Huffington Post and Mum on the Rock. She has written for the National Childbirth Trust and various local papers and magazines. When is the the best time to eat and the role of metabolism in losing and keeping that weight off. Claudia Norris explains. Coaches Corner - How to Reach Out (1:25:18) Dr. Matt Townsend discuss the situation where it may be hard to connect with an individual. Maybe a person doesn't laugh at your jokes or fails to show emotion when you talk with them This is not a reason to dismiss them and give up on connecting. You may have to reach out to learn on a more personal level. Dr. Townsend explains. Signs You're an Outgoing Introvert (1:47:20) Jenn Granneman, founder of IntrovertDear.com- the largest community and blog for introverts and highly sensitive people on the web- says, “Introversion and extroversion are not black and white.” She joins us today to discuss a category of people she likes to call “ambiverts.” Jenn Granneman explains what an Outgoing Introvert is and how

Trump Beats Cruz, Cost of Eating Healthy, Lessons in Persuasion May 04, 2016

Show notes

Trump Beats Cruz (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 recaps the Indiana Primaries and how Trump will move forward as the Republican Candidate for President. The Cost of Eating Healthy (1:03:18) Margaret Marshall is a contributor to the Huffington Post and founder of Margaret Marshall Assoc., and the “Why Weight” coaching method. She is a wellness consultant, a speaker, author, and weight-loss coach. Her book, “Body, Mind, and Mouth…Life’s Eating Connection” was released in 2012. Her e-book, the “Five Finger Food Guide”, followed in 2014. Margaret Marshall explains The Cost of Being Healthy. Laura Vanderkam - Lessons in Persuasion (1:45:46) Laura Vanderkam is the author of several time management and productivity books, including I Know How She Does It, What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, and 168 Hours. Her work has appeared in publications including Fast Company, Fortune, and USA Today. Laura Vanderkam talks with Dr.Townsend about her article "Lessons In Persuasion From People Who Get Kids To Eat Veggies"

Homeownership Politics, Proof of Heaven, Pushy Parent May 03, 2016

Show notes

No Place Like Home: Wealth, Community and the Politics of Homeownership (15:48) Dr. Brian McCabe is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Georgetown University. Teaches courses on urban studies, neighborhood inequalities and quantitative methods for social research. For decades, owning a home has been a major status symbol, and for most Americans, it is the most important and largest financial investment of their lives. It also provides individuals and families with a sense of community. However, how have our nation’s various housing crises, changed the meaning of homeownership? And how has the need for perfectly crafted communities become a source of residential segregation? Dr. Brian McCabe, author of, No Place Like Home: Wealth, Community and the Politics of Homeownership. Dr. McCabe analyzes the challenges of homeownership as it continues to be the main drive for building wealth in the United States. Dr. McCabe shares his research involving the ideology of homeownership and community. Proof of Heaven (1:03:53) Dr. Eben Alexander, a renowned academic neurosurgeon. Do you believe in a life after death? Different religions paint different pictures of what it may look like, from heavenly angels to simply an abode of peace. Other religions don’t believe in a heaven that exists as a physical space. What would it look like to you? Our guest today is Dr. Eben Alexander, a renowned academic neurosurgeon who had a near-death experience and came back with a whole new perspective. Behind Every Great Kid is a Pushy Parent (1:52:03) 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 benefits of being a pushy parent

Gap Year, Live Happy, Choose Joy, Anxiety: Girls and Boys May 02, 2016

Show notes

Coaches Corner - Gap Year (27:15) The White House has announces that Malia Obama, oldest daughter of President Obama, will be attending Harvard in 2018 after taking a year off. This year off is called a "Gap Year" and is a growing trend supported by educators, parents, and health experts. Dr. Matt Townsend explains how this "Gap Year" concept may be a healthy option. Live Happy, Choose Joy (59:22) Deborah Heisz is COO, Co-Founder and Editorial Director of Live Happy LLC. She is the author of Live Happy: Ten Practices for Choosing Joy. She was the founding Editor in Chief of the current version of SUCCESS magazine (2008-2011). She is Editorial Director of Magazine “Live Happy”. With the rising interest in positive psychology and mindful living, it is becoming clearer that living a joyful life is a choice. Practices for choosing joyful living range from gratitude to mindfulness. Deborah Heisz share how to Live Happy Why Girls Tend to Have More Anxiety Than Boys (1:44:48) Dr. Leonard Sax, a psychologist and a practicing family physician. Have you noticed that your daughter tends to be a high-functioning over-achiever in all she does while your son sits back and plays video games? Does your daughter seem to stress over the tiniest details while your son doesn’t seem to have a care in the world? This is a pretty common trend. Under your daughter’s achievements, trophies, and awards, she may have a lot of anxiety bottled up, though. Why is it that girls tend to have more anxiety than boys? Dr. Leonard Sax explains.

Understanding, Spirituality and Science, What About Baseball Apr 29, 2016

Show notes

Coaches Corner - Understanding (17:22) The conflict between science and religion has a long history. For example Galileo was condemned for his belief that the Earth and planets revolve around the sun. Dr. Matt Townsend shares his ideas on how these two areas of thought can coexist and benefit each other. Spirituality and Science (1:13:57) Dr. Anthony Jack is an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Case Western Reserve University College of Arts and Sciences. He co-authored the recent study: “Why Do You Believe in God? Relationships Between Religious Belief, Analytic Thinking, Mentalizing and Moral Concern”. Scientific and Spiritual approaches can often collide head to head. It is possible, that the conflict between the two is actually rooted in our brains. Dr. Jack explains. What About Baseball? (1:26:14) Baseball is called “America's Passtime” but in recent years the game has been declining in popularity. With spring time upon us a new baseball season in underway and student producer Liana Tan heads to the ballpark to find out what people like about The Grand Old Game. Parent Previews - Ratchet and Clank, Mother's Day (1:48:17) Rod and Donna Gustafson from Parent Previews joins the show to review the new movies Ratchet and Clank and Mother's Day Meet the Producers - Arbor Day (1:55:37) Student producers Kaylee Daines and David Boyle teach Matt Townsend about Arbor Day

Fixing Government, Wrong Job Personality, What Makes A Jerk Apr 28, 2016

Show notes

How Our Constitution Undermines Effective Government (17:07) Dr. William Howell is a Professor in the Department of Political Science and the University of Chicago. He is the co-author with Terry Moe of Relic: How Our Constitution Undermines Effective Government--and Why We Need a More Powerful Presidency. The constitution of the United States was written over 200 years ago. The nation in 1787 looked vastly different than it does today; society and the problems we encounter have changed and evolved from the simple agrarian society of our founding. However, our contemporary world has not seen changes in governmental structure and with that we are facing day to day issues with health care, taxes and so much more. The solution? According to our guest today, Dr. William Howell, an update in the Constitution “through reforms that push Congress and all its pathologies to the periphery of the lawmaking process, and bring presidents--whose concern for legacy drives them to seek coherent policy solutions--to the center of decision making” is the key. Dr. Howell explains. Wrong Personality for the Job (1:02:54) 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. Why Some People Are Jerks (1:51:18) Adam Bear is a PhD student in the psychology department at Yale University. His research combines approaches from cognitive psychology, philosophy, and evolutionary game theory to study the relationship between conscious and unconscious processes in the mind. Adam Bear shares his research into what makes a person a Jerk and what lead to kindness.

Amtrak Primaries, Phone Blue Light, Social Science and Parenting Apr 27, 2016

Show notes

The Amtrak Primaries (17:10) 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 recaps the primaries in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware and Maryland. Blue Light and our Bodies (1:03:06) Dr. Geoffrey Goodfellow is an Associate Professor, Assistant Dean for Curriculum and Assessment; Coordinator and Private Practice Clerkship at Illinois College of Optometry. Dr. Goodfellow has served as the site coordinator for the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigators Group as well as the chief of the Pediatrics/Binocular Vision Service. Apple recently released some new products with new features. Among these were a new iPad Pro and a new iPhone. These products come with many features, one of which is a new lighting technology called “Night Shift”. “Night Shift” changes the lighting on the phone to produce less blue light so as to help users go to sleep easier. But will it really work? Dr. Goodfellow explains. Social Science and Parenting (1:49:39) Dr. Brian Boutwell is an Associate Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at St. Louis University. His research focuses on the genetic and environmental underpinnings of human violence and aggression, as well as the intersection of general intelligence with behavioral outcomes. Additionally, his work also focuses on the biological evolution of various human traits. Nature vs. Nurture ... a debate that has been raging for decades. Science has been searching for answers as to how humans develop from children into adults. What has the greatest effect on us: the style of parenting or the environment we grew up in? Social Science has attempted to answer the question but Dr. Brian Boutwell points out some possible flaws in their researc 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:17:10 - The Amtrak Primaries 01:63:06 - Blue Light and our Bodies 01:109:39 - Social Science and Parenting

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