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:

Zika Virus, Easier Break-Ups, Dating the People You Want Feb 29, 2016

Show notes

Zika Virus (17:12) Dr. Chantel Sloan. A professor of Health science here at BYU. Chances are, if you have turned the news on recently you’ve seen extensive coverage on the Zika Virus. While this latest outbreak of infectious disease has many worried and scrambling to understand the dangers, the virus is not new to the scientific world. In fact, The Zika virus was first discovered in the 1940s. For years, Zika outbreaks were, and appeared to do little harm. However, within the last year that has all changed. First with the massive outbreak in Brazil, affecting more that 1 million people and now with its continued growth, the whole world is searching for answers about the latest threat in public health. Dr. Sloan discusses the Zika virus, what exactly it is, how it spreads, and the dangers it can bring. Making Break-Ups Easier (1:01:53) Lauren Howe is a fifth year doctoral candidate in psychology at Stanford University. She co-authored the study, “Changes in Self-Definition Impede Recovery From Rejection”. Her research interests include fear of rejection and patient-physician interactions. Lauren Howe shares her research and offers a simple method for dealing with rejection. Four Keys to Increasing Your Dating Odds (1:17:46) Dating is tough and can be discouraging. Dr. Matt Townsend offers some ideas on how to make sure your approach will lead to the best results. Dr. Townsend shares tips to help increase the odds when dating. What is Leap Day (1:29:13) Hopefully you didn’t flip your calendars yet because, if you didn’t notice, it’s still February. Today is February 29th which means it’s Leap Day! Have you ever wondered why February usually only has 28 days or what Leap Day is even for? One of our producers, Liana Tan, who helps produce the 9:00 hour of the show gives us all the answers to our Leap Day questions. Why You're Not Dating the People You Want to Date (1:47:35) Alisa Goodwin Snell is a dating coach like none other. With sixteen years of experience as a licensed marriage and family therapist, 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:17:12 - Zika Virus 01:61:53 - Making Break-Ups Easier 01:77:46 - Four Keys to Increasing Your Dating Odds 01:107:35 - Why You're Not Dating the People You Want to Date

Big Money Politics, The Dirt Cure, Meet the Producers Feb 26, 2016

Show notes

Solutions to the Influence of Big Money in Politics (18:02) Stephen Spaulding, Legal director and senior policy counsel at Common Cause, where he works to reduce the undue influence of money in politics, expand access to democracy and uphold strong ethical standards in government. Stephen discusses money in politics, the goals of Common Cause and what steps need to be taken to better draw the lines between money and politics. The Dirt Cure (1:04:27) Dr. Maya Shetreat-Klein, Pediatric neurologist and mother of three, shows parents how to keep their kids healthy in new groundbreaking research. Based on cutting edge medicine that she has pioneered, THE DIRT CURE empowers parents to transform their children’s health by understanding the profound connection of their bodies and minds to nature and to food from nutrient and microbe-rich soil. Parent Previews: Eddie the Eagle, Gods of Egypt (1:49:46) Rod Gustafson from Parent Previews joins the show to review the movies "Eddie the Eagle, Gods of Egypt" Meet the Producers: Career Choices (1:59:47) Student producers Lizz Miller and Kaylee Daines talk about future career choices

Too Dumb to Fail, Self Transcendence, Feeling Like a Fraud Feb 25, 2016

Show notes

Too Dumb To Fail (14:30) Matt Lewis, author of "Too Dumb to Fail: How the GOP Betrayed the Reagan Revolution to Win Elections (And How It Can Reclaim Its Conservative Roots)", says that “America’s inclination toward simplicity and stupidity is stronger than ever, and its greatest victim is the Republican Party. According to Lewis, the GOP party is in danger of “extinction” if they don’t find a way to “embrace wisdom, humility, qualifications, and inclusion” In his book, Lewis outlines the history and roots of the conservative movement starting with Aristotle and show cases the important work of some of the greatest conservative minds. Matt joins us today to tell us more about the conservative movement and what can be done to reclaim what he believes has been lost. Importance of Self Transcendence (1:05:24) Dr. Candace Vogler is the David B. and Clara E. Stern Professor of Philosophy and Professor in the College at the University of Chicago, and Principal Investigator on "Virtue, Happiness, and the Meaning of Life," a project funded by the John Templeton Foundation. Dr. Vogler discusses her research in to Self Transcendence and how to "get over yourself." Feeling Like a Fraud (1:51:46) Dr. Jaime Kurtz is an associate Professor of Psychology at James Madison University in Virginia. Her research focuses on enjoying well-being and she presents seminars on mental health to continuing education health care professionals nationwide. Dr. Jamie Kurtz discusses the “imposter syndrome” and where this feeling of inadequacy comes from. What is in a Name (2:07:39) Madeleine Dresden is a student producer at BYU radio who specializes in writing nonfiction segments. Madeleine Dresden has a lot of experience with brandishing a unique name. What are the most popular baby names in the country right now? New lists come out every year, in which names like Sophia, Ava, Liam and Asher score consistently in the top five. But what about the kids who are given unpopular names, or even difficult-to-pronounce ones? What’s it like to 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:14:30 - Too Dumb To Fail 01:65:24 - Importance of Self Transcendence 01:111:46 - Feeling Like a Fraud 02:127:39 - What is in a Name

Religion and Politics, Grammar, Materialism and Relationships Feb 24, 2016

Show notes

Religion and Politics in the United States (16:03) Dr. Kenneth Wald, a distinguished Professor of Political Science and the Samuel R. "Bud" Shorstein Professor of American Jewish Culture and Society at the University of Florida. Dr. Wald shares his research with religion and politics and his book, Religion and Politics in the United States. His book analyzes many of the nation's political matters regarding religious freedom in modern America. The Sense of Style: A New Approach to Grammar Rules (1:04:28) Steven Pinker is a Johnstone Family Professor in the Department of Psychology at Harvard University. He conducts research on language and cognition, writes for publications such as the New York Times, Time andThe Atlantic, and is the author of ten books, including "The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person's Guide to Writing in the 21st Century." Steve Pinker discusses how language evolves and how to improve your writing style. Materialism/Consumerism and Relationships (1:49:56) Dr. Tim Kasser is a professor of Psychology at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois and has authored numerous scientific articles and book chapters on materialism, values, and goals, among other topics including: The High Price of Materialism, Psychology and Consumer Culture, Meeting Environmental Challenges: The Role of Human Identity, and most recently, Lucy in the Mind of Lennon. He is involved with activist groups who work against the commercialization of children and who work towards a more inwardly rich lifestyle than what is offered by consumerism. Dr. Kasser shares his thoughts on Materialism and relationships.

Must Hillary Be Likable, Smart After Graduating, Crying Babies Feb 23, 2016

Show notes

Must Hillary Be Likable? (14:48) Dr. Rosalind Barnett is a Senior scientist at the Women’s Studies Research Center at Brandeis University. This year’s election has brought to light many issues that face our society today. Among those issues is the on going discussion of women, not only in the work place, but also in politics. With Hillary Clinton forging her way through the democratic primaries many critics are questioning her ability to be “likeable.” But does likability equal competence? In Dr. Barnett's discusses her article, co-written by Caryl Rivers, “Must Hillary Be Likeable?” where they discuss the issues and struggles that women face in business and politics today. Staying Smart After Graduating (1:00:27) Dr. Alison J. Head directs Project Information Literacy, or PIL. PIL recently looked at how today’s Graduates continue to learn once they’ve completed college. After about 20 or so years of schooling, many adults strike out into the business world. But does the learning ever really stop? There are new positions, promotions and trainings to accomplish in the workplace that require continual learning. But how proficient are we at asking questions and learning after we’ve exited the world of academia? Dr. Head shares the research. How to Calm a Crying Baby (1:49:19) 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 how to calm a crying baby and share ideas on how to calm yourself down when dealing with infants. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:14:48 - Must Hillary Be Likable? 01:60:27 - Staying Smart After Graduating 01:109:19 - How to Calm a Crying Baby

Supreme Court, Timing of First Birth, Relationships Difficulty Feb 22, 2016

Show notes

South Carolina and Nevada Primaries (16:36) Joe Cannon is the CEO of the Fuel Freedom Foundation, former Chairman of the Utah Republican Party, past assistant administrator in the US EPA, and editor of the Deseret News. Joe Cannon recaps the Nevada and South Carolina primaries and discusses the passing of Justice Antonin Scalia Timing of First Birth (1:06:47) Dr. Kristi Williams is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at The Ohio State University. Teen pregnancies in 2014 amounted to 24.2 births for every 1,000 teenage girls. Nearly 89% of these births occurred outside of marriage. Researchers have been looking into the effects of when women have their first child and their marital history. Our guest today, Dr. Kristi Williams, co-authored the study, “First-birth Timing, Marital History and Women’s Health at Midlife” and shares the findings. Myths About Marriage (1:27:55) Dr. Matt Townsend shares his thoughts on the importance of marriage but cautions that marriage doesn’t solve everything. Everyone's situation is different and many factors must be considered when making life decisions. Less Capable of Forming Relationships (1:57:29) Vinita Mehta, Ph.D. is a licensed Clinical Psychologist in Washington, D.C., and an expert on relationships, managing anxiety and stress, and building health and resilience. Research shows that while meaningful relationships totally benefit our lives, we’re increasingly more dismissive of other people. Are we simply less invested in relationships than we used to be? Dr. Vinita Mehta shares the research

Survival Traits Killing Us, Single Tasking, Parent Previews Feb 19, 2016

Show notes

Key Survival Traits Are Now Killing Us (18:39) Throughout time, our genetic makeup has been programed to help us survive the world around us, but that may no longer be the case. In fact, the very traits that kept out forefathers alive may be killing us. Diseases like obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, mental illness, heart disease, and stroke are increasing affecting more and more people. Dr.Lee Goldman, cardiologist and dean of the medical school at Columbia University, joins us to talk about his “Too Much of a Good Thing: How Four Key Survival Traits Are Now Killing Us.” Coaches Corner: Science May Have a Point (45:24) Dr. Matt Townsend discusses why we should not be quick to dismiss evolutionary science when it comes to health and wellness. Science may have information that can prove helpful despite personal opinions. Why Single Tasking is the new Multi Tasking (1:07:15) Andrew Merle writes about personal productivity, health, happiness, success, business, & marketing. He is also the Senior Manager of Sports Marketing for Clif Bar Inc. Are you a multi-tasker? Are you surfing the web, writing a paper or getting work done while listening to music, cooking and managing children or co-workers? With so many activities and interests pulling at our attention, multi-tasking is nearly a necessity these days. But is multi-tasking the most productive way to approach our day? Andrew Merle shares his article “Why Single Tasking is the New Multiasking" and discusses ideas of how to better focus on one thing at a time. Coaches Corner: Closeness Gap (1:30:20) Dr. Matt Townsend with tips on how to avoid distractions when spending time with friends and family. Spending time with distractions can lead to loneliness. Being more connected to others you need to pay attention and not focus on distractions. Parent Previews: "Risen" (1:48:15) Rod Gustafson from Parent Previews joins the show to review the movie "Risen" Meet the Producers: Benefits of Laughter (1:57:32) Student producers Ben Wadsen and Joe Cars 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:18:39 - Key Survival Traits Are Now Killing Us 00:45:39 - Coaches Corner: Science May Have a Point 01:67:15 - Why Single Tasking is the new Multi Tasking (1:07:15) 01:90:20 - Coaches Corner: Closeness Gap (1:30:20) 01:108:15 - Parent Previews: "Risen" 01:117:32 - Meet the Producers: Benefits of Laughter

Hammerhead Six, Superbosses, Importance of Eye Contact Feb 18, 2016

Show notes

Hammerhead Six (18:29) US Army Captain Ronald Fry is a third-generation veteran who served in the 82nd Airborne Division and as a Special Forces team leader in Afghanistan. In addition to Infantry and Special Forces training, he has completed the military’s Survival School and the Ranger, Pathfinder, Jumpmaster, and Combat Diver trainings. He is the author of “Hammerhead Six: How Green Berets Waged an Unconventional War Against the Taliban to Win in Afghanistan’s Deadly Pech Valley.” Superbosses (1:03:28) Sydney Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management and Faculty Director of the Center for Leadership at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Professor Finkelstein has published 20 books and 80 articles, including the #1 bestseller “Why Smart Executives Fail.” His joins the show to discuss his latest book “Superbosses: How Exceptional Leaders Master the Flow of Talent” How Important Is Eye Contact? (1:48:27) Have you ever passed by someone and just felt their eyes on you from behind? How did you know they were staring at you if you can’t even see them? Is it a sixth sense? Is it paranoia? Or is it something we biologically come equipped with as humans? Ilan Shrira, a social psychologist at Arkansas Tech University, joins us today from Arkansas to tell us more about the science behind the feeling when you know someone is watching you and what it means for your relationships and even your survival. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:18:29 - Hammerhead Six 01:63:28 - Superbosses 01:108:27 - How Important Is Eye Contact?

Supreme Court, Internet on the Brain, Exercise and Memory Feb 16, 2016

Show notes

Supreme Court (17:00) Dr. Matt Townsend talks about the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and what that would mean for the highest court in the land. Also what the nomination process will reveal about our country and the character of those position to decide on the next justice. How the Internet is Affecting Our Brain (1:00:14) Timothy Caulfield is a Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy and a Professor in the Faculty of Law and the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta. He has been the Research Director of the Health Law Institute at the University of Alberta since 1993. He has published over 300 articles and book chapters. Timothy Caulfield discuss how much time we spend on the internet and what it is doing to our brain. Exercise and Memory (1:47:51) Dr. Ron Hager is an Associate Professor of Exercise Sciences in the College of Life Sciences at Brigham Young University. Ever have those days when you just can’t seem to get going? If this is a chronic experience it could be a problem that affects your productivity at work, your ability to deal with the stresses of life, your relationships with family and friends. Why? While there may be specific reasons, a great place to start is to consider the quality of diet, regular exercise and physical activity, and quality of sleep. Dr. Hager discusses how exercise affects memory. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:17:00 - Supreme Court 01:60:14 - How the Internet is Affecting Our Brain 01:107:51 - Exercise and Memory

New Dietary Guidelines, Indecisiveness Trap, Meet the Producers Feb 12, 2016

Show notes

New Dietary Guidelines (15:37) Andrea Ovard is a Registered Dietitian who graduated from BYU with a Bachelors of Science in Dietetics and completed an internship at the University of Idaho. She currently works at the University of Utah hospital as a clinical dietitian in the cardiac ICU and medical units. She also writes a blog titled "The Baking Dietitian". Her blog focuses on sharing healthy recipes, workouts and nutrition/health/fitness tips with her readers. Andrea will explain the new federal dietary guidelines and the rise of the popularity of coconut oil. 5 Ways to Get Out of the Indecisiveness Trap (1:06:33) Sr. 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 (many in multiple editions and translations). Dr. Susan Krauss-Whitbourne discusses how we can avoid Indecisiveness. Parent Previews - The Finest Hours (1:51:07) Rod Gustafson from Parent Previews joins the show to review The Finest Hours Meet the Producers (1:59:35) Student producers Kaylee Daines and Lizz Miller talk with Dr. Townsend about their difficulties in dating and Dr. Townsend gives advice

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