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:

Immigration Reform, Christmas Tech, Managing Kids Expectations Dec 16, 2015

Show notes

Immigration Reform (15:44) Marguerite Telford is the Director of Communications for the Center for Immigration Studies , an independent, non-partisan immigration research institute located in Washington, DC. Prior to joining the Center, Ms. Telford spent over 20 years in various public relations, international affairs, and legal roles. Most recently, she served as the Director of Communications and Marketing at Prison Fellowship International, a non-profit organization which operates in over 120 countries. Marguerite Telford joins Dr. Townsend to discuss the complicated issue of immigration reform. Christmas Tech (1:04:27) Jay McFarland joins Dr. Matt to discuss the latest developments in technology and technology related news. Jay is a radio host whose career has taken him to Nevada and Dallas and now has him on the air with a daily show called The Browsers on KSL NewsRadio in Salt Lake City. In addition to his daily radio show Jay has also authored two books, "Freedom Ain't Free" and "Joyful Union," and he has created several popular apps and games for the iPhone and iPad devices. Jay and Dr. Matt talk about some of the popular technology gifts for Christmas. Kids Expectations (1:46:48) Heather Johnson, M.S., has been an adjunct faculty member at Brigham Young University for nearly 10 years. She is passionate about teaching students the principles behind successful families and the importance of families spending time together. Heather and Dr. Matt talk about low maintenance mothers. Heather and Dr. Townsend talk about helping children have realistic expectations.

Terrorism and Voting, Multipotentialites, Holiday Conservation Dec 15, 2015

Show notes

Terrorism and Voting (15:30) Dr. Gregg Murray is an Associate professor of Political Science at Texas Tech University. He is the Executive director of the Association for Politics and the Life Sciences. His primary research focuses on political behavior and, in particular, how evolutionary theory may help explain some of our political behaviors that are seemingly irrational. Dr. Murray shares with Dr. Townsend his research into terrorism's effect on voter turnout. Multipotentialites (1:03:06) Emilie Wapnick doesn’t like labels, but if she had to use them, she’d use some combination of artist, entrepreneur, writer, speaker, and coach. She was a law student then became interested in entrepreneurship, launched a business, became a coach, and wrote a book "Renaissance Business". She is the author of the blog: Puttylike and a has a popular TEDx talk entitled “Why some of us don’t have one true calling”. Emily joins Dr. Townsend to discuss how we decide what we want to be and why we may not need to do that anymore. Holiday Gift Your Mother Earth (1:46:14) Dr. Kenneth Worthy is the author of Invisible Nature: Healing the Destructive Divide between People and the Environment and is a research associate at the University of California. He teaches environmental history, philosophy, and ethics at UC Santa Cruz, St. Mary’s College of California, and UC Berkeley. You can read more of Dr. Worthy’s work on his blog “Finding the Human Place in Nature”

Terror Threat, Life Direction, Office Holiday Party Dec 14, 2015

Show notes

Terror Threat (13:02) Todd Palmer, an FBI agent, joins Matt to discuss the FBI's role in preventing terrorism. Palmer also talks specifically about cyber terrorism. He explains what we can do to stay safe in our everyday lives. Life Direction (1:05:05) Sometimes our employment can become unfulfilling. But if you don't want to change jobs what can you do to make work a positive experience. Dr. Matt Townsend shares some ideas on how to find your direction in life. 8 Tips to Survive Your Office Holiday Party (1:48:27) Dr. Liane Davey is the New York Times Bestselling author of "YOU FIRST: Inspire Your Team to Grow up, Get Along, and Get Stuff Done" and the co-founder of 3COze Inc. Liane is a frequent contributor to Harvard Business Review online and is the host of the popular Change Your Team blog. Dr. Davey joins Dr. Townsend with Tips on how to survive your holiday office party. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:13:02 - Terror Threat 01:65:05 - Life Direction 01:108:27 - 8 Tips to Survive Your Office Holiday Party

One Child Policy, Optimism Bias, Movies, Meet the Producers Dec 11, 2015

Show notes

China's One Child Policy (18:35)(../../../episode/82c9998f-7004-4824-bd4f-5e1d50fd8bdb/the-matt-townsend-show-one-child-policy-optimism-bias-movies-meet-the-producers?playhead=1115&autoplay=true link) Mei Fong is an author and journalist who graduated from the National University of Singapore she started her journalism career as a reporter. She has a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University. Mei has worked for Forbes, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal where she won a shared Pulitzer for coverage of China’s transformative process ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Mei Fong is the author of "One Child: The Story of China's Most Radical Experiment" and will explain how the recent relaxing of the One Child Policy will affect society and the economy of China. The Optimism Bias (59:57) Dr. Tali Sharot is an Associate Professor (Reader) at the Department of Experimental Psychology at University College London and a Wellcome Trust Fellow. Tali is the author of The Optimism Bias and co-editor of The Neuroscience of Preference and Choice. Dr. Sharot shares her thought on how our brains are wired to look on the bright side & how that can be both dangerous and beneficial. Heart of the Sea, Krumpus (1:43:30) Rod Gustafson from Parent Previews joins the show to review the new movie Heart of the Sea and Krampus Meet the Producers - Multicultural Holiday's (1:51:46) Student producer Kaylee Daines and Lizz Miller discuss with Dr. Townsend about different holiday traditions from around the world.

Mitt Romney and Presidency, Growing Bones, Good Enough Mom Dec 10, 2015

Show notes

Mitt Romney and Presidential Politics (16:45) Dr. Matthew Wilson is an Associate Professor of Political Science in The Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences and Southern Methodist University. Specializes in the politics and voting behavior of religious voters, as well as public opinion, elections, religion and politics, and political psychology. Dr. Wilson shares his thoughts on what influence Mitt Romney could have in the presidential election and what he expects from this presidential cycle. Epibone (1:01:36) Dr. Nina Tandon is the CEO and Co-Founder of Epibone, she was Named one of the 100 most creative people in business by Fast Company. TED Senior Fellow, MIT & McKinsey alum. Nina has 10 years of experience in tissue engineering and over 8 years of bioreactor design experience. Dr. Tandon talks with Dr. Townsend about Growing living human bones for skeletal reconstruction The Gift of the Good Enough Mother (1:47:58) Dr. Carla Naumburg, is a clinical social worker, writer, and mother. She is the author of two books: Parenting in the Present Moment: How to Focus on What Really Matters, and Ready, Set, Breathe: Practicing Mindfulness with Your Children for Fewer Meltdowns and a More Peaceful Family, which just hit the shelves last week! Dr. Naumburg discuss why mothers don't need to be perfect to be a good mom.

Assaulting the American Mind, Simplify Christmas, Holiday Angst Dec 09, 2015

Show notes

The Assaulting of the American Mind (14:40) Dr. Ravi Chandra is a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, and a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He was the medical director of the Adult Outpatient Clinic at RAMS, Inc, a community mental health center, from 2008-2012, and continues to volunteer there. He has a private practice in San Francisco. Dr. Chandra joins Dr. Townsend to talk about how Universities nationwide are pushing to erase their campuses of words, ideas, and subjects that might cause discomfort or offense. What is causing this movement, and what are the affects, positive and negative? Simplify Christmas (1:00:20) Heather Johnson, M.S., has been an adjunct faculty member at Brigham Young University for nearly 10 years. She is passionate about teaching students the principles behind successful families and the importance of families spending time together. Heather and Dr. Matt talk about how to make the holiday season easier on the family while creating lasting memories Six Ways to Head Off Holiday Angst (1:47:12) Peg Streep received a Masters with Highest Honors in English from Columbia University. She focuses on women’s issues in psychology and is the author or coauthor of eleven books including Mean Mothers: Overcoming the Legacy of Hurt and Quitting: Why We Fear It and Why We Shouldn't in Life, Love, and Work. Peg shares her article “6 Ways to Overcome Holiday Angst” with Dr. Townsend as they discuss how to better enjoy the holiday season. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:14:40 - The Assaulting of the American Mind 01:60:20 - Simplify Christmas 01:107:12 - SixWays to Head Off Holiday Angst

Religion and Economy, Why Work, Compression of Morbidity Dec 08, 2015

Show notes

The Impact Religious Diversity has on Economic Growth (15:28) Currently serves as the William and Roceil Low Professor of Business Strategy in the Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University. His research has enhanced understanding of the economic benefits to businesses that engage in corporate social responsibility activities. Author of, "More than Money: The Five Types of Capital That Create Wealth and Eliminate Poverty," published by Stanford University Press. Why We Work (58:16) Dr. Barry Schwartz the Dorwin Cartwright Professor of Social Theory and Social Swarthmore College. He is the author of "Why We Work” which discusses the motivation behind why we have jobs and how working just for money is enough. People need to feel like what they are doing matters. Compression of Morbidity (1:39:16) Dr. Ron Hager is an Associate Professor of Exercise Sciences in the College of Life Sciences at Brigham Young University. Dr Hager talks with Dr. Townsend about how to grow old in physically healthy and happy way. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:15:28 - The Impact Religious Diversity has on Economic Growth 00:58:16 - Why We Work 01:99:16 - Compression of Morbidity

Prayer Shaming, Paying For Grades, Competing Families Dec 07, 2015

Show notes

Terrorism and Prayer Shaming (11:48) 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 talks about the political response to recent terrorist attacks and Prayer Shaming. Paying For Grades (1:01:40) Parenting expert Amy McCready is a “recovering yeller” and the Founder of Positive Parenting Solutions. A champion of positive parenting techniques for happier families and well-behaved kids, she reaches a worldwide audience with her Positive Parenting Solutions Online parenting course, web and print articles, live webinars, and media appearances. Amy is the author of The Me, Me, Me Epidemic! which give tips on how to empower your kids without indulging them. Competing Family Loyalties in the Holiday Season (1:46:06) Dr. Lynn Margolies is a psychologist and former Harvard Medical School Instructor. She is in private practice in Boston specializing in treating families, relationships - and particularly men and is a contributing writer for PsychCentral and other publications. The holidays can be a trying time for married couples and things can get messy trying to decide whose parent’s house to go to for dinner or how to split their time between families. This can bring out a lot of family drama and offended in-laws. Dr. Margolies share with Dr. Townsend ideas on how to deal with competing family loyalties during the holidays. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:11:48 - Terrorism and Prayer Shaming 01:61:40 - Paying For Grades 01:106:06 - Competing Family Loyalties in the Holiday Season

American Fear, Organizations and Learning, PA Voice of BYU Dec 04, 2015

Show notes

What Americans Fear Most (15:04) Dr. L. Edward Day is an Associate Professor, Chair, Department of Sociology at Chapman University and the Director of the Earl Babbie Research Center in Orange, California. He received his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Washington in 1992. A criminologist by training, he has a special fondness for cross-disciplinary research. Dr. Day shares his research into What Americans Fear Most and how knowledge of that fear can help in the creation of public policy. Why Organizations Don't Learn (59:05) Dr. Brad Staats Professor at University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School integrates work in operations management and organizational behavior in order to understand how and under what conditions individuals, teams and organizations can perform their best. His field-based research in such settings as healthcare and software services, consulting, call centers and retail, uses archival data and field experiments to provide an interdisciplinary perspective. He is here to talk to us about why he thinks some organizations don’t learn and what can be done to fix that. The P.A. Voice of BYU (1:39:24) Trace Eddington is Senior Manager, Marketing and Communications at LDS Philanthropies. He is also the PA for BYU Football and BYU Basketball. Trace and Dr Townsend talk about what it is like to be the public address voice at large sporting events. Meet the Producers (1:55:00) Student producers Caitlin Thomas and Liana Tan talk with Dr. Townsend about how the tone of a person's voice effects how well a person is liked or trusted. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:15:04 - What Americans Fear Most 00:59:05 - Why Organizations Don't Learn 01:99:24 - TheP.A. Voice of BYU 01:115:00 - Meet the Producers

Drone Ethics, Finding Your Calling, Kids and Electronic Devices Dec 03, 2015

Show notes

Drone Ethics (15:20) Dr. Avery Holton and Dr. Sean Lawson, who created “Drones and Society”, a curriculum at the University of Utah that aims to help students “explore the ways that drones are being imagined and made real” The courses also discuss the moral, ethical and legal issues brought on by drones technology. They are here to tells us more about their program and what we can expect to see in the future of drone regulation. Dr. Matt Townsend - Coaches Corner (1:02:24) Dr. Matt Townsend shares how he found his calling in life, how he created a job which allows him to help people, and gives some ideas on finding what motivates you. Kids and Electronic Devices for Christmas? (1:44:22) Arlene Pellicane earned a Masters in Journalism from Regent and formerly worked as the Associate Producer for Turning Point Television. Along with co authoring the book, “Growing up Social,” Arlene has authored “31 Days to a Happy Husband” and “31 Days to Becoming a Happy Wife.” Arlene Pellicane talks about The pros and cons of electronic Christmas presents.

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