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:

House Speaker, Will I Ever Be Free of You, How to Worry Less Oct 05, 2015

Show notes

Fight for the House (14:44) 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 and Matt talk about the fight for the Speaker of the House. Narcissitic Relationships: Will I Ever Be Free of You (1:04:17) Dr. Karyl McBride is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Denver, Colorado with over 28 years in public and private practice. She specializes in treating clients with dysfunctional family issues. For the past seventeen years, Dr. McBride has been involved in private research concerning children of narcissistic parents, with a primary focus on women raised by narcissistic mothers. She has treated many daughters of narcissistic mothers in her private practice. Dr. Karyl McBride is the author of two books, “Will I ever be good enough?” and “Will I ever Be free of You?” dealing with narcissism. Dr. McBride joins the show to talk about healing from narcissistic relationship Unique Ways to Worry Less (1:47:54) 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. Today Kim and Dr. Matt talk about ways to worry less. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:14:44 - Fight for the House 01:64:17 - Narcissitic Relationships:Will I Ever Be Free of You 01:107:54 - Unique Ways to Worry Less

School Shootings, Carbon Footprint, Parent Previews Oct 02, 2015

Show notes

School Shootings (15:30) Dr. Matt Townsend tackles the tough subject of how to talk to kids about school shootings. If a child sees a story on the news about a school shooting they may have questions about their safety or why a person would commit that type of crime. Dr. Townsend provides a reasoned approach that includes listening to the child and finding out what they want to know instead of jumping to conclusions that may cause more concerns in the mind of a young child. For older children this may be a chance to discuss some of the different aspects of the issue. Individual’s Carbon Footprint (58:10) Edward Wang is a University of Washington electrical engineering graduate student and is here with us today as a representative of MagnifiSense. This is a new wearable technology that can “sense what devices and vehicles the user interacts with throughout the day, which can help track that individual’s carbon footprint, enable smart home applications or even assist with elder care.” Edward graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Engineering from Harvey Mudd College and now researches in Ubiquitous computing. Parent Previews (1:38:52) Rod Gustafson from Parent Previews joins the show to look at the movie "The Martian" and "The Walk." Meet The Producers (1:51:27) Producers Liana Tan and Caitlin Thomas talk to Dr. Matt Townsend about generational differences in accessing media and info. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:15:30 - School Shootings 00:58:10 - Individual's Carbon Footprint 01:98:52 - Parent Previews 01:111:27 - Meet The Producers (1:51:27)

Presidential Narcissism, Racial Bias, Growing up Social Oct 01, 2015

Show notes

A Research-backed Guide to Picking the Next President (14:46) Dr. Craig Malkin is an Instructor in Psychology for Harvard Medical School. After teaching in local universities, Dr. Malkin became a Chief Psychologist at Harvard Medical School’s Cambridge Hospital, in Cambridge Massachusetts. He is the President and director of his own therapy and consulting company, YM Psychotherapy and Consultation, Inc., which he owns and operates with his wife, Dr. Jennifer Leigh. Dr. Malkin outlines the dos and don’ts of picking our next leader by helping us understand the good and bad traits of narcissism. Ignorance of Racially Biased Decision-Making (1:01:41) Liz Redford, Social Psychology grad student at the University of Florida says, “Typically, when a consequence is unexpected, the perpetrator is considered less at fault. When it came to racial bias, however, participants assigned responsibility regardless of awareness.” Liz works at the Attitudes and Social Cognition lab, a core research and administrative center for the web-based Project Implicit and teaches us more about how to be more sensitive, aware, and morally responsible. Growing up Social (1:47:01) Arlene Pellicane earned her BA from Biola University and her Masters in Journalism from Regent University. Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, Arlene worked as the Associate Producer for Turning Point Television and 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 is with us today to help us figure out how to raise relational kids in a screen-driven world.

Russia, Despicable Me, Ethical Leadership Sep 30, 2015

Show notes

Russia: Friend or Foe (10:43) Jeff Hardy Assistant Professor of Russian and Eastern European History at BYU. BYU (BA ’01, MA ’06) and Princeton University (PhD ’11). Primary research focus is the penal system (Gulag) of the Soviet Union. Dr. Hardy joins Dr. Townsend to discuss how events from Russian history have influenced their current political decisions. Cinco Paul of "Despicable Me" (56:53) Cinco Paul is a writer and producer, known for Despicable Me (2010), Despicable Me 2(2013) and Horton Hears a Who! (2008). He has been nominated for two Annie Awards for “Best Writing in an Animated Feature” for Horton Hears a Who and “Music in Animated Feature Production” for The Lorax. He is the recipient of an ASCAP Award, for Top Box Office Films with The Lorax. Are You an Ethical Leader? (1:41:47) Dr. David Mayer is a University of Michigan associate professor of Management and Organizations. Along with serving as the faculty co-director of the Center for Positive Organizations, he has published over 50 articles and book chapters and his work has been featured in outlets such as Bloomberg, Fortune, HR Magazine, New York Daily News, Slate, The Atlantic, and Wall Street Journal. Dr. Mayer and Dr. Townsend talk about how to be an ethical leader. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:10:43 - Russia: Friend or Foe 00:56:53 - Cinco Paul of "Despicable Me" 01:101:47 - Are You an Ethical Leader?

Microaggressions, Paperless Classroom, Plant-Based Diet Sep 29, 2015

Show notes

Microaggressions and Victimhood Culture (13:40) Dr. Bradley Campbell, ,Associate Professor of Sociology at California State- Los Angeles. He has a Ph.D. in sociology from University of Virginia. Research interest in Theory, Criminology, Deviance, Morality, Law, Violence, Genocide. Dr. Campbell, researches the behavior that occurs when conflicts arise. He’s here to tell us more about the culture shift in conflict aggression and the feelings of victimhood many people have today. The Paperless Classroom (1:00:34) Gwyneth Beagley is a professor of psychology at Alma College in Alma, Michigan and has a Ph.D. in Psychology and Neuroscience from Michigan State University. Dr. Beagley has taught a college class for a year using only mobile devices, iPads, and online databases. She is here today to share her experience with the paperless classroom. Benefits of Plant-Based Diet (1:44:47) Dr. Ron Hager is an Associate Professor of Exercise Sciences in the College of Life Sciences at Brigham Young University. One of his areas of interest is Chronic Disease Prevention. Today, Dr. Rob Adams joins Dr. Hager and Dr. Townsend to tall about the benefits of plant-based diet. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:13:40 - Microaggressions and Victimhood Culture 01:60:34 - The Paperless Classroom 01:104:47 - Benefits of Plant-Based Diet

Religious Diplomacy, Science of Forgiving, Freelance Economy Sep 28, 2015

Show notes

Religious Diplomacy (12:21) Dr. Charles Randall Paul is the founder and president of the Foundation for Religious Diplomacy a non-profit group that builds trust between religious critics and rivals. He is the executive chairman of The World Table, a software system for honest and respectful conversations on the Internet. He received a B.S. from Brigham Young University in social psychology in 1970 and an MBA from Harvard University in 1972. After a successful career as a commercial real estate developer in the southwestern United States, he obtained a Ph.D. in 2000 at the University of Chicago Committee on Social Thought. He has published and lectured on ways to engage unresolvable conflicts with integrity and without anger, coercion or violence. Dr. Paul talks with Dr. Townsend about religious diplomacy. The Science of Forgiveness (56:01) Dean E. Barley is the director of BYU’s Comprehensive Clinic to come on and talk to us about his work with survivors of sexual trauma and there journey to forgiveness. Barley served previously as the associate director of clinical services at the BYU clinic for 12 years. He received a bachelor of science degree in psychology from BYU. Master’s degree in social work from the University of Utah and a doctorate in counseling psychology from BYU. Dr. Barley talks to Dr. Townsend about The Science of Forgiveness. Bob Dickie: The Leap (1:40:46) Robert Dickie III is president of Crown Financial Ministries, a non-profit dedicated to helping people create long term plans for personal financial, career, and business success. He is also an author, speaker, consultant, and columnist. Bob speaks with Dr. Townsend about his book "The Leap: Launching Your Full-Time Career in Our Part-Time Economy.

Just Let Go, Low Maintenance Mothers, The Producers Sep 25, 2015

Show notes

Just Let Go (15:25) Ryan Innes is a Singer/Songwriter and a Season 4 contestant on the televison show The Voice. He studied songwriting and contemporary voice at BYU and was part of the singing group Vocal Point. He says "I share my music (because) I can't help but not," he said. "It just comes out of me. It's how I mourn, rejoice, cope, laugh, love. It's my primary emotional outlet. Ryan was asked to write a song for the Just Let Go movie soundtrack. Ryan talks with Dr. Townsend about what went into creating the song "Rise & Fall." Low Maintenance Mothers (57:52) 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. Parent Previews (1:37:44) Rod Gustafson from Parent Previews joins the show to look at the movie "The Intern" and "Hotel Transylvania 2." Meet the Producers (1:49:51) Producers Kaylee Daines and Ben Wasden talk to Dr. Matt Townsend about how the Media has shaped their moral compass.

Just Let Go, Ambitious Woman, Politics Went Tabloid Sep 24, 2015

Show notes

Just Let Go (11:50) Patrick Henry Parker and Christopher S. Clark are the filmmakers behind the movie Just Let Go. They discuss why they decided to make the movie, some of the decisions they made to bring the story of a Utah man who lost his wife and 3 kids in a car accident but found a way to forgive. The Ambitious Woman (56:58) Esther Spina, also known as “The Ambitious Woman” has become widely known for her amazing achievements made in the business world. Going from being a beginning employee to a National Consultant for Ambit Energy in just three years, Spina has mastered the art of goal setting. Recently, Spina published a book titled “The Ambitious Woman” and currently heads a mentoring club specifically geared toward helping women to set and achieve effective goals in their lives. A successful business woman and master of her art, Esther Spina joins us today to talk about how her vision of who she wanted to be became her reality. The Day Politics Went Tabloid (1:42:06) Matt Bai is the national political columnist at Yahoo News and has also been a fellow at Harvard’s Institute of Politics at the Kennedy School of Government and at the Hoover Institution at Stanford. Mr. Bai is the author of NPR’s Best Book of the Year, “All the Truth is Out: the Week Politics Went Tabloid,” is here to discuss with us today how one event in history could have changed how we elect our presidents and how American values have shifted.

Big Pharma, Adolescent Boredom, Raising Millennials Sep 23, 2015

Show notes

Big Pharma (21:34) Brad Bangerter, founder and president of LowestMed.com , an online resource to help people find lower prices for precription medication. Brad has 30 years of experience developing and managing healthcare systems related products. In a recent Consumer Reports poll of 1,037 U.S. adults who currently take a prescription medication, one third of American prescription holders said they paid an average of $39 above the usual cost for their prescription. Brad Bangerter explains his work and gives tips on how to lower medication costs. How Detachment from Childhood Begets Adolescent Boredom (1:07:38) Dr. Carl Pickhardt is a psychologist in private counseling and public lecturing practice in Austin, Texas. He is the author of 15 parenting books, including “Surviving Your Child’s Adolescence”, as well as books of illustrated psychology and adult and children's fiction. Dr. Pickhardt discusses how tough the transition from adolescence to adulthood can be and how parents can help. Dr. Matt Townsend - Raising Millennials (1:58:52) Dr. Matt Townsend is raising millennials and working with millennials. Millennials are between the ages of 18 and 34 or a person who was born between 1982 and 2004. This age group is making big life decisions, entering the workforce, and affecting commonly held beliefs about society. Dr. Townsend gives tip on how to interact with a millennial and how to encourage or help a millennial to achieve their goals

Just Let Go, Amish Romance, Quality vs Quantity Time Sep 22, 2015

Show notes

Just Let Go (14:41) In 2007 Chris Williams lost his wife Michelle and two of their four children in a car accident involving a drunk driving teen. Chris Williams decided to forgive the 17 year old and move on with life. Chris's message of forgiveness is an empowering invitation to all who have suffered, however unjustly, to lay down their burdens and let it go. Chris wrote a book "Let it Go" and the story has now been made into a movie "Just Let Go" which opens September 28th. Chris talks with Dr. Townsend about his story and the process of getting to forgiveness. Amish Romance Novelist (1:09:25) Jennifer Beckstrand is the bestselling Amish romance author of The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series for Kensington Books. Huckleberry Summer was nominated for the RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice Award and the 2015 RITA® Award, and Huckleberry Hill won the 2014 LIME Award for Inspirational fiction. Both Huckleberry Hill and Huckleberry Christmas appeared in Examiner.com list of top ten inspirational books for 2014. Jennifer joins us now to introduce us to the world of the Amish Romance. Quality or Quantity Time with Kids (1:44:10) 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 talk is the author of "Keep It Real and Grab a Plunger" providing parenting tips and ideas. She shares her thoughts on quality vs. quantity time with children 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:14:41 - Just Let Go 01:69:25 - Amish Romance Novelist (1:09:25) 01:104:10 - Quality or Quantity Time with Kids

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