Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

This one's for all you August Long Weekend road trippers, along with everybody who's been too busy through the summer to catch every single episode of Real Talk. Jespo and Johnny recap some of our biggest recent moments on the show, and we wrap with another fiery edition of The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen....

Not guilty doesn't mean innocent. In one of our most important episodes to date, we take on the Hockey Canada verdict with Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton (SACE) CEO Mary Jane James and sexual violence survivor/advocate Kristin Raworth. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS: talk@ryanjespersen.com  SACE: https://www.sace.ca/ SAiF SOCIETY: https://www.saifsociety.ca/ SAVE on INTERNET, ELECTRICITY, and NATURAL GAS:...

You've no doubt driven it, perhaps for an hour, perhaps for more than a week straight. But how much do you know about the history of the Trans-Canada Highway? Historian, podcaster, and author Craig Baird (3:30) takes us back to the days of gravel roads and ferry travel as we explore his new book Canada's Main Street: Epic Stories of the Trans-Canada Highway. CHECK OUT THE BOOK: https://sutherlandh...

Nothing but hot button issues in this episode, as we check in with Freedom Convoy lawyer Eva Chipiuk (4:00) after she was "debanked" by RBC, and get into the nitty gritty of Alberta's controversial new school library book policy.  35:30 | Provincial Education Minister Dimitrios Nicolaides and Library Association of Alberta past president Laura Winton debate Alberta's so-called "book ban."  TELL US...

This episode's all about building. Jasper's rebuild. Canada's housing crunch. The truth about immigration. Oh, and Jespo's Happy Gilmore 2 review. As always, we want to know what you think... EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com  3:30 | Some of the most important stories relating to Jasper's rebuild are being buried. Or, at least, they were until Lisa MacGregor released "Crown Jewel in Ashes: Ja...

Karen and Les have strong words for Danielle Smith, while Anne and Clinton see the Hockey Canada verdict differently. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com When you visit the DQs in Palisades, Namao, Newcastle, Westmount, and Baseline Road, be sure to tell 'em Real Talk sent you!

We tackle the Hockey Canada verdict, shenanigans in the Battle River--Crowfoot by-election, Edmonton's "low key, low energy" mayoral race, and rumours around the federal NDP leadership "race" with Dave Cournoyer and Omar Mouallem (1:30) out of the gates.  DAVEBERTA: https://daveberta.substack.com/ EDIFY: https://edifyedmonton.com/ 51:00 | It'd be impossible to find fiercer advocates than Bean Gill...

It's been a year since wildfire tore through Jasper, one of Canada's crown jewels. In this special episode, we connect with Mayor Richard Ireland (3:00), federal Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience Eleanor Olszewski (16:45), journalist Bob Covey (32:15), Tourism Jasper CEO Tyler Riopel (44:15), Fairmont JPL Director of Golf Operations Tahlon Sweenie (52:00), Evil Dave's Grill...

Is Canada's military compromised? As four men (including two active members) face terrorism charges in Quebec, we talk to an expert on extremism and white supremacy in the Canadian Armed Forces. But first, Ryan comments on troubling attempts to harass and intimidate Alberta-based investigative journalist Carrie Tait.  12:00 | Dr. W. Andy Knight takes us into the findings of his report commissioned...

1,000 episodes! THANK YOU, Real Talkers. In another Alberta politics exclusive, former Edmonton councillor Michael Walters announces his campaign for mayor (2:00). Find out what he'd do about the city's infill debacle, a strained relationship with the police department and the provincial government, bike lanes, plastic bag bans, downtown crime, and skyrocketing property taxes.  CHECK OUT MICHAEL'S...

Colleen in Calgary has fightin' words for critics of the Calgary Stampede. Garth calls Jespo to the carpet for "running interference for the Liberals". Barbara T. and Daryl are expecting big things in the federal byelection. "Blacklisted" says politicians need to step up. Justin V. calls out The Left for hypocrisy. And Harrison calls Tim Cartmell an "unserious" candidate. It's The Flamethrower pre...

There's about to be a serious new entry into Edmonton's mayoral race (4:30). Is Danielle Smith's top advisor really returning to an MLA role (7:30)? Are Premier Smith and PM Mark Carney truly finding common ground (10:30)? What's the word around Stampede re: the PC Party's resurgence (15:15)? Could Pierre Poilevre actually blow the August 18 byelection (26:30)?  In our feature interview presented...

The Calgary Stampede has long been a must-attend event for industry and political movers and shakers, but the vibe's been different this year...in a good way. Longtime Alberta MLA and former Minister Leela Aheer gives us a first-hand report (3:00) on the what and why, in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West.  27:00 | Did Alberta and Ontario just "betray" the rest of the c...

Who the heck is Bonnie Critchley? In this episode, you'll meet the military trailblazer (2:00) who's aiming to take down Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre in the Battle River-Crowfoot byelection on August 18. She may not be the odds-on favourite, but Critchley lays out a few reasons why voters in one of Canada's safest Conservative ridings should vote against their party.  CONNECT WITH BONNIE'S...

Will Elon Musk actually move the US away from a two-party system with his America Party (26:30)? Is the Electric Vehicle market losing momentum (32:30)? Is Pierre Poilievre trending even further in the wrong direction (45:40)? We talk to National Observer lead columnist Max Fawcett about the stories leading the headlines.  6:40 | But first...did you see the story about four men charged with terror...

Canada's committed to increasing its military investment to 5% of GDP. That won't come without some tough decisions (that will undoubtedly affect everyday Canadians). Economist Todd Hirsch lays it out (8:30) in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West.  READ TODD'S OP/ED: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-to-up-defence-spending-canada-must-cut-deeper...

Chantal's pissed off about Airdrie's Canada Day parade, Wes has NO time for a Progressive Conservative revival (or EVs), Blahsheep's keen on Danielle Smith's Alberta Sheriffs - TSM feels differently, Les is less than subtle about the UCP, Patrick says we need to pay more attention to Quebec, and Krista has a (hilarious) Fourth of July message for our American neighbours. It's The Flamethrower pres...

This Fourth of July feels different, doesn't it? As President Donald Trump reignites his trade war with Canada, we check in with a special guest south of the border (3:45) who reminds us there's lots of goodwill yet to spend between the two nations.  CHECK OUT PKJ ENTERTAINMENT MARKETING: https://www.pkjentertainment.com/ 49:15 | Jespo and Johnny tell a few stories from the Glendale Ladies Member...

Can the rising-from-the-ashes Progressive Conservatives interrupt Danielle Smith's tenure as Alberta's premier (11:00)? Will a new provincial police service outperform the RCMP (41:00)? And why did renowned economist Dr. Trevor Tombe agree to participate in Premier Smith's Alberta Next "propaganda stunt" (54:00)? We get answers to these questions from veteran political commentator Graham Thomson i...

Ousted (former) UCP MLAs Peter Guthrie and Scott Sinclair are reviving the PC Party of Alberta, saying they'll restore "balance and normalcy" to politics in the province. In a Real Talk exclusive, we find out why they're doing it, and how they intend to dethrone Danielle Smith's UCP (2:30).  TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com  May 22 LUKASZUK INTERVIEW: https://rtrj.info/052225CanadaFo...

Real Talkers Rosie and Cactus Sheriff are fired up over the UCP's library book distraction, while Jennifer and AJ trade barbs after our Don Iveson interview. David, Eddie the Valiant, and Thera-P share their hot takes on residential infill. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com When you visit the DQs in...

Elected Ontario school board councillor Catherine Kronas has been suspended for speaking out against land acknowledgements. She's mounting a legal challenge - does she have a case? We put that story (2:00) in front of our Real Talk Round Table panelists right out of the gates as we recognize National Indigenous History Month. Stick around to hear how Matricia Bauer (Warrior Women),  Keith Diakiw (...

Supriya Dwivedi says PM Mark Carney made a "rookie mistake" on India, and lays out her argument (36:00) along with her thoughts on Carney's "nation-building" Bill C-5 in this episode. But first, we follow up on the Alberta library book controversy (including public survey results) with Education Minister Dimitrios Nicolaides (2:45) and Laura Winton of the Library Association of Alberta (14:30).  T...

Tim Cartmell wants to press pause infill development. The Edmonton mayor candidate says council has lost the public's trust, and it's time to re-evaluate how mature neighbourhoods are evolving. But what would a moratorium mean, big picture? Jespo gets into it right off the top of the show, and checks in with Real Talker Travis Watt (8:40), who says he's living an infill nightmare.  THOUGHTS? talk@...

Iran and Israel "don't know what the f*ck they're doing," says (an agitated) U.S. President Donald Trump, after the two nations violated what POTUS clearly believed to be a negotiated ceasefire. In this episode, political scientist Dr. Duane Bratt explains why the U.S. is stepping in (3:15), gauges the actual threat of Iranian nukes, and touches on economic implications for Canada. 24:30 | The Alb...