Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

We're not talking about news, politics, or pop culture this episode. We're talking about suicide. Approximately twelve people die by suicide every day in Canada. Can those deaths be prevented?  0:01 | Kyle Dubé lost his son Luke to suicide two years ago, at just sixteen years old. The "Relentless" podcast host joins Ryan in studio for a powerful conversation about why suicide is complicated.  CHEC...

Dead rodents and asbestos in the walls, fires due to outdated electrical just waiting to happen...the Prime Minister's official residence at 24 Sussex Drive is an absolute mess. Ryan says it's time to take the politics out of this discussion and fix the problem once and for all.  Lower income-earning Albertans will soon be hit hardest when the government's temporary electricity rate cap expires. E...

It's the biggest news story in the world...or, at least it's being treated that way. Donald Trump, the first current or former president in American history to face criminal charges, appears in a NYC court for arraignment. Already, massive crowds of supporters and opponents are clashing. What's at stake? What does this mean for Trump's personal and political future, and potential unrest in the US?...

This is the most "moving" Trash Talk to date...in the gnarliest way. You'll see what we mean, as Ryan reads turbocharged text on the federal budget, student burnout, constipation (yup), and the NHL's Pride problem. Trash Talk is presented by Local Environmental Services.  KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/

Danielle Smith's got a couple fires to put out. She started one of them herself, and a UCP candidate out of Lethbridge lit the match on the other. Could either situations cost the Premier the election in May? 2:07 | How bad is the video of Premier Smith's call with "pastor" Artur Pawlowski before his trial earlier this year? Ryan kicks off the show with a perspective check.  AGREE OR DISAGREE? EMA...

Let's face it: budget coverage is usually pretty boring. The average person doesn't spend much time digging into how governments plan on spending their money. This episode, we focus on the real life stuff: how does the federal government's big-spending, "clean economy"-focused fiscal plan impact you and your family?  1:18 | Erica Ifill isn't your average economist. The animated co-host of the Bad...

"Donald Trump is the biggest threat to democracy...and the greatest threat to the Canada/US relationship." That, from former US Ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman, who headlines this episode of Real Talk.  2:13 | Donald Trump kicked off a rally in Waco, TX with a song by a January 6th prison choir. He's calling the 2024 election "the final battle". What the hell is going on? Former US Ambassador to...

US President Joe Biden's 27-hour visit to Ottawa dominated the news cycle across the country: was that the whole point? Today's expert guests analyze the key moments, the distractions, and the bigger picture around POTUS in Canada.  In other news, two Edmonton Police officers killed March 16 will be honoured today with a regimental funeral and procession. Ryan opens the show with a few thoughts ab...

Jocelyne is sticking up for all the starving students in this week's edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services!  KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/

When a first responder is killed in the line of duty, their entire community feels the loss. This episode of Real Talk is dedicated to Edmonton Police constables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan, murdered while responding to a domestic call early Thursday morning.  3:55 | John Kirkman lost friends and colleagues in Mayerthorpe, Wetaskiwin, and St. Albert over the course of his career as a first respon...

This episode, we cover the implications of China meddling in our democracy, and the future of electric vehicles in Canada. But we begin the show with tragic breaking news: the murders of two Edmonton Police officers, killed while responding to a domestic call at an apartment block west of downtown.  0:55 | Edmonton Police constables Travis Jordan and Brett Ryan were shot and killed in the line of...

Do we do enough to hold corporations, organizations, and politicians accountable when they behave badly? From toxic leaks to greasy politics, today's episode investigates some of the top stories in the country, and what Canadians are doing about them.  4:09 | Chief Allan Adam didn't mince words on the March 6 episode of Real Talk. Straight up, he called Imperial Oil's nine-month toxic tailings pon...

Caitlin Erickson's been threatened, followed, and had her house set on fire after speaking out against her former school, Saskatoon's Legacy Christian Academy. She was in the courtroom yesterday for the school's former athletic director's first appearance on sexual assault and sexual exploitation charges. The spokesperson for a proposed $25M class action lawsuit brings us up to speed on this major...

2:00 | After seven years of brutal harassment, broadcaster Jody Vance finally got to face her bully in court. She spoke with us Friday just before the court date, and returns to the show to tell us all about it. Jody shares how it felt to deliver her victim impact statement, and what she makes of Richard Sean Oliver's sentence.  33:20 | Who pissed in Hugh Grant's Corn Flakes? Charles Adler serves...

Adam's sick of hearing about "rage farming," and Gabe says there's no such thing as the "far left" in Canada. Both of them blow off a whole bunch of steam in this week's edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services!  KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/

From an Edmonton MP's visit to Ukraine, to a broadcaster's battle against an online harasser, to the UCP's plan for healthcare, this is a Real Talk episode you'll want to catch from start-to-finish.  3:15 | Heather McPherson's just back from Ukraine, where the Member of Parliament for Edmonton-Strathcona met with diplomats and civilians amid Russian attacks. She tells us about what she saw there,...

The Alberta city of Grande Prairie (population 68,000) has $10M from the province to transition from the RCMP to a municipal police service. It's interesting timing, with Premier Danielle Smith intent on replacing the Mounties with a provincial force. Ryan chats with Mayor Jackie Clayton and Councillor Dylan Bressey on the heels of Monday's 8-1 city council vote in favour of the move. But first......

On International Women's Day, we feature back-to-back Real Talk Round Tables presented by Urban Timber: the heavy lifting emergency shelters are doing in Alberta, and game-changing opportunities for women in the male-dominated aviation industry.  1:40 | It's an ugly reality: domestic violence is more of an issue now than ever before in Alberta, and thousands of women and children are being turned...

It's hard to imagine the devastation caused by the Turkey-Syria earthquake on February 6: more than 50,000 people killed, hundreds of thousands displaced, and at least $100B in damage to Turkey's infrastructure alone. Medair is one of the NGOs working to provide basic resources including water and shelter in and around Aleppo. Aid worker Raija-Liisa Schmidt-Teigen joins us live from Damascus. But...

It's easy to understand why members of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation are "dismayed" to discover millions of litres of toxic oilsands tailings leaking into land and water where they harvest food. Chief Allan Adam has ordered his community to destroy any food (including game) collected since May. It's the latest chapter in an ongoing battle between industry and nearby Indigenous communities w...

Wade says Ryan needs to "grow a pair," and Rod's sick of seeing "bullshit corporate delay tactics" with toxic tailings ponds near Ft. McMurray. Both take centre stage in this week's Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services. KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/

It was a big week in Alberta politics. A big-spending budget from Premier Danielle Smith's UCP says a lot about how the governing party intends to win the May election. So does the response from Rachel Notley's NDP. Pundits say it's too close to call right now. So, what'll it take for either party to win? Our Real Talk Round Table digs in. But first... 2:45 | Sarah Lawrynuik's been doing remarkabl...

Society's on a road to ruin. We're slaves to our devices. Teenagers can only focus on one task for an average 65 seconds at a time. We're losing our ability to pay attention, let alone think deeply. Best-selling author Johann Hari joins us to talk about his new book "Stolen Focus". But first... 1:45 | A majority of Canadians believe China is interfering in our democracy, and Ottawa needs to do som...

2:20 | The doctor is in the house! Does physician Shazma Mithani think the UCP's $68B budget has what it takes to heal healthcare? The ER doc and social media educator diagnoses what's leading to unprecedented burnout among health professionals, and explains why she's adamantly against private or "third way" options to ease surgical wait times.  FOLLOW DR. MITHANI ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/s...

This might be our best Trash Talk to date. Tania's got a pointed message for Vladimir Putin, Dani the Disgruntled Oilfield Wife is sick of her political choices, and Michael uses his blowtorch to send a clear message to Ryan and other media personalities talking about the far right fringe.  TRASH TALK IS PRESENTED BY LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES: https://localenvironmental.ca/