Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is stepping down as Liberal leader, and is proroguing Parliament as the Liberal Party of Canada embarks on the journey to replace him. Trudeau will stay on as prime minister until a new leader is chosen.  3:50 | Former Trudeau advisor Tyler Meredith, former Harper advisor Ken Boessenkool, and former Alberta cabinet minister Shannon Phillips discuss the implications of...

Martin in Manitoba's had enough of Trump trolling Canada, Gerald says we owned the Americans last time The Donald was President, Dolly's done with provinces operating as lone wolves, and Menchie - a former security guard - says the industry's a mess. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com When you visit...

We talk wins and losses, and look to the past, present, and future with Edmonton's Mayor and Alberta's Premier in this power-packed episode of Real Talk. Mike Stelter - Ben's dad - talks to us about his son's remarkable legacy and the first-ever Ben's Cup in support of the Ben Stelter Foundation. We wrap 2024 with one of the fieriest Flamethrowers of the year presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmo...

Late December's typically a slow time of year for the news cycle. Not this year! 2024's top stories are playing out in front of us as Christmas break approaches, including Justin Trudeau fighting to keep his party's confidence, and Donald Trump fighting...pretty much everybody.  3:50 | Mo Amir, host of This is VANCOLOUR, talks Trudeau, Trump, foreign interference, byelections, and more.  SUPPORT M...

Justin Trudeau's on his way out. Donald Trump's on his way in. Alberta's headed toward deficit territory, and consumers across Canada are looking at higher prices for pretty much everything in 2025. We don't mean to bum you out, but we want you to be prepared. Look no further than this Real Talk Round Table with three of the sharpest knives in the drawer.  3:10 | Economics professor Trevor Tombe,...

Two of Justin Trudeau's highest-profile cabinet ministers have jumped ship. Are we watching this government collapse in real time?  4:40 | (Now-former) Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is out, as is (now-former) Housing Minister Sean Fraser. Who and what is next? Ryan gets into it. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com  32:20 | Sprawl Calgary founder/editor Jeremy Klaszus tells us a sur...

Tammy's got Taylor Swift's back, Lauren's not sold on Mr. Wonderful's $70B Wonder Valley, John says Donald Trump and Danielle Smith better check themselves, and Anne says Poilievre and Trudeau need to grow backbones. 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, New...

Sarah Hamilton's tipping point into politics was a behind-the-scenes bully who called her one of the nastiest names going. The Edmonton city councillor tells us the story (6:35) in one of our most candid Real Talk Round Tables in a long time, recognizing three members of the 2024 Edify Top 40 Under 40.  2:16 | Jespo's favourite group chat gets together for its annual holiday Real Talk Round Table....

20-year-old Harshandeep Singh was pushed down a flight of stairs, shot in the back, and killed just three days into a new job as a security guard. The suspect charged by Edmonton Police is a dangerous, repeat offender with a history of violent crimes. Amidst public outrage, people are questioning the role Mr. Singh's employer, the Government of Alberta, and Ottawa played in this tragedy. 4:10 | Mi...

Kevin O'Leary - the TV star otherwise known as "Mr. Wonderful" - says he's bringing a $70 billion data centre to northern Alberta. Premier Danielle Smith is over the moon, celebrating what would be the largest real estate investment in the province's history. But critics say there's no chance the Wonder Valley project will ever materialize.  1:55 | Max Fawcett, lead columnist at Canada's National...

Canada is on the brink of a landmark $32.5B settlement with Big Tobacco, designed to address decades of health care costs and personal damages caused by smoking. Does the settlement go far enough?  2:55 | Rob Cunningham, author of "Smoke and Mirrors: the Canadian Tobacco War" gives us the good, the bad, and the ugly of the proposed $32.5B settlement.   34:10 | Jespo and Johnny take a look at the R...

Jespo reunites with longtime talk radio colleague Rob Breakenridge in this episode, just a few weeks after Rob was unceremoniously laid off.  2:05 | The two talk about the future of media in Canada, tackle the country's top political stories, and wrap with thoughts on Syria and the Taylor Swift tour. 1:13:40 | It's an Eras Tour edition of Positive Reflections, presented by Kuby Renewable Energy! S...

Don't let ChatGPT run your show! Heed this warning from Real Talker Bernard (sort of). It's a ChatGPT-fuelled edition of 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! FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, INST...

Why are Canadians forced to wait more than a year for a hip replacement? Why does it take 18 months to get an MRI? How is it possible that 6.5M Canadians can't even find a family doctor? The provinces point the finger at Ottawa, while the feds point out provincial jurisdiction. At the end of the day, who's going to heal Canada's healthcare crisis?  3:40 | Federal Minister of Health Mark Holland jo...

He was ordering food in a drive-thru and all of a sudden he couldn't remember how to say "lettuce". That's where Glenn Grant's ALS journey started just a few years ago. Twenty-seven months after his diagnosis, on November 19, 2024, Glenn chose Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD).  3:40 | Willy Grant explains why she and "The Husband" Glenn chose to make their ALS journey so public on social media,...

What's Alberta's top political story for 2024? Who's been Alberta's Best MLA? How about the top-performing UCP cabinet minister? And what about the most effective Opposition NDP MLA?  2:30 | Daveberta unveils the winners of his annual Best of Alberta Politics survey.  CHECK OUT DAVEBERTA'S SUBSTACK: https://daveberta.substack.com/ 51:00 | Is Alberta making the right move, outlawing up to 70% of ex...

How do you feel about Justin Trudeau gifting most Canadians $250 and a holiday break from the GST? Sure, you'll keep more money in your pocket (at an expensive time of year), but is it the right move? And what's with President Joe Biden breaking his promise and pardoning his son Hunter? Are we seeing the worst of politics at play?  4:30 | Poll analyst Philippe Fournier talks Trudeau, Poilievre, an...

Rob in Leduc is sick of oil spills. JC in Edmonton predicts "carnage" next provincial election prompted by insurance reforms. Brandt thinks it's time for a certain Liberal cabinet minister to resign. And Brinley's all fired up over the under-achieving Edmonton Oilers. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.c...

What's your biggest money mistake? For some, it's drowning in credit card debt. For others, it may be waiting until later in life to start investing. It's Financial Literacy Month, and we've got you covered in with rock solid tips for Real Talkers of all ages.  2:00 | Bestselling author Robin Taub and JA Northern Alberta CEO Cheryll Watson share their best financial advice for kids, teens, and adu...

Tim Cartmell wants to be Mayor of Edmonton. The two-term city councillor (and former engineer) says Council has lost its way and spending is out of control. Is he the right guy to fix it?  2:15 | Councillor Cartmell announces his mayoral campaign in the Real Talk studio, and lays out his vision for Alberta's capital city.  LEARN MORE: https://www.timcartmell.ca/ 46:40 | Jespo and Johnny dip into t...

Has your car insurance skyrocketed over the past few years? Albertans are already paying among the highest rates in the country, and it's about to get even more expensive. Sources say Danielle Smith's UCP government is about to let auto insurers raise rates well beyond the 3.7% cap it imposed earlier this year. Politicians will promise rates will eventually come down because they're eliminating pe...

REAL TALK EXPANSION NEWS: our live stream is now available on SEVEN different platforms! As of this episode, you can catch us LIVE on YouTube, X, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Mixlr weekdays at 8:30am MT. And, of course, you can find us wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.  3:40 | Even cooler: our Real Talk Live Chat powered by Park Power will include...

More than 60 million people streamed (or tried to stream) Mike Tyson and Jake Paul's fight over the weekend. Widely panned as a pathetic spectacle, a few things are for sure: even Mike Tyson can't stop Father Time, Jake Paul still draws huge crowds, and streaming platforms are disrupting absolutely every traditional model.  2:00 | Jespo and Johnny recap the Tyson-Paul fight (and the entire Netflix...

"Tranquil Vibration," Travis, and Keith have hot takes on the U.S. election, Michael's fired up about the RCAF, and Dwayne says Danielle Smith doesn't deserve that 91.5% on her leadership review. 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, Westmount, Newcastle, and...

Let's be Real: many people don't feel safe in downtown Edmonton. Investment is stalled out, vacancy rates are unsustainable, and social issues dominate the narrative. Is downtown Edmonton dead, or is a revival on the horizon?  3:05 | Alex Hryciw, Heather Thomson, and Tim Shipton dig into the past, present, and potential future of Edmonton's downtown.  CHECK OUT THE PLAN: https://yegdowntown.ca/ WI...