Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Alberta separation. "Elbows Up". Wildfires and climate change. AI data centres. Media layoffs. Veteran broadcaster (now podcaster) Lynda Steele (3:45) gets into it all in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West.  THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY RapidEX FINANCIAL. THE CRYPTO WORLD MOVES FAST, AND YOUR TRUST IN AN EXCHANGE SHOULDN'T BE A GAMBLE. RapidEX IS SECURE, FINTRAC-REGISTE...

Did Canada strike a smart deal with the U.S. over the Gordie Howe International Bridge, or give away too much? Supriya Dwivedi joins Jespo (3:00) to unpack the conflicting claims from Donald Trump and Mark Carney, and what the dispute reveals about the future of Canada-U.S. relations, in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY HANSEN DISTILLERY....

It's an all-Ambassador edition of The Flamethrower, as Real Talkers James from Ontario, Fat Dave, Julie, Anne, Joe from Alliston formerly Airdrie, Robert, and Keith sound off on our July 20 interview with Pete Hoekstra. The Flamethrower is proudly presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park. THE NEXT TIME YOU VISIT DQ IN PALISADES, NAMAO, NEWCASTLE, WESTMOUNT, OR BASELINE ROAD, BE...

As Alberta's independence referendum nears, there's a fundamental question most separatists (and arguably the provincial government) hasn't answered: what about First Nations' treaty rights? As a group of First Nations chiefs calls for an RCMP investigation into allegations of treason involving Danielle Smith, warning they're prepared to physically resist a separation referendum, journalist Brandi...

The workplace is changing fast, and we're digging into it from two very different perspectives. First, we revisit the debate over Return to Office mandates (10:30) following our July 22 conversation on downtown vibrancy. Then, AI educator Ruth Orekogbe explains the skills and mindset that can help future-proof your career in the age of artificial intelligence. THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY RapidEX...

At least 15 Edmonton restaurants have closed in 2026 alone. What's going on? Restauranteurs Kristina Botelho (kb&co), Chris Decock (GRETA), and Nate Box (Fox Burger, District) give us the lay of the land in our feature interview (3:00) presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West.  THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY HANSEN DISTILLERY. ROOTED IN PRAIRIE GRIT AND A REBELLIOUS SPIRIT, HANSEN IS KNOWN FOR A...

Donald Trump is threatening Canada with 50% tariffs, citing "discriminatory trade policies" on American booze, dairy, and automobiles. How should Canada respond? Is this just another negotiation tactic by an erratic U.S. President, or further degradation of the Canada-U.S. relationship? We get into it with political scientist Dr. Duane Bratt (3:45) and Bianca Parsons of the Alberta Food Processors...

Canada's relationship with the United States is being tested like never before. Trade tensions, tariffs, defence spending, Arctic security, energy, and the rhetoric coming out of Washington, D.C. have left many Canadians asking what comes next. U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of the Canada-U.S. relationship in an exclusive interview...

Janice and David say the UCP needs to stay in its lane on bike infrastructure; Robert backs anti-SLAPP legislation in Alberta; Gerald says Meta's $13B data centre could come with a cost nobody's talking about. It's The Flamethrower proudly presented by the DQs in Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! THE NEXT TIME YOU VISIT DQ IN PALISADES, NAMAO, NEWCASTLE, WESTMOUNT, OR BASELINE ROAD, BE SURE TO...

Hate bike lanes? You'll love what the Alberta government just rolled out: a web portal for people to complain about the bike lanes they loathe the most. Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen says the next step will be legislation allowing the province to intervene in municipal decisions on bike lanes and other transportation planning. Whatever happened to government staying in its lane?  THIS EPI...

Are powerful interests using lawsuits to silence criticism? Investigative journalist Luke LeBrun joins Ryan (3:30) to explain why a broad coalition (including Real Talk's parent company Relay) is calling on Alberta to adopt anti-SLAPP legislation, and what it could mean for journalists, advocates, businesses, and everyday Albertans who speak out on issues of public interest. Feature interviews on...

Canada's Arctic is emerging as one of the world's most strategically important regions, but is Canada prepared to defend it? Maclean's contributor Anne Shibata Casselman joins us (3:30) to explore the growing threats from Russia and China, why Arctic sovereignty is about much more than military spending, and what Canada must do to secure its North for generations to come. Feature interviews on Rea...

An Alberta judge has frozen more than $8.5 million in assets linked to one of Alberta's most prominent separatist advocates, lawyer Jeffrey Rath, amid allegations by Tallcree First Nation over the handling of trust funds. Rath denies the allegations, but the case raises serious questions about credibility, accountability, and whether the people asking Albertans to trust them with the province's fu...

The inaugural Real Talk Road Trip is in the books - we recap the highs and lows of Stampede 2026 with Supriya Dwivedi (3:30) in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. We cover American influence in the Alberta separation debate (20:00), Justin Trudeau dancing in a Katy Perry video (36:00), Senator Lindsey Graham's sudden death (49:15), an update on Senator Mitch McConnell...

Our pal Quick Dick McDick presents his Calgary Stampede 2026 Best & Worst Dressed in a special edition of The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park. THE NEXT TIME YOU VISIT DQ IN PALISADES, NAMAO, NEWCASTLE, WESTMOUNT, OR BASELINE ROAD, BE SURE TO TELL 'EM REAL TALK SENT YOU! FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen J...

A looming referendum, new pipeline proposals, a $13B AI data centre announcement...it's been a big Calgary Stampede for Premier Danielle Smith. We get into it all (2:10) in an exclusive interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West.  THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY HANSEN DISTILLERY. ROOTED IN PRAIRIE GRIT AND A REBELLIOUS SPIRIT, HANSEN IS KNOWN FOR AUTHENTIC, SMALL-BATCH WHISKY AND OTHER SPIRI...

Meta's historic $13 billion AI data centre announcement - the largest private-sector technology project in Alberta's history - has people talking about jobs, investment, and economic diversification. It's also prompting tough questions about its massive electricity demand and water use. Former premier Alison Redford (3:15) and Sturgeon County Mayor Alanna Hnatiw (36:10) join us to unpack what it c...

The Calgary Stampede isn't just Canada's biggest party. It's also the country's biggest networking event, where prime ministers, premiers, cabinet ministers, mayors, CEOs, lobbyists, and power brokers all show up to make deals, build relationships, and shape what's next. So, halfway through Stampede, we ask: Which politician is winning Stampede?  2:50 | Erika Barootes and Sabrina Grover debate who...

The Strategists co-hosts Zain Velji and Stephen Carter (00:30) are all fired up. Corb Lund (42:00) is all fired up. It's Episode Two on the Real Talk Road Trip at Calgary's National Music Centre!  THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY HANSEN DISTILLERY. ROOTED IN PRAIRIE GRIT AND A REBELLIOUS SPIRIT, HANSEN IS KNOWN FOR AUTHENTIC, SMALL-BATCH WHISKY AND OTHER SPIRITS CRAFTED WITH LOCAL ALBERTA INGREDIENTS....

Real Talk is on the road at Calgary's stunning National Music Centre! We get the inside scoop on the first weekend of Stampede and that big pipeline announcement from federal Energy Minister Tim Hodgson (2:45), MP Corey Hogan (20:00), strategist Sharan Kaur (32:00), Tourism Calgary CEO Alisha Reynolds (46:30), National Music Centre CEO Andrew Mosker (58:30), and Mayor Jeromy Farkas (1:27:30). Feat...

Alberta's going it alone...at least for now. The province will be the initial proponent of a new pipeline to the West Coast, according to The Globe and Mail. Premier Danielle Smith says the province will foot the $14M bill for early engineering, planning, and regulatory legwork before handing it off to the private sector...but is that likely to happen? We discuss in this episode, including a surpr...

For more than a decade, 24 Sussex Drive has sat empty - a crumbling symbol of political paralysis, complete with asbestos, mould, and even rats. Now Prime Minister Mark Carney wants to change that, announcing a national design competition and a fundraising campaign to restore Canada's official prime ministerial residence. Is this a long-overdue investment in a national institution...or tonedeaf pr...

Real Talkers sound off on the Stampede Cowboys tent controversy, with fiery takes from Robert, Ruthann, Teryl, Natalie, and Julie. The Flamethrower is proudly presented by our amazing friends at the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park. WHEN YOU VISIT THE DQs IN PALISADES, NAMAO, NEWCASTLE, WESTMOUNT, or BASELINE ROAD, BE SURE TO TELL 'EM REAL TALK SENT YOU! FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@...

Is Alberta's separation debate driving economic uncertainty, or is it simply exposing deeper problems with Canada's competitiveness? We sit down (9:15) with economist Dr. Trevor Tombe, Robin Bobocel from the Alberta Chambers of Commerce, and Candace Laing from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce to unpack what political uncertainty means for investment, hiring, productivity, and the decisions shaping...

Guest host Supriya Dwivedi talks AI, algorithms, and online harms with McGill University's Taylor Owen in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY HANSEN DISTILLERY. NORTHERN EYES SEVEN-YEAR SHERRY CASK IS NOW AVAILABLE! HANSEN IS PROUDLY LOCAL, ALWAYS ORIGINAL. https://hansendistillery.com/ MBEW: https://www.mercedes-benz-edmontonwes... SAVE on...