Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

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...

UGGGGGHHHHHHH. If you're looking to commiserate with fellow Oilers fans, Jespo and Johnny have you covered (2:22) after a devastating loss in Game Six of the Stanley Cup Final.  30:10 | All things considered, what can we take away from the G7? Is the US really going to war with Iran? Political strategist and commentator Sharan Kaur brings her informed insights. READ MORE FROM SHARAN on the G7: htt...

95% of Alberta teachers have voted to strike - but will they? If so, could it happen before the end of this school year? In this episode, we ask Alberta Teachers' Association president Jason Schilling where negotiations are breaking down (3:45), and what it'd take to keep teachers from walking out.  53:30 | Real Talkers have their say via the Live Chat powered by Park Power. SAVE on INTERNET, ELEC...

After Alberta Premier Danielle Smith runs into rowdy opposition at a recent town hall in southern Alberta, we invite experts Dr. Bill Dohanue and Cornelis Kolijn and activist/musician Corb Lund for an in-depth look at the economics, environmental impact, and politics of coal mining on Alberta's eastern slopes (3:30).  TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com  1:09:30 | Real Talkers have thei...

"Interested Meow" has a beef with school librarians, Lynne says you don't have to have kids to have an opinion, Karen's calling out Alberta's Education Minister, Alberta Gengar's standing in solidarity with postal workers, Andre in Eastern Canada says build the pipeline, and Jeff says it's Danielle Smith's fault young drivers can't afford cars. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwe...

Nearly 35% of 2SLGBTQI+ business owners report hiding their identity due to fear of discrimination. 25% say they’ve lost contracts because of who they are. As hundreds of Queer entrepreneurs from around the world gather in Toronto for the  2SLGBTQI+ Global Business Summit, we talk to Sarah Evalina, COO at Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce, award-winning storyteller and activist Sarain Fox, an...

Canada's close to legally locking in supply management rules on egg, dairy, and chicken imports...but is it the right move? We've fiercely protected those sectors for decades, but critics (including some farmers) say it's hurting Canada's international bargaining position. Is it time to kill the sacred cow?  3:45 | Pundit Rob Breakenridge and (Jespo's cousin) dairy farmer Graham Jespersen debate t...

Alberta welcomes the most powerful leaders on planet earth as the G7 summit touches down in Kananaskis Country. We talk to Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek (3:00) about G7 security and other preparations, and what she's hoping to see emerge from the summit. We talk housing affordability, zoning bylaws, a tumultuous 2024, dissipating (?) tensions with the province, and Gondek's bid for re-election.  TELL...

It's a dare/double-dare showdown, as California Governor Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump clash over a National Guard crackdown on immigration protests. How bad could this get? And what does it mean for the entire United States...and the rest of the world? We talk to PM Stephen Harper's former federal Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Chris Alexander about Trump's attack on democracy...

Rob's had enough of "MAGA stupidity," Dave and Ted have hot takes on the Alberta library book controversy, Nesen says it's time to rethink Canada's export strategy, and Touring Zebra takes on the Texas Ten Commandments story. 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, Nam...

Alberta's capital city has the potential to boom just like Dubai. So says Dr. Murtaza Haider, the newly-installed Radhe Krishna Gupta Executive Chair in the Cities Institute at the University of Alberta. The new executive chair is made possible by a $5M gift from Rohit Gupta, president of the Rohit Group, who joins Dr. Haider and BILD Edmonton Metro CEO Kalen Anderson in a smart and inspiring edit...

Critics say the Alberta government is being heavy handed in flagging controversial books found in school libraries. They say teachers and librarians, not politicians and parents, should choose which books are on the shelf. In this episode, we talk to Minister of Education Demetrios Nicolaides (1:03:15) about the UCP's online survey, classroom funding, and a strike that seems more and more likely t...