Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

It sure looks like Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is trying to make life easier for Alberta separatists. Her UCP government's removing barriers to trigger a referendum (on Alberta sovereignty, obviously) at the same time she's rattling her sabre at Prime Minister Mark Carney. Folks grounded in reality know Alberta's not going anywhere...so why would Smith stick her neck out there?  4:30 | The Disc...

Stephen Carter doesn't do podcasts to make new friends. That's obvious early in his appearance here, which proves to be one of the most entertaining episodes we've ever released. A veteran campaign strategist, Carter tells us what each party did wrong (and what they should have done instead) leading up to the 2025 federal election.  3:20 | But first...POLITICO's Mickey Djuric and Nick Taylor-Vaise...

How did Mark Carney erase a 20-point deficit in the polls and lead the Liberals to victory? Why did Pierre Poilievre's momentum hit a wall at the very worst time for Conservatives? Who should be the next leader of the NDP? Will the election results actually fuel separation sentiments in Alberta?  2:30 | Our Real Talk Group Chat Round Table - YWCA CEO Katherine O'Neill, comms strategist Jenny Adams...

Freedom is a garden planted by sacrifice, watered with courage, and kept alive by participation. It's Election Day in Canada.  4:00 | What will a Conservative or Liberal win mean for Canadians? Supriya Dwivedi breaks it down. 58:00 | How will history remember Election 2025? Senator Charles Adler presents some Canadian common sense.  1:30:20 | Did you see Johnny's cameo on Hockey Night in Canada? T...

The Brantford Boomer story's being overblown, says GK. Jagmeet Singh didn't exactly win over Ross and Darian with his Real Talk interview. Heather's wondering where Ryan's head is at. Gerald says Mark Carney's not who they say he is. And Jennifer's calling out, well, EVERYBODY. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanj...

Take it to the bank: Mark Carney's Liberals will form the next federal government. So say both the left- and right-leaning experts joining us on this pre-Election Day edition of Real Talk.  4:30 | Shannon Phillips and Ken Boessenkool analyze the party leaders' tour stops, Pierre Poilievre's beef with Nova Scotia's premier, Jagmeet Singh "putting Canada ahead of his party," and the "Brantford Boome...

A real estate bubble that never bursts. Orwellian internet laws. Controversial MAiD policies. Complex identity politics. Tristin Hopper says Canada has become a global cautionary tale. We connect with the author of "Don't Be Canada" in this episode of Real Talk. But first... 3:15 | What prompted the "Brantford Boomer" to bust out the double bird to a camera operator outside a Liberal campaign even...

His NDP is languishing in the polls, his leadership's being questioned, but Jagmeet Singh's still throwing punches and pounding the pavement with just days to go until the election. What does he say to critics who hold him responsible for propping up Justin Trudeau's minority government for too long? What's his message to progressive voters inclined to "loan" their vote to the Liberals?  2:20 | Ja...

We're less than a week out from a hugely significant election. The Pope's just passed away. Alleged corruption plagues the Alberta government. The planet is on a road to ruin. But fear not...we've got inspiring takes on (nearly) all of it in this episode of Real Talk!  5:30 | Party All The Time host Vicky Mochama gives us her thoughts on Pope Francis' legacy and the significance of his death. We t...

KP says the Liberals are losing (and they know it), Jonathan questions Jespo's patriotism, Jeremy says there's no excuse for abusers, and Johnny (not Infamous) says we're out to lunch on rent control. 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...

Nobody expects the People's Party of Canada to win a seat this election. But don't tell that to party leader Maxime Bernier, who tells us (2:45) why he's not cooperating with Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives. Max's critics (including Shannon Phillips and Ken Boessenkool right after the interview) say his party's too extreme to be taken seriously. Do you agree or disagree? PPC: https://www.peoplesp...

Here's where things get real. First in French, then in English, party leaders will thrust, parry, and try to convince Canadians they're the best bet for Prime Minister. Will Pierre Poilievre go for the jugular or present a more measured demeanour? Does Mark Carney's proficiency in French really matter? Will anybody be moved by what Jagmeet Singh has to say?  10:00 | Politico's Mickey Djuric joins...

Prank gone horribly wrong: Liberal staffers plant unflattering campaign buttons at a Conservative event, then blab all about it at the bar. What were they thinking? Pierre Poilievre says he's step outside the Charter to crack down on Canada's most violent criminals. Could he gain a few points with the public, or is it a risky move?  4:00 | Vicky Mochama talks Buttongate, Pierre Poilievre and the n...

People throw the word "fascist" around a lot these days, but does it actually fit U.S. President Donald Trump? An internationally-respected Canadian scholar says yes.  2:35 | Dr. Andy Knight, professor of political science at the University of Alberta, tells us why he thinks the US should be declared a pariah state. We hear firsthand how USAID cuts are impacting critical programs in the Caribbean....

Nesen says Pierre better get serious about policy, AJ says Jespo's out to lunch on "grey areas," Ms. B has a hot take on The Great One, Cam has an axe to grind with Max Fawcett, and Brandon paints a picture of a sovereign Alberta. 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...

Pretty much everybody agrees: the consumer carbon tax is dead in Canada. Mark Carney's getting credit for it in the polls, which has to drive Pierre Poilievre crazy. After all, he's the one who's promised to "Axe the Tax" for the past two years. In this episode, two of Canada's most credible voices on the matter debate: Who ultimately killed the carbon tax?  3:30 | Shannon Phillips and Ken Boessen...

Everybody eats. But how many of us actually pay attention to what's going on in the Agriculture sector? There's something for everybody in this episode, from the city slickers to farmers and ranchers across Canada. Stick around for the second half of the show, where we take a look at wild swings in the market with massive wealth implications.  6:00 | Shaun Haney, founder of RealAgriculture and hos...

Jespo's family dodged a bullet just hours before this episode, nearly losing their beloved black lab Monroe in the icy, frigid North Saskatchewan River. It's the most dangerous time of year to be around water, says Edmonton Fire Rescue Services, and one of the most dangerous calls their firefighters respond to.  2:40 | Ryan's wife Kari, their dog Monroe, and Edmonton Fire Rescue District Chief Bri...

This episode is all about the bottom line. With headlines screaming "Market Mayhem," what's the average investor supposed to think, let alone do? Is now a good time to buy? Or is it time to sell before things get worse? And...whatever happened to election campaigns that were supposed to be all about AFFORDABILITY? 4:50 | We check in with Marshall McAlister, president at North Road Investment Couns...

The Great One is taking more shots than any goalie he ever faced for his friendship with President Donald Trump. Pierre Poilievre's boasting about crowd sizes at his rallies, just like 47 does. Danielle Smith's spending more time in Florida than she is in Alberta. In the midst of a full-blown trade war, why do Canada's Conservatives still want to bet on America?  11:00 | Max Fawcett, lead columnis...

"TheSco" says Danielle Smith's Breitbart interview is a "nothing burger," Lindsay's sick of hearing so much about The Donald, "G" wants to know who wants out (of Canada), Todd in Grande Prairie has a challenge for Alberta's premier, and Charlene's hoping you'll join her April 11 at the Alberta Legislature. FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com When you visit the DQs in Palisades, Namao...

Has the average Canadian learned anything about the major parties' election platforms, with talk of Trump and tariffs taking up so much space? In this episode, our Real Talk Round Table panelists highlight the most significant policy announcements to date - including Conservative and Liberal housing plans.  3:45 | Shannon Phillips and Ken Boessenkool dig into Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre's pro...

Trump's costing the global economy trillions of dollars. What does this trade war mean for you? We get into it from a bunch of different angles in this episode. Plus, she's one of Canada's most prominent independent journalists. For a brief moment, she had a plum election gig with a mainstream outlet...until political opponents pounced. We talk to Rachel Gilmore about being cancelled as CTV's fact...

Trump's trade war with Canada is about to level up. A popular political podcaster is throwing his hat in the ring this election. Another popular TikTok commentator just got dumped by CTV. We cover all of it (and more) in this episode.  3:40 | It's not an April Fool's joke! The Strategists co-host and Real Talk Editorial Board member Corey Hogan is running for the Liberals in Calgary. He tells us w...

Paul Chiang is out as the Liberal candidate in Markham-Unionville after suggesting a political opponent should be turned over to Chinese authorities. Mark McKenzie is out as the Conservative candidate in Windsor after a podcast interview surfaced wherein he calls for Justin Trudeau's, er, execution.  3:15 | Was standing by Chiang (for a day or two, anyway) Mark Carney's biggest mistake to date? We...