Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Tracey's got strong opinions about cougar hunts, Jim blows our mind with his take on humanity, Brent says quit yer bitchin' about Donald Trump, Garth's got a sovereign solution, and Ronnie has a direct question for Danielle Smith. 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...

It's the most anticipated international hockey showdown in 15 years. When Canada and the U.S.A. clash in the 4 Nations Face-Off final in Boston, they'll be fighting for more than a gold medal. We kick off this episode with a perspective check on what's at stake. Later in the show (23:00), we shine a spotlight on life-changing (and life-saving) research advancements in women's health.  2:25 | But f...

Nobody's giving Karina Gould a fighting chance, but don't tell that to the Liberal leadership candidate. The youngest female cabinet minister in Canadian history tells us (2:00) how she'd deal with Donald Trump, her plan for pipelines, and how she'd "unleash" a million entrepreneurs.  MORE: https://karinagould.ca/ 34:20 | Don't miss your chance to attend the Devour! Food & Film Festival (April...

Emergency rooms are over capacity. Major surgeries are being delayed or cancelled. Allegations of shady government dealings are being investigated (or are they?). Health care in Alberta is an absolute mess.  6:25 | AMA past president Dr. Paul Parks understands the assignment - Real Talk - as he diagnoses the root of the rot in Alberta Health Services.  TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.co...

Markus says it's time to switch from defence to offence with the U.S.A., Brent says it ain't all Trump's fault, R.H. is fighting for independence, Don takes on "Alberta's Death Cult," Angie's sick over cougar hunts, and Les is putting the premier up for sale. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com When y...

Here's to the risk takers. The industry shakers. The business and community leaders whose insights and investments are positively impacting the world around them. In partnership with Edify and the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, we present this Real Talk Round Table: Edifiers Edition. 2:40 | We talk small business, DEI, tariffs, refugees, lost wedding rings, and more with the dynamic trio of Edifier...

Alberta's new regulations allow hunters to target female cougars with cubs. That's exactly what happened to a cat John E. Marriott had been tracking for the past four years. The renowned wildlife conservation photographer tells us why he believes the hunt was "legal but unethical," and what he's doing about it. Later in this episode, we get details on a stunning betrayal as a U-11 soccer coach (al...

Pierre Poilievre's calling out Mark Carney for wearing $2,000 shoes. This, as Poilievre campaigns in a $2,000 parka (and Carney surges in the polls). DOES ANYBODY CARE? We demand more (58:00) in this highly-entertaining episode of Real Talk.  3:45 | But first...(speaking of nice shoes)...we check in with economist Todd Hirsch. Could Canada stop this trade war in its tracks by hitting Tesla with a...

Forget about that one month pause on Donald Trump's tariffs. The President shook everything up (again) with an off-the-cuff announcement aboard Air Force One en route to the Super Bowl. Do Americans realize Trump's policy will make everything more expensive...for everybody?  4:50 | Quick Dick McDick joins us from Louisville, Kentucky with a report on what Americans are saying about Trump's tariffs...

Premier Danielle Smith says reports tying her to alleged wrongdoing related to Alberta Health Services' procurement and contracting are "false, baseless and defamatory". Meantime, Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi is calling for an RCMP investigation into allegations Smith’s government dismissed the head of AHS two days before she was scheduled to meet with the province’s Auditor-General to discuss...

Sheryl schools us on dead chickens and dancing monkeys, Jenny wants you to join the resistance, Alanna's spitting fire over the newest Alberta Health scandal, Steve's sick of being robbed, Stephanie's had enough of the "treacherous tangerine," and Cody wants everybody to rethink a specific, recurring chore.  It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! FIRE U...

More than 600 families remain displaced after wildfire ripped through Jasper in July of 2024. As clean-up continues and rebuilds begin, officials are at odds over the "right way" to rebuild one of Canada's most magnificent tourism destinations. With hundreds of millions of dollars hanging in the balance, we check in with federal, provincial, and municipal leaders to figure out what they agree on,...

Countless Canadian businesses are taking a closer look at their supply chains, export markets, profit margins, and more in light of a potential trade war with the United States.  We talk to entrepreneurs Lane Edwards (Pura Botanicals), Justine Barber (Poppy Barley), and Curtis Hrdlica (Honomobo) about Trump's tariff chaos, "Buy Canadian" messaging, and how they're America-proofing their businesses...

Elon Musk isn’t just shaping the future of technology—he’s wielding unprecedented influence over American policy with an official role in Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency. With deep economic stakes in transportation, social media, satellite technology, and space exploration, his personal interests are increasingly intertwined with national policy, raising serious ethical red flags. Crit...

With U.S. President Donald Trump delaying tariffs on Canada, how should Canadian businesses and investors approach the next month (and beyond)?  8:45 | Edmonton Chamber of Commerce CEO Doug Griffiths says this entire ordeal should be a wake-up call for every business.  CHECK OUT THE CHAMBER: https://www.edmontonchamber.com/ 41:15 | What are the markets telling us right now? What's in store for the...

Stormy seas ahead, as Canada and the U.S. prepare to lock horns. We get three different takes (plus dozens in the Real Talk Live Chat powered by Park Power) on the implications of President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canada, and the Canadian counter-offensive announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Don't miss Positive Reflections presented by Kuby Energy near the end of the episode, as we recap...

Scott has words for former PM Jean Chretien, Greg's not buying the UCP's COVID task force report, Karen's head's about to explode over coal, Wayne's getting ready to burn tires and poach grizzly bears, Pilot One has a reminder for Westerners, and Ronnie's ready to chase neo-Nazis out of town. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHRO...

It's Tariffs Eve. Will Donald Trump actually make good on his threats? If so, who will ultimately pay the most? We present an international edition of the Real Talk Round Table featuring guests on both sides of the border. Plus, what was with Trump's bizarre political attacks after that deadly D.C. plane crash? HR consultant Dante King (39:30) explains why 47 is way off base.  8:00 | Sabine El-Chi...

A $2M report commissioned by the Alberta government advocates for limiting COVID-19 vaccinations, and suggests that health professionals should not face repercussions for promoting alternative treatments. Critics, including the Alberta and Canadian Medical Associations are calling the 269-page report "anti-science," suggesting it attempts to "rewrite history" by downplaying the importance of vacci...

Foreign interference IS a thing in Canada, and Ottawa's dragged its heels doing anything about it. That's the general finding of Justice Marie-Josee Hogue's inquiry, which wasn't all bad. Turns out there aren't "traitors" in Parliament, but we're not out of the woods. We get into common sense conclusions with Mo Amir.  8:30 | But first...how about our new live stream pre-roll? This episode marks t...

Did you see those clowns flashing Nazi salutes in St. Albert over the weekend? What's the right way to respond when that happens in your community? Mayor Cathy Heron tells us where her head's at after the "Deport Them All" demonstrators were ushered away by RCMP.  But first...federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson (2:40) tells us what he thinks about Premier Danielle S...

Why on earth is Danielle Smith's government opening up the Eastern Slopes to coal mining again, when the majority of Albertans oppose it and the government makes next to nothing from it? In this episode, straight-shooting High River Mayor Craig Snodgrass (6:15) tells us why he opposes coal mining in the Rockies, and tells us about his ongoing conversations with Premier Danielle Smith and Energy Mi...

Tonie hated our interview with Western Standard founder Derek Fildebrandt, Anna Banana peels paint over Danielle Smith's trip to D.C., and KP's got "liberals, dippers, easterners, greenies, Jespo and Johnny" in his sights over "fake love for Canada". 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've got today's top political stories teed up for Cheryl Oates and Erika Barootes, including Doug Ford's early election call, a lacklustre Liberal leadership race, Pierre Poilievre's "two genders" interview, and Danielle Smith's visit to D.C.  1:30 | But first...everybody's talking about what a great job our buddy Marty Jones did with Gene Principe during the January 23 Oilers broadcast! Jespo a...

Ranchers, land owners, conservationists, and everyday Albertans are joining forces to protest the Alberta government re-opening the Eastern Slopes to coal mining. With more than 80% of Albertans opposed to these projects, how can the UCP justify lifting its ban on coal exploration?  5:00 | We talk to the Alberta Wilderness Association's Kennedy Halvorson about the history and ecological impacts of...