Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Canada will look a whole lot different 50 years from now. Our claim to Arctic sovereignty is threatened, existing trade relationships will be forced to evolve, and our population is forecasted to explode (like it or not).  4:00 | Before we get into the future of Canada, Ryan opens this episode with a prayer...sort of. Did you hear Right Rev. Marianne Budde's message to Donald Trump at the inaugura...

President Donald Trump is guaranteeing a "Golden Age" for the United States of America. Does that promised prosperity come at the expense of allies and neighbours like Canada?  2:55 | We run through Trump's inauguration speech with Dr. Bob Murray, political scientist and senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.  TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com  FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, &...

No need to speculate any more. Canadians will soon know exactly what Donald Trump's return to the White House will mean for trade with the United States, border security, and more. We take a look at early storylines in this episode of Real Talk.  3:30 | Wyatt Sharpe tells us what he's seeing behind-the-scenes in Washington, D.C.  THE WYATT SHARPE SHOW: https://www.youtube.com/@UCEI-thoRF6_EGuhc_1e...

Real Talkers are ALL fired up from ALL different angles as Danielle Smith tells her fellow premiers to pound sand. 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, and Baseline Road, be sure to tell 'em Real Talk sent you! REGISTER FOR THE REAL TALK...

Will voters think "Justin Trudeau" every time they see Mark Carney or Chrystia Freeland? Both Liberal leadership contenders will do everything they can to differentiate themselves from the outgoing PM...but will it work?  3:20 | We talk to political scientist Dr. Duane Bratt about Mark Carney's campaign launch (including a Rolls Royce limo publicity stunt and the cops showing up to remove a "journ...

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith snubs her fellow premiers, as Alberta abstains from a cross-country collective effort to dissuade Donald Trump from imposing tariffs on Canadian goods and services.  5:00 | Is Smith out of line, embarrassing Alberta, or doing exactly what a premier is supposed to do in circumstances like this? We hear from Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Smith herself, and Ryan shares his...

When does swift and sweeping political reform cross the line to authoritarianism? Is Premier Danielle Smith on a troubling quest to control everything and everybody in Alberta, or is recent legislation nothing more than a provincial leader attempting to fix broken systems? 2:01 | Independent journalist Jeremy Appel takes us into his Alberta Views feature "The UCP Want More Control".  READ JEREMY'S...

170 million Americans who use TikTok will likely have to find another favourite app, as the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to ban the popular Chinese-owned platform on January 19. We connect with tech expert Amber Mac (3:00) to determine what the ban will mean for TikTok users (including Canadians), other social media giants (including Instagram and X), and free speech in general.  29:00 | Where a...

Danielle Smith says Canada needs to be prepared for tariffs threatened by Donald Trump. This, after Alberta's premier met with the President-elect at his Florida estate as a guest of celebrity investor Kevin O'Leary. We explore the smartest ways to respond in this episode of Real Talk.  3:00 | Senator Charles Adler returns to Real Talk to discuss Premier Danielle Smith's meeting with Trump, Canada...

7th Pilot, Jake, Travis, and David are ALL FIRED UP over Donald Trump's disrespect for Canada. This might be the fieriest edition in Flamethrower history, 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, make sure to tell 'em Real Talk sent you! REGIST...

Donald Trump's turning everything upside down, including America's relationship with Canada, and he hasn't even sworn in yet. What do Trump's bluff, bluster, and threats mean for Canada's exports, energy included? Dr. Heather Exner-Pirot and Max Fawcett go toe-to-toe in an edition of the Real Talk Round Table you definitely don't want to miss (19:15).  4:35 | But first...expansion news! In additio...

Should the federal Liberals and NDP work even more closely together? Does a merger represent the left's best chance at forming the next federal government? Or are the parties too ideologically-opposed for such a relationship to actually work?  3:30 | Mario Canseco, president of Research Co, takes us into polling on Canada joining the U.S., Conservative support following Trudeau's resignation, and...

Donald Trump figures it's time Canada became the 51st state. He's calling the Canada/U.S. border an "artificially-drawn line," says America spends hundreds of billions "protecting Canada," and is threatening "economic force" to make a merger happen. What's the right way for Canada to respond?  5:00 | Jespo and Johnny open the show with their own thoughts on Trump's comments and responses from PM J...

It's a lousy time for the federal government to flounder. As Donald Trump's inauguration date approaches, the Liberal Party's kicking off a leadership race as opposition leaders call for an election. What does Justin Trudeau's resignation mean for his party, Pierre Poilievre, Jagmeet Singh, and you? 3:35 | Timothy Caulfield gives us his perspective on Justin Trudeau's tenure as Prime Minister, Met...

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...