Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Nobody's hurting American farmers more than President Donald Trump. His trade war with Canada is raising prices, and his cuts to USAID are hitting U.S. producers where it hurts. Meantime, farmers and ranchers north of the border are escaping the pain...for now. Everybody knows that could change in an instant. What should Ag producers and Canadian consumers be doing to prepare?  2:45 | We talk Ag w...

A familiar name will be missing from the ballot the next time Edmontonians elect a city council.  3:30 | Sarah Hamilton tells us why she decided against seeking re-election, and what she thinks the next council's biggest challenge will be.  40:30 | You've probably seen the YEG Wants London campaign over the past while. Why is that direct flight such a big deal? We talk to EIA VP James Jackson abou...

We're not used to this. The President of the United States calling Canada "a very bad abuser" and a poor trading partner, a bad neighbour, and a future 51st state. Very few of us have seen the Stars and Stripes as a negative symbol (off the ice, anyway). But the rhetoric, economic pain, and reputational damage is only getting worse under Donald Trump. How bad could it get?  7:00 | Max Fawcett, lea...

Imagine being able to detect pine beetles or gold deposits from space. Imagine using satellite data to boost crops around the world. An Alberta-based company is doing exactly that with the support of Edmonton Unlimited's innovation community.  2:30 | We welcome Wyvern CEO Chris Robson, tech mentor/investor Kristina Milke, and Edmonton Unlimited CEO Tom Viinikka to the Real Talk Round Table.  EDMON...

Mark Carney is Canada's next Prime Minister after a landslide 86% Liberal leadership win. Will he still be Prime Minister after an election as early as next month? Plus, have you been following the story involving Alberta MLA Scott Sinclair? Remember, he's the one that spoke out against his own party's budget, saying he'd never vote for it? After we released out March 3 episode, Sinclair was voted...

Lucky's proudly flying the flag, Janey has a message for "traitors to the toque," Ron says Canada could become Puerto Rico, Jake's up for revoking citizenship, Debbie and Stephen are proud of Danielle Smith AND Justin Trudeau (!!), and Lisa isn't "drinking the Kool-Aid" on cougar hunting. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER:...

Chrystia Freeland says Donald Trump is underestimating Canada's strength. The Liberal leadership candidate tells us her plan for Trump, Ukraine, and the next federal election "when" she's Prime Minister (3:00).  29:30 | Where were you when you heard four RCMP officers had been murdered in Mayerthorpe? Hard to believe it's been twenty years since the tragedy that rocked the nation. We welcome Mayor...

The little old lady loses her life savings to someone she THOUGHT was her grandson. The retiree transfers hundreds of thousands of dollars to who he THOUGHT was his long-distance girlfriend. The teenager's being extorted over nude photos they sent to who they THOUGHT was another teen. We see these heart-breaking stories every day, and wonder "How could they not have seen the red flags?" The fact i...

Boos rang down from the rafters of Rogers Place during the American anthem as the Oilers hosted the Anaheim Ducks. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says sorry not sorry. We've got an update (4:00) on day three of the trade war... 13:30 | Fresh off a trip to Washington, D.C., Sturgeon County Councillor Neal Comeau takes us behind the scenes of a diplomacy mission. Federation of Canadian Municipalities...

Canada's officially in a trade war. As President Donald Trump makes good on threats to impose tariffs on Canadian goods, it's never been more evident the relationship between our two nations is drastically different than even a month ago. What does this (what SHOULD this) mean for Canada? We discuss throughout this episode. Also... 10:10 | Jeromy Farkas still wants to be Mayor of Calgary. He tells...

As POTUS and his VP pile on Ukraine's president in the Oval Office, the world is rightfully re-evaluating the role of the USA in global affairs. Alberta's budget is out as Trump's tariffs loom. Who are the winners and losers? And, are people actually serious about re-naming Wayne Gretzky Drive?  5:15 | Political scientist Dr. Duane Bratt talks Trump vs. everybody except Putin, Ukraine and the rest...

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...