Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Conservative premiers may not lose many elections in Alberta, but more than a few have "met their maker" at party AGMs. Amid coordinated attacks from progressives and the right wing, will Danielle Smith emerge unscathed from the UCP's big bash in Red Deer?  2:00 | Erika Barootes joins us in studio before hitting the highway for the UCP AGM. Cheryl Oates is just back from Saskatchewan, where she qu...

How do you feel about trapping? Have you thought about it much at all? There's a long history of trapping across the country, including Indigenous traditions and traders. An apex predator conservation group is trying to stop a trapping contest targeting wolves in Alberta. We wrestle with a few important questions in this episode of Real Talk.  4:30 | Kim Odlan, co-founder of Exposed Wildlife Conse...

The leader of Canada's Conservatives and the Liberal Housing Minister were at each other's throats in the House of Commons. Could it be a preview of party leader quarrels to come? In this episode, we dig into the Poilievre/Fraser slugfest, analyze growing dissent among Trudeau's team, and determine what it means for you.  Plus, Johnny's had an epiphany about the U.S. election (after that "floating...

Scott Moe loses...but wins in Saskatchewan. Same with David Eby in BC. Blaine Higgs loses in New Brunswick, period. What's in store for Danielle Smith in Alberta and Tim Houston in Nova Scotia? We zero in on the top political stories in Canada on this episode of Real Talk.  3:15 | Max Fawcett, lead columnist at Canada's National Observer, breaks down the Saskatchewan election result, a wild week o...

It may not be among the Top 100 Most Important Issues Facing Albertans, but the UCP's so-called "Jordan Peterson Law" will steal more than its fair share of attention and analysis this fall, both in Alberta and across the country.  2:45 | Ryan takes a look at the implications of Premier Danielle Smith's pledge to protect the rights of professionals who express controversial personal views. We lay...

Real Talkers Colin, KP, and Michelle chime in on our Calgary arena debate, Tom says his MP is trying to cut his family's income, and Ron says Trudeau's time is up. 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...

With less than two weeks to go 'til November 5, a New York Times poll has Donald Trump and Kamala Harris dead even. Who stands a better chance of a late surge? Which numbers actually matter? What does the outcome mean for Canada? We get into it in this episode of Real Talk.  3:40 | Hillary Clinton compares a Trump rally to a Nazi rally during an appearance on CNN. Does she take a risk making the c...

Jasper-based journalist Bob Covey fired up his Flamethrower after our October 16 episode with retired foresters Ken Hodges and Emil Begin. We figured an on-camera interview would be more enlightening than an email (no offence to your email, Bob), so here it is. 4:50 | Bob Covey tells us why he was pissed off after watching our October 16 episode. Plus, we get an up-to-the-minute account of Jasper'...

Should public dollars go toward new arena districts that'll benefit billionaires?  2:35 | Calgary Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Deborah Yedlin and Project Calgary volunteer Peter Oliver debate public funding for Calgary's new arena (and what we can learn from the Edmonton deal).  ALBERTA VIEWS DIALOGUE FEATURE: https://albertaviews.ca/should-the-public-pay-for-calgarys-new-arena/ Knock 50%...

Are the CBC's days numbered? Its outgoing CEO is arguing with MPs over millions of dollars in bonuses paid to more than a thousand staff, while its incoming CEO will be tasked with retaining (or restoring) public trust an in institution under attack by federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.  2:10 | Jespo and Johnny dig into the argument to "defund" the CBC, and share their personal and prof...

id David Eby's NDP win and lose the B.C. election at the same time? You could make the argument, with an outcome as tight as it gets. What does such a narrow margin say about the state of that province, and federal politics for that matter? Meantime, the crisis in Lebanon is so bad that Syrian refugees who fled there are actually returning home. Humanitarian groups are doing what they can to provi...

Daintre insists Pierre Poilievre gets his security clearance, Garth calls Justin Trudeau derelict in duty, Rod wants Danielle Smith to quit wasting his money, and Bob's got words for the loggers we talked to about the Jasper wildfire. Real Talkers are all fired up for The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com Wh...

We tackle Canada's top news stories in this supercharged episode of Real Talk. Bryan Baeumler tells us about his brand new TV show, but not before Dana Larsen and our Group Chat Round Table sound off on what's leading the headlines. 2:00 | Dana Larsen tells us about the police raid on his Vancouver mushroom dispensary, and why he thinks he's being targeted.  DANA'S BUSINESS: https://mushroomdispen...

Danielle Smith says if Justin Trudeau's so confident in his energy policy, he should call an election. Alberta's Premier dared the Prime Minister to do exactly that just hours before our interview with federal Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson. We get into the next chapter of Alberta's longstanding feud with Ottawa over emissions caps, renewables, and the future of the economy. 2:15 | Minister Wi...

What have we learned from the Jasper wildfire, and the devastating fires before that? Could Banff, Lake Louise, or Whistler burn next?  3:15 | Retired foresters Ken Hodges and Emile Begin wrote letters to the federal government in late 2017 warning of a devastating fire in Jasper National Park. We talk to them on the heels of Ken's testimony before a Parliamentary Hearing related to the July 2024...

Is "Sober October" a non-starter for you or someone you love? Are you thinking about cutting back on drinking, but not cutting it out entirely? Mike Pond is a harm reduction psychotherapist who was living on the streets 15 years ago. He and his partner, award-winning journalist Maureen Palmer, say quitting cold turkey and living sober isn't for everybody. We get personal - and explore what's healt...

Ronnie's not a fan of Justin Trudeau OR Pierre Poilievre, Wendy wants less talk about war, Andrew's not a fan of how we handled the October 7th anniversary, and Coreen's all fired up over ignorant comments about educators. 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,...

He's one of the most feared hitters in hockey history. Jordin Tootoo - or "The Tootoo Train" - endeared himself to fans around the world through his fearless play. But the first Inuk player in NHL history battled demons born from childhood trauma to the point of nearly losing his life. Tootoo talks to us about his brother's suicide, his battles with alcohol, and an entirely new life after hockey....

About 90% of startups fail. What's the secret for those that don't? We talk to the leaders behind three success stories in this special episode of Real Talk presented by Edmonton Unlimited.  2:40 | Areto Labs founder Kasey Machin, vrCAVE founder Dr. Nathaniel Rossol, and Drivewyze VP Doug Johnson tell us about taking an idea to startup phase, the art of the pitch, navigating early (and existential...

Nothing's guaranteed, but it sure looks like Pierre Poilievre is Canada's next Prime Minister. In this episode of Real Talk, Stephen Harper's former comms boss tells us why Poilievre better pay attention to what's happening in the UK right now if he wants to last longer than a single term (or less) as PM.  4:00 | Andrew MacDougall served as Prime Minister Stephen Harper's director of communication...

Tiffany Hansen's four year old daughter has already been expelled from SEVEN different childcare centres. Her family is far from alone. There's an epidemic of early childhood expulsion across North America, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Young learners requiring special supports are falling through the cracks from kindergarten all the way up to high school, and research shows many of thos...

It's been a year since Hamas fighters attacked civilian targets in Israel, killing more than 1,400 people and kidnapping 200+ more. Israel's large-scale military response has killed at least 41,870 Palestinians including 16,756 children. The conflict has spread regionally, with Hezbollah engaging Israeli forces along its northern border with Lebanon. Tensions with Iran, a Hamas supporter, remain h...

Harry and Russ chime in on Danielle Smith's chemtrails comments, and Michael calls Alberta's Energy Regulator to the carpet. 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, let 'em know Real Talk sent you! FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TW...

Pierre Poilievre says he'll "axe" the carbon tax...but then what? Canadians are waiting for details on how the Conservative leader will approach the climate file if he's elected Prime Minister. In this episode, we speak with two Conservative policy wonks (a compliment, not an insult) who say it's time for Poilievre and premiers like Danielle Smith and Scott Moe to step up their game.  4:00 | But f...

The nation's best rodeo competitors are in Edmonton for the 50th edition of Canadian Finals Rodeo. In this special episode, we hang out with three of the highest achievers in Western sports - on horseback, in front of the bulls, and behind the mic.  2:00 | CFR defending barrel racing champion Lynette Brodoway, bullfighter Brett Monea, and 13-time Canadian Pro Rodeo Announcer of the Year Brett Gard...