Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Animals die every year at rodeos around the world. And, stands are packed every year at rodeos around the world. As protests against animal exploitation increase, many circuses and zoos have been shut down. Is it time to ban rodeo?  2:45 | Prompted by their Dialogue feature in the summer issue of Alberta Views, animal rights attorney Camille Labchuk and author Aritha van Herk debate the future of...

Should Joe Biden accept Donald Trump's challenge to play 18 holes of golf? Is it important for Justin Trudeau to attend the Calgary Stampede? What'll Naheed Nenshi's first big move be as leader of the Alberta NDP? 2:14 | We talk about the presidential race (2:40), Trudeau v. Poilievre (13:45), our "Naheed Nenshi: Fact Checked" episode (28:30), making sense of utility bills (48:00), Nenshi's plan f...

They're one of the most magnificent animals on the planet. For years, they've been a threatened species in Alberta. But grizzly bears will soon be hunted again after the UCP government quietly lifted a 20 year ban. In this episode, we investigate changes to the Wildlife Act allowing "problem" bears to be targeted by sport hunters, and learn what wildlife biologists and other experts think about Al...

Was Naheed Nenshi accurate and fair in his criticism of Danielle Smith's government when he joined us on June 24? In this episode, we task two UCP supporters with "fact checking" the Alberta NDP leader's comments and providing alternative perspectives.  2:25 | Former UCP president Cynthia Moore and Alberta Institute's Peter McCaffrey respond to Naheed Nenshi's comments on infrastructure, schools,...

Does a monument of the Ten Commandments belong in Winnipeg's Assiniboine Park? We tackle the developing story - and fifteen others - in this episode of Real Talk.  6:16 | Charles Adler wastes no time chiming in on Russia bombing a children's hospital in Ukraine, the UK's new Prime Minister (10:35), former minister Marc Garneau's scathing indictment of Justin Trudeau's tenure as PM (13:50), an upda...

Real Talkers are FIRED UP over Sophie Grégoire Trudeau's comments about ADHD on Real Talk (June 26). Robyn, Sara, and Travis sound off, then "Raging Grannie" Karen chimes in on our Spittin' Chiclets interview (June 13). 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, Ne...

For more than a century, Albertans have celebrated a collective entrepreneurial spirit. A bold, scrappy, "never say die" attitude. But does that hard-wired reputation actually translate into a better business environment? We talk to Alberta's best in class in this episode - a Real Talk Round Table featuring Alberta Business Award of Distinction winners.  2:15 | How does a good idea evolve into a p...

Canada's rate of workplace fatalities is among the worst in the developed world. More workers die in Alberta alone every year than the entire UK. Why is Canada's safety record so poor? Why haven't we learned from tragedy after tragedy? Where's the accountability? How do we turn this trend around?  2:55 | Nicole Gnazdowsky's brother Andrew was killed at a Nova Scotia power dam site where he was wor...

Coming up on a year since her separation from Canada's Prime Minister, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau talks to us about her own public and personal journey, and her new book Closer Together.  2:30 | Sophie tells us about her conversations with experts on ADHD, infertility, eating disorders, "mindful masculinity," and more.  LEARN MORE: https://sophiegregoiretrudeau.com/ 39:15 | We explore the myriad of w...

Ugggggh. Connor McDavid and the Oilers will have to wait another year for a shot at the team's first Stanley Cup in decades. We talk it out - and get an update on the water main mess in Calgary - in this episode of Real Talk.  1:17 | Jespo and Johnny debrief after a heartbreaking Game Seven.  6:55 | The Globe and Mail's Carrie Tait tells us about some of the amazing Oilers fans she met through the...

Naheed Nenshi just RAN AWAY with the Alberta NDP leadership. Connor McDavid's poised to hoist his first Stanley Cup. We've got the two biggest stories in Canada covered (plus a recap of the sold-out Real Talk Golf Classic!) in this episode of Real Talk.  0:30 | Jespo and Johnny tee up Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Final.  10:00 | Are they cheering for the Oilers in Winnipeg? Charles Adler talks ho...

Anne's sick of crybabies in Calgary, and Don schools Ryan on the Royal Canadian Navy in 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, make sure you tell 'em Real Talk sent you!

Ryan's longtime friend Kathleen McGee joins (2:00) for REAL Talk about living with cancer. You'll laugh, you might cry, and we guarantee you'll be inspired.  FOLLOW KATHLEEN ON IG: https://www.instagram.com/kathleen_mcgee DONATE TO HER GOFUNDME: https://www.gofundme.com/f/june-dresses-for-the-alberta-cancer-foundation?member=34764567&sharetype=teams&utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&utm_me...

Is Justin Trudeau done in the next two months? Paul Wells, one of Canada's best political writers, takes us into his new book "Trudeau on the Ropes: Governing in Troubled Times".  2:50 | We get Paul's opinion on the Canadian warship in Cuba, Justin Trudeau's future with the Liberal Party, Pierre Poilievre's human side, the opioid crisis in Alberta, and the Canadian Future Party. PAUL'S SUBSTACK: h...

Anybody who's ever been to Calgary knows there's no way the Stampede's getting cancelled, water shortage or not. We look at how that major water main break's been impacting communities (and neighbourly relations) in this episode (18:40). Ahead of that, we hear "the other side" of the story of the HMCS Margaret Brooke docking in Cuba alongside a Russian nuclear sub (5:23). Make sure you stick aroun...

Why is a Canadian warship docked beside Russian vessels in Cuba? And why didn't Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly even know about it, when asked over the weekend? Defence Minister Bill Blair says it's a "smart" move, while the opposition Conservatives are calling it "reckless, radical, and dangerous." Who's right?  2:15 | Charles Adler dishes Canadian common sense on the Cuba story. But first,...

Real Talker Sierra delivers a eulogy for the Canadian Energy Centre - aka The War Room - in 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, make sure you tell 'em Real Talk sent you!

Fact or fiction? We task two of Alberta's most experienced journalists with scrutinizing our recent interview with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. 3:30 | Veteran commentators Graham Thomson and Markham Hislop dig into our June 12 interview with Premier Smith, including her eyebrow-raising comment about former premier Alison Redford, her thoughts on the future of carbon capture, her take on MLA Sha...

The stars of Spittin' Chiclets - the biggest hockey podcast in the world - join Jespo and Johnny in studio for a special Stanley Cup Final edition of Real Talk. Paul "BizNasty" Bissonnette, Ryan Whitney, Rear Admiral, and Mike Grinnell talk about the Oilers' decade of darkness, today's team (including a Leon Draisaitl contract extension), and whether or not Connor McDavid needs to hire somebody fo...

Why did Premier Danielle Smith appoint her one-time nemesis Alison Redford to the board of Invest Alberta? How is Calgary's water main disaster impacting how she'll approach the province's infrastructure deficit? Is Alberta even ready for a population boom...and if not, why not? Why is Premier Smith allowing her party to host a post-pandemic anti-vax event? And what's her response to MLA Shannon P...

Does your family have rules for phones and tablets? Does your kid's school (or even your own workplace) try to cut back on distraction by limiting access to tech? As Ontario and Quebec take the lead on banning phones in class, and Alberta looks to do the same, we get three different perspectives on tech literacy and brain and social development from Wyatt Sharpe, Gillian Essien, and Alison Service...

There's nothing funny about alleged corruption and shady business deals involving elected officials. But that's not stopping Jespo, Johnny, and Charles Adler from having a chuckle over the "Other Randy" story. We get to that, millionaire conspiracy peddler Alex Jones liquidating his assets, and a troubling report implicating MPs and/or Senators in acts of treason in this episode of Real Talk. But...

Debra checks in from the States with strong words (!!!) for Donald Trump; Ray, Ed, and Jim take issue with our May 31 Group Chat Round Table's take on Pierre Poilievre, and Dr. Jennifer delivers an unofficial diagnosis of the federal Conservative Leader. It's a feisty federal politics edition of The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWE...

From 1-10, where's your "climate anxiety" at? In this episode, we meet three "Climate Action Figures" who remind us it's never too late to take action.  5:10 | But first...it's another Real Talk scoop: Alberta will introduce policy on phones in schools as early as this summer. Ryan and Johnny take a look at what Ontario's doing, and what Alberta might do, ahead of our special episode on distractio...

This is the most personal and powerful episode of Real Talk we've ever released. Ryan shares his thoughts after the sudden and tragic death of his dear friend Loz (2:00), and we check in with grief educator Jeremy Allen (18:00). SUICIDE CRISIS HELPLINE: CALL OR TEXT 9-8-8  CONNECT WITH JEREMY: https://www.deathed.ca/ EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com  FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTA...