Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Everybody's got their own interpretation of a provincial budget. There's a long list of communities, projects, and organizations deserving of big investments. And, inevitably, there's a long list of communities, projects, and organizations that won't wind up with the cash they say they need. In this episode, we lay out the implications of the 2024 Alberta Budget and attempt to answer one Real Talk...

Sarah Lawrynuik's coverage of Russia's war in Ukraine is personal. Her family's from there. She's been there multiple times over the past two years, covering the conflict as a freelance journalist. She can't ignore what she's seen since she last joined us in March of 2023. The country is battered, its people demoralized. The death toll - children included - is unimaginable. How much longer can Ukr...

Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse isn't your average politician. She says what she really thinks, she's not afraid to rattle a few cages, and her energy is off the charts. Despite her relative inexperience in the Legislature (she was elected in May 2023), Calahoo Stonehouse is vying for the leadership of the Alberta NDP. Does she have what it takes as an underdog to emerge victorious?  2:10 | The MLA from E...

Not everybody agrees with what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had to say about Canada's oil and gas sector during his February 21 interview on Real Talk. That includes former roughneck-turned-chief executive Kevin Krausert. Named a "Top 50 Global Changemaker Working in Canada" by the Globe & Mail in 2023, Krausert says traditional oil and gas companies do care about sustainability, and the envi...

Did you see David Parker's Twitter attack targeting Pierre Poilievre, his wife Anaida, and his advisor Jenni Byrne? The Take Back Alberta founder got personal, all but declaring war against the federal Conservative leader. What's Parker's end game? Is this a fight he can possibly win, or does the attack mark the beginning of the end of his group's influence? We discuss in this episode of Real Talk...

On the heels of our exclusive interview with the Prime Minister, it's an all-Justin Trudeau edition of The Flamethrower presented by the Dairy Queens of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com VISIT THE DQs in PALISADES, NAMAO, NEWCASTLE, WESTMOUNT, and BASELINE ROAD!

More than 300,000 Canadians will experience homelessness this year. More than 300 people will die on the street this year in Edmonton alone. Why haven't we been able to solve this national disaster?  2:07 | Tim Richter, Jordan Reiniger, Dr. Monty Ghosh, and Peggy Garritty talk solutions around our Real Talk Round Table.  CHECK OUT THE CHANCELLOR'S FORUM: https://rtrj.info/02224CF CDN. ALLIANCE to...

Beta Cuck, Libtard, Groomer, and Enemy of the State are just a handful of the wonderful comments we've received after our exclusive interview with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. (Welcome, to all our new fans!) 0:25 | Ryan recaps some of the best feedback from around the world (did you hear Infowars host Alex Jones wrote about the interview on his blog?).  18:40 | Political scientist Dr. Feo Snagov...

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits the Real Talk studio for an exclusive half-hour interview. 1:50 | Trudeau gets real about his record low polling numbers, his future as Liberal leader, the future of the carbon tax, his polarizing Environment Minister, selling the Trans Mountain pipeline, the 2024 US Presidential election, the state of journalism in Canada, and more.  37:00 | Ryan and Johnny de...

World leaders are denouncing the suspicious passing of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, one of Vladimir Putin's loudest critics, dead at 47 while being held in an Arctic prison. What should Canadians take from this story? Why should we care?  2:36 | Charles Adler opens with the story of a Canadian family that moved to Russia to escape a "gay dictatorship" before putting Alexei Navalny's d...

Garth's got a warning about "racism" accusations, Joe's sounding the drought alarm, Shannon's pissed at Air Canada, and Melanie has a message for Alberta's Premier. We fire up The Flamethrower presented by the Dairy Queens of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! When you visit a DQ in Palisades, Namao, Newcastle, Westmount, or Baseline Road, tell 'em Real Talk sent you! FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER:...

This isn't your average Black History Month conversation! Drs. Chika C. Daniels and Veronica Fynn Bruey accepted our invitation to share their personal thoughts on Black History Month, and WOW do they ever deliver.  2:20 | Prepare to be informed, educated, challenged, and inspired by the dynamic duo from Athabasca University, who share their personal experiences as immigrants to Canada and Black w...

We've never seen a campaign video quite like Sarah Hoffman's. The former Deputy Premier, now Alberta NDP Leadership hopeful, introduces herself as "fat, sassy, and bad at pretending to be something (she's) not" before promising she'll continue to "work (her) f*cking ass off." She's got everybody's attention...but what's her plan for the party, and if she's elected Premier?  2:27 | Sarah Hoffman ta...

Dr. Michael Kehler doesn't like the phrase "toxic masculinity". But he does think we need to have a national conversation about how boys and men act and learn about masculinity in schools, sport, and beyond.  4:00 | Is Dr. Kehler advocating for a future generation of wimps? The research chair in Masculinities Studies at the University of Calgary's Werklund School of Education makes us think about...

Is Jyoti Gondek getting any sleep these days? The Mayor of Calgary is the target of a recall petition, for which organizers have fewer than 60 days to collect more than 500,000 signatures. The petition comes amid a 30% approval rating for Gondek, who's facing criticism for a 7.8% property tax increase and a densification bylaw intended to address the city's housing crunch.  2:23 | Mayor Gondek get...

We tackle the top stories in this entertaining episode of Real Talk, including: was Usher lip syncing at the Super Bowl (and does anybody care)? What should Ottawa do about "blood-sucking, corporate vampires"? Is the Alberta NDP leadership Rakhi's race to lose? Is it time for Joe Biden to throw in the towel?  2:30 | Charles Adler tells us what he really thinks about show business and the Super Bow...

Leckie's fed up with the "immature crybabies" fighting single-use plastics bans, Kyle claps back at David after being called out in last week's Flamethrower, and David thinks we need to do better with uncomfortable conversations. It's another fiery edition of The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com

Kelly Falardeau sustained life-altering injuries at just two years old when her dress caught on fire at a family gathering. Spencer Beach's life was dramatically and forever changed when he was caught in an explosion at work. Their stories will invoke a wide range of emotions, from tears to laughter, in this must-watch episode of Real Talk.  3:55 | But first...it's another gut punch for Canada's b...

Talk about making a splash! Real Talk's got the exclusive as Rakhi Pancholi officially launches her campaign for the Alberta NDP leadership, and announces if elected Premier, she'll axe Alberta's consumer carbon tax.  2:00 | The Edmonton-Whitemud MLA hits the ground running, laying out what the NDP will look like under her leadership.  LEARN MORE: https://www.voterakhi.ca/ 46:10 | Pancholi's plan...

The race is on to replace Rachel Notley. Kathleen Ganley - MLA for Calgary-Mountain View and former Minister of Justice - is the first to toss her hat in the ring. In this episode of Real Talk, she tells us why it was important to announce first, how she'll fix the NDP's reputation in rural areas, how she'll address Alberta's talent shortage, what she'd do about the housing crisis, and which indus...

"Seek to understand." It's one of Stephen Covey's Seven Steps of Highly Effective People. It's also a solid life principle for anybody looking to make a positive impact in the world. It's what we try to do every episode of Real Talk. It's safe to say nobody will be more affected by Alberta's new Trans policies than Trans youth. In this episode, we talk to a Trans journalist born and raised in Red...

Former Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi appeared at a rally over the weekend, calling out Premier Danielle Smith for her recently-announced policies on pronouns and parents rights, Sex Ed, and Trans women in sport. It's got people wondering if the winner of the 2014 World Mayor Prize might be gearing up for an Alberta NDP leadership run. If that is the case, it's safe to suggest Nenshi would immediatel...

Real Talkers are allllllll fired up about Alberta's new policies on pronouns and parental rights, Sex Ed, and trans women's participation in sport. Not everybody sees the issues the same way, as you're about to find out in this week's edition of The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com BE SURE TO VISIT THE DQs...

Are children really undergoing gender reassignment surgeries? Are kindergarten students really being taught "queer ideology"? Are teachers instructed to keep secrets from parents about their kids?  2:25 | Prompted by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's January 31 policy announcement on trans youth, Sex Ed, and trans women in sport, our Real Talk Round Table features experts in their fields. Dr. Kate...

Alberta will prohibit hormonal treatment, puberty blockers, and gender affirming surgery for children under 16 as part of a series of policies announced by Premier Danielle Smith. Also included: Sex Ed curriculum must now be approved by the Education Minister, and parents will now opt their kids in (not out) of those classes. The policies also prohibit the participation of trans women in women's s...