Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Seven years ago, Jespo publicly banned John Carpay from appearing on his terrestrial radio show after the two locked horns over COVID restrictions. This episode, Jespersen and Carpay reconvene in our feature interview (3:00) presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. The two look back on that polarizing pandemic and debate some of Canada's most controversial legislation including the so-called Pete...

Mark Carney’s Liberals are pouring billions into skilled trades, aiming to train up to 100,000 workers to tackle housing, infrastructure, and major resource projects. The pitch? Build Canada stronger, faster — and less dependent on the United States. We dig into the Spring Economic Update (including Canada's first national sovereign wealth fund) with Heather Thomson from the Edmonton Chamber of Co...

The health of democracy comes down to three basic questions: Are the rules applied equally? Is government accountable? And is it actually serving the public? In this episode, political scientists Dr. Jared Wesley and Dr. Feo Snagovsky put Alberta’s UCP government to the test in our feature interview (3:15) presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY RapidEX FINANCIAL. TH...

A dramatic security breach at the White House Correspondents' Dinner has people questioning, well, everything. Supriya Dwivedi and Rachel Gilmore get into it in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. Rachel tells us about being targeted by white nationalists in Montreal (26:00), Supriya's concerned Manitoba's new youth social media ban won't work (49:20), and we dissect fo...

"Queen Bee" calls out Jespo's "unbridled enthusiasm" for the Alberta Whisky Act, Laura's sick of "frickin' morons" backing Big Coal, Robert brings anti-separation energy, Bobby's got a message for Pierre Poilievre, Kim B has a hot take on Daylight Saving Time, and Mariah sounds off over Edmonton's patio tax. It's The Flamethrower presented by our friends at the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwo...

Captured on the front lines of Ukraine and held for months as a prisoner of war, Shaun Pinner gives us his firsthand account of survival under extreme conditions. In our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West, he reflects on combat, captivity, and the lasting psychological toll of war...plus, why he’s telling his story now through Live. Fight. Survive. THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED...

David Eby’s government sold DRIPA as a historic step toward reconciliation, but as implementation begins, the cracks are starting to show. Meantime, public opinion is shifting. Support for reconciliation - once broadly embraced - is being tested as people grapple with what the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act could mean for the economy, governance, and decision-making authority...

Forever Canadian founder and former deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk says the UCP's democratic process around his referendum question is "a sham". He explains why alongside NDP deputy leader Rakhi Pancholi in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West (26:00).  But first...what's going on with the teachers' court case against the Alberta government? Alberta Teachers Association p...

Billy Morin's not going anywhere. In an exclusive interview, the Conservative MP tells us how he was recruited by the Liberals, whether or not he planned on getting caught on that hot mic, and why he's sticking to his guns supporting Pierre Poilievre. Feature interviews on Real Talk are presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West.  THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY RapidEX FINANCIAL. THE CRYPTO WORLD MOVE...

Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada’s deep ties to the U.S. are now a liability (and they need fixing) as Donald Trump’s tariffs keep workers in our auto, steel, and lumber sectors squarely in the crosshairs. Is this any different than the PM's message over the past year? We get into the strategy behind it with Supriya Dwivedi (3:45) in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton...

Real Talkers KP, Chris, and Brenda are fired up over UCP gerrymandering allegations; Nathan's taking back a couple flags; and Roger calls Jespo to the carpet for his comment about adult autograph seekers. It's The Flamethrower presented by our amazing friends at the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com WHEN YOU VISIT THE DQs IN PALISADES, N...

We didn't see the "Daddy Carney" comments coming, but you never know what you're going to get around the Real Talk Round Table. Six months after their election wins, Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas and Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack (3:30) dig into infrastructure woes, electoral boundary changes, provincial relations, infill strategy, a potential Winter Olympics bid, high speed rail, Alberta separation,...

Is there any more successful provincial branding campaign in Canadian history than Alberta Beef? Distillers are hoping Alberta Whisky sees the same international uptick with the (pending) passage of the Alberta Whisky Act, which sets strict standards for anything branded Alberta Whisky. We get into it with Minister Dale Nally, Bryce Parsons from the Alberta Craft Distillers Association and True Wi...

Remember the Epstein files? Those documents tied to one of the most disturbing, high-profile abuse scandals in modern history? The ones that were supposed to bring accountability, transparency, maybe even a little justice? Funny how they seem to keep…slipping out of focus. The Trump administration has been accused of doing its best to keep those files buried (or at least conveniently out of reach)...

PM Mark Carney has his majority after the Liberals sweep three by-elections in Ontario and Quebec. What does this mean for the government, Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives, and everyday Canadians? We get into it with Shannon Phillips, Tyler Meredith, and Ken Boessenkool (4:45) in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West.  THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY OUR FRIENDS AT HANSEN DIS...

If the Liberals sweep the by-elections in Toronto and Terrebonne, QC - or even go two for three - there'll be no looking back for PM Mark Carney. Then, there's the possibility even more MPs could cross the floor to what would be a majority government. What's the likelihood it all plays out this way? We ask National Observer lead columnist Max Fawcett (4:15) in our feature interview presented by Me...

"Why Knott," Wayne and Greg in Calgary, and Robert react strongly to our April 8 interview with Alberta's Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides; Michael says "both sides" don't need to be better with online harrassment, Kyle's worried Iran will be rebuilt before his back alley, and Les says Jespo's off the mark with his Kraft Hockeyville comments. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of No...

Close to 40 Conservative MPs fear Pierre Poilievre will cost them their seats, party insiders tell the Toronto Star. What does this mean for Mr. Poilievre and the CPC? Journalist Raisa Patel joins from Ottawa (8:00) in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West.  THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY RapidEX FINANCIAL. THE CRYPTO WORLD MOVES FAST, BUT YOUR TRUST IN AN EXCHANGE SHOULDN'T...

"The Liberal tent is so big you can drive a truck convoy right through it." MP Marilyn Gladu's floor crossing from the Conservatives to the Liberals is raising more than a few eyebrows. Does her past support for conversion therapy, the Freedom Convoy, and alternative COVID therapies inherently conflict with Liberal culture? Is PM Carney going too far in his quest for a majority government? Poll an...

Is it possible...or smart...to try to remove ideology from schools? What does it even mean? Whose responsibility is it to decide how and what students learn? We ask Alberta's Minister of Education Demetrios Nicolaides about the UCP's controversial Bill 25 in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West.  THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY RapidEX FINANCIAL. THE CRYPTO WORLD MOVES FAST,...

You ever notice how “going back to the Moon” somehow sounds kind of...small? Like, we already did it half a century ago. In the era of black-and-white TV, slide rules, and less computing power than your smartwatch. Apollo 8 sent humans around the Moon in 1968. So, what’s the big deal now? Except, this is a big deal. Because this isn’t nostalgia. It’s not a victory lap. Artemis II is the first time...

Yes, it’s real. President Donald Trump is out with a profanity-laced threat toward Iran, setting a firm deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and warning of devastating strikes on key infrastructure if that doesn’t happen. We’re talking about a rapidly intensifying conflict that’s already shaken global markets, disrupted supply chains, and driven up fuel prices — in just over five weeks. So wher...

Real solutions for Alberta workers from the Alberta Federation of Labour. Episode 3 of the Worker Agenda looks at WAGES. Omar Mouallem leads a compelling conversation with hosts Gil McGowan and Cori Longo, joined by special guest Linda Marinai, Northern Director of UFCW Local 401. Together, they dive into the state of wages in Alberta—exploring the growing wage gap, the impact of inflation on work...

Nicolaides and Smith in front of a school or something like that...or you could go with a big ghostbusters thing over a Pride flag or something like that.... FLAMETHROWER TITLE: "Alberta's Ban on Ideology in Schools is Laughable!" FLAMETHROWER DESCRIPT: Anne says the UCP's take on classroom ideology is "laughable and ridiculous," Tim claims Mark Carney's forcing him to leave Canada, Bruce has a th...

The Alberta NDP needs to change its name...right? Party leader Naheed Nenshi isn't so sure (3:30), and he explains why in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. Nenshi leads off with his Opposition to Danielle Smith's trip to Saudi Arabia, and Alberta banning "politics and ideology" from classrooms. Do you agree or disagree with Nenshi on the name change? Leave a comment b...