Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Frosty and Garry are upset at our Pride talk, while Lauren and Kat have a lot to say about the Titan sub disaster. Brace yourself for Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services!  KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/

Alberta's former Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw was unceremoniously dismissed from a new position in Indigenous health, prompting the resignation of the program's medical director Dr. Esther Tailfeathers. The move prompted more than a hundred doctors to sign an open letter demanding a response from Premier Danielle Smith.  2:35 | Dr. Neeja Bakshi is one of the physicians who sig...

Canada's not "broken," but our communities are hurting. Crime rates are up, police are taking longer to respond to rural calls, many community supports are floundering, and important infrastructure is on the verge of collapse. It's time to talk.  Mayor Cathy Heron (St. Albert), Mayor Trina Jones (Legal), and Councillor Krista Gardner (Calmar) join Ryan in studio for a look at how their municipalit...

Unruly people spewing hateful conspiracy theories about the Pride flag forced Leduc Mayor Bob Young to abruptly cancel a recent council meeting. This, as RCMP are investigating vandalism of a Pride-themed crosswalk in the Alberta city. Incidents like these are making news throughout June (Pride month) across North America...not to mention the boycott campaign targeting Bud Light for partnering wit...

It's the most mind-boggling build in Edmonton's recent history. The Valley Line LRT, a $1.8 billion expansion to the city's light rail network, is now three years behind schedule after builder TransEd announced yet another delay. This time, it's because 140 km worth of corroded cables need to be replaced before trains can safely operate.  00:10 | Are Tim Cartmell and Andrew Knack worried Edmontoni...

The world watched over the weekend as tension between several of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most loyal lieutenants spilled into the streets, and one of them turned his guns on targets in his own country. What does the short-lived rebellion in Russia mean for the war in Ukraine, and Putin himself? What's the main takeaway for the West?  3:00 | Ian Bremmer is one of the world's foremost auth...

Anne's hot under the collar about the latest wildfire conspiracy theory, Tracey won't be muzzled over masks in senior's centres, and Jeff's got a message for Pride protestors. It's a loud and proud edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services! KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/

Lost at sea, will the passengers aboard a small vessel bound for Titanic's wreckage survive? Why haven't the 280 Canadians killed in the Air India 182 bombing in 1985 been properly remembered? Today's episode tackles a developing story, and a tragedy nearly 40 years ago.  1:00 | The outlook is grim for the five people aboard the lost Titan submarine. Ryan and Johnny have the latest details, and wo...

Ten years after the southern Alberta floods, what have we learned from one of the costliest natural disasters in Canadian history? How did the disaster impact individuals, families, and the way we build (or rebuild) communities?  Speaking of building relationships and communities, are we too reliant on technology? Are we asking the tough questions or riding blissfully down a road to ruin? This epi...

Canada's among the worst developed nations when it comes to government transparency. We're also in the beginning stages of a new century of fire that will forever alter the way we interact with the planet. You're guaranteed to learn something on both fronts in this episode of Real Talk. But first... 0:00 | Did you catch Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen on our June 19th episode? We open with h...

A couple years ago, data engineer Frances Haugen blew the whistle on Facebook, disclosing thousands of her employer's internal documents to the SEC and The Wall Street Journal. Was it worth it?  4:45 | The author of "The Power of One" tells us why she took such a gutsy step, and whether or not anything's changed since "The Facebook Files" series ran in the WSJ. What's the worst case scenario if pl...

Ryan got a call from a certain former Deputy Premier of Alberta after yesterday's interview with Danielle Smith. It set the table for today's Fact Check edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services! KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/

June is Pride month. Chances are, you're seeing more rainbow flags, news coverage, and maybe even a controversial email or pamphlet referencing the annual celebration. Where should our focus be? We welcome three LGBTQ+ community members to the Real Talk Round Table for an unflinching look at the work that still needs to be done in Canada and around the world.  2:20 | Imagine coming to Canada as an...

What are Danielle Smith's plans for Cabinet, an Alberta pension plan, and a "new relationship" with Ottawa and the media? Alberta's Premier joins Ryan in studio for an interview you won't want to miss. 2:00 | But first...we hear so many people declare society is more polarized now than ever before. Is that actually true? If so, how did we get to this point? More importantly, how do we move from po...

Following a couple recounts, it's official: the Alberta NDP won 14 of 26 seats in Calgary. How did the party most closely tied to success in Edmonton take down high-profile UCP incumbents in south Calgary?  4:00 | Esmahan Razavi managed the NDP campaigns in Calgary-Acadia and Calgary-Glenmore, where Diana Batten beat Tyler Shandro and Nagwan Al-Guneid beat Whitney Issik. The NDP won both ridings b...

David Johnston says he's staying on as Special Rapporteur despite a House of Commons motion calling for his resignation (and a public inquiry). The former Governor General says questions around his integrity and independence are off base. With such loud criticism around Johnston's "so called" friendship with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, will the average Canadian trust his investigation into alle...

Populist politicians like Danielle Smith, Doug Ford, and Ron DeSantis have won support by appealing to everyday people. But do average, ordinary folks actually benefit from this brand of politics?  4:40 | Dr. Lisa Young's been writing about Danielle Smith's ascent to United Conservative Party leader and Premier of Alberta for the past six months. The political scientist joins Ryan to talk about po...

It's the first edition of Trash Talk since the Alberta election, and Real Talkers have a lot to say! Ryan busts out the flame thrower and gets into the hottest takes submitted to talk@ryanjespersen.com. Trash Talk is presented by our friends at Local Environmental Services. KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/ 

What can we expect to see from Premier Danielle Smith, Rachel Notley (and the Alberta NDP), and Justin Trudeau vs. Pierre Poilievre? Find out from Bad + Bitchy podcast hosts Erica Ifill and Kristin Raworth in this crossover episode of Real Talk. 3:40 | But first...is Taylor Swift's boyfriend really a Nazi sympathizer? 9:30 | Erica, born and raised in Edmonton, now calls Ottawa home. She says natio...

In politics, is it possible to win and lose at the same time? You might describe the Alberta NDP's 2023 campaign in such a way. Rachel Notley's party lost the election, but there were gains in popular support, seats, fundraising, and overall momentum. How much of that actually matters? What's the right move for Notley and the party moving forward?  3:50 | Max Fawcett says Rachel Notley's NDP needs...

The results are in: Danielle Smith and the UCP will form Alberta's next government. What can Albertans expect? What message does the election outcome send to the rest of Canada? What does the future look like for Rachel Notley and the NDP?  2:20 | And what does the NDP sweeping Edmonton mean for Alberta's capital city? Councillor Sarah Hamilton joins Ryan in studio.  15:30 | Will Danielle Smith's...

By the time most of us fall asleep tonight, we'll know which party will form the next government in Alberta. Will it be Premier Danielle Smith or Premier Rachel Notley we're talking about tomorrow morning? It's looking like this could wind up as the closest election in Alberta history. This episode of Real Talk, we talk about the x-factors that could contribute to a UCP or NDP win.  8:45 | Talk ra...

Lauren says it's gotta be people ahead of profits, and Catalina didn't love the tone of one of our interviews this week. Both Real Talkers sound off in this week's edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services!  KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/

The Alberta election is just days away. More than a half-million people have already voted in advance polls, suggesting this election could see record-setting turnout. It's a hotly contested race, with the UCP and NDP polling neck and neck. This episode is dedicated to those of you still making up your mind.  3:25 | Economist Dr. Trevor Tombe, journalist Drew Anderson, and Alberta Chambers CEO Sha...

It's a helluva thing for a high-profile Progressive Conservative cabinet minister to go on the record endorsing the New Democrats. But that's exactly what former Minister of Municipal Affairs Doug Griffiths is doing. In an exclusive interview with Real Talk, Griffiths explains how he got here.  4:00 | Doug Griffiths played a big role in Alberta's Progressive Conservative governments between 2002-2...