Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

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...

Alberta's making national news on two fronts this month. With more than a million hectares already burned before June (that's 2.5 million football fields!), the province is trending toward its worst wildfire season on record. Meantime, candidates in 87 ridings are campaigning for votes as the May 29 election looms.  2:40 | Why is this spring so bad for wildfires? What are the most significant cont...

Even the most experienced pollsters and pundits are having a hard time calling this one. As advance polls open today, with less than a week 'til Election Day, the UCP and NDP are neck and neck. Who's going to win the Alberta election, and how are they going to do it?  3:55 | Charles Adler doesn't live in Alberta, but you'd never know it. The veteran talk radio host knows the province inside out. H...

Tania's got a strong message - delivered out of love (!) - for our Thursday Round Table guests (and Ryan), and Ned's sick of politics as sport. Both sound off in this week's Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services!  KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/

Both the UCP and NDP are claiming a win at the only televised debate of the 2023 Alberta Election. Who's right? How do you gauge success? Did either leader - Danielle Smith or Rachel Notley - actually move the needle with undecided (or even "decided") voters? 2:10 | The Strategists produce and host one of Canada's favourite political podcasts. Stephen Carter, Corey Hogan, and Annalise Klingbeil jo...

The only televised debate of the 2023 Alberta Election goes down tonight. What can we expect from Danielle Smith and Rachel Notley? Who has the upper hand? Does it even matter? Furthermore, does anybody even recognize the United Conservative Party anymore?  2:00 | Our Group Chat Round Table reconvenes with Katherine O'Neill, Harman Kandola, and Jenny Adams, veterans of multiple conservative campai...

It's a total disaster. For decades, Alberta has allowed oil and gas companies to ignore their legal obligation to clean up old wells, tailings ponds, and other environmental liabilities. It's obvious to anybody paying attention that the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) can't be trusted to look out for the public nor the planet.  4:00 | Markham Hislop has been covering the oil and gas industry for ye...

Nobody will blame you for being confused about voter intention across the province. Duelling polls from Abacus Data and Janet Brown have the UCP either losing big or winning big in Calgary. So, what's a voter to think? Ryan opens the show with campaign developments over the past 24 hours, including both parties' tax plans, controversial comments about transgender students from a UCP candidate in c...

Could the UCP really be blowing a big lead in Calgary? Will the NDP be able to hold on and win the election on May 29? Do you even believe what the polls are saying, or is your gut telling you something different? We take a look at some of the top headlines two weeks out from Election Day, and what they could mean outcome-wise. But first... 9:55 | Is the federal government's "safer supply" approac...

Jeff says people need to chill over the new Canadian passports, Laurie argues school buses are getting less safe in Alberta, and Monty's wondering what the hell happened to the candidates that lost the UCP leadership race. Buckle up for another fiery edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services!  KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/

What do Alberta's towns and cities most need right now? A solution to violent crime? Better access to healthcare? $30 billion to save essential infrastructure from collapse? This episode, four Alberta mayors tell us their top priorities two weeks out from the provincial election.  3:35 | Violent crime is up in Edmonton almost 17% over last year. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi knows it's part of the reason wh...