Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

With U.S. President Donald Trump delaying tariffs on Canada, how should Canadian businesses and investors approach the next month (and beyond)?  8:45 | Edmonton Chamber of Commerce CEO Doug Griffiths says this entire ordeal should be a wake-up call for every business.  CHECK OUT THE CHAMBER: https://www.edmontonchamber.com/ 41:15 | What are the markets telling us right now? What's in store for the...

Stormy seas ahead, as Canada and the U.S. prepare to lock horns. We get three different takes (plus dozens in the Real Talk Live Chat powered by Park Power) on the implications of President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canada, and the Canadian counter-offensive announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Don't miss Positive Reflections presented by Kuby Energy near the end of the episode, as we recap...

Scott has words for former PM Jean Chretien, Greg's not buying the UCP's COVID task force report, Karen's head's about to explode over coal, Wayne's getting ready to burn tires and poach grizzly bears, Pilot One has a reminder for Westerners, and Ronnie's ready to chase neo-Nazis out of town. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHRO...

It's Tariffs Eve. Will Donald Trump actually make good on his threats? If so, who will ultimately pay the most? We present an international edition of the Real Talk Round Table featuring guests on both sides of the border. Plus, what was with Trump's bizarre political attacks after that deadly D.C. plane crash? HR consultant Dante King (39:30) explains why 47 is way off base.  8:00 | Sabine El-Chi...

A $2M report commissioned by the Alberta government advocates for limiting COVID-19 vaccinations, and suggests that health professionals should not face repercussions for promoting alternative treatments. Critics, including the Alberta and Canadian Medical Associations are calling the 269-page report "anti-science," suggesting it attempts to "rewrite history" by downplaying the importance of vacci...

Foreign interference IS a thing in Canada, and Ottawa's dragged its heels doing anything about it. That's the general finding of Justice Marie-Josee Hogue's inquiry, which wasn't all bad. Turns out there aren't "traitors" in Parliament, but we're not out of the woods. We get into common sense conclusions with Mo Amir.  8:30 | But first...how about our new live stream pre-roll? This episode marks t...

Did you see those clowns flashing Nazi salutes in St. Albert over the weekend? What's the right way to respond when that happens in your community? Mayor Cathy Heron tells us where her head's at after the "Deport Them All" demonstrators were ushered away by RCMP.  But first...federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson (2:40) tells us what he thinks about Premier Danielle S...

Why on earth is Danielle Smith's government opening up the Eastern Slopes to coal mining again, when the majority of Albertans oppose it and the government makes next to nothing from it? In this episode, straight-shooting High River Mayor Craig Snodgrass (6:15) tells us why he opposes coal mining in the Rockies, and tells us about his ongoing conversations with Premier Danielle Smith and Energy Mi...

Tonie hated our interview with Western Standard founder Derek Fildebrandt, Anna Banana peels paint over Danielle Smith's trip to D.C., and KP's got "liberals, dippers, easterners, greenies, Jespo and Johnny" in his sights over "fake love for Canada". It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com When you visit...

We've got today's top political stories teed up for Cheryl Oates and Erika Barootes, including Doug Ford's early election call, a lacklustre Liberal leadership race, Pierre Poilievre's "two genders" interview, and Danielle Smith's visit to D.C.  1:30 | But first...everybody's talking about what a great job our buddy Marty Jones did with Gene Principe during the January 23 Oilers broadcast! Jespo a...

Ranchers, land owners, conservationists, and everyday Albertans are joining forces to protest the Alberta government re-opening the Eastern Slopes to coal mining. With more than 80% of Albertans opposed to these projects, how can the UCP justify lifting its ban on coal exploration?  5:00 | We talk to the Alberta Wilderness Association's Kennedy Halvorson about the history and ecological impacts of...

Canada will look a whole lot different 50 years from now. Our claim to Arctic sovereignty is threatened, existing trade relationships will be forced to evolve, and our population is forecasted to explode (like it or not).  4:00 | Before we get into the future of Canada, Ryan opens this episode with a prayer...sort of. Did you hear Right Rev. Marianne Budde's message to Donald Trump at the inaugura...

President Donald Trump is guaranteeing a "Golden Age" for the United States of America. Does that promised prosperity come at the expense of allies and neighbours like Canada?  2:55 | We run through Trump's inauguration speech with Dr. Bob Murray, political scientist and senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.  TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com  FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, &...

No need to speculate any more. Canadians will soon know exactly what Donald Trump's return to the White House will mean for trade with the United States, border security, and more. We take a look at early storylines in this episode of Real Talk.  3:30 | Wyatt Sharpe tells us what he's seeing behind-the-scenes in Washington, D.C.  THE WYATT SHARPE SHOW: https://www.youtube.com/@UCEI-thoRF6_EGuhc_1e...

Real Talkers are ALL fired up from ALL different angles as Danielle Smith tells her fellow premiers to pound sand. 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, Newcastle, Westmount, and Baseline Road, be sure to tell 'em Real Talk sent you! REGISTER FOR THE REAL TALK...

Will voters think "Justin Trudeau" every time they see Mark Carney or Chrystia Freeland? Both Liberal leadership contenders will do everything they can to differentiate themselves from the outgoing PM...but will it work?  3:20 | We talk to political scientist Dr. Duane Bratt about Mark Carney's campaign launch (including a Rolls Royce limo publicity stunt and the cops showing up to remove a "journ...

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith snubs her fellow premiers, as Alberta abstains from a cross-country collective effort to dissuade Donald Trump from imposing tariffs on Canadian goods and services.  5:00 | Is Smith out of line, embarrassing Alberta, or doing exactly what a premier is supposed to do in circumstances like this? We hear from Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Smith herself, and Ryan shares his...

When does swift and sweeping political reform cross the line to authoritarianism? Is Premier Danielle Smith on a troubling quest to control everything and everybody in Alberta, or is recent legislation nothing more than a provincial leader attempting to fix broken systems? 2:01 | Independent journalist Jeremy Appel takes us into his Alberta Views feature "The UCP Want More Control".  READ JEREMY'S...

170 million Americans who use TikTok will likely have to find another favourite app, as the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to ban the popular Chinese-owned platform on January 19. We connect with tech expert Amber Mac (3:00) to determine what the ban will mean for TikTok users (including Canadians), other social media giants (including Instagram and X), and free speech in general.  29:00 | Where a...

Danielle Smith says Canada needs to be prepared for tariffs threatened by Donald Trump. This, after Alberta's premier met with the President-elect at his Florida estate as a guest of celebrity investor Kevin O'Leary. We explore the smartest ways to respond in this episode of Real Talk.  3:00 | Senator Charles Adler returns to Real Talk to discuss Premier Danielle Smith's meeting with Trump, Canada...

7th Pilot, Jake, Travis, and David are ALL FIRED UP over Donald Trump's disrespect for Canada. This might be the fieriest edition in Flamethrower history, 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 to tell 'em Real Talk sent you! REGIST...

Donald Trump's turning everything upside down, including America's relationship with Canada, and he hasn't even sworn in yet. What do Trump's bluff, bluster, and threats mean for Canada's exports, energy included? Dr. Heather Exner-Pirot and Max Fawcett go toe-to-toe in an edition of the Real Talk Round Table you definitely don't want to miss (19:15).  4:35 | But first...expansion news! In additio...

Should the federal Liberals and NDP work even more closely together? Does a merger represent the left's best chance at forming the next federal government? Or are the parties too ideologically-opposed for such a relationship to actually work?  3:30 | Mario Canseco, president of Research Co, takes us into polling on Canada joining the U.S., Conservative support following Trudeau's resignation, and...

Donald Trump figures it's time Canada became the 51st state. He's calling the Canada/U.S. border an "artificially-drawn line," says America spends hundreds of billions "protecting Canada," and is threatening "economic force" to make a merger happen. What's the right way for Canada to respond?  5:00 | Jespo and Johnny open the show with their own thoughts on Trump's comments and responses from PM J...

It's a lousy time for the federal government to flounder. As Donald Trump's inauguration date approaches, the Liberal Party's kicking off a leadership race as opposition leaders call for an election. What does Justin Trudeau's resignation mean for his party, Pierre Poilievre, Jagmeet Singh, and you? 3:35 | Timothy Caulfield gives us his perspective on Justin Trudeau's tenure as Prime Minister, Met...