Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Puff or Pass? The Truth About Vaping

12 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You've probably seen those big, flavoured vape clouds rising from commuters at the bus stop and kids outside the mall. Cigarette smoking is down acros...

Doc Talk: Measles, E. coli, Salmonella, and More

11 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Alberta has more measles cases than the ENTIRE United States this summer. Seventy people are sick with E. coli after eating at a popular Calgary resta...

"The UCP is Taking Alberta Down A Slippery Slope!"

09 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kyle gets graphic (like, "slobbery, blow job, circle jerk" graphic) in his assessment of our Gaza coverage, Michael's sick of personal questions, Patr...

The Fight To Keep Alberta in Canada

08 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A team of Albertans is on a mission to collect 300,000 signatures and trigger a referendum supporting Alberta's future in Canada. We talk to former Pr...

What Jews & Palestinians Don’t Want To Know About Each Other

07 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

More than 60,000 Palestinians are dead. Hundreds and hundreds of Israeli families are grieving the loss and abduction of their loved ones from Hamas' ...

Wrongfully Convicted in Canada // USA Losing Trade War

06 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Roy Allan Sobotiak spent 35 years in prison for a murder he's always insisted he did not commit. It's the longest sentence served by a victim of wrong...

Sharan Kaur: Gaza, Bill 21, Poilievre By-election

05 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For the first time, just hours before this episode, Canadian Armed Forces made a humanitarian airdrop over Gaza using a CC-130J Hercules aircraft that...

Alberta's Book Ban a "Gross Overreach"

02 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Real Talkers Rebecca and Brandon have hot takes on Alberta banning graphic books in school libraries, BDP and Alberta Gengar respond to our coverage o...

Road Trip Round-Up: The Best of Real Talk

01 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This one's for all you August Long Weekend road trippers, along with everybody who's been too busy through the summer to catch every single episode of...

Misconduct: Breaking Down the Hockey Canada Verdict

31 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Not guilty doesn't mean innocent. In one of our most important episodes to date, we take on the Hockey Canada verdict with Sexual Assault Centre of Ed...

Tales of the Trans-Canada Hwy // Poilievre Debates

30 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You've no doubt driven it, perhaps for an hour, perhaps for more than a week straight. But how much do you know about the history of the Trans-Canada ...

Convoy Lawyer Debanked // Book Ban Debated

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nothing but hot button issues in this episode, as we check in with Freedom Convoy lawyer Eva Chipiuk (4:00) after she was "debanked" by RBC, and get i...

Jasper’s Harsh Reality // Immigration & Housing

28 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode's all about building. Jasper's rebuild. Canada's housing crunch. The truth about immigration. Oh, and Jespo's Happy Gilmore 2 review. As ...

Two Sides of the Hockey Canada Verdict

26 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Karen and Les have strong words for Danielle Smith, while Anne and Clinton see the Hockey Canada verdict differently. It's The Flamethrower presented ...

Politics Round Table // Disability Pride Month

25 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We tackle the Hockey Canada verdict, shenanigans in the Battle River--Crowfoot by-election, Edmonton's "low key, low energy" mayoral race, and rumours...

Jasper: One Year After the Fire

24 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's been a year since wildfire tore through Jasper, one of Canada's crown jewels. In this special episode, we connect with Mayor Richard Ireland (3:0...

Extremists in the Canadian Forces

22 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is Canada's military compromised? As four men (including two active members) face terrorism charges in Quebec, we talk to an expert on extremism and w...

EXCLUSIVE: Michael Walters Enters Mayoral Race

21 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

1,000 episodes! THANK YOU, Real Talkers. In another Alberta politics exclusive, former Edmonton councillor Michael Walters announces his campaign for ...

"Stampede Ain't Just Cowboy Cosplay!"

12 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Colleen in Calgary has fightin' words for critics of the Calgary Stampede. Garth calls Jespo to the carpet for "running interference for the Liberals"...

Real Talk Rumour Mill™

11 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There's about to be a serious new entry into Edmonton's mayoral race (4:30). Is Danielle Smith's top advisor really returning to an MLA role (7:30)? A...

Stampede Politics and a “National Betrayal”

10 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Calgary Stampede has long been a must-attend event for industry and political movers and shakers, but the vibe's been different this year...in a g...

She’s Gunning for Pierre Poilievre…

09 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Who the heck is Bonnie Critchley? In this episode, you'll meet the military trailblazer (2:00) who's aiming to take down Conservative leader Pierre Po...

FUTURE WATCH: America Party, Poilievre, Pipelines, and EVs

08 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Will Elon Musk actually move the US away from a two-party system with his America Party (26:30)? Is the Electric Vehicle market losing momentum (32:30...

"Canada Must Cut Deeper, Tax Harder, Borrow More."

07 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Canada's committed to increasing its military investment to 5% of GDP. That won't come without some tough decisions (that will undoubtedly affect ever...

"Happy Fourth of July to our Loud, Lovable, Slightly Unstable Neighbours!"

05 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Chantal's pissed off about Airdrie's Canada Day parade, Wes has NO time for a Progressive Conservative revival (or EVs), Blahsheep's keen on Danielle ...

Fourth of July Special: Repairing the Canada/U.S. Relationship

04 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This Fourth of July feels different, doesn't it? As President Donald Trump reignites his trade war with Canada, we check in with a special guest south...

Alberta’s Conservative Showdown

03 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Can the rising-from-the-ashes Progressive Conservatives interrupt Danielle Smith's tenure as Alberta's premier (11:00)? Will a new provincial police s...

EXCLUSIVE: Alberta's Progressive Conservatives Are Back

02 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ousted (former) UCP MLAs Peter Guthrie and Scott Sinclair are reviving the PC Party of Alberta, saying they'll restore "balance and normalcy" to polit...

"You've Become the SNOWFLAKES You Warned Us About!"

28 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Real Talkers Rosie and Cactus Sheriff are fired up over the UCP's library book distraction, while Jennifer and AJ trade barbs after our Don Iveson int...

Indigenous History // Real Talkers Split on Infill

27 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Elected Ontario school board councillor Catherine Kronas has been suspended for speaking out against land acknowledgements. She's mounting a legal cha...

Supriya Dwivedi: Mark Carney’s “Rookie Mistake”

26 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Supriya Dwivedi says PM Mark Carney made a "rookie mistake" on India, and lays out her argument (36:00) along with her thoughts on Carney's "nation-bu...

Mayoral Candidate Wants Moratorium on Infill Development

25 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tim Cartmell wants to press pause infill development. The Edmonton mayor candidate says council has lost the public's trust, and it's time to re-evalu...

Trump Irate at Iran & Israel // AB By-elections

24 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Iran and Israel "don't know what the f*ck they're doing," says (an agitated) U.S. President Donald Trump, after the two nations violated what POTUS cl...

Oilers Crushed // G7 // Iran & Israel

18 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

UGGGGGHHHHHHH. If you're looking to commiserate with fellow Oilers fans, Jespo and Johnny have you covered (2:22) after a devastating loss in Game Six...

Teachers Set to Strike // Trump Leaves G7 Early

17 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

95% of Alberta teachers have voted to strike - but will they? If so, could it happen before the end of this school year? In this episode, we ask Alber...

Corb Lund & Alberta’s Coal Controversy

16 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After Alberta Premier Danielle Smith runs into rowdy opposition at a recent town hall in southern Alberta, we invite experts Dr. Bill Dohanue and Corn...

"Workplaces Get the Unions They Deserve!"

14 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

"Interested Meow" has a beef with school librarians, Lynne says you don't have to have kids to have an opinion, Karen's calling out Alberta's Educatio...

Pride in Business: 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurs

13 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nearly 35% of 2SLGBTQI+ business owners report hiding their identity due to fear of discrimination. 25% say they’ve lost contracts because of who th...

Have We Milked Supply Management for Too Long?

12 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Canada's close to legally locking in supply management rules on egg, dairy, and chicken imports...but is it the right move? We've fiercely protected t...

Mayor Jyoti Gondek: G7, the UCP, and Re-Election

11 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Alberta welcomes the most powerful leaders on planet earth as the G7 summit touches down in Kananaskis Country. We talk to Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek ...

Donald Trump vs. California (and Democracy)

09 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's a dare/double-dare showdown, as California Governor Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump clash over a National Guard crackdown on immigration ...

"Enough of this MAGA Stupidity!"

07 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rob's had enough of "MAGA stupidity," Dave and Ted have hot takes on the Alberta library book controversy, Nesen says it's time to rethink Canada's ex...

Edmonton: The Next Dubai? (Hear Us Out.)

06 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Alberta's capital city has the potential to boom just like Dubai. So says Dr. Murtaza Haider, the newly-installed Radhe Krishna Gupta Executive Chair ...

Alberta Ed Minister on Library Controversy & Looming Strike

05 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Critics say the Alberta government is being heavy handed in flagging controversial books found in school libraries. They say teachers and librarians, ...

Carney’s Promise, Pierre’s Empty Mug, and Canada Post

04 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How is Alberta's demand for a better deal landing across the country? Why is Pierre Poilievre pretending to drink from an empty coffee mug? Will this ...

Intellectual Freedom Under Attack in Alberta

03 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Parents' rights groups are pressuring the Alberta government to pull what they deem to be "pornographic" books from school libraries. The government's...

Charles Adler: Mark Carney Meets with the Premiers

02 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What's at stake as Mark Carney meets in person with Canada's premiers for the first time since becoming Prime Minister? What happens if the first mini...

All Aboard the FREEDOM TRAIN

31 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Alllllll aboard! 7th Pilot dares Jespo to board the Freedom Train, Alex is pissed at the province for pulling library books, Gerald has a message for ...

Oilers Advance // Mind-Blowing Innovations

30 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For the second year in a row, the Edmonton Oilers will face off against the Florida Panthers for the Stanley Cup. Jespo and Johnny, who first worked t...

The Case for Canada Post

29 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

55,000 Canada Post employees are set to strike as labour negotiations continue to stall out. A looming second strike in less than a year has millions ...

Throne Speech Takeaways

28 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

"The True North is indeed strong and free." Delivering his first Throne Speech in Canada, King Charles reiterates Canada's sovereignty in a dramatical...

Alberta Government Targets “Explicit” Library Books

27 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Danielle Smith's UCP is targeting school library books it deems "graphic and age-inappropriate". The government is surveying the public before rolling...

"What Would A Mass Exodus Do To Alberta's Economy?"

24 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

David's demanding an election NOW, Don's "outraged" at Real Talk guest Sharan Kaur, and Michael's dropping bombs on one of Jespo's loudest critics. It...

Can "Nice Guy" Andrew Knack Finish First?

23 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Andrew Knack wants to be Edmonton's next mayor. The longtime city councillor tells us (2:10) why he entered the race after initially announcing he wou...

The Fight to Keep Alberta in Canada

22 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A longtime Conservative cabinet minister is stepping back into the spotlight to save Alberta's place in Canada. Thomas Lukaszuk tells us why he's spea...

What’s Mark Carney’s Game Plan?

21 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Canada's joining the UK and France in threatening Israel with sanctions if aid doesn't start flowing into Gaza. Israel says it's "taken aback" by the ...

Sean Speer on Mark Carney's Missed Opportunity

20 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Canada's ramping up pressure on Israel alongside France and the UK. Mark Carney's new cabinet is sworn in, and the PM's got less than six weeks to ful...

"The UCP is DICKING AROUND with our Traffic Laws!"

17 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Les is choked at a Carney cabinet exclusion, Taylor wants an election NOW, Michael's losing it over the politics behind his traffic ticket, and Sunil'...

Doc Talk: Measles Outbreak, Menopause & Mental Health

16 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Canada declared measles completely eliminated thirty years ago. Not anymore. Public health experts say the disease could become endemic once again, wi...

Canada’s New Foreign Policy

15 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new cabinet is making waves—not just at home, but around the world. From military spending signals to the careful cho...

The Menopause Mission

13 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This special episode peels back the curtain on a chapter of life that impacts every woman but still too often gets ignored or misunderstood. Menopause...

How Alberta and Ottawa Can Be BFFs

12 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For decades, the relationship between Alberta and Ottawa has been...adversarial. Can't we all just get along? Could both levels of government cooperat...

"Call An Election, Danielle!"

10 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

HOT TAKE ALERT. Patty's got a years-old axe to grind with Jespo. Real Talkers Blahsheep, Ontario James, Pedro, KP, Jake, Cactus Sheriff, and Darian so...

Prepare to Pay More for Car Insurance

09 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Your car insurance is about to get a whole lot more expensive. With no mandate to do so, Alberta's government plans to transition to a no-fault auto i...

Exclusive: Premier Danielle Smith on Alberta Separation

08 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

2:00 | Is toying with separation talk the biggest political risk Danielle Smith's ever taken? We ask her in an exclusive interview in the Real Talk st...

Carney Torpedoes Trump's 51st State Idea

07 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is everything going to be okay after all? Donald Trump and Mark Carney play nice in their first Oval Office meeting following the Liberals' election v...

Danielle Smith's "Reckless Referendum" // Disability Round Table

06 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Premier Danielle Smith says her Canada includes Alberta...but she'll trigger a referendum question on separation if enough Albertans petition her to d...

Naheed Nenshi // Billy Morin // Rachel Notley

05 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's been ten years to the day since Rachel Notley's NDP ended a 40+ year Conservative dynasty at the Alberta Legislature. In this episode, the provin...

"Here's to More Taxes, Light Sentences & Scandals!"

03 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kenny's not sold on Mark Carney, Other Ken feels differently, Darian's seeing doom and gloom on the horizon, David wants Danielle to call a by-electio...

Does Canada Need the NDP? // Energy Round Table

02 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

All but burned to the ground on Election Night, the NDP faces an existential crisis. Is Canada a two-party system moving forward, or does our democrac...

What’s Danielle Smith Up To?

01 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It sure looks like Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is trying to make life easier for Alberta separatists. Her UCP government's removing barriers to tri...

Campaign Autopsies with Stephen Carter

30 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Stephen Carter doesn't do podcasts to make new friends. That's obvious early in his appearance here, which proves to be one of the most entertaining e...

Election 2025: What Just Happened?

29 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How did Mark Carney erase a 20-point deficit in the polls and lead the Liberals to victory? Why did Pierre Poilievre's momentum hit a wall at the very...

Election Day in Canada

28 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Freedom is a garden planted by sacrifice, watered with courage, and kept alive by participation. It's Election Day in Canada.  4:00 | What will a Con...

"He Flipped Off Dipshits Like A Good Canadian Should!"

26 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Brantford Boomer story's being overblown, says GK. Jagmeet Singh didn't exactly win over Ross and Darian with his Real Talk interview. Heather's w...

Election Home Stretch // Fertility Round Table

25 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Take it to the bank: Mark Carney's Liberals will form the next federal government. So say both the left- and right-leaning experts joining us on this ...

Is Canada Doing Everything Wrong All At Once?

24 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A real estate bubble that never bursts. Orwellian internet laws. Controversial MAiD policies. Complex identity politics. Tristin Hopper says Canada ha...

Jagmeet Singh & Union Hero Chris Smalls

23 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

His NDP is languishing in the polls, his leadership's being questioned, but Jagmeet Singh's still throwing punches and pounding the pavement with just...

Election Looms // Thomas Lukaszuk // Earth Day

22 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We're less than a week out from a hugely significant election. The Pope's just passed away. Alleged corruption plagues the Alberta government. The pla...

"The Liberals Are Losing...and They Know It!"

19 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

KP says the Liberals are losing (and they know it), Jonathan questions Jespo's patriotism, Jeremy says there's no excuse for abusers, and Johnny (not ...

Maxime Bernier and the Debates

17 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nobody expects the People's Party of Canada to win a seat this election. But don't tell that to party leader Maxime Bernier, who tells us (2:45) why h...

Debate Week: The Election Gets REAL

16 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Here's where things get real. First in French, then in English, party leaders will thrust, parry, and try to convince Canadians they're the best bet f...

Buttongate & Pierre’s Crime Crackdown

15 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Prank gone horribly wrong: Liberal staffers plant unflattering campaign buttons at a Conservative event, then blab all about it at the bar. What were ...

America Should Be Declared A Pariah State

14 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

People throw the word "fascist" around a lot these days, but does it actually fit U.S. President Donald Trump? An internationally-respected Canadian s...

"We'd Be the Masters of Our Destiny!"

12 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nesen says Pierre better get serious about policy, AJ says Jespo's out to lunch on "grey areas," Ms. B has a hot take on The Great One, Cam has an axe...

Who Killed the Carbon Tax?

11 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Pretty much everybody agrees: the consumer carbon tax is dead in Canada. Mark Carney's getting credit for it in the polls, which has to drive Pierre P...

Ag and the Election // Market Manipulation

10 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Everybody eats. But how many of us actually pay attention to what's going on in the Agriculture sector? There's something for everybody in this episod...

Jespo Family’s River Scare // Battleground Alberta

09 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jespo's family dodged a bullet just hours before this episode, nearly losing their beloved black lab Monroe in the icy, frigid North Saskatchewan Rive...

Are We Headed Toward The Great Recession?

08 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is all about the bottom line. With headlines screaming "Market Mayhem," what's the average investor supposed to think, let alone do? Is n...

Canada's Conservatives Still Want to Bet on America

07 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Great One is taking more shots than any goalie he ever faced for his friendship with President Donald Trump. Pierre Poilievre's boasting about cro...

Danielle Smith CALLED OUT!

05 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

"TheSco" says Danielle Smith's Breitbart interview is a "nothing burger," Lindsay's sick of hearing so much about The Donald, "G" wants to know who wa...

Federal Election Platforms: Who's Promising What?

04 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Has the average Canadian learned anything about the major parties' election platforms, with talk of Trump and tariffs taking up so much space? In this...

Trump's Total Trade War // Rachel Gilmore Cancelled

03 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Trump's costing the global economy trillions of dollars. What does this trade war mean for you? We get into it from a bunch of different angles in thi...

What Will Trump's Liberation Day Cost YOU?

02 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Trump's trade war with Canada is about to level up. A popular political podcaster is throwing his hat in the ring this election. Another popular TikTo...

Liberal Candidate Quits, Conservative Candidate Booted

01 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Paul Chiang is out as the Liberal candidate in Markham-Unionville after suggesting a political opponent should be turned over to Chinese authorities. ...

Is Carney Peaking Too Soon? Can Poilievre Recover?

31 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Can Pierre Poilievre turn the Conservative campaign around in time? Are Mark Carney's Liberals peaking too soon? What does Donald Trump REALLY want? ...

"Danielle Smith would sell out Alberta in a second!"

30 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jenny and Nathan have no time for Premier Danielle Smith's trip to Florida, Ron doesn't like what he's hearing about Alberta separating from Canada, M...

Are the Conservatives Crumbling?

28 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Pollsters are starting to talk about a Mark Carney majority government. What a twist from just a few months ago, when it appeared Pierre Poilievre wou...

Danielle Smith Might Want To Lay Low For A While

27 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Just days after her Breitbart interview raised the ire of Pierre Poilievre's campaign team, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is headed to Florida to co-...

Amarjeet Sohi // Poilievre's Message to Blue Collar Canadians

26 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Pierre Poilievre had a Hamilton crowd all riled up, talking about "unelected" Mark Carney "acting like he owns the world," the World Economic Forum, a...