Real Talk Ryan Jespersen
Episodes
Tips and Tricks to Spend Less on Energy!
26 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Spending more to power and heat your home than ever before? Crossing your fingers that old furnace holds up for a few more months, as cold air continu...
2018 World Junior Hockey Stars to Surrender to Police
25 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Four NHL players and a European pro have taken leaves of absence from their teams, as London Police prepare to lay charges relating to an alleged sexu...
Shots Fired at Edmonton City Hall
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
January 23, 2024 - an armed gunman walks uninterrupted into Edmonton City Hall, opens fire at a wall of windows, then throws a Molotov cocktail, start...
Can Alberta Become the Wind Capital of Canada?
23 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
One of Canada's biggest wind farms is set to fire up in Alberta. At peak generation, it'll provide enough juice to power 160,000 homes. But it wasn't ...
Liberals Retreat, Notley Resigns, DeSantis Bows Out
22 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Justin Trudeau's Liberal Cabinet is in Montreal, trying to figure out how to gain back the ground they've lost to Pierre Poilievre. Alberta NDP suppor...
Pointing Fingers After Alberta's Near-Power Outage!
20 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A cold snap just about broke Alberta's power grid. Deportation looms for the man that caused a high-profile tragedy. People still don't know how to zi...
Developing the Workforce of the Future
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What does the workforce of the future look like? What will drive growth, retain talent, and ultimately dictate success? What are the world's leading j...
Hangin' with Quick Dick McDick
18 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Quick Dick McDick is one of Canada's most-watched YouTubers. Millions of people have watched his videos on farming, politics, cooking, and more. And, ...
End of an Era: What's Next for the Alberta NDP?
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel Notley took the Alberta NDP from four to 54 seats in the Legislature. She took an unlikely bunch from obscurity to a majority government, and p...
Should Danielle Smith Meet with Tucker Carlson?
16 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When right-wing media personality Tucker Carlson visits Edmonton, Danielle Smith will be joining him on stage. Is it a mistake for Alberta's Premier t...
Power Down: Why is Alberta's Electricity Supply in Peril?
15 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why did Alberta need to issue an emergency alert about electricity amidst a deep freeze? How did the energy capital of Canada get to the point it can'...
Real Talker Claps Back at the ”Eco-Police”!
13 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Alexandra's had enough from the "eco-warrior" at the dog park, Larry thinks Ryan crossed the line with his Shrooms talk, and Garth says he's being mis...
Should Canada Legalize Magic Mushrooms?
11 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The world didn't end when Canada legalized Cannabis. Should we do the same with Shrooms? Researchers tout mental health benefits from Psilocybin, yet ...
Life or Death: The Truth About Homeless Encampments
10 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
People across Canada are watching Edmonton Police dismantle homeless encampments as temperatures drop below -30C. Amid the outcry, we've seen fires, f...
WHY IS NOBODY TALKING ABOUT THIS?
09 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Canada's plummeting in global rankings of gender parity in politics. Talented women are walking away from elected office. MP Leslyn Lewis is backing a...
Should Canada Leave the UN?
08 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Leslyn Lewis can't be serious. The high-profile Conservative MP is backing a petition calling for Canada to walk away from the United Nations. Dr....
Get Your Head Out Of Your Exhaust Pipe!
06 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Real Talker Gerald's demanding details from Ryan, and Real Talkers Stephen and Cameron have strong words for people pooh-poohing renewables. It's The ...
Solving the World’s Problems with Steele and Vance
05 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What's the right move with homeless encampments and open drug use? Should Canada ban cigarettes for good? Is it really that outrageous to suggest cert...
Conservatives and Climate Change
04 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Andrew MacDougall held the highest-profile communications job in Canada, as Prime Minister Stephen Harper's director of comms. His boss is generally r...
Innovation, Disruption, and You: What To Expect in 2024
03 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What is the next great disruption? Which new innovation will be most transformative? Exactly how will AI continue to change the game? What are the upd...
BEST YEAR END RANTS!
23 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We're shaking things up in the final Flamethrower of 2023, presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! Jenny, Sarah, KO, Johnny, and...
YEAR IN REVIEW: Group Chat Round Table!
21 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's our final episode of 2023! Enjoy what is arguably The Most Entertaining Real Talk Round Table of the Year. 2:30 | Jenny Adams, Sarah Hamilton, an...
Fact Check: How Clean (or Dirty) is Alberta Oil?
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's a recurring conversation in Canada, if not around the world: is Canadian oil more "ethical" than oil from elsewhere, is activity in Alberta's oil...
TRENDWATCH: Jobs, Retail, & Real Estate in 2024
19 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What does the future look like for workers, job seekers, employers, entrepreneurs, and property owners? Is it really a doomsday scenario for downtowns...
Should the Man who Caused the Humboldt Crash Be Deported?
18 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jaskirat Singh Sidhu is responsible for one of the most horrific collisions in Canadian history. He was handed an eight-year sentence in 2019 after pl...
”Figure Out the F*@king Zipper Merge!”
16 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Why can't people figure out how to zipper merge? When did conservatism become radicalism? And what the hell are we going to do about sick kids on matt...
The Alberta Disadvantage: Budget Surplus, Crumbling Communities
15 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As long as oil rides high, Alberta's flush. But while the province is on pace for a $5B+ budget surplus, property taxes are on the rise in virtually e...
Check-Up: Real Talk with Alberta Doctors & Dentists
14 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hospitals are bursting at the seams. Patients are waiting a year and a half for surgery. Doctors, nurses, and paramedics are walking away from careers...
The Top Stories from Fall Session in Alberta
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In just six weeks, Premier Danielle Smith's government hit the (nuclear) reset button on healthcare delivery, invoked the Sovereignty Act over federal...
OPTICS: Jyoti and Jagmeet’s Unforced Errors
12 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is all about optics. How bad is it when the federal NDP leader (the "working class" party) rocks a Versace tote bag in public? How about ...
Pulling Out of a Menorah Lighting? Tell a Little White Lie!
11 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Should Mayor Jyoti Gondek have told a little white lie to get out of Calgary's annual menorah lighting at City Hall? How many more university presiden...
Important Message from Mike the Conservative!
09 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tom's demanding an explanation around Alberta's attendance at COP. Cheryl's giving Ryan an award (not a compliment). Michael the Conservative says peo...
Behind the Scenes at COP28
08 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Alberta's been in the spotlight for much of COP28. The province sent the biggest provincial delegation in Canada's history at COP. It also received a ...
Cap That: Ottawa’s Controversial New Plan to Cut Emissions
07 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ottawa's rolled out a "strict" framework to cap oil and gas emissions, and you'll never guess what: the prairie premiers hate it. The federal Environm...
The Race to Replace Rachel Notley
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Despite losing the election in May, the Alberta NDP has a lot of things going for it. The party won more seats in (typically conservative) Calgary tha...
Does Alberta Belong at COP-28?
05 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Danielle Smith's critics say there's no way to justify Alberta sending a delegation to Dubai for the UN Climate Change Convention. Her supporters say ...
A Look At How Politicians Are Spending Your Money
04 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ottawa's increasing tax credits for journalism outlets. Alberta's got 100 representatives at COP-28. Everybody's got an opinion on what's a wise use o...
The Flamethrower: ”Forget AI. Let’s Fix Natural Stupidity!”
02 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Real Talkers are all fired up about "natural stupidity," the Councillor Jennifer Rice controversy in Edmonton, political parties at the municipal leve...
Can Nurse Practitioners Heal Healthcare?
30 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nurse practitioners are being encouraged to open their own clinics, as part of Alberta's plan to address a growing shortage of family doctors. NPs are...
Little Pump on the Prairie
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Justin Trudeau's government is pushing heat pumps. Right around the time the Liberals paused the carbon price for home heating oil, they committed to ...
Power Move: Alberta Goes to War with Ottawa Over Electricity
28 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Danielle Smith is doubling down on her defiance of Ottawa's Clean Energy Regulations. Alberta's Premier invoked the Sovereignty Act, saying she'll fig...
The Flamethrower: Pollution & Pension Plans
25 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Pollution and pensions plans are front and centre in this fiery edition of The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Pa...
MIDLIFE: Middle Age in a Post-Pandemic World
24 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Midlife is an interesting place to be. You may be caring for kids while caring for your parents. You've likely experienced love, and heartbreak, and w...
How To Save the Planet
23 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's our third birthday! Thanks to the millions of you who've watched or listened to Real Talk ever since we launched, and those that have discovered ...
Alberta Pension Plan: ”Radical, Reckless, and Risky”
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We don't know much about what an Alberta Pension Plan would actually look like. Up for debate: the amount Alberta could pull out of the national plan,...
Who Do You Trust?
21 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
CSIS says foreign states are targeting Canadians through social media. The general public is losing trust in institutions. Vaccination rates are way d...
Whatever Happened to ”Believe All Women”?
20 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The University of Alberta fired the head of its campus sexual assault centre after she signed an open letter calling reports of sexual violence during...
”Rig Pigs Managing Your Retirement Savings?!”
18 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Shots fired! Lance from The Pas has thoughts on the APP, Gerald's not sold on private healthcare, Kyle wants hands off his TFSAs, and Judy just wants ...
BROKE: 30% of Canadians Can’t Afford to Live
17 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Who can even afford to live anymore? Groceries are up. Utilities are up. Insurance is up. Mortgages are up. Rents are up. Tuition's up. What's NOT up?...
Seeking Solutions: Anti-Semitism, Pension Plans, & The Future of Journalism
16 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There's no "quick fix" for the issues leading the headlines. Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia is on the rise, news outlets are dying on the vine, and po...
Is It Manslaughter? The Tragic Death of Hockey Player Adam Johnson
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's a horrific story: hockey player Adam Johnson dies after an opposing player's skate slashes his neck. Two weeks after the tragedy, British police ...
Why A 35 Year Old Alberta Doctor’s Closing His Clinic
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of Real Talk includes updates on two people we've featured in past. One international, one closer to home - both are tough pills to swall...
The Flamethrower: ”Stop Wasting Alberta’s Money!”
11 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Calgary Chris is convinced privatized healthcare is coming to Alberta, Lisa is dead set against an APP, and Darrell's wondering where all the poppies ...
Real Talk Remembers: Lest We Forget
10 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Remembrance Day has evolved over the years. Canada's role in international peacekeeping missions, along with Afghanistan, Kosovo, Latvia, and other pa...
AHS Overhaul: Min. Adriana LaGrange & Dr. Paul Parks
09 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's happening: the Danielle Smith government is completely overhauling Alberta Health Services, starting from the top all the way down. While nobody ...
Bombs Away: Danielle Smith Blows Up AHS
08 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Information leaked to the NDP put Albertans on notice: the province is overhauling Alberta Health Services in dramatic fashion. Hours later, Health Mi...
Do You Want Party Politics at City Hall?
07 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
ome voters love the fact there's no political party influence at the municipal level in Alberta. Other voters can't stand it - they'd prefer a bit mor...
Who’s Calling the Shots in the UCP?
06 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In what's believed to be the largest political convention in Alberta history, nearly 4,000 people gathered in Calgary for the United Conservative Part...
The Flamethrower: Real Talkers Clap Back At Danielle Smith!
04 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our inbox was SLAMMED after our interview with Premier Danielle Smith. Real Talkers bring the heat in this #ABLEG-inspired edition of The Flamethrow...
The Secrets To Success: Edify’s Top 40 Under 40
03 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do great achievers get where they are? What drives them? What barriers did they bust down? Where do they see themselves going from here? We pick t...
Alberta’s Water Woes // Crisis in the West Bank
02 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's been said water is the new oil. If that's the case, why is the province (and most of its citizens) ignoring major threats to such a v...
Premier Danielle Smith in the Real Talk Studio
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Cost of living is up - way up - for the average Albertan. What're Premier Danielle Smith's plans to make things like electricity and auto insurance mo...
Bring It On: Danielle Smith’s Message to the Feds
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ottawa's going to be hearing a whole lot more from Alberta. The province and the feds aren't even close on the details around getting Alberta's electr...
Game On! What To Expect From Alberta’s Fall Session.
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Fall session at the Alberta Legislature kicks off today with the Speech from the Throne: what can we expect from Premier Danielle Smith's UCP governme...
The Flamethrower: Get It Together, Edmonton Oilers!
28 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Danica's got a beef with the Edmonton Oilers, Lindsey's hot under the collar over Halloween, and Dan's sick of social justice initiatives on ice. We b...
The Strategists: #ABLEG Fall Session Primer
27 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Plans for an Alberta Pension Plan will dominate much of the focus as Alberta's MLAs return to the Legislature for fall session next week. If an APP tr...
O Canada! Conversations with Ken Dryden & Barney Bentall.
26 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hall of Fame goaltender Ken Dryden never thought he'd play in the NHL. It wasn't until the six-time Stanley Cup champion won his first exhibition game...
”Look for The Helpers”
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In times of turmoil, Fred Rogers' mom used to tell him to "look for the helpers". The legendary children's entertainer shared the story many times thr...
Is A Conservative Majority Government All But Guaranteed?
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If Canadians were voting today, polling shows Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives would form a massive majority government, while Justin Trudeau's Libera...
Hamas Hostage Vivian Silver’s Son Holding Out Hope
23 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Chen Zeigen and his family are holding out hope his mother, Vivian Silver, is still alive. The longtime peace activist is believed to be among those t...
The Flamethrower: Real Talkers Respond to Sasa Interview
21 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Real Talkers have a lot to say about Ryan's October 19 interview with Ghada Sasa from Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East. Adam, Clay, ...
Why Your City Needs More Bike Lanes
20 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You wouldn't think bike lanes would be so divisive. Urban planners and cycling advocates make compelling arguments why every community should prioriti...
What Does ”Decolonize” Mean? A Palestinian Perspective.
19 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You've seen the signs at protests around the world: "Decolonize Palestine". What does that actually mean? What are the implications? What is the right...
Build, Baby, Build? The Supreme Court’s Ruling on Pipelines.
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“If you believe in fairness, common sense and the sanctity of the Canadian Constitution, today is a great day,” said Alberta Premier Danielle Smit...
Calgary’s New Arena Deal: Did the City Get Hosed?
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For nearly a decade, Calgarians have seen arena talks gain momentum, then fall apart. Then, just a short time ago, a deal. Approved by council in a un...
Feeling Divided? How To Talk About the Israel/Hamas War.
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The death toll of Israelis and Palestinians - many of them innocent civilians - killed over the past ten days is staggering, and you get the sense thi...
Listener Rips Ryan RE: Alberta Pension Plan Interview!
14 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Russ calls Ryan's interview with Alberta's finance minister "tepid tea" (buuuurn) in this week's edition of Trash Talk. Plus, Jon and Marie tell us ho...
Cheers to Alberta Beers!
13 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Alberta's boom isn't limited to oil and gas. Its craft brewing scene is Canada's best. So, what's the secret? On this Real Talk Round Table, we crack ...
The Case For An Alberta Pension Plan
12 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is Alberta really entitled to more than half the funds in the Canada Pension Plan? How serious is the government about trying to withdraw those funds ...
Indictment: Canada’s Criminal Justice System on Trial
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A violent attack by someone out on bail. Cops accused of excessive force. Homeless encampments cleared by police. Missing and murdered Indigenous wome...
Brutal Terror Attack Leads to Full-Blown War
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The world watched in horror as Hamas fighters inflicted the deadliest attack in Israel's history over the weekend. An unimaginable assault on innocent...
A Nazi Soldier Saluted in the House of Commons?!
07 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Real Talkers sound off on Nazis in the House of Commons, political posturing, an Alberta Pension Plan, coal mining in the Rockies, and leaf blowers (!...
Is Airbnb To Blame for the Housing Crisis?
06 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Canada's got an affordable housing crisis. Nobody can argue that. But is cracking down on short-term rentals like Airbnbs the right solution? The fede...
Alberta’s Ugly Addiction: How We Profit From People’s Pain
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We're talk mental health and addiction today...DON'T SCROLL PAST! We get it...it's uncomfortable subject matter. But we guarantee you'll learn somethi...
Alberta Pension Plan: A Brilliant or Bone-Headed Idea?
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have a strong opinion on the proposed Alberta Pension Plan? It's leading national news headlines, as the Alberta government is asking citizens ...
Canadian MPs Salute Nazi SS Soldier. Who’s Responsible?
02 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our elected MPs gave a former Nazi SS soldier a standing ovation in the House of Commons. Alberta wants to pull out of the Canada Pension Plan. Manito...
Real Talkers Sound Off on the 1 Million March 4 Children
23 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Everybody's talking about the "1 Million March 4 Children" that went down earlier this week, so it's no surprise you've got a LOT to get off your ches...
Catch & Release: Canadians Demand Action on Violent Crime
22 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
People don't feel safe these days. Whether it's riding inner-city transit or living in a remote, rural location, Canadians are experiencing escalating...
Alberta Communities in Crisis: A Search for Solutions
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Thousands of Canadians participated in the 1 Million March 4 Children, organized to "free children from the bondage of indoctrination; breaking a syst...
Alberta Welcomes the Saudis: Whatever Happened to Ethical Oil?
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The eyes of the energy world are on Calgary, as Alberta hosts the World Petroleum Congress. It makes perfect sense for Premier Danielle Smith to greet...
India Kills Canadian Sikh Leader on Home Soil. What Now?
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's official: Canada says India's responsible for the cold-blooded killing of Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, BC on June 18, 202...
Canadians in Space: Is It Worth the Price Tag?
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
From Donald Trump's gaffe in an interview over the weekend to Congresswoman Lauren Boebert's caught-on-camera debacle at a Denver theatre...from the h...
Real Talker Demands Respect for Trans Rights
16 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ronnie's sick of the politics of affordable housing. Michelle says trans rights aren't up for debate. And Morgan wonders what ever happened to real co...
Canada’s Housing Crisis: What’s the Solution?
15 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Canada's experiencing a full-blown housing crisis. Millions of people literally can't afford a place to live, and experts say we need to add more than...
Daycare Disaster: 300+ Kids Sick from E. coli Outbreak
14 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine what hundreds of parents in Calgary are going through right now. Their kids are terribly sick with a rare form of E. coli because the daycare ...
Trans Health 101: What Is ”Gender-Affirming Care”?
13 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What do you know about trans and non-binary health care? It seems like politicians are talking about it more than physicians themselves, and it's safe...
Battle Royal: The Fight for the Prime Minister’s Office
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives are riding high. The party's out-polling Justin Trudeau's Liberals by a wide margin, and that was *before* this weeke...
Is This Peak Pierre, Or Can the Conservatives Keep Growing?
11 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Did Canada's Conservatives put positive polling momentum at risk at this weekend's convention in Quebec City? We take a look at some of the grassroots...
Trash Talk: ”From A Pissed Off Teacher!”
09 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our "Bursting at the Seams" episode on September 6 has Kenneth, Dallas, and Stean all fired up. It's an all-education edition of Trash Talk presented ...
Life After Loss: Meet Our Julie Rohr Scholarship Winners
08 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Losing a parent to cancer at a young age would have an enormous impact on anybody. It's hard to imagine how a young person could pick up the pieces, l...