Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

EXCLUSIVE: Premier Danielle Smith

14 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith joins us in the Real Talk studio just hours after meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.  1:37 | What did the PM ...

Alberta Speaks: Your Questions for Premier Danielle Smith

13 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We're not exaggerating when we claim the most engaged talk show audience in the country. Every day, hundreds if not thousands of you comment on our Yo...

Nenshi Launches Alberta NDP Leadership Bid with a BANG!

12 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

"Incompetent, immoral, and dangerous." There's no room for misinterpreting how Naheed Nenshi feels about Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and her UCP go...

FORCED Into Involuntary Drug Treatment?!

09 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Gerald's arguing for safe supply, police officer Anton sees a role for "involuntary" drug treatment, Ben says Big Oil's not pulling its weight, and Ka...

International Women's Day: Calls To Action

08 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

ACTION! Our International Women's Day Real Talk Round Table looks at the past, present, and future of women in the workforce and society at large. Whe...

How "Woke" is the Average Canadian?

07 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you "woke"? Do you describe people who think differently than you as "woke"? Would you characterize Canadian politics and society as "woke"? In th...

Does Alberta Need a National Pharmacare Plan?

06 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nobody will be surprised to learn Alberta and Ottawa are at odds again. This time, it's over the funding and management of Pharmacare. Alberta was the...

Investigating Alberta's Approach to the Opioid Crisis

05 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What's wrong with rehab? After all, isn't getting people "clean" an obvious solution to Canada's opioid crisis? As the Alberta government heavily inve...

Is Charles Adler the next CEO of the CBC?

04 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you seen the job posting on LinkedIn for president and CEO of the CBC? We can't help but wonder if it might be a perfect fit for our pal Charles ...

WTF? "Ryan's Blind Support for Pierre Poilievre"?!?

02 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Real Talkers are fired up about the Alberta budget, our Trudeau interview, our Black History Month Round Table, skilled labour shortages, and Ryan's "...

What Does the Alberta Budget Mean For You?

01 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Everybody's got their own interpretation of a provincial budget. There's a long list of communities, projects, and organizations deserving of big inve...

The Truth About Ukraine

29 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah Lawrynuik's coverage of Russia's war in Ukraine is personal. Her family's from there. She's been there multiple times over the past two years, c...

Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse: The Rookie MLA That Wants To Lead Her Party

28 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse isn't your average politician. She says what she really thinks, she's not afraid to rattle a few cages, and her energy is off ...

"Insulting" - Alberta Oil Exec Claps Back at Justin Trudeau

27 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Not everybody agrees with what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had to say about Canada's oil and gas sector during his February 21 interview on Real Tal...

Adler: Mean Tweets, Even Meaner Tweets, and Westlock's Pride Flag Vote

26 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Did you see David Parker's Twitter attack targeting Pierre Poilievre, his wife Anaida, and his advisor Jenni Byrne? The Take Back Alberta founder got ...

THE FLAMETHROWER: Justin Trudeau Edition!

24 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On the heels of our exclusive interview with the Prime Minister, it's an all-Justin Trudeau edition of The Flamethrower presented by the Dairy Queens ...

National Disaster: The Secret to Solving Homelessness

23 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

More than 300,000 Canadians will experience homelessness this year. More than 300 people will die on the street this year in Edmonton alone. Why haven...

"Beta Cuck!" The Very Best Feedback from our Trudeau Interview

22 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Beta Cuck, Libtard, Groomer, and Enemy of the State are just a handful of the wonderful comments we've received after our exclusive interview with Pri...

EXCLUSIVE: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

21 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits the Real Talk studio for an exclusive half-hour interview. 1:50 | Trudeau gets real about his record low polling ...

Charles Adler: Putin Critic Dead; Alberta NDP Filing for Divorce?

20 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

World leaders are denouncing the suspicious passing of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, one of Vladimir Putin's loudest critics, dead at 47 w...

"Be Careful Playing the Racism Card!"

17 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Garth's got a warning about "racism" accusations, Joe's sounding the drought alarm, Shannon's pissed at Air Canada, and Melanie has a message for Albe...

Being Black in Canada

16 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This isn't your average Black History Month conversation! Drs. Chika C. Daniels and Veronica Fynn Bruey accepted our invitation to share their persona...

Sarah Hoffman: "I'm Fat, Sassy, and Bad at Pretending!"

15 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We've never seen a campaign video quite like Sarah Hoffman's. The former Deputy Premier, now Alberta NDP Leadership hopeful, introduces herself as "fa...

Masculinity and the Next Generation of Men

14 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Michael Kehler doesn't like the phrase "toxic masculinity". But he does think we need to have a national conversation about how boys and men act a...

Exclusive: Mayor Jyoti Gondek Responds to Recall Petition

13 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is Jyoti Gondek getting any sleep these days? The Mayor of Calgary is the target of a recall petition, for which organizers have fewer than 60 days to...

Charles Adler: Super Bowl, Bell Layoffs, and Biden's Mental Fitness

12 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We tackle the top stories in this entertaining episode of Real Talk, including: was Usher lip syncing at the Super Bowl (and does anybody care)? What ...

"Immature Crybabies" and Single-Use Plastics Bans

10 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Leckie's fed up with the "immature crybabies" fighting single-use plastics bans, Kyle claps back at David after being called out in last week's Flamet...

Survivors: Spencer Beach and Kelly Falardeau's Remarkable Lives

09 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kelly Falardeau sustained life-altering injuries at just two years old when her dress caught on fire at a family gathering. Spencer Beach's life was d...

CARBON TAX: "Albertans have never been on board"

08 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Talk about making a splash! Real Talk's got the exclusive as Rakhi Pancholi officially launches her campaign for the Alberta NDP leadership, and annou...

NDP Leadership Race: Kathleen Ganley's Vision for Alberta

07 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The race is on to replace Rachel Notley. Kathleen Ganley - MLA for Calgary-Mountain View and former Minister of Justice - is the first to toss her hat...

The Real Life Impacts of Alberta's Trans Policies

06 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

"Seek to understand." It's one of Stephen Covey's Seven Steps of Highly Effective People. It's also a solid life principle for anybody looking to make...

Is Naheed Nenshi the Alberta NDP's Next Leader?

05 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Former Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi appeared at a rally over the weekend, calling out Premier Danielle Smith for her recently-announced policies on pro...

Alberta's Trans Policies: "F*ck Your Feelings!"

03 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Real Talkers are allllllll fired up about Alberta's new policies on pronouns and parental rights, Sex Ed, and trans women's participation in sport. No...

Fact Check: The Truth About Alberta's Trans Policies

02 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are children really undergoing gender reassignment surgeries? Are kindergarten students really being taught "queer ideology"? Are teachers instructed ...

RESTRICTED: Alberta's New Policies on Surgery, Sex Ed, & Sport

01 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Alberta will prohibit hormonal treatment, puberty blockers, and gender affirming surgery for children under 16 as part of a series of policies announc...

What's With Alberta's "Rolling Childcare Closures"?

31 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Thousands of parents are being inconvenienced with finding alternative childcare arrangements, as daycares across Alberta invoke "rolling closures". T...

The Fight for Children's Rights

30 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do parents deserve to know if their child changes their pronouns at school? Should politicians be involved in trans people's personal healthcare decis...

Parental Rights: What Do You Deserve To Know About Your Kids?

29 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Supporters of Alberta's new parental rights policy will say the UCP is protecting parents' right to know what's happening at school, and in their chil...

The Flamethrower: All-Tucker Carlson Edition!

27 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On the heels of Ryan's recap of the Tucker Carlson Live show, Real Talkers sound off on the former FOX News star's visit to Alberta. FIRE UP YOUR FLA...

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...