Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

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...

What Do Canadians Care About?

07 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The loudest voices don't always represent majority opinions. In this episode of Real Talk, we find out what Canadians actually think about a parent's ...

Bursting at the Seams: Alberta’s Overcrowded Classrooms

06 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Canada's richest province spends the least per student on education. Classrooms are packed, teachers are stretched, and kids aren't getting the suppor...

Canada in 2060: Summers Lost, Biblical Floods, Political Turmoil

05 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Science says it's too late to avoid some of the inevitable impacts of climate change. Journalist Anne Shibata Casselman spent six months investigating...

Best of Real Talk: Scandal at the Calgary Stampede

01 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For decades, officials at the Calgary Stampede knew a predator was working with the famed Young Canadians, but covered it up. Strategist Stephen Carte...

Best of Real Talk: The Mind-Boggling Massacre of Twitter

31 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Of all the ways to blow $44 billion... Social media experts Kathleen Smith, Karly Watson, and Beverley Theresa give us the goods on the future of Twit...

Best of Real Talk: The Energy Debates

30 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Alberta's Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz tells us about her closed door meeting with federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault. NDP Energy C...

Best of Real Talk: The Fight for Queer Rights

29 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mayor Bob Young wasn't tolerating any lunacy at a recent Leduc Council meeting. Randy Boissonnault lets us know what he thinks about the "Straight Pri...

Best of Real Talk: Wild Weather Stories!

28 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Aaron Jayjack's death-defying storm chasing blows our mind. Chris Gloninger tells us why he walked away from a big broadcasting job in the States. Enj...

Trash Talk - Real Talkers Are All Riled Up!

26 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Real Talkers are riled up about a whole bunch of things - from our David Parker interview to gun control to the CFL to "platforming" - in a raucous ed...

What’s So Special About Prairie Food?

24 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There's just something about a farm family recipe. Whether the food is inspired by a cultural or ethnic tradition, season, or region, nothing compares...

Why Representation Matters

23 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

"I don't think it matters." Sports talk veteran Jason Gregor was trending across Canada last week after CBC host Mark Connolly asked him why there wer...

The Argument FOR Alberta’s Wind & Solar Moratorium

22 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine what a boring world it'd be if we all agreed on everything all the time! In this episode of Real Talk, we read your takes on our August 21 int...

Take Back Alberta Founder David Parker

21 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If you follow Alberta politics, you've no doubt heard about Take Back Alberta. The group has taken over the United Conservative Party board, and claim...

Listener Lashes Out at Ryan!

19 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Brad's pissed at Ryan's comment about incels, Kathy's pissed off at a bunch of politicians,  and Michael's pissed off at the idea of moving the Grey ...

Canada’s On Fire: Yellowknife & Kelowna Evacuated

18 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tens of thousands of Canadians have fled their homes as wildfires destroy Kelowna and threaten Yellowknife.  3:50 | Kelowna is burning as Ryan and Jo...

Should Birth Control Be Free?

17 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

"This is where health care meets human rights." Dr. Rupinder Toor and her colleagues are lobbying the feds to make birth control free. She tells us wh...

Why Are Jordan Peterson & Pierre Poilievre So Popular?

16 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In just a few years, Jordan Peterson has amassed a following of millions of disciples. Pierre Poilievre dominated the Conservative Party's most recent...

Is the CFL Dying?

15 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is it too late to save Canadian football? Attendance is down in almost every market, and there doesn't appear to be a "next generation" of fans. The w...

Why Is Your Power Bill So High?

14 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Everything costs more these days. Mortgages, gas, groceries...you name it, you're probably paying more for it. You've no doubt noticed your power bill...

Albertans All Fired Up About the Green Energy Ban

12 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

You've got a LOT to get off your chest when it comes to green energy. Mikey can't hold his tongue about the UCP moratorium on green energy. Garry says...

Alberta’s New Myrnam School: Top Ten in the WORLD

11 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What an "electrifying" week it's been on Real Talk! Prompted by political and industry developments, we've spent a bunch of time talking about renewab...

What’s the Secret to Growing Alberta’s Energy Future?

10 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What can Alberta do to position itself for another century's worth of jobs, investment, and affordable living? Our "electrifying" week of Real Talk co...

Alberta Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz

09 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Alberta's led the nation by a country mile in renewable energy development. So, how does it make sense to impose a seven-month moratorium on new wind ...

Locked Out: UCP Stops Wind & Solar in its Tracks

08 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Alberta's UCP government announces a six month moratorium on wind and solar projects, citing rural concerns including loss of agricultural land and im...

Chuck the Chucks!

05 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

| Lesley's got a burr under her saddle about the Calgary Stampede in this week's edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services.  KE...

How To Fix Edmonton: Crime, City Council, K-Days, The Elks, & More

03 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Crime rates are skyrocketing in Alberta's capital city. Attendance was way down at K-Days, the annual summer fair. The CFL's Edmonton Elks have lost t...

Why Don’t People Seem To Care About the Stampede Scandal?

02 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Seems like everybody's giving the Calgary Stampede a pass for covering up a sexual abuse scandal for nearly 30 years. Donald Trump's facing serious ch...

Calgary Stampede Abuse Scandal: Decades-Long Coverup Exposed

01 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

An adult staffer with The Calgary Stampede's Young Canadians performing arts group sexually assaulted dozens of teens for more than 20 years before th...

Man of the People: Will Pierre Poilievre’s Shtick Stick?

31 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre says he'll "always support whistleblowers" after the public learned his team covered the legal costs of the perso...

Fiery Takes on Energy, Cannabis, & Politics

29 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Michael's got a message for the federal environment minister, Cyndi's got a wake-up call for the cannabis industry, Mike says people need to chill out...

Brand Power: How Good and Bad Design Influences Us

28 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We're influenced by marketing way more than we realize. From brands and logos to jingles and taglines, there's a ton of science and strategy behind ho...

”A Ridiculous Argument” - Rachel Notley On Medical Clinic Memberships

27 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A Calgary medical clinic is charging $5,000 for annual memberships. Sinead O'Connor's gone. Kevin Spacey's acquitted from all charges. PMJT's blown up...

Up in Smoke: Why Canada’s Cannabis Industry is in Trouble

26 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why are so many Canadian cannabis growers and retailers closing up shop? Five years post-legalization, what's holding the industry back? Speaking of h...

#cdnpoli Roundup: Another Rate Hike, Poilievre’s Winning Play, & PMJT Security Threats

25 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How are the Hollywood strikes impacting Canadians? When can we expect a break on interest rates? Is Pierre Poilievre right or wrong about the Bank of ...

Twitter X, The Brutes of Belleville, & Bill C-18

24 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is perfect for road trips, bike rides, and dog walks. We check in with talented storytellers Charles Adler and Matt Cundill to get up to ...

Real Talker Rips Trump’s Plans for 2024

22 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Wayne's choked at Charles Adler and wants Ryan to put his money where his mouth's at in this week's Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Servic...

Battle of the Billionaires & Other Social Media Storylines

21 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Who'll be left standing in the Battle of the Billionaires - Elon Musk vs. Mark Zuckerberg? Will Zuck's Threads app ultimately take down Musk's Twitter...

Hidden Harm: Alberta’s Methane Problem

20 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Alberta has a significant and largely invisible methane measurement and management problem. Here's the thing: it doesn't have to be this way. There ar...

The Future of Oil, Energy, and Journalism in Canada

19 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

You don't have to work in oil and gas or journalism to know big changes are coming. Whether you're talking about a net-zero plan including emissions c...

Into The Eye Of The Didsbury Tornado With Storm Chaser Aaron Jayjack

18 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's hard to describe the power of an EF4 tornado, but Aaron Jayjack's videos speak for themselves. The professional storm chaser takes us into his wi...

”Leaders Lead”: Straight Pride, Climate Action, & Cost of Living

17 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

News is supposed to slow down in the summer, but lucky for us, that's not happening. Politicians are posing for controversial photos at the Calgary St...

Why Canada’s Oil Profits Could Collapse

08 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Garth's got strong feelings about snow clearing, Kristie's ticked at people taking shots at her town, and Janice has a warning about oil prices in thi...

Steele & Vance: Hot Takes on Canada’s Biggest Stories

07 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Should the feds order striking BC port workers back to work? How bad is the CBC vs. Danielle Smith situation? Did Canadians deserve a break from the c...

Danielle Smith’s Win Over the CBC

06 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There's a clear winner in the standoff between Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and the CBC. Seven months after reporting Smith's office had emailed Cro...

Downtown Turnaround: How Calgary’s Transforming Its Core

05 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Calgary is looking to convert six million square feet of vacant office space for new use. The city's already a third of the way there, capturing the a...

The Sunshine List: Do We Deserve To Know What You Make?

04 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We're all about transparency...but are Sunshine Lists the right way to go about it? Alberta Health Services just released its annual list of employees...

Pissed Off About Pride

01 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Frosty and Garry are upset at our Pride talk, while Lauren and Kat have a lot to say about the Titan sub disaster. Brace yourself for Trash Talk prese...

Alberta Doctors Want An Apology

30 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Alberta's former Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw was unceremoniously dismissed from a new position in Indigenous health, prompting t...

It’s Time To Talk: How Do We Fix Our Communities?

29 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Canada's not "broken," but our communities are hurting. Crime rates are up, police are taking longer to respond to rural calls, many community support...

Triggered: Why Are People Losing Their Minds Over Pride?

28 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Unruly people spewing hateful conspiracy theories about the Pride flag forced Leduc Mayor Bob Young to abruptly cancel a recent council meeting. This,...

$2 Billion Boondoggle: Edmonton’s Valley Line LRT

27 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's the most mind-boggling build in Edmonton's recent history. The Valley Line LRT, a $1.8 billion expansion to the city's light rail network, is now...

What’s Next for Putin?

26 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The world watched over the weekend as tension between several of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most loyal lieutenants spilled into the streets,...

Crazy Wildfire Conspiracy

24 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Anne's hot under the collar about the latest wildfire conspiracy theory, Tracey won't be muzzled over masks in senior's centres, and Jeff's got a mess...

Canada’s Unremembered Terrorist Attack: Air India 182

22 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Lost at sea, will the passengers aboard a small vessel bound for Titanic's wreckage survive? Why haven't the 280 Canadians killed in the Air India 182...

Are You Future Ready?

21 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ten years after the southern Alberta floods, what have we learned from one of the costliest natural disasters in Canadian history? How did the disaste...

Our New Century of Fire Has Only Just Begun

20 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Canada's among the worst developed nations when it comes to government transparency. We're also in the beginning stages of a new century of fire that ...

Whistleblower: Frances Haugen’s Plan To Protect Teens

19 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A couple years ago, data engineer Frances Haugen blew the whistle on Facebook, disclosing thousands of her employer's internal documents to the SEC an...

Fact Check: Danielle Smith Called Out

10 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 Che...

Pride Is Protest: A Real Talk Round Table

09 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

June is Pride month. Chances are, you're seeing more rainbow flags, news coverage, and maybe even a controversial email or pamphlet referencing the an...

Premier Danielle Smith in the Real Talk Studio

08 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

How The NDP Won Calgary: Insights From An Insider

07 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...