Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Alberta's Book Ban a "Gross Overreach"

Real Talkers Rebecca and Brandon have hot takes on Alberta banning graphic books in school libraries, BDP and Alberta Gengar respond to our coverage of the Hockey Canada verdict, Jasper Rob's begging forgiveness from Premier Danielle Smith, and RA says a Trump-supporting Christian musician should be banned from performing in Alberta's public spaces. 
It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park!
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The next time you visit the DQs in Palisades, Namao, Newcastle, Westmount, and Baseline Road, be sure to tell 'em Real Talk sent you!
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The views and opinions expressed in this show are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Relay Communications Group Inc. or any affiliates.

Road Trip Round-Up: The Best of Real Talk

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 Real Talk. Jespo and Johnny recap some of our biggest recent moments on the show, and we wrap with another fiery edition of The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park!
FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.comThe next time you visit the DQs in Palisades, Namao, Newcastle, Westmount, and Baseline Road, be sure to tell 'em Real Talk sent you!
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The views and opinions expressed in this show are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Relay Communications Group Inc. or any affiliates.

Misconduct: Breaking Down the Hockey Canada Verdict

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 Edmonton (SACE) CEO Mary Jane James and sexual violence survivor/advocate Kristin Raworth.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
SACE: https://www.sace.ca/
SAiF SOCIETY: https://www.saifsociety.ca/
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The views and opinions expressed in this show are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Relay Communications Group Inc. or any affiliates.

Tales of the Trans-Canada Hwy // Poilievre Debates

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 Highway? Historian, podcaster, and author Craig Baird (3:30) takes us back to the days of gravel roads and ferry travel as we explore his new book Canada's Main Street: Epic Stories of the Trans-Canada Highway.
CHECK OUT THE BOOK: https://sutherlandhousebooks.com/product/canadas-main-street/
CANADIAN HISTORY EHX: https://canadaehx.com/
33:00 | August Long Weekend is the perfect time to visit Jasper National Park! We've got details (and a construction update) in this week's edition of #MyJasper Memories presented by Tourism Jasper. 
CHECK OUT YOUR OPTIONS: https://www.jasper.travel/
39:15 | Hours after moderating the Camrose Candidates Forum (featuring Pierre Poilievre and nine other candidates), Shauna Feth checks in with her Eye on Alberta Business. Bringing business insights from the recent Pacific NW Economic Region (PNWER) summit and the ACC's Provincial Priorities survey, we cover the Bank of Canada's interest rate announcement, oil and gas developments, and the future of hydrogen on the prairies. 
CONNECT with the ALBERTA CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE: https://www.abchamber.ca/
55:00 | What's the best "World's Biggest" attraction on Highway 1? Who's today's Marilyn Monroe? What's the most iconic Canadian TV show of all time? Jespo and Johnny get into the most pressing questions of the day, fuelled by the Real Talk Live Chat (powered by Park Power). 
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The views and opinions expressed in this show are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Relay Communications Group Inc. or any affiliates.

Convoy Lawyer Debanked // Book Ban Debated

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 into the nitty gritty of Alberta's controversial new school library book policy. 
35:30 | Provincial Education Minister Dimitrios Nicolaides and Library Association of Alberta past president Laura Winton debate Alberta's so-called "book ban." 
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
1:09:40 | Jespo and Johnny debrief on the library book story and highlight comments in the Real Talk Live Chat powered by Park Power.
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The views and opinions expressed in this show are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Relay Communications Group Inc. or any affiliates.

Jasper’s Harsh Reality // Immigration & Housing

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 always, we want to know what you think...
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
3:30 | Some of the most important stories relating to Jasper's rebuild are being buried. Or, at least, they were until Lisa MacGregor released "Crown Jewel in Ashes: Jasper One Year After the Fire". The veteran journalist paints a shocking picture of the hoops and hurdles displaced residents continue to encounter as they attempt to rebuild their lives. Real Talk feature interviews are presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. 
WATCH CROWN JEWEL IN ASHES: https://youtu.be/FRAV8s1XswA?si=FbK7YVxsSLqzEIaY
MERCEDES-BENZ EDMONTON WEST: https://www.mercedes-benz-edmontonwest.ca/
50:00 | Are immigrants to blame for Canada's housing crunch? Sabine Benoit, advisor to two federal immigration ministers, says there's way more to the story. 
1:29:00 | Jespo and Johnny catch up, including comments from the Real Talk Live Chat powered by Park Power. 
SAVE on INTERNET, ELECTRICITY, and NATURAL GAS: https://parkpower.ca/realtalk/
1:42:00 | Have you seen Happy Gilmore 2 yet? Jespo offers his review (without spoilers), and we debate the best sequels of all time. 
HAVE YOUR SAY: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
1:55:30 | Real Talker Lenore shares a perfect Positive Reflection following her weekend visit to Jasper. Positive Reflections is presented weekly on Real Talk by our amazing friends at Solar by Kuby. 
GET A FREE SOLAR QUOTE: https://kuby.ca/
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The views and opinions expressed in this show are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Relay Communications Group Inc. or any affiliates.

Two Sides of the Hockey Canada Verdict

Karen and Les have strong words for Danielle Smith, while Anne and Clinton see the Hockey Canada verdict differently. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park!
FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com
When you visit the DQs in Palisades, Namao, Newcastle, Westmount, and Baseline Road, be sure to tell 'em Real Talk sent you!

Politics Round Table // Disability Pride Month

We tackle the Hockey Canada verdict, shenanigans in the Battle River--Crowfoot by-election, Edmonton's "low key, low energy" mayoral race, and rumours around the federal NDP leadership "race" with Dave Cournoyer and Omar Mouallem (1:30) out of the gates. 
DAVEBERTA: https://daveberta.substack.com/
EDIFY: https://edifyedmonton.com/
51:00 | It'd be impossible to find fiercer advocates than Bean Gill, Carrie Anton, and Brad Bartko. The three forces of nature give us a wake-up call or two for Disability Pride Month.
REYU: https://www.reyu.ca/
ACCESSIBILITY BY DESIGN: https://disabilityabd.com/
CARRIE ANTON: https://www.carrieanton.ca/
1:23:00 | Karen and Les have strong words for Danielle Smith, while Anne and Clinton see the Hockey Canada verdict differently. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park!
FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
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THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR SPONSORS! https://ryanjespersen.com/sponsors
The views and opinions expressed in this show are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Relay Communications Group Inc. or any affiliates.

Jasper: One Year After the Fire

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 (3:00), federal Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience Eleanor Olszewski (16:45), journalist Bob Covey (32:15), Tourism Jasper CEO Tyler Riopel (44:15), Fairmont JPL Director of Golf Operations Tahlon Sweenie (52:00), Evil Dave's Grill owner Mike Day (1:01:00), and Rockaboo Mountain Adventures' Lisa Darrah (1:09:00).
Don't miss a moving edition of #MyJasper Memories submitted by Real Talker Cait, including powerful photos of Jasper's recovery (40:50). MyJasper Memories is proudly presented by Tourism Jasper. 
BOOK YOUR JASPER ADVENTURE: https://www.jasper.travel/
READ the JASPER LOCAL: https://www.jasperlocal.com/
BOB'S MOUNTAIN LIFE FEATURE: https://rtrj.info/072425ML
BOOK A TEE TIME at the FAIRMONT JPL: https://www.jaspermountaingolf.com/
BOOK DINNER at EVIL DAVE'S: https://evildavesgrill.com/home
CHECK OUT ROCKABOO MOUNTAIN ADVENTURES: https://rockaboo.ca/
FIRESMART ALBERTA: https://firesmartalberta.ca/
1:23:10 | Jespo and Johnny share their own thoughts on the wildfire anniversary, and touch on other headlines including Ozzy Osbourne and Hulk Hogan's deaths and a verdict in the World Junior sexual assault trial. 
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The views and opinions expressed in this show are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Relay Communications Group Inc. or any affiliates.

Extremists in the Canadian Forces

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 white supremacy in the Canadian Armed Forces. But first, Ryan comments on troubling attempts to harass and intimidate Alberta-based investigative journalist Carrie Tait. 
12:00 | Dr. W. Andy Knight takes us into the findings of his report commissioned by the Canadian Armed Forces. 
READ MORE: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/folio/2025/02/report-finds-deep-rooted-white-supremacism-lurks-in-canadian-military.html
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
51:30 | Jespo comments on Edmonton's expanded mayor race with the inclusion of former councillor Michael Walters. We review our unofficial, unscientific Twitter poll, and take a look at some of the "underdog" campaigns. 
1:07:00 | The Longest Ballot Committee is at it again, this time in the Battle River--Crowfoot byelection. Do you think what they're doing (108 candidates and growing) is good for democracy? We dip into the Real Talk Live Chat powered by Park Power. 
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1:30:30 | Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland says he's not looking for a fight with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. We tee up Smith's demand for an apology, leading up to our special July 24 episode marking the one year anniversary of the Jasper fire.
1:38:30 | Real Talker Dr. Colin shares a few thoughts on the heels of our 1,000th episode.
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RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: patreon.com/ryanjespersen
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR SPONSORS! https://ryanjespersen.com/sponsors
The views and opinions expressed in this show are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Relay Communications Group Inc. or any affiliates.