Episodes

7 days ago
7 days ago
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 chest. In response to our inbox being absolutely slammed, it's an extended edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services!
EMAIL US: talk@ryanjespersen.com

Friday Sep 22, 2023
Catch & Release: Canadians Demand Action on Violent Crime
Friday Sep 22, 2023
Friday Sep 22, 2023
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 rates of violent crime. What's the solution? Bail reform? Tougher sentences? More robust support services?
3:30 | The presidents of the Alberta Crown Attorneys' Office (Dallas Sopko) and the Criminal Trial Lawyers Association (Paul Moreau) join us for a Real Talk Round Table on crime and punishment.
1:05:30 | Our dear friend Supriya Dwivedi is back with a straight-shooting take on tensions between Canada and India, including an indictment of Canadian media coverage over the years. Careful you don't spit out your coffee when you hear her talk about "hate boners" (immediately an all-time Real Talk quote)!
1:27:45 | 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 chest. In response to our inbox being absolutely slammed, it's an extended edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services!
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com
KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/
BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrjTWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/RealTalkRJ/
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.

Thursday Sep 21, 2023
Alberta Communities in Crisis: A Search for Solutions
Thursday Sep 21, 2023
Thursday Sep 21, 2023
Thousands of Canadians participated in the 1 Million March 4 Children, organized to "free children from the bondage of indoctrination; breaking a system designed to sexualize our children". Thousands more showed up in counter-protest. At the end of it all, were you left with a pit in your stomach?
2:04 | Ryan reflects on the 1 Million March 4 Children, one day later.
24:40 | How do we fix our communities? In Alberta, both municipal and provincial governments face a housing crisis, increased rates of violent crime, crumbling infrastructure, and many other challenges. Our Alberta Municipalities Round Table features St. Albert Mayor Cathy Heron, Wetaskiwin Mayor Tyler Gandam, and Legal Mayor Trina Jones.
CHECK OUT ALBERTA MUNICIPALITIES: https://www.abmunis.ca/
1:25:08 | Ryan reads an email from Real Talker Kyle, who takes issue with a few of Max Fawcett's points from our September 20 episode.
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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.

Wednesday Sep 20, 2023
Alberta Welcomes the Saudis: Whatever Happened to Ethical Oil?
Wednesday Sep 20, 2023
Wednesday Sep 20, 2023
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 the Saudi delegation at the airport...but does the photo op kill Canada's claim around "ethical oil"?
4:20 | Max Fawcett takes that question (and more)...but first, the lead columnist for Canada's National Observer shares his thoughts on the "1 Million March 4 Children" happening across Canada.
READ MAX'S COLUMN ON THE WPC: https://www.nationalobserver.com/2023/09/20/opinion/so-much-ethical-oil
35:47 | With more than 300 children sick from the E. coli outbreak at multiple Calgary daycares, it's fair to expect a public inquiry. MLA Diana Batten, a former RN and current Opposition Critic for Childcare, Child & Family Services, gets into it.
54:05 | If you've never checked out the Jasper Dark Sky Festival, it's an absolute must! Ryan runs through the lineup for the 2023 edition, running from October 13-29 in Jasper National Park.
MORE DETAILS: https://www.jasperdarksky.travel/
58:14 | The Real Talk community is broad and diverse, so it's no surprise when a story in the news directly impacts an audience member. Ryan reads an email from "Christine," whose daughter was hospitalized in Calgary with E. coli, and Jeff, who remembers the Walkerton E. coli outbreak in 2000.
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com
1:07:00 | There's been a huge response to our September 19 interview with Harman Kandola about the murder of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Our TikTok alone had more than 100,000 views in less than a day. Ryan reads an email from Kristie, who no doubt speaks for a whole bunch of people.
1:10:30 | Feeling guilty about bringing children into an uncertain world? Don't! That's the message from Real Talker Amanda, who sent us a note after our September 19 interview with For Our Kids Alberta co-founders Heidi Bergstrom and Claire Kraatz.
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WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrjTWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/RealTalkRJ/
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.

Tuesday Sep 19, 2023
India Kills Canadian Sikh Leader on Home Soil. What Now?
Tuesday Sep 19, 2023
Tuesday Sep 19, 2023
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, 2023. Shortly after the Prime Minister made the bold statement in the House of Commons this week, Canada expelled a senior Indian diplomat. India followed suit, sending a Canadian diplomat home. Federal politicians across party lines are calling for accountability, but what does that look like? We discuss in this enlightening episode of Real Talk
5:53 | But first...Heidi Bergstrom and Claire Kraatz have been experiencing "climate anxiety" for several years. They've joined a new group - For Our Kids - to connect with other Canadians in the same boat, and find ways to take action to save the planet.
CHECK OUT FOR OUR KIDS: https://www.forourkids.ca/
27:30 | Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made international news this week, when he pointed the finger at India for the murder of a Canadian Sikh leader in Surrey, BC on June 18, 2023. World Sikh Organization VP Harman Singh Kandola says Indian surveillance of Sikh activists in Canada has been happening for years.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WSO: https://www.worldsikh.org/?gclid=CjwKCAjwjaWoBhAmEiwAXz8DBfubsckCW0ZXct6g5nbv4eB1BTYJaFbczpNO7j1VO3BZdpHLx1TzehoC4EkQAvD_BwE
1:16:20 | Ryan digs into the Real Talk mailbag. Kyle and Cameron have something to say about our interview with gender-affirming health care provider Dr. Kate Greenaway (Sept. 13), and Lisa says our education-themed Real Talk Round Table (Sept. 6) didn't go far enough.
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com
BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrjTWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/RealTalkRJ/
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.

Monday Sep 18, 2023
Canadians in Space: Is It Worth the Price Tag?
Monday Sep 18, 2023
Monday Sep 18, 2023
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 horrific E. coli outbreak at Alberta daycares to NHL coach Mike Babcock leaving Columbus before coaching a single game...get the informed, common sense insights you need to make sense of what's going on around you in this episode of Real Talk!
4:00 | The Hon. Marc Garneau was the first Canadian in Space, and later in his career, was widely regarded as one of the most respected Members of Parliament. We talk to the former president of the Canadian Space Agency about the Liberals plummeting polling, Canada's affordability crisis, the past, present, and future of Canadians in Space, and his upcoming appearances at the Jasper Dark Sky Festival.
SEE MARC GARNEAU IN JASPER: https://www.jasperdarksky.travel/
30:02 | Alberta's Chief Medical Officer of Health says he didn't initially see the "urgency" in 300+ kids getting E. coli eating food from a filthy kitchen. Donald Trump says it was himself - not his lawyers - who believed the last election was stolen. Mike Babcock's gone from the Columbus Blue Jackets before training camp even begins. Charles Adler brings his Canadian Common Sense to this week's appearance on Real Talk.
1:20:57 | What's the most amazing anniversary gift you've ever given or received? A Kansas farmer goes (WAY) above and beyond in this week's Positive Reflections presented by our friends at Kuby Renewable Energy.
SEND US YOUR POSITIVE REFLECTION: talk@ryanjespersen.com
GET A FREE SOLAR QUOTE: https://kubyenergy.ca/
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WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrjTWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/RealTalkRJ/
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

Saturday Sep 16, 2023
Real Talker Demands Respect for Trans Rights
Saturday Sep 16, 2023
Saturday Sep 16, 2023
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 conversations about real issues with real people. It's Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services!
KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/

Friday Sep 15, 2023
Canada’s Housing Crisis: What’s the Solution?
Friday Sep 15, 2023
Friday Sep 15, 2023
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 three million units by 2030. How did we get here, and how do we begin to fix it? We focus on what pollsters say is the number one issue impacting Canadians in this episode of Real Talk.
4:40 | Marie-Josée Houle is Canada's first Federal Housing Advocate. Jennifer Keesmaat is Toronto's former chief planner and the founder of Markee Developments. Jeromy Farkas is a former Calgary councillor and a tireless advocate for affordable housing. The formidable trio forms this week's Real Talk Round Table as we explore root causes and potential solutions to Canada's housing crisis.
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com
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WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrjTWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/RealTalkRJ/
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.

Thursday Sep 14, 2023
Daycare Disaster: 300+ Kids Sick from E. coli Outbreak
Thursday Sep 14, 2023
Thursday Sep 14, 2023
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 they trusted served food from a cockroach-infested kitchen. At least twenty of those kids are in hospital, seven of them on dialysis. Meantime, the daycares are cleared to re-open: who'd want to send their kids back...but what options to many of those families have?
5:55 | ER Dr. Shazma Mithani explains what's so unique about this type of E. coli, and helps us understand the severe complication known as hemolytic uremic syndrome, a disease that affects kidney function. Also, what do you need to know about back-to-school flu season, and up-to-the-minute details on vaccines? Dr. Mithani has us covered.
34:50 | Good luck if you're looking for affordable housing in Vancouver. Mo Amir explains why so many people are left high and dry in the Lower Mainland. The host of This is VANCOLOUR dissects recent federal political polling, and tells us how he feels about Pierre Poilievre's infamous airplane address earlier in the week.
CHECK OUT MO'S SHOW: https://www.thisisvancolour.com/
1:24:40 | Why is the Toronto Zoo limiting screen time for a "teenaged" gorilla? Johnny presents a hilarious (but thought provoking) story from The Big Smoke.
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WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrjTWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/RealTalkRJ/
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.

Wednesday Sep 13, 2023
Trans Health 101: What Is ”Gender-Affirming Care”?
Wednesday Sep 13, 2023
Wednesday Sep 13, 2023
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 to say it's become one of the more polarizing topics in Canada in recent years (including at the Conservative Party Convention over the weekend). We talk to a physician and a CPC delegate in this enlightening episode of Real Talk.
3:50 | Dr. Kate Greenaway's been working with trans and non-binary patients for more than twenty years. She explains what "gender-affirming care" entails, and why she thinks politicians and the general public have too much say in a personal matter.
CHECK OUT THE FORIA CLINIC: https://www.foriaclinic.com/
35:35 | Jennifer Laewetz was in Quebec City for the CPC Convention over the weekend. She talks to us about the "culture war" influence on policy resolutions, her own priorities as an Indigenous person around duty to consult, and the buzz around Pierre Poilievre's public address on a WestJet flight (she was on the plane).
56:15 | The Jasper Dark Sky Festival has officially added a third weekend! We take a look at the out-of-this-world experiences available in Jasper from October 12-29 in this week's #MyJasper Memories presented by Tourism Jasper.
LEARN MORE: https://www.jasperdarksky.travel/
58:50 | Speaking of space, have you seen the 1,000 year old "alien corpses" displayed in Mexico's Congress? We can't help but take a look.
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com
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WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrjTWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/RealTalkRJ/
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.