Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Jespo Family’s River Scare // Battleground Alberta

Jespo's family dodged a bullet just hours before this episode, nearly losing their beloved black lab Monroe in the icy, frigid North Saskatchewan River. It's the most dangerous time of year to be around water, says Edmonton Fire Rescue Services, and one of the most dangerous calls their firefighters respond to. 
2:40 | Ryan's wife Kari, their dog Monroe, and Edmonton Fire Rescue District Chief Brian Williams tell us all about what happened, and what the general public needs to know. 
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
29:00 | Pierre Poilievre packs a Nisku warehouse full of supporters. Mark Carney rallies Calgary Liberals (yes, there's such a thing) days later. Nick Taylor-Vaisey's watching it all for POLITICO, and joins Ryan in studio. Catch Team POLITICO on Real Talk every Wednesday through the federal election campaign, and read Ryan's View From Alberta every Thursday in POLITICO's Ottawa Playbook.
CHECK IT OUT: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/ottawa-playbook
57:00 | The snow starts to melt, local wildlife welcomes newborns, and the sun stays up later in the day - there's nothing quite like Spring in Jasper! Ryan reflects on a few favourite family memories in this week's #MyJasper Memories presented by our friends at Tourism Jasper. 
SPRING IN JASPER: https://www.jasper.travel/spring/
FAIRMONT JPL PROMOTION: https://www.jasper.travel/current-deals/spring-into-summer/
1:08:00 | Real Talker Matthew's open to the idea of a national home building authority of some sort. Thoughts? 
1:15:00 | Turns out Mark Carney's not the only one rubbing shoulders with global elites. Martin Lukacs shares a story about Pierre Poilievre and the Billionaire Class. (Does any of this matter?)
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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.

Are We Headed Toward The Great Recession?

This episode is all about the bottom line. With headlines screaming "Market Mayhem," what's the average investor supposed to think, let alone do? Is now a good time to buy? Or is it time to sell before things get worse? And...whatever happened to election campaigns that were supposed to be all about AFFORDABILITY?
4:50 | We check in with Marshall McAlister, president at North Road Investment Counsel, for a steady perspective on the stock market responding to Donald Trump's tariffs. 
CHECK OUT NORTH ROAD INVESTMENT COUNSEL: https://www.northroadic.com/
24:15 | Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper makes a rare campaign appearance in Nisku, just south of Edmonton, endorsing Pierre Poilievre for PM. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith claps back at Mark Carney, saying she "will not shut up".
41:00 | Vicky Mochama takes a mortgage affordability test for everybody to witness, as we check in with the host of Canada's newest must-listen political podcast Party All The Time. Are the big campaigns hitting or missing the mark with housing policy? What's in it for renters? 
PARTY ALL THE TIME // EPISODE TWO: https://rtrj.info/040725PATT
1:20:00 | Some Edmonton renters just saw their rents triple overnight. Is rent control a possibility in Alberta? (The government says hell no.) Nurses have a big new deal. Jespo and Johnny take a look at stories making news. 
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
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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.

Canada's Conservatives Still Want to Bet on America

The Great One is taking more shots than any goalie he ever faced for his friendship with President Donald Trump. Pierre Poilievre's boasting about crowd sizes at his rallies, just like 47 does. Danielle Smith's spending more time in Florida than she is in Alberta. In the midst of a full-blown trade war, why do Canada's Conservatives still want to bet on America? 
11:00 | Max Fawcett, lead columnist at Canada's National Observer, talks Gretzky (and Ovechkin), Carney and Poilievre's messaging over the weekend, the potential for a new pipeline across Canada, the NDP's call for the Conservatives to drop a candidate over residential school comments, and the Jays signing Vlad Guerrero, Jr. to a half-billion dollar contract extension. 
READ MAX'S WORK: https://www.nationalobserver.com/
1:15:00 | Real Talker MJ was moved by our Real Talk Round Table highlighting Edmonton-based NGO Innovative Canadians for Change. It's a perfect Positive Reflection to kick off our week, proudly presented by Solar by Kuby. 
WATCH THE ICCHANGE ROUND TABLE: https://rtrj.info/040425ICC
GET A FREE SOLAR QUOTE TODAY: 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.

Danielle Smith CALLED OUT!

"TheSco" says Danielle Smith's Breitbart interview is a "nothing burger," Lindsay's sick of hearing so much about The Donald, "G" wants to know who wants out (of Canada), Todd in Grande Prairie has a challenge for Alberta's premier, and Charlene's hoping you'll join her April 11 at the Alberta Legislature.
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!
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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.

Federal Election Platforms: Who's Promising What?

Has the average Canadian learned anything about the major parties' election platforms, with talk of Trump and tariffs taking up so much space? In this episode, our Real Talk Round Table panelists highlight the most significant policy announcements to date - including Conservative and Liberal housing plans. 
3:45 | Shannon Phillips and Ken Boessenkool dig into Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre's proposals for affordable housing and Jagmeet Singh's Canada Victory Bonds. Plus, what does Ken (co-author of the well-known Firewall Letter) think about Danielle Smith's "national unity crisis" comment, and does Shannon think former mayor Chris Spearman can win for the Liberals in Lethbridge?
CHECK OUT MBPolicy: https://mbpolicy.com/
52:35 | We LOVE this Edmonton success story! Born and raised in Iraq, Dr. Abdullah Saleh emigrates to Edmonton, graduates from medical school, and founds an international NGO changing lives around the world. We shine a spotlight on Innovative Canadians for Change ahead of their April 12 gala "Clear Waters, Clear Futures". 
JOIN US APRIL 12: https://www.icchange.ca/2025gala
1:27:50 | The results are in: we take a look at Ryan's unofficial, unscientific Twitter poll on how you handle door knockers. Grande Prairie councillor Dylan Bressey writes in with his on thoughts on "being on the doors". 
1:53:00 | Johnny's opening for DJ Pauly D this weekend. Woooooooot!
1:56:10 | "TheSco" says Danielle Smith's Breitbart interview is a "nothing burger," Lindsay's sick of hearing so much about The Donald, "G" wants to know who wants out (of Canada), Todd in Grande Prairie has a challenge for Alberta's premier, and Charlene's hoping you'll join her April 11 at the Alberta Legislature.
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! 
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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.

Trump's Total Trade War // Rachel Gilmore Cancelled

Trump's costing the global economy trillions of dollars. What does this trade war mean for you? We get into it from a bunch of different angles in this episode. Plus, she's one of Canada's most prominent independent journalists. For a brief moment, she had a plum election gig with a mainstream outlet...until political opponents pounced. We talk to Rachel Gilmore about being cancelled as CTV's fact checker. 
3:15 | Right out of the gates, Jespo and Johnny recap Trump's announcement and fallout on both sides of the border, including dissenting Republican Senators.
13:30 | Political strategist Sharan Kaur lays out Canada's best response to Trump's trade policy. Plus, will Mark Carney ACTUALLY deliver a new pipeline east of Alberta? 
30:45 | What are business owners, investors, and everyday Canadians supposed to think right now? We check in with Edmonton Chamber of Commerce CEO Doug Griffiths. 
CHECK OUT THE CHAMBER: https://www.edmontonchamber.com/
40:30 | Rachel Gilmore talks to us about being targeted by trolls and cancelled by CTV. 
RACHEL'S BUBBLE POP: https://rachelgilmore.substack.com/
Subscribe to  @AtRachelGilmore  on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AtRachelGilmore
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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.

What Will Trump's Liberation Day Cost YOU?

Trump's trade war with Canada is about to level up. A popular political podcaster is throwing his hat in the ring this election. Another popular TikTok commentator just got dumped by CTV. We cover all of it (and more) in this episode. 
3:40 | It's not an April Fool's joke! The Strategists co-host and Real Talk Editorial Board member Corey Hogan is running for the Liberals in Calgary. He tells us why he made the eleventh hour decision to stick his neck out there.
19:40 | Nick Taylor-Vaisey, POLITICO's Ottawa bureau chief, talks Trump tariffs, Week Two election storylines, and nervous voters in Milton, ON. Real Talk is partnering with POLITICO through Election 2025 - catch their journalists every Wednesday on the show, and read Ryan's View From Alberta every Thursday in their Ottawa Playbook: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/ottawa-playbook
39:30 | We've got a wager! Ryan shares details of an election-related bet between Real Talker Michael and Group Chat Round Table panelist Jarrett Campbell.
47:50 | Spring has sprung in Jasper National Park! We've got details of the wildly-popular Taste of Spring festival (including the BURGER SMACKDOWN and The Beast Whisky Weekend) in #MyJasper Memories presented by our friends at Tourism Jasper. 
PLAN YOUR JASPER GETAWAY: https://www.jasper.travel/taste-of-spring/
59:50 | Overwhelmed by the "troll" response, CTV has cancelled Rachel Gilmore's weekly election fact check segment. We play a bit of the recorded phone call where Rachel learned the news, and explore how political pressure regularly influences mainstream media in Canada. 
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
1:07:35 | We LOVE this email from Real Talker AJ, who found serious value in our March 21 segment on Neurodiversity in the Workplace. 
CHECK OUT AU's COURSE: https://powered.athabascau.ca/product?catalog=Neurodiversity-in-the-Workplace
1:12:30 | U.S. Senators - Republicans and Democrats alike - are calling on the White House to abandon plans to exacerbate the trade war with Canada. We hear from a few of them. 
1:27:00 | Our brand new Real Talk Community Chat is live on Discord! Jespo and Johnny have details on this perk, exclusive to our Real Deal and Real VIP YouTube channel members and our Real Talk Patrons. 
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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.

Liberal Candidate Quits, Conservative Candidate Booted

Paul Chiang is out as the Liberal candidate in Markham-Unionville after suggesting a political opponent should be turned over to Chinese authorities. Mark McKenzie is out as the Conservative candidate in Windsor after a podcast interview surfaced wherein he calls for Justin Trudeau's, er, execution. 
3:15 | Was standing by Chiang (for a day or two, anyway) Mark Carney's biggest mistake to date? We talk to Vicky Mochama, host of the new political podcast Party All The Time. 
CHECK OUT PARTY ALL THE TIME: https://rtrj.info/PATTepisodeone
40:00 | The Full House Lottery Early Bird deadline is looming! Don't miss your shot at Alberta's biggest Early Bird value: 31 cars in 31 days! Lindsay Robertson, VP at the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation, takes us into the $2.25M Legacy dream home (and Jespo's dream lake getaway - the Fritz Tiny Home), trips for life, and the life-saving services the Full House Lottery supports.
BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY: https://fullhouse.ca/
TOUR THE LEGACY DREAM HOME: https://youtu.be/HQ0ilISYo1g?si=aVeHRnkALlcbLBRZ
58:45 | Real Talker Sarah heard a rumour about the Mike Myers/Mark Carney ads, Janelle says there's no way Trump wrote that post about the call with Carney, Jim in B.C. says our Group Chat Round Table (March 31) missed the mark on a few things, and Sean's reminiscing about Conservative parties in past. 
WATCH SEAN'S FUTURE OF FOOD EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/live/AMsK380FbLM?si=CX05Hg2ZQSHvfiS4&t=1
1:12:45 | Jespo and Johnny have details about our YouTube channel memberships, a new perk - the Real Talk Community Chat, and an exclusive event on April 17 for our Real Talk Patrons. 
SUPPORT REAL TALK on PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/c/ryanjespersen
1:23:00 | It's our first Two Million View video! 
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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.

Is Carney Peaking Too Soon? Can Poilievre Recover?

Can Pierre Poilievre turn the Conservative campaign around in time? Are Mark Carney's Liberals peaking too soon? What does Donald Trump REALLY want? 
2:30 | Our Group Chat Round Table is back together, as Katherine O'Neill, Jenny Adams, Harman Kandola, and Jarrett Campbell give us their take on the top election stories across the country. Will Amarjeet Sohi win Edmonton Southeast? What will unfold in Edmonton Centre? And is Stephen Mandel really making a return to municipal politics? 
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
1:15:00 | KO, Harman, Jarrett and Ryan share their Positive Reflections presented by Solar by Kuby.
YWCA WOMEN of DISTINCTION: https://ywcaofedmonton.org/women-of-distinction/
SUBMIT YOUR POSITIVE REFLECTION: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
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KNOCK 50% OFF an annual subscription to Alberta Views with the promo code AVRJ: https://albertaviews.ca/
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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.

"Danielle Smith would sell out Alberta in a second!"

Jenny and Nathan have no time for Premier Danielle Smith's trip to Florida, Ron doesn't like what he's hearing about Alberta separating from Canada, Michael calls out the Kool-Aid drinkers, and Brian has a question for "51st State" supporters. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park!
FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.comWhen you visit the DQs in Palisades, Namao, Newcastle, Westmount, and Baseline Road, be sure to tell 'em Real Talk sent you!
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.