Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Why Do We Demolish So Many Historic Buildings?

Alberta's government plans to knock down the former Royal Alberta Museum, replacing the magnificent Manitoba Tyndall stone structure with (more) green space. Many prominent Albertans are speaking out against the plan, including architect Vivian Manasc, who says the UCP is about to make a huge mistake. 
3:00 | Vivian explains what makes the former RAM so special, and how it might be reimagined. Plus, we discuss the bigger picture - why do we knock down so many of our historic buildings? 
CHECK OUT VIVIAN'S WORK: https://reimagine.ca/
36:20 | Ryan and Johnny talk about the choice to build the Real Talk studio in the historic Mercer Warehouse. 
41:40 | A bunch of Real Talkers feel like they're not getting a fair shake in our coverage of the COVID vaccine, vaccine injuries, and the politics behind it all. Ryan speaks directly to some of the feedback we received after our August 13, 2024 interview with Professor Tim Caulfield, and reads emails from Gerald and Touring Zebra. 
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON:   / 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.

Hunting Advocate Defends Alberta's Controversial "Problem" Grizzly Plan

Alberta will allow hunters to target "problem" Grizzly bears that have shown aggression to humans or livestock. The controversial changes to the Wildlife Act have prompted loud public outcry, but is everybody with an opinion truly informed? 
3:15 | Mark Hall says the Alberta government is making the right move with "problem" bears. The Blood Origins Canada director and podcast host makes his argument. 
CHECK OUT THE HUNTER CONSERVATIONIST PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/albertas-grizzly-debate-take-action/id1470798531?i=1000663590244
42:10 | Jespo and Johnny debrief after hearing Mark out. 
55:20 | Rumour is the Edmonton Elks' new owner may change the team's name back to the Eskimos. Could it be? 
1:02:35 | We LOVE this email from Real Talker Patrick, who had the time of his life at Punk in Drublic. He shares a couple great stories and a few backstage photos with the boys from NOFX.
1:06:35 | Which investment's been better over the past year or so - Bitcoin or the S&P 500? Our pal Corey Hogan crunched the numbers. You might be surprised! 
*Don't EVER take financial advice from us.*
1:10:20 | "Buy the damn LEGO, Johnny!" Ryan reads a great email from Real Talker Fiona.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON:   / 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.

Vax Under Attack in Alberta

UCP MLA Eric Bouchard says he's working to have the COVID vaccine banned in Alberta. In a recent podcast interview, the Calgary-based politician claims to have had "multiple lengthy conversations" with Health Minister Adriana LaGrange, and that his "win would be having the shots removed." We dig into what continues to fuel the anti-vaxx movement, and why so few people got their COVID shot this year.
2:00 | Professor Tim Caulfield talks about the politics of the anti-vaxx movement, "sudden death" conspiracy theories, and the dangers of deplatforming controversial voices. 
45:07 | Real Talker Jasmine lost their entire property to wildfire in 2023. Ryan reads her powerful email, including a message to displaced Jasper residents. 
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.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.

Our Most Inspiring Paris Olympic Moments

C'est fini! With the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in the books, we take a look at the athletes and stories that captured our attention and won our hearts. 
1:00 | But before we talk Olympics, Ryan and Johnny debrief after a late night at NOFX's final tour stop in Edmonton. 
6:10 | What was your most memorable moment from the Paris Games? Who's your new favourite athlete? What should be the next new Olympic sport? Ryan, Johnny, and Charles Adler get into it. Charles Adler is presented on Real Talk by Tice Automotive Consulting. 
BUYING A VEHICLE SHOULD BE FUN: https://www.ticeautomotive.com/
CHECK OUT OUR DEC. 2022 INTERVIEW WITH DR. SUSAN NATTRASS: https://rtrj.info/121222Nattrass
45:00 | Did Donald Trump really call Kamala Harris a b*tch on camera? We look at the video everybody's talking about, and get into some interesting polling out of Michigan. 
1:05:15 | Inspired by comments in our live chat, Ryan goes off script and off the cuff for a special Olympic edition of Positive Reflections presented by our friends at Kuby Renewable Energy. 
SUBMIT YOUR POSITIVE REFLECTION: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
GET A FREE SOLAR QUOTE: https://kubyenergy.ca/
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.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.

TEARS and JEERS

It's an Alberta politics version of The Flamethrower! Travis says Jespo needs to "stop carrying water," Sheryl's calling for "voices of sanity," and Gerald's sick of all the fear mongering. The Flamethrower is presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park (Palisades, Namao, Newcastle, Westmount, and Baseline Road).
FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com
When you visit the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park, make sure you tell 'em Real Talk sent you!

Ashley Callingbull // Hon. Marc Miller // The Strategists

2:10 | Royalty in the house! Miss Universe Canada Ashley Callingbull joins us in studio to talk about why her big win means so much. The first Indigenous woman ever to be crowned, Ashley takes us through the many challenges she's overcome through the years. Plus, we learn about her new film and book projects, and go behind the scenes of her training for the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico in November.
MORE ASHLEY CALLINGBULL: https://ashleycallingbull.com/
29:10 | Is Canada welcoming too many immigrants? Federal Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Marc Miller responds to a poll showing 60% of Canadians believe that to be the case. We talk about the role immigration plays in Canada's housing and hiring crunches, and get Minister Miller's take on PM Justin Trudeau's future. Ryan wraps by asking about Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's comments about Jasper National Park on our July 26 episode.
WATCH THE SMITH INTERVIEW: rtrj.info/072624PDS
48:35 | The Strategists are back around the Real Talk Round Table! We talk with Zain Velji, Corey Hogan, and Stephen Carter about Minister Miller's comments on the show, Justin Trudeau's re-election bid, the Kamala Harris campaign, Naheed Nenshi's big leadership win, and Danielle Smith's upcoming leadership review. 
FOLLOW THE STRATEGISTS: https://thestrategists.ca/
1:36:25 | It's an Alberta politics version of The Flamethrower! Travis says Jespo needs to stop carrying water, Sheryl's calling for "voices of sanity," and Gerald's sick of all the fear mongering. The Flamethrower is presented on Real Talk by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park (Palisades, Namao, Newcastle, Westmount, and Baseline Road). 
FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
When you visit the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park, make sure you tell 'em Real Talk sent you! 
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.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.

Are You Being Scammed?

Scammers are more active now than ever before. Opportunists are trying to steal donations after natural disasters like the Jasper wildfire, romance and "hitman" scams are targeting people of all ages...and then there are those spam calls that are a daily occurrence for most smartphone users. 
4:10 | Consumer protection expert Julie Matthews has been busting scams for twenty years. The longtime TV "Troubleshooter," peace officer, and consultant tells us how to sniff out post-disaster donation scams, grandparent "emergency" scams, social media scams involving missing children and injured animals, Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji scams, and more. 
HAVE YOU BEEN TARGETED BY SCAMMERS? TELL US ABOUT IT: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
FOLLOW JULIE ON IG @juliematthewstroubleshooter, TikTok @troubleshooterjulie, and Twitter @JulieMHelps
CANADIAN ANTI-FRAUD CENTRE: https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm
46:08 | Alberta Chambers of Commerce members are mobilizing to help their fellow business owners impacted by the Jasper fire. In a special edition of Eye on Alberta Business, president and CEO Shauna Feth tells us about the Chamber Relief Trust Fund, ACC's Business Resiliency Project, and other available resources. 
CHAMBER RELIEF TRUST FUND: https://www.abchamber.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Chamber-Relief-Trust.pdf
BUSINESS RESILIENCY PROJECT: https://www.abchamber.ca/business-resiliency/
PROVINCIAL PRIORITIES INSIGHTS: https://www.abchamber.ca/our-priorities/alberta-priorities/public-and-business-attitudes-to-key-policy-issues-2024/
HIRING INTENTIONS SURVEY (OPEN 'TIL AUG. 2): https://research.albertaperspectives.ca/jfe/form/SV_eu2WIw4INj5UlDM?Source=EOB
JOB FAIR INFO: https://www.abchamber.ca/alberta-hiring-opportunities/
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.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.

Dr. Jody Carrington: The Loneliness Epidemic

Natural disasters like wildfires impact us in many different ways. On top of the obvious physical devastation, communities typically experience increased rates of anxiety, depression, and PTSD. This Real Talk episode with Dr. Jody Carrington is dedicated to Jasper evacuees and the people helping them, first responders, and the countless Canadians impacted by the Jasper wildfire. Later in the show, we talk about loneliness, tech, and true connection. 
3:05 | Dr. Jody Carrington has a message for Jasper evacuees, first responders, and other people affected by the wildfire. She's got advice on survivor's guilt for Real Talker Travis (33:10), who emailed talk@ryanjespersen.com. Dr. Jody's got a great perspective on how we're in the midst of a loneliness epidemic in the social media age (39:55), how algorithms harm us (46:35), monitoring screen time for individuals and families (54:00), and ADHD (59:35). 
MORE FROM DR. JODY: https://www.drjodycarrington.com/
27:50 | Jasper wildfire evacuees are still in the early stages of recovery. Our friends at Tourism Jasper have compiled some resources for those displaced, plus the many people looking for ways to help out. 
DONATE DIRECTLY TO JASPER EVACUEES: https://www.jaspercommunityteamsociety.ca/
GET YOUR "To Jasper with Love" T-SHIRT: https://nationgear.ca/products/to-jasper-with-love-t-shirt
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS EPISODE: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
Do you know a post-secondary student in Canada who's lost a parent to cancer? They could qualify to receive financial assistance from the Real Talk Julie Rohr Scholarship. Application deadline is August 1. 
APPLY FOR THE REAL TALK JULIE ROHR SCHOLARSHIP: https://ryanjespersen.com/scholarship
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON:   / 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.

The Jasper Wildfire: EXPLAINED

We go behind the scenes of the Jasper wildfire: how did it start, why did it grow so quickly, and how did crews manage to save 60% of the town, including most of the Jasper Park Lodge? Plus, we fact check the role the mountain pine beetle played in the blaze, and learn what communities across the country need to do to prevent future disasters.
3:20 | His childhood home is gone. The church he was baptized in...gone. Parkland County Fire Chief Brian Cornforth joins us, just back from Jasper where he and his crew worked to save critical infrastructure in the town, then the Jasper Park Lodge (where his grandpa worked as a manager, and his parents met). 
FIRESMART PROGRAM: https://firesmartalberta.ca/
31:10 | Canada's preeminent wildfire expert Dr. Mike Flannigan takes us through the Jasper wildfire, from the moment it started to the aftermath. Of interest, Dr. Flannigan explains why reports referencing the mountain pine beetle are irrelevant in this particular wildfire. 
CHECK OUT DR. FLANNIGAN'S WORK: https://www.mikeflannigan.com/
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS EPISODE: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
Do you know a post-secondary student in Canada who's lost a parent to cancer? They could qualify to receive financial assistance from the Real Talk Julie Rohr Scholarship. Application deadline is August 1. 
APPLY FOR THE REAL TALK JULIE ROHR SCHOLARSHIP: https://ryanjespersen.com/scholarship
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON:   / 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.

Jeers for Tears, Olympic Drone Debacle, and "Cat Ladies" Clap Back

How do you feel about Canada's Olympic women's soccer team's cheating scandal? Surprised? Embarrassed? Or, did the team get busted doing what every competitor does: whatever it takes to win? In this episode, we ask Charles Adler where he draws the line. 
4:00 | But first...Chuck tells us what he thinks about Premier Danielle Smith's emotional news conference and subsequent comments to us about Jasper's rebuild (11:25). We cover Canada's Olympic women's soccer scandal (21:15), presidential race polling developments, and blowback around Trump running mate J.D. Vance's "cat ladies" comment (41:35). Charles Adler is presented on Real Talk by Tice Automotive Consulting. 
BUYING A VEHICLE SHOULD BE FUN: https://www.ticeautomotive.com/
1:07:50 | Real Talker Coreen found a ray of hope amidst the devastation in Jasper. She shares her "praise report" in this week's edition of Positive Reflections presented by Kuby Renewable Energy. 
SUBMIT YOUR POSITIVE REFLECTION: talk@ryanjespersen.com
GET A FREE SOLAR QUOTE: https://kubyenergy.ca/
Do you know a post-secondary student in Canada who's lost a parent to cancer? They could qualify to receive financial assistance from the Real Talk Julie Rohr Scholarship. Application deadline is August 1. 
APPLY FOR THE REAL TALK JULIE ROHR SCHOLARSHIP: https://ryanjespersen.com/scholarship
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON:   / 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.