Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

December 8, 2021 - Andrew Leach on Awaiting Promised Alberta Boom; Friendship

2:48 | Ryan runs down yesterday's very late night in the Alberta legislature where Bill 81 was hotly debated. 
16:11| Dr. William K. Rawlins on how long friendships can or should last, how we maintain these relationships and what the pandemic has meant for your platonic connections. 
43:27 | Energy economist Andrew Leach explores why Alberta’s coffers are flush with cash from the oil sands but Albertans aren't feeling a boom.
1:15:50 | #MyJasper Memories | Ryan checks out what visitors to Jasper National Park in January can enjoy, including the Polar Plunge at Pyramid Lake, Jasper Cup: Pond Hockey Tournament,  Whiskey, Wine and Hops, Wine in Winter,  as well as the Street Party + Fireworks Show. Presented by Tourism Jasper.

December 7, 2021 - Olympics Boycott; Alberta Ambulance Shortage; Racism in N. America

8:55 | Political scientist Dr. Ashley Esarey unpacks the White House's decision not to send US diplomats to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, what implications it could have on Canada, and international stability.
30:33 | Calgary-based freelance writer Marcello Di Cintio explains how he recently found himself as an advocate for decentralizing emergency response across Alberta. He took to Twitter over the weekend after his 95 year-old grandmother fell down and had to wait one hour before paramedics arrived.
45:25 | Lawyers Reakash Walters and Joshua Sealy-Harrington along with the Africa Centre's Sharif Haji discuss what the recent verdicts in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse, and jury awarding $25 million in damages over deadly 2017 Charlottesville far-right rally, tell us about racism in North America.

December 6, 2021 - COVID Variant Omicron; Abortion Access in Canada vs. USA

18:25 | Virologist Dr. David Marchant explains what's known about the new COVID-19 variant Omicron, how effective health measures and travel bans are in curbing it.
42:44 | National Abortion Federation (NAF) Canada Jill Doctoroff and state-side Center for Reproductive Rights Elisabeth Smith discuss access to abortions in Canada and south of the border, and how policies could change with court cases headed to the USA's Supreme Court.
1:14:48 | #PositiveReflections - Ryan looks at the bright side of the life, including a Real Talker's video of scuba diving off the Galápagos Islands.

Trash Talk - December 3, 2021

Ryan rolls out the best rants of the week, as submitted to talk@ryanjespersen.com. Buckle up for another edition of Trash Talk, presented by Local Waste.

December 3, 2021 - Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault; Lytton Rebuild; Culling Invasive Species

2:01 | Canada's Minister of Environment Steven Guilbeault discusses his appointment to the lead the ministry after his high-profile environmental activism and the new platform commitments being made today, including the commitment to cap/cut emissions from the oil and gas sector and lowering energy sector methane emissions.
18:12 | Recovery Manager for the Village of Lytton, Alison Poste on the BC village residents' unwavering determination to rebuild following the 2021 wildfire and flooding.
33:43 | We mark International Day of People with Disabilities with a retrospective of Real Talk conversations exploring disability and sex, marriage, plus representation on stage and screen. 
40:39 | University of Saskatchewan's Dr. Ryan Brook and wildlife ecologist Mateen Hessami on managing invasive species and how culling is only the start of the conversation. 
1:17:46 | #TrashTalk | Ryan brings Real Talkers pet peeves and annoyances to life with furor and fury.Presented by Local Waste.

December 2, 2021 - Belarus as Russia‘s Puppet; BC Floods from Climate Change?

2:40 | A rundown of news making headlines, including Canada's House of Commons unanimously approving legislation to ban conversion therapy and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) suspending all tournaments in China ins response to Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai disappearing from public view after accusing a top Chinese official of sexual assault.
12:47 | Climatologist Faron Anslow on the back-to-back-to-back atmospheric rivers hitting British Columbia, what's causing the extreme weather, and how much can be attributed to climate change. 
37:40 | Global affairs analyst Michael Bociurkiw unpacks the relationship between Belarus and Russia and what is means for the stability in the region and the world. 
1:00:54 | #EatYourWords | Ryan pats Australian TV presenter Matt Doran on the back for making an on-air apology to music superstar Adele after admitting he had not listened to the singer's new album 30 before their exclusive interview. Presented by Prairie Catering

December 1, 2021 - William H. Macy; Rick Mercer; Online Photo Safety

4:13 | Canadian comedian, TV personality, political satirist and author, Rick Mercer shares about his new memoir, Talking to Canadians, and the life he's lived and lessons he's learned to fill the pages.
38:50 | #MyJasper Memories | Get into the festive spirit while visiting the winter wonderland of Jasper National Park. Presented by Tourism Jasper.
50:05 | Award-winning actor William H. Macy discusses his love of acting, woodturning, and spirits. He's joined by master distiller David Matthews at Woody Creek Distillers, where our RealTalkRJ Cask No. 1 bourbon is distilled. 
1:16:54 | Understanding digital identity and the lasting impacts of sharing photos of kids online, with Ethically Aligned AI's Katrina Ingram and photographer Claire Rodahaver.

November 30, 2021 - Brittlestar; Photojournalist Amber Bracken, BC MLA Ellis Ross on Wet‘suwet‘en

2:12 | BC MLA for Skeena, Ellis Ross explains why he wants celebrity Leonardo DiCaprio and other non-Wet'suwet'en members to stay out of the ongoing dispute over the Coastal GasLink (CGL) pipeline development. 
21:19 | Photojournalist Amber Bracken shares about her November 19 arrest while observing and documenting events unfolding in Wet’suwet’en territory. 
41:17 | Canadian sensation Brittlestar (aka Stewart Reynolds) talks about telling it like it is online and why his cheeky videos go viral. 
1:07:20 | Positive Reflections | Presented by Kuby Energy, Ryan looks at the bright side of life.

Trash Talk - November 26, 2021

A special load of hard-boiled harsh opinions by Real Talkers all aimed directly at Ryan.Presented by Local Waste.
 
 

November 26, 2021 - Canada‘s Labour Shortage; Rebuild or Relocate post-BC Floods

11:44 | University of Waterloo economics prof Dr. Mikal Skuterud and jobs recruiter Jessica Culo examine Canada's labour shortage and what it means for job seekers, employers, and Canada's economy.
29:48 | A #RealTalkRoundTable with the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction's Glenn McGillivray, Insurance Bureau of Canada's Robin Edger, and JPW Road and Bridge Inc. president Joe Wrobel, on how and where rebuilding should happen following extreme weather and climate change disasters. 
1:12:41 | #TrashTalk | A special load of hard-boiled harsh opinions by Real Talkers all aimed directly at Ryan.Presented by Local Waste