Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

October 4, 2021 - Peter Mansbridge; Volunteers Tracking COVID in Alberta Schools; Dr. Raj Sherman

17:45 | Support Our Students AB's Wing Li explains why the volunteer-run organization is crowd-sourcing data to maintain an Alberta-wide K-12 school COVID outbreak tracker.
45:24 | Legendary journalist Peter Mansbridge shares about his 50+ year career including highlights and challenges, plus where he's focusing his energy since retiring from the CBC in 2017.
1:29:22 | Dr. Raj Sherman addresses why he can no longer stay quiet about the pandemic which is ravaging Albertans, while calling on the UCP leadership to truly champion their constituents' health and safety.
2:09:00 | We celebrate the helpers and hope on Positive Reflections, presented by Kuby Energy.

Trash Talk -October 1, 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.

October 1, 2021 - China-Canada Relations; Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month

19:55 | Global security expert Dr. Scott Romaniuk on China-Canada relations, after the two Michaels release. PM Justin Trudeau announced a forthcoming decision on whether Chinese tech giant Huawei can join Canadian 5G wireless networks, while Australia enters a new pact with the United States and the United Kingdom to acquire nuclear-powered submarines. 
44:15 | We mark the beginning of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month with a round table on the varying grief experiences with pregnancy and infant loss coach Aditi Loveridge, LGBTQ2S+ loss peer support group co-facilitator Kyra Petrie and Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support Centre board member Amen Dhaliwal. 
1:40:29 | Ryan reviews Real Talkers responses to our most recent Question of the Week.Presented by Y Station.
1:55:55 | We blow off some steam with Trash Talk, presented by Local Waste.

September 30, 2021 - Dr. James Makokis; Mackenzie Brown; Digital Indigenous Identity with OneFeather

5:46 | Physician Dr. James Makokis shares about helping build Indigenous People confidence and trust in health care and vaccines with #VaxxFest, after generations of mistreatment. 
1:02:21 | Mackenzie Brown explains how drumming reconnects her to her ancestors and heritage, which she shares via Indigenous tourism. 
1:28:20 | Ryan challenges federal leaders Justin Trudeau, Erin O'Toole and Jagmeet Singh to follow through on their words to turn them into tangible ReconciliACTION, on #EatYourWords.Presented by Prairie Catering
1:34:34 | OneFeather's founder and CEO Lawrence Lewis addresses digital Indigenous identity and the important but problematic nature of 'status'.

September 29, 2021 - Orange Shirt Day Founder; Canada‘s Digital Dollar; Human Trafficking Everywhere

6:25 | Orange Shirt Day founder Phyllis Webstad shares about starting the grass-roots commemoration day, the first-ever National Day of Truth and Reconciliation (September 30, 2021) and what needs to be done to further reconciliation. 
49:047 | McGill University's Dr. Katrin Tinn unpacks where Canada is at on establishing a digital currency and what tradeoffs there will be for Canadians' privacy. 
1:28:34 | #MyJasper Memories | Ryan gazes at the Jasper Dark Sky Festival (October 15-24, 2021) including the SkyTram Star Sessions, Symphony under the Stars and Drone Light Show events. Presented by Tourism Jasper.
1:32:24 | The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking executive director Julia Drydyk and former sex worker Andrea Heinz analyze what R&B singer R. Kelly's case can tell us about human trafficking across Canada and what impact social media is having on the illegal activity.

September 28, 2021 - Calls for Firebreak in Alberta; Claresholm Cafe Faces Threats; Michaels + China

4:02 | Bitcoin Well CEO Adam O’Brien on digital currency in Canada and abroad.
16:06 | Calgary-based physician Dr. Stephanie Cooper shares her experience treating patients during the #COVID19AB fourth wave, using social media to source life-saving equipment, and the call for a firebreak in the province.
1:16:43 | Roy's Place owner/chef Kieth Carlson explains how his restaurant in Claresholm, AB is experiencing in-person and online harassment as the establishment does its best to keep-up with and uphold the pandemic health restrictions. 
1:36:26 | China Institute's Director Emeritus Gordon Houlden explores if "hostage diplomacy" is behind the release of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor from Chinese prison following Huawei CFO Meng Wanzho's safe return to China. 
1:52:32 | A light note to start off our broadcast week with... it's #PositiveReflections, presented by Kuby Energy.

Trash Talk - September 23, 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.

September 23, 2021 - Blake Desjarlais, Mike Lake, Randy Boissonnault; EV vs. Synthetic Fuels

8:15 | #Elxn44 Winners' CircleRyan is joined by newcomer NDP Blake Desjarlais, who flipped the riding of Edmonton-Griesbach, six-time election victor Conservative Mike Lake from Wetaskiwin-Edmonton, and Edmonton-Centre's Liberal MP-elect Randy Boissonnault.
46:30 | The #RealTalkRoundTable compares electric vehicles against synthetic fuels (aka e-fuels) with Top Gear magazine's Paul Horrell, University of Windsor's Dr. Nick Eaves, and Electric Vehicle Association in Alberta's Andrew Bell.
1:42:52 | #EatYourWords | Ryan invites conservative pundit Rona Ambrose to rethink her defence of Alberta premier Jason Kenney's pandemic response, during Monday's election night coverage.Presented by Prairie Catering
2:01:09 | Real Talkers blow off some steam with #TrashTalk.Presented by Local Waste

September 22, 2021 - Michael Keefer; Jason Markusoff on Alberta Politics; UN calls for AI Moratorium

1:27 | Ryan explores the reasons for and reactions to the "cabinet shuffle" in the provincial government where the Alberta’s health minister Tyler Shandro with labour and immigration minister Jason Copping swapped roles.
36:03 | #MyJasper Memories | Ryan shares Real Talkers' photos and experiences from the national park.Presented by Tourism Jasper 
41:32 | Guelph University Professor Emeritus Michael Keefer unpacks his essay “Knowing and Not Knowing: Canada, Indigenous Peoples, Israel and Palestine” being included in the forthcoming book "Advocating for Palestine in Canada".
1:09:33 | The award-winning feature writer and columnist for Maclean’s magazine, Jason Markusoff discusses the Alberta government cabinet shuffle, its underpinnings and the ultimate fate of the premier, Jason Kenney.
1:35:20 | Princeton University data researcher Amy Winecoff and legal expert on artificial intelligence Ryan Calo analyze the United Nations' call for an AI moratorium and what concerns are overblown and which are justified.

September 21, 2021- Elxn44: Supriya Dwivedi; Fawcett vs. Boessenkool; Duane Bratt & Melissa Caouette

Federal Election 2021Analysis
6:40 | Political analyst Supriya Dwivedi gives an overview of the results in the 2021 Canadian election.
37:08 | National Observer columnist Max Fawcett and political analyst Ken Boessenkool square off from different spots on the political spectrum to debate the big wins and losses in the election and where parties need to go next.
1:21:30 | Ryan reviews Real Talkers responses to our Question of the Week around return to school during the second pandemic autumn and fourth wave of COVID. Presented in collaboration with our strategic partner Y Station.
1:38:05 | Mount Royal University political scientist Duane Bratt and western Canadian public policy expert Melissa Caouette explore the implications for the prairies and municipal governments, following the federal election.