Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

2:53 | Emmy-winning comedian Paul Mecurio gets the show started with a laugh. The two-time COVID sufferer talks about isolating in NYC, and helping his 94-year-old Mom sort through her stuff.
See Paul at The Comic Strip April 22 & 23: https://wem.thecomicstrip.ca/
13:03 | Supriya Dwivedi makes her weekly Friday appearance, tackling Dr. Leslyn Lewis' claim that Bill Gates is undermining Canadian sovereignty, Pierre Poilievre's double standard (?) on Canada's housing crisis, and Edmonton as a model for affordable housing. 
41:58 | The Alberta Technology Symposium just wrapped in Calgary, and we welcome two industry leaders to this week's Real Talk Round Table. Koleya Karringten, Executive Director of the Canadian Blockchain Consortium, and Adam O'Brien, CEO of Bitcoin Well, explore Alberta's tech ecosystem, including how to attract new investment and support innovation hubs. 
1:13:10 | It's Friday, which means another edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental. Submit your Trash Talk to talk@ryanjespersen.com!

4:20 | On the eve of Earth Day, researchers Jared Gonet, Dr. Jeffrey Farner, and Dr. Evan Davies take us into the work they're doing to protect the planet. The conversation covers incorporating Indigenous worldviews with more "western" ideas of conservation, microplastics and nanoplastics in the world's water supply, and computer models informing our understanding of future water demand.
34:20 | A group of engaged citizens continues to fight a proposed solar farm in Edmonton's river valley. Kristine Kowalchuk, chair of the Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition, explains why they believe the proposed location is a bad fit, and what she wants the public to do about it. 
Learn more: https://www.ervcc.com/
43:39 | Ukraine's defence ministry is using Clearview AI facial recognition to identify Russian soldiers on the battlefield, at checkpoints, and elsewhere. Ethically Aligned AI CEO Katrina Ingram explains why the technology is so controversial, and how it does (or will) impact people around the world.

2:50 | Professional poet and spoken word artist Laureate Wakefield Brewster joins us a week after he was introduced to Calgary City Council as the city's sixth Poet Laureate. He tells us when he first knew he perceived the world as an artist would, what it means to "infiltrate" society, and how he's approaching his two-year term. 27:35 | Blaise Boehmer, former Director of Communications for Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, shares his take on Kenney's leadership review, the Brian Jean factor, record insurance profits in Alberta, the UCP approach to harm reduction, and other political stories making news across the province. 58:38 | In this week's edition of #MyJasper Memories presented by Tourism Jasper, we show off a couple ways you can get high up into the alpine in Jasper National Park. Marmot Basin still offers world class mountain riding until closing day on May 1, and the Jasper SkyTram just opened for the season! Learn more here: https://www.jasper.travel/realtalk/

4:50 | Earlier this month, Megan Wright publicly left what she says was her "dream job" with Leduc Fire Services. In front of Leduc city councillors, she cited allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct throughout her career. Megan joins Ryan to explain what led to her resignation, and how the mental health implications of a career in first response contributed to her experience. 
45:20 | In this week's edition of The Leading Edge presented by Leading Edge Physiotherapy, we shine the spotlight on Food for Thought, a family-run non-profit providing hot meals for school children that might otherwise go hungry. Learn more here: https://www.foodforthoughtedmonton.com/
47:19 | His career as a fashion-turned-nature photographer has earned David Liittschwager accolades around the world. The National Geographic legend tells us why he specifically chose three elusive sea creatures for his stunning new book, "Octopus, Seahorse, Jellyfish". (A warm welcome to our audience members who typically download the Real Talk podcast, but are here to see David's mesmerizing photos!)
1:13:09 | The first show of every week, Kuby Energy presents Positive Reflections. This week, we highlight the remarkable story of Gabriel Clark, a 12-year-old woodworker whose Ukraine fundraiser smashed every goal, skyrocketing him to Instagram fame along the way!

#TrashTalk | It's Friday, so brace for another rowdy edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental!

9:13 | Political analyst (and lawyer and broadcaster) Supriya Dwivedi shares her take on Pierre Poilievre's big Alberta crowds, early campaign positions taken by Jean Charest, Patrick Brown, and Dr. Leslyn Lewis. Plus, lax COVID attitudes and the connection to Ontario's upcoming election, the rumoured federal "truck tax," and Elon Musk's quest to buy Twitter.
38:49 | We celebrate unsung healthcare heroes in this week's Real Talk Round Table. Medical Laboratory Technologists Shawna Gawreluck, Ahmed Mostafa, and Anne Halpin share about their "behind the biohazard doors" profession, and explain the impact COVID's made on the work they do. 
1:11:59 | It's Friday, which means time for a (curiously somewhat family-friendly) edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental! Submit your Trash Talk to talk@ryanjespersen.com

7:47 | How do you find a therapist that's a good fit? Registered clinical counsellor Megan Jespersen (yes, she's Ryan's sister!) explains how you can tell if you'd benefit from therapy, how to choose the right counsellor, and how to tell if the sessions are effective or not. Megan discusses the evolution of stigma around counselling, the growth of specific specialties (ie - religious trauma), and what "making space" means to her.
40:35 | We're staring down a sixth (!) wave of COVID-19, and everybody's got questions. How contagious is this new subvariant? How necessary is a fourth dose of the vaccine? Should we cancel gatherings for Easter, Passover, or Ramadan? Drs. Lynora Saxinger and Darren Markland take your questions, and share their (very candid) personal thoughts as we enter the third year of the pandemic.

4:36 | Max Fawcett, lead columnist for Canada's National Observer, responds to Ryan's Tuesday interview with David Knight Legg about Canadian energy and Russia's war in Ukraine. The former editor of Alberta Oil magazine digs into Canada's role in lowering global emissions, the politics of international petroleum markets, and the "coal-powered" criticism of electric vehicles (EVs).
34:08 | Beloved former news anchor, talk radio host, and author Lynda Steele joins from Vancouver, where she's just launched a new weekly column at theorca.ca. Lynda shares her thoughts on Canada's skyrocketing cost of living, in particular on the West coast, and gets personal about her parents' journeys with Alzheimer's disease. 
1:15:45 | It's Wednesday, which means another visit to the mountains via #MyJasper Memories presented by Tourism Jasper. Get up to speed on some exciting events touching down in Jasper National Park over the next couple weeks, including the Jasper Half Marathon and the Uplift! Jasper Mural Festival. Find more details at jasper.travel/realtalk.

4:23 | David Knight Legg, founding CEO of Invest Alberta, lays out his theory of the "real" reason Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine. Legg argues Canadian interests need to better assert themselves in the global energy trade. Plus, the former Principal Advisor to Alberta Premier Jason Kenney explains how he would advise Kenney through his current leadership review. 
39:26 | He's an Emmy Award winner, an RTDNA Lifetime Achievement Award winner, and one of the most talented talk radio hosts the world has ever seen. The legendary Charles Adler joins Ryan for an extended conversation; his first on-air interview since leaving his nationally-syndicated radio show nearly a year ago. Don't miss Chuck's takes on the war in Ukraine (including how his family's history during WWII shapes his present-day perspective), Kenney's leadership review, the CPC leadership race, and life away from the AM dial.

3:29 | On the heels of Alberta Premier Jason Kenney's address to party members over the weekend in Red Deer, UCP founding president Erika Barootes and political scientist Dr. Duane Bratt debate whether or not Kenney will survive his leadership review, and the implications either way. Plus, we evaluate the early stages of the federal Conservative leadership race. 
42:56 | Ryan and producer John Hicks review the weekend's top stories, including how inflation is impacting payouts from the Tooth Fairy, NBA star Jrue Holiday's 8-second shift that earned him $255,000, and Will Smith's ten-year Oscars ban. 
56:21 | In this week's edition of Positive Reflections presented by Kuby Energy, we learn why so many Ukrainians are getting married in the midst of a terrible war, and see a truly heart-warming moment in   amateur sport. 
Send us your Positive Reflections! Email us anytime at talk@ryanjespersen.com