Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Trash Talk - April 16, 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.

April 16, 2021 - Rev. Dr. Greg Glatz; Dr. Yvonne Poitras Pratt, Jason Schilling, Trisha Estabrooks

With Grace Life churchgoers continuing to gather in "underground" fashion following the closure of their building by Alberta Health Services, Knox United Rev. Dr. Greg Glatz joins to explain why he called out the church in a scathing, open letter. As Albertans continue to demand their provincial government hit pause on problematic draft K-6 curriculum, University of Calgary's Dr. Yvonne Poitras Pratt, Alberta Teachers Association president Jason Schilling, and Edmonton Public School Board chair Trisha Estabrooks get into the nitty gritty of what's problematic, why, and what citizens can do about it. Plus, it's Friday, so buckle up for a supercharged edition of Trash Talk, presented by Local Waste!
11:02 - Rev. Dr. Greg Glatz34:42 - Curriculum Round Table1:46:33 - Trash Talk

April 15, 2021 - Mayor Charlie Clark, Randy Goulden, Paul McLaughlin; Farm Crime w/ Geoff Morrison

"The West wants in" when it comes to meaningful investment from the federal government. With the Liberals' budget coming out on Monday, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Western Economic Solutions Taskforce (WEST) is honing in on specifics. Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark, Yorkton Councillor Randy Goulden, and Rural Municipalities of Alberta president Paul McLaughlin discuss the potential impact of expanding national trade corridors, improving rail safety, addressing costs facing Canadian farmers, and other proposals. Ask any rural resident or business owner in Canada: crime is often a very real and pervasive issue. Filmmaker Geoff Morrison, who just released season two of Farm Crime on CBC Gem, talks about some of the more remarkable stories and common sentiments he's seen. Ryan wraps up the show with a powerful follow-up to yesterday's discussion about Emily (and Colby) Cave.
20:51 - WEST panel1:17:56 - Geoff Morrison

April 14, 2021 - Airline expert John Gradek; Law Tuition: Denis Ram Sarah Kreikle Amanda Hart-Dowhun

With Ottawa sending $6B to Air Canada (and other airlines looking for the same), what does this mean for the country's airline industry...and the millions of Canadians that endeavour to start travelling again ASAP? Are the federal Liberals really "nationalizing" Air Canada, and does this qualify as a "bailout"? Former Air Canada executive and business professor at McGill University, John Gradek, takes our coverage to new heights. (Sorry, we couldn't help ourselves.) It's hard to imagine a 45% tuition increase, but that's what future University of Alberta law students are looking at. Lawyer Amanda Hart-Dowhun and law students Denis Ram and Sarah Kreikle take us into their organized efforts to stop the increase, and explain why increased tuition might actually cost the University more than administrators realize.
21:55 - John Gradek39:03 - Law School tuition panel

April 13, 2021 - Prof. Timothy Caulfield & Dr. Shazma Mithani with a COVID fact check; Adam O'Brien

Professor Timothy Caulfield and Dr. Shazma Mithani fact check a viral video from "mental wealth coach" Kaylor Betts. Ryan debates "platforming," "de-platforming," and the premise behind what qualifies as "Real Talk". We get into your emails to talk@ryanjespersen.com, including commentary on Grace Life Church continuing to gather en masse in defiance of public health orders. With the price of Bitcoin surging again, and China unveiling its own digital currency, Bitcoin Well CEO Adam O'Brien checks in (and shows off his flamethrower...for real).
17:51 - Prof. Timothy Caulfield & Dr. Shazma Mithani1:35:54 - Adam O'Brien

April 12, 2021 - Dr. Brad Stelfox, Mandy Olsgard and Colton Vessey; Kelley Keehn; Rob White's family

Ryan starts the show with commentary on Sunday's debacle at Grace Life Church. As demonstrators tore down fences erected by Alberta Health Services, where was the "rule of law" Premier Jason Kenney's called for in past? We open the show with another Real Talk Round Table: why are landowners forced to fund their own environmental studies on coal mining in the Rocky Mountains? What are researchers discovering, and what does the general public need to know? Dr. Brad Stelfox, Mandy Olsgard, and Colton Vessey continue our conversation. A recent survey commissioned by MNP shows 53% are within $200 of insolvency at any given moment. Personal finance educator and author Kelley Keehn has a few tips to keep you on the right track. Hundreds of people have donated to a fundraiser in honour of Rob White, who lost his life saving a dog on the North Saskatchewan River. Rob's wife Bobbi, his sons Strider and Alliance, and his best friend Chris Barrett share a few stores about the man described as "Father to a thousand people." Plus, it's Monday morning, so we read your inspirational messages for this week's Positive Reflections, presented by Kuby Energy! 
17:24 - Coal Round Table55:13 - Kelley Keehn1:19:12 - The White family and Chris Barrett1:57:19 - Positive Reflections

Trash Talk - April 9, 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.

April 9, 2021 - Rev. Tyler Ho-Yin Sit; Coal Round Table w/ Corb Lund, Katie Morrison, and David Luff

How does a "social justice church" differ from other houses of worship? Shouldn't social justice be the driving force behind any religious community? Rev. Tyler Ho-Yin Sit's New City Church in Minneapolis has been featured in the New York Times and The Atlantic. He joins Ryan to discuss the intersection of Christianity and politics, Derek Chauvin standing trial for murdering George Floyd, and recent racism-fuelled violence targeting people of Asian descent. Singer/songwriter Corb Lund, biologist Katie Morrison, and consultant David Luff check back in to update Albertans on the coal file in this week's Real Talk Round Table. And, of course, it's Friday, so brace yourselves for an extra-spicy edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Waste!
12:41 - Rev. Tyler Ho-Yin Sit41:00 - Coal Round Table1:42:57 - Trash Talk

April 8, 2021 - Dr. James Talbot; Yom HaShoah w/ Stacey Leavitt-Wright, Colin Muscat & Marnie Bondar

Through this pandemic, Canadians have become more familiar with their Chief Medical Officers of Health than ever before. How well do we understand their mandate? Where does their authority begin and end? What happens if elected officials ignore evidence-based advice? Former Alberta CMoH Dr. James Talbot pulls back the curtain, and evaluates the performance of Alberta's current CMoH Dr. Deena Hinshaw. Dr. Talbot also shares a couple stories of his own experience, including the move that ultimately led to his dismissal. Today is Yom HaShoah, otherwise known as Holocaust Remembrance Day. Stacey Leavitt-Wright, Dr. Colin Muscat, and Marnie Bondar gather for a powerful conversation about this horrific time in human history, and instances of anti-Semitism we see flaring up today.
12:36 - Dr. James Talbot50:12 - Yom HaShoah Round Table

April 7, 2021 - Dr. Kashif Pirzada, Mayor Kevin Zahara, blogger Susan Wright, Prof. Eric Strikwerda

With a third wave of the pandemic (and another lockdown) upon us, how do we ensure this is the last time it happens? Toronto ER Dr. Kashif Pirzada lays out what it'll take to eliminate COVID-19 completely. As Alberta's Chief Medical Officer of Health faces fire for withholding details relating to a "concerning outbreak," Edson Mayor Kevin Zahara explains why information sharing is so important. Susan Wright, the lawyer and blogger behind Susan on the Soapbox, makes her Real Talk debut to discuss her recent column on "cruel" UCP policies, resistance, and hope. Athabasca University history professor Dr. Eric Strikwerda argues Alberta's draft curriculum will make the province the "laughing stock" of Canada, and points out some glaring examples of inaccuracies and omissions. Plus, it's our first show of the week, so we focus on some good news stories with "Positive Reflections" presented by Kuby Energy!
19:33 - Dr. Kashif Pirzada52:44 - Mayor Kevin Zahara1:15:38 - Susan Wright1:42:45 - Dr. Eric Strikwerda2:17:17 - Positive Reflections