Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

The Art of Storytelling: A Filmmakers Round Table

When's the last time a film really moved you? Documentaries in particular have a way of connecting with us and inspiring us to action. In this special edition of the Real Talk Round Table, we hang out with filmmakers whose work is featured at NorthwestFest, Canada's longest-running non-fiction film festival. We talk about where they get their inspiration, how they best connect with audiences, and whether or not they think Ryan's out of line for taking his shoes off when he flies.
2:40 | Guy Lavallee, Katrina Beatty, Blake McWilliam, and Ben Judkins join our Real Talk Round Table to talk about their NorthwestFest films, including Send Kelp (8:14), The Wounds Within: An Endometriosis Story (24:22), and The Cigarette Surfboard (42:40). 
GET TICKETS TO NORTHWESTFEST: https://www.northwestfest.ca/
1:02:55 | The filmmakers chime in on our unofficial, unscientific Twitter poll about a high-speed rail line between Calgary and Edmonton. 
1:12:40 | Do you visit movie theatres now as much as you did before the pandemic? Guy explains how audience habits have changed. We take a look at other featured films coming up at NorthwestFest, including Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story (1:22:30). 
1:29:50 | Colin's wondering where all the money's going, LD's fed up with UCP suck-ups, Gabriel just can't take a certain Real Talk panel seriously, and James says Liberal corruption is making him sick. Real Talkers are all fired up for The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! 
FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com
When you visit the DQs in Palisades, Namao, Newcastle, Westmount, and Baseline Road, let 'em know Real Talk sent you! 
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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.

War of Words: Poilievre and Trudeau Ramp It Up

Did Pierre Poilievre deserve to get kicked out of the House of Commons for calling Justin Trudeau a "wacko PM"? Should Greg Fergus resign as Speaker of the House? How much responsibility should the Prime Minister take for the tone of today's politics? We get into gamesmanship, theatre, and communication strategy in this episode of Real Talk.  
8:35 | But first...was anybody surprised to see the Alberta government walk back its plan to defund public transit supports for seniors and low-income Albertans? We sure weren't. The biggest question now is, who thought that was a good idea in the first place? 
17:40 | Pierre Poilievre was kicked out of the House of Commons this week after calling Justin Trudeau a "wacko PM". Did the Opposition Leader deserve the boot? Did he maybe kinda sorta get ejected on purpose? 
36:50 | Premier Danielle Smith is investing close to $10M to look at ramping up passenger rail in Alberta. Would you take a high speed train between Calgary and Edmonton? How about between Calgary and Banff, or Banff and Jasper? What about a super-network connecting Lethbridge all the way to Fort McMurray? 
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
53:55 | Now this is REAL Talk. Ryan reads emails from Ian and Sheryl re: our March 19 interview with sex trade abolitionist Andrea Heinz. 
ANDREA ON REAL TALK: rtrj.info/031924Heinz
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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.

Kristi Noem Shoots Her Dog; Danielle Smith Kills Low-Income Transit Program

Does shooting a puppy and writing about it in a book automatically kill South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem's shot at the Vice Presidency? Does defunding a public transit program designed for low-income and senior Albertans make any sense - optically, politically, or otherwise - for Alberta Premier Danielle Smith? 
4:50 | Emmy Award-winning talk radio legend Charles Adler chimes in on Noem, the UCP's public transit cuts (26:20), Minister Randy Boissonnault's uncomfortable ethics predicament (37:15), the electoral future of the Edmonton-Centre federal riding (41:03), Ayahuasca and magic mushrooms for mental health (yeah, you read that right 46:55), Alberta's first municipal political party - TAPYEG (1:01:30), and the Edmonton Oilers matchup against the LA Kings (1:09:05). 
32:55 | May is a perfect time for rock climbing in the Rocky Mountains! In this episode of #MyJasper Memories presented by Tourism Jasper, we introduce you to the crew at Rockaboo Mountain Adventures. 
GET CLIMBING: https://rockaboo.ca/
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
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.

Who's Behind Alberta's First Municipal Political Party?

For the first time in Alberta's history, political parties will be players in the October 2025 municipal elections. TAPYEG is the first party to introduce itself to voters in Edmonton. In this episode, we meet some of the people behind TAPYEG, and hear why they believe they can do a better job than the current mayor and council. 
3:34 | TAPYEG board members Jeffrey Hansen-Carlson, Naseem Bashir, and Al Amer tell us why they founded the political party/think tank, how they expect to disrupt City Hall, and how they'll pull off a promised tax cut within 100 days of forming municipal government. 
LEARN MORE: https://www.tapyeg.ca/
50:38 | Since Connie Walker's last Real Talk appearance, she's won a Peabody Award and a Pulitzer Prize, and she was just named to TIME's list of The 100 Most Influential People for 2024. We talk to her about the incredible global response to her "Stolen" podcast series, and what it was like to attend the TIME Gala in NYC alongside Dua Lipa, Michael J. Fox and Uma Thurman. 
WATCH CONNIE'S FIRST REAL TALK INTERVIEW IN 2022 | https://rtrj.info/071122Walker
CONNIE'S WORK: https://www.conniewalker.com/
1:28:16 | You have to see these STUNNING photos captured from the cockpit of Real Talker Jodi's plane as she flew over Slave Lake (there's an Edmonton Oilers playoff angle)! Jodi told us she thought they were perfect for Positive Reflections presented by Kuby Energy...and we agree! 
SUBMIT YOUR POSITIVE REFLECTION: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
GET A FREE SOLAR QUOTE TODAY: https://kubyenergy.ca/
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
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.

"The female version of Putin"?!?

Gabriel sounds off on 15 Minute Cities, James is nervous about the feds selling TMX, and Angela has a message for Alberta's duly-elected mayors and councillors. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park!
FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com
When you visit the DQs in Palisades, Namao, Newcastle, Westmount, and Baseline Road, tell 'em Real Talk sent you!

The Pros & Cons of UCP Bills 18 & 20

Another wild week in Alberta politics, as Premier Danielle Smith's government introduces sweeping changes to how city and town councils are elected, operate, and are held accountable. The UCP's Bill 20 opens the door for municipal political parties, restores union and corporate donations, and empowers the province to remove elected councillors (when it's "in the public interest"). Question is, are the changes good or bad for democracy? What do they mean for the average Albertan? Back by popular demand...it's our Group Chat Round Table! 
2:10 | Jenny Adams, Sarah Hamilton, and Jarrett Campbell take on municipal political parties (10:00), the return of union and corporate donations (26:05), the power to fire city councillors (29:00), Bill 18 - the Provincial Priorities Act (31:10), Pierre Poilievre's roadside photo op (34:00), and the Alberta NDP leadership race (48:30). 
57:00 | Gabriel sounds off on 15 Minute Cities, James is nervous about the feds selling TMX, and Angela has a message for Alberta's duly-elected mayors and councillors. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park!  
FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
When you visit the DQs in Palisades, Namao, Newcastle, Westmount, and Baseline Road, tell 'em Real Talk sent you! 
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
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.

Danielle Smith's Plan to Control Alberta's Cities

Are you better off with partisan politics at the local level? Will Alberta benefit from its provincial government inserting itself into funding agreements between municipalities and the feds? As Premier Danielle Smith's UCP government rolls out Bill 18 - the Provincial Priorities Act - and opens the door for municipal political parties, we ask, "What does it all mean for YOU?"
3:05 | Alberta Municipalities president Tyler Gandam and past presidents Cathy Heron and Lisa Holmes discuss how Alberta's most prominent new legislation will impact everyday service delivery and infrastructure development in communities across the province. 
LEARN MORE: https://www.abmunis.ca/news/bill-18-what-municipalities-need-know
39:15 | Lisa Holmes responds to Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton's assessment of (Lisa's boss) Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi's "defiant and aggressive" Twitter posts aimed at Premier Smith. Lisa and Cathy go on to discuss Andre Corbould's seemingly sudden departure as Edmonton city manager, security threats facing politicians and public figures, and the upcoming wildfire season.
MISSED MAYOR CLAYTON ON REAL TALK? WATCH NOW: rtrj.info/042324GP
TALK TO US: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
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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.

Don't Look Away from Gaza

Claire Porter Robbins is just back from Jerusalem, where she's been covering the Israel-Hamas war for The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and The Globe & Mail. Prior to that, she worked for Doctors Without Borders in Gaza. 
2:15 | Claire tells us about the grim state of healthcare in Gaza, including reports of mass graves at the Nasser and al-Shifa hospitals. She talks about the psychological impact of war on children, Canada's military presence in Israel/Palestine, and whether or not there's any hope for peace in the region.
CHECK OUT CLAIRE'S WORK: https://www.claireporterrobbins.com/
52:35 | Ryan reads an email from Real Talker "Selinger" about bias and opinion in interviews. 
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
1:02:25 | The Fairmont Jasper Park Golf Course opens May 10! If you're looking to get your swing ready for opening day, we've got you covered in #MyJasper Memories presented by our friends at Tourism Jasper. 
BOOK YOUR JPL GOLF GETAWAY: https://www.jaspermountaingolf.com/
1:05:15 | Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton raised more than a few eyebrows with her assessment of Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi's social media posts aimed at Premier Danielle Smith during our April 23 interview. Ryan and Johnny get into some of your feedback. 
MISSED MAYOR CLAYTON ON REAL TALK? WATCH NOW: rtrj.info/042324GP
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
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.

Replacing the RCMP

All eyes are on Grande Prairie as the northern Alberta city bids adieu to the RCMP and welcomes its own municipal police service. "GP" becomes the first Alberta city since Camrose in 1956 to introduce a new police service, and both proponents and critics of Premier Danielle Smith's plan to establish a provincial police force will be paying close attention to how the transition plays out. 
2:30 | Mayor Jackie Clayton explains the move away from the RCMP, how she thinks the Provincial Priorities Act will impact Grande Prairie (19:00), municipal political parties (26:17), GP's approach to clearing homeless encampments (34:30), cost of living and skyrocketing utilities (41:55), her take on the future of hydrogen (45:30), Premier Danielle Smith's musings about Red Deer as a city of million people (47:40), the Alberta is Calling campaign (51:00), her hesitation around "15 Minute Cities" (52:40), and the looming wildfire season (57:20). 
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE INTERVIEW: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
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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.

Can We Reverse the Damage We’ve Done to Planet Earth?

When you think of the state of Planet Earth, do you feel optimism or dread? We couldn't blame you for having a bit of a pit in your stomach, considering everything we see in the news. We humans are tough on our home planet. Is it possible to reverse the negative impacts we create, and preserve a healthy future for generations to come? In this special Earth Day episode of Real Talk, we hear about amazing research being done in Alberta that could address our plastic problem in particular (56:45), but also oil spills and other environmental catastrophes. 
2:50 | But first...federal Jobs Minister Randy Boissonnault joins Ryan in studio ahead of his address to the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce. We talk about the Canadian Hydrogen Convention, carbon capture, and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith telling Ottawa to stay in its lane re: federal funding for housing, healthcare, and research. Plus, Ryan asks Randy about the rumour a car's been parked outside his house for the past week with "Axe the Tax" signs. 
25:45 | Charles Adler tells us what he thinks the cops need to do about the protestor parked outside Minister Boissonnault's house. We talk about a protest outside Parliament over the weekend, where demonstrators chanted "October 7th, we're almost free...long live October 7th!"
56:45 | It's Earth Day! What're we going to do about our plastic problem? Microplastics are being discovered on Mount Everest, the deepest depths of the ocean, and in placentas. Athabasca University researcher Dr. Srijak Bhatnagar tells us how microbes could be a big part of the solution, and not just for plastic waste. 
LEARN MORE: https://www.athabascau.ca/news/research/microbes-environment
REAL TALK WORLD WATER DAY ROUND TABLE: rtrj.info/032124Water
1:42:20 | Our hearts are full after the Evening of Hope Gala. Ryan gives a special shout out to Real Talker AJ and everybody who's signed their organ donor card in this week's Positive Reflections presented by Kuby Renewable Energy. 
GET A FREE SOLAR QUOTE TODAY: https://kubyenergy.ca/
SEND US YOUR POSITIVE REFLECTION: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
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.