Episodes

Saturday Sep 27, 2025
"She Says One Thing (and Does Another)!"
Saturday Sep 27, 2025
Saturday Sep 27, 2025
Real Talker Gordon is so fired up about the UCP's school library book ban that he wrote a song about it. For the first time ever, we present an original tune as this week's 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, be sure to tell 'em Real Talk sent you!
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: @ryanjespersen
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: 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.

Wednesday Sep 24, 2025
EXCLUSIVE: Bif Naked Live in Studio
Wednesday Sep 24, 2025
Wednesday Sep 24, 2025
She's Canadian punk royalty. A fearless, unapologetic icon. An activist. A survivor. And an incredible human being. We welcome Bif Naked and producer Adam Scorgie to the Real Talk studio (2:30) in the historic Mercer Warehouse ahead of the Edmonton Film Festival premiere of a new documentary chronicling her remarkable life.
GET TICKETS TO BIF NAKED at EIFF: https://2025eiff.eventive.org/films/689b7c33db2368453d0eebc5
1:06:00 | There's no better place to see the stars than Jasper National Park. We've got details ahead of the fifteenth Jasper Dark Sky Festival in this week's #MyJasper Memories presented by our friends at Tourism Jasper.
LEARN MORE: https://www.jasperdarksky.travel/
1:18:00 | Jespo and Johnny debrief on the Bif Naked interview and Jimmy Kimmel's return to late night. We celebrate the life and mourn the loss of a dear friend of the show, Dr. Darren Markland.
1:42:00 | Real Talker Gordon is so fired up about the UCP's school library book ban that he wrote a song about it. For the first time ever, we present an original tune as this week's 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, be sure to tell 'em Real Talk sent you!
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: @ryanjespersen
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: 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.

Tuesday Sep 23, 2025
Big Lead in YYC Mayor Race / Did Carney Lie to Us?
Tuesday Sep 23, 2025
Tuesday Sep 23, 2025
Prominent firearms lawyer Ian Runkle says Prime Minister Mark Carney lied to us about the government's gun buyback program. In this episode, we welcome the host of the popular "Runkle of the Bailey" YouTube channel (39:00) to clarify where he says the PM isn't shooting straight.
5:00 | But first...new polling shows one horse pulling away from all the others in the race to be Calgary's next mayor. 338 Canada's Philippe Fournier lays out how mayoral campaigns are resonating with voters in Calgary and Edmonton. We get into national polling on Mark Carney's minority government, Pierre Poilievre ahead of a January leadership review, and how Canadians feel about our future relationship with the United States.
READ MORE: https://www.338canada.ca/
33:00 | Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the province won't cooperate with the feds in any sort of firearm confiscation. Prime Minister Mark Carney says nobody's confiscating anything. We set the table for our conversation with Ian Runkle.
39:00 | Criminal defence (and firearms) attorney Ian Runkle says the PM lied in his Real Talk interview on September 10. We get into it in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West.
WATCH THE CARNEY INTERVIEW: https://rtrj.info/091025PMCarney
CHECK OUT IAN'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@UCUVdcsH5X1a76V1-KnF3heA
MBEW: https://www.mercedes-benz-edmontonwest.ca/
1:33:30 | Jespo and Johnny debrief with ammo (ha) from the Real Talk Live Chat powered by Park Power.
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com
SAVE on INTERNET, ELECTRICITY, and NATURAL GAS: https://parkpower.ca/realtalk/
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: @ryanjespersen
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: 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.

Monday Sep 22, 2025
UFC at the White House // Palestine // Sonya Sharp
Monday Sep 22, 2025
Monday Sep 22, 2025
Donald Trump will host a UFC event on the South Lawn of the White House in July (2:00). Canada will officially recognize the State of Palestine (6:00). Separatism sentiments are flaring up again in Quebec (19:00), and RCMP have intercepted another group trying to cross the Canada-U.S. border into that province (24:30). We get into all the top stories with Supriya Dwivedi in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West.
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com
29:30 | Did you see what Kamala Harris wrote in her new memoir about wanting to choose Pete Buttigieg as her 2024 running mate? Supriya has a message for Democrats ahead of 2028.
40:00 | Sonya Sharp wants to be Calgary's next mayor. She defines the "ballot box question" ahead of October 20, and tells us how the city would operate differently if she had the top job.
CHECK OUT SONYA'S CAMPAIGN: https://sharpformayor.ca/
1:19:30 | The Real Talk family suffered a tragic loss when a beloved guest and friend of the show died in a mountain bike crash. Ryan speaks from the heart in a personal edition of Positive Reflections presented by Solar by Kuby.
GET A FREE SOLAR QUOTE: https://kuby.ca/
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: @ryanjespersen
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: 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.

Saturday Sep 20, 2025
"How Much Did They Pay You to Deceive Us, Ryan??"
Saturday Sep 20, 2025
Saturday Sep 20, 2025
Wayne has a word of warning for podcasters, Ross says Jimmy Kimmel deserves his fate, Robert has words of warning about a "both sides" approach, "29 Tilers," Edward, and Peter are pissed about Jespo's interview with the Prime Minister, and Kayne says it's time to put on your poppy.
It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park!
FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.comWhen you visit the DQs in Palisades, Namao, Newcastle, Westmount, and Baseline Road, be sure to tell 'em Real Talk sent you!
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: @ryanjespersenREAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: 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.

Friday Sep 19, 2025
TFWs, CDA/MX Deal, Alberta & Notwithstanding Clause
Friday Sep 19, 2025
Friday Sep 19, 2025
Are Temporary Foreign Workers standing in the way of Canadians finding work? As premiers of different political stripes call for an overhaul to Canada's TFW program, former Notley NDP cabinet minister Shannon Phillips and Pierre Poilievre's former communications director Ben Woodfinden (2:40) hash it out on Real Talk in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West.
MBEW: https://www.mercedes-benz-edmontonwest.ca/
We analyze Liberal vs. Conservative approaches to immigration policy, and how effective "anger" can be in advancing political priorities (26:00). Stick around for healthy debate on Canada's new trade agreement with Mexico (32:00), Alberta's plan to invoke the Notwithstanding Clause on three transgender laws (38:30), and citizenship markers on driver's licenses (47:00).
MORE on SHANNON and BEN'S WORK: https://mbpolicy.com/
54:00 | Wayne has a word of warning for podcasters, Ross says Jimmy Kimmel deserves his fate, Robert has words of warning about a "both sides" approach, "29 Tilers," Edward, and Peter are pissed about Jespo's interview with the Prime Minister, and Kayne says it's time to put on your poppy. 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, be sure to tell 'em Real Talk sent you!
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: @ryanjespersen
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: 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.

Thursday Sep 18, 2025
MAGA Critic Jimmy Kimmel Suspended
Thursday Sep 18, 2025
Thursday Sep 18, 2025
Popular late night TV host Jimmy Kimmel is off the air after delivering a monologue on the Charlie Kirk murder suspect and MAGA. President Donald Trump is crowing, typical "cancel culture" critics are celebrating, and free speech defenders are sounding the alarm. Where is all this headed?
4:00 | Max Fawcett, lead columnist at Canada's National Observer, calls it how he sees it. We get into how Max thinks Canadians should respond to Charlie Kirk's assassination (42:00), and why he thinks Chrystia Freeland is the best Prime Minister Canada Never Had (45:00).
56:20 | Both PM Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith are talking "Grand Bargain". Max tells us whether or not an open letter from oil and gas CEOs to the PM will effectively influence Canada's emissions and project approval policies. We wrap with a quick chat about Alberta's plan to include citizenship data on drivers' licenses (1:01:30).
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com
1:09:00 | Interest rates are down a quarter-point. What does that say about the economy? Marshall McAlister of North Road Investment Counsel gives us his informed take. Stick around for story time as Jespo shares details of his nightmare self-advised investments, and Marshall brings us up to speed on the smartest way to set yourself up for retirement.
NORTH ROAD INVESTMENT COUNSEL: https://www.northroadic.com/
1:31:45 | Here's to all the volunteers! We celebrate the heartbeat of our home province in this week's edition of Alberta Wins presented by Play Alberta.
DOWNLOAD THE PLAY ALBERTA APP: https://playalberta.ca/
1:34:30 | The 25 highest-paid TV hosts in the US are making more than a half-billion dollars this year. Jespo and Johnny see what Real Talkers have to say about the Jimmy Kimmel story, as shared in our Real Talk Live Chat powered by Park Power.
SAVE on INTERNET, ELECTRICITY, and NATURAL GAS: https://parkpower.ca/realtalk/
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: @ryanjespersen
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: 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.

Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
Election “Underdogs” Omar Mohammad & Brian Thiessen
Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
Polling tells part, but not all, of an election story. It's not entirely unusual for a perceived "underdog" to surprise on Election Day, having captured lightning in a bottle at exactly the right time and mobilized their supporters to get out and vote. In this episode, we connect with Edmonton mayoral candidate Dr. Omar Mohammed (1:30) and Brian Thiessen (41:45) to hear their visions for Alberta's two biggest cities.
OMAR'S YEG CAMPAIGN: https://www.omar4mayor.ca/
BRIAN'S YYC CAMPAIGN: https://www.vote4brian.ca/
36:15 | It's "shoulder season" in Jasper, which means it's a perfect time of year to visit the national park. Jespo shares some of his favourite fall activities in this week's #MyJasper Memories presented by our friends at Tourism Jasper.
JASPER MOTORCYCLE TOURS: https://jaspermotorcycletours.com/
JASPER DARK SKY FESTIVAL: https://www.jasperdarksky.travel/
TOURISM JASPER: https://www.jasper.travel/
1:16:00 | Jespo and Johnny debrief after our special episode on September 16 featuring YOUCAN Youth Services.
WATCH THAT SHOW: https://rtrj.info/091625YOUCAN
YOUCAN: https://youcan.ca/
1:34:15 | Have you been paying attention to Alberta's plan to include citizenship information on drivers' licenses? We take a first look at the policy, including what Real Talkers have to say in our Live Chat powered by Park Power.
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com
SAVE on INTERNET, ELECTRICITY, and NATURAL GAS: https://parkpower.ca/realtalk/
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: @ryanjespersen
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: 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.

Tuesday Sep 16, 2025
Relentless Outreach, Remarkable Transformations
Tuesday Sep 16, 2025
Tuesday Sep 16, 2025
YOUCAN Youth Services is literally changing lives. In this special episode of Real Talk, we shine a light on this remarkable organization helping young people out of harm's way and onto a path of economic independence.
CONNECT WITH YOUCAN: https://youcan.ca/
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: @ryanjespersen
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: 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.

Monday Sep 15, 2025
Parliament Resumes: Here's What to Keep An Eye On
Monday Sep 15, 2025
Monday Sep 15, 2025
With the consumer carbon tax gone and the EV mandate already paused, where will Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives hammer PM Mark Carney's Liberals as Parliament resumes? Supriya Dwivedi's got her eye on the top political storylines (2:00). Plus, we review new developments in the Charlie Kirk murder investigation, and discuss how the conservative organizer's assassination is influencing political discourse on both sides of the border. Feature interviews on Real Talk are presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West.
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com
MBEW: https://www.mercedes-benz-edmontonwest.ca/
1:02:00 | Jespo and Johnny debrief on the Rachel Gilmore/Andrew Scheer dust-up and review Morgan Wallen's back-to-back Commonwealth Stadium shows.
The episode wraps with a fantastic message from Real Talker Joshua in Newfoundland about how Alberta changed his life. Positive Reflections is presented weekly on Real Talk by our friends at Solar by Kuby.
GET A FREE SOLAR QUOTE:
SUBMIT YOUR POSITIVE REFLECTION: talk @ryanjespersen
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: @ryanjespersen
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: 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.