Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Dr. Jody Carrington: The Loneliness Epidemic

Natural disasters like wildfires impact us in many different ways. On top of the obvious physical devastation, communities typically experience increased rates of anxiety, depression, and PTSD. This Real Talk episode with Dr. Jody Carrington is dedicated to Jasper evacuees and the people helping them, first responders, and the countless Canadians impacted by the Jasper wildfire. Later in the show, we talk about loneliness, tech, and true connection. 
3:05 | Dr. Jody Carrington has a message for Jasper evacuees, first responders, and other people affected by the wildfire. She's got advice on survivor's guilt for Real Talker Travis (33:10), who emailed talk@ryanjespersen.com. Dr. Jody's got a great perspective on how we're in the midst of a loneliness epidemic in the social media age (39:55), how algorithms harm us (46:35), monitoring screen time for individuals and families (54:00), and ADHD (59:35). 
MORE FROM DR. JODY: https://www.drjodycarrington.com/
27:50 | Jasper wildfire evacuees are still in the early stages of recovery. Our friends at Tourism Jasper have compiled some resources for those displaced, plus the many people looking for ways to help out. 
DONATE DIRECTLY TO JASPER EVACUEES: https://www.jaspercommunityteamsociety.ca/
GET YOUR "To Jasper with Love" T-SHIRT: https://nationgear.ca/products/to-jasper-with-love-t-shirt
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS EPISODE: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
Do you know a post-secondary student in Canada who's lost a parent to cancer? They could qualify to receive financial assistance from the Real Talk Julie Rohr Scholarship. Application deadline is August 1. 
APPLY FOR THE REAL TALK JULIE ROHR SCHOLARSHIP: https://ryanjespersen.com/scholarship
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
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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.

The Jasper Wildfire: EXPLAINED

We go behind the scenes of the Jasper wildfire: how did it start, why did it grow so quickly, and how did crews manage to save 60% of the town, including most of the Jasper Park Lodge? Plus, we fact check the role the mountain pine beetle played in the blaze, and learn what communities across the country need to do to prevent future disasters.
3:20 | His childhood home is gone. The church he was baptized in...gone. Parkland County Fire Chief Brian Cornforth joins us, just back from Jasper where he and his crew worked to save critical infrastructure in the town, then the Jasper Park Lodge (where his grandpa worked as a manager, and his parents met). 
FIRESMART PROGRAM: https://firesmartalberta.ca/
31:10 | Canada's preeminent wildfire expert Dr. Mike Flannigan takes us through the Jasper wildfire, from the moment it started to the aftermath. Of interest, Dr. Flannigan explains why reports referencing the mountain pine beetle are irrelevant in this particular wildfire. 
CHECK OUT DR. FLANNIGAN'S WORK: https://www.mikeflannigan.com/
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS EPISODE: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
Do you know a post-secondary student in Canada who's lost a parent to cancer? They could qualify to receive financial assistance from the Real Talk Julie Rohr Scholarship. Application deadline is August 1. 
APPLY FOR THE REAL TALK JULIE ROHR SCHOLARSHIP: https://ryanjespersen.com/scholarship
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON:   / 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.

Jeers for Tears, Olympic Drone Debacle, and "Cat Ladies" Clap Back

How do you feel about Canada's Olympic women's soccer team's cheating scandal? Surprised? Embarrassed? Or, did the team get busted doing what every competitor does: whatever it takes to win? In this episode, we ask Charles Adler where he draws the line. 
4:00 | But first...Chuck tells us what he thinks about Premier Danielle Smith's emotional news conference and subsequent comments to us about Jasper's rebuild (11:25). We cover Canada's Olympic women's soccer scandal (21:15), presidential race polling developments, and blowback around Trump running mate J.D. Vance's "cat ladies" comment (41:35). Charles Adler is presented on Real Talk by Tice Automotive Consulting. 
BUYING A VEHICLE SHOULD BE FUN: https://www.ticeautomotive.com/
1:07:50 | Real Talker Coreen found a ray of hope amidst the devastation in Jasper. She shares her "praise report" in this week's edition of Positive Reflections presented by Kuby Renewable Energy. 
SUBMIT YOUR POSITIVE REFLECTION: talk@ryanjespersen.com
GET A FREE SOLAR QUOTE: https://kubyenergy.ca/
Do you know a post-secondary student in Canada who's lost a parent to cancer? They could qualify to receive financial assistance from the Real Talk Julie Rohr Scholarship. Application deadline is August 1. 
APPLY FOR THE REAL TALK JULIE ROHR SCHOLARSHIP: https://ryanjespersen.com/scholarship
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON:   / 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.

"Poor taste. People are hurting. Let them grieve!"

Martin says it's time to politicize wildfires, while Brad says that's "incredibly poor taste". Two different takes responding to the Jasper wildfire in this week's edition of (sorry) The Flamethrower presented by our good friends at 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!

Jasper Wildfire: The Immediate Aftermath

One of Canada's crown jewels sustained devastating damage on July 24, as wildfire tore though the beloved mountain town of Jasper. In this episode, with firefighters still battling the blaze, we speak with evacuees, an extreme weather expert, a veteran fire chief, and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. 
2:37 | Jasper town councillor Wendy Hall joins us from a cabin near Valemount just hours after losing her home in the fire. 
12:30 | Extreme weather expert and former wildland firefighter Kyle Brittain explains how the Jasper wildfire spread so quickly, ultimately generating its own lightning storm. 
CHECK OUT KYLE'S WORK: 
25:00 | Jamie Coutts was Slave Lake's fire chief when the town was levelled by wildfire in 2011. He gets real about why these fires happen, and who's responsible. 
37:45 | Tyler Riopel, CEO of Tourism Jasper, has a message for his fellow Jasper residents and business owners. 
FOLLOW TOURISM JASPER ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/tourismjasper
43:37 | Real Talker Cyrus has us a bit misty-eyed with his Ode to Jasper. 
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com
48:20 | Premier Danielle Smith got emotional during a media availability about the Jasper wildfire. We take a look. 
50:30 | Premier Smith joins Ryan from the road en route to Hinton, about 45 minutes east of Jasper. 
1:03:10 | Ryan and Johnny debrief, and touch on public criticism around Premier Smith's emotional news conference. 
1:07:20 | Jasper's a very special place for the Jespersen family. Ryan shares a few of his most memorable moments. 
1:13:30 | We drop into our YouTube live chat to see what Real Talkers are saying about Jasper.
1:26:00 | Why did the Jasper wildfire spread so quickly? Who's responsible? What role may the mountain pine beetle play in all this? We look at some of the questions people are asking.
1:28:30 | Martin says it's time to politicize wildfires, while Brad says that's "incredibly poor tastes". Two different takes responding to the Jasper wildfire in this week's edition of (sorry) The Flamethrower presented by our good friends at 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! 
Do you know a post-secondary student in Canada who's lost a parent to cancer? They could qualify to receive financial assistance from the Real Talk Julie Rohr Scholarship. Application deadline is August 1. 
APPLY FOR THE REAL TALK JULIE ROHR SCHOLARSHIP: https://ryanjespersen.com/scholarship
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON:   / 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 Kamala Harris win? Will Danielle Smith survive?

It's a whole new ball game now that Joe Biden's out. Does Kamala Harris have what it takes to knock off Donald Trump and keep the Democrats in charge? Closer to home, could Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's goose be cooked with this hockey ticket controversy? 
4:30 | Charles Adler tells us how he thinks the presidential race changes with Biden pulling out, what a Harris candidacy means for the Democrats and America as a whole, why JD Vance misses the mark as Trump's running mate (30:00), and why the latest headlines around Danielle Smith could inflict permanent damage on her political career (39:40). Charles Adler is presented on Real Talk by Tice Automotive Consulting. 
BUYING A VEHICLE SHOULD BE FUN: https://www.ticeautomotive.com/
51:00 | Wyatt Sharpe joins us live from the White House with insights on Kamala Harris "snubbing" Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, the youth vote, and more. 
CHECK OUT THE WYATT SHARPE SHOW: https://www.youtube.com/@thewyattsharpeshow
1:05:30 | The Edmonton Oilers have added another controversial figure to the mix, hiring Stan Bowman as the team's general manager. Ryan and Johnny discuss the cost vs. potential payoff. 
1:16:30 | Jasper's under an evacuation order as a wildfire threatens the town. We update the situation. 
MORE INFO ON THE JASPER WILDFIRE: https://linktr.ee/tourismjasper
1:20:40 | Ryan's beloved pup Moses crossed the Rainbow Bridge on July 22. We celebrate the beautiful impact our pets have on our lives in this edition of Positive Reflections presented by Kuby Energy. 
WHAT'S YOUR POSITIVE REFLECTION? talk@ryanjespersen.com 
GET A FREE SOLAR QUOTE: https://kubyenergy.ca/
Do you know a post-secondary student in Canada who's lost a parent to cancer? They could qualify to receive financial assistance from the Real Talk Julie Rohr Scholarship. Application deadline is August 1. 
APPLY FOR THE REAL TALK JULIE ROHR SCHOLARSHIP: https://ryanjespersen.com/scholarship
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON:   / 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.

"An Inch Away from Civil War!"

The Sco's at odds with Adler, Paul cracks on our coverage, Kyle's angry at the liberals and "so-called centrists," and Merrick the Red Headed Prick says moral decay isn't limited to lefties. Real Talkers are alllllll fired up in this all-Trump edition of The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park!
FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com
When you beat the heat by grabbing a Blizzard at the DQs in Palisades, Namao, Newcastle, Westmount, and Baseline Road, be sure to tell 'em Real Talk sent you!

Senator Paula Simons' Expenses Revealed!

Before she became a Canadian Senator, Paula Simons was an investigative journalist and National Newspaper Award-winning columnist. It's clear she approaches accountability around her role in the Red Chamber differently than most of her colleagues. Right out of the gates in this must-watch episode, Senator Simons opens up her own expense reports, talks about her Senate salary, and confronts her critics in the Real Talk live chat. 
2:10 | Senator Simons talks supply managment and free trade, food security and soil, Medical Assistance in Dying, Joe Biden and Donald Trump, municipalities vs. provinces, and more in her signature candid fashion. 
PAULA'S ALBERTA VIEWS PIECE ON SOIL: https://albertaviews.ca/the-real-dirt-land/
Save 50% off a one-year subscription to Alberta Views with the promo code AVRJ! 
"CRITICAL GROUND" - SENATE REPORT ON SOIL: https://rtrj.info/071924CriticalGround
1:14:30 | The Sco's at odds with Adler, Paul cracks on our coverage, Kyle's angry at the liberals and "so-called centrists," and Merrick the Red Headed Prick says moral decay is alive and well. Real Talkers are alllllll fired up in this all-Trump edition of The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! 
FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
When you beat the heat by grabbing a Blizzard at the DQs in Palisades, Namao, Newcastle, Westmount, and Baseline Road, be sure to tell 'em Real Talk sent you! 
Do you know a post-secondary student in Canada who's lost a parent to cancer? They could qualify to receive financial assistance from the Real Talk Julie Rohr Scholarship. Application deadline is August 1. 
APPLY FOR THE REAL TALK JULIE ROHR SCHOLARSHIP: https://ryanjespersen.com/scholarship
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON:   / 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.

MAID To Order: More Canadians Choosing Assisted Death Every Year

Has someone close to you chosen a medically-assisted death? The total number of Canadians requesting MAID rises 30% or so every year, accounting for just over 4% of all deaths in Canada in 2022. While concerns remain - including implications for people living with mental health challenges, severe disabilities, or in extreme poverty - MAID appears to be accepted by the general public as a relatively uncontroversial end of life decision. Is it? We get into it with National Post columnist Tristin Hopper in this episode of Real Talk. 
0:45 | But first...what do vaccines have to do with a family doctor shortage across the country? Probably nothing...but Ryan's noticing a trend in the responses to our July 17 episode with Alberta Medical Association president Dr. Paul Parks. 
WATCH THAT EPISODE: rtrj.info/071724HEALTHCARE
9:20 | Did you catch our show about workplace fatalities in Canada? Real Talker Erin writes in with just a few examples of unsafe scenarios she's encountered on the job. 
WATCH THAT EPISODE: rtrj.info/062724HRO
TELL US YOUR STORY: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
16:15 | National Post commentator Tristin Hopper talks MAID, Canada's family doc crunch, Trump's attempted assassination (and his VP pick JD Vance), metric vs. imperial, and his obsession with estate sales in Victoria, B.C.
1:05:11 | Do you know a post-secondary student in Canada who's lost a parent to cancer? They could qualify to receive financial assistance from the Real Talk Julie Rohr Scholarship. Application deadline is August 1. 
APPLY FOR THE REAL TALK JULIE ROHR SCHOLARSHIP: https://ryanjespersen.com/scholarship
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - 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 Alberta Disadvantage: Health Care Crisis Explained

Good luck finding a family doctor if you live in Alberta, let alone getting an MRI, surgery, or cancer care right when you need it. Health care professionals are leaving in droves, thousands of patients are stuck on waitlists, and some rural communities are declaring a state of local health care crisis. In this episode of Real Talk, we find out how Alberta wound up in this mess, and whether or not it can be cleaned up. 
2:45 | Dr. Paul Parks, an ER doctor and president of the Alberta Medical Association, tells us why the health care system is "as bad as it's ever been," and how it can be fixed. 
THE AMA: https://www.albertadoctors.org/
49:00 | There's a new culinary hot spot in Jasper! We shine the spotlight on the fabulous Peacock Cork and Fork in #MyJasper Memories presented by Tourism Jasper. 
51:30 | How does our health care delivery model stack up internationally? Ryan and Dr. Parks take a look at the world's top performers, and what might work in Canada. 
BOOK YOUR RESO: https://thepeacockjasper.com/
LEARN MORE ABOUT JASPER: https://www.jasper.travel/
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON:   / 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.