Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Fight For Your Right (Not) To Party!

Have you been paying attention to what's going on in Alberta? Premier Danielle Smith's government is kinda sorta rolling out a provincial police force, and paving the way for municipal political parties. But is that what's best for Albertans? 
4:10 | Alberta Municipalities president Tyler Gandam and director Tanya Thorn shoot straight on the proposed provincial police force, Alberta's crumbling infrastructure, and the plan to infuse a party system into municipal politics. 
CHECK OUT ALBERTA MUNICIPALITIES: https://www.abmunis.ca/
1:23:05 | This edition of The Flamethrower is a healthy mix of love letters and hate mail based on our recent Justin Trudeau and Danielle Smith interviews. Enjoy, courtesy of our friends at The Dairy Queens of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! 
FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
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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.

WATER WARS: The Fight for Our Most Valuable Natural Resource

Is there anything more important to human survival than water? Water is everything - without it, ecosystems, industry, and individuals would die. So, why don't we talk about it more? In this episode of Real Talk, we examine the past, present, and future of water use (and conservation) in our own backyards and beyond.
2:45 | Canadians are bracing for the worst drought we've seen in 50 years. We've seen "100 year floods" more than once over the last decade. There are more draws on our water resources than ever before. Are we setting ourselves up for catastrophe? Dr. Mark Summers, Dr. Scott Ketcheson, and Andre Asselin join our Real Talk Round Table: World Water Day edition. 
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
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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.

Backroom Political Conspiracy Exposed!

Leaked documents show a direct link between Take Back Alberta, the Recall Gondek campaign, and the push for municipal political parties in Alberta. What does it mean for you? We dig into it in this episode of Real Talk. 
3:10 | Political scientist Dr. Duane Bratt connects the dots on our top story, then breaks down the NDP leadership race in light of Gil McGowan's pending announcement, and discusses MP Anthony Housefather's future with the federal Liberals after the Palestine vote.
CHECK OUT ART IS...SNEAKERHEAD EDITION (MARCH 23) -- https://momentsbymorrel.com/product/art-is/
1:03:00 | The Jasper SkyTram opens Friday, March 22! You've got to see this drone-captured video from our friends at Tourism Jasper in #MyJasper Memories.
CHECK OUT THE SKYTRAM: https://www.jasperskytram.com/
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
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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.

Should Canada Clamp Down on the Sex Trade?

Should prostitution be outlawed in Canada? Canadians are split on the issue: some believe sex work should be legalized, regulated, and taxed, while others say it's exploitation, and it needs to be stopped. Andrea Heinz sold sex for seven years before going in a completely different direction. Today, she's an author, filmmaker, and activist against sexual exploitation. 
2:25 | Andrea explains how she got into and out of the sex trade, what fuels her activism, and what she'd like to see lawmakers do about the sex trade in Canada.
ANDREA'S BOOK: https://www.whenmenbuysex.ca/
Follow Andrea on Twitter: @heinzsight2020 
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
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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

Pierre Poilievre: Poverty Fighter or Phony Bologna?

Pierre Poilievre wants BC Premier David Eby to join his fight against the carbon tax. Eby declines, citing Poilievre's "bologna politics". Poilievre fires back, suggesting Eby doesn't understand British Columbians can't even afford bologna. (No matter how you feel about bologna, you've gotta love the word play...)
3:03 | We ask Charles Adler if Poilievre can convince the public he's Canada's top poverty fighter - hasn't that been the NDP's whole schtick? But we lead off with the story of a woman scoffing at the "true North strong and free" O Canada lyric during a recent NHL game. What's with the "Freedom fighter" movement these days? Grifters like Jamie Sale and Theo Fleury are still at it...but what freedoms are they being denied? Oh, and was anybody else surprised the Prime Minister told a Radio-Canada reporter he thinks about quitting every day? Could there be political ramifications for such an off-the-cuff comment? 
48:30 | Erin Davis joins us in studio just hours after returning from New York City, where she served as a delegate at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Don't miss her reality check on how extreme poverty continues to pin down 10% of the world's women and girls. Erin also shares her thoughts on DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) efforts here at home - the hits and the misses. 
ERIN'S WORK: https://www.erindavisco.ca/
RYAN'S 2008 ETHIOPIA MINISERIES: https://rtrj.info/2009WomenandWealth
1:27:55 | "Grace, Forgiveness, and Hope." Ryan's dad - Dr. Bruce Jespersen - shares a perspective on a very tough subject we thought you'd appreciate in this week's Positive Reflections presented by Kuby Energy. 
SUBMIT YOUR POSITIVE REFLECTION: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
GET A FREE SOLAR QUOTE TODAY: https://kubyenergy.ca/
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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.

This Francophone's All Fired Up!

Inspired by Edify's annual Best Restaurants issue, we talk about the business of food in this episode of Real Talk. What's the secret to creating an iconic dish? How have customers changed, post-pandemic? Does Instagram influence menu and restaurant design? How do you navigate labour and supply uncertainty? Will restaurants still be around in 50 years? 
2:32 | Miles Quon from legendary Chinese restaurant The Lingnan, Ben Staley from sister restaurants Dorinku Tokyo and Dorinku Osaka, and Tyler Sorochan from (the wood-fired) Barbacoa steakhouse take us behind the scenes and share the secrets to their success.
GET TICKETS FOR APRIL 8: https://tickets.edifyedmonton.com/best-restaurants-2024/
1:02:52 | Kyle's sick of "Liberal and lefty lies," Randi's spittin' truth about healthcare in BC, "Grumpy Canadian" is fed up lab services in Alberta, and Erin has a strongly-worded message for Anglophones in Canada - it's The Flamethrower presented by our friends at the Dairy Queens 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, make sure you tell 'em Real Talk sent you! 
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
GET YOUR FREE REAL TALK SOCKS! 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 Secrets Behind the Most Successful Restaurants

Inspired by Edify's annual Best Restaurants issue, we talk about the business of food in this episode of Real Talk. What's the secret to creating an iconic dish? How have customers changed, post-pandemic? Does Instagram influence menu and restaurant design? How do you navigate labour and supply uncertainty? Will restaurants still be around in 50 years? 
2:32 | Miles Quon from legendary Chinese restaurant The Lingnan, Ben Staley from sister restaurants Dorinku Tokyo and Dorinku Osaka, and Tyler Sorochan from (the wood-fired) Barbacoa steakhouse take us behind the scenes and share the secrets to their success.
GET TICKETS FOR APRIL 8: https://tickets.edifyedmonton.com/best-restaurants-2024/
1:02:52 | Kyle's sick of "Liberal and lefty lies," Randi's spittin' truth about healthcare in BC, "Grumpy Canadian" is fed up lab services in Alberta, and Erin has a strongly-worded message for Anglophones in Canada - it's The Flamethrower presented by our friends at the Dairy Queens 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, make sure you tell 'em Real Talk sent you! 
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
GET YOUR FREE REAL TALK SOCKS! 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.

EXCLUSIVE: Premier Danielle Smith

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith joins us in the Real Talk studio just hours after meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. 
1:37 | What did the PM say when Smith asked him to fire Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault? Did they make any progress on pharmacare? What's Premier Smith's response to Naheed Nenshi calling her "immoral"? Why didn't her government work harder to keep its promise on income tax cuts? What's the UCP's plan to clean up Alberta's abandoned wells? What's up with continued coal mining in the Rockies? Is Premier Smith concerned about the Red Deer Catholic School board banning pronouns in emails and Pride flags? And, what did she say to set Take Back Alberta's David Parker straight? Danielle Smith takes our questions - and yours - during a half hour interview. 
38:21 | Political columnist Graham Thomson and former Calgary councillor Jeromy Farkas fact check our interview with Premier Smith, and tell us what most resonated with them. 
1:19:05 | Is there still a stigma around skilled trades? Ryan and Johnny get into a couple emails after our March 13 conversation about post-secondary education and career paths. 
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
GET YOUR FREE REAL TALK SOCKS! 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.

Alberta Speaks: Your Questions for Premier Danielle Smith

We're not exaggerating when we claim the most engaged talk show audience in the country. Every day, hundreds if not thousands of you comment on our YouTube episodes, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok posts, not to mention the mountain of emails to talk@ryanjespersen.com. Look no further than today's episode. We asked you to send us your questions for Premier Danielle Smith, and did you ever deliver! You've got a front row seat as we open up our inbox for a look at what matters most to Albertans right now. 
9:55 | But first...Naheed Nenshi pulled no punches during his March 12 appearance on Real Talk. Ryan takes a look at what the former Calgary mayor's critics have to say in our Instagram comments.
23:30 | Charles Adler called the Alberta NDP "soft" during our March 12 episode. Is he right? 
30:05 | Did you check out our March 7 episode about "wokeness" in Canada with Eric Kaufmann and Chief Allan Adam? Ryan reads a couple emails taking issue with the conversation around residential schools. 
WATCH THAT EPISODE: https://rtrj.info/030724Kaufmann
38:20 | We've got hundreds of messages to choose from, after a whole bunch of you answered the bell and emailed your questions for Premier Danielle Smith. What a great opportunity to truly understand the issues that matter most to so many of you. Ryan and Johnny open up the Real Talk inbox...
EMAIL US: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
57:35 | Ryan shares some personal memories from his family's recent getaway to Jasper. #MyJasper Memories is presented by our friends at Tourism Jasper every Wednesday on Real Talk! 
VENTURE BEYOND: https://www.jasper.travel/
1:24:15 | Our friends at Lady Wood want to send you and your ladies to the Real Talk Golf Classic! Ryan shares details on how you and your ladies can win your way into The Ranch G&CC on Thursday, June 20.
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
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GET YOUR FREE REAL TALK SOCKS! 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.

Nenshi Launches Alberta NDP Leadership Bid with a BANG!

"Incompetent, immoral, and dangerous." There's no room for misinterpreting how Naheed Nenshi feels about Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and her UCP government. The former Calgary mayor launched his Alberta NDP leadership campaign with an indictment of Smith's performance (and integrity) - will NDP supporters see him as the best bet to win the next election? 
2:40 | Charles Adler tells us why he thinks Nenshi's candidacy is "the most fascinating political story in Canada."
35:40 | (The bilingual) Naheed Nenshi tells us why he thinks the NDP lost the election in May 2023, whether the party needs a rebrand, what he makes of "damaged goods" criticism in Calgary, how he'd win over rural voters, and what he'd do for small business. 
CHECK OUT HIS CAMPAIGN: https://nenshi.ca/
1:04:42 | We laughed out loud when Stephen sent us this video of a black bear taking a soak! It's a perfect fit for Positive Reflections presented by Kuby Renewable Energy. 
SEND US YOUR POSITIVE REFLECTION: talk@ryanjespersen.com
GET A FREE SOLAR QUOTE: 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.