Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Cap That: Ottawa’s Controversial New Plan to Cut Emissions

Ottawa's rolled out a "strict" framework to cap oil and gas emissions, and you'll never guess what: the prairie premiers hate it. The federal Environment Minister and Jobs Minister both join us (from Dubai and Ottawa, respectively) to talk COP28, Alberta vs. the feds, Cap and trade, carbon capture tech, and plastics bans.
1:30 | But first...make sure you don't miss the Real Talk Pond Hockey Classic on Saturday, February 3, 2024! 
REGISTER TO PLAY, VOLUNTEER, OR SPONSOR: https://ryanjespersen.com/pond-hockey
3:30 | Adrienne Arsenault had CBC president Catherine Tait in the hot seat the other night. Ryan and Johnny discuss 600+ layoffs at the national broadcaster, and bigger implications. 
20:30 | Have you seen the Lincoln Project's latest hit piece on Donald Trump? 
26:40 | Real Talker "Dr. Paul" worked with a bunch of Nurse Practitioners through his career in the NICU. Ryan reads Dr. Paul's email in response to our recent Real Talk Round Table.
WATCH THAT ROUND TABLE: rtrj.info/113023RTRT
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
31:30 | Grade nine students at an Alaska high school butchered a moose in science class. Ryan and Johnny chat about it - you've got to see the photo!  
43:10 | Real Talker "Brock" takes issue with MLA Janis Irwin and some of her NDP colleagues. Ryan reads Brock's email in response to our conversation with Dave Cournoyer and Deron Bilous. 
CATCH THAT CONVO: rtrj.info/120623ABNDP
48:18 | Canada's Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steve Guilbeault joins us live from COP28 in Dubai. 
1:12:30 | Canada's Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages Randy Boissonnault joins us live from Ottawa to discuss the new federal oil and gas cap.
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WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/

The Race to Replace Rachel Notley

Despite losing the election in May, the Alberta NDP has a lot of things going for it. The party won more seats in (typically conservative) Calgary than the UCP did. It earned more total votes across the province than when it formed government in 2015. While leader Rachel Notley hasn't yet resigned, it's widely expected she'll trigger the race to replace her in the new year. So...who will it be? 
2:10 | Ryan pins down former NDP cabinet minister Deron Bilous and longtime political commentator Dave Cournoyer, insisting they name names in Dave's annual Alberta Politics Survey. 
TAKE DAVEBERTA'S ALBERTA POLITICS POLL: https://daveberta.ca/
46:15 | Before we know it, Jasper in January will be back! Ryan highlights some of this year's top draws in #MyJasper Memories presented by Tourism Jasper. 
BOOK YOUR JASPER IN JANUARY GETAWAY: https://www.jasper.travel/
49:00 | Does the Alberta NDP need to change its name? Who will the new leader be? The guys discuss what 2024 might look like for Alberta's Official Opposition. 
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
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WEBSITE: https://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.

Does Alberta Belong at COP-28?

Danielle Smith's critics say there's no way to justify Alberta sending a delegation to Dubai for the UN Climate Change Convention. Her supporters say that's where business is done, and Alberta would be foolish to miss out. In this episode of Real Talk, National Observer columnist Max Fawcett tells us where he lands, before getting into the Alberta NDP's upcoming leadership race and Pierre Poilievre's viral housing video. 
0:45 | But first...registration is open for the third annual Real Talk Pond Hockey Classic. It's sure to sell out, so don't delay! 
SIGN UP: https://ryanjespersen.com/pond-hockey
2:40 | Max Fawcett talks COP-28, the difference between Jason Kenney's UCP and Danielle Smith's UCP, the next leader of the Alberta NDP, and Pierre Poilievre's viral housing video. 
READ MAX'S WORK: https://www.nationalobserver.com/
1:01:30 | Can the leader of the federal NDP - the "socialist" party - get away with rocking a Rolex and carrying a Versace bag? Ryan and Johnny discuss Jagmeet Singh's latest optics issue. 
1:08:12 | Have you checked out the newest episode of The Discourse? Cheryl Oates and Erika Barootes field a question from one of their listeners - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.
CHECK OUT THE DISCOURSE ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@UC1WjKtBGH6U0S6HDePuLjkw 
SUBSCRIBE TO THE DISCOURSE PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-discourse/id1713385479 
EMAIL US: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
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.

A Look At How Politicians Are Spending Your Money

Ottawa's increasing tax credits for journalism outlets. Alberta's got 100 representatives at COP-28. Everybody's got an opinion on what's a wise use of your tax dollars and what's a waste. We get into both stories - and talk about return on public investment - in this episode of Real Talk.  
3:35 | The feds struck a deal with Google worth $100M/yr, but is it a win? Is the agreement a step in the right direction toward saving journalism in Canada? Dr. Michael Geist takes the politics out of the story, and gets to the straight goods. 
READ MORE: https://www.michaelgeist.ca/
29:20 | Why is Charles Adler laughing off polling showing Canadians think life would be more affordable under Pierre Poilievre? Is it hypocritical to criticize Alberta for sending a 100-person delegation to COP-28? Ryan gets into it with the Titan of Talk. 
1:01:40 | Employment is up in Alberta, DOW's got a $12B deal, and rallies against the carbon tax are gaining momentum. Alberta Chambers of Commerce president and CEO Shauna Feth shines the spotlight on Alberta business.
ALBERTA CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE: https://www.abchamber.ca/OCTOBER LABOUR FORCE STATS: https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/7124f6a2-9de2-44ec-a30b-3430aca3a4cd/resource/8aef4579-3758-4122-9313-61d7ac993969/download/tbf-labour-market-notes-2023-11.pdfSHOP LOCAL THIS HOLIDAY SEASON: https://chambermarket.ca/
1:20:40 | Thanks to Real Talker Karen for submitting this week's Positive Reflection: a heart-warming story of unlikely inter-generational roommates! 
SEND US YOUR POSITIVE REFLECTION: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
GET A FREE SOLAR QUOTE TODAY: https://kubyenergy.ca/
BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
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 Flamethrower: ”Forget AI. Let’s Fix Natural Stupidity!”

Real Talkers are all fired up about "natural stupidity," the Councillor Jennifer Rice controversy in Edmonton, political parties at the municipal level, the Alberta Pension Plan idea, and the town of Westlock voting on banning Pride flags and crosswalks. 
The Flamethrower is presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park: Palisades, Namao, Newcastle, Westmount, and Baseline Road.

Can Nurse Practitioners Heal Healthcare?

Nurse practitioners are being encouraged to open their own clinics, as part of Alberta's plan to address a growing shortage of family doctors. NPs are qualified registered nurses with additional education to take their skills to the next level. While the government's decision appears to be a no-brainer, not everybody loves it (most especially family docs). 
2:55 | Athabasca U president Dr. Alex Clark, Dr. Jennifer Knopp-Sihota, and recent graduate Chantelle Gray explain what nurse practitioners do (and don't do), address dissatisfaction expressed by the AMA, and tell us what else they'd do to fix healthcare in Alberta. 
MORE ON NP-LED CLINICS: https://www.athabascau.ca/news/faculty/faculty-of-health-disciplines/what-do-nurse-practitioner-led-clinics-mean-for-health-care-in-alberta
DR. CLARK'S OP/ED: https://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-nursing-practitioners-a-solution-hidden-in-plain-sight
OUR RECENT INTERVIEW WITH FAMILY DOC BRADLEY MARTIN: rtrj.info/111423Martin
OUR RECENT INTERVIEW WITH AMA PRESIDENT DR. PAUL PARKS: rtrj.info/110923Parks
47:10 | Ryan and Johnny read audience feedback after the Real Talk Round Table.
49:00 | Ryan revisits his comments earlier this week on homelessness, and reads a few comments from our Instagram post.
1:11:40 | WTF is Elon Musk doing? Ryan and Johnny touch on Musk telling Disney CEO Bob Iger to "G-F-Y". (Yikes!)
1:19:35 | Real Talkers are all fired up about "natural stupidity," the Councillor Jennifer Rice controversy in Edmonton, political parties at the municipal level, the Alberta Pension Plan idea, and the town of Westlock voting on banning Pride flags and crosswalks. The Flamethrower is presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park: Palisades, Namao, Newcastle, Westmount, and Baseline Road. 
FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
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.

Little Pump on the Prairie

Justin Trudeau's government is pushing heat pumps. Right around the time the Liberals paused the carbon price for home heating oil, they committed to working with provincial governments to subsidize heat pumps for lower-income Canadians. Premiers Scott Moe and Danielle Smith are the loudest critic of the plan, saying the technology isn't a serious counter to the cold of a Canadian winter. 
4:12 | Patrick McMahon has designed and managed residential retrofit rebate programs for the City of Edmonton and Energy Efficiency Alberta. Now the GM of Energuy, Patrick explains how heat pumps work, and tells us who's right: the climate activists who say heat pumps are silver bullets, or Premiers Moe and Smith, who say they're useless on the Prairies.
39:52 | There's an amazing new way to explore magnificent Maligne Canyon! Catch the details in this week's #MyJasper Memories presented by Tourism Jasper.
LEARN MORE: https://www.sundogtours.com/
42:00 | Ryan digs deeper into Danielle Smith's plan to establish a new Crown corporation. 
54:15 | Real Talker Cindy gets real about affordability challenges facing disability-impacted families.
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
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.

Power Move: Alberta Goes to War with Ottawa Over Electricity

Danielle Smith is doubling down on her defiance of Ottawa's Clean Energy Regulations. Alberta's Premier invoked the Sovereignty Act, saying she'll fight the feds in court over a mandate to get Alberta's grid to Net-Zero by 2035. Meantime, Edmonton councillor Jennifer Rice is in the hot seat after burning through 19 (!) staffers in two years in what insiders call a "tyrannical" work environment. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Oh, and new polling shows Justin Trudeau's Liberals are on pace to lose more than 100 seats in the House of Commons. 
5:15 | Charles Adler takes on all of the above, and tells us what he thinks about Alberta outlawing photo radar on ring roads. 
1:01:15 | Once-legendary publication Sports Illustrated has been exposed for straight-up lying to their readers. Ryan and Johnny talk about AI infiltrating sports journalism. 
OUR INTERVIEW W/ EDWARD TIAN ABOUT GPT Zero: https://rtrj.info/011023Tian
1:07:30 | Real Talker Jillian promised her Positive Reflections submission would make us smile...and she was right! We love how photographer Helga Stentzel uses everyday clothing to create images of faces, animals, and much more! 
CHECK OUT HELGA STENTZEL ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/helga.stentzel/?img_index=1 
SUBMIT YOUR POSITIVE REFLECTION: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
GET A FREE SOLAR QUOTE TODAY: https://kubyenergy.ca/
BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
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 Flamethrower: Pollution & Pension Plans

Pollution and pensions plans are front and centre in this fiery edition of The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! 
FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com

MIDLIFE: Middle Age in a Post-Pandemic World

Midlife is an interesting place to be. You may be caring for kids while caring for your parents. You've likely experienced love, and heartbreak, and wins, and losses. Midlife No. 2 is a collection of essays sharing Canadian reflections on critical midlife topics like housing, home, birth, death, race, identity, gruelling courses of medical treatment, and the COVID and post-COVID eras. All authored by former staffers at the University of Alberta's newspaper The Gateway. You'll hear from six of them in this special edition of our Real Talk Round Table. 
3:10 | Sarah Chan tells us how a Gondola ride got her thinking. Jhen Pabillano shares her Lessons in Letting Go. Neil Parmar muses on No Place At All. 
30:05 | Erika Thorkelson has a new take on Haunted Mansions. Dave Alexander gets deep about Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump. Neal Ozano explains how he started seeing "scrapportunities". 
BUY THE BOOK: https://www.midlifebook.ca/
58:30 | Ryan and John muse about what they just heard, including thoughts on the social pressures around alcohol. 
1:05:40 | Pollution and pensions plans are front and centre in this fiery edition of The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! 
FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
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.