Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Is Airbnb To Blame for the Housing Crisis?

Canada's got an affordable housing crisis. Nobody can argue that. But is cracking down on short-term rentals like Airbnbs the right solution? The federal government is considering it as part of a bigger-picture plan. What ripple effects should homeowners and real estate investors expect? 
11:15 | Ryan's not sure it's the right move. We take a look at what Real Talkers are saying in the YouTube live chat.
36:00 | Half of 13,000 post-secondary students polled say they've experienced sexual or gender-based violence on campus. Student leaders are demanding action. Our Real Talk Round Table features Rachele Preston from the University of Lethbridge, Prabhjit Grewal from Mount Royal University, and Chris Beasley from the University of Alberta.
LEARN MORE: https://www.caus.net/news/2023/8/30/students-demand-action-on-sexual-violence-prevention
1:07:20 | Ryan revisits his mental health quiz from our October 5 episode, which revealed the potential for a "major depressive episode". 
COUNSELLING ALBERTA: https://www.counsellingalberta.com/
1:18:05 | Real Talkers sound off on Nazis in the House of Commons, political posturing, an Alberta Pension Plan, coal mining in the Rockies, and leaf blowers (!) in this week's edition of Trash Talk! 
SUBMIT YOUR RANT: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
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WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrjTWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/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.

Alberta’s Ugly Addiction: How We Profit From People’s Pain

We're talk mental health and addiction today...DON'T SCROLL PAST! We get it...it's uncomfortable subject matter. But we guarantee you'll learn something (and maybe even save yourself) by checking out this extended-length episode of Real Talk. 
3:25 | But first...Ryan opens the show with a few thoughts about Wab Kinew and the NDP's big victory in Manitoba. How does it change the political dynamic across the Prairies, and how do the PCs begin their brand rehabilitation? 
11:10 | It's National Depression Screening Day. Sarah Rosenfeld from the Calgary Counselling Centre explains why screening is so important, even if you feel like everything's fine. Ryan takes a quick quiz live on the show, and is surprised by the result. 
TAKE THE QUIZ: https://areyoufeelingok.com/
37:20 | Why are we okay with funding schools and kids sports on the backs of gambling addicts? Recovering gambler Andree Busenius and Alberta Views Editor Evan Osenton dig into Alberta's ugly addiction. 
SUBSCRIBE TO ALBERTA VIEWS for 50% off with the promo code AVRJ: https://albertaviews.ca/
1:47:23 | The Jasper Dark Sky Festival is fast approaching! We shine a light on a few of the highlights through the first weekend of this amazing annual event in #MyJasper Memories presented by Tourism Jasper. 
BOOK YOUR JASPER GETAWAY: https://www.jasperdarksky.travel/
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrjTWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/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.

Alberta Pension Plan: A Brilliant or Bone-Headed Idea?

Do you have a strong opinion on the proposed Alberta Pension Plan? It's leading national news headlines, as the Alberta government is asking citizens to chime in on the idea. In this episode of Real Talk, we get a couple different perspectives so you can make an informed decision. 
3:40 | Canadians have come to trust Dr. Trevor Tombe's informed, non-partisan takes on economic matters. The University of Calgary economist explains why the UCP's Alberta Pension Plan idea is "full of holes".
READ TREVOR'S COLUMN: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-albertas-pension-plan-idea-is-full-of-holes/
DIG EVEN DEEPER: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4576950
46:00 | NDP MLA Shannon Phillips tells us why she thinks the APP is "a monumentally stupid idea". The Official Opposition Finance Critic also tells us how she thinks the government should respond to skyrocketing electricity costs and a devastating death toll due to drug poisonings. 
1:12:00 | Do you have your Halloween costume picked out? Johnny takes us through some of the top themes for 2023. 
1:16:23 | Real Talker Tina D. has lots to say about our conversation with Charles Adler about the former Nazi SS soldier applauded in the House of Commons. Tina takes us back to the early 1930s in famine-ravaged Ukraine, and really gets us thinking. 
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrjTWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/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.

Canadian MPs Salute Nazi SS Soldier. Who’s Responsible?

Our elected MPs gave a former Nazi SS soldier a standing ovation in the House of Commons. Alberta wants to pull out of the Canada Pension Plan. Manitoba's PC Party is making some mind-boggling moves just days before an election. We've got a lot to talk about in this episode of Real Talk! 
2:55 | Who should be most embarrassed by 300 or so federal MPs standing to applaud a former Nazi SS soldier? What prompted the Manitoba PCs to run bone-headed billboards days away from an election? Charles Adler gives us his Canadian Common Sense. 
33:50 | What do Alberta businesses need to not just survive, but thrive? What can we read into the latest GDP and population growth numbers? What will entrepreneurs and Chambers be watching this fall legislative session? Alberta Chambers of Commerce President and CEO Shauna Feth joins Ryan in studio to shine the spotlight on Alberta business. 
CHECK OUT AB CHAMBERS ONLINE: https://www.abchamber.ca/
1:02:52 | The entire country's watching Alberta's move toward a provincial pension plan. Ryan shares a few thoughts at this early point in the campaign. 
1:08:50 | We're all so sorry to hear of Chris Snow's passing. Ryan and Johnny reflect on our conversation with Chris' wife Kelsie, host of the "Sorry, I'm Sad" podcast. 
WATCH OUR INTERVIEW WITH KELSIE SNOW: https://www.youtube.com/live/vsemtZW-H4U?si=idBoIpyJF0pDEKpe&t=2392
SUPPORT THE SNOW FAMILY: https://www.gofundme.com/f/234ds-help-the-snow-family
1:19:40 | A 13 year old in White Rock, BC just struck a big deal with Sony. We celebrate his amazing achievement in this week's Positive Reflections presented by Kuby Renewable Energy. 
GET A FREE SOLAR QUOTE: https://kubyenergy.ca/
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrjTWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/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.

Real Talkers Sound Off on the 1 Million March 4 Children

Everybody's talking about the "1 Million March 4 Children" that went down earlier this week, so it's no surprise you've got a LOT to get off your chest. In response to our inbox being absolutely slammed, it's an extended edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services!
EMAIL US: talk@ryanjespersen.com

Catch & Release: Canadians Demand Action on Violent Crime

People don't feel safe these days. Whether it's riding inner-city transit or living in a remote, rural location, Canadians are experiencing escalating rates of violent crime. What's the solution? Bail reform? Tougher sentences? More robust support services?
3:30 | The presidents of the Alberta Crown Attorneys' Office (Dallas Sopko) and the Criminal Trial Lawyers Association (Paul Moreau) join us for a Real Talk Round Table on crime and punishment. 
1:05:30 | Our dear friend Supriya Dwivedi is back with a straight-shooting take on tensions between Canada and India, including an indictment of Canadian media coverage over the years. Careful you don't spit out your coffee when you hear her talk about "hate boners" (immediately an all-time Real Talk quote)!
1:27:45 | Everybody's talking about the "1 Million March 4 Children" that went down earlier this week, so it's no surprise you've got a LOT to get off your chest. In response to our inbox being absolutely slammed, it's an extended edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services!
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/
BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrjTWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/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.

Alberta Communities in Crisis: A Search for Solutions

Thousands of Canadians participated in the 1 Million March 4 Children, organized to "free children from the bondage of indoctrination; breaking a system designed to sexualize our children". Thousands more showed up in counter-protest. At the end of it all, were you left with a pit in your stomach?
2:04 | Ryan reflects on the 1 Million March 4 Children, one day later.
24:40 | How do we fix our communities? In Alberta, both municipal and provincial governments face a housing crisis, increased rates of violent crime, crumbling infrastructure, and many other challenges. Our Alberta Municipalities Round Table features St. Albert Mayor Cathy Heron, Wetaskiwin Mayor Tyler Gandam, and Legal Mayor Trina Jones. 
CHECK OUT ALBERTA MUNICIPALITIES: https://www.abmunis.ca/
1:25:08 | Ryan reads an email from Real Talker Kyle, who takes issue with a few of Max Fawcett's points from our September 20 episode.
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrjTWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/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.

Alberta Welcomes the Saudis: Whatever Happened to Ethical Oil?

The eyes of the energy world are on Calgary, as Alberta hosts the World Petroleum Congress. It makes perfect sense for Premier Danielle Smith to greet the Saudi delegation at the airport...but does the photo op kill Canada's claim around "ethical oil"? 
4:20 | Max Fawcett takes that question (and more)...but first, the lead columnist for Canada's National Observer shares his thoughts on the "1 Million March 4 Children" happening across Canada. 
READ MAX'S COLUMN ON THE WPC: https://www.nationalobserver.com/2023/09/20/opinion/so-much-ethical-oil
35:47 | With more than 300 children sick from the E. coli outbreak at multiple Calgary daycares, it's fair to expect a public inquiry. MLA Diana Batten, a former RN and current Opposition Critic for Childcare, Child & Family Services, gets into it. 
54:05 | If you've never checked out the Jasper Dark Sky Festival, it's an absolute must! Ryan runs through the lineup for the 2023 edition, running from October 13-29 in Jasper National Park.
MORE DETAILS: https://www.jasperdarksky.travel/
58:14 | The Real Talk community is broad and diverse, so it's no surprise when a story in the news directly impacts an audience member. Ryan reads an email from "Christine," whose daughter was hospitalized in Calgary with E. coli, and Jeff, who remembers the Walkerton E. coli outbreak in 2000.
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
1:07:00 | There's been a huge response to our September 19 interview with Harman Kandola about the murder of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Our TikTok alone had more than 100,000 views in less than a day. Ryan reads an email from Kristie, who no doubt speaks for a whole bunch of people.
1:10:30 | Feeling guilty about bringing children into an uncertain world? Don't! That's the message from Real Talker Amanda, who sent us a note after our September 19 interview with For Our Kids Alberta co-founders Heidi Bergstrom and Claire Kraatz. 
BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrjTWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/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.

India Kills Canadian Sikh Leader on Home Soil. What Now?

It's official: Canada says India's responsible for the cold-blooded killing of Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, BC on June 18, 2023. Shortly after the Prime Minister made the bold statement in the House of Commons this week, Canada expelled a senior Indian diplomat. India followed suit, sending a Canadian diplomat home. Federal politicians across party lines are calling for accountability, but what does that look like? We discuss in this enlightening episode of Real Talk 
5:53 | But first...Heidi Bergstrom and Claire Kraatz have been experiencing "climate anxiety" for several years. They've joined a new group - For Our Kids - to connect with other Canadians in the same boat, and find ways to take action to save the planet.
CHECK OUT FOR OUR KIDS: https://www.forourkids.ca/
27:30 | Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made international news this week, when he pointed the finger at India for the murder of a Canadian Sikh leader in Surrey, BC on June 18, 2023. World Sikh Organization VP Harman Singh Kandola says Indian surveillance of Sikh activists in Canada has been happening for years. 
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WSO: https://www.worldsikh.org/?gclid=CjwKCAjwjaWoBhAmEiwAXz8DBfubsckCW0ZXct6g5nbv4eB1BTYJaFbczpNO7j1VO3BZdpHLx1TzehoC4EkQAvD_BwE
1:16:20 | Ryan digs into the Real Talk mailbag. Kyle and Cameron have something to say about our interview with gender-affirming health care provider Dr. Kate Greenaway (Sept. 13), and Lisa says our education-themed Real Talk Round Table (Sept. 6) didn't go far enough.  
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrjTWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/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.

Canadians in Space: Is It Worth the Price Tag?

From Donald Trump's gaffe in an interview over the weekend to Congresswoman Lauren Boebert's caught-on-camera debacle at a Denver theatre...from the horrific E. coli outbreak at Alberta daycares to NHL coach Mike Babcock leaving Columbus before coaching a single game...get the informed, common sense insights you need to make sense of what's going on around you in this episode of Real Talk! 
4:00 | The Hon. Marc Garneau was the first Canadian in Space, and later in his career, was widely regarded as one of the most respected Members of Parliament. We talk to the former president of the Canadian Space Agency about the Liberals plummeting polling, Canada's affordability crisis, the past, present, and future of Canadians in Space, and his upcoming appearances at the Jasper Dark Sky Festival.
SEE MARC GARNEAU IN JASPER: https://www.jasperdarksky.travel/
30:02 | Alberta's Chief Medical Officer of Health says he didn't initially see the "urgency" in 300+ kids getting E. coli eating food from a filthy kitchen. Donald Trump says it was himself - not his lawyers - who believed the last election was stolen. Mike Babcock's gone from the Columbus Blue Jackets before training camp even begins. Charles Adler brings his Canadian Common Sense to this week's appearance on Real Talk. 
1:20:57 | What's the most amazing anniversary gift you've ever given or received? A Kansas farmer goes (WAY) above and beyond in this week's Positive Reflections presented by our friends at Kuby Renewable Energy. 
SEND US YOUR POSITIVE REFLECTION: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
GET A FREE SOLAR QUOTE: https://kubyenergy.ca/
BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrjTWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/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