Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

The Truth About The Alberta Advantage

Kevin Van Tighem was portrayed by his political opponents as an "enemy" of Alberta when he ran to become an MLA in 2023. Now-Minister Jason Nixon pulled quotes from his book "Wild Roses Are Worth It: Reimagining the Alberta Advantage," and accused him of portraying Albertans as angry rednecks and resource exploiters. We talk to the former Superintendent of Banff National Park (26:20) about that experience, and what "reimagining" the Alberta Advantage really means. But first...
3:38 | Ryan and Johnny highlight Kamala Harris' concession speech, take a look at who's getting rich off Donald Trump's win, and read emails from Real Talkers Lauren and Rebecca (who pitches a real heater). 
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
REGISTER FOR THE REAL TALK POND HOCKEY CLASSIC on FEB. 1: https://www.ryanjespersen.com/pond-hockey
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA ALUMNI AWARD NOMINATIONS: uofa.ca/nominate
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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.

Trump Wins. What now?

So much for "too close to call". Donald Trump soundly defeats Kamala Harris, and will serve as the 47th President of the United States. What does the election result say about America today? What does it mean for Canada and the rest of the world? 
2:38 | Mount Royal University Political Science professor Dr. Duane Bratt tells us why he thinks the Trump campaign was so successful, and what the Trump win means for Canada.
15:30 | University of Calgary Political Science professor Dr. Melanee Thomas breaks down the election results, and explains exactly where the Harris campaign fell short. 
29:00 | Political commentator, podcaster, and author Jared Yates Sexton tells us how he's feeling about the state of his country. 
37:15 | Athabasca University Political Science professor Dr. Mark Crawford gets into the international implications of Trump's return to the White House. 
CHECK OUT THE AU ADVANTAGE:  
47:10 | Former U.S. Ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman forecasts President Trump's approach to Russia's war in Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas war, the future of NATO, and the U.S.-Canada trade relationship. 
1:00:40 | Congratulations to The Maligne Range, the first distillery in Jasper! We highlight their exceptional cuisine and diverse beverage menu in this week's #MyJasper Memories presented by Tourism Jasper. 
CHECK IT OUT: https://themalignerange.com/
1:02:40 | Jespo and Johnny check out what Real Talkers have to say about Trump's win (and Harris' loss) in our YouTube live chat. 
1:26:20 | Did you hear what Texas state representative James Talarico, a born-again Christian, had to say about Christian Nationalists and Project 2025? We take a look.
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA ALUMNI AWARD NOMINATIONS: uofa.ca/nominate
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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.

US Election Day with Quick Dick McDick

Feeling US Election anxiety? We recommend this candid, entertaining, insightful episode of Real Talk with one of Canada's most-watched YouTube commentators, Quick Dick McDick. 
9:55 |  @QuickDickMcDick  talks tariffs and other US election impacts on Canadian producers. We get his take on Scott Moe's future as Premier of Saskatchewan, and the story of Orlan Peterson, a construction worker shot on the job by violent career criminals. 
QDM MERCH & COMEDY TOUR DATES: https://quickdickmcdick.ca/
1:13:00 | Registration is open for The Real Talk Pond Hockey Classic on Saturday, February 1, 2025!
PLAY, VOLUNTEER, or SPONSOR: https://www.ryanjespersen.com/pond-hockey
1:18:00 | Do you wash your mushrooms? Jespo, Johnny, and our YouTube live chat chime in.
1:19:45 | What might the US election mean for Alberta businesses? We revisit our chat with Alberta Chambers of Commerce CEO Shauna Feth. 
WATCH THAT INTERVIEW: https://rtrj.info/103124ACC
1:24:30 | Speaking of mushrooms, did you catch our recent interview with Dana Larsen, whose mushroom dispensary was raided by Vancouver Police? 
CHECK IT OUT: https://www.youtube.com/live/L4gVkoRnnvY?si=xl2SOcs1H0IQEjUK&t=127
1:26:30 | Justice Murray Sinclair leaves this life at 73. We recognize his remarkable legacy. 
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA ALUMNI AWARD NOMINATIONS: uofa.ca/nominate
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/c/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.

Danielle Smith Dodges Trouble; Dominates UCP AGM Vote

Danielle Smith's leadership review went so well at the UCP AGM, some of her loudest critics are invoking Russia and North Korea in their social media posts. After all, where else do leaders score higher than 90%? 
3:40 | Ryan and Johnny discuss Smith's 91.5% approval rating from party members in Red Deer, and muse about what it means for Smith's caucus and criticsc, Naheed Nenshi's NDP and Albertans in general. 
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
26:00 | Remember Collin May? Formerly the chief of the Alberta Human Rights Commission, he was fired by then-Minister Tyler Shandro under controversial circumstances. May gives us his side of the story, updates us on his court action, explains why he takes issue with Jespo's take on the UCP's "Jordan Peterson Law," and tells us why we should "never apologize". 
1:28:10 | Tough news to share. We're crushed by the passing of our dear friend Kathleen McGee. Ryan remembers the beloved comedian. We honour the life and legacy of Justice Murray Sinclair. 
1:32:35 | Shout out to the dozens of volunteers at the Pandemic Planting Project! We share details of their recent harvest, which sent more than 100,000 lbs of veggies to Edmonton's Food Bank. 
LEARN MORE ON SOCIAL MEDIA @pandemicplantingproject or EMAIL chriscurtola@gmail.com 
SUBMIT YOUR POSITIVE REFLECTION: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
GET A FREE SOLAR QUOTE TODAY: https://kubyenergy.ca/
NOMINATE A DESERVING UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA ALUM: uofa.ca/nominate
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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.

"Jordan Peterson is a Professional Mental Gymnast!"

Brendon and David have zero tolerance for Danielle Smith's "Jordan Peterson Law," Brent is sick and tired of "lazy Canadians and liberal media," and TheSco says Real Talk's pushing misinformation on Trump. Everybody's all fired up for 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, tell 'em Real Talk sent you! 
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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.

Is Danielle Smith in Trouble?

Conservative premiers may not lose many elections in Alberta, but more than a few have "met their maker" at party AGMs. Amid coordinated attacks from progressives and the right wing, will Danielle Smith emerge unscathed from the UCP's big bash in Red Deer? 
2:00 | Erika Barootes joins us in studio before hitting the highway for the UCP AGM. Cheryl Oates is just back from Saskatchewan, where she quarterbacked the NDP's election campaign. The co-hosts of The Discourse join us for a lively debate about Scott Moe's future in Saskatchewan, David Eby's future in B.C. (21:00), and after a brief break to showcase everybody's Halloween costumes (34:30),  the top political headlines in Alberta (37:00) including the UCP's controversial legislation around parental notification of pronoun changes and gender reassignment surgeries for youth. 
1:03:50 | Who'll it be on November 5: Donald or Kamala? Cheryl, Erika, Johnny, and Ryan go on the record. 
1:11:45 | Brendon and David have zero tolerance for Danielle Smith's "Jordan Peterson Law," Brent is sick and tired of "lazy Canadians and liberal media," and TheSco says Real Talk's pushing misinformation on Trump. Everybody's all fired up for 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, tell 'em Real Talk sent you! 
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/c/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.

Controversial Trapping Contest Targets Wolves

How do you feel about trapping? Have you thought about it much at all? There's a long history of trapping across the country, including Indigenous traditions and traders. An apex predator conservation group is trying to stop a trapping contest targeting wolves in Alberta. We wrestle with a few important questions in this episode of Real Talk. 
4:30 | Kim Odlan, co-founder of Exposed Wildlife Conservancy, tells us why he opposes the Top Wolf Contest, while Real Talkers have their say in our YouTube Live Chat. (Talk about a diverse audience!)
47:00 | We've got our Eye on Alberta Business. Shauna Feth is just back from Halifax, where Alberta had a big showing at the Canadian Chambers of Commerce AGM. The president and CEO of the Alberta Chamber of Commerce gets into some national business headlines before taking a look at the business implications of Fall Session at the Alberta Legislature. 
ALBERTA CHAMBERS of COMMERCE: https://www.abchamber.ca/events/
1:11:11 | Tens of millions of Americans have already voted ahead of November 5. We get into some of the most interesting numbers, including how WRONG pollsters have been about Donald Trump in past. 
Who do you think is going to win? 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.

FIRED UP! Pierre Poilievre and Sean Fraser Lock Horns

The leader of Canada's Conservatives and the Liberal Housing Minister were at each other's throats in the House of Commons. Could it be a preview of party leader quarrels to come? In this episode, we dig into the Poilievre/Fraser slugfest, analyze growing dissent among Trudeau's team, and determine what it means for you. 
Plus, Johnny's had an epiphany about the U.S. election (after that "floating garbage" Puerto Rico joke at Trump's MSG rally), and Jespo has a tough update (and an important reminder) re: a fan favourite guest that joined us back in June. 
KATHLEEN McGEE ON REAL TALK: https://rtrj.info/062024KathleenMcGee
Make sure you check out #MyJasper Memories for a couple amazing events coming up in the National Park over the next month, too! 
"TOGETHER AGAIN" at the JPL: https://www.jasper-park-lodge.com/together-again/
REBUILD JASPER RUN: https://www.jasper.travel/events/runforjasper/
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
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/c/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.

Premiers Moe and Eby Survive. Higgs Doesn't. Will Danielle Smith?

Scott Moe loses...but wins in Saskatchewan. Same with David Eby in BC. Blaine Higgs loses in New Brunswick, period. What's in store for Danielle Smith in Alberta and Tim Houston in Nova Scotia? We zero in on the top political stories in Canada on this episode of Real Talk. 
3:15 | Max Fawcett, lead columnist at Canada's National Observer, breaks down the Saskatchewan election result, a wild week or two in B.C. (9:00), Nova Scotia's early election (15:45), the problem with election truthers (21:15), Danielle Smith's leadership review (32:45), Alberta's fight against Ottawa's proposed emissions cap (41:30), and the upcoming U.S. election (58:30). 
READ MAX'S WORK: https://www.nationalobserver.com/
MIN. JONATHAN WILKINSON ON REAL TALK: https://rtrj.info/101724Wilkinson
1:10:50 | Did you check out Donald Trump on The Joe Rogan Experience? Jespo and Johnny talk about the moments that jumped out at them. 
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.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.

What's the Deal with the UCP's "Jordan Peterson Law"?

It may not be among the Top 100 Most Important Issues Facing Albertans, but the UCP's so-called "Jordan Peterson Law" will steal more than its fair share of attention and analysis this fall, both in Alberta and across the country. 
2:45 | Ryan takes a look at the implications of Premier Danielle Smith's pledge to protect the rights of professionals who express controversial personal views. We lay out the issues (and legislation) likely to define Fall Session at the Alberta Legislature. 
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
22:45 | Ready or not, the global energy transition is happening. With it comes threats to Alberta's "bread and butter" oil and gas industry, along with significant opportunities for investment in renewables. We get into the International Energy Agency's World Energy Outlook for 2024 with Chris Severson-Baker, executive director at the Pembina Institute. 
MORE: https://www.pembina.org/
1:13:00 | First responders in Ukraine are working in a war zone every day, rescuing civilians in life-threatening scenarios following Russian attacks on hospitals and residential buildings. In this edition of Positive Reflections presented by Kuby Energy, we're proud to highlight amazing, life-saving work being done in Ukraine by volunteers from Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver. 
SUPPORT FIREFIGHTER AID UKRAINE: https://www.firefighteraidukraine.com/
SUBMIT YOUR POSITIVE REFLECTION: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
GET A FREE SOLAR QUOTE TODAY: https://kubyenergy.ca/
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj 
REAL TALK MUGS, SNAPBACKS, and TEES: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/c/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.