Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

What’s Next for Putin?

The world watched over the weekend as tension between several of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most loyal lieutenants spilled into the streets, and one of them turned his guns on targets in his own country. What does the short-lived rebellion in Russia mean for the war in Ukraine, and Putin himself? What's the main takeaway for the West? 
3:00 | Ian Bremmer is one of the world's foremost authorities on geopolitics. The political scientist and president of Eurasia Group joins Ryan off the top of the show to explain what led to this weekend's events, why Wagner warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin's uprising stopped so quickly, and what it all means moving forward. 
CHECK OUT IAN'S GZERO MEDIA: https://www.gzeromedia.com/
29:50 | The NHL says no more Pride, cancer, military, or other special edition jerseys in warmups. Ryan and Johnny touch on the story (with more to come later in the episode from Charles Adler). 
32:00 | Did you notice Dr. Deena Hinshaw was fired last week? Alberta's former Chief Medical Officer of Health was let go from an AHS position in Indigenous health, prompting the resignation of Indigenous Wellness Core medical lead Dr. Esther Tailfeathers. Ryan reads an email from Real Talker "Dr. Rick," who's got a message for Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
35:40 | Talk radio legend Charles Adler wastes no words in assessing the NHL's jersey decision (and Bud Light boycotts), Vladimir Putin's near future, the fate of the Titan submersible, and Bell Media's plea to further suffocate local news coverage. 
1:14:15 | An Edmonton man is recovering from a near-fatal workplace accident on the West LRT project. Ryan reads an email from Real Talker "Hamid," who's rallying support for his co-worker Mark McQuaid. 
CONTRIBUTE TO THE GO FUND ME: https://www.gofundme.com/f/mark-mcquiad-and-family-support-campaign?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=sms&utm_source=customer
1:17:00 | Real Talker "Chad" made our week with his love letter to Real Talk. Written from Jasper, Alberta, his note made such an impression we decided to make it this week's Positive Reflection presented by Kuby Renewable Energy. Thanks Chad!  
KUBY ENERGY IS HIRING: https://kubyenergy.ca/
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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.

Crazy Wildfire Conspiracy

Anne's hot under the collar about the latest wildfire conspiracy theory, Tracey won't be muzzled over masks in senior's centres, and Jeff's got a message for Pride protestors. It's a loud and proud edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services!
KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/

Canada’s Unremembered Terrorist Attack: Air India 182

Lost at sea, will the passengers aboard a small vessel bound for Titanic's wreckage survive? Why haven't the 280 Canadians killed in the Air India 182 bombing in 1985 been properly remembered? Today's episode tackles a developing story, and a tragedy nearly 40 years ago. 
1:00 | The outlook is grim for the five people aboard the lost Titan submarine. Ryan and Johnny have the latest details, and wonder why another story isn't seeing the same attention. 
12:30 | Dr. Meera Nair says Canada needs to do more to remember the bombing of Air India 182. As the anniversary of that horrible terrorist attack looms, Meera tells us why she thinks politicians have been too nervous to call this tragedy what it is. 
CHECK OUT DR. NAIR'S BLOG: https://june231985.wordpress.com/
46:30 | Anne's hot under the collar about the latest wildfire conspiracy theory, Tracey won't be muzzled over masks in senior's centres, and Jeff's got a message for Pride protestors. It's a loud and proud edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services!
KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/
PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/RealTalkRJ/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.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.

Are You Future Ready?

Ten years after the southern Alberta floods, what have we learned from one of the costliest natural disasters in Canadian history? How did the disaster impact individuals, families, and the way we build (or rebuild) communities? 
Speaking of building relationships and communities, are we too reliant on technology? Are we asking the tough questions or riding blissfully down a road to ruin? This episode of Real Talk looks to the past, then the future, from a few different angles. 
3:00 | Paris Marx is a tech critic. The host of the Tech Can't Save Us podcast and author of Road to Nowhere: What Silicon Valley Gets Wrong About Transportation explains what WILL save us, and what we need to be saved from. We cover a lot of ground re: natural disasters, Apple's Vision Pro headset, autonomous vehicles, community planning, and Bitcoin. 
SEE PARIS MARX IN EDMONTON: https://www.michaeljanz.ca/parismarx
CHECK OUT TECH WON'T SAVE US: https://techwontsave.us/
39:00 | It's National Indigenous Peoples Day, and Real Talk audience member Sharon Morin's family is celebrating a huge honour. Ryan and Johnny shine a spotlight on the newest stamp from Canada Post. 
42:30 | This year, Jasper National Park is honoured to partner with Simpcw, People of the River, as hosts of the National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration. Find details in this week's edition of #MyJasper Memories presented by our friends at Tourism Jasper. 
DETAILS: https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/jasper/autochtones-indigenous/JNPA-2023-NIPD
44:30 | Disaster researchers Dr. Caroline McDonald-Harker and (Hurricane Katrina survivor) Dr. Tim Haney take us into their extensive research on the 2013 southern Alberta floods. What follows is an important conversation about recognizing signs of PTSD, holding planners and developers accountable over where we build new homes, and the future of fire and flood insurance. 
1:18:00 | This lost submarine story is blowing our minds. Ryan and Johnny cover the details we know as the search continues. 
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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.

Our New Century of Fire Has Only Just Begun

Canada's among the worst developed nations when it comes to government transparency. We're also in the beginning stages of a new century of fire that will forever alter the way we interact with the planet. You're guaranteed to learn something on both fronts in this episode of Real Talk. But first...
0:00 | Did you catch Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen on our June 19th episode? We open with her warning about the negative effects of social media on youth mental health. You don't have to be a parent to be alarmed at the evidence she presents. 
4:00 | Canadians are being denied their "right to know" about thousands of files. In fact, Canada doesn't even rank in the Top 50 nations when it comes to transparency. Robyn Doolittle and her colleague Tom Cardoso at The Globe and Mail have spent nearly two years filing hundreds of Freedom of Information requests. The findings of their Secret Canada project are shocking. 
CHECK IT OUT FURTHER: https://www.secretcanada.com/
47:30 | In May 2016, Fort McMurray was overrun by wildfire. In his new book Fire Weather, John Vaillant argues the costliest disaster in Canadian history was a shocking preview of what we must prepare for in a hotter, more flammable world. As hundreds of wildfires continue to burn across the country, you won't want to miss this reality check from one of Canada's best nonfiction writers. 
ORDER FIRE WEATHER: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/554938/fire-weather-by-john-vaillant/
1:21:30 | We're SO grateful when you subscribe to our YouTube channel and our podcast, especially when you take the time to rate and review the show. Ryan and Johnny have some fun reading a few one-star reviews (they ain't pretty)! 
PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
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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.

Whistleblower: Frances Haugen’s Plan To Protect Teens

A couple years ago, data engineer Frances Haugen blew the whistle on Facebook, disclosing thousands of her employer's internal documents to the SEC and The Wall Street Journal. Was it worth it? 
4:45 | The author of "The Power of One" tells us why she took such a gutsy step, and whether or not anything's changed since "The Facebook Files" series ran in the WSJ. What's the worst case scenario if platforms like Facebook and Instagram aren't held to higher standards of accountability and transparency? Frances shines a light on the ugly underbelly of social media like very few can.
ORDER THE POWER OF ONE: https://www.franceshaugen.com/
CHECK OUT THE WSJ SERIES: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-facebook-files-11631713039
42:00 | How does Charles Adler navigate the negative aspects of social media? Chuck and Ryan debrief after the Haugen interview before getting into Adler's Father's Day column in the Winnipeg Free Press. Plus, what impact will today's four by-elections have on the federal political landscape? 
1:09:10 | A British grandfather went from barely surviving COVID to winning gold at the European Arm Wrestling Championships less than three years later. We celebrate his remarkable story in this week's Positive Reflections presented by Kuby Renewable Energy. 
KUBY'S HIRING! https://kubyenergy.ca/
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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.

Fact Check: Danielle Smith Called Out

Ryan got a call from a certain former Deputy Premier of Alberta after yesterday's interview with Danielle Smith. It set the table for today's Fact Check edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services!
KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/

Pride Is Protest: A Real Talk Round Table

June is Pride month. Chances are, you're seeing more rainbow flags, news coverage, and maybe even a controversial email or pamphlet referencing the annual celebration. Where should our focus be? We welcome three LGBTQ+ community members to the Real Talk Round Table for an unflinching look at the work that still needs to be done in Canada and around the world. 
2:20 | Imagine coming to Canada as an immigrant or refugee, fleeing your country of origin because of discrimination against yourself and other members of the LGBTQ+ community. Those are the new Canadians Basel Abou Hamrah supports through the Rainbow Refugee program at the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers. He joins Outloud St. Albert's Bekah Marcellus and Robertson-Wesley United Church member Angela Glasel for a very personal, powerful conversation about Pride.
CHECK OUT RAINBOW REFUGEE: https://www.rainbowrefugee.com/
LINK TO OUTLOUD ST. ALBERT: https://www.outloudstalbert.ca/
LEARN MORE ABOUT COMMUNITY & CONNECTION: https://www.communityandconnection.com/
1:09:50 | Ryan got a call from a certain former Deputy Premier of Alberta after yesterday's interview with Danielle Smith. It set the table for today's Fact Check edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services!
KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/
SIGN UP FOR THE REAL TALK GOLF CLASSIC ON JUNE 22: https://ryanjespersen.com/real-talk-g...
WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/RealTalkRJ/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrj
PATREON: 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.

Premier Danielle Smith in the Real Talk Studio

What are Danielle Smith's plans for Cabinet, an Alberta pension plan, and a "new relationship" with Ottawa and the media? Alberta's Premier joins Ryan in studio for an interview you won't want to miss.
2:00 | But first...we hear so many people declare society is more polarized now than ever before. Is that actually true? If so, how did we get to this point? More importantly, how do we move from polarization to collaboration? New York Times best-selling author Irshad Manji joins Ryan in studio for an interview she barely made. Find out why! 
ATTEND IRSHAD'S JUNE 8 EVENT AT THE CITADEL THEATRE: https://www.epl.ca/speaker-series/
31:50 | Danielle Smith defied early polls, and won the Alberta election on May 29. Alberta's Premier talks to Ryan on the eve of her Cabinet announcement to discuss rural vs. urban representation, attracting "progressive conservatives" back to the UCP, plans to heal healthcare delivery, job losses in oil and gas, cooperation with PM Justin Trudeau and the federal government, a controversial "council of advisors" in Edmonton, her threatened lawsuit targeting the CBC, an Alberta pension plan, and unblocking her critics on Twitter.
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
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PATREON: 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.

How The NDP Won Calgary: Insights From An Insider

Following a couple recounts, it's official: the Alberta NDP won 14 of 26 seats in Calgary. How did the party most closely tied to success in Edmonton take down high-profile UCP incumbents in south Calgary? 
4:00 | Esmahan Razavi managed the NDP campaigns in Calgary-Acadia and Calgary-Glenmore, where Diana Batten beat Tyler Shandro and Nagwan Al-Guneid beat Whitney Issik. The NDP won both ridings by 25 and 42 votes, respectively. How'd they do it? When did they know they were going to win? What put them over the hump? What do these wins do for the party moving forward? 
40:10 | There's no cooler way to explore the Athabasca Glacier than with Rockaboo Mountain Adventures. We take you to the Columbia Icefield in this week's #MyJasper Memories presented by Tourism Jasper.
BOOK YOUR GLACIER ADVENTURE: https://rockaboo.ca/
42:50 | It's one of the more mind-boggling stories in sports history. How did the PGA go from banning golfers bound for the LIV Tour to partnering with the Saudi-owned enterprise in less than a year? Ryan and Johnny discuss.
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PATREON: 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.