Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Will There Ever Be Peace in the Middle East?

Violence is escalating again in the Gaza Strip, as Israel airstrikes target the militant Islamic Jihad group. UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned civilian loss of life, saying the deaths of the women and children were “unacceptable and must stop immediately”.
7:30 | Mousa Qasqas has been advocating for peace in the Middle East his entire adult life. The Palestinian Canadian organizer shares his thoughts on why the fighting continues, and why it's not "anti-Semitic" to criticize Israel. 
CANADA PALESTINE CULTURAL ASSOCIATION: https://cpcayeg.ca/
MOUSA'S EVENT ON SUNDAY: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/palestinian-day-at-the-park-tickets-626747186707
36:15 | With wildfires burning across Alberta, violent crime on the rise in both rural and urban communities, and the opioid crisis continuing to claim lives, it's no wonder the average Canadian might tell you they don't feel safe. Public Safety Minister Bill Blair explains how Ottawa's helping the wildfire fight, and the best ways to cut down on crime. 
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.

Win or Lose, Is Danielle Smith Toast?

Sources inside the United Conservative Party say a faction's already organizing against Danielle Smith. Rumour has it if the UCP doesn't win big on May 29, she could be ousted as party leader. 
3:00 | Are the rumblings valid or not? Veteran political columnist Graham Thomson tells us what he's hearing and what his gut's telling him. What does Graham make of Take Back Alberta founder David Parker's claim he "controls the premier's office"? And, with all this talk about Danielle Smith, is the media doing its job in applying proper scrutiny to Rachel Notley and the NDP? Ryan and Graham get into it. 
40:52 | Thanks to the tireless work of firefighters across Yellowhead County, Jasper's power supply is stable, shelves are stocked, and the sky is clear. Ahead of May Long Weekend, we focus on some of the best spring openings in this week's #MyJasper Memories presented by Tourism Jasper.
PLAN YOUR SPRING GETAWAY TO JASPER: https://www.jasper.travel/
43:43 | We hear a lot of talk about "diversification" from political parties eager to earn your vote. What are Alberta tech companies actually looking for in terms of political commitments? Council of Canadian Innovators president Benjamin Bergen explains where government can lead and where it should get out of the way. Plus, why is Alberta struggling more than any other province to recruit software engineers? Ben lays it out. 
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.

Is Danielle Smith Her Own Worst Enemy?

Another day, another apology from Danielle Smith. The UCP leader is facing fire for comments in November of 2021 comparing vaccinated people with followers of Adolf Hitler. Even if her party weathers these storms and wins the election, what're the chances Danielle Smith stays on as leader? 
3:40 | Talking about the Holocaust is personal for Charles Adler. The Emmy Award-winning broadcaster explains why, in assessing Danielle Smith's latest "optics issue". Plus, what's the key takeaway from Canada expelling Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei? 
34:10 | Cultural values need to be central to research involving Indigenous people in Canada. Athabasca University associate professor Dr. Josie Auger joins Ryan in studio to explain how her kikapekiskwewin podcast came about, and why Indigenous knowledge is so important to shaping the future in all fields.
CHECK OUT THE PODCAST: https://aufa.ca/member-news/2023/3/2/aufa-members-launch-indigenous-research-podcast-kikapekiskwewin
LEARN MORE ABOUT DR. AUGER: https://news.athabascau.ca/research/au-researcher-studies-the-impact-of-sexual-violation-on-indigenous-women-2/
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.

Fighting Fires: Literal and Political

Alberta's on fire. More than 100 wildfires are burning, more than 30 of them out of control. We look at the front-line and long-term storylines, as well as the political implications, in this episode of Real Talk.
6:40 | Why are wildfires so much worse these days? Dr. Mike Flannigan's been in the field for more than 40 years. The Research Chair for Predictive Services, Emergency Management, and Fire Science at Thompson Rivers University explains why May can be such a combustible month, how we can tell climate change is a factor, and what needs to change over the next few years. 
CHECK OUT MIKE'S WORK: https://www.mikeflannigan.com/
FOLLOW FREELANCE VIDEOJOURNALIST KYLE BRITTAIN: https://twitter.com/KyleBrittainWX
37:25 | What do wildfires have to do with Gordon Lightfoot? Political blogger (and lawyer) Susan Wright joins Ryan to explain. The commentator known as "Susan on the Soapbox" also digs into the implications of Danielle Smith leaving an Alberta Pension Plan and the Sovereignty Act out of the UCP's platform. 
READ SUSAN'S BLOG: https://susanonthesoapbox.com/
1:12:05 | We guarantee you'll smile when you see the heroic rescue in this week's Positive Reflections! After a nine-month-old puppy fell  30 feet down a cliff, firefighters rigged up a winch to save the little fella. Positive Reflections is presented by our friends at Kuby Renewable Energy.
KUBY'S HIRING: https://kubyenergy.ca/
WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/RealTalkRJ/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrjPATREON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
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.

Tired of Politics!

With the UCP and NDP polling neck and neck, and the Alberta election less than four weeks away, it's no surprise this week's Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services is 100% politics! 
KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/

The Art of Innovation: AI, Accessibility & Law

Is our personal information at risk of being stolen? (Probably.) Do we truly understand the barriers people using wheelchairs encounter every day? (Probably not.) Is it possible for divorce proceedings to be a little less nasty? (Here's hoping!)
This episode of Real Talk celebrates The Art of Innovation, as highlighted in the May issue of Edify. But first... 
5:30 | When's the last time you went to a movie theatre? Cinemas helped shape our connection to arts and culture for decades, but they've fallen on hard times in recent years. In fact, many of them (that haven't already closed) are fighting to survive. Director Raphael Sbarge's film "Only in Theatres" tells the story of the revered Laemmle family, and their mission to save their legendary Los Angeles theatre. 
CHECK OUT THE NORTHWEST FEST LINEUP: https://www.northwestfest.ca/2023-films
30:25 | When Nidhi Hegde, Arne Andres, and Melissa Bourgeois see red flags, hurdles, and inefficiencies, they do something about it. That's what makes them innovators, featured in the May issue of Edify. Do divorces have to be nasty and expensive? Does AI have to go hand-in-hand with privacy risk? Do daily tasks in a wheelchair have to be so damn inconvenient? Our Real Talk Round Table panelists say no! 
GET YOUR TICKETS TO EDIFY'S INNOVATION EVENT: https://tickets.edifyedmonton.com/innovation-event-2023/
58:25 | With the UCP and NDP polling neck and neck, and the Alberta election less than four weeks away, it's no surprise this week's Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services is 100% politics! 
KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/
WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/RealTalkRJ/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrjPATREON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
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 Force Can Fix the World

May the 4th be with you! (Don't worry, even if you're not a Star Wars geek like Ryan, you'll still find plenty of value in this episode.) What can we learn from Star Wars about chaos, change, dictators and democracy, fear, hope, and redemption? On this "Star Wars Day" edition of Real Talk, 
4:45 | We're living in a time of unprecedented and rapid change. An age of chaos. Democracies are in decline around the world. People feel lonelier and more rudderless than in any other time in recent history. Author Stephen Kent believes part of the solution is hiding in plain sight: it's Star Wars. 
CHECK OUT STEPHEN'S BOOK: https://www.stephendkent.com/howtheforcecanfixtheworld
29:35 | Recent research shows nearly 80% of Canadian youth aged 16-25 say climate change impacts their overall mental health. That's four out of five young people! John Whidden designed an education program to help elementary school-aged kids understand climate change, learn about solutions, and take action. The environmental educator with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) tells us why he did it. 
LEARN ABOUT CPAWS: https://cpaws.org/
1:05:00 | Have you heard of "nature bathing"? Johnny and Ryan talk about the mental health benefits of unplugging (for real). 
PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersenWEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/RealTalkRJ/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrj
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.

Hurtin’ Albertan: Corb vs. Coal

1:25 | He's had his life threatened, but Corb Lund ain't backing down. The award-winning singer-songwriter is on a mission to stop coal mining in the Rocky Mountains. As election campaigns dominate headlines across Alberta, Lund tells us why he's so motivated to have the eastern slopes on everybody's radar. 
36:50 | This year marks the 50th anniversary of Secretariat's Triple Crown. It's also been fifty years since Curtis Stock started covering the sport. The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame journalist joins Ryan for a captivating conversation about the greatest race horse of all time, and the Canadian jockey who rode him. 
CHECK OUT CURTIS STOCK'S NEW BOOK "THE TURCOTTES": https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-turcottes-the-remarkable-story/9780228104247-item.html?ikwsec=Books&ikwidx=22
1:05:20 | What a barn burner! We received a ton of feedback after yesterday's barn burner with Erika Barootes and Cheryl Oates. Ryan and John debrief after the back-and-forth brouhaha comparing UCP and NDP election platforms. 
CHIME IN: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
1:10:13 | Renowned mural artists are in Jasper right now, adding a whole new element of beauty to the already-stunning mountain town. This week's #MyJasper Memories highlights UpLift! The Jasper Mural Festival, underway from May 1-20. It's another great reason to visit Jasper!
FOLLOW UpLift! ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/uplift.fest.jasper/
PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersenWEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/RealTalkRJ/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrj
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.

Head to Head: NDP vs. UCP

Senior campaign advisors Erika Barootes (UCP) and Cheryl Oates (NDP) aren't messing around on today's show. The senior campaign advisors come out punching in what proves to be a must-watch episode of Real Talk. But first...
1:30 | Canadians lost a legend - "our poet laureate" - when Gordon Lightfoot passed away Monday night at 84 years of age. Ryan and Johnny begin the show with a look at Lightfoot's legendary career.
7:50 | Cheryl Oates and Erika Barootes are used to life in the trenches. The former senior staffers for Premiers Rachel Notley and Danielle Smith, respectively, now working the campaigns in Calgary, square off over which party's got the better plan for Alberta and why.  
51:00 | How do you feel about a blanket apology for past statements on social media? Ryan and Johnny debate UCP candidate Chelsae Petrovic's statement, including how it affects both parties moving forward.
AGREE OR DISAGREE? EMAIL THE SHOW! talk@ryanjespersen.com
1:02:45 | It's a harsh reality: there are homeless infants and children in crisis in our cities. Kids Kottage is the Edmonton area's first and only crisis prevention centre for young kids. Demand for services is up 80% in recent years. Janine Fraser and Troy Chalifoux explain why, and what we can do to help society's most vulnerable citizens. 
LEARN MORE: https://www.kidskottage.org/
WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/RealTalkRJ/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrjPATREON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
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.

It’s Go Time! Alberta Politics Super Episode

Election season is officially underway in Alberta. Real Talk has you covered with comprehensive analysis of key storylines on Day One of the campaigns. 
2:35 | Democracy itself is on the ballot this time around, argues Dr. Jared Wesley. The U of A political scientist leads off our Alberta politics super episode in studio with an examination of exactly what's at stake, and why he (and prominent conservative Ken Boessenkool) argue United Conservative Party leader Danielle Smith isn't actually a conservative. 
DEMOCRACY ITSELF ON THE BALLOT: https://theconversation.com/democracy-itself-is-on-the-ballot-in-albertas-upcoming-election-203817
DR. WESLEY'S PRE-ELECTION POST-MORTEM: https://drjaredwesley.substack.com/p/this-is-not-a-prediction
ALBERTA - NOT AS POLARIZED AS YOU MIGHT THINK: https://cground.substack.com/p/873198d0-79bf-42c7-a590-ff20f0c5e63f
DANIELLE SMITH - NOT A CONSERVATIVE: https://theline.substack.com/p/jared-wesley-and-ken-boessenkool?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web
30:30 | Former Calgary councillor Jeromy Farkas wants to know how his former council colleagues "can possibly justify" an agreement with the province to develop Calgary's new arena district. The candidate for mayor in the most recent municipal election explains why the devil's in the details, and compares Calgary's deal with the one that got Edmonton's ICE District built. 
52:05 | Political scientist Duane Bratt isn't inherently against public money for developments like arenas. But he has a couple big problems with the deal between the province and the city of Calgary. He lays out what they are. 
CHECK OUT DR. BRATT'S TWITTER THREAD: https://twitter.com/DuaneBratt/status/1651683655612522496?s=20
1:10:10 | Alberta's election will come down to one thing, says Charles Adler. The talk radio legend tells us what he thinks the "ballot box question" is this time around. Will Danielle Smith's admiration of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis help or hurt her with voters? Will UCP candidate Chelsae Petrovic be successful in her attempt to get ahead of damaging social media posts? 
1:39:50 | THANK YOU to everybody who supported the 2023 Alzheimer's Face Off Pro/Am this past weekend! Ryan gets personal in this edition of Positive Reflections presented by Kuby Renewable Energy. 
KUBY ENERGY IS HIRING! https://kubyenergy.ca/
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.