Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Election Day In Alberta

Voters are headed to the polls across Alberta (9:30) as the teachers' strike enters its third week. The Toronto Blue Jays are one win away from the World Series. Recall petitions are targeting three UCP MLAs (29:30), and rumours are swirling around Pierre Poilievre's future as leader of the federal Conservatives (50:00). We get into it all with Supriya Dwivedi in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. 
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com
MBEW: https://www.mercedes-benz-edmontonwest.ca/
1:04:00 | Jespo and Johnny debrief after a busy weekend including their collaboration at the Camp for a Cause mental health fundraiser at Bar Trove (1:08:00). We discuss the risk union members (and governments) take when labour negotiations lead to a strike. What do you think? Leave a comment below! 
1:36:00 | Shout out to whoever was operating Hazel Mae's camera for the Vlad Guerrero Jr. interview after Game Six! It's a perfect Positive Reflection presented by Solar by Kuby. 
GET A FREE SOLAR QUOTE: https://kuby.ca/
SUBMIT YOUR POSITIVE REFLECTION: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
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RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: 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.

"I'm Embarrassed To Be From Alberta!"

Brent's got a message for "progressives;" Katie, Laura, and Amanda are all fired up over the teachers' strike, and KT says we were bang on about conditions at the Misericordia Hospital. It's 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, be sure to tell 'em Real Talk sent you!
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: @ryanjespersen
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: 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.

Teachers Rally Outside Premier’s Event

Jespo and Johnny had a front row seat as thousands of Alberta teachers rallied outside our studio in the historic Mercer Warehouse, sending a message to Premier Danielle Smith, who was attending the Edmonton Chamber's State of the Province luncheon across the street at Rogers Place. Jespo opens this episode with a first-hand account of what it was like both outside and inside that event.
21:20 | Are Temporary Foreign Workers really stealing jobs from Canadian teens? Does Canada have a program we can truly be proud of? Marcello Di Cintio tells us what he discovered writing his new book "Precarious: The Lives of Migrant Workers."
CHECK OUT THE BOOK: https://lighthousebooksbrighton.ca/item/N8KJ1y9ScrwdX7eoxviRkQ
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
1:20:45 | Donald Trump's decision to recognize only male and female on documents like visas and passports is creating headaches for some Canadians. It's prompting a bigger sovereignty conversation around Nexus cards and more. Senator Paula Simons and Marni Panas explain why it matters. 
WATCH PAULA'S SENATE ADDRESS: https://youtu.be/yInsw13pkI4?si=xpjdMok0zA5oW6xm
1:20:45 | Jespo returns fire after "Redneck Philosopher" drops a "woke" bomb in the Real Talk Live Chat powered by Park Power. Pure entertainment ensues. 
SAVE on INTERNET, ELECTRICITY, and NATURAL GAS: 
1:48:30 | Brent's got a message for "progressives;" Katie, Laura, and Amanda are all fired up over the teachers' strike, and KT says we were bang on about conditions at the Misericordia Hospital. It's 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, be sure to tell 'em Real Talk sent you! 
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen 
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: @ryanjespersen 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: 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.

Real Talk from Alberta School Trustees

It's been a wild four years for Alberta school trustees. COVID, exploding class sizes, a contentious relationship with the province, a teachers' strike...and increased polarization from the left and the right, citizens critical of every move the school boards make. 
5:15 | We talk to Julie Kusiek in Edmonton, Marilyn Dennis in Calgary, and Tammy Henkel in High Prairie in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. 
ASBA: https://www.asba.ab.ca/
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com
1:05:00 | How do you grow a 1,368.5 pound pumpkin?? We feature one of our favourite stories in a long time in Alberta Wins presented by Play Alberta. 
DOWNLOAD the PLAY ALBERTA APP: https://playalberta.ca/
GET A $50 FREE BET when you deposit $50 using code RYAN50. Must be 18+ to play. If you gamble, please use your GameSense.
1:09:00 | What's happening with Mark Carney's nation-building projects? Jason Leslie from the Alberta Chambers of Commerce has his Eye on Alberta Business. 
CONNECT with ACC: https://www.abchamber.ca/
1:27:00 | Jespo and Johnny reflect on the passing of Bruce Saville, world-record pumpkin growing techniques, and the Blue Jays big win against Seattle.
1:44:00 | Real Talkers Kayley and KT in Calgary - both teachers - give us their first-hand perspectives midway through week two of the Alberta teachers' strike. 
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen 
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: @ryanjespersen 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: 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.

Inside Carney's 'Chaotic' Egypt Trip

World leaders including PM Mark Carney scrambled to get to Egypt at the behest of President Donald Trump in what's been described as a "chaotic" Gaza Peace Summit. This, as Foreign Minister Anita Anand lays out Canada's priorities in high-level meetings in India and China. Politico's Ottawa bureau chief Nick Taylor-Vaisey (3:30) digs into the details in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West.
SUBSCRIBE to the CANADA PLAYBOOK: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/canada-playbook
MBEW: https://www.mercedes-benz-edmontonwest.ca/
33:30 | Jespo looks to the our Live Chat powered by Park Power for Real Talkers' takes on the meetings in Egypt, India, and China before sharing more teachers' strike emails submitted to talk@ryanjespersen.com.
SAVE on INTERNET, ELECTRICITY, and NATURAL GAS: https://parkpower.ca/realtalk
44:30 | Marmot Basin is rolling out some incredible deals to kick off the 2025-26 ski and snowboard season! We've got details in this week's #MyJasper Memories presented by Tourism Jasper. 
SKI MARMOT: https://www.skimarmot.com/
49:00 | NorthwestFEARfest is officially underway! We welcome "The Movie Guy" Lavallee and directors Linus O'Brien and Brandon Christensen to a spooky, scary, and super fun edition of the Real Talk Round Table. 
GET YOUR TICKETS: https://www.northwestfest.ca/fearfest
1:35:00 | What's your favourite scary movie? Jespo, Johnny, and Real Talkers checking out our live stream share their must-watch Halloween flicks.
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen 
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: @ryanjespersen 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: 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.

Behind the Scenes: Teachers’ Negotiations

What will it take for Alberta's teachers and the UCP government to get a deal done and end this strike? Athabasca University labour expert Dr. Jason Foster gives us an informed take (45:30), including why he's skeptical the two sides are anywhere close. But first...
3:30 | Supriya Dwivedi tells us what she's keeping an eye on as an Israel/Hamas peace deal is signed, Canada looks to repair its relationship with India, Canada's Supreme Court justices undergo a makeover of sorts, and former PM Justin Trudeau is spotted smooching pop superstar Katy Perry on a yacht. Real Talk's feature interviews are presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. 
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
MBEW: https://www.mercedes-benz-edmontonwest.ca/
42:00 | Brent Kelland thought he'd seen it all as a retired paramedic. That is, until he became a patient at the CK Hui Heart Centre at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. We feature Brent's story in this week's Echoes of the Alex, celebrating 125 years of care, compassion, and community at the Royal Alex.
HELP ENSURE STORIES LIKE BRENT'S CONTINUE: http://givetoroyalalex.org/
 45:30 | AU professor Dr. Jason Foster compares the 2002 and 2025 Alberta teachers' strikes. 
CHECK OUT THE AU ADVANTAGE: http://athabascau.ca/
1:14:30 | Jespo and Johnny debrief re: the teachers' strike, the Jays' back-to-back losses against the Mariners, and the Trudeau/Perry romance. 
GET YOUR TICKETS TO NorthWestFearFest: https://www.northwestfest.ca/fearfest
1:40:15 | Shout out to everybody who worked through the Thanksgiving weekend! Ryan shares a firsthand story about a power outage in rural Saskatchewan in Positive Reflections presented by Solar by Kuby. 
GET A FREE SOLAR QUOTE: https://kuby.ca/
SUBMIT YOUR POSITIVE REFLECTION: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen 
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: @ryanjespersen 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: 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.

"The Alberta Educational Advantage is GONE!"

It's an all-teachers' strike edition of The Flamethrower, as KP, "Confidential," Ross, Carmen, Jay, "Different Carmen," and Justin give us their hottest takes. The Flamethrower is presented weekly by our friends at 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, be sure to tell 'em Real Talk sent you!
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: @ryanjespersen
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: 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.

Real Talk Calgary Mayoral Debate

It's a hotly contested race for the Calgary Mayor's office. In this special presentation, you'll hear from the five highest-polling candidates for the top job at City Hall as Jeromy Farkas, Jyoti Gondek, Brian Thiessen, Sonya Sharp, and Jeff Davison square off in our Real Talk Calgary Mayoral Debate. 
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
1:12:00 | Jespo and Johnny debrief after the debate before kicking off another - white vs. dark turkey meat, apple vs. pumpkin vs. pecan pie, and other matters of Thanksgiving importance. 
1:35:30 | Donald Trump is not the recipient of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. We hear why. 
1:45:00 | It's an all-teachers' strike edition of The Flamethrower, as KP, "Confidential," Ross, Carmen, Jay, "Different Carmen," and Justin give us their hottest takes. The Flamethrower is presented weekly by our friends at 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, be sure to tell 'em Real Talk sent you! 
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen 
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: @ryanjespersen 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: 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.

Strike Scuttlebutt // Carney & Trump // Election Insiders

The US government shutdown continues into its second week, as Canada and the U.S. continue to work toward a trade deal (we hope). We've got you covered with Wyatt Sharpe reporting live from the White House (2:30) in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West.  
MBEW: https://www.mercedes-benz-edmontonwest.ca/
13:30 | On day four of the Alberta teachers' strike, the Real Talk Rumour Mill is fuelled by your emails to talk@ryanjespersen.com following our interview with Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides.
WATCH THAT INTERVIEW: https://rtrj.info/100825Minister
28:10 | Jespo's still buzzing after the Battle of Alberta, and it shows in this week's edition of Alberta Wins presented by Play Alberta. 
GET A $50 FREE BET WHEN YOU DEPOSIT $50 USING THE PROMO CODE RYAN50: https://playalberta.ca/ -- MUST BE 18+ TO PLAY. IF YOU GAMBLE, PLEASE USE YOUR GAMESENSE.
31:30 | Municipal elections across Alberta are looming - October 20 - so we check in with independent media voices Omar Mouallem from Edify and Karen Unland from Taproot Edmonton to see how they're covering it differently from the mainstream outlets. 
CHECK OUT EDIFY: https://edifyedmonton.com/
TAKE THE TAPROOT ELECTION SURVEY: https://edmonton.taproot.news/
1:30:30 | Jespo and Johnny are in the mood to chew the fat, including thoughts on the Blue Jays dispatching the Yankees from the MLB post-season, the Flames taking down the Oilers in their NHL season openers, tips to never pay for parking, and the best bra store in the whole wide world (yeah, you heard us right). 
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
CHECK OUT THE JASPER HOTEL OFFER: https://www.jasper.travel/hotel-offer/
SUPPORT THE ROYAL ALEXANDRA HOSPITAL: http://givetoroyalalex.org/
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen 
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: @ryanjespersen 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: 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.

Alberta’s Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides

How long is this Alberta teachers' strike going to last? What are the sticking points? Where is the government refusing to budge, and what are the terms both sides agree to? Will the government ultimately order teachers back to work? We ask Alberta's Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides (5:00) in this episode of Real Talk.
NOTE: Our YouTube live stream experienced an interruption 45 minutes into this episode. You can catch the full episode wherever you get your podcasts, and you can always catch our audio live stream on the Mixlr audio app.
APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/real-talk-ryan-jespersen/id1540709742
SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/03RyuWqhe4YBI7mS48VDBA
REAL TALK on MIXLR: https://realtalkrj.mixlr.com/
29:00 | Ryan reads some of the MANY emails we've received to talk@ryanjespersen.com 
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen 
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: @ryanjespersen 
REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch
RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: 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.