Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

THERE’S NO ”FAR LEFT” IN CANADA!

Adam's sick of hearing about "rage farming," and Gabe says there's no such thing as the "far left" in Canada. Both of them blow off a whole bunch of steam in this week's edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services! 
KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/

The UCP Plan for Healthcare

From an Edmonton MP's visit to Ukraine, to a broadcaster's battle against an online harasser, to the UCP's plan for healthcare, this is a Real Talk episode you'll want to catch from start-to-finish. 
3:15 | Heather McPherson's just back from Ukraine, where the Member of Parliament for Edmonton-Strathcona met with diplomats and civilians amid Russian attacks. She tells us about what she saw there, how it shaped her opinion on supports from Canada. The NDP MP also chimes in on Chinese interference in Canadian democracy, including where she says the Prime Minister's falling short. 
19:39 | It's a big day for broadcaster Jody Vance. She joins Real Talk an hour before facing her harasser in court. Jody tells us how it all started, why she pressed charges, what she makes of his guilty plea...and she says his name out loud for the first time, right here on Real Talk. 
36:00 | Underfund, criticize, privatize. That's Dr. Rebecca Graff-McRae's assessment of the UCP plan for healthcare in Alberta. The Parkland Institute research manager takes us into her feature in the March issue of Alberta Views, and explains why the province's healthcare crisis isn't even close to being fixed. 
SUBSCRIBE TO ALBERTA VIEWS: the promo code AVRJ knocks 50% off a one-year, ten-issue subscription at https://albertaviews.ca/subscribe/
1:16:03 | Adam's sick of hearing about "rage farming," and Gabe says there's no such thing as the "far left" in Canada. Both of them blow off a whole bunch of steam in this week's edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services! 
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/@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.

No More RCMP

The Alberta city of Grande Prairie (population 68,000) has $10M from the province to transition from the RCMP to a municipal police service. It's interesting timing, with Premier Danielle Smith intent on replacing the Mounties with a provincial force. Ryan chats with Mayor Jackie Clayton and Councillor Dylan Bressey on the heels of Monday's 8-1 city council vote in favour of the move. But first...
4:37 | No, you won't soon be able to buy cocaine in BC convenience stores. Moira Wyton, journalist for The Tyee, joins to fact check the story that grabbed Canada's attention last week. Meantime, BC becomes the first jurisdiction in Canada to cover prescription contraception April 1st. Rachel Notley says she'll do the same thing in Alberta if the NDP wins the May election. What are the implications? 
35:40 | Who's going to pay for Grande Prairie's new municipal police service? How is it possible without a tax increase, as Mayor Jackie Clayton's promising? What convinced Councillor Dylan Bressey to change his mind and vote in favour of replacing the RCMP? Do the elected officials fear they're being used as pawns by a provincial government intent on establishing a provincial police force? We get into a story with significant implications across Alberta. 
1:07:03 | Would you take your kids to Vegas? Ryan and Johnny weigh the pros and cons.
SHOOT US AN EMAIL: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
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.

Life Savers & Game Changers

On International Women's Day, we feature back-to-back Real Talk Round Tables presented by Urban Timber: the heavy lifting emergency shelters are doing in Alberta, and game-changing opportunities for women in the male-dominated aviation industry. 
1:40 | It's an ugly reality: domestic violence is more of an issue now than ever before in Alberta, and thousands of women and children are being turned away from emergency shelters operating at capacity. Jan Reimer, Marla Poelzer, and survivor Candice Ryan join for a to-the-point talk about root causes, life-saving resources, and what needs to change.
ALBERTA COUNCIL OF WOMEN'S SHELTERS: https://acws.ca/JESSICA MARTEL MEMORIAL FOUNDATION: https://jessicamartelmemorialfoundation.com/
42:07 | Fewer than 10% of pilots are women. Fewer than 5% of aircraft maintenance technicians are women. Fewer than 20% of air traffic controllers are women. Kendra Kincaide wants to change that. The CEO of Elevate Aviation joins colleague Nova Andrews and graduate Cassara Nash to explain how they're introducing more women to careers in aviation, and which barriers still exist. 
CHECK OUT ELEVATE AVIATION'S FREE NINE-WEEK COURSE: https://elevateaviation.ca/
1:13:50 | Spring Break is nearly upon us! It's a perfect time of year to take the family to Jasper. This week's #MyJasper Memories highlights a few season-specific opportunities, including a dog sledding adventure back in time! 
BOOK YOUR JASPER SPRING BREAK GETAWAY: https://www.jasper.travel/
1:16:50 | Who's in the room? Are we living up to the promises we're making to our little girls by following through with actions? Women hold just 35% of leadership positions, despite being at least 50% of the workforce. We wrap this special episode of Real Talk with a video produced by Hoopla Media. 
LEARN MORE ABOUT HOOPLA'S "EVERY OPPORTUNITY" CAMPAIGN: https://hooplamedia.ca/iwd
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.

Canadian in a Crisis Zone

It's hard to imagine the devastation caused by the Turkey-Syria earthquake on February 6: more than 50,000 people killed, hundreds of thousands displaced, and at least $100B in damage to Turkey's infrastructure alone. Medair is one of the NGOs working to provide basic resources including water and shelter in and around Aleppo. Aid worker Raija-Liisa Schmidt-Teigen joins us live from Damascus. But first...
2:08 | It turns out a BC company will not be manufacturing and selling cocaine to the general public after all. Despite what Adastra Holdings announced late last week, Health Canada says the claims are inaccurate. Our fact check turns into a conversation about drug policy in Canada, including decriminalizing "hard" drugs and supporting safe supply.
HAVE YOUR SAY: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
21:05 | Raija-Liisa Schmidt-Teigen has been doing humanitarian work in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, and Syria for more than 15 years. She tells us present-day Syria - "a crisis heaped on top of a crisis" - is the worst she's ever seen. Don't miss her first-hand report on what Canadian and other aid workers are doing to save lives in desperate circumstances. 
LEARN MORE/DONATE TO MEDAIR: https://www.medair.org/
53:10 | Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre says there will be no consequences for MPs who met with far-right German politician Christine Anderson during her recent visit to Canada. Poilievre, who called Anderson's views "vile and racist" just a few days ago, is attempting to drag Justin Trudeau's history of blackface back into the chat. Will it work for him politically? Ryan explores the story. 
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.

Toxic Tailings Pond Coverup

It's easy to understand why members of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation are "dismayed" to discover millions of litres of toxic oilsands tailings leaking into land and water where they harvest food. Chief Allan Adam has ordered his community to destroy any food (including game) collected since May. It's the latest chapter in an ongoing battle between industry and nearby Indigenous communities who've seen disproportionate cancer rates over many years. Chief Adam tells us what his community expects from the provincial government, the Alberta Energy Regulator, and Imperial Oil. But first... 
3:20 | Alberta and Ottawa have a new $24B health funding deal. Associate Finance Minister Randy Boissonnault brings the federal perspective on how the deal will impact healthcare delivery, and what changes re: accountability on how the money's spent. 
14:18 | Chief Allan Adam says there's "no trust" between the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and the Alberta Energy Regulator. Just a few days ago, the public learned a nine-month toxic leak from Imperial Oil's Kearl oilsands site had polluted muskeg and forest as well as a small lake and tributaries of the Firebag and Muskeg rivers. Chief Adam tells us how his community is responding, and what needs to happen now. 
38:15 | It's time to treat Alberta's most vulnerable citizens with dignity. That, from lawyer Andrew Green, who's advocated for hundreds of AISH recipients through his role with the Edmonton Community Legal Centre. He explains why the income support program is in desperate need of an overhaul, addresses the notion it's rife with fraud, and lays out what he's hoping to hear from political parties ahead of the May election. 
CONNECT WITH THE ECLC: https://www.eclc.ca/
1:04:12 | Have you checked out last week's interview with Johann Hari? The "Stolen Focus" author explains why we can't pay attention, and how we can think deeply again. His message resonated with Real Talker "Don," who shared a teacher's perspective on how tech is hurting young learners. 
WATCH OUR INTERVIEW WITH JOHANN HARI: https://www.youtube.com/live/hYF0HXFViMU?feature=share&t=2527
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
1:06:39 | We shine light on an incredible survival story in the Swiss Alps in this week's Positive Reflections presented by our friends at Kuby Energy. You've got to see this video to believe it! 
GET YOUR FREE SOLAR QUOTE TODAY: 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.

TOXIC TAILINGS POND

Wade says Ryan needs to "grow a pair," and Rod's sick of seeing "bullshit corporate delay tactics" with toxic tailings ponds near Ft. McMurray. Both take centre stage in this week's Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services.
KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/

SMITH vs. NOTLEY

It was a big week in Alberta politics. A big-spending budget from Premier Danielle Smith's UCP says a lot about how the governing party intends to win the May election. So does the response from Rachel Notley's NDP. Pundits say it's too close to call right now. So, what'll it take for either party to win? Our Real Talk Round Table digs in. But first...
2:45 | Sarah Lawrynuik's been doing remarkable reporting from the front lines in Ukraine. She joins Ryan to reflect on the people she's met, the stories she's heard, and what she's learned about the true impact of this war on millions of Ukrainians. 
CHECK OUT SARAH'S WORK: https://www.sarahlawrynuik.com/HERE'S HER CAJ-NOMINATED CLIMATE FEATURE: https://www.canadaland.com/podcast/776-prairie-poop-bots-floods-and-water-shortages/
36:00 | To form government, Rachel Notley needs to flip about 20 ridings from UCP to NDP. Conversely, Danielle Smith could lose 18 seats and still win. How's it all going to play out? Our Real Talk Round Table presented by Urban Timber features Daveberta's Dave Cournoyer, Alberta Advantage podcaster Roberta Lexier, and CBC political columnist Jason Markusoff. 
CHECK OUT DAVEBERTA: https://daveberta.ca/CHECK OUT ALBERTA ADVANTAGE: https://albertaadvantagepod.com/READ JASON'S WORK: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/author/jason-markusoff-1.6448323
BROWSE URBAN TIMBER'S STUNNING TABLES: https://www.urbantimber.ca/
1:33:40 | Wade says Ryan needs to "grow a pair," and Rod's sick of seeing "bullshit corporate delay tactics" with toxic tailings ponds near Ft. McMurray. Both take centre stage in this week's Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services.
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/@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.

Are You Addicted To Your Phone?

Society's on a road to ruin. We're slaves to our devices. Teenagers can only focus on one task for an average 65 seconds at a time. We're losing our ability to pay attention, let alone think deeply. Best-selling author Johann Hari joins us to talk about his new book "Stolen Focus". But first...
1:45 | A majority of Canadians believe China is interfering in our democracy, and Ottawa needs to do something about it. But what does that look like? How deeply seeded is Chinese influence in Canada? Former diplomat and federal cabinet minister Chris Alexander says it's up to the Prime Minister to take a stand. 
36:07 | Supriya Dwivedi's shocking interaction with a thoracic surgeon involved in her husband's cancer treatment prompted Real Talker "Martin" to reach out. He's also a thoracic surgeon. You'll want to catch his response to what he heard from Supriya on Friday's show. 
EMAIL US: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
42:15 | Are you addicted to your phone? Have you lost your ability to pay attention? Author Johann Hari takes us into his new book "Stolen Focus" to help us understand how troubling our tech dependency really is. Don't miss his take on the root cause of the opioid crisis, and the future of the four day work week. 
GET YOUR TICKETS TO SEE JOHANN IN EDMONTON: https://www.mentalhealthfoundation.ca/annual-fundraising-breakfast/CHECK OUT JOHANN'S WORK: https://johannhari.com/
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.

Alberta’s Best Budget Breakdown

2:20 | The doctor is in the house! Does physician Shazma Mithani think the UCP's $68B budget has what it takes to heal healthcare? The ER doc and social media educator diagnoses what's leading to unprecedented burnout among health professionals, and explains why she's adamantly against private or "third way" options to ease surgical wait times. 
FOLLOW DR. MITHANI ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/shazmamithaniFOLLOW DR. MITHANI ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/drshazmamithani/CHECK OUT HER COLUMN IN THE STAR: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2023/01/27/doctors-face-significant-rates-of-burnout-if-our-system-is-not-fixed-soon.html
28:40 | We get it: numbers can be boring. Not everybody gets excited about Budget Day. We promised you Alberta's Best Budget Breakdown, and our panel delivers! Rick Bell, Kristin Raworth, and Michael Solberg bring "real life" perspectives to Alberta's $68B budget, and set the stage for the upcoming provincial election. 
1:11:40 | Ladies: the annual PJ Party is coming back to the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, and you and your girls are invited! March also brings the return of Devour! The Canadian Rockies Food Film Festival. We highlight both of these must-attend events in this week's #MyJasper Memories presented by Tourism Jasper. 
BOOK YOUR JASPER GETAWAY: https://www.jasper.travel/events/ 
1:14:00 | Congratulations Jamie, winner of our Real Talk Email of the Month! Jamie's note "To Drink or Not To Drink..." prompted several on-air discussions, an interview with "Down and Back" author Justin Bourne, and a TON of emails and tweets from Real Talkers. Jamie wins an official Real Talk studio mug for getting us all thinking! 
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
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.