Episodes

Thursday Sep 07, 2023
What Do Canadians Care About?
Thursday Sep 07, 2023
Thursday Sep 07, 2023
The loudest voices don't always represent majority opinions. In this episode of Real Talk, we find out what Canadians actually think about a parent's right to be informed, the next Prime Minister of Canada, appropriate supports for wildfire evacuees, parole for convicted killers, and more.
6:15 | Our September 6 episode about class sizes in Alberta resonated with a bunch of you. Ryan shares a few messages from Real Talkers - some seeing classes more than FORTY students.
7:45 | Shachi Kurl understands Canadians more than most. As president at the Angus Reid Institute and a national media pundit, it's her job to figure out what we think of hot-button issues (and why). She breaks down poll results on New Brunswick and Saskatchewan requiring parental permission for student pronoun changes, Pierre Poilievre blowing past Justin Trudeau in popularity polling, and Joe Biden's future as POTUS.
CHECK OUT ANGUS REID ONLINE: https://angusreid.org/
45:50 | Fresh off a win at the National Native Media Awards, APTN journalist Dani Paradis takes us into the under-told story of the unhoused evacuees of the NWT. It's hard to believe, but one of the men convicted in the killings of two Metis hunters is already up for parole. Dani updates that story right before she heads back to court to cover it.
READ DANI'S WORK: https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/nwt-evacuation-order-lifted-unhoused-evacuees/?fbclid=IwAR0CQ_mUNnQ-CZlM_lBGX5ktjdTt108YcbrTRMJRg1-p72X4UVY9N-lEI1E_aem_AWl9qL0K2Yncftd9MRQ_eGUNyl5Y6-cs1xMmfq_Pgz5CVSavKALu0xgiLuw6TOZ3YpY
1:20:45 | Have you watched Painkiller on Netflix or Dopesick on Apple TV? Ryan and Johnny compare the two, and share a few thoughts on the opioid crisis.
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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.

Wednesday Sep 06, 2023
Bursting at the Seams: Alberta’s Overcrowded Classrooms
Wednesday Sep 06, 2023
Wednesday Sep 06, 2023
Canada's richest province spends the least per student on education. Classrooms are packed, teachers are stretched, and kids aren't getting the supports they need. What's going on in Alberta?
2:30 | Karlee Hren has been teaching elementary school for more than a decade. Laurence Miall's a journalist whose eldest child just started kindergarten. They join Ryan in studio to talk about crowded classrooms, provincial education budgets, private school funding, pronoun policies, Pride flags in schools, uniforms, standardized testing, and more. If you care about the future of education (and our kids), you don't want to miss this conversation!
READ LAURENCE'S PIECE IN ALBERTA VIEWS: https://albertaviews.ca/
KNOCK 50% OFF A ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION TO ALBERTA VIEWS WITH THE PROMO CODE AVRJ: https://albertaviews.ca/subscribe/
1:26:30 | The Jespersen family's recent trip to Jasper is front and centre in this week's #MyJasper Memories presented by Tourism Jasper. Ryan also shares some of the amazing opportunities to explore Jasper National Park through September and October.
BOOK A GUIDED GLACIER TOUR: https://rockaboo.ca/CHECK OUT THE JASPER DARK SKY FESTIVAL: https://www.jasperdarksky.travel/
1:34:30 | Real Talker JK has a few thoughts on Ontario and Saskatchewan requiring schools to get parental permission for pronoun changes.
1:38:55 | Real Talker Kathy has a lot on her mind after listening to our "Canada in the Year 2060" episode with climate journalist Anne Shibata Casselman.
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WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrjTWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.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.

Tuesday Sep 05, 2023
Canada in 2060: Summers Lost, Biblical Floods, Political Turmoil
Tuesday Sep 05, 2023
Tuesday Sep 05, 2023
Science says it's too late to avoid some of the inevitable impacts of climate change. Journalist Anne Shibata Casselman spent six months investigating what Canada's likely to look like in 2060. Her findings are shocking, to say the least. We get into her Macleans feature on this episode of Real Talk. But first...
5:18 | The trial of "Freedom Convoy" co-organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber begins today. Charles Adler tells us why every Canadian should care about the outcome. Plus, how bad is the Doug Ford/Greenbelt story? And what consequences (if any) should a Red Deer Catholic School trustee face for comparing Nazi and Pride flags?
32:00 | Summers lost to fire and smoke. Biblical floods. Dying forests. Retreating coasts. Economic turmoil and political unrest. It’s going to be a weird century. Journalist Anne Shibata Casselman takes us into her Macleans feature "Canada in the year 2060".
READ THE PIECE: https://macleans.ca/society/environment/canada-in-the-year-2060/
1:30:30 | It was a record-setting Tee Up for Tots golf tournament at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge this year. Ryan celebrates the $1.123 MILLION fundraiser for the Stollery Children's Hospital in this week's Positive Reflections presented by Kuby Renewable Energy.
GET A FREE SOLAR QUOTE: https://kubyenergy.ca/
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WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrjTWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.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.

Friday Sep 01, 2023
Best of Real Talk: Scandal at the Calgary Stampede
Friday Sep 01, 2023
Friday Sep 01, 2023
For decades, officials at the Calgary Stampede knew a predator was working with the famed Young Canadians, but covered it up. Strategist Stephen Carter pulls no punches in telling us what needs to happen next. Advocate Danielle Aubry explains how scandals like this can continue undetected for years. MP George Chahal tells us why he thinks the Stampede needs to pay a price for being complicit. Enjoy this episode of The Best of Real Talk!
ryanjespersen.com #RealTalkRJ

Thursday Aug 31, 2023
Best of Real Talk: The Mind-Boggling Massacre of Twitter
Thursday Aug 31, 2023
Thursday Aug 31, 2023
Of all the ways to blow $44 billion... Social media experts Kathleen Smith, Karly Watson, and Beverley Theresa give us the goods on the future of Twitter and TikTok. Branding experts Josh Dunford and Ashley Harrigan explain the science of branding, and what makes for a brilliant (or bone-headed) rebrand. Enjoy this episode of The Best of Real Talk!
ryanjespersen.com #RealTalkRJ

Wednesday Aug 30, 2023
Best of Real Talk: The Energy Debates
Wednesday Aug 30, 2023
Wednesday Aug 30, 2023
Alberta's Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz tells us about her closed door meeting with federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault. NDP Energy Critic tells us why she thinks Alberta's government is out to lunch pressing pause on renewables. Andrew Leach cuts through the political noise and breaks down the current and future economics of Canada's energy industry. Rural Municipalities of Alberta President tells us why he thinks the government is making the right move with its moratorium on wind and solar.
ryanjespersen.com #RealTalkRJ

Tuesday Aug 29, 2023
Best of Real Talk: The Fight for Queer Rights
Tuesday Aug 29, 2023
Tuesday Aug 29, 2023
Mayor Bob Young wasn't tolerating any lunacy at a recent Leduc Council meeting. Randy Boissonnault lets us know what he thinks about the "Straight Pride Green Shirt Guy" at the Calgary Stampede. Our Pride Real Talk Round Table provides three fascinating perspectives. Enjoy this episode of The Best of Real Talk!
ryanjespersen.com #RealTalkRJ

Monday Aug 28, 2023
Best of Real Talk: Wild Weather Stories!
Monday Aug 28, 2023
Monday Aug 28, 2023
Aaron Jayjack's death-defying storm chasing blows our mind. Chris Gloninger tells us why he walked away from a big broadcasting job in the States. Enjoy this episode of The Best of Real Talk!
ryanjespersen.com #RealTalkRJ

Saturday Aug 26, 2023
Trash Talk - Real Talkers Are All Riled Up!
Saturday Aug 26, 2023
Saturday Aug 26, 2023
Real Talkers are riled up about a whole bunch of things - from our David Parker interview to gun control to the CFL to "platforming" - in a raucous edition of Trash Talk presented by our friends at Local Environmental Services!
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Thursday Aug 24, 2023
What’s So Special About Prairie Food?
Thursday Aug 24, 2023
Thursday Aug 24, 2023
There's just something about a farm family recipe. Whether the food is inspired by a cultural or ethnic tradition, season, or region, nothing compares to an iconic dish passed down for generations. Pull your chair up to the table as we celebrate Western Canadian cuisine!
3:15 | Twyla Campbell and Dan Clapson are two of Canada's most-respected food writers. The dynamic duo joins Ryan around the Real Talk Round Table to dig into their stunning new book, "Prairie: Seasonal, Farm-Fresh Recipes Celebrating the Canadian Prairies."
CHECK OUT PRAIRIE: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/691738/prairie-by-dan-clapson-and-twyla-campbell/9780525611929
1:10:15 | We learn something new on Real Talk every day! Today's lesson is courtesy Real Talker Devin, who brings some interesting background to last week's chat about "fullscap" paper.
1:14:45 | Real Talkers are riled up about a whole bunch of things - from our David Parker interview to gun control to the CFL to "platforming" - in a raucous edition of Trash Talk presented by our friends at Local Environmental Services!
SUBMIT YOUR TRASH TALK: talk@ryanjespersen.com
KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/
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WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrjTWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.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.