Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Why Don’t People Seem To Care About the Stampede Scandal?

Seems like everybody's giving the Calgary Stampede a pass for covering up a sexual abuse scandal for nearly 30 years. Donald Trump's facing serious charges, and could go to jail. He could also still become President again. Pop superstar Lizzo's facing a sexual harassment lawsuit. Plus, Toronto's banning gas-powered leaf blowers and Canada's the first country in the world to require health warnings on individual cigarettes.
13:00 | We've got lots to talk about with strategist Stephen Carter on this episode of Real Talk! 
39:00 | Is the city of Toronto onto something, banning gas-powered leaf blowers? 
50:30 | How likely is it Donald Trump will go to jail? Will this week's indictment kill his chances of becoming POTUS again? Ryan's not so sure.
56:05 | There's a new backpacking guide business in Jasper! We take a look at this awesome opportunity to explore the backcountry in this week's edition of #MyJasper Memories presented by our friends at Tourism Jasper. 
BOOK YOUR BACKPACKING ADVENTURE: https://starrysummit.ca/
59:25 | Have you seen the "new" cigarettes with health warnings printed on each individual dart? Ryan and Johnny (and our live chat) talk about twenty years ago vs. today. 
1:14:45 | Real Talkers Jeff and BMJ have something to say about recent episodes, including the Stampede scandal and "woke" as a pejorative term. 
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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.

Calgary Stampede Abuse Scandal: Decades-Long Coverup Exposed

An adult staffer with The Calgary Stampede's Young Canadians performing arts group sexually assaulted dozens of teens for more than 20 years before the organization did anything about it. This week, the Stampede accepted liability and negligence, announcing a settlement taking "full responsibility in the hopes of helping victims to heal."
3:00 | How does something as horrific as this happen for so long before it's stopped? Does a brand as powerful as the Stampede dodge true accountability? How can the Stampede make this right? Danielle Aubry, CEO of Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse, gets into the tough stuff. 
CCASA ONLINE: https://calgarycasa.com/
39:55 | Calgary MP George Chahal says the federal government needs to pull funding from the Stampede until meaningful steps have been taken. He tells Ryan about some of the blowback he's received since making his statement. 
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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.

Man of the People: Will Pierre Poilievre’s Shtick Stick?

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre says he'll "always support whistleblowers" after the public learned his team covered the legal costs of the person who took down Patrick Brown's CPC leadership bid. It's another step away from Bay Street and closer toward Main Street for the man who wants to be Canada's next Prime Minister. Will it work? We discuss with Charles Adler.
3:50 | But first, we open with a remarkable developing story out of Montana, where a girl who disappeared four years ago has been found alive. 
8:10 | Did organizers of a popular corn maze owe the public an apology after rolling out an RCMP theme? Ryan and Chuck discuss. What message did Prime Minister Trudeau send with his cabinet shuffle...and will it save his political bacon? Is Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre responsible for his party's recent bump in the polls? And what should we make of his team's $37,000 contribution to whistleblower Debra Jodoin's legal fees? 
43:12 | Wyatt Sharpe returns with a stateside look at the early race for the Oval Office. Will GOP candidates' obsession with the "woke agenda" backfire? Should the voting age be raised to 25...or lowered to 16? We discuss with the 14-year-old talk show host. 
SUBSCRIBE TO THE WYATT SHARPE SHOW: https://www.youtube.com/@thewyattsharpeshow
1:04:10 | Imagine being out at sea on your fishing boat, and coming across a vessel that had been floating adrift for months. We showcase an incredible survival story in this week's Positive Reflections presented by Kuby Renewable Energy. 
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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.

Fiery Takes on Energy, Cannabis, & Politics

Michael's got a message for the federal environment minister, Cyndi's got a wake-up call for the cannabis industry, Mike says people need to chill out over Bill C-18, and Trevor's sick of what he sees in the inner city. It's another fiery edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services! 
KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/

Brand Power: How Good and Bad Design Influences Us

We're influenced by marketing way more than we realize. From brands and logos to jingles and taglines, there's a ton of science and strategy behind how businesses (and people) represent themselves to the general public. We welcome two of the industry's best to this week's Real Talk Round Table. 
3:30 | But first...do you believe in intelligent life outside Earth? Real Talker "Anton" has something to say about our otherworldly conversation from yesterday. 
6:45 | What did you think about our interview with psychologist Kimberly Knull on July 27? Real Talker "Gillian" takes on the Jonah Hill/Sarah Brady situation in her email to talk@ryanjespersen.com. 
14:15 | Just a few days ago, Elon Musk dumped years of brand equity, evolving Twitter to "X". While it remains to be seen how the move will impact the social media site, it's safe to say it's one of the biggest rebrands in corporate history. When is a rebrand a good (or bad) move? Does Hockey Canada need one? Is it too soon to judge the Edmonton Elks' evolution? What are the most effective logos in the world, and why? Zag strategy director Ashley Harrigan and Burnkit founder Josh Dunford join us for a fascinating exploration of how marketing and design influences human thought and behaviour. 
CHECK OUT ZAG: https://atozag.ca/
CHECK OUT BURNKIT: https://burnkit.com/#/
1:09:00 | Michael's got a message for the federal environment minister, Cyndi's got a wake-up call for the cannabis industry, Mike says people need to chill out over Bill C-18, and Trevor's sick of what he sees in the inner city. It's another fiery edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services! 
KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/
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WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/RealTalkRJ/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrj

”A Ridiculous Argument” - Rachel Notley On Medical Clinic Memberships

A Calgary medical clinic is charging $5,000 for annual memberships. Sinead O'Connor's gone. Kevin Spacey's acquitted from all charges. PMJT's blown up his cabinet. People are still talking about Jonah Hill's texts to Sarah Brady. And alien-piloted UFOs might really be real. We cover a lot of ground in this episode of Real Talk! 
1:10 | Are you outraged or open-minded by the Marda Loop Medical Clinic's business plan? Ryan and Johnny take a look at the top story in Alberta right now. 
9:20 | We dig deeper into the private clinic model (with a twist). Have you heard about Harrison Healthcare? Are they operating in a grey area? 
16:00 | Irish music icon Sinead O'Connor is dead at 56. Ryan and Johnny take a look at her remarkable (and heartbreaking) legacy. 
25:00 | Kevin Spacey's a free man, after a London jury found him "not guilty" on nine sexual assault charges. But that doesn't mean he's innocent. Did this trial change your mind in any way? 
31:30 | Do we treat healthcare as too sacred of a cow to meaningfully find ways to fix it? Rachel Notley calls one of Ryan's questions "ridiculous" in an interview you won't want to miss. Plus, the Alberta NDP leader responds to a Real Talker who blames her for Alberta's orphan wells. 
42:15 | Do you believe in intelligent life outside Earth? Ryan and Johnny don't exactly see eye-to-eye. So, who's the believer?..
51:40 | The federal government is banking on a cabinet shuffle to improve its chances of an electoral victory next time around. Ryan shares his early thoughts on yesterday's massive cabinet shuffle. 
57:30 | What can we learn from the Sarah Brady/Jonah Hill saga? How can we start to heal relationships badly damaged through the pandemic? How does guilt affect our personal journey? And why do horses make such great therapy companions? Registered psychologist Kimberly Knull joins Ryan in studio.
CONNECT WITH KIM: https://www.kimberlyknull.com/
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
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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.

Up in Smoke: Why Canada’s Cannabis Industry is in Trouble

Why are so many Canadian cannabis growers and retailers closing up shop? Five years post-legalization, what's holding the industry back? Speaking of high-profile industries in Canada, new details are showing why Albertans are getting burned by oil and gas. We dig into both stories on this episode of Real Talk. But first...
6:00 | Kevin Spacey has been cleared by a London jury of all charges of sexual assault. Will any studio take a risk with the two-time Academy Award winner? Ryan and Johnny discuss. 
15:50 | Matt Lamers covers the business of cannabis for MJBizDaily. He takes us into the (shady?) story of Aleafia's insolvency, and explains why so many businesses are struggling. You'll be surprised to hear how cannabis stacks up to beer revenue-wise, and how Indigenous communities are being frozen out by the Cannabis Act. 
CHECK OUT MATT'S WORK: https://mjbizdaily.com/
57:45 | The Jasper Dark Sky Festival is one of the crown jewels when it comes to ways to explore Jasper National Park. We highlight a few new attractions in store for this year's festival, which promises to be out of this world! #MyJasper Memories is presented by our friends at Tourism Jasper. 
CHECK OUT THE JASPER DARK SKY FESTIVAL: https://www.jasperdarksky.travel/
1:00:40 | If orphan wells and other environmental liabilities are such bad news for Alberta, why doesn't the general public seem to care? Energi Media's Markham Hislop is back with part two of his investigative series Unethical Oil.
CHECK OUT MARKHAM'S WORK: https://energi.media/
1:27:20 | Real Talker "JC" has a solution for Canada's methane problem, as outlined in our Hidden Harm episode on July 20. Ryan reads his email to talk@ryanjespersen.com.
USE PROMO CODE "AVRJ" FOR 50% OFF A ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION TO ALBERTA VIEWS: https://albertaviews.ca/
1:37:50 | Our hearts are broken for our dear friend Supriya Dwivedi, who lost her beloved husband Anoop earlier this week. Ryan shares a few thoughts. 
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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.

#cdnpoli Roundup: Another Rate Hike, Poilievre’s Winning Play, & PMJT Security Threats

How are the Hollywood strikes impacting Canadians? When can we expect a break on interest rates? Is Pierre Poilievre right or wrong about the Bank of Canada? Are angry protesters getting too close to Justin Trudeau? We dig into the country's top stories in this episode of Real Talk. 
5:20 | Stephanie Hughes is covering the Hollywood strikes and the Bank of Canada rate increase for Bloomberg. She tells us about the "Barbenheimer Effect," and what the strike means for Canadian film workers (and theatres). Plus, if inflation's back under 3%, why did the BoC just raise rates again?
READ STEPHANIE'S WORK: https://www.bloomberg.com/authors/AWY-CR7s4tY/stephanie-hughes
26:40 | Is Pierre Poilievre onto something, threatening to fire Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem, or could it blow up in the Conservative leader's face? Former CPC and UCP staffer Karamveer Lalh explains why he believes a commitment to "optimistic conservatism" could help the Conservatives form government next election. 
READ KARAMVEER'S PIECE IN THE HUB: https://thehub.ca/2023-07-11/karamveer-lalh-poilievre-is-right-about-canadas-problems-he-should-embrace-optimistic-conservatism-for-solutions/
41:25 | Chris Hayden says an angry mob in Belleville got "way too close" to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The longtime police officer, now working in VIP protection, takes us through the video and explains why the PM's security detail did what they did. (Stick around for his stories about driving Wayne Gretzky and Ice Cube around town!)
CHECK OUT HAYWORK DRIVING: https://hayworkdriving.net/
1:09:20 | Where do you spend your hard-earned dollars on news and entertainment? Ryan and Johnny review our latest unofficial, unscientific Twitter poll. 
POLL RESULTS: https://twitter.com/ryanjespersen/status/1683514547657920512?s=20
1:21:20 | Oops! We missed Positive Reflections on Monday's show (what can we say...we were distracted)! You won't want to miss this remarkable young man's message delivered via doorbell cam. Positive Reflections is presented by Kuby Renewable Energy.
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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.

Twitter X, The Brutes of Belleville, & Bill C-18

This episode is perfect for road trips, bike rides, and dog walks. We check in with talented storytellers Charles Adler and Matt Cundill to get up to speed on Canada's top headlines.
6:00 | What does ketchup have to do with Twitt...er, X? Charles Adler explains, in analyzing Elon Musk's rebrand. Why do we allow the general public to get so close to our politicians? Chuck chimes in on the Prime Minister being mobbed by the "brutes in Belleville". And, does anybody trust the process as gas station owners set their prices at the pump? 
37:55 | Did Ottawa blow it in its fight against Big Tech? Podcast professional Matt Cundill gives us the good, bad, and ugly details of Bill C-18 - the Online News Act. 
CHECK OUT MATT'S PODCAST: https://www.soundoffpodcast.com/
1:15:55 | Did you check out the Barbie movie this weekend? Johnny gives us his review, while Ryan takes a look at what a few cheeky monkeys are doing to respond to the film's loudest critics. Hilarious! 
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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.

Real Talker Rips Trump’s Plans for 2024

Wayne's choked at Charles Adler and wants Ryan to put his money where his mouth's at in this week's Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services.
KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/