Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

August 31, 2022 - Confront Hate and Check Facts: Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek and Max Fawcett

0:47 | What would you do with an extra $13B? It's a good problem to have for the Alberta government, which is running a far bigger surplus than expected, thanks to relatively high resource revenues. Ryan discusses a few different options on how that surplus could be reinvested.
6:22 | What would you do if you came across a dog (or a child) in a hot car? It happened to Ryan yesterday. We take a look at what you told us via his unofficial, unscientific Twitter poll.
CHECK OUT THE POLL RESULTS: https://twitter.com/ryanjespersen/status/1564676737744924672
13:39 | "It's pretty clear what a horse head symbolizes." Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek talks about death threats levelled at her and her family, and lays out what we (politicians, media, and the general public) need to do about online rage and offline (real life) implications. 
CHECK OUT MAYOR GONDEK'S TWITTER THREAD: https://twitter.com/JyotiGondek/status/1563994106468380672
42:42 | Is Justin Trudeau really rolling out body armour-clad Climate Police officers, like Danielle Smith's saying? Canada's National Observer lead columnist Max Fawcett fact checks the story, and shares his thoughts on who should be held responsible for spreading misinformation, and how. 
READ MAX'S WORK: https://www.nationalobserver.com/
1:11:22 | Sunday, September 11 is Be More Kind Day. Real Talk is proud to support this important initiative. Ryan tees up our involvement with Be More Kind Day, which we'll officially announce tomorrow - Thursday, September 1. Be sure to check out that episode! 
1:13:51 | This week's #MyJasper Memories features a remarkable Jasper resident: brain injury survivor Elissa Cummings. Don't miss this feature, part of the continuing Venture Beyond video series.
CHECK OUT ELISSA'S FULL FEATURE: https://www.jasper.travel/discover-jasper/venture-beyond-series/
WEBSITE: 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.

August 30, 2022 - ”F*ck off, you f*ckwads” - Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien; Charles Adler

11:11 | "Human wildlife" is how Charles Adler describes Elliot McDavid, the man who confronted Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland in Grande Prairie over the weekend. Adler's being criticized for "attacking conservatives" with his assessment. He and Ryan discuss the difference between a fair and unfair label, and explore the roots of many Albertans' demand to be treated differently than their fellow Canadians. 
37:27 | "F*ck off, you f*ckwads." That was Mayor Diane Therrien's message to QAnon supporters attempting to place Peterborough police officers under citizen's arrest. We talk to Mayor Therrien about the international attention she received for her comments, what her text inbox looked like after she tweeted out her personal phone number, and why she's not seeking re-election. Do not miss this interview with Ryan's new favourite politician! 
1:01:22 | Johnny and Ryan recap the interview with Mayor Therrien, including their thoughts on the differences between Gen X'ers, Millennials, and Gen Z in politics, the workforce, and elsewhere.
1:06:46 | Have you ever experienced vertigo? Do you know someone who has? They may benefit from the TRV Chair, in the spotlight in this week's edition of The Leading Edge presented by Leading Edge Physiotherapy.
LIFE SHOULDN'T HURT: 
1:08:46 | We love when you email the show. Ryan reads messages from Chris (gun control) and Chantal (sexism in the workplace) sent to talk@ryanjespersen.com.
WEBSITE: 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.

August 29, 2022 - Deputy PM Freeland Accosted in Alberta; Popular Agri-Tourism Business Shut Down

0:54 | What an absolute embarrassment for Alberta. By now, you've likely seen Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland being verbally accosted by a goon in the lobby of Grande Prairie City Hall. Ryan kicks off the show reviewing video of the incident, and focusing what high-profile politicians are (and aren't) saying.
12:02 | "This is not our Grande Prairie," says Mayor Jackie Clayton...but is that accurate? Her Worship tells us what the first few minutes after the encounter were like, and how she plans to manage the damage to her region's reputation.
33:37 | Real Talkers have a lot to say about what happened in Grande Prairie, and the bigger picture of hate, vitriol, and violence in politics and elsewhere. Ryan reads a couple powerful emails sent to talk@ryanjespersen.com. 
45:24 | Alanna Hnatiw has seen her fair share of poisonous politics. The Sturgeon County Mayor shares her thoughts on the Grande Prairie incident, then takes our questions about the Prairie Gardens controversy. The popular agri-tourism business was recently shut down by the County...but why? We go beyond the headlines to get the real story behind what led to the closure. We wrap with the Mayor's take on the potential of hydrogen (and other energy industry activities) in the area.
1:20:36 | Keanu Reeves headlines this week's edition of Positive Reflections presented by Kuby Energy! 
GET YOUR FREE SOLAR QUOTE TODAY: kubyenergy.ca
WEBSITE: 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.

Trash Talk - August 26, 2022

Ty, a "severely normal" audience member who's "seen enough around him to step up and write into the show for the first time" highlights another red hot edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services!
SEND US YOUR TRASH TALK: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/

August 26, 2022 - Journalists Under Threat; Savage Social Media; the Science of Masks in Schools

11:10 | The White House hired social media strategist Megan Coyne a while back, and it's paying immediate dividends. Supriya Dwivedi and Ryan lead with yesterday's all-out Twitter blitz taking down Republican misinformation re: student loan forgiveness. We also discuss "lack of consensus" re: masks in Ontario schools this fall, and Dr. Leslyn Lewis comparing vaccine mandates to the Holocaust.
SUBSCRIBE TO SERIOUSLY WITH SUPRIYA AND RYAN: https://seriouslypod.com/
34:31 | In what proves to be one of the most candid, insightful, and impactful Real Talk Round Tables in the history of this show, Nora Loreto, Erica Ifill, and Kristin Raworth shine a light on what appears to be a coordinated online campaign of threats and harassment targeting women working in politics and journalism. You won't want to miss this extended-length, pull-no-punches discussion on how we as individuals (and a collective) need to hit this problem head-on. 
READ NORA'S PIECE ON HARASSMENT AND THE MEDIA: https://readpassage.com/the-problem-with-our-conversation-on-harassment-of-journalists/
1:35:57 | Ty, a "severely normal" audience member who's "seen enough around him to step up and write into the show for the first time" highlights another red hot edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services!
SEND US YOUR TRASH TALK: talk@ryanjespersen.com 
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
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.

August 25, 2022 - Gun Control and Student Loan Forgiveness: Rod Giltaca and Elamin Abdelmahmoud

0:43 | Americans making less than $125,000 annually will be eligible for up to $10,000 of their federal student loans. Ahead of our interview at 39:06 with Elamin Abdelmahmoud, Ryan addresses some of the early praise and criticism around the announcement by President Joe Biden.
8:28 | The Mass Casualty Commission in Halifax has shone a light on the inner workings (and dysfunction) within the RCMP. We bring you some of the key moments of RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki's testimony, and highlight some of the responses we've received from Real Talkers to talk@ryanjespersen.com.
18:48 | RCMP Commissioner Lucki says concerns over political interference in the police investigation have been overblown, and she's growing frustrated with questions on the subject. Rod Giltaca would disagree. The CEO of the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights tells us what stood out to him through Lucki's testimony at the MCC, and shares how he sees the gun lobby in the US and Canada as completely separate entities. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CCFR: https://firearmrights.ca/
39:06 | It took Elamin Abdelmahmoud ten years to pay off his $45,000 student loan, and it goes without saying he's not alone. The senior culture writer for BuzzFeed News explains why forgiving student loans isn't a slap in the face, but the right thing to do. Elamin and Ryan discuss the political viability of "free" post-secondary education in Canada, and the debt load facing younger adults. READ ELAMIN'S COLUMN: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/elaminabdelmahmoud/biden-student-loan-forgiveness
1:00:44 | We wrap the show with a follow-up to yesterday's impromptu conversation about the best stops in shopping mall food courts. Saving the best for last!
 
WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJ
INSTAGRAM: 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.

Aug. 24, 2022 - Zellers is Back! Will It Survive This Time? Plus, Dodgeball 101 & #MyJasper Memories

5:47 | Does RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki have any idea what's going on within Canada's national police force? The question is fair, after her damning testimony at the Mass Casualty Commission following the horrific mass shooting in Nova Scotia in April of 2020. Ryan opens the show summarizing what Canada's top cop told (or didn't tell) the MCC over the past couple of days. 
17:44 | Iconic retailer Zellers is coming back...but will Canadians support it? Will the return to brick and mortar work for the formerly-popular discount retailer? Consumer behaviour expert Heather Thomson tells us why Zellers closed years ago, and what to watch for when it opens its doors again.
LEARN MORE ABOUT HEATHER: http://heatherthomson.ca/about/
42:50 | "If you can dodge a wrench...you can dodge a ball." Most people know the one-liners from the popular film "Dodgeball," but how much do you know about the actual sport? As Canada prepares to host the World Dodgeball Championships, we talk to the president of the World Dodgeball Federation and one of Team Canada's top stars.
CHECK OUT THE WORLD DODGEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS: https://worlddodgeballfederation.com/2022-world-dodgeball-championships/
59:19 | The Columbia Icefield is one of Canada's most magnificent natural treasures. In this week's #MyJasper Memories, we learn about Rockaboo Mountain Adventures' "Tread Lightly" Glacier Hikes, and the future of net zero, environmentally-conscious tourism in Jasper National Park. 
BOOK YOUR GLACIER ADVENTURE: https://rockaboo.ca/
WEBSITE: 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.

August 23, 2022 - Andrew Coyne; David Khan

1:14 | Dove Canada is capitalizing on the controversy around Lisa LaFlamme's firing, encouraging women to #KeepTheGrey. Ryan opens the show with an email from Real Talker Laurie, a hairstylist, who offers a unique (and entertaining) angle on aging. 
13:39 | Zeller's is coming back to Canada. No, seriously! Ryan and John muse about what the iconic Canadian retailer's return might look like (ahead of our chat with retail expert Heather Thomson tomorrow). 
15:06 | Andrew Coyne, likely Canada's most-read political commentator, chimes in on Lisa LaFlamme, Pierre Poilievre and Diagolon, Danielle Smith's proposed Alberta Sovereignty Act, and the future of conservatism in Canada. Don't miss this interview! 
39:29 | Constitutional lawyer David Khan explains why the Alberta Sovereignty Act is "gaslighting," and explains why he thinks there's still space on the political spectrum for the Alberta Liberal Party (despite its recent leadership race that drew exactly zero candidates). 
59:03 | We feature a "punk rock" water brand for "straight edge" consumers in this week's edition of The Leading Edge presented by Leading Edge Physiotherapy.
LIFE SHOULDN'T HURT: https://leadingedgephysio.com/

August 22, 2022 - Lisa LaFlamme Canned & Journalists Threatened

Poof...gone. Thirty-five years into a storied career, veteran news anchor Lisa LaFlamme is unceremoniously cut loose by bean counters at CTV. We talk to talk radio legend Charles Adler about the state of media in Canada, and what prompts decisions like this. Chuck also chimes in on the "bacon and eggs" vibe of Pierre Poilievre's latest video aimed at PM Justin Trudeau. 
Journalists, in particular women of colour, are being subjected to a coordinated hate campaign across the country. Senator Paula Simons, an award-winning journalist, shares her thoughts on how such threats should be addressed, and how attitudes in newsrooms have evolved over the years. 
Back after a week on the beach, Ryan looks back on the restorative impact of sand between the toes in this week's edition of Positive Reflections presented by Kuby Energy.
GET YOUR FREE SOLAR QUOTE TODAY: kubyenergy.ca

August 19, 2022 - Best of, Vol. 5 // Real Talk Round Table

Real Talk is on vacation! Enjoy our Best Of episodes this week, featuring some of our favourite recent interviews. We’re back at it live on August 22, 2022.
 
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