Real Talk Ryan Jespersen
Real Talk about news, politics, and pop culture. Hosted by Ryan Jespersen from Edmonton, Alberta. Live weekday mornings at 8:30am MT. #RealTalkRJ
Real Talk about news, politics, and pop culture. Hosted by Ryan Jespersen from Edmonton, Alberta. Live weekday mornings at 8:30am MT. #RealTalkRJ
Episodes

Oct 12, 2023
The Case For An Alberta Pension Plan
Oct 12, 2023
Oct 12, 2023
1hr 13 min
Is Alberta really entitled to more than half the funds in the Canada Pension Plan? How serious is the government about trying to withdraw those funds and establish a provincial plan? What are the chances the whole thing could backfire?
0:20 | Alberta's Minister of Finance Nate Horner makes the case for an Alberta Pension Plan.
TAKE THE SURVEY: https://www.albertapensionplan.ca/
32:00 | Two former Quebec junior hockey players pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a minor in June 2021 as their team celebrated a championship win. We take a look at Nicolas Daigle and Massimo Siciliano's guilty plea, and the bigger implications on the sport.
56:20 | You have a lot to say about the NHL banning Pride Tape. Ryan reads some of the responses to his tweet about the decision.
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com
BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
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.

Oct 11, 2023
Oct 11, 2023
1hr 21 min
A violent attack by someone out on bail. Cops accused of excessive force. Homeless encampments cleared by police. Missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Serious charges stayed for unreasonable delay. Deaths of imprisoned people from overdose or suicide. The headlines tell the story of a broken criminal justice system. In this episode of Real Talk, we find out if and how it can be fixed.
3:15 | But first...in one of the more cowardly and regressive moves in recent pro sports history, the NHL has banned Pride Tape from warmups. Ryan and Johnny take a look at what the biggest stars in the game are saying, and wonder who'll be first to take a fine to show some love to LGBTQ hockey fans.
17:35 | Benjamin Perrin's putting Canada's criminal justice system on trial. The UBC Law professor and former justice advisor to Prime Minister Stephen Harper explains why our system is such a mess, and plots a course forward.
CHECK OUT BEN'S BOOK "INDICTMENT": https://benjaminperrin.ca/
52:00 | The Jasper Dark Sky Festival is almost upon us! We take a look at some of the coolest options and activities for families...most of them free!
LEARN MORE: https://www.jasperdarksky.travel/
57:17 | Real Talkers have a lot to say about the Israel-Hamas War, and our early coverage of it. Ryan reads some of the best emails sent to talk@ryanjespersen.com.
BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
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.

Oct 10, 2023
Brutal Terror Attack Leads to Full-Blown War
Oct 10, 2023
Oct 10, 2023
1hr 33 min
The world watched in horror as Hamas fighters inflicted the deadliest attack in Israel's history over the weekend. An unimaginable assault on innocent civilians, including babies and the elderly, leading Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare that his country was “at a war”.
1:30 | Ryan opens the show with a few observations about what's happening in Israel in Gaza as well as here in Canada and elsewhere around the world.
4:10 | Kinneret Ozeri spent the weekend in and out of bomb shelters with her husband and their three daughters. She joins us live from their home in Harish, Israel, to try to explain the toll the terror attack has taken on their family and friends.
24:15 | We revisit our May 11 interview with Mousa Qasqas, a Palestinian-Canadian activist from Edmonton.
FULL INTERVIEW WITH MOUSA: https://www.youtube.com/live/h_uEsAc2SYg?si=YMuSzDi2YLAE5cRy&t=450
26:12 | We ask Charles Adler what he thinks about pro-Palestine rallies held in Canada as terror attacks were still being carried out in Israel. Ryan and Charles also touch on Premier-elect Wab Kinew's historic victory in Manitoba last week.
1:00:00 | Helen Naslund is serving an 18-year sentence for killing her husband, after enduring horrific abuse for more than 30 years. Her story is the subject of a new podcast, In Her Defence, hosted by The Globe & Mail's Jana Pruden, who joins Ryan in studio.
CHECK OUT THE PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/in-her-defence/id1707875517?i=1000628278975
LEARN MORE ABOUT AB COUNCIL OF WOMEN'S SHELTERS: https://acws.ca/
1:28:15 | Have you ever thought about your legacy one hundred years from now? This week's Positive Reflections presented by Kuby Renewable Energy is dedicated to all of us who might benefit from stepping away from the rat race from time to time.
GET A FREE SOLAR QUOTE: https://kubyenergy.ca/
BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
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.

Oct 7, 2023
Oct 7, 2023
6 min
Real Talkers sound off on Nazis in the House of Commons, political posturing, an Alberta Pension Plan, coal mining in the Rockies, and leaf blowers (!) in this week's edition of Trash Talk!
SUBMIT YOUR RANT: talk@ryanjespersen.com

Oct 6, 2023
Is Airbnb To Blame for the Housing Crisis?
Oct 6, 2023
Oct 6, 2023
1hr 26 min
Canada's got an affordable housing crisis. Nobody can argue that. But is cracking down on short-term rentals like Airbnbs the right solution? The federal government is considering it as part of a bigger-picture plan. What ripple effects should homeowners and real estate investors expect?
11:15 | Ryan's not sure it's the right move. We take a look at what Real Talkers are saying in the YouTube live chat.
36:00 | Half of 13,000 post-secondary students polled say they've experienced sexual or gender-based violence on campus. Student leaders are demanding action. Our Real Talk Round Table features Rachele Preston from the University of Lethbridge, Prabhjit Grewal from Mount Royal University, and Chris Beasley from the University of Alberta.
LEARN MORE: https://www.caus.net/news/2023/8/30/students-demand-action-on-sexual-violence-prevention
1:07:20 | Ryan revisits his mental health quiz from our October 5 episode, which revealed the potential for a "major depressive episode".
COUNSELLING ALBERTA: https://www.counsellingalberta.com/
1:18:05 | Real Talkers sound off on Nazis in the House of Commons, political posturing, an Alberta Pension Plan, coal mining in the Rockies, and leaf blowers (!) in this week's edition of Trash Talk!
SUBMIT YOUR RANT: talk@ryanjespersen.com
BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
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.

Oct 5, 2023
Oct 5, 2023
1hr 52 min
We're talk mental health and addiction today...DON'T SCROLL PAST! We get it...it's uncomfortable subject matter. But we guarantee you'll learn something (and maybe even save yourself) by checking out this extended-length episode of Real Talk.
3:25 | But first...Ryan opens the show with a few thoughts about Wab Kinew and the NDP's big victory in Manitoba. How does it change the political dynamic across the Prairies, and how do the PCs begin their brand rehabilitation?
11:10 | It's National Depression Screening Day. Sarah Rosenfeld from the Calgary Counselling Centre explains why screening is so important, even if you feel like everything's fine. Ryan takes a quick quiz live on the show, and is surprised by the result.
TAKE THE QUIZ: https://areyoufeelingok.com/
37:20 | Why are we okay with funding schools and kids sports on the backs of gambling addicts? Recovering gambler Andree Busenius and Alberta Views Editor Evan Osenton dig into Alberta's ugly addiction.
SUBSCRIBE TO ALBERTA VIEWS for 50% off with the promo code AVRJ: https://albertaviews.ca/
1:47:23 | The Jasper Dark Sky Festival is fast approaching! We shine a light on a few of the highlights through the first weekend of this amazing annual event in #MyJasper Memories presented by Tourism Jasper.
BOOK YOUR JASPER GETAWAY: https://www.jasperdarksky.travel/
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com
BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
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.

Oct 3, 2023
Oct 3, 2023
1hr 25 min
Do you have a strong opinion on the proposed Alberta Pension Plan? It's leading national news headlines, as the Alberta government is asking citizens to chime in on the idea. In this episode of Real Talk, we get a couple different perspectives so you can make an informed decision.
3:40 | Canadians have come to trust Dr. Trevor Tombe's informed, non-partisan takes on economic matters. The University of Calgary economist explains why the UCP's Alberta Pension Plan idea is "full of holes".
READ TREVOR'S COLUMN: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-albertas-pension-plan-idea-is-full-of-holes/
DIG EVEN DEEPER: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4576950
46:00 | NDP MLA Shannon Phillips tells us why she thinks the APP is "a monumentally stupid idea". The Official Opposition Finance Critic also tells us how she thinks the government should respond to skyrocketing electricity costs and a devastating death toll due to drug poisonings.
1:12:00 | Do you have your Halloween costume picked out? Johnny takes us through some of the top themes for 2023.
1:16:23 | Real Talker Tina D. has lots to say about our conversation with Charles Adler about the former Nazi SS soldier applauded in the House of Commons. Tina takes us back to the early 1930s in famine-ravaged Ukraine, and really gets us thinking.
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com
BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
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.

Oct 2, 2023
Oct 2, 2023
1hr 24 min
Our elected MPs gave a former Nazi SS soldier a standing ovation in the House of Commons. Alberta wants to pull out of the Canada Pension Plan. Manitoba's PC Party is making some mind-boggling moves just days before an election. We've got a lot to talk about in this episode of Real Talk!
2:55 | Who should be most embarrassed by 300 or so federal MPs standing to applaud a former Nazi SS soldier? What prompted the Manitoba PCs to run bone-headed billboards days away from an election? Charles Adler gives us his Canadian Common Sense.
33:50 | What do Alberta businesses need to not just survive, but thrive? What can we read into the latest GDP and population growth numbers? What will entrepreneurs and Chambers be watching this fall legislative session? Alberta Chambers of Commerce President and CEO Shauna Feth joins Ryan in studio to shine the spotlight on Alberta business.
CHECK OUT AB CHAMBERS ONLINE: https://www.abchamber.ca/
1:02:52 | The entire country's watching Alberta's move toward a provincial pension plan. Ryan shares a few thoughts at this early point in the campaign.
1:08:50 | We're all so sorry to hear of Chris Snow's passing. Ryan and Johnny reflect on our conversation with Chris' wife Kelsie, host of the "Sorry, I'm Sad" podcast.
WATCH OUR INTERVIEW WITH KELSIE SNOW: https://www.youtube.com/live/vsemtZW-H4U?si=idBoIpyJF0pDEKpe&t=2392
SUPPORT THE SNOW FAMILY: https://www.gofundme.com/f/234ds-help-the-snow-family
1:19:40 | A 13 year old in White Rock, BC just struck a big deal with Sony. We celebrate his amazing achievement in this week's Positive Reflections presented by Kuby Renewable Energy.
GET A FREE SOLAR QUOTE: https://kubyenergy.ca/
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com
BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
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.

Sep 23, 2023
Sep 23, 2023
11 min
Everybody's talking about the "1 Million March 4 Children" that went down earlier this week, so it's no surprise you've got a LOT to get off your chest. In response to our inbox being absolutely slammed, it's an extended edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services!
EMAIL US: talk@ryanjespersen.com

Sep 22, 2023
Sep 22, 2023
1hr 40 min
People don't feel safe these days. Whether it's riding inner-city transit or living in a remote, rural location, Canadians are experiencing escalating rates of violent crime. What's the solution? Bail reform? Tougher sentences? More robust support services?
3:30 | The presidents of the Alberta Crown Attorneys' Office (Dallas Sopko) and the Criminal Trial Lawyers Association (Paul Moreau) join us for a Real Talk Round Table on crime and punishment.
1:05:30 | Our dear friend Supriya Dwivedi is back with a straight-shooting take on tensions between Canada and India, including an indictment of Canadian media coverage over the years. Careful you don't spit out your coffee when you hear her talk about "hate boners" (immediately an all-time Real Talk quote)!
1:27:45 | Everybody's talking about the "1 Million March 4 Children" that went down earlier this week, so it's no surprise you've got a LOT to get off your chest. In response to our inbox being absolutely slammed, it's an extended edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services!
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com
KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/
BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
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.









