Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

April 20, 2022 - Blaise Boehmer on Kenney’s Leadership Review; YYC Poet Laureate Wakefield Brewster

2:50 | Professional poet and spoken word artist Laureate Wakefield Brewster joins us a week after he was introduced to Calgary City Council as the city's sixth Poet Laureate. He tells us when he first knew he perceived the world as an artist would, what it means to "infiltrate" society, and how he's approaching his two-year term. 27:35 | Blaise Boehmer, former Director of Communications for Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, shares his take on Kenney's leadership review, the Brian Jean factor, record insurance profits in Alberta, the UCP approach to harm reduction, and other political stories making news across the province. 58:38 | In this week's edition of #MyJasper Memories presented by Tourism Jasper, we show off a couple ways you can get high up into the alpine in Jasper National Park. Marmot Basin still offers world class mountain riding until closing day on May 1, and the Jasper SkyTram just opened for the season! Learn more here: https://www.jasper.travel/realtalk/

April 19, 2022 - Why Firefighter Megan Wright Left Her Dream Job; Photographer David Liittschwager

4:50 | Earlier this month, Megan Wright publicly left what she says was her "dream job" with Leduc Fire Services. In front of Leduc city councillors, she cited allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct throughout her career. Megan joins Ryan to explain what led to her resignation, and how the mental health implications of a career in first response contributed to her experience. 
45:20 | In this week's edition of The Leading Edge presented by Leading Edge Physiotherapy, we shine the spotlight on Food for Thought, a family-run non-profit providing hot meals for school children that might otherwise go hungry. Learn more here: https://www.foodforthoughtedmonton.com/
47:19 | His career as a fashion-turned-nature photographer has earned David Liittschwager accolades around the world. The National Geographic legend tells us why he specifically chose three elusive sea creatures for his stunning new book, "Octopus, Seahorse, Jellyfish". (A warm welcome to our audience members who typically download the Real Talk podcast, but are here to see David's mesmerizing photos!)
1:13:09 | The first show of every week, Kuby Energy presents Positive Reflections. This week, we highlight the remarkable story of Gabriel Clark, a 12-year-old woodworker whose Ukraine fundraiser smashed every goal, skyrocketing him to Instagram fame along the way!

Trash Talk - April 15, 2022

#TrashTalk | It's Friday, so brace for another rowdy edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental!

April 15, 2022 - Supriya Dwivedi; Unsung Healthcare Heroes

9:13 | Political analyst (and lawyer and broadcaster) Supriya Dwivedi shares her take on Pierre Poilievre's big Alberta crowds, early campaign positions taken by Jean Charest, Patrick Brown, and Dr. Leslyn Lewis. Plus, lax COVID attitudes and the connection to Ontario's upcoming election, the rumoured federal "truck tax," and Elon Musk's quest to buy Twitter.
38:49 | We celebrate unsung healthcare heroes in this week's Real Talk Round Table. Medical Laboratory Technologists Shawna Gawreluck, Ahmed Mostafa, and Anne Halpin share about their "behind the biohazard doors" profession, and explain the impact COVID's made on the work they do. 
1:11:59 | It's Friday, which means time for a (curiously somewhat family-friendly) edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental! Submit your Trash Talk to talk@ryanjespersen.com

April 14, 2022 - COVID Qs answered: Drs. Lynora Saxinger, Darren Markland; Therapist Megan Jespersen

7:47 | How do you find a therapist that's a good fit? Registered clinical counsellor Megan Jespersen (yes, she's Ryan's sister!) explains how you can tell if you'd benefit from therapy, how to choose the right counsellor, and how to tell if the sessions are effective or not. Megan discusses the evolution of stigma around counselling, the growth of specific specialties (ie - religious trauma), and what "making space" means to her.
40:35 | We're staring down a sixth (!) wave of COVID-19, and everybody's got questions. How contagious is this new subvariant? How necessary is a fourth dose of the vaccine? Should we cancel gatherings for Easter, Passover, or Ramadan? Drs. Lynora Saxinger and Darren Markland take your questions, and share their (very candid) personal thoughts as we enter the third year of the pandemic.

April 13, 2022 - Max Fawcett on Canada and the Future of Energy; Lynda Steele on Cost of Living

4:36 | Max Fawcett, lead columnist for Canada's National Observer, responds to Ryan's Tuesday interview with David Knight Legg about Canadian energy and Russia's war in Ukraine. The former editor of Alberta Oil magazine digs into Canada's role in lowering global emissions, the politics of international petroleum markets, and the "coal-powered" criticism of electric vehicles (EVs).
34:08 | Beloved former news anchor, talk radio host, and author Lynda Steele joins from Vancouver, where she's just launched a new weekly column at theorca.ca. Lynda shares her thoughts on Canada's skyrocketing cost of living, in particular on the West coast, and gets personal about her parents' journeys with Alzheimer's disease. 
1:15:45 | It's Wednesday, which means another visit to the mountains via #MyJasper Memories presented by Tourism Jasper. Get up to speed on some exciting events touching down in Jasper National Park over the next couple weeks, including the Jasper Half Marathon and the Uplift! Jasper Mural Festival. Find more details at jasper.travel/realtalk.

April 12, 2022 - Charles Adler on Life After the AM Dial; David Knight Legg on Russia’s Energy Heist

4:23 | David Knight Legg, founding CEO of Invest Alberta, lays out his theory of the "real" reason Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine. Legg argues Canadian interests need to better assert themselves in the global energy trade. Plus, the former Principal Advisor to Alberta Premier Jason Kenney explains how he would advise Kenney through his current leadership review. 
39:26 | He's an Emmy Award winner, an RTDNA Lifetime Achievement Award winner, and one of the most talented talk radio hosts the world has ever seen. The legendary Charles Adler joins Ryan for an extended conversation; his first on-air interview since leaving his nationally-syndicated radio show nearly a year ago. Don't miss Chuck's takes on the war in Ukraine (including how his family's history during WWII shapes his present-day perspective), Kenney's leadership review, the CPC leadership race, and life away from the AM dial.

April 11, 2022 - Kenney Leadership Review: Erika Barootes & Dr. Duane Bratt; Will Smith’s Oscars Ban

3:29 | On the heels of Alberta Premier Jason Kenney's address to party members over the weekend in Red Deer, UCP founding president Erika Barootes and political scientist Dr. Duane Bratt debate whether or not Kenney will survive his leadership review, and the implications either way. Plus, we evaluate the early stages of the federal Conservative leadership race. 
42:56 | Ryan and producer John Hicks review the weekend's top stories, including how inflation is impacting payouts from the Tooth Fairy, NBA star Jrue Holiday's 8-second shift that earned him $255,000, and Will Smith's ten-year Oscars ban. 
56:21 | In this week's edition of Positive Reflections presented by Kuby Energy, we learn why so many Ukrainians are getting married in the midst of a terrible war, and see a truly heart-warming moment in   amateur sport. 
Send us your Positive Reflections! Email us anytime at talk@ryanjespersen.com

Trash Talk - April 8, 2022

#TrashTalk | It's Friday, so brace for another rowdy edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental!

April 8, 2022 - Budget Breakdown: Erica Ifill, Sarah Biggs; Real Talk Round Table: Healthy Community

28:18 | The federal government's 2022 budget is supposed to help Canadians with the skyrocketing cost of living. Did it? Political strategist Sarah Biggs and economist/journalist Erica Ifill share their takes on the Liberal's fiscal plan. 
53:56 | Two years into a pandemic, how do we rebuild, reinvigorate, and reconnect our communities? Puneeta McBryan and Lisa Holmes share their thoughts and experiences, including decentralizing community building, and encouraging and enabling non-traditional leadership. 
Learn more about the first-ever Community Leaders Camp, April 25-28 in Jasper, AB: https://13waysinc.com/camp/
1:19:55 | Buckle up for another lively edition of Trash Talk, presented by Local Environmental!