

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

Oct 28, 2021 • 2h 12min
October 28, 2021 - Mark Messier; Sexual Harassment in Politics; NY Times Ian Austen on Allan Inquiry
2:17 | Hockey Hall of Famer Mark Messier shares stories of winning multiple Stanley Cups and writing his new memoir, No One Wins Alone.
28:27 | Sexual violence survivor, an advocate for survivors in Alberta, and a civil servant, Kristin Raworth discusses the new allegations of sexual harassment at Alberta legislature stemming from inside the premier's office.
1:19:21 | The New York Times Canada correspondent Ian Austen dissects the toothless Allan Inquiry and the Alberta Premier's motives to commission it.
1:49:24 | #EatYourWords | Ryan invites an anti-vaxxer to eat their threat-filled words (more like eat a knuckle sandwich) aimed at restaurant staff who were simply upholding health protocols. Presented by Prairie Catering.

Oct 27, 2021 • 2h 9min
October 27, 2021 - Ian Hanomansing; Toronto Star‘s Bruce Arthur; Kathleen Petty; Stop Spanking Kids
13:14 | Toronto Star columnist Bruce Arthur explains how the NHL's Blackhawks team kept an alleged sexual assault under wraps for more than decade, and what it says about professional sport. He also explores the implications of the family feud brewing at the media giant Rogers' headquarters and ramifications for communications, entertainment, and sport in Canada.
38:21 | Host of CBC's West of Centre podcast, Kathleen Petty unpacks Alberta's equalization and daylight savings time referendum results as well as the recent federal cabinet appointments in Canada's new Liberal minority government.
1:00:44 | CBC's The National host and journalist Ian Hanomansing describes coming to terms with the pandemic's massive scale in Spring 2020 and how his conversations with medical experts have helped him and Canadians adapt to the new COVID-19 reality—all detailed in his new book, Pandemic Spotlight.
1:37:15 | #MyJasper Memories | Ryan shares about Jasper in January, the cold weather festival in the national park winter wonderland filled with skiing, outdoor activities and spa days. Be entered to win a two-night stay during Jasper in January by completing the current Question of the Week survey which includes queries about the winter fest. Presented by Tourism Jasper.
1:41:52 | Trauma therapist Robbyn Peters Bennett on the cascading effects of spanking in childhood across the life span.

Oct 26, 2021 • 1h 57min
October 26, 2021 - Sudan Coup; Ice Bather; Brandi Morin on Fairy Creek; Geothermal vs. O&G
17:39 | Chair of African Studies Program and political scientist at McGill University, Dr. Khalid Medani outlines the military coup happening in Sudan, how it got to this dire situation, plus what the Sudanese and the rest of the world should expect.
40:19 | Two-time world record holder for ice-bathing, Wes Bauman shares how he discovered the benefits of the very cold pastime and how it helps address his post-traumatic stress disorder.
55:50 | Journalist Brandi Morin on the Fairy Creek land, logging and protests happening on Vancouver Island for more than a year.
1:22:27 | Geothermal researcher at the University of Alberta, Dr. Jonathan Banks explains how geothermal energy production can be brought to legacy energy infrastructure.

Oct 25, 2021 • 1h 43min
October 25, 2021 - Medicine Hat‘s First Female Mayor Linnsie Clark; Canada‘s Digital Divide
14:13 | First female mayor of Medicine Hat Linnsie Clark unpacks her landslide victory against incumbent Ted Clugston, and the vote for change in the southern Alberta municipality.
39:52 | Canadian Internet Registration Authority's CEO Byron Holland weighs in on the internet landscape across the country and why universal broadband internet access is critical for economic success.
1:16:38 | Question of the Week | Ryan reveals Real Talkers thoughts on the recent municipal elections in Alberta. Presented with our strategy and research partner Y Station.
1:36:16 | Positive Reflections | Ryan shares an audience member's email about a life-changing apology. Presented by Kuby Energy.

Oct 23, 2021 • 7min
Trash Talk - October 22, 2021
Ryan rolls out the best rants of the week, as submitted to talk@ryanjespersen.com. Buckle up for another edition of Trash Talk, presented by Local Waste.

Oct 22, 2021 • 2h 1min
October 22, 2021 - Allan Inquiry; Keren Tang; Adult ADHD Real Talk Round Table
2:37 | Pembina Institute's Simon Dyer responds to the public release of the Allan Inquiry. It shows the $3.5-million investigation into alleged foreign-funded anti-energy efforts in Alberta found no evidence of legal wrongdoing.
23:51 | Edmonton's first woman of colour elected to city council, Keren Tang shares about her multi-year journey to election success.
47:06 | Lived experience and medical expertise around adult ADHD on the Real Talk Round Table with entrepreneur Karen Richard who was recently with ADHD, specialist in ADHD Dr. Karthikeyan Ganapathy, and Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada's André Brisson.
1:52:27 | Trash Talk courtesy of Local Waste, lets Real Talkers call out what's pissing them off.

Oct 21, 2021 • 2h 32min
October 21, 2021 - Jesse Wente; Space Exploration; Bioethicist Florence Ashley; Kids & Money
16:02 | CEO of Delalune Space Rob Meyerson and spacecraft designer Adam Steltzner tackle the big questions of human life beyond Planet Earth. They'll be delivering the keynote address at the Jasper Dark Sky Festival on Saturday, October 23.
39:04 | Bioethicist Florence Ashley addresses the transphobia promoted by public figures including authors Margaret Atwood and JK Rowling along with comedian Dave Chappelle.
1:00:06 | Anishinaabe writer Jesse Wente shares about his new bestseller, Unreconciled: Family, Truth, And Indigenous Resistance, and why Indigenous communities are seeking sovereignty not equity.
1:48:30 | Financial literacy expert Pam Liyanage on when and how to teach kids about money, including the new MoneyPrep App video game.
2:07:08 | #EatYourWords | Ryan reviews the spitefulness conservative politicians, including former Edmonton city councillor Mike Nickel, directed at other candidates during the municipal election campaign season. Presented by Prairie Catering.

Oct 20, 2021 • 1h 49min
October 20, 2021 - Eric Denhoff on Fairy Creek Protest; The Rebel Christ by Reverend Michael Coren
16:28 | Former Alberta and BC Deputy Minister Eric Denhoff critiques the protests happening at the old-growth forests in the Fairy Creek area on Vancouver Island.
49:17 | Bestselling author and Anglican priest Reverend Michael Coren details his new book, The Rebel Christ—an exploration of why Christianity is in crisis.
1:43:27 | #MyJasper Memories | Ryan anticipates the new drone light show as a part of the Dark Sky Festival. Presented by Tourism Jasper

Oct 19, 2021 • 1h 54min
October 19, 2021 - Amarjeet Sohi; Jyoti Gondek; Election Analysis; Bernie Saunders on Racism in NHL
6:33 | Edmonton Mayor-elect Amarjeet Sohi discusses his election win and plans for his inaugural mayoral term.
32:59 | Political consultant Lisa Holmes, outgoing Edmonton councillor Michael Walters, and political scientist Dr. Jared Wesley explore the political landscape across Alberta following the municipal elections across the province.
47:58 | Calgary Mayor-elect Dr. Jyoti Gondek reflects on her campaign and election success, plus what comes next.
1:13:59 | Retired NHL Player Bernie Saunders shares about the racism he experienced on and off the ice which he included in his new book, Shut Out: The Game That Did Not Love Me Black.

Oct 18, 2021 • 2h 12min
October 18, 2021 - Brooke Lynn Hytes; Women‘s COVID ”time off”; Land Acknowledgements
18:22 | Workplace equity expert Vandana Juneja outlines how the pandemic has negatively impacted women's careers and demands on their personal lives—in contrast to Alberta's Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation, Doug Schweitzer stating "a lot of women took time off during COVID."
52:44 | Land acknowledgement consultant Michelle Robinson explains the significance of recognizing place as it helps prevent the erasure of Indigenous communities and is an essential step in reconciliation.
1:24:39 | Ryan reviews Real Talkers input to our Question of the Week on the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Presented with our strategic partner Y Station.
1:36:26 | Canada's Drag Race host Brooke Lynn Hytes shares about becoming the first Canadian contestant on multi-Emmy Award-winning show RuPaul's Drag Race, which she parlayed into her hosting Canada’s Drag Race, currently in its second season.
2:04:54 | We focus on the bright side of life with Positive Reflections, presented by Kuby Energy


