Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Canada will look a whole lot different 50 years from now. Our claim to Arctic sovereignty is threatened, existing trade relationships will be forced to evolve, and our population is forecasted to explode (like it or not).  4:00 | Before we get into the future of Canada, Ryan opens this episode with a prayer...sort of. Did you hear Right Rev. Marianne Budde's message to Donald Trump at the inaugural prayer service?  TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjspersen.com  7:00 | Dr. Thomas P.M. Barnett has advised the U.S. Department of Defence for decades. He talks to us about Trump's ambitions involving Canada, climate change opening up the Arctic, and demographic shifts fuelling public opinion.  READ THOMAS IN POLITICO: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/01/16/logic-trump-global-ambitions-canada-europe-greenland-00198656 38:00 | "What's with all the talk about white people?!" Jespo and Johnny dive into the Real Talk Live Chat powered by Park Power for your takes on what Thomas had to say.  55:45 | The town of Jasper is hosting a street party you won't want to miss for the final weekend of Jasper in January! We feature some of the upcoming highlights in this week's #MyJasper Memories presented by Tourism Jasper.  CHECK OUT JASPER in JANUARY: https://www.jasper.travel/january/ 1:00:30 | The Alberta government quietly rescinded its coal mining moratorium as the world watched Donald Trump take the oath of office. We take a look at what it all means, and early pushback from environmental groups.  1:29:45 | Real Talkers Jenny and Caroline respond to our interview on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) with Garth La Beach a couple episodes ago.  WATCH GARTH'S FULL INTERVIEW: https://rtrj.info/011625Garth FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen  JOIN US ON FACEBOOK & LINKEDIN: @ryanjespersen  REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: patreon.com/ryanjespersen 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.

President Donald Trump is guaranteeing a "Golden Age" for the United States of America. Does that promised prosperity come at the expense of allies and neighbours like Canada?  2:55 | We run through Trump's inauguration speech with Dr. Bob Murray, political scientist and senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.  TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com  FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen  JOIN US ON FACEBOOK & LINKEDIN: @ryanjespersen  REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: patreon.com/ryanjespersen 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.

No need to speculate any more. Canadians will soon know exactly what Donald Trump's return to the White House will mean for trade with the United States, border security, and more. We take a look at early storylines in this episode of Real Talk.  3:30 | Wyatt Sharpe tells us what he's seeing behind-the-scenes in Washington, D.C.  THE WYATT SHARPE SHOW: https://www.youtube.com/@UCEI-thoRF6_EGuhc_1eMQYw  25:00 | Derek Fildebrandt responds to his Western Standard correspondent being hauled away from Mark Carney's campaign launch by police.  WESTERN STANDARD: https://www.westernstandard.news/ 1:07:30 | What did you think of Chrystia Freeland's campaign launch? 1:22:00 | Real Talker Brytani shares a remarkable story out of Red Deer in this week's Positive Reflections presented by Kuby Energy.  SUBMIT YOUR POSITIVE REFLECTION: talk@ryanjespersen.com  GET A FREE SOLAR QUOTE TODAY: https://kuby.ca/solar REGISTER FOR THE REAL TALK POND HOCKEY CLASSIC: https://www.ryanjespersen.com/pond-ho... FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen  JOIN US ON FACEBOOK & LINKEDIN: @ryanjespersen  REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: patreon.com/ryanjespersen 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.

Real Talkers are ALL fired up from ALL different angles as Danielle Smith tells her fellow premiers to pound sand. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com When you visit the DQs in Palisades, Namao, Newcastle, Westmount, and Baseline Road, be sure to tell 'em Real Talk sent you! REGISTER FOR THE REAL TALK POND HOCKEY CLASSIC: https://www.ryanjespersen.com/pond-hockey FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen JOIN US ON FACEBOOK & LINKEDIN: @ryanjespersen REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merc RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: patreon.com/ryanjespersen 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.

Will voters think "Justin Trudeau" every time they see Mark Carney or Chrystia Freeland? Both Liberal leadership contenders will do everything they can to differentiate themselves from the outgoing PM...but will it work?  3:20 | We talk to political scientist Dr. Duane Bratt about Mark Carney's campaign launch (including a Rolls Royce limo publicity stunt and the cops showing up to remove a "journalist"), Jagmeet Singh's inevitable demise (35:00), Chrystia Freeland's chances in the Liberal leadership race (41:30), Danielle Smith snubbing her fellow premiers (57:45), and Joe Biden leaving the keys for Donald Trump (1:13:45).  1:30:00 | Real Talkers are ALL fired up from ALL different angles as Danielle Smith tells her fellow premiers to pound sand. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park!  FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com  When you visit the DQs in Palisades, Namao, Newcastle, Westmount, and Baseline Road, be sure to tell 'em Real Talk sent you!  REGISTER FOR THE REAL TALK POND HOCKEY CLASSIC: https://www.ryanjespersen.com/pond-ho... FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen  JOIN US ON FACEBOOK & LINKEDIN: @ryanjespersen  REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: patreon.com/ryanjespersen 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.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith snubs her fellow premiers, as Alberta abstains from a cross-country collective effort to dissuade Donald Trump from imposing tariffs on Canadian goods and services.  5:00 | Is Smith out of line, embarrassing Alberta, or doing exactly what a premier is supposed to do in circumstances like this? We hear from Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Smith herself, and Ryan shares his own thoughts.  LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com  26:00 | What alternatives does Alberta (and Canada) have, in dealing with Donald Trump? What should Pierre Poilievre be doing? Is the Canadian dollar about to plummet? And is Wayne Gretzky risking his legacy, being tied to Trump? Economist Moshe Lander lays it out.  55:50 | Real Talker Garth La Beach had some challenging questions for us re: DEI in our January 15 Live Chat powered by Park Power. We figured it made sense to bring him on the show. Turned out to be one of our best conversations in a long time. Thanks, Garth, for being such a valued member of the Real Talk community!  1:16:53 | What would Naheed Nenshi do differently if he was Premier? We hear from the Alberta NDP leader.  1:21:21 | That selfie of Trump, Danielle Smith, and Kevin O'Leary is fake, friends. We have some fun (and wind up with a wake up call of our own) with AI image generation.  REGISTER FOR THE REAL TALK POND HOCKEY CLASSIC: https://www.ryanjespersen.com/pond-ho... FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen  JOIN US ON FACEBOOK & LINKEDIN: @ryanjespersen  REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: patreon.com/ryanjespersen 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.

When does swift and sweeping political reform cross the line to authoritarianism? Is Premier Danielle Smith on a troubling quest to control everything and everybody in Alberta, or is recent legislation nothing more than a provincial leader attempting to fix broken systems? 2:01 | Independent journalist Jeremy Appel takes us into his Alberta Views feature "The UCP Want More Control".  READ JEREMY'S PIECE IN ALBERTA VIEWS: https://albertaviews.ca/the-ucp-want-more-control/ SAVE 50% on a one-year subscription to ALBERTA VIEWS with the promo code AVRJ!  54:30 | The University of Alberta is cancelling its formal DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policy. Some of the world's biggest corporations have done the same. What do you think about it?  57:00 | It's a perfect time of year to visit the Rockies - and Jasper's ready to welcome you with open arms! Ryan shares some photos and video from his Jasper in January getaway.  CHECK OUT JASPER in JANUARY: https://www.jasper.travel/january/ 1:04:55 | We take a look at what Real Talkers have to say about DEI in our Live Chat powered by Park Power.  1:16:40 | What did you think of Mark Carney's interview with Jon Stewart? The Real Talk Rumour Mill is churning out insights on a potential development in Edmonton... LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com  REGISTER FOR THE REAL TALK POND HOCKEY CLASSIC: https://www.ryanjespersen.com/pond-ho... FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen  JOIN US ON FACEBOOK & LINKEDIN: @ryanjespersen  REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: patreon.com/ryanjespersen 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.

170 million Americans who use TikTok will likely have to find another favourite app, as the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to ban the popular Chinese-owned platform on January 19. We connect with tech expert Amber Mac (3:00) to determine what the ban will mean for TikTok users (including Canadians), other social media giants (including Instagram and X), and free speech in general.  29:00 | Where are Real Talkers at with the TikTok ban, Meta dumping fact-checking, the future of X with the Musk-Trump bromance, and more? Jespo and Johnny jump into the Real Talk Live Chat powered by Park Power (including an unfortunate update on the "Pizzagate" guy at 44:00).  56:30 | THANK YOU to our 20,000 Real Talk Ryan Jespersen YouTube subscribers! If you're reading this and you haven't yet subscribed, what are you waiting for? ;) 1:01:00 | What does Brian Mulroney have to do with Donald Trump's comments about Canada as the 51st state? Real Talker Scott in Sherwood Park lays it out.  LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com  REGISTER FOR THE REAL TALK POND HOCKEY CLASSIC: https://www.ryanjespersen.com/pond-ho... FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen  JOIN US ON FACEBOOK & LINKEDIN: @ryanjespersen  REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: patreon.com/ryanjespersen 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.

Danielle Smith says Canada needs to be prepared for tariffs threatened by Donald Trump. This, after Alberta's premier met with the President-elect at his Florida estate as a guest of celebrity investor Kevin O'Leary. We explore the smartest ways to respond in this episode of Real Talk.  3:00 | Senator Charles Adler returns to Real Talk to discuss Premier Danielle Smith's meeting with Trump, Canada's live horse exports, and an apology 25 years in the making.  54:30 | How can entrepreneurs best prepare for the potential impact of tariffs? Jason Leslie of the Alberta Chambers of Commerce has his Eye on Alberta Business.  CHECK OUT ACC: https://www.abchamber.ca/ 1:15:30 | Shout out to Real Talker Cynthia, who shared this week's Positive Reflection presented by Kuby Energy. We love this story of a father's powerful tribute to his beloved son.  SEND US YOUR POSITIVE REFLECTION: talk@ryanjespersen.com GET A FREE SOLAR QUOTE TODAY: https://kuby.ca/ REGISTER FOR THE REAL TALK POND HOCKEY CLASSIC: https://www.ryanjespersen.com/pond-ho... FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen  JOIN US ON FACEBOOK & LINKEDIN: @ryanjespersen  REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: patreon.com/ryanjespersen 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.

7th Pilot, Jake, Travis, and David are ALL FIRED UP over Donald Trump's disrespect for Canada. This might be the fieriest edition in Flamethrower history, presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com When you visit the DQs in Palisades, Namao, Newcastle, Westmount, and Baseline Road, make sure to tell 'em Real Talk sent you! REGISTER FOR THE REAL TALK POND HOCKEY CLASSIC: https://www.ryanjespersen.com/pond-hockey