

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

Sep 18, 2023 • 1h 26min
Canadians in Space: Is It Worth the Price Tag?
From Donald Trump's gaffe in an interview over the weekend to Congresswoman Lauren Boebert's caught-on-camera debacle at a Denver theatre...from the horrific E. coli outbreak at Alberta daycares to NHL coach Mike Babcock leaving Columbus before coaching a single game...get the informed, common sense insights you need to make sense of what's going on around you in this episode of Real Talk!
4:00 | The Hon. Marc Garneau was the first Canadian in Space, and later in his career, was widely regarded as one of the most respected Members of Parliament. We talk to the former president of the Canadian Space Agency about the Liberals plummeting polling, Canada's affordability crisis, the past, present, and future of Canadians in Space, and his upcoming appearances at the Jasper Dark Sky Festival.
SEE MARC GARNEAU IN JASPER: https://www.jasperdarksky.travel/
30:02 | Alberta's Chief Medical Officer of Health says he didn't initially see the "urgency" in 300+ kids getting E. coli eating food from a filthy kitchen. Donald Trump says it was himself - not his lawyers - who believed the last election was stolen. Mike Babcock's gone from the Columbus Blue Jackets before training camp even begins. Charles Adler brings his Canadian Common Sense to this week's appearance on Real Talk.
1:20:57 | What's the most amazing anniversary gift you've ever given or received? A Kansas farmer goes (WAY) above and beyond in this week's Positive Reflections presented by our friends at Kuby Renewable Energy.
SEND US YOUR POSITIVE REFLECTION: talk@ryanjespersen.com
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INSTAGRAM: 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 16, 2023 • 6min
Real Talker Demands Respect for Trans Rights
Ronnie's sick of the politics of affordable housing. Michelle says trans rights aren't up for debate. And Morgan wonders what ever happened to real conversations about real issues with real people. It's Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services!
KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/

Sep 15, 2023 • 1h 21min
Canada’s Housing Crisis: What’s the Solution?
Canada's experiencing a full-blown housing crisis. Millions of people literally can't afford a place to live, and experts say we need to add more than three million units by 2030. How did we get here, and how do we begin to fix it? We focus on what pollsters say is the number one issue impacting Canadians in this episode of Real Talk.
4:40 | Marie-Josée Houle is Canada's first Federal Housing Advocate. Jennifer Keesmaat is Toronto's former chief planner and the founder of Markee Developments. Jeromy Farkas is a former Calgary councillor and a tireless advocate for affordable housing. The formidable trio forms this week's Real Talk Round Table as we explore root causes and potential solutions to Canada's housing crisis.
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/@realtalkrj
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJ
INSTAGRAM: 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 14, 2023 • 1h 32min
Daycare Disaster: 300+ Kids Sick from E. coli Outbreak
Imagine what hundreds of parents in Calgary are going through right now. Their kids are terribly sick with a rare form of E. coli because the daycare they trusted served food from a cockroach-infested kitchen. At least twenty of those kids are in hospital, seven of them on dialysis. Meantime, the daycares are cleared to re-open: who'd want to send their kids back...but what options to many of those families have?
5:55 | ER Dr. Shazma Mithani explains what's so unique about this type of E. coli, and helps us understand the severe complication known as hemolytic uremic syndrome, a disease that affects kidney function. Also, what do you need to know about back-to-school flu season, and up-to-the-minute details on vaccines? Dr. Mithani has us covered.
34:50 | Good luck if you're looking for affordable housing in Vancouver. Mo Amir explains why so many people are left high and dry in the Lower Mainland. The host of This is VANCOLOUR dissects recent federal political polling, and tells us how he feels about Pierre Poilievre's infamous airplane address earlier in the week.
CHECK OUT MO'S SHOW: https://www.thisisvancolour.com/
1:24:40 | Why is the Toronto Zoo limiting screen time for a "teenaged" gorilla? Johnny presents a hilarious (but thought provoking) story from The Big Smoke.
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/@realtalkrj
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJ
INSTAGRAM: 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 13, 2023 • 1h 15min
Trans Health 101: What Is ”Gender-Affirming Care”?
What do you know about trans and non-binary health care? It seems like politicians are talking about it more than physicians themselves, and it's safe to say it's become one of the more polarizing topics in Canada in recent years (including at the Conservative Party Convention over the weekend). We talk to a physician and a CPC delegate in this enlightening episode of Real Talk.
3:50 | Dr. Kate Greenaway's been working with trans and non-binary patients for more than twenty years. She explains what "gender-affirming care" entails, and why she thinks politicians and the general public have too much say in a personal matter.
CHECK OUT THE FORIA CLINIC: https://www.foriaclinic.com/
35:35 | Jennifer Laewetz was in Quebec City for the CPC Convention over the weekend. She talks to us about the "culture war" influence on policy resolutions, her own priorities as an Indigenous person around duty to consult, and the buzz around Pierre Poilievre's public address on a WestJet flight (she was on the plane).
56:15 | The Jasper Dark Sky Festival has officially added a third weekend! We take a look at the out-of-this-world experiences available in Jasper from October 12-29 in this week's #MyJasper Memories presented by Tourism Jasper.
LEARN MORE: https://www.jasperdarksky.travel/
58:50 | Speaking of space, have you seen the 1,000 year old "alien corpses" displayed in Mexico's Congress? We can't help but take a look.
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/@realtalkrj
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJ
INSTAGRAM: 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 12, 2023 • 1h 21min
Battle Royal: The Fight for the Prime Minister’s Office
Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives are riding high. The party's out-polling Justin Trudeau's Liberals by a wide margin, and that was *before* this weekend's packed CPC Convention in Quebec City. Of course, there's still an eternity before the next federal election. But is the writing on the wall?
5:20 | Before we talk politics with David Herle, Ryan reads an email from Real Talker Garth about "the undeniable accusation that the media narrative is unmistakably pro-liberal, pro-Trudeau, and pro-left."
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com
14:35 | What was the most important moment of the Conservative Convention this weekend? Should the Liberals be shaking in their boots? Veteran political strategist and podcaster David Herle dissects Poilievre's hour-long speech, explains why there won't be a Liberal leadership review anytime soon, and lays out a plan to address Canada's housing crisis. The host of The Herle Burly takes us into the politics of the path to Net Zero, and zeroes in on the key issues that'll determine the outcome of the Manitoba election.
CHECK OUT THE HERLE BURLY: https://www.airquotesmedia.com/thb
BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen
WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/
TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrj
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJ
INSTAGRAM: 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 11, 2023 • 1h 23min
Is This Peak Pierre, Or Can the Conservatives Keep Growing?
Did Canada's Conservatives put positive polling momentum at risk at this weekend's convention in Quebec City? We take a look at some of the grassroots initiatives (restricting gender-affirming surgery) vs. issues where Poilievre's gaining ground (affordable housing), and discuss where and how the CPC needs to stay focused if it wants to govern again.
5:00 | But first...no matter how many years it's been since 2001, September 11 will always stir memories and even emotions with most people. Charles Adler and Ryan look back twenty-two years, then ask, "Have we forgotten?" Then, Adler analyzes the CPC Convention through a common sense lens.
55:10 | Gerald thinks Angus Reid asked the wrong question in a poll about parent's rights. Our interview with Jackie Rae Greening about merit-based hiring rubbed Lauren the wrong way. Winch has a thought about our interview with Take Back Alberta's David Parker. And Curtis is wondering when we're going to feature a Real Talk Round Table about housing (the answer is this Friday!). Ryan reaches into the Real Talk mailbag.
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com
1:16:03 | We love this story out of the UK about the recovery of priceless family heirlooms in this week's Positive Reflections presented by our friends at Kuby Renewable Energy.
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/@realtalkrj
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJ
INSTAGRAM: 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 9, 2023 • 7min
Trash Talk: ”From A Pissed Off Teacher!”
Our "Bursting at the Seams" episode on September 6 has Kenneth, Dallas, and Stean all fired up. It's an all-education edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services!
EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com
KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/

Sep 8, 2023 • 58min
Life After Loss: Meet Our Julie Rohr Scholarship Winners
Losing a parent to cancer at a young age would have an enormous impact on anybody. It's hard to imagine how a young person could pick up the pieces, let alone move forward in pursuit of an education and a career. In this episode, you'll meet Manuela Lopez Aldana and Tyler Gauchier, the 2023 recipients of the Real Talk Julie Rohr Scholarship.
2:00 | Manuela tells us about her family's move from Columbia to Canada, the impact of losing her Dad, and why she wants to assist immigrant and Indigenous populations with digital literacy. Tyler shares how his Dad passed on Indigenous guiding and tracking skills, and why he's pursuing a career in environmental and conservation sciences.
APPLY FOR THE REAL TALK JULIE ROHR SCHOLARSHIP: https://ryanjespersen.com/scholarship
CHECK OUR ART4GOOD "EMERALD WATERS" FUNDRAISER: https://art4good.ca/emerald-waters/
REGISTER FOR THE REAL TALK GOLF CLASSIC on JUNE 20, 2024: https://real-talk-golf-classic.square.site/
49:20 | Our "Bursting at the Seams" episode on September 6 has Kenneth, Dallas, and Stean all fired up. It's an all-education 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/@realtalkrj
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJ
INSTAGRAM: 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 7, 2023 • 1h 31min
What Do Canadians Care About?
The loudest voices don't always represent majority opinions. In this episode of Real Talk, we find out what Canadians actually think about a parent's right to be informed, the next Prime Minister of Canada, appropriate supports for wildfire evacuees, parole for convicted killers, and more.
6:15 | Our September 6 episode about class sizes in Alberta resonated with a bunch of you. Ryan shares a few messages from Real Talkers - some seeing classes more than FORTY students.
7:45 | Shachi Kurl understands Canadians more than most. As president at the Angus Reid Institute and a national media pundit, it's her job to figure out what we think of hot-button issues (and why). She breaks down poll results on New Brunswick and Saskatchewan requiring parental permission for student pronoun changes, Pierre Poilievre blowing past Justin Trudeau in popularity polling, and Joe Biden's future as POTUS.
CHECK OUT ANGUS REID ONLINE: https://angusreid.org/
45:50 | Fresh off a win at the National Native Media Awards, APTN journalist Dani Paradis takes us into the under-told story of the unhoused evacuees of the NWT. It's hard to believe, but one of the men convicted in the killings of two Metis hunters is already up for parole. Dani updates that story right before she heads back to court to cover it.
READ DANI'S WORK: https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/nwt-evacuation-order-lifted-unhoused-evacuees/?fbclid=IwAR0CQ_mUNnQ-CZlM_lBGX5ktjdTt108YcbrTRMJRg1-p72X4UVY9N-lEI1E_aem_AWl9qL0K2Yncftd9MRQ_eGUNyl5Y6-cs1xMmfq_Pgz5CVSavKALu0xgiLuw6TOZ3YpY
1:20:45 | Have you watched Painkiller on Netflix or Dopesick on Apple TV? Ryan and Johnny compare the two, and share a few thoughts on the opioid crisis.
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/@realtalkrj
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJ
INSTAGRAM: 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.