Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

0:41 | It's being called one of the greatest championship finals in sports history. Derek Van Diest joins live from Qatar, where he covered Argentina's incredible win over France at the 2022 FIFA World Cup final.  READ DEREK'S REPORTING: https://torontosun.com/sports/soccer/world-cup-fitting-end-to-fantastic-tournament 18:55 | A (nearly) clean-shaven Charles Adler tells us why he's eating less meat, swearing off fringe extremists, and growing back his beard in 2023.  55:52 | We love introducing you to your fellow Real Talkers! Trevor Kerr - "Cactus Sheriff" in our YouTube live chat - checks in from Hanna, Alberta, to tell us what it was like living with a domesticated bison in the house (!). This, in follow-up to our chat with Calgary Zoo CEO Dr. Clément Lanthier last week: https://youtu.be/21kcHZ8OI-s?t=2467 SUPPORT HARVEST SKY ANIMAL RESCUE: https://www.harvestskyrescue.ca/ 1:07:17 | Ryan tells the story of his boxer Moses getting beat up by a cat named Cat. A ring a ding dong dandy!  1:12:15 | Are you a doomscroller? This week's Positive Reflections presented by Kuby Energy is dedicated to you!  GET YOUR FREE SOLAR QUOTE TODAY: https://kubyenergy.ca/ WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/RealTalkRJ/ TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrj PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen REGISTER FOR THE REAL TALK POND HOCKEY CLASSIC (FEB. 4): https://ryanjespersen.com/pond-hockey 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.

Megan, Albert, Nils, and Erin all have scores to settle in a NSFW, "earmuffs, kids" edition of Trash Talk presented by our friends at Local Environmental Services! KEEP IT LOCAL: localenvironmental.ca  

2:03 | Edmonton's city council killed a regional transit plan by pulling its commitment late Wednesday night. Will the ripple effects extend beyond bus service? What does this mean for "bigger picture" regional cooperation? Councillor Sarah Hamilton, St. Albert Mayor Cathy Heron, and Strathcona County Councillor Robert Parks join our Real Talk Round Table presented by Urban Timber. LIKE OUR TABLE? CHECK OUT URBAN TIMBER: https://www.urbantimber.ca/ 40:51 | It seems like everybody in Canada had something to say about a Toronto Life piece featuring a woman who moved from Toronto (Mississauga) to Edmonton, and "hated it". We chat with Greig Smith, who moved from Toronto to Edmonton...and loves it! (This guy's bound to put a smile on your face.) 1:05:57 | Megan, Albert, Nils, and Erin all have scores to settle in a NSFW, "earmuffs, kids" edition of Trash Talk presented by our friends at Local Environmental Services! KEEP IT LOCAL: localenvironmental.ca WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/RealTalkRJ/ TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrj PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen REGISTER FOR THE REAL TALK POND HOCKEY CLASSIC (FEB. 4): https://ryanjespersen.com/pond-hockey 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.

0:45 | Senator Paula Simons joins Ryan in studio to talk about sustainability and soil, her early media days producing morning radio (7:30), masking up (11:23), preparing for Hanukkah with "Henukkah" (17:36), why she's leaving Twitter (27:33), a rise in anti-Semitism (35:57), and her response to the Toronto Life hit job on Edmonton (40:41). Don't miss this interview with one of our favourite guests!  FOLLOW PAULA ON MASTADON: https://mstdn.ca/@UCC-OUKe00sPOLQW-bHhdc3A  56:01 | Ryan reads emails from Marty in Melbourne (Alphonso Davies v. Connor McDavid), Carolyn in Calgary ("responsible" gun ownership), and Ron (homelessness).  EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com  1:04:30 | Do you sous vide? (Send us your tips!) 1:09:41 | Johnny's got another Hicks Holiday Movie Review for us! Naturally, the conversation migrates to talk about Botox and steroids.  WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/RealTalkRJ/ TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrj PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen LIKE OUR TABLE? CHECK OUT URBAN TIMBER: https://www.urbantimber.ca/ REGISTER FOR THE REAL TALK POND HOCKEY CLASSIC (FEB. 4): https://ryanjespersen.com/pond-hockey SUPPORT 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.

Newsflash: Edmonton ain't Toronto. And Leduc ain't Mississauga, either. Ryan and author Omar Mouallem open the show responding to a Toronto Life clickbait story that lit a fire under an entire province. READ THE PIECE (YEAH, WE'LL BITE) - https://torontolife.com/city/i-moved-to-alberta-and-hated-everything-about-it-after-three-months-i-came-back-to-toronto/ 0:48 | Have you signed up to play in, volunteer at, or sponsor the Real Talk Pond Hockey Classic on Saturday, February 4, 2023? Register your team today to qualify for the early bird prize: $250 at Central Social Hall, $150 in Real Talk Pond Hockey beer bucks, $100 in Dairy Queen gift cards, and more! REGISTER: https://ryanjespersen.com/pond-hockey 2:50 | Omar Mouallem's one of the best storytellers in Canada. He joins Ryan in studio to discuss the Toronto Life hit job on Edmonton, his long-form investigative piece on a serial abuser at a Calgary junior high school, and his now-completed film, "The Lebanese Burger Mafia." READ OMAR'S PIECE IN MACLEANS: https://www.macleans.ca/longforms/monster-classroom-calgary-abuse/ CHECK OUT OMAR'S FILM: https://burgerbaronmovie.com/ 41:07 | Do you have mixed feelings about zoos? Dr. Clément Lanthier, CEO of the Wilder Institute and Calgary Zoo, explains how some zoos (including Calgary's) have evolved under a new mandate. We talk about unregulated "zoos," wildlife population rehabilitation, and a hundred other things. Make sure you check out this fascinating conversation with the president of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).  CHECK OUT THE WILDER INSTITUTE: https://wilderinstitute.org/ 1:12:25 | Ryan and John debrief after the conversation with Dr. Lanthier. Let us know what you took away from the interview: talk@ryanjespersen.com  1:23:46 | Heading out to Jasper for the holidays? Make sure you check out this week's #MyJasper Memories presented by Tourism Jasper! Conditions are impeccable at Marmot Basin, Journey Bike Guides has new fat bike tours, and this year's Jasper in January is bigger and better than ever before!  PLAN YOUR JASPER GETAWAY: https://www.jasper.travel/january/ 1:27:38 | Fans of Ellen's longtime DJ Stephen "tWitch" Boss are mourning his death today. Johnny pays tribute to the popular and talented entertainer.  GET HELP WITHOUT JUDGEMENT: https://talksuicide.ca/ WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/RealTalkRJ/ TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrj PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen LIKE OUR TABLE? CHECK OUT URBAN TIMBER: https://www.urbantimber.ca/ SUPPORT 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.

0:18 | Three Alberta mayors give us a candid, no holds barred assessment of their communities' biggest challenges. Cathy Heron (St. Albert), Tyler Gandam (Wetaskiwin), and Angela Duncan (Alberta Beach) join Ryan around the Real Talk Round Table.  2:58 | It's been a few straight weeks of frigid temperatures. There have been numerous deaths reported (recorded is another matter) amongst members of the homeless population. Is it possible to *actually* solve homelessness?  13:56 | Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's Sovereignty Act puts municipalities in a tough spot. We get into why, and what the implications might be.  26:10 | What is Alberta Municipalities, anyway? The mayors help us better understand the mandate and membership of this high-profile organization, and why its advocacy matters. CHECK OUT ALBERTA MUNICIPALITIES: abmunis.ca FOLLOW THEM ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ABmunis 31:10 | Talk to the mayor of any community, and the conversation will eventually land on policing. We get an update on how plans for an Alberta Provincial Police force will impact the average citizen and communities as a whole. 36:16 | Homelessness is one thing - affordable housing is another. What's being done for people just barely keeping a roof over their heads, or trying to get there? What are municipalities doing to make affordable housing a more realistic option for thousands of desperate and deserving people?  44:28 | Do our mayors fear all the "good" people are being chased away from politics? (Here's where things get really real.) 52:30 | What's with this new recycling initiative? Mayor Heron explains what's changing, and who's paying for what. 57:01 | Mayors Gandam, Duncan, and Heron each leave us with something to consider...a "holiday charge," if you will.  EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com  SIGN UP FOR THE REAL TALK POND HOCKEY CLASSIC ON FEB. 4: https://ryanjespersen.com/pond-hockey WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/RealTalkRJ/ TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrj PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen LIKE OUR TABLE? CHECK OUT URBAN TIMBER: https://www.urbantimber.ca/ SUPPORT 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.

"Ridiculous" is how Olympic legend Dr. Susan Nattrass describes C-21, the Liberals' gun control bill. The seven-time Women's World Champion trapshooter headlines today's episode, but first... 1:10 | Did you catch the FIS World Cup Big Air snowboarders at Commonwealth Stadium over the weekend? Ryan and Johnny review the spectacular event, including some exclusive video.  12:50 | Charles Adler is the proud son of a tailor. He kicks off his weekly Real Talk appearance with an unscripted observation or two about Ryan's suit (!), his dad's shop back in the day, and children working in family businesses across the country. Charles and Ryan go on to discuss Elon Musk's attack on Dr. Anthony Fauci over the weekend, and some of the big picture ramifications.  39:58 | Dr. Susan Nattrass is on a very short list: the six-time Olympian and seven-time World Champion trapshooter was named Canada's Athlete of the Year in 1981. She grew up around guns, and has a unique insight as one of the best competitive shooters in history. When we asked her to guest on Real Talk to discuss Bill C-21, Susan took the time to read the more than 300-page document. She explains why she thinks the Liberals' gun control bill is "ridiculous," and comments on a reported rise in more women buying firearms than ever before. 1:19:21 | This week's Positive Reflection presented by Kuby Energy was shared by Real Talkers Brian and Laurie, who kickstarted a grassroots community fundraiser ten years ago. What a legacy they've established in Wainwright, AB!  SEND US YOUR POSITIVE REFLECTION: talk@ryanjespersen.com  GET YOUR FREE SOLAR QUOTE TODAY: kubyenergy.ca  WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/RealTalkRJ/ TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrj PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen SUPPORT 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.

Erin's pissed off at Metallica, and Kimberly and Janine aren't happy about the state of politics at any level. Buckle up for another rowdy edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services!  KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/

The band is back together! The popular Group Chat Round Table convenes in person for the first time in Real Talk history (1:00), as communications advisor Jenny Adams, lawyer Harman Kandola, and development consultant Jarrett Campbell gather around our Urban Timber table.  Harman's just back from the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, so we start (4:40) with story time and a debate: who's Canada's most spectacular male athlete right now - Alphonso Davies or Connor McDavid?  Was it politically savvy or stupid for Danielle Smith to skip Rachel Notley's portrait unveiling? Jenny (21:33) tells us what advice she'd have given Premier Smith.  Duelling polls tell a different story re: what Alberta's next provincial election could look like. The crew reads into the numbers (39:31) six months out.  Jarrett grew up in Manning, Alberta, and has been a gun owner his entire adult life. We get into gun control in Canada (54:13), specifically the politics behind Bill C-21.  Our panelists are all plugged into Edmonton municipal politics in varying ways, so it makes sense to venture into current budget deliberations at City Hall (1:03:55). We tackle bike lanes, LRT and rec centre construction, the Valley Zoo, downtown revitalization (including City Centre Mall), and more.  Erin's pissed off at Metallica, and Kimberly and Janine aren't happy about the state of politics at any level. Buckle up for another rowdy edition of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services!  KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.ca/ FIND JENNY: https://theadamsagency.ca/ FIND JARRETT: https://aspenadvisory.ca/ FIND HARMAN: https://sb-llp.com/ EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com  WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/RealTalkRJ/ TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrj PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen SUPPORT 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.

4:46 | Premier Danielle Smith's Sovereignty Act passes, but not before sweeping cabinet powers are stripped. What will this mean for the average Albertan, what message does it send the rest of Canada, and what will the next six months look like ahead of the provincial election expected in May 2023? EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com  9:56 | Just a few days ago, Sharon Morin received a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal. Today, she checks in from Montreal, where she's participating in COP15 - the UN conference on biodiversity. We talk about Indigenous perspectives in land management and sustainability, Sharon's thoughts on the Métis Nation of Alberta's recent record-setting vote, and the Alberta political landscape.  35:27 | Agatha Smykot and her family just celebrated the one year anniversary of their move from Calgary to the Czech Republic. "Aggie" is a regular listener to the Real Talk podcast, a savvy political watcher, and an engaged citizen: the perfect formula for a great guest! She tells us how life is different in Czechia, what she's learned about herself (and Canada) over the past year, and what she makes of what's going on in Alberta right now.  1:00:19 | Luke wants firearms safety taught in high school. Martin grew up around guns, but takes issue with the talking points around rights and responsibilities. Jenny, as far as she knows, is the only Jew in her neighbourhood, and she wants Real Talkers to reflect on a few things. Ryan gets into a few of the many emails we've received over the past week. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com  WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RealTalkRJ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/RealTalkRJ/ TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@realtalkrj PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen SUPPORT 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.