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Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

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

news news commentary

All Episodes

113:50

Real Talk from Alberta School Trustees

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2025/10/16

It's been a wild four years for Alberta school trustees. COVID, exploding class sizes, a contentious relationship with the province, a teachers' strike...and increased polarization from the left and the right, citizens critical of every move the school boards make. 5:15 | We talk to Julie Kusiek in Edmonton, Marilyn Dennis in Calgary, and Tammy Henkel in High Prairie in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. ASBA: https://www.asba.ab.ca/ TELL US WHAT YOU THINK:

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115:06

Inside Carney's 'Chaotic' Egypt Trip

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2025/10/15

World leaders including PM Mark Carney scrambled to get to Egypt at the behest of President Donald Trump in what's been described as a "chaotic" Gaza Peace Summit. This, as Foreign Minister Anita Anand lays out Canada's priorities in high-level meetings in India and China. Politico's Ottawa bureau chief Nick Taylor-Vaisey (3:30) digs into the details in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. SUBSCRIBE to the CANADA PLAYBOOK:

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106:52

Behind the Scenes: Teachers’ Negotiations

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2025/10/14

What will it take for Alberta's teachers and the UCP government to get a deal done and end this strike? Athabasca University labour expert Dr. Jason Foster gives us an informed take (45:30), including why he's skeptical the two sides are anywhere close. But first... 3:30 | Supriya Dwivedi tells us what she's keeping an eye on as an Israel/Hamas peace deal is signed, Canada looks to repair its relationship with India, Canada's Supreme Court justices undergo a makeover of sorts, and former PM Justin

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10:26

"The Alberta Educational Advantage is GONE!"

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2025/10/11

It's an all-teachers' strike edition of The Flamethrower, as KP, "Confidential," Ross, Carmen, Jay, "Different Carmen," and Justin give us their hottest takes. The Flamethrower is presented weekly by our friends at 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! FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj

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117:18

Real Talk Calgary Mayoral Debate

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2025/10/10

It's a hotly contested race for the Calgary Mayor's office. In this special presentation, you'll hear from the five highest-polling candidates for the top job at City Hall as Jeromy Farkas, Jyoti Gondek, Brian Thiessen, Sonya Sharp, and Jeff Davison square off in our Real Talk Calgary Mayoral Debate. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com 1:12:00 | Jespo and Johnny debrief after the debate before kicking off another - white vs. dark turkey meat, apple vs. pumpkin vs. pecan pie, and other

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136:54

Strike Scuttlebutt // Carney & Trump // Election...

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2025/10/09

The US government shutdown continues into its second week, as Canada and the U.S. continue to work toward a trade deal (we hope). We've got you covered with Wyatt Sharpe reporting live from the White House (2:30) in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. MBEW: https://www.mercedes-benz-edmontonwest.ca/ 13:30 | On day four of the Alberta teachers' strike, the Real Talk Rumour Mill is fuelled by your emails to talk@ryanjespersen.com following our interview with Education

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65:00

Alberta’s Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2025/10/08

How long is this Alberta teachers' strike going to last? What are the sticking points? Where is the government refusing to budge, and what are the terms both sides agree to? Will the government ultimately order teachers back to work? We ask Alberta's Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides (5:00) in this episode of Real Talk. NOTE: Our YouTube live stream experienced an interruption 45 minutes into this episode. You can catch the full episode wherever you get your podcasts, and you can always catch

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106:23

Teachers Strike // Jyoti Gondek // Stephen Mandel

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2025/10/07

We've got Alberta covered in this episode, including your thoughts on the teachers strike, Jyoti Gondek's mission to secure a second term as Calgary's mayor, and former Edmonton mayor Stephen Mandel's total dissatisfaction with the state of the capital city. Ryan leads off with a message from an Edmonton principal experiencing "the worst and most difficult day of (her) 23-year career," a gut check on student hunger from Brittany in Red Deer, Teacher Andrea's real reason for voting "no" to the

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106:48

How Long Could the Alberta Teachers Strike Last?

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2025/10/06

The largest strike in Alberta history is officially underway, as 51,000 teachers start the week outside the classroom. How long could this last? What are the main sticking points? Ryan sits down with Alberta Teachers Association president Jason Schilling (1:00) in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com MBEW: https://www.mercedes-benz-edmontonwest.ca/ 36:30 | Ryan reads Real Talkers' emails and comments from our Live Chat

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7:21

"Gaslighting, Lies, and Old Man Grievances!"

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2025/10/04

Andy in B.C. says "Hell no" to a new bitumen pipeline; Robert, Thomas, Justin, Chris and Kimberly have hot takes on the Alberta Next town hall debacle in Calgary, Aaron might be the next Canadian Ambassador to the United States, Brendan calls Ryan to the carpet, and Tobias sniffs out hypocrisy. 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

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82:30

Real Talk Edmonton Mayoral Debate

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2025/10/03

Tim Cartmell, Andrew Knack, and Michael Walters want to be Edmonton's next mayor. In this special episode, you'll hear details of their vision for the capital city's future, criticism of their opponents platforms, and their Big Promise to Edmontonians, in the Real Talk Edmonton Mayoral Debate presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com MBEW: https://www.mercedes-benz-edmontonwest.ca/ CHECK OUT OUR INTERVIEW WITH RAHIM JAFFER:

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119:29

Pipeline Politics: BC and Alberta At Odds Again

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2025/10/02

Alberta's got plans for a new pipeline to the west coast, and wants Ottawa to get on board. B.C. and Quebec are predictably pushing back, in what Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is calling "a test if Canada still works". What're the chances this pipeline will actually get built? We ask public affairs commentator Tasha Kheiridden (2:40) in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. READ TASHA'S WORK: https://tashakheiriddin.substack.com/ MBEW:

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93:07

"Disgraceful!" UCP Panel Silences Alberta Student

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2025/10/01

Danielle Smith's government is facing fire after a Calgary high school student was silenced, humiliated, and dismissed at an Alberta Next town hall. Is Alberta's freedom-loving premier (and her event moderator Bruce McAllister) practicing what her government preaches? Ryan opens with a some quick thoughts off the top before really digging into the story (32:00). But first... 3:10 | PM Mark Carney's popularity is down since he was elected, but Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has his own

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93:32

Stories of Truth and Reconciliation

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2025/09/30

September 30 is a day to reflect, to listen, and to confront the truths of Canada’s history. On this special episode, we mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with honest, challenging, and hopeful conversations about where we’ve come from and where we go next. This is more than a day off—it’s a call to remembrance, responsibility, and renewal. Ryan welcomes journalist Dani Paradis and artist, politician, and community leader Aaron Paquette for a candid discussion on the stories that

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102:41

Right Wing “Attack Machine” Targets Rachel Gilmore

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2025/09/29

Rachel Gilmore has to be the most-trolled journalist in Canada. It's impossible to ignore the vitriol around everything she posts, let alone criticism from high-profile voices like MP Andrew Scheer and TV host Ben Mulroney. Rachel joins Ryan and Supriya Dwivedi (2:30) to talk about organized opposition to her work, and how it impacts her personally and professionally. We get into Irish hip hop group Kneecap's "ban" from performing in Canada, and criticism aimed at Erica Kirk. READ RACHEL'S WORK:

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6:25

"She Says One Thing (and Does Another)!"

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2025/09/27

Real Talker Gordon is so fired up about the UCP's school library book ban that he wrote a song about it. For the first time ever, we present an original tune as this week's 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! FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj &

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109:11

EXCLUSIVE: Bif Naked Live in Studio

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2025/09/24

She's Canadian punk royalty. A fearless, unapologetic icon. An activist. A survivor. And an incredible human being. We welcome Bif Naked and producer Adam Scorgie to the Real Talk studio (2:30) in the historic Mercer Warehouse ahead of the Edmonton Film Festival premiere of a new documentary chronicling her remarkable life. GET TICKETS TO BIF NAKED at EIFF: https://2025eiff.eventive.org/films/689b7c33db2368453d0eebc5 1:06:00 | There's no better place to see the stars than Jasper National Park

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133:26

Big Lead in YYC Mayor Race / Did Carney Lie to Us?

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2025/09/23

Prominent firearms lawyer Ian Runkle says Prime Minister Mark Carney lied to us about the government's gun buyback program. In this episode, we welcome the host of the popular "Runkle of the Bailey" YouTube channel (39:00) to clarify where he says the PM isn't shooting straight. 5:00 | But first...new polling shows one horse pulling away from all the others in the race to be Calgary's next mayor. 338 Canada's Philippe Fournier lays out how mayoral campaigns are resonating with voters in Calgary and

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85:16

UFC at the White House // Palestine // Sonya Sharp

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2025/09/22

Donald Trump will host a UFC event on the South Lawn of the White House in July (2:00). Canada will officially recognize the State of Palestine (6:00). Separatism sentiments are flaring up again in Quebec (19:00), and RCMP have intercepted another group trying to cross the Canada-U.S. border into that province (24:30). We get into all the top stories with Supriya Dwivedi in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com 29:30 | Did

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4:21

"How Much Did They Pay You to Deceive Us, Ryan??"

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2025/09/20

Wayne has a word of warning for podcasters, Ross says Jimmy Kimmel deserves his fate, Robert has words of warning about a "both sides" approach, "29 Tilers," Edward, and Peter are pissed about Jespo's interview with the Prime Minister, and Kayne says it's time to put on your poppy. 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,

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1,294 results

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