Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

115:47

Treaty Rights vs. Alberta Separation // Photo Radar...

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2026/07/24

As Alberta's independence referendum nears, there's a fundamental question most separatists (and arguably the provincial government) hasn't answered: what about First Nations' treaty rights? As a group of First Nations chiefs calls for an RCMP investigation into allegations of treason involving Danielle Smith, warning they're prepared to physically resist a separation referendum, journalist Brandi Morin (4:15) digs into who has the legal and moral authority to redraw Canada's map. Feature interviews

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94:51

Pushback on Return to Office // AI-Proof Your Career

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2026/07/23

The workplace is changing fast, and we're digging into it from two very different perspectives. First, we revisit the debate over Return to Office mandates (10:30) following our July 22 conversation on downtown vibrancy. Then, AI educator Ruth Orekogbe explains the skills and mindset that can help future-proof your career in the age of artificial intelligence.THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY RapidEX FINANCIAL. THE CRYPTO WORLD MOVES FAST, AND YOUR TRUST IN AN EXCHANGE SHOULDN'T BE A GAMBLE. RapidEX IS

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112:06

What's Killing Edmonton's Restaurants? // Canadian...

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2026/07/22

At least 15 Edmonton restaurants have closed in 2026 alone. What's going on? Restauranteurs Kristina Botelho (kb&co), Chris Decock (GRETA), and Nate Box (Fox Burger, District) give us the lay of the land in our feature interview (3:00) presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY HANSEN DISTILLERY. ROOTED IN PRAIRIE GRIT AND A REBELLIOUS SPIRIT, HANSEN IS KNOWN FOR AUTHENTIC, SMALL-BATCH WHISKY AND OTHER SPIRITS CRAFTED WITH LOCAL ALBERTA INGREDIENTS. LEARN MORE:

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101:08

Trump Slams Canada With 50% Tariffs

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2026/07/21

Donald Trump is threatening Canada with 50% tariffs, citing "discriminatory trade policies" on American booze, dairy, and automobiles. How should Canada respond? Is this just another negotiation tactic by an erratic U.S. President, or further degradation of the Canada-U.S. relationship? We get into it with political scientist Dr. Duane Bratt (3:45) and Bianca Parsons of the Alberta Food Processors Association (37:30) in feature interviews presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. THIS EPISODE IS

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103:10

EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2026/07/20

Canada's relationship with the United States is being tested like never before. Trade tensions, tariffs, defence spending, Arctic security, energy, and the rhetoric coming out of Washington, D.C. have left many Canadians asking what comes next. U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of the Canada-U.S. relationship in an exclusive interview (1:30) presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY HANSEN DISTILLERY. ROOTED

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5:35

Albertans Push Back on UCP Bike Lane Survey

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2026/07/18

Janice and David say the UCP needs to stay in its lane on bike infrastructure; Robert backs anti-SLAPP legislation in Alberta; Gerald says Meta's $13B data centre could come with a cost nobody's talking about. It's The Flamethrower proudly presented by the DQs in Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! THE NEXT TIME YOU VISIT DQ IN PALISADES, NAMAO, NEWCASTLE, WESTMOUNT, OR BASELINE ROAD, BE SURE TO TELL 'EM REAL TALK SENT YOU! FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj &

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96:25

Alberta's War on Bike Lanes // RELENTLESS Round Table

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2026/07/17

Hate bike lanes? You'll love what the Alberta government just rolled out: a web portal for people to complain about the bike lanes they loathe the most. Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen says the next step will be legislation allowing the province to intervene in municipal decisions on bike lanes and other transportation planning. Whatever happened to government staying in its lane? THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY RapidEX FINANCIAL. THE CRYPTO WORLD MOVES FAST, AND YOUR TRUST IN AN EXCHANGE

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72:12

Speak Out. Get Sued? Why Alberta Needs Anti-SLAPP...

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2026/07/16

Are powerful interests using lawsuits to silence criticism? Investigative journalist Luke LeBrun joins Ryan (3:30) to explain why a broad coalition (including Real Talk's parent company Relay) is calling on Alberta to adopt anti-SLAPP legislation, and what it could mean for journalists, advocates, businesses, and everyday Albertans who speak out on issues of public interest. Feature interviews on Real Talk are presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY RapidEX FINANCIAL

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123:34

The Arctic Needs Defending. Canada Isn’t Ready.

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2026/07/15

Canada's Arctic is emerging as one of the world's most strategically important regions, but is Canada prepared to defend it? Maclean's contributor Anne Shibata Casselman joins us (3:30) to explore the growing threats from Russia and China, why Arctic sovereignty is about much more than military spending, and what Canada must do to secure its North for generations to come. Feature interviews on Real Talk are presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY RapidEX FINANCIAL

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86:45

Court Freezes Assets of Separatist Lawyer Jeff Rath...

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2026/07/14

An Alberta judge has frozen more than $8.5 million in assets linked to one of Alberta's most prominent separatist advocates, lawyer Jeffrey Rath, amid allegations by Tallcree First Nation over the handling of trust funds. Rath denies the allegations, but the case raises serious questions about credibility, accountability, and whether the people asking Albertans to trust them with the province's future have earned that trust. Jespo opens this episode with a few thoughts. What do YOU think? Leave a

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90:47

Road Trip Recap // Sen. Lindsey Graham Dead at 71

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2026/07/14

The inaugural Real Talk Road Trip is in the books - we recap the highs and lows of Stampede 2026 with Supriya Dwivedi (3:30) in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. We cover American influence in the Alberta separation debate (20:00), Justin Trudeau dancing in a Katy Perry video (36:00), Senator Lindsey Graham's sudden death (49:15), an update on Senator Mitch McConnell (59:00), and the deal to (finally) open the Gordie Howe bridge (1:09:30). MBEW:

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4:45

Quick Dick McDick's Stampede Best & Worst Dressed

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2026/07/11

Our pal Quick Dick McDick presents his Calgary Stampede 2026 Best & Worst Dressed in a special edition of The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park. THE NEXT TIME YOU VISIT DQ IN PALISADES, NAMAO, NEWCASTLE, WESTMOUNT, OR BASELINE ROAD, BE SURE TO TELL 'EM REAL TALK SENT YOU! FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: @ryanjespersen REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE

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103:09

EXCLUSIVE: Premier Danielle Smith

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2026/07/10

A looming referendum, new pipeline proposals, a $13B AI data centre announcement...it's been a big Calgary Stampede for Premier Danielle Smith. We get into it all (2:10) in an exclusive interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY HANSEN DISTILLERY. ROOTED IN PRAIRIE GRIT AND A REBELLIOUS SPIRIT, HANSEN IS KNOWN FOR AUTHENTIC, SMALL-BATCH WHISKY AND OTHER SPIRITS CRAFTED WITH LOCAL ALBERTA INGREDIENTS. LEARN MORE: https://hansendistillery.com/ MBEW:

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94:41

Alison Redford // Meta's $13B AI Data Centre

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2026/07/09

Meta's historic $13 billion AI data centre announcement - the largest private-sector technology project in Alberta's history - has people talking about jobs, investment, and economic diversification. It's also prompting tough questions about its massive electricity demand and water use. Former premier Alison Redford (3:15) and Sturgeon County Mayor Alanna Hnatiw (36:10) join us to unpack what it could mean for Alberta's economy, energy sector, and global reputation. THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY

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112:45

Which Politician is Winning Stampede?

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2026/07/08

The Calgary Stampede isn't just Canada's biggest party. It's also the country's biggest networking event, where prime ministers, premiers, cabinet ministers, mayors, CEOs, lobbyists, and power brokers all show up to make deals, build relationships, and shape what's next. So, halfway through Stampede, we ask: Which politician is winning Stampede? 2:50 | Erika Barootes and Sabrina Grover debate who's made the biggest impact at Stampede 2026. Is it Danielle Smith? Doug Ford? Mark Carney? Pierre

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92:12

The Strategists // Corb Lund

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2026/07/07

The Strategists co-hosts Zain Velji and Stephen Carter (00:30) are all fired up. Corb Lund (42:00) is all fired up. It's Episode Two on the Real Talk Road Trip at Calgary's National Music Centre! THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY HANSEN DISTILLERY. ROOTED IN PRAIRIE GRIT AND A REBELLIOUS SPIRIT, HANSEN IS KNOWN FOR AUTHENTIC, SMALL-BATCH WHISKY AND OTHER SPIRITS CRAFTED WITH LOCAL ALBERTA INGREDIENTS. LEARN MORE: https://hansendistillery.com/ REAL TALK FEATURE INTERVIEWS ARE PRESENTED BY MERCEDES-BENZ

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127:35

Real Talk Road Trip: Calgary

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2026/07/06

Real Talk is on the road at Calgary's stunning National Music Centre! We get the inside scoop on the first weekend of Stampede and that big pipeline announcement from federal Energy Minister Tim Hodgson (2:45), MP Corey Hogan (20:00), strategist Sharan Kaur (32:00), Tourism Calgary CEO Alisha Reynolds (46:30), National Music Centre CEO Andrew Mosker (58:30), and Mayor Jeromy Farkas (1:27:30). Feature interviews on Real Talk are presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY

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123:29

Who's Paying for Alberta's Pipeline?

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2026/06/30

Alberta's going it alone...at least for now. The province will be the initial proponent of a new pipeline to the West Coast, according to The Globe and Mail. Premier Danielle Smith says the province will foot the $14M bill for early engineering, planning, and regulatory legwork before handing it off to the private sector...but is that likely to happen? We discuss in this episode, including a surprise drop-in from National Observer columnist Max Fawcett (1:10:45) in an impromptu feature interview

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105:34

Should Canada Save 24 Sussex?

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2026/06/29

For more than a decade, 24 Sussex Drive has sat empty - a crumbling symbol of political paralysis, complete with asbestos, mould, and even rats. Now Prime Minister Mark Carney wants to change that, announcing a national design competition and a fundraising campaign to restore Canada's official prime ministerial residence. Is this a long-overdue investment in a national institution...or tonedeaf priority at a time when so many Canadians can't afford a home of their own? We discuss with Supriya

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7:44

Calgarians SOUND OFF on Stampede Tent Squabble

Real Talk Ryan Jespersen ·

2026/06/27

Real Talkers sound off on the Stampede Cowboys tent controversy, with fiery takes from Robert, Ruthann, Teryl, Natalie, and Julie. The Flamethrower is proudly presented by our amazing friends at the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park. WHEN YOU VISIT THE DQs IN PALISADES, NAMAO, NEWCASTLE, WESTMOUNT, or BASELINE ROAD, BE SURE TO TELL 'EM REAL TALK SENT YOU! FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen JOIN

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