Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Jonathan chastises Jespo's "unserious" approach to the nukes-in-Canada discussion, Mike has a hot take on the Gavin McKenna assault charges story, Andrea says she'd "die for this country" were the U.S. to invade Canada, and Mary Ann checks in from Ixtapa, Mexico with thoughts on ICE. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park!

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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.

Jonathan chastises Jespo's "unserious" approach to the nukes-in-Canada discussion, Mike has a hot take on the Gavin McKenna assault charges story, Andrea says she'd "die for this country" were the U.S. to invade Canada, and Mary Ann checks in from Ixtapa, Mexico with thoughts on ICE. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park!

FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: [email protected]

WHEN YOU VISIT THE DQs 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 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.

We didn't want to talk about Donald Trump during this Black History Month Round Table (15:45). But POTUS forced our hand when he posted a vile, racist AI video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes just hours before we recorded this episode. Trump's unconscionable action is a reminder we've still got a long ways to go. Darren W. Jordan, Garfield Morgan, and Lorelle Whittingham, and Renee Williams bring their artists' perspectives to this important feature interview (starting at 2:20) presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West.

THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY HANSEN DISTILLERY. HANSEN IS WISHING CANADA'S ATHLETES BEST OF LUCK AT THE 2026 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES. RAISE A GLASS TO TEAM CANADA: https://hansendistillery.com/

45:25 | Edmonton Arts Council CEO Renee Williams joins Darren and Lorelle around the Real Talk Round Table. 

5 ARTISTS, 1 LOVE: https://www.5artists1love.com/

EDM. ARTS COUNCIL: https://www.edmontonarts.ca/blog/living-portraits-celebrating-black-artists-in-edmonton

SHARE YOUR STORY: [email protected]

1:27:10 | Real Talkers share their thoughts (and generous Super Chat contributions) in our Live Chat powered by Park Power.

SAVE on INTERNET, ELECTRICITY, and NATURAL GAS: https://parkpower.ca/realtalk/

1:32:10 | Jonathan chastises Jespo's "unserious" approach to the nukes-in-Canada discussion, Mike has a hot take on the Gavin McKenna assault charges story, Andrea says she'd "die for this country" were the U.S. to invade Canada, and Mary Ann checks in from Ixtapa, Mexico with thoughts on ICE. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! 

FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: [email protected] 

WHEN YOU VISIT THE DQs 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 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.

Top NHL prospect Gavin McKenna faces a felony assault charge following an altercation at a Pennsylvania bar. Rumour is the 18-year-old McKenna and his Mom were repeatedly harassed by the 21-year-old who reportedly wound up with a broken jaw. What would you do in a situation like this? We debate the merits of defending your family or walking away (1:10:30) in this very candid episode of Real Talk. 

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: leave a comment below or email [email protected] 

But first...

5:00 | We check in on Jasper's fire rebuild with Edmonton MP Eleanor Olszewski, the Liberals' new Ministerial Lead for Jasper. Of course, we ask what she thinks about Consevative MP Jamil Jivani's trip to D.C. to meet with the Trump administration, too. Feature interviews on Real Talk are presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. 

THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY RapidEX FINANCIAL. THE CRYPTO WORLD MOVES FAST, BUT YOUR TRUST IN AN EXCHANGE SHOULDN'T BE A GAMBLE. RapidEX IS SECURE, FINTRAC-REGISTERED, AND NON-CUSTODIAL. SAVE 50% ON FEES ON ONLINE INTERAC E-TRANSFER TRADES WITH PROMO CODE RYAN50 AT https://rapidexfinancial.com/.

MBEW: https://www.mercedes-benz-edmontonwest.ca/

BUY YOUR FULL HOUSE LOTTERY TICKETS TODAY: https://bit.ly/4sWLHOz

38:00 | Will you be tuning into the Olympic Winter Games? Would you like to see Canada host the Games again? We get into Liaison Strategies' new polling ahead of the Opening Ceremony for Milan Cortina. 

CHECK OUT THE RESULTS: https://www.liaison.ca/polls/canadians-love-their-hockey-but-not-enough-to-foot-the-bill-for-a-future-olympics

55:00 | Real Talkers give us their cost-benefit analysis around hosting the Olympics in our Live Chat powered by Park Power.

SAVE on INTERNET, ELECTRICITY, and NATURAL GAS: https://parkpower.ca/realtalk/

1:06:00 | We focus (get it?) on Alberta photographers taking top honours in Canadian Geographic's Canadian Photos of the Year in this edition of Alberta Wins presented by Play Alberta. 

THERE'S A MAJOR CASINO WINNER EVERY HOUR WITH PLAY ALBERTA, AND ALL REVENUE STAYS RIGHT HERE IN THE PROVINCE. DOWNLOAD THE PLAY ALBERTA APP TODAY TO GET STARTED WITH CASINO, SPORTS, AND LOTTERY ALL IN ONE APP. MUST BE 18+ TO PLAY. IF YOU GAMBLE, PLEASE USE YOUR GAMESENSE. https://playalberta.ca/

1:10:30 | What would you do if somebody hurled insults at your Mom or another beloved family member? We dig into the rumours around Gavin McKenna's felony assault charge in Pennsylvania. 

FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen 

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: @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.

Should Canada expand its military arsenal to include nuclear weapons? Retired general Wayne Eyre says it should be an option, but Defence Minister David McGuinty says it's not. We ask columnist Tasha Kheiriddin (3:40) in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. Tasha also explains why Pierre Poilievre needs to talk more about Donald Trump, and gives us her take on Stephen Harper's portrait unveiling in Ottawa. (Enjoy the very beginning of the interview, as Jespo learns a tough lesson about leaning on AI for simple yet important tasks.)

THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY HANSEN DISTILLERY. HANSEN IS WISHING CANADA'S ATHLETES BEST OF LUCK AT THE 2026 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES. RAISE A GLASS TO TEAM CANADA: https://hansendistillery.com/

CHECK OUT TASHA'S SUBSTACK: https://tashakheiriddin.substack.com/

47:00 | Are The Beatles the most overrated band in the world? Johnny lays out his argument, prompting a vigorous debate in our Real Talk Live Chat powered by Park Power.

SAVE on INTERNET, ELECTRICITY, and NATURAL GAS: https://parkpower.ca/realtalk/

57:00 | Looking to WOW your valentine? Head to the most romantic spot in Canada - Jasper National Park! Real Talker Claudette paints a picture, then Jespo highlights your best Valentine's Day options in #MyJasper Memories presented by Tourism Jasper. 

PLAN YOUR VALENTINE'S DAY in JASPER: https://www.jasper.travel/

1:06:30 | Debate continues in our Live Chat around overrated bands and Canada going nuclear.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: [email protected]

1:12:45 | Did you hear what Melinda French Gates had to say about her ex-husband Bill and the Epstein files? We have a look at her appearance on an NPR podcast that has everybody talking, along with a remarkable exchange at the White House between President Trump and CNN's Kaitlan Collins. 

1:38:15 | Our thoughts are with the many friends and family mourning the loss of teens JJ Wright, Cameron Casorso, and Caden Fine, the Southern Alberta Mustangs hockey players killed in a crash on their way to practice. 

BUY YOUR FULL HOUSE LOTTERY TICKETS: https://bit.ly/4sWLHOz

FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen 

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: @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.