Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

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

REAL TALK ROAD TRIP: CALGARY IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR FRIENDS AT THE NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE: https://www.studiobell.ca/

35:30 | Jespo, Johnny, and our Real Talk Road Trip media manager Karly Watson debrief after the Smith interview and see what Real Talkers are saying in our Live Chat powered by Park Power. Tell us what you think about the AI data centre discussion: talk@ryanjespersen.com or leave a comment here.

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

1:37:00 | 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! 

REAL TALK'S LIVE STREAM IS PRESENTED BY CALIFORNIA CLOSETS. BOOK YOUR FREE CONSULTATION: https://californiaclosets.ca/

SIGN UP for YEGplus, CANADA'S FIRST AIRPORT REWARDS PROGRAM: https://yegplus.com/realtalk

SAVE 10% on ONLINE MEN'S CLOTHING PURCHASES at THE HELM with promo code REALTALK: https://thehelmclothing.com/

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.

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 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 EDMONTON WEST: https://www.mercedes-benz-edmontonwest.ca/

THE ALEX COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE: https://www.thealex.ca/

1:03:40 | Real Talker Candace celebrates The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth in this edition of Alberta Wins presented by Play Alberta. 

AS THE EXCLUSIVE BETTING PARTNER OF THE CALGARY STAMPEDE, PLAY ALBERTA HAS PLENTY OF FUN SURPRISES IN STORE. KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE ACTIVATION TEAM FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN! MUST BE 18+ TO PLAY. IF YOU GAMBLE, USE YOUR GAMESENSE. LEARN MORE AT playalberta.ca/realtalk

1:06:30 | Singer-songwriter (and Jespo's longtime pal) JJ Shiplett tells us about his new album and documentary project All My Money on Red. Don't miss his performance of A Land Full of Giants (1:29:00)! 

JOIN JJ'S RECORD CLUB: https://www.jjshiplett.com/

REAL TALK ROAD TRIP: CALGARY IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR FRIENDS AT THE NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE: https://www.studiobell.ca/

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com 

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

REAL TALK'S LIVE STREAM IS PRESENTED BY CALIFORNIA CLOSETS. BOOK YOUR FREE CONSULTATION: https://californiaclosets.ca/

SIGN UP for YEGplus, CANADA'S FIRST AIRPORT REWARDS PROGRAM: https://yegplus.com/realtalk

SAVE 10% on ONLINE MEN'S CLOTHING PURCHASES at THE HELM with promo code REALTALK: https://thehelmclothing.com/

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.

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 Poilievre? Jeromy Farkas? Naheed Nenshi? Let us know what you think - leave a comment below or email talk@ryanjespersen.com. 

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/

45:50 | Max Fawcett picks up where Erika and Sabrina leave off, and goes on to tell us why the proposed Northern Shield Energy Corridor is not a real thing. 

READ MAX'S COLUMN on ALBERTA GRIEVANCES: https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/07/07/opinion/alberta-politics-grievances-provincial-government

REAL TALK FEATURE INTERVIEWS ARE PRESENTED BY MERCEDES-BENZ EDMONTON WEST: https://www.mercedes-benz-edmontonwes...

NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE: https://www.studiobell.ca/

1:12:30 | Did you know you can saddle up and follow in the hoof prints of past explorers with gentle, well-trained western mountain horses? We feature Jasper Riding Stables in this episode of #MyJasper Memories presented by Tourism Jasper.

BOOK YOUR TRAIL RIDE: https://rtrj.info/070826TJHorses

1:15:15 | Senator Kristopher Wells gives us his Stampede recap, including Pride Day and meetings with the U.S. Consul General. We get a "parliamentary year in review," including Dr. Wells' work on hate crimes, Medical Assistance in Dying, and the Canadian Parliamentary Pride Caucus. 

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com 

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

REAL TALK'S LIVE STREAM IS PRESENTED BY CALIFORNIA CLOSETS. BOOK YOUR FREE CONSULTATION: https://californiaclosets.ca/

SIGN UP for YEGplus, CANADA'S FIRST AIRPORT REWARDS PROGRAM: https://yegplus.com/realtalk

SAVE 10% on ONLINE MEN'S CLOTHING PURCHASES at THE HELM with promo code REALTALK: https://thehelmclothing.com/

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.

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 EDMONTON WEST: https://www.mercedes-benz-edmontonwest.ca/

NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE: https://www.studiobell.ca/

WATER NOT COAL: https://waternotcoal.ca/

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

REAL TALK'S LIVE STREAM IS PRESENTED BY CALIFORNIA CLOSETS. BOOK YOUR FREE CONSULTATION: https://californiaclosets.ca/

SIGN UP for YEGplus, CANADA'S FIRST AIRPORT REWARDS PROGRAM: https://yegplus.com/realtalk

SAVE 10% on ONLINE MEN'S CLOTHING PURCHASES at THE HELM with promo code REALTALK: https://thehelmclothing.com/

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.

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 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/

1:48:45 | Real Talkers share advice for surviving Stampede parties in our Live Chat powered by Park Power.

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

REAL TALK'S LIVE STREAM IS PRESENTED BY CALIFORNIA CLOSETS. BOOK YOUR FREE CONSULTATION: https://californiaclosets.ca/

SIGN UP for YEGplus, CANADA'S FIRST AIRPORT REWARDS PROGRAM: https://yegplus.com/realtalk

SAVE 10% on ONLINE MEN'S CLOTHING PURCHASES at THE HELM with promo code REALTALK: https://thehelmclothing.com/

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.