Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

What if business and labour actually agree on more than they admit? Following our August 5 conversation with Edmonton Chamber CEO Doug Griffiths, Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan weighs in on the "Norway model" a system where business, labour, and government work together to minimize work stoppages while protecting collective bargaining. Gil pushes back where it counts, but winds up finding (surprising?) areas of agreement, in our feature interview (6:20) 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/

WATCH THE GRIFFITHS INTERVIEW: https://rtrj.info/080526ECC

1:34:00 | Real Talkers have a lot to say about strikes, wages, and more in our Live Chat powered by Park Power.

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

1:45:45 | Don calls out Jespo's flippant comment about separatists claiming the "old" Canada flag, Joe from Alliston calls out Danielle Smith's interference, Mr. T says there's a double standard in Alberta, Ryan sticks up for the Ag industry, Claire says big corporations are killing local Ag producers, and Mark riffs on our August 6 interview about the Vulcan County AI data centre. It's The Flamethrower proudly presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! 

WHEN YOU SWING BY A DQ IN PALISADES, NAMAO, NEWCASTLE, WESTMOUNT, OR BASELINE ROAD FOR MIRACLE TREAT DAY ON AUGUST 13, BE SURE TO LET 'EM KNOW REAL TALK SENT YOU! 

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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.

Vulcan County residents are taking their Council to court, alleging rules were broken with the approval of a controversial AI data centre to be constructed on 600 acres of farm land. Little Bow AI Data Centre Committee members Sylvia Farrant and David Anderson lay out their argument in our feature interview (3:15) 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/

CONTACT THE LITTLE BOW AI DATA CENTRE COMMITTEE: littlebow.aidc@gmail.com 

37:20 | Real Talkers have their say on AI data centres, environmental oversight, and NIMBYism in our Live Chat powered by Park Power. 

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

53:15 | 15-year-old Calgary student Anie Udofia earned international accolades for her work exploring an important question: how do we make AI more sustainable? Anie's in the spotlight in this edition of Alberta Wins presented by Play Alberta. 

PLAY ALBERTA IS THE ONLY APP IN THE PROVINCE THAT PUTS ALL REVENUE DIRECTLY BACK INTO SUPPORTING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT ALBERTANS RELY ON EVERY DAY. LEARN MORE AT https://try.playalberta.ca/lp/realtalk/

SUBMIT YOUR ALBERTA WIN: talk@ryanjespersen.com 

56:00 | You have a LOT to say about AI data centres. Jespo and Johnny jump back into the Live Chat before taking a look at shocking new federal polling - is Pierre Poilievre legit in trouble? 

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

REAL TALK HIGHLIGHTS ARE PRESENTED BY KUBY ENERGY AND CANADIAN GREEN TECH, YOUR TRUSTED SOLAR PROVIDERS. LEARN MORE AT https://kuby.ca/ or in-store at Costco.

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.

WestJet and its flight attendants have reached a tentative agreement, with flights beginning to resume and thousands of disrupted travellers hoping to get home soon. But the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce says the bigger issue isn't over, and CEO Doug Griffiths joins us in our feature interview (3:50) presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West to explain why Canada needs to treat reliable transportation as an economic priority, not just a labour issue. 

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 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/

22:45 | Doug shares the secret to survival for downtown businesses, lays out a huge opportunity for Alberta-based service providers, and issues a call to action ahead of Alberta's October 19 referendum.

READ THE EDMONTON CHAMBER'S LETTER TO PM CARNEY: https://www.edmontonchamber.com/2026/08/01/westjet-dispute-letter-to-prime-minister/

32:45 | Real Talkers have their say on downtown safety and more in our Live Chat powered by Park Power. 

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

47:00 | Real Talkers Kyle, Lindsey, Beaux, and Jove share details of their recent road trip through Jasper, where the town's "spirit was evident and powerful." #MyJasper Memories is proudly presented by our friends at Tourism Jasper. 

PLAN YOUR JASPER ADVENTURE: https://www.jasper.travel/

50:30 | Premier Danielle Smith says concern over foreign interference in Alberta's referendum is "fearmongering," and lectures the Edmonton Police Service over a social media post about hate speech and hate crimes. We've got thoughts. 

1:09:00 | Real Talker HuskerNation puts the Regina call to prayer story on Jespo's radar. How do you feel about religious content through loudspeakers in public spaces? 

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com 

1:34:00 | We sign off with a tribute to all-time Canadian broadcast legend Lloyd Robertson. And that's the kind of day it's been...

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

REAL TALK HIGHLIGHTS ARE PRESENTED BY KUBY ENERGY AND CANADIAN GREEN TECH, YOUR TRUSTED SOLAR PROVIDERS. LEARN MORE AT https://kuby.ca/ or in-store at Costco.

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

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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 union representing 32,000 Alberta grocery workers has filed a grievance against Sobeys, arguing the grocery chain's use of Alberta flags to promote locally made products is "reckless and inappropriate" amid the province's separatist movement. Jespo says they might as well fly a white flag instead, and digs into the debate with Supriya Dwivedi (3:00) in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. Where do you stand? Let us know in the comments!

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/

21:40 | WestJet passengers can breathe a sigh of relief as flight attendants return to work following a one-day strike. At what point should the feds step in on negotiations like these? Supriya gives us her take. We take a look at Pierre Poilievre's new "training" video (33:00), Supriya follows up on our July 30 interview with Jessica Scott-Reid about animal rights "unravelling" in Canada (39:15), and we learn how Canada's new approach to cybercrime could threaten human rights (42:45). 

READ SUPRIYA'S PIECE ON CYBERCRIME & HUMAN RIGHTS: https://www.tvo.org/article/analysis-how-canadas-new-approach-to-cybercrime-could-threaten-human-rights

49:40 | Real Talkers go back-and-forth on the Alberta flag debate in our Live Chat powered by Park Power. Real Talker Kyrsti shares her perspective on downtown vibrancy as a commuting hybrid worker (1:06:50), and Real Talker Brad has a warning about "Alberta's hidden AI data centre risk" (1:16:30). 

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

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

REAL TALK HIGHLIGHTS ARE PRESENTED BY KUBY ENERGY AND CANADIAN GREEN TECH, YOUR TRUSTED SOLAR PROVIDERS. LEARN MORE AT https://kuby.ca/ or in-store at Costco.

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.

Crazy Fast Eddy takes toilet talk to a whole new level with his climate change commentary, Sheldon D has questions about that $13B AI data centre, Gail says people are missing the point about the "Fuck Your Fascist Pancakes" movement, Tyler's got thoughts on our July 23 AI interview, AJ's sick of selfish hikers, and Neil's looking for balance on "restaurants closing" coverage in Edmonton. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park!

WHEN YOU VISIT THE DQs in PALISADES, NAMAO, NEWCASTLE, WESTMOUNT, and BASELINE ROAD, BE SURE TO TELL THEM 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.