Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Downtowns are booming across Canada. Except for Alberta's capital city, that is. Why is Edmonton's core unable to attract and tap into the same energy enjoyed in so many other urban centres? We hit the issues (and solutions) head on with three people who truly "give a shit" - Jay Downton, Cheryll Watson, and JoAnne Pearce - in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. 

THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY HANSEN DISTILLERY. CHECK OUT THEIR NEWEST RELEASE - DANNY R, A SMOOTH, READY TO DRINK BLOOD ORANGE WHISKY COCKTAIL WITH A DISTINCTIVE HANSEN TWIST. PROCEEDS BENEFIT MEN'S MENTAL HEALTH. LEARN MORE: https://hansendistillery.com/

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

DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION COMMITTEE: https://yegdowntown.ca/

SPILT ZERO PROOF: https://www.spilt.ca/

LITTLE BRICK: https://littlebrick.ca/

51:30 | Two national champions. Two Alberta athletes. We celebrate historic achievements by Abby Guezen and Ryder Rattee 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/

54:00 | Big changes at OilersNation, now Daily Faceoff Edmonton. Co-founder Jay Downton takes us into the evolution of the hugely successful sports media company. Conversation continues with Cheryll and JoAnne about fixing downtown. 

1:11:15 | Real Talkers share their thoughts on why they do or don't take their business downtown in our Live Chat powered by Park Power.

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.

A bit of a wild situation in Alberta, as Premier Danielle Smith and her Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis clap back at an Edmonton Police campaign encouraging citizens to report hate speech and hate crimes. "We believe law enforcement should...not police opinions or 'hurt feelings,'" tweeted Minister Ellis in response to the EPS initiative. Meantime, StatsCan says hate crimes are up in Alberta year-over-year, and have doubled across Canada since 2018. In our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West, we check in with Nina Saini and Sunny Johal from StopHateAB (6:00) for an important conversation about the difference between freedom of expression and hate speech, and the reality of hate crimes in our own backyard.

THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY HANSEN DISTILLERY. CHECK OUT THEIR NEWEST RELEASE - DANNY R, A SMOOTH, READY TO DRINK BLOOD ORANGE WHISKY COCKTAIL WITH A DISTINCTIVE HANSEN TWIST. PROCEEDS BENEFIT MEN'S MENTAL HEALTH. LEARN MORE: https://hansendistillery.com/

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

STOP HATE ALBERTA: https://stophateab.ca/

35:00 | Real Talkers have their say on the difference between "free speech" and hate speech, and Danielle Smith's interference in the EPS anti-hate campaign. Real Talk's Live Chat is powered by Park Power. 

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

1:04:45 | This is your sign to bring your dog to Jasper! Jespo shares a few favourite dog-related Jasper memories through the years and we present some of the best dog-friendly activities in Jasper National Park. #MyJasper Memories is presented by our friends at Tourism Jasper. 

BOOK YOUR NEXT JASPER ADVENTURE: https://www.jasper.travel/

1:11:00 | Real Talkers have more to say about hate speech, hate crimes, and targeted groups across Canada. A clear message emerges aimed at the Christian community. Thoughts?

EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespersen.com 

1:41:20 | Did we mention Real Talk was just listed as Canada's seventh-best political podcast? We take a look at what another top podcaster (who happens to be Stephen Harper's former comms director) is saying about Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. 

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.

More than 90 active wildfires are burning across British Columbia, with tens of thousands forced from their homes (many of which are destroyed). It's prompted a province-wide state of emergency, yet B.C.'s not alone. More than 300 wildfires are active across Canada as we record this conversation with award-winning environmental journalist Arno Kopecky (3:00), who lays out the reality of the situation, what it'll take to turn around the "wildfire season" trend, and the political implications of it all. Feature interviews on Real Talk are presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. 

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/

1:19:30 | Arno takes us into his reporting for Maclean's on B.C.'s Cowichan decision and what it means for property owners in the Lower Mainland and beyond. We wrap with touching insights on Alzheimer's and Dementia (1:36:10), which prompted Arno's National Magazine Award-winning essay for The Walrus. 

ARNO'S PIECE on MARK CARNEY and CLIMATE CHANGE: https://thewalrus.ca/carney-endorses-pipeline/

ARNO'S COWICHAN PIECE: https://macleans.ca/longforms/richmond-cowichan-land-claim/

A SON, A SCIENTIST, and THE SECRET OF BIOLUMINESCENCE: https://thewalrus.ca/a-son-a-scientist-and-the-secret-of-bioluminescence/

OUR JUNE 2023 INTERVIEW with JOHN VAILLANT on A HOTTER, MORE FLAMMABLE WORLD: https://rtrj.info/062023JV

OUR JULY 2026 INTERVIEW with BRANDI MORIN on ALBERTA SEPARATION and TREATY RIGHTS: https://rtrj.info/072426Brandi

REAL TALK'S LIVE CHAT IS POWERED BY PARK POWER. 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.

Should Canada lift its restrictions on American alcohol as part of a deal with the Trump administration? Jespo and Supriya Dwivedi break down the latest polling, provincial implications, the trade-off facing Ottawa (and whether giving Washington what it wants could actually be worth it) in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West (3:00). 

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/

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com 

1:13:45 | Have you stopped buying American beer, wine, and booze as a result of Donald Trump's aggression against Canada? Real Talkers have their say in our Live Chat powered by Park Power. We take a look at horrific wildfires in B.C. ahead of our August 11 interview with Arno Kopecky. 

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.

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 argues 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!

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

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.