Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Jamil Jivani says Canada's shooting itself in the foot with an "anti-American hissy fit." The Conservative MP made the comments to right wing outlet Breitbart after meeting with his college pal (and current US vice-president) JD Vance and President Donald Trump during a solo mission to D.C. earlier this month. Supriya Dwivedi tells us how she thinks Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre should respond to the Jivani situation (26:20)...

Real Talker Brent's still "on the fence" with Alberta separation, Joe from Airdrie has a plan to force Donald Trump's hand on the Gordie Howe bridge, Chevy on Spotify calls out Johnny's pacifism, G Money has a warning about Surrey, BC, and Les wants Alberta separatists to grow up. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park!

FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com

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We love how Senator Charles Adler tees up this episode - as a "kitchen table conversation" about the things that really matter. If you're looking for real, empathetic insights into the Tumbler Ridge tragedy (5:10), you'll find them from the Emmy Award-winning broadcast legend in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. 

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If you're like us, you're walking with a heavy heart after the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, BC. You may also be wondering if or how you should talk about it with your kids. Dr. Jody Carrington gives us a lot to think about (3:10) in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. 

TELL US HOW YOU'RE DOING: talk@ryanjespersen.com

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How do you begin to talk about the tragedy in Tumbler Ridge, BC? Ten people are dead and another 25 sustained injuries in one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canadian history. We hear from political leaders and Real Talkers across the country who are grieving this senseless loss of life. 

TELL US WHAT YOU'RE FEELING: talk@ryanjespersen.com 

THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY RapidEX FINANCIAL. THE CRYPTO WORLD MOVES FAST, BUT YOUR TRU...

We go left-to-right in this episode featuring federal NDP leadership candidate Heather McPherson (3:00) and farmer/YouTuber/comedian Quick Dick McDick (43:00) 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/

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Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show draws a record audience AND the ire of President Donald Trump, who calls it "absolutely terrible, one of the worst EVER". We get into alllllllll the details with Supriya Dwivedi (2:30) in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. We cover Conservative MP Jamil Jivani's trip to D.C. (21:00), Trump's now-deleted social media post depicting the Obamas as primates (38:40), Step...

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: talk@ryanjespersen.com

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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' perspect...

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. 

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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...

Canada's Conservatives opened up their playbook at the party's annual Convention in Calgary, laying out plans to quell the housing crunch and defend Arctic sovereignty. Is PM Mark Carney particularly vulnerable on these files? Can Pierre Poilievre convince voters he's a better man for the job? Former UCP senior staffer Colin Aitchison was in the room for Poilievre's speech, and delivers his analysis in our feature interview (4:45) ...

Pierre Poilievre walks away from a big weekend in Calgary with a significant boost, scoring 87.4% in his leadership review at Conservative Convention 2026. Poll analyst Philippe Fournier was there as an objective observer, and joins Ryan and Supriya with a full report (4:20) in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. 

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Real solutions for Alberta workers from the Alberta Federation of Labour. Episode 1 of the Worker Agenda looks at AFFORDABILITY. Everything is getting more expensive. The dream of a secure, middle-class life is slipping away, especially for young people.

Gil McGowan and Cori Longo of the AFL join Omar Mouallem to discuss what can be done to make life more affordable for Albertans.

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Real Talkers Glenn and Tractor Dave have hot takes on Alberta's separatist movement; Keltie, Laura, and Les are fired up over our coverage of changes to disability benefits in Alberta; and Melvin has a geography lesson for Jespo. It's The Flamethrower presented by our amazing friends at the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park!

FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com

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Canada's premiers are calling out Alberta separatists en masse. BC's David Eby's calling it "treason". This, as American officials are (reportedly) meeting with an unelected, unofficial, and unserious delegation led by lawyer Jeff Rath. We get into it - along with the Canada-US relationship, the Canada-China trade deal, and the contentious F-35 fighter jet order - with longtime politician, diplomat, and CEO of the Canada West Found...

There's little doubt Pierre Poilievre will survive his leadership review at Conservative Convention in Calgary. The question is, what tone will he set, how will he manage Trump supporters and Alberta separatists, and which direction will the party adopt moving forward? Podcaster and former (United) Conservative staffer Erika Barootes talks it out from Calgary (3:40) in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West....

Alberta's rolling back benefits for nearly 80,000 people with disabilities with its new Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP). Amidst steep cost of living increases, benefits are being cut by 10% alongside a 67% cut to fully-exempt employment income. We talk to Inclusion Alberta CEO Trish Bowman and Real Talker Averie, an advocate for adults with mental illness, in our feature interview (4:00) presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmo...

Canadians are waiting way too long in emergency rooms. Dr. Andrew Boozary, executive director at the Gattuso Centre for Social Medicine at Toronto's University Health Network and founder of Dunn House, explains how they've cut ER visits by 52% and length of stays by 79% (5:15) in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. 

Stick around for former Jason Kenney staffer Blaise Boehmer's behind-the-scenes story (42...