Alberta's on fire. More than 100 wildfires are burning, more than 30 of them out of control. We look at the front-line and long-term storylines, as well as the political implications, in this episode of Real Talk.

6:40 | Why are wildfires so much worse these days? Dr. Mike Flannigan's been in the field for more than 40 years. The Research Chair for Predictive Services, Emergency Management, and Fire Science at Thompson Rivers University explains why May can be such a combustible month, how we can tell climate change is a factor, and what needs to change over the next few years. 

CHECK OUT MIKE'S WORK: https://www.mikeflannigan.com/

FOLLOW FREELANCE VIDEOJOURNALIST KYLE BRITTAIN: https://twitter.com/KyleBrittainWX

37:25 | What do wildfires have to do with Gordon Lightfoot? Political blogger (and lawyer) Susan Wright joins Ryan to explain. The commentator known as "Susan on the Soapbox" also digs into the implications of Danielle Smith leaving an Alberta Pension Plan and the Sovereignty Act out of the UCP's platform. 

READ SUSAN'S BLOG: https://susanonthesoapbox.com/

1:12:05 | We guarantee you'll smile when you see the heroic rescue in this week's Positive Reflections! After a nine-month-old puppy fell  30 feet down a cliff, firefighters rigged up a winch to save the little fella. Positive Reflections is presented by our friends at Kuby Renewable Energy.

KUBY'S HIRING: https://kubyenergy.ca/

WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/

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.