Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Thank you for three million downloads! Last night, our Real Talk Ryan Jespersen podcast hit that mile marker, and we're so grateful for everybody who subscribes to, downloads, rates, reviews, and shares our shows. Here's to the next three million! 

14:11 | More than 30 white nationalists were detained in Idaho over the weekend, as plans to interrupt Pride celebrations were foiled by an astute citizen who called police. Former extremist and CSIS counter-terrorism operative Mubin Shaikh gets into what most concerns him about the Idaho story, then broadens the conversation to focus on how these groups form, and what the public needs to know. 

FOLLOW MUBIN ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/MrMubinShaikh

44:45 | If you were a pro golfer, would you defect from the PGA Tour to the Saudi-backed LIV Tour if they offered you $200M? Toronto Star columnist and TSN contributor Bruce Arthur digs into one of the biggest stories in sports right now. Plus, how big of a liability is Pierre Poilievre's position on Bitcoin, and what does it mean in the bigger picture of Canadian politics?

CHECK OUR UNOFFICIAL, UNSCIENTIFIC TWITTER POLL re: LIV: https://twitter.com/ryanjespersen/status/1536557316580864000

FOLLOW BRUCE ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/bruce_arthur

1:27:08 | The Indigenous Peoples Experience at Fort Edmonton Park just won the international Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement - Heritage Centre, just one of the reasons why it's on The Leading Edge! Ryan shares a few key details about this fascinating new exhibit in Real Talk's home city.

LEARN MORE: https://www.fortedmontonpark.ca/plan-your-visit/attractions/indigenous-peoples-experience

The Leading Edge is presented by Leading Edge Physiotherapy: https://leadingedgephysio.com/

8:42 | Ben Perrin admits he had drug policy all wrong. The former criminal justice advisor to Prime Minister Stephen Harper says current Conservative politicians like Pierre Poilievre and Jason Kenney are ignoring the evidence when it comes to addressing Canada's opioid crisis. Don't miss this extended-length conversation with the author of the best-seller "Overdose: Heartbreak and Hope in Canada's Opioid Crisis".

CHECK OUT BEN'S WORK: https://benjaminperrin.ca/

1:00:52 | Why are the January 6th Committee hearings so important? Charles Adler lays it out during his regular Monday appearance on the show. Chuck also touches on the "snail's pace" of addressing America's gun problem, and why he's so intrigued by Canada's recent job numbers.

1:23:04 | Fill your bucket with a couple good news stories headlining this week's edition of Positive Reflections presented by Kuby Energy! Find out why music festivals are actually good for humanity, and hear about the lonely Colorado boy who found new friends in an unlikely circumstance. 

GET YOUR FREE SOLAR QUOTE TODAY: https://kubyenergy.ca/

Buckle up for this week's (sleep deprived) version of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental!

12:11 | Gas prices are through the roof, along with the cost of most other things families spend money on. Ryan gets the Group Chat Round Table back together for some "real life" takes on inflation, family budgets, and changing habits. Jenny Adams, Jarrett Campbell, and Harman Kandola also chime in on downtown Edmonton's crime woes, and whose job it is to fix everything.

38:10 | Real Talkers are telling us they're taking more steps than ever before to adjust to rising household costs. What's the smartest way to do it? Where might you find savings without sacrificing too much? Personal finance educator Kelley Keehn has some great tips you can implement right now! 

CHECK OUT KELLEY'S BOOKS: https://kelleykeehn.com/

We love hearing from Real Talkers, especially when you let us know how moments on the show have resonated with you. Make sure you check out Bradley (7:04) and Kristie's (1:07:46) emails to [email protected] after our powerful episode on Thursday (June 9th) re: men's mental health and the Sorry, I'm Sad podcast.

1:02:12 | We get into the results of our most recent Get Real: Question of the Week presented by Y Station. Find out how Real Talkers feel about gun violence in the US, and the best way to address it.

TAKE THIS WEEK's QotW: https://ryanjespersen.com/question-of-the-week

1:12:48 | Buckle up for this week's (sleep deprived) version of Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental!

4:44 | Dilly Bar shooters, pizza, perogies, and a shot at Oilers tickets, a new Jeep, and $60k cash: you don't want to miss the Real Talk Golf Classic on Thursday, June 23 at 2pm at The Ranch! Ryan and Johnny tee up our inaugural golf tournament, and share a few highlights they're especially looking forward to.

REGISTER YOUR FOURSOME FOR THE REAL TALK GOLF CLASSIC: https://ryanjespersen.com/real-talk-golf-classic

11:33 | Starting the conversation about men's mental health can be hard. MPs Matt Jeneroux (Conservative) and Gord Johns (NDP) share their personal connections to this important cause, and talk about the non-partisan work they're doing together to address rising rates of substance use, domestic violence, and suicide among Canadian men.

LEARN MORE: https://www.fathersdayonthehill.ca/

39:52 | When her husband was diagnosed with ALS and given 6-12 months to live, journalist Kelsie Snow avoided other people's sad stories as a rule. Now, she seeks them out. Ryan connects with the founder, producer, and host of the "Sorry, I'm Sad" podcast to better understand her personal grief journey, what keeps her family laughing amid heartbreak, and what she wants people to know through ALS Awareness Month (and beyond). Don't miss this moving conversation. 

CHECK OUT KELSIE'S PODCAST: https://www.sorryimsad.com/

SUPPORT #WEAKSIDESTRONG: https://www.weaksidestrong.org/

1:11:33 | It's 5:00 somewhere. Ryan and John crack a couple cold cans of Adam's Pale Ale in support of the #OneOnAdam campaign. Learn more at https://www.alsab.ca/seachange

1:15:46 | Ryan and John roll out our Question of the Week about summer movies, trips to the theatre, etc. As often happens on the show, talk evolves to the Jespersens' new baby Noah, and how tech is transforming overnight parenting! 

TAKE OUR QUESTION OF THE WEEK: https://ryanjespersen.com/question-of-the-week

5:56 | How healthy is our Parks system? Kevin Van Tighem, former Superintendent of Banff National Park, brings us up to speed on some of the stories flying under the radar including coal exploration around Alberta's Eastern Slopes.

28:18 | Spirit Island is truly one of Canada's most spectacular spots. In this week's edition of #MyJasper Memories presented by Tourism Jasper, we highlight the best (and only!) way to explore this magical, off-the-beaten path island.

Learn more: https://www.jasper.travel/realtalk/

31:13 | What a treat to welcome Ryan's dad, Dr. Bruce Jespersen, to the Real Talk studio! Ahead of Father's Day, the two discuss the Parkinson's diagnosis that ended Bruce's medical career a few years ahead of schedule, his take on the future of family medicine, and what it's like welcoming another grandchild to the fold!

49:25 | Figure skating's governing body has introduced a minimum age (17) for international competitions. We check in with Olympic gold medalist and World Champion Kaetlyn Osmond to better understand the pressures young skaters face, and how this new policy might affect the sport in the short- and long-term.

2:20 | Leela Aheer wants to lead the United Conservative Party. The UCP MLA announces her leadership campaign on Real Talk, and lays out her vision for Alberta, including fixing the UCP's reputation problem.

32:23 | Kristin Raworth checks in live from France, where she visited Juno Beach on the 78th anniversary of D Day. Kristin shares some of the sights and experiences, including what the locals say about Canadians who landed there on June 6, 1944.

49:45 | This week's edition of The Leading Edge celebrates Outloud St. Albert, a safe inclusive space for LGBTQ2S+ youth.

Learn more: https://outloudstalbert.ca/ Check out Leading Edge Physiotherapy: https://leadingedgephysio.com/

51:55 | In just four games, the Edmonton Oilers dream of a trip to the Stanley Cup Final is done. The Hedge host Andrew Walker shares his top takeaways from the Oilers' run, and what the off-season might look like.

Check out The Hedge: https://www.thehedgepod.com/

3:49 | Doug Ford's got an even bigger majority government...but how? Political organizer Jaskaran Singh Sidhu, founder of State Strategy and Baaz digital news network, explains how Ontario's Premier reinvented himself, why voter turnout was so low, and what Ford's victory means for the rest of Canada. 

Connect with Jaskaran: https://www.statestrategy.ca/

27:47 | The "bi-weekly" gig didn't last long for Charles Adler on Real Talk, as audience demand forced our hand! Now a *weekly* guest every Monday, the Titan of Talk chimes in on the Ontario election results, and his thoughts on mandatory voting. 

41:51 | It's been 78 years since more than 150,000 Canadian, American, and British troops stormed five beaches in France, dubbed "Operation Overlord". Historian and author Don Levers takes us into the "What if" perspective behind his book "Our Father's Footsteps". 

Check out Don's books: https://donleversbooks.com/

1:04:26 | In a very personal edition of Positive Reflections presented by Kuby Energy, Ryan shows off a few photos of Noah Orville, the newest addition to the Jespersen clan!

10:26 | BC will decriminalize "hard" drugs - the first province to do so - under a limited exemption from Ottawa. Journalist Andrea Woo joins from Vancouver to paint a picture of how serious the opioid crisis is, what led to BC's initiative, and what politicians and the public are saying about it.

Check out Andrea's reporting here: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-decriminalize-drugs-british-columbia-canada/

34:58 | Supermodel, actress, and author Ashley Callingbull became the first Indigenous woman to appear in Sports Illustrated's swimsuit edition earlier this month. The former Mrs. Universe and recently-announced in game host of the Edmonton Elks shares how she rose to stardom despite a tough childhood as an "insecure girl from the reserve".

Follow Ashley on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleycallingbull/?hl=en

54:52 | This week's edition of #MyJasper Memories presented by Tourism Jasper showcases a couple new ways to enjoy the great outdoors in Jasper National Park: guided trail running and guided yoga hikes! 

Make your own #MyJasper Memories: https://www.jasper.travel/realtalk/

58:01 | With his smash hit "Jason Kenney's Hot Boy Summer" entering its "fifth wave" at Grindstone Theatre, three-time World Improv Champion Donovan Workun's riding high! The always-hilarious actor and comic explains how the plot has evolved over the past year to include the Freedom Convoy and the Premier's resignation, and tells us how he's preparing to open for Pete Davidson and Amy Schumer later this summer. 

Get your tickets for Jason Kenney's Hot Boy Summer: https://www.grindstonetheatre.ca/jasonkenneyhotboysummer

12:25 | Tensions are high between levels of government, as Edmonton's downtown crime rate continues to rise. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi tells Ryan how he's responding to an inflammatory letter from Alberta's Justice Minister Tyler Shandro, and what the city needs to address root causes. Plus, Mayor Sohi tees up Game One of the Western Conference Final between the Oilers and the Avalanche, including whether or not he's proposing a bet with Denver Mayor Michael Hancock.

37:04 | Real Talker Raija-Liisa Schmidt-Teigen checks in live from Damascus, Syria. The humanitarian worker explains why she thinks the world perceives refugees from Syria and Ukraine differently, and shares what many Syrians think about the future of their beloved but war-torn country. Having also lived and worked in Afghanistan, Raija-Liisa comments on the Western world's withdrawal from that country. And, on a completely different note, she explains why she believes the truck driver that caused the Humboldt Broncos bus crash should be able to stay in Canada (based on her own tragic, lived experience). This is an interview you don't want to miss.

1:14:36 | On The Leading Edge this week, the Swimex pool! Find out why so many people living with low back or neck pain are choosing aquatic therapy to help them achieve well-being and a healthy life. 

The Leading Edge is presented by Leading Edge Physio: Life shouldn't hurt! 

https://leadingedgephysio.com/