Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Is our personal information at risk of being stolen? (Probably.) Do we truly understand the barriers people using wheelchairs encounter every day? (Probably not.) Is it possible for divorce proceedings to be a little less nasty? (Here's hoping!)

This episode of Real Talk celebrates The Art of Innovation, as highlighted in the May issue of Edify. But first... 

5:30 | When's the last time you went to a movie theatre? Cinemas helped shape our connection to arts and culture for decades, but they've fallen on hard times in recent years. In fact, many of them (that haven't already closed) are fighting to survive. Director Raphael Sbarge's film "Only in Theatres" tells the story of the revered Laemmle family, and their mission to save their legendary Los Angeles theatre. 

CHECK OUT THE NORTHWEST FEST LINEUP: https://www.northwestfest.ca/2023-films

30:25 | When Nidhi Hegde, Arne Andres, and Melissa Bourgeois see red flags, hurdles, and inefficiencies, they do something about it. That's what makes them innovators, featured in the May issue of Edify. Do divorces have to be nasty and expensive? Does AI have to go hand-in-hand with privacy risk? Do daily tasks in a wheelchair have to be so damn inconvenient? Our Real Talk Round Table panelists say no! 

GET YOUR TICKETS TO EDIFY'S INNOVATION EVENT: https://tickets.edifyedmonton.com/innovation-event-2023/

58:25 | With the UCP and NDP polling neck and neck, and the Alberta election less than four weeks away, it's no surprise this week's Trash Talk presented by Local Environmental Services is 100% politics! 

KEEP IT LOCAL: https://localenvironmental.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.

May the 4th be with you! (Don't worry, even if you're not a Star Wars geek like Ryan, you'll still find plenty of value in this episode.) What can we learn from Star Wars about chaos, change, dictators and democracy, fear, hope, and redemption? On this "Star Wars Day" edition of Real Talk, 

4:45 | We're living in a time of unprecedented and rapid change. An age of chaos. Democracies are in decline around the world. People feel lonelier and more rudderless than in any other time in recent history. Author Stephen Kent believes part of the solution is hiding in plain sight: it's Star Wars. 

CHECK OUT STEPHEN'S BOOK: https://www.stephendkent.com/howtheforcecanfixtheworld

29:35 | Recent research shows nearly 80% of Canadian youth aged 16-25 say climate change impacts their overall mental health. That's four out of five young people! John Whidden designed an education program to help elementary school-aged kids understand climate change, learn about solutions, and take action. The environmental educator with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) tells us why he did it. 

LEARN ABOUT CPAWS: https://cpaws.org/

1:05:00 | Have you heard of "nature bathing"? Johnny and Ryan talk about the mental health benefits of unplugging (for real). 

PATREON: https://www.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.

1:25 | He's had his life threatened, but Corb Lund ain't backing down. The award-winning singer-songwriter is on a mission to stop coal mining in the Rocky Mountains. As election campaigns dominate headlines across Alberta, Lund tells us why he's so motivated to have the eastern slopes on everybody's radar. 

36:50 | This year marks the 50th anniversary of Secretariat's Triple Crown. It's also been fifty years since Curtis Stock started covering the sport. The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame journalist joins Ryan for a captivating conversation about the greatest race horse of all time, and the Canadian jockey who rode him. 

CHECK OUT CURTIS STOCK'S NEW BOOK "THE TURCOTTES": https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-turcottes-the-remarkable-story/9780228104247-item.html?ikwsec=Books&ikwidx=22

1:05:20 | What a barn burner! We received a ton of feedback after yesterday's barn burner with Erika Barootes and Cheryl Oates. Ryan and John debrief after the back-and-forth brouhaha comparing UCP and NDP election platforms. 

CHIME IN: [email protected] 

1:10:13 | Renowned mural artists are in Jasper right now, adding a whole new element of beauty to the already-stunning mountain town. This week's #MyJasper Memories highlights UpLift! The Jasper Mural Festival, underway from May 1-20. It's another great reason to visit Jasper!

FOLLOW UpLift! ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/uplift.fest.jasper/

PATREON: https://www.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.

Senior campaign advisors Erika Barootes (UCP) and Cheryl Oates (NDP) aren't messing around on today's show. The senior campaign advisors come out punching in what proves to be a must-watch episode of Real Talk. But first...

1:30 | Canadians lost a legend - "our poet laureate" - when Gordon Lightfoot passed away Monday night at 84 years of age. Ryan and Johnny begin the show with a look at Lightfoot's legendary career.

7:50 | Cheryl Oates and Erika Barootes are used to life in the trenches. The former senior staffers for Premiers Rachel Notley and Danielle Smith, respectively, now working the campaigns in Calgary, square off over which party's got the better plan for Alberta and why.  

51:00 | How do you feel about a blanket apology for past statements on social media? Ryan and Johnny debate UCP candidate Chelsae Petrovic's statement, including how it affects both parties moving forward.

AGREE OR DISAGREE? EMAIL THE SHOW! [email protected]

1:02:45 | It's a harsh reality: there are homeless infants and children in crisis in our cities. Kids Kottage is the Edmonton area's first and only crisis prevention centre for young kids. Demand for services is up 80% in recent years. Janine Fraser and Troy Chalifoux explain why, and what we can do to help society's most vulnerable citizens. 

LEARN MORE: https://www.kidskottage.org/

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.

Election season is officially underway in Alberta. Real Talk has you covered with comprehensive analysis of key storylines on Day One of the campaigns. 

2:35 | Democracy itself is on the ballot this time around, argues Dr. Jared Wesley. The U of A political scientist leads off our Alberta politics super episode in studio with an examination of exactly what's at stake, and why he (and prominent conservative Ken Boessenkool) argue United Conservative Party leader Danielle Smith isn't actually a conservative. 

DEMOCRACY ITSELF ON THE BALLOT: https://theconversation.com/democracy-itself-is-on-the-ballot-in-albertas-upcoming-election-203817

DR. WESLEY'S PRE-ELECTION POST-MORTEM: https://drjaredwesley.substack.com/p/this-is-not-a-prediction

ALBERTA - NOT AS POLARIZED AS YOU MIGHT THINK: https://cground.substack.com/p/873198d0-79bf-42c7-a590-ff20f0c5e63f

DANIELLE SMITH - NOT A CONSERVATIVE: https://theline.substack.com/p/jared-wesley-and-ken-boessenkool?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web

30:30 | Former Calgary councillor Jeromy Farkas wants to know how his former council colleagues "can possibly justify" an agreement with the province to develop Calgary's new arena district. The candidate for mayor in the most recent municipal election explains why the devil's in the details, and compares Calgary's deal with the one that got Edmonton's ICE District built. 

52:05 | Political scientist Duane Bratt isn't inherently against public money for developments like arenas. But he has a couple big problems with the deal between the province and the city of Calgary. He lays out what they are. 

CHECK OUT DR. BRATT'S TWITTER THREAD: https://twitter.com/DuaneBratt/status/1651683655612522496?s=20

1:10:10 | Alberta's election will come down to one thing, says Charles Adler. The talk radio legend tells us what he thinks the "ballot box question" is this time around. Will Danielle Smith's admiration of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis help or hurt her with voters? Will UCP candidate Chelsae Petrovic be successful in her attempt to get ahead of damaging social media posts? 

1:39:50 | THANK YOU to everybody who supported the 2023 Alzheimer's Face Off Pro/Am this past weekend! Ryan gets personal in this edition of Positive Reflections presented by Kuby Renewable Energy. 

KUBY ENERGY IS HIRING! https://kubyenergy.ca/

WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/

PATREON: https://www.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.

Quick Dick McDick and Brett Kissel are used to big reactions. Quick Dick's YouTube videos see six-figure views on a regular basis, and Kissel's Juno Award-winning country music career speaks for itself. In this episode of The Best of Real Talk, we learn about QDM's rapid rise as one of Canada's most-watched conservative commentators, and the thinking behind Brett Kissel's controversial lockdown-themed single "Line in the Sand".

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.

Ashley Wanamaker never thought millions of people would check out her TikTok videos about mental health. The self-described "accidental TikTok therapist" explains how counselling's evolved over the past couple of years in this episode of The Best of Real Talk.

We loved our time in the Real Talk studio with filmmaker Trevor Anderson and photographer Fish Griwkowsky, discussing their newest project "Before I Change My Mind". If you're intrigued by non-binary representation in society and sport, you won't want to miss this entertaining conversation.

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.

What's the secret to living well in the face of adversity? How can we manage mental illness, disease, and other factors standing in the way of healthy relationships with family and friends?

YouTube phenom Lauren Kennedy West and author/broadcaster Justin Bourne get intensely personal in this episode of The Best of Real Talk.

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.

We feature three forces of nature in this episode of The Best of Real Talk. It's impossible not to be inspired by Shawn Kanungo, Bean Gill, and Brian McPherson!

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.

Tens of millions of people have watched Johann Hari’s TED Talks about our collective addiction to technology. The evidence is all around us. In this episode of The Best of Real Talk, the author of “Stolen Focus” explains what’s been taken from us, and how to get it back.

Are you on the ChatGPT train? More and more people are using artificial intelligence to replace "human powered" writers and other content creators. What are the implications of this AI, in particular for post-secondary institutions already on the lookout for plagiarism? Princeton student Edward Tian tells us about the app he developed to sniff out ChatGPT.

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.