Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Ryan rolls out the best rants of the week, as submitted to [email protected]. Buckle up for another edition of Trash Talk, presented by Local Waste.

With an eventful week on the guest front, and so many Real Talkers taking the time to email [email protected], Ryan opens the show by diving into the Real Talk inbox. Multiple Guinness World Record-holder Dr. Brent Saik, founder of the World's Longest Hockey Game, checks in rinkside to describe the challenges of playing outdoors for ten straight days in -30C temperatures, and update us on their $1.5M fundraising goal. Zain Velji, Stephen Carter, and Corey Hogan, stars of the wildly-popular podcast The Strategists, join Ryan to talk municipal, provincial, and federal politics in this week's edition of the Real Talk Round Table. And, of course, it's Friday, which means another bomb-dropping edition of Trash Talk, presented by Local Waste! 17:47 - Dr. Brent Saik 37:43 - The Strategists Round Table

Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) David Redman developed Alberta's Pandemic Plan back in 2004, as head of the province's Emergency Management Agency. He explains why he believes both provincial and federal governments have mishandled COVID-19, including controversial opinions on lockdowns and masks. Maclean's editor at large Scott Gilmore explains why he believes it's time for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to stop working from home and head back to the PMO. Scott also looks back at his 2015 editorial on poverty and racism in Canada, and tells us if he thinks anything's changed over the past six years. With Bitcoin surging after the GameStop debacle on Wall Street and Elon Musk's unofficial endorsement, Bitcoin Well founder and CEO Adam O'Brien shares his thoughts on the fluctuation and future of the world's most prominent cryptocurrency. Oh, and we play the "I'm not a cat" viral video three times through to wrap the show up right! 7:16 - Lieut. Col. (Ret.) David Redman 40:13 - Scott Gilmore 1:14:19 - Adam O'Brien

A group of conservative politicians is banding together under the "End the Lockdown Caucus". UCP MLA Drew Barnes explains why he's taking a stand against his own government's policies, and respond to criticism the group is pushing dangerous, anti-science rhetoric. It's going to cost tens of billions of dollars to clean up Alberta's abandoned and orphaned oil wells. Who's going to pay for it, and when? Mark Dorin and Regan Boychuk present the facts, and tell us why they founded the Polluter Pay Federation. After warning of serious risks around restructuring 9-1-1 dispatch, Fort McMurray's city council voted unanimously Tuesday night to defy the provincial government's plan, and manage their own dispatch instead. Mayor Don Scott and Fire Chief Jody Butz tell us why they took the remarkable step, and what they expect to happen from here. (Don't miss Mayor Scott daring the Premier to remove him from office - a remarkable Real Talk moment.) Many of the world's major auto manufacturers have put themselves on the clock, mapping out their transition to a fully-electric vehicle lineup by the mid-2030s. Canada's leading voice on EVs, Nino diCara, digs into what this means for consumers, the auto industry, and the environment. 5:45 - MLA Drew Barnes 52:34 - Regan Boychuk and Mark Dorin 1:16:49 - Mayor Don Scott and Fire Chief Jody Butz 1:38:17 - Nino diCara

Mayors across Canada are lobbying Ottawa ahead of the next federal budget. Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson, chair of the Big City Mayors' Caucus, joins to talk transit, homelessness, and other top municipal priorities. Audric Moses (and his wife Marni, who makes a cameo!) built a NetZero home in a northern climate. How is it performing with limited daylight hours, plenty of snow, and frigid outside temperatures? We take a tour to find out. Amid public outcry, Alberta's United Conservative government says it's walking back its plan to rescind the province's 45-year-old coal policy. Is this meaningful action, or pure politicking? We ask CPAWS conservation director Katie Morrison for some perspective. We know white supremacy continues to plague society. How does the ideology persist, and how are people radicalized? Talia Lavin takes us into her process researching and writing "Culture Warlords," including going undercover on message boards and forums on the dark web. Ryan plays a video excerpt from a church service this past Sunday, right before a pastor was arrested for violating public health orders. Real Talkers share their thoughts on the implications, and what appropriate law enforcement might look like. 8:15 - Mayor Don Iveson 37:52 - Audric Moses 1:10:09 - Katie Morrison 1:38:53 - Talia Lavin

Who should be Canada's next Governor General, and how should they be selected? Professor Emmett Macfarlane joins from the University of Waterloo to take us through the process. Mayors and Fire Chiefs are back on Real Talk after warning about changes to Alberta's 9-1-1 dispatch a few weeks back. This time, they've got proof they were right to sound the alarm. Is extremism an issue within the Conservative Party of Canada? York University's Dr. Shama Rangwala lays it all out, after taking issue with comments made during last Friday's Real Talk Round Table. Patients utilizing injectable opioid agonist treatment (iOAT) are taking the Alberta government to court. Dr. Jennifer Jackson, RN and lawyer Avnish Nanda explain why they're so concerned about this program falling on the chopping block, including why it could be a matter of life and death. Plus, it's Monday, so we start our week with Positive Reflections, presented by Kuby Energy!

Ryan rolls out the best rants of the week, as submitted to [email protected]. Buckle up for another edition of Trash Talk, presented by Local Waste.

What do we actually know about what influenced Abdulahi Sharif to attempt to murder multiple people in Edmonton, Alberta on September 30, 2017? Justice reporter Jonny Wakefield takes us into his long-form feature in the Edmonton Journal. Sprawl Calgary editor-in-chief Jeremy Klaszus tells us why he's so turned off by the "Disappearing Headlines" campaign launched by Canada's major newspapers. The inaugural Group Chat Real Talk Round Table features Ryan's personal friends, confidantes, and advisors Katherine O'Neill, Harman Kandola, and Jarrett Campbell. Plus, it's Friday, so buckle up for another rousing edition of Trash Talk!

Having escaped extremism himself, Mubin Shaikh went on to serve as a CSIS operative and undercover agent for the RCMP. He joins Ryan to shed light on Proud Boys, one of the most recent additions to Canada's terrorist watch list. The most prominent newspapers in Canada, including the Toronto Star, went "blank" on their front pages Thursday morning to send a clear message to the federal government. They say they're trying to save journalism from the influence of tech giants like Google and Facebook. John Hinds, President and CEO of News Media Canada, explains what they want the federal government to do, and what will happen without an intervention. Infectious Diseases Doctor Lynora Saxinger helps us understand the evolution of COVID-19, updated information people need to know, and implications on Canada's vaccine roll-out. Plus, Ryan reads a whole bunch of excellent emails from Real Talkers, as submitted to [email protected].

Our Real Talk Question of the Week is a bit different this time around, implementing a playoff-style bracket to determine who you think should be named Canada's next Governor General. Y Station's chief strategist Chris Henderson shares some interesting insights midway through the process. Former Husky Energy CEO Art Price shares his take on the death of the Keystone XL pipeline (of note: "Not a big deal"). Canopy Planet founder Nicole Rycroft shares how she'll invest a $3M USD grant to explore low-carbon fibre alternatives and save our forests. Ex-evangelical writer and speaker Chrissy Stroop joins for an extended conversation about politics and religion, private education, purity culture, and why so many Bible believers are refusing to wear masks.

Senator Doug Black explains why he's frustrated with the federal government's vaccine procurement, and gets into the pipeline file. After the interview, Ryan shares his own thoughts on some of the Senator's more controversial assertions. Registered psychologist Ashley Wanamaker, photographer Shannon Smith, and activist Adora Nwofor get personal in our Body Image Round Table, commemorating Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Real Talkers respond en masse with their own moving stories.

Is there actually a foreign-funded conspiracy against Alberta oil? Journalist, lawyer, and former Crown prosecutor Sandy Garossino takes us through her ongoing coverage for the National Observer. It's the first-ever "Meet in the Middle Monday" with NDP MLA Janis Irwin and former Wildrose Party strategist Vitor Marciano. From very different political perspectives, Janis and Vitor explain why they agree on something as controversial as health care funding, and explore how we should pay for our biggest budget expenditure. Maclean's contributing editor Andray Domise tells us why he took to TikTok to comment on the GameStop/Wall Street story, and speculates where it will go in the days and weeks to come. Plus, it's the start of another week, and that means another edition of Positive Reflections, presented by Kuby Energy!

Ryan rolls out the best rants of the week, as submitted to [email protected]. Buckle up for another edition of Trash Talk, presented by Local Waste.

Andrew Phung, star of Kim's Convenience, takes us behind the curtain of TV production and parenting through a pandemic (and shows off his incredible shoe collection). Andrew talks politics, too, including how he approaches public commentary as a celebrity. Statistics show young people are leaving Alberta for greener pastures in other provinces. Kaelin Koufogiannakis, 22, Ahdithya Visweswaran, 20, and Haruun Ali, 17, explain what factors into their decision where they'll live, study, and start their adult lives. Ryan gets into the GameStop debacle with some pretty hilarious videos explaining the whole thing at a "ground level". And, it's Friday, which means another rowdy edition of Trash Talk, presented by Local Waste!

Where is intellectual courage in the age of Twitter? Best-selling author Tom Rachman joins us from London to get into his editorial for the Globe & Mail. Our first-ever Agriculture Real Talk Round Table features Sirius XM host Shaun Haney, crop scientist Brittany Hennig, and Lakeside Farmstead's Jeff Nonay. Ryan gets into the Real Talk inbox, and reads some of your emails sent to [email protected].

Who will Prime Minister Justin Trudeau select as Canada's next Governor General? Journalist Max Fawcett gets into his recent piece - naming former PM Joe Clark - for the National Observer. Ryan's wife, lifestylist Kari Skelton, chimes in with all the latest rumours around The Bachelorette touching down at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. We get into some Real Talk on mental health with addictions specialist Dr. Speranza Dolgetta, interventionist Dr. Ian Rabb, and advocate Chris Johnson. Professional crowd ignitor Cameron Hughes brings his pedal-to-the-metal energy to the show, and dives into his new book, "King of Cheer".

With tens of thousands of social media accounts being deplatformed, Dr. Amarnath Amarasingam joins to explain if this is actually a good move, or if it could increase the risk of radicalization. For more than twenty years, Derek Brower has covered the international energy beat. The Financial Times US energy editor checks in from England with a look at the energy relationship between Canada and a Biden-led United States, including the future of pipeline projects key to Alberta's bottom line. Investigative climate journalist Geoff Dembicki shares his findings around a conspiracy-laden report commissioned by the Alberta government, targeting climate journalists. Dawn Harsch of ExquisiCare and Wendy King of Canterbury Foundation air their concerns around a perceived double standard in the vaccinations of seniors and staff in public and private long term care facilities.

As health officials attempt to educate the public around the COVID-19 vaccine, scientists including Prof. Tim Caulfield have launched @ScienceUpFirst. He takes us to the front lines of the war on misinformation. Dr. Ross McKenzie spent nearly 40 years studying soil and crops in Alberta. He tell us why he's so concerned about sweeping cuts to agricultural research on the prairies. Former Premier Rachel Notley evaluates Premier Jason Kenney's response to President Joe Biden cancelling the Keystone XL pipeline, and explains what she'd do differently. Amarjeet Sohi worked the KXL file for a couple years as Canada's Minister of Infrastructure, then Minister of Natural Resources. He takes us into Cabinet conversations around the project, and tells us whether or not it could ever be saved. Sohi also chimes in on the resignation of now-former Governor General Julie Payette and now-former Senator Lynn Beyak. With more attention being paid to the "muting" of voices like Donald Trump's on social media, the team at Podboard100 are monitoring the rise of right-wing podcasts. Managing director Stephen Brogarth explains how their system works, and what the numbers are telling them. Plus, it's Monday, and this week's edition of Positive Reflections showcases one of the newest puppies to join the Real Talk family!

Ryan rolls out the best rants of the week, as submitted to [email protected]. Buckle up for another edition of Trash Talk, presented by Local Waste.

With coal exploration already happening on the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains, Y2Y conservation scientist Dr. Aerin Jacob explains what's at stake, and what it means for Canadians and our water supply. Last week, our Question of the Week asked you about quality in politics. Today's Real Talk Round Table taps into your replies, as we check in with Conservative MP Mike Lake, former Ontario PC chief of staff Sarah Letersky, former Colorado Democratic strategist Conor Brown, CEO Julia Anderson, and CFL legend Adarius Bowman. And, of course, Ryan wraps up the show with another rousing edition of Trash Talk!

On the first full day of Joe Biden's Presidency, we discuss Alberta Premier Jason Kenney's suggestion Canada should impose trade sanctions on the USA, based on the cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline. International trade lawyer Mark Warner gives us a sense of what the economic relationship between Canada and the US will look like moving forward, including the pipeline file. Jay Hill, leader of the Maverick Party, explains where the federal party stands on western sovereignty, the energy access debate, and other issues of concern to Canadians. And, we take a meaningful look at eradicating homelessness with experts Margo Long, Chris Beausoleil, Cynthia Puddu, Susan McGee, Cheryl Whiskeyjack, and Jordan Reiniger.

It's Inauguration Day south of the border! Former Clinton White House advisor and speechwriter Dr. Ted Widmer joins to discuss the change in tone from the 45th to the 46th President, and similarities between the Inaugurations of Abraham Lincoln and Joe Biden. Energy analyst Mikaela McQuade digs into the cancellation of Keystone XL, and what else Canadians can expect from the Biden Administration. Stormchaser Nevin deMilliano pops in on the heels of a wild, overnight snow squall across Alberta. Brothers Jonathan and Daniel Ferguson, and Edmonton teacher Christian Zyp share their powerful survival stories, and shine light on the importance of organ donation.

Coal mining conversations continue in Alberta, as the government announced a pause on eleven recently-granted leases in the Rocky Mountains. We check in with environmental lawyer David Khan and CPAWS conservation director (and biologist) Katie Morrison for details on what that actually means. Craig Snodgrass may be Mayor of a small town (High River), but he brought heavy artillery to our conversation around the lack of government consultation on the environmental and industry fronts. It's a must-listen interview. Dallas attorney and Southern Methodist University Law professor Eric Cedillo joins to make sense of Donald Trump's expected stream of Presidential pardons, and explain how Trump can (or cannot) influence impeachment proceedings. Puneeta McBryan, new executive director for Edmonton's Downtown Business Association discusses post-pandemic work trends, and their impact on commercial leases and the overall health of a city's core.

Naturalist Kevin Van Tighem, former superintendent of Banff National Park, takes us on a hike he completed over the weekend, surveying coal mining activity in Alberta's Oldman River. Energy economist Andrew Leach and environmental law professor Martin Olszynski chime in on reports President-elect Biden will cancel Keystone XL, and offer insight into the UCP's controversial Allan Inquiry into foreign attacks on Alberta oil. Law professor Kristen van de Biezenbos explains the significance of the Keystone XL story, and whether or not Alberta can recoup its recent multi-billion dollar investment. Plus, it's Monday, so that means another inspiring edition of "Positive Reflections," presented by Kuby Energy!

Ryan rolls out the best rants of the week, as submitted to [email protected]. Buckle up for another edition of Trash Talk, presented by Local Waste.

"As DC falls, Bitcoin rises," a viewer tweeted Ryan on January 6th. Bitcoin Well CEO Adam O'Brien joins for Real Talk on the popular cryptocurrency, including his take on its wild value fluctuations over the past week. This week's Real Talk Round Table takes a look at "The Next 30" movement, featuring co-founder Chad Park, Salimah Kassam, and Carman McNary. After Coal Association of Canada president (and former Alberta Environment Minister) Robin Campbell argued "Selinium is just salt" on Thursday's show, biologist John Adcock and geochemist Colton Vessey chime in on the environmental impact of open-pit coal mining in the mountains, and the challenges around environmental reclamation. Plus, per tradition, Ryan wraps up the week with another rousing edition of Trash Talk!

With more and more Canadians paying attention to open-pit coal mining in the Rocky Mountains, Coal Association of Canada president (and former Alberta Environment Minister) Robin Campbell argues the industry side. Jason Doucette, president of Alberta Fly Fishing and Conservation, explains why he's opposed to Alberta's coal expansion. With 9-1-1 services being consolidated across the province, Alberta fire chiefs from Red Deer, Lethbridge, and Fort McMurray lay out why they think it's a bad idea (hint: it's a matter of life and death). Former chair of the Alberta Teachers Retirement Fund Greg Meeker tells us why he's "incensed" at the United Conservative Party transferring the $18B teachers' pension to AIMCo. Sportsnet radio host Andrew Walker shares his thoughts on an "all Canadian" NHL season, and has a little fun with his vintage "Jespo Mug".

The Alberta government broke a promise that teachers would maintain control of their pension fund, and Alberta Teachers Association president Jason Schilling has something to say about it. Minister Jim Carr is back as the Prime Minister's Special Representative to the Prairies. He takes us into his top priorities, including vaccinations and economic stimulus. Country music star Corb Lund, rancher Laura Laing, and Lougheed-era coal policy architect David Luff share their concerns around coal mining in the Rockies. Oh, and Corb treats us to an impromptu performance by candlelight. High school science teacher Jason Zackowski checks in from the science lab at Red Deer's Lindsay Thurber High School to explain how his dogs (yeah, his dogs!) Bunsen Berner and Beaker gained tens of thousands of followers on social media. Jason also takes a few minutes to blow stuff up - an integral element of any decent interview about science.

With President Donald Trump banned from virtually every social media platform, and Alberta talk host Danielle Smith leaving AM radio for Locals.com, we check in with content manager Idris Fashan for insight on political commentary across the digital landscape. Strategist Jason Lietaer, former advisor to Prime Minster Stephen Harper, takes us into Prime Minister Trudeau's cabinet shuffle, and the implications around another looming federal election. Real Talk viewer Mariah Braun shares her perspective as a Black woman living in northern Alberta, after a photo surfaced of a man in a KKK hood outside a Grimshaw, AB post office. Entrepreneur Claire Theaker-Brown details how her company, Unbelts.com, fell victim to government favouritism in the context of Alberta Education's mask procurement controversy. Citizen journalist Victoria Love tells us why she started using TikTok to tell the stories of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and how she's offering support to bereaved families.

We review results of our Real Talk Question of the Week, after more than 4,300 of you chimed in on how you feel about Alberta's government. (Spoiler: there are major trust issues.) Biostatistician Ryan Imgrund gets into Canada's vaccination numbers, explains what Alberta's doing right, and what Ottawa needs to do better. BloodWatch.org founder Kat Lanteigne explains why she's so troubled about changes to blood donation laws in Alberta, namely the UCP repealing the Voluntary Blood Donation Act.

Ryan rolls out the best rants of the week, as submitted to [email protected]. Buckle up for another edition of Trash Talk, presented by Local Waste.

On the one year anniversary of the tragic downing of flight PS752, Javad Soleimani, Daniel Ghods, and Peyman Parseyan share their grief, the details of their journey, and the reason for their continued advocacy for justice. After releasing an open letter to the provincial government, asking for a stop the plan to consolidate Alberta's 9-1-1 dispatch, Alberta mayors Naheed Nenshi, Tara Veer, Chris Spearman, and Don Scott explain why they're so concerned, and shine light on the strained relationship between the UCP and Alberta's municipalities. Sprawl editor-in-chief Jeremy Klaszus takes us into the relationship between Premier Jason Kenney's government and Westjet, and lays out what might be influencing provincial policy on things like travel and testing. Plus, wrap up the week with another boisterous edition of Trash Talk, presented by Local Waste!

How are we to process what happened in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, January 6th? What do the next two weeks look like for our neighbours to the south? What are the implications for Canadians and the rest of the world? The morning after a monumental day in American history, an attempted coup in the nation's capital, former US Ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman explains the significance of what happened, and what's to come. Researcher Frank Graves chimes in from Ottawa, political scientist and author Ian Bremmer joins from Washington, D.C., and Toronto Star journalist Alex McKeen reports from Victoria, B.C. Plus, Ryan reads an email from viewer "Lucas" in no-holds-barred fashion, leading to one of our more memorable show extros.

The Mayor and Councillors in Slave Lake, Alberta have called for the resignation of their absentee elected provincial representative, MLA Pat Rehn, who's refused to step down. Mayor Tyler Warman and Deputy Mayor Shawn Gramlich explain what led to their unprecedented (unanimous) demand. Grade Six teacher Alison Palmer and her student Zoe Cogger tell us how they landed the Prime Minister for a private Zoom call with their class, and what they talked about with Justin Trudeau. Black Lives Matter Edmonton organizer Shima Robinson addresses the troubling story of an Edmonton man celebrating the death of a Calgary police officer, and reports the man is connected to BLM in an official capacity. Activist Leah McRorie takes Ryan to task for something he said in a previous episode of Real Talk, as we tackle "ableist" language. And DJ Johnny Infamous takes us behind the curtain and tells a few stories about working in the bubble of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and the World Junior Hockey Championship.

Political science professors Dr. Lisa Young and Dr. Laurie Adkin dig into the story leading national headlines this week - the scandal plaguing Alberta's UCP government, after more than ten MLAs and staffers travelled to the tropics over the holidays. Were yesterday's minor role reassignments and the Cabinet resignation of MLA Tracey Allard enough to satisfy an outraged public? Kristian Basaraba, an Edmonton-area teacher, takes us into his Governor General's Award-winning assignment that combines skateboarding, visual art, and Reconciliation. Former brothel owner Andrea Heinz gets personal, and explains how her personal journey led her toward her current activism around sex trade abolishment.

Albertans are furious at the tone-deaf, elite, entitled arrogance displayed by Premier Jason Kenney, at least one of his Ministers multiple MLAs, and political staffers who travelled to exotic holiday destinations in the midst of a pandemic. Ryan channels public opinion in an unprecedented nearly-hour-long opening statement. We hear from former Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk, former PC Minister Richard Starke, and former PC MLA Jacquie Fenske (now interim Alberta Party leader) to fact check Premier Kenney's more dubious claims (most notably, that he didn't know Minister Tracey Allard and chief of staff Jamie Huckabay left Canada over the Christmas break). Psychiatrist Dr. Peter Silverstone and registered psychologist Kim Knull bring great advice around dealing with anger, and starting fresh in 2021.

Ryan rolls out the best rants of the week, as submitted to [email protected]. Buckle up for another edition of Trash Talk, presented by Local Waste.

Journalist Andrew Nikiforuk lays out civilian concerns around coal strip mining in the Rockies. Conservationist and author Kevin Van Tighem, former superintendent of Banff National Park, helps us understand what's really going on with the UCP and ownership of Alberta's parks. Award-winning journalist Brandi Morin revisits Canada's top Indigenous news stories of 2020. Former Oilers captain and Stanley Cup champion Andrew Ference explains why he was so ticked off at an Edmonton outdoor rink, and what he's expecting with the upcoming, shortened NHL season.

Banff Mayor Karen Sorensen describes how the mountain town has weathered COVID-19, and its post-pandemic economic recovery plan. Famed Canadian entrepreneur Arlene Dickinson has a message for small business owners making a game plan for 2021. Harm reduction advocate Guy Felicella shares his survival story, and outlines what meaningful and effective response to Canada's opioid crisis needs to look like.

The Archdiocese of Edmonton has pulled a priest from duty after a “credible accusation of sexual assault of a minor” in Los Angeles. Sexual abuse survivor Irene Deschenes takes us into the Catholic church’s long history of protecting predators. Reverend Anna Greenwood-Lee joins us to explain why she takes issue with Alberta’s UCP government quoting scripture on Christmas Day.

Ryan rolls out the best rants of the week, as submitted to [email protected]. Buckle up for another edition of Trash Talk, presented by Local Waste.

Cara Moffat has two very important jobs. She's a respiratory therapist helping COVID-19 patients at Edmonton's Royal Alexandra Hospital. She's also one of Santa's helpers. She tell us what it's been like in Santa's mailroom this year, and how messages from kids are different in 2020. Mohammad Hussain is celebrating his very first Christmas, after years and years of ignoring the holiday. He takes us into the experience, including what it was like to hear from Prime Minister Trudeau himself. And Brandon Rudics, a Real Talk audience member, recalls his very first Christmas after leaving his Jehovah's Witness faith community. Merry Christmas, friends!

What were the top food stories in Canada in 2020? What food trends should we be focusing on for 2021? Professor Sylvain Charlebois of Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab. Mayors Cathy Heron, Alanna Hnatiw, and Tara Veer join from St. Albert, Sturgeon County, and Red Deer. We get into the year that was, the impact of COVID-19 on their communities, where the biggest economic opportunities exist in the year to come, and whether or not women approach politics differently than men.

Ryan starts the show reading a letter from Freson Bros founder Frank Lovsin, OC. A member of the Alberta Business Hall of Fame, Mr. Lovsin takes issue with billion-dollar corporations accepting federal wage subsidies, then paying out millions in dividends to shareholders. MLA Rakhi Pancholi joins to discuss universal child care, and what the model might look like. Dr. Madhav Sarda, a medical education professor at the University of Saskatchewan, explains in laypersons' terms how the COVID-19 vaccine actually works, and what's so remarkable about its development.

Strategist Chris Henderson joins Ryan to discuss our "Get Real: Question of the Week" on how COVID is affecting your holiday shopping. Of course, as you might expect, there's a whole bunch of poli-talk too. Calgary City Councillor Jyoti Gondek discusses the high-profile arrest of Ocean Wiesblatt, a Calgary man who refused to cooperate with police after violating COVID-related restrictions at an outdoor ice rink. Councillor Gondek also shares her powerful perspective on racism, after another public demonstration by the group Soldiers of Odin. Political strategist Stephen Carter wraps up the show with an extended-length (and lively!) conversation around Wiesblatt's arrest, changes to the federal carbon tax, and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney's plan for a referendum around equalization in October 2021.

Ryan rolls out the best rants of the week, as submitted to [email protected]. Buckle up for another edition of Trash Talk, presented by Local Waste.

Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson, takes questions on the implications of Ottawa's climate policy on prairie producers. Our Anti-Racism Friday round table, featuring Dr. Farha Shariff, Adam North Peigan, and Rahma Mohamed, focus on taking meaningful individual and collective action to confront discrimination in our communities.

Robyn Strain, a respiratory therapist, was among the first Albertans to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. She joins us hours later to discuss the process, and how she and her colleagues are feeling as cases continue to rise. The politics of a pandemic are producing interesting polling results, including the rise of a right wing party that could take votes from the governing UCP. Dr. Jared Wesley helps us sort it all out. Momin Saeed and Trent Daley give us a sense of how Alberta's Muslim community is holding up in light of multiple targeted attacks in Edmonton. And April Prescott takes us inside her creative mind, and how she's dealing with the mental health impacts of COVID-19.

Dr. Stephen Duckett joins from Melbourne to discuss what's worked, and what work remains, with Australia's COVID-19 response. University of Toronto Law and Bioethics professor Trudo Lemmens explains why he's concerned with Bill C7 - Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying legislation. Legendary ice bather John Mark Earle (literally) takes us into Peace River on the one year anniversary of his first polar bear swim. And eight-time World Champion boxer Jelena Mrdjenovich checks in minutes before her weigh-in, ahead of her title defence against Paola Torres in Los Angeles.

Dr. Stephen Duckett, Director of the Health program at Grattan Institute, explains why Australians are already back to hosting dinner parties, their masks packed away in their sock drawers. Dr. Duckett also looks back on the famous "cookie incident" that led to his dismissal as CEO of Alberta Health Services in 2010.