Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

Why should Canada roll out a universal child care, and what would it take to make it happen? Journalist Anne Casselman dives into her feature in The Walrus, "The Case for Affordable Childcare". Heidi Bergstrom's an accountant, a mom, and the engaged citizen behind a petition calling for national childcare. She gets into the dollars and cents of national childcare. And, after a sexist Wall Street Journal op/ed called Dr. Jill Biden "kiddo" and urged her to "drop the 'Dr'" before her name, we get the straight goods from Dr. Muna Saleh, an author and educator from Concordia University.

New York Times best-selling author and "Gaslit Nation" podcaster Sarah Kendzior joins us to talk about her book, "Hiding in Plain Sight - The Invention of Donald Trump and the Erosion of America." Fourth-generation Millwright and teacher Stephen Anderson, a Real Talk audience member, shares why he's so concerned about cuts to Alberta's education funding. Sportsnet NHL reporter Gene Principe looks ahead to the league's COVID-shortened season, including how he'll approach his bread and butter - the art of the pun. And palliative care physician Dr. Amy Tan tells her remarkable survival story, and how she and her loved ones approached and learned from a very "different" holiday season nearly twenty years ago.

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.

We take a twitter tiff and put it on the air, as Dr. Peter Silverstone, chair of Psychiatry at the University of Alberta takes on Postmedia columnist David Staples over the mental health impacts of a lockdown. Plus, perhaps our best segment yet, as Professor Joni Avram and Dr. Jody Carrington discuss finding middle ground, and the human need for connection. Buckle up and enjoy!

Former UCP staffer Natasha Kornak talks about navigating the landscape as a young woman pursuing a career in politics. Garth Mullins, host and producer of Crackdown Pod, gets into the nitty gritty of a safe supply, and legalized drugs in Canada.

Deputy PM and federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland joins Ryan to discuss Ottawa's ongoing response to COVID-19. She addresses Opposition allegations the Liberal government is eyeing personal savings accounts, and touches on The Great Reset. She answers audience inquiries around emergency wage and rent subsidies, and concerns around a lack of transparency. And, she explains how her Alberta roots influence her response to the grim economic outlook faced by Canada's prairie provinces.

Health researcher Dr. Sajjad Fazel assesses Alberta's updated pandemic measures, and takes on vaccine hesitancy. Vancouver public health nurse Jaclyn Robinson updates us on her recovery from COVID-19, seven months after she was in a medically-induced coma. Journalist Tristin Hopper chimes in from Victoria, touching on pandemic protocols, 2020 news headlines buried by COVID-19, and his storytelling project with 99-year-old Grandma Hopper.

Principal Ted Hutchings gives us an inside look at pandemic preparedness (and stress) in schools. Journalist Max Fawcett evaluates government responses to COVID-19, and maps out what Canada's middle class might look like post-pandemic. Conservative strategist Melissa Caouette outlines her research into the history (and future) of conservativism in Canada, the US, and the UK. And memorabilia expert Wayne Wagner explains why a 1979 Wayne Gretzky rookie card is expected to sell for $1M this week.

Jenny Adams pops in for a quick "Hey neighbour" chat about Santa visits during a pandemic. Artist Erin Ross details her recent fight with COVID-19. Former federal minister Amarjeet Sohi outlines the emotional toll of losing a loved one during a pandemic. And former Alberta deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk provides an inside perspective on government standing in the way of an investigation into the 2017 UCP leadership race.

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.

Alberta's Opposition leader Rachel Notley chimes in on Alberta's rising COVID-19 cases, and the UCP government's plan to manage hospital capacity. Former Toronto talk host and lawyer Supriya Dwivedi, once a colleague of Ryan's, lays out why she resigned from one of Canada's most high-profile radio gigs.

We advance the conversation around drug legalization in Canada with "Maverick MP" Nathaniel Erskine-Smith. Dr. Tehseen Lada paints an unflinching picture of Alberta's COVID-crammed hospitals. And Dancing with the Stars champion Kaitlyn Bristowe, the pride of Leduc, AB, joins Ryan for an extended conversation about her exploding celebrity.

How do Edmonton, Portland, and Austin fit together? Catherine Warren, new CEO of Innovate Edmonton, lays out her take on the impact economy. Bitcoin Well CEO Adam O'Brien explains why cryptocurrency is seeing a big surge right now. Lawyer Kyla Lee and Families for Justice spokesperson Sheri Arsenault tackle Alberta's new drunk driving legislation.

Globe and Mail health journalist Andrea Woo outlines Vancouver's move to decriminalize drug possession. Drs. Elaine Hyshka and Hakique Virani broaden the conversation to include Canada's opioid crisis amid COVID-19, and the importance of keeping politics out of public health. Ryan's brother Kyle Jespersen wraps the conversation with an inside look at Vancouver's InSite supervised consumption site, where millions of visits (and zero deaths) have been recorded since 2003.

Dr. Ubaka Ogbogu and Corey Hogan debate the ethics of media leaks, and take on government bully tactics displayed by UCP staffers. World Sikh Organization VP Harman S. Kandola outlines the COVID impact on ethnic communities, and offers insight on farmer protests in India (and around the world).

Real Talk presents the inaugural edition of Trash Talk, presented by Local Waste. Every Friday at 10am, we'll read your best rants (on whatever), as submitted to [email protected]. Buckle up and enjoy!

Senator Paula Simons on media leaks and federal COVID relief. Plus, our inaugural Real Talk Round Table featuring indie media voices Tomi Ajele, Jeremy Klaszus, and Derek Fildebrandt. And, the debut of Trash Talk!

Treaty Six Grand Chief Billy Morin talks COVID-19 in First Nations, and Indigenous sovereignty in health care. Dr. Shazma Mithani takes us inside one of Alberta's busiest ERs. And Julie Rohr describes her cancer journey, including navigating the health care system during a pandemic.

UCP MLA Drew Barnes, entrepreneurs Emma May, Katy Ingraham, and Mo Blayways, and Postmedia columnist Licia Corbella dig into the Alberta government's updated COVID-19 restrictions. Spoiler: not everybody agrees on everything!

ICU physician Dr. Darren Markland joins us for Real Talk about Alberta's COVID-19 explosion. Then, Prof.Timothy Caulfield talks vaccine hesitance, and digs into his new book, "Relax, Dammit! A User's Guide to the Age of Anxiety."

In our very first show, Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson joins for an exclusive one-on-one to discuss why he won't seek re-election next fall. Plus, Dr. Lynora Saxinger on Alberta's exploding COVID-19 cases.

Ryan Jespersen introduces you to Real Talk, a new daily show covering news, politics and pop culture. Subscribe, and join us for our first show on Monday November 23, 2020 at 08:30 am MT. More information at ryanjespersen.com.