Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

8:55 | Political scientist Dr. Ashley Esarey unpacks the White House's decision not to send US diplomats to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, what implications it could have on Canada, and international stability. 30:33 | Calgary-based freelance writer Marcello Di Cintio explains how he recently found himself as an advocate for decentralizing emergency response across Alberta. He took to Twitter over the weekend after his 95 year-old grandmother fell down and had to wait one hour before paramedics arrived. 45:25 | Lawyers Reakash Walters and Joshua Sealy-Harrington along with the Africa Centre's Sharif Haji discuss what the recent verdicts in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse, and jury awarding $25 million in damages over deadly 2017 Charlottesville far-right rally, tell us about racism in North America.

18:25 | Virologist Dr. David Marchant explains what's known about the new COVID-19 variant Omicron, how effective health measures and travel bans are in curbing it. 42:44 | National Abortion Federation (NAF) Canada Jill Doctoroff and state-side Center for Reproductive Rights Elisabeth Smith discuss access to abortions in Canada and south of the border, and how policies could change with court cases headed to the USA's Supreme Court. 1:14:48 | #PositiveReflections - Ryan looks at the bright side of the life, including a Real Talker's video of scuba diving off the Galápagos Islands.

Ryan rolls out the best rants of the week, as submitted to talk@ryanjespersen.com. Buckle up for another edition of Trash Talk, presented by Local Waste.

2:01 | Canada's Minister of Environment Steven Guilbeault discusses his appointment to the lead the ministry after his high-profile environmental activism and the new platform commitments being made today, including the commitment to cap/cut emissions from the oil and gas sector and lowering energy sector methane emissions. 18:12 | Recovery Manager for the Village of Lytton, Alison Poste on the BC village residents' unwavering determination to rebuild following the 2021 wildfire and flooding. 33:43 | We mark International Day of People with Disabilities with a retrospective of Real Talk conversations exploring disability and sex, marriage, plus representation on stage and screen.  40:39 | University of Saskatchewan's Dr. Ryan Brook and wildlife ecologist Mateen Hessami on managing invasive species and how culling is only the start of the conversation.  1:17:46 | #TrashTalk | Ryan brings Real Talkers pet peeves and annoyances to life with furor and fury. Presented by Local Waste.

2:40 | A rundown of news making headlines, including Canada's House of Commons unanimously approving legislation to ban conversion therapy and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) suspending all tournaments in China ins response to Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai disappearing from public view after accusing a top Chinese official of sexual assault. 12:47 | Climatologist Faron Anslow on the back-to-back-to-back atmospheric rivers hitting British Columbia, what's causing the extreme weather, and how much can be attributed to climate change.  37:40 | Global affairs analyst Michael Bociurkiw unpacks the relationship between Belarus and Russia and what is means for the stability in the region and the world.  1:00:54 | #EatYourWords | Ryan pats Australian TV presenter Matt Doran on the back for making an on-air apology to music superstar Adele after admitting he had not listened to the singer's new album 30 before their exclusive interview. Presented by Prairie Catering

4:13 | Canadian comedian, TV personality, political satirist and author, Rick Mercer shares about his new memoir, Talking to Canadians, and the life he's lived and lessons he's learned to fill the pages. 38:50 | #MyJasper Memories | Get into the festive spirit while visiting the winter wonderland of Jasper National Park. Presented by Tourism Jasper. 50:05 | Award-winning actor William H. Macy discusses his love of acting, woodturning, and spirits. He's joined by master distiller David Matthews at Woody Creek Distillers, where our RealTalkRJ Cask No. 1 bourbon is distilled.  1:16:54 | Understanding digital identity and the lasting impacts of sharing photos of kids online, with Ethically Aligned AI's Katrina Ingram and photographer Claire Rodahaver.

2:12 | BC MLA for Skeena, Ellis Ross explains why he wants celebrity Leonardo DiCaprio and other non-Wet'suwet'en members to stay out of the ongoing dispute over the Coastal GasLink (CGL) pipeline development.  21:19 | Photojournalist Amber Bracken shares about her November 19 arrest while observing and documenting events unfolding in Wet’suwet’en territory.  41:17 | Canadian sensation Brittlestar (aka Stewart Reynolds) talks about telling it like it is online and why his cheeky videos go viral.  1:07:20 | Positive Reflections | Presented by Kuby Energy, Ryan looks at the bright side of life.

A special load of hard-boiled harsh opinions by Real Talkers all aimed directly at Ryan. Presented by Local Waste.    

11:44 | University of Waterloo economics prof Dr. Mikal Skuterud and jobs recruiter Jessica Culo examine Canada's labour shortage and what it means for job seekers, employers, and Canada's economy. 29:48 | A #RealTalkRoundTable with the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction's Glenn McGillivray, Insurance Bureau of Canada's Robin Edger, and JPW Road and Bridge Inc. president Joe Wrobel, on how and where rebuilding should happen following extreme weather and climate change disasters.  1:12:41 | #TrashTalk | A special load of hard-boiled harsh opinions by Real Talkers all aimed directly at Ryan. Presented by Local Waste

4:00 | Ryan delves into the guilty charges for the three men who murdered Ahmaud Arbery on February 23, 2020, with statements from Arbery's family, Reverend Al Sharpton, and the defence attorney. 12:58 | Spokesperson for the Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims, Hamed Esmaeilion, who tragically lost his wife and young daughter on the flight when it was shot down, discusses the newly  released a report on the incident “The Lonely Fight for Justice: An investigative analysis of the downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752”. 36:53 | #EatYourWords | Ryan takes environmentalist David Suzuki and Alberta's premier Jason Kenney to task for using thinly veiled threats of violence and calls to jail opponents.  42:28 | The Environmentalist’s Dilemma author, Arno Kopecky on the piling up of extreme weather events,   and how so many people continue to be surprised by the totally predictable outcomes of climate change.