Real Talk Ryan Jespersen

With an eventful week on the guest front, and so many Real Talkers taking the time to email talk@ryanjespersen.com, 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 talk@ryanjespersen.com. 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 talk@ryanjespersen.com.

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.