The Sco's at odds with Adler, Paul cracks on our coverage, Kyle's angry at the liberals and "so-called centrists," and Merrick the Red Headed Prick says moral decay isn't limited to lefties. Real Talkers are alllllll fired up in this all-Trump edition of The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! FIRE UP YOUR FLA…

Before she became a Canadian Senator, Paula Simons was an investigative journalist and National Newspaper Award-winning columnist. It's clear she approaches accountability around her role in the Red Chamber differently than most of her colleagues. Right out of the gates in this must-watch episode, Senator Simons opens up her own expense reports, ta…

Has someone close to you chosen a medically-assisted death? The total number of Canadians requesting MAID rises 30% or so every year, accounting for just over 4% of all deaths in Canada in 2022. While concerns remain - including implications for people living with mental health challenges, severe disabilities, or in extreme poverty - MAID appears t…

In episode 2 of Bombshells, Amy and Fleur talk to Eric Kaufmann, professor of politics at the University of Buckingham. Eric is the author of Rise and Fall of Anglo-America, Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth? and Whiteshift: Populism, Immigration and the Future of White Majorities. He is a specialist in nationalism, populism and political and r…

Good luck finding a family doctor if you live in Alberta, let alone getting an MRI, surgery, or cancer care right when you need it. Health care professionals are leaving in droves, thousands of patients are stuck on waitlists, and some rural communities are declaring a state of local health care crisis. In this episode of Real Talk, we find out how…

We get you up to speed on the FBI investigation into the attempt on Donald Trump's life, buzz from Republicans and Democrats days removed from the attack, and growing focus on "Project 2025". 4:40 | The Republican National Convention is underway, and Trump is front and centre (and trying to stay awake). We check out a compelling cross-aisle message…

"I'm supposed to be dead." Not only did Donald Trump survive an attempt on his life at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania over the weekend...he appears to be more motivated than ever to retake the White House. In this episode of Real Talk, we explore the many different angles of the Trump assassination attempt, including what it means for the Republic…

If you're going to publicly challenge healthcare delivery in Canada, approach with caution. Ryan's July 9 remarks about waitlists and other barriers to care enraged more than a few folks. Many took to Twitter to throw a grenade. In this edition of The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park, we get into a few of th…

Animals die every year at rodeos around the world. And, stands are packed every year at rodeos around the world. As protests against animal exploitation increase, many circuses and zoos have been shut down. Is it time to ban rodeo? 2:45 | Prompted by their Dialogue feature in the summer issue of Alberta Views, animal rights attorney Camille Labchuk…

Should Joe Biden accept Donald Trump's challenge to play 18 holes of golf? Is it important for Justin Trudeau to attend the Calgary Stampede? What'll Naheed Nenshi's first big move be as leader of the Alberta NDP? 2:14 | We talk about the presidential race (2:40), Trudeau v. Poilievre (13:45), our "Naheed Nenshi: Fact Checked" episode (28:30), maki…

They're one of the most magnificent animals on the planet. For years, they've been a threatened species in Alberta. But grizzly bears will soon be hunted again after the UCP government quietly lifted a 20 year ban. In this episode, we investigate changes to the Wildlife Act allowing "problem" bears to be targeted by sport hunters, and learn what wi…

Was Naheed Nenshi accurate and fair in his criticism of Danielle Smith's government when he joined us on June 24? In this episode, we task two UCP supporters with "fact checking" the Alberta NDP leader's comments and providing alternative perspectives. 2:25 | Former UCP president Cynthia Moore and Alberta Institute's Peter McCaffrey respond to Nahe…

Does a monument of the Ten Commandments belong in Winnipeg's Assiniboine Park? We tackle the developing story - and fifteen others - in this episode of Real Talk. 6:16 | Charles Adler wastes no time chiming in on Russia bombing a children's hospital in Ukraine, the UK's new Prime Minister (10:35), former minister Marc Garneau's scathing indictment …

On ‘Politics and Heterodox Social Sciences with Eric Kaufmann,’ Brussels Signal podcast with Ralph Schoelhammer, Apr 11https://brusselssignal.eu/2024/04/politics-and-heterodox-social-sciences-with-eric-kaufmann/By Eric Kaufmann

Real Talkers are FIRED UP over Sophie Grégoire Trudeau's comments about ADHD on Real Talk (June 26). Robyn, Sara, and Travis sound off, then "Raging Grannie" Karen chimes in on our Spittin' Chiclets interview (June 13). It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.…

For more than a century, Albertans have celebrated a collective entrepreneurial spirit. A bold, scrappy, "never say die" attitude. But does that hard-wired reputation actually translate into a better business environment? We talk to Alberta's best in class in this episode - a Real Talk Round Table featuring Alberta Business Award of Distinction win…

Canada's rate of workplace fatalities is among the worst in the developed world. More workers die in Alberta alone every year than the entire UK. Why is Canada's safety record so poor? Why haven't we learned from tragedy after tragedy? Where's the accountability? How do we turn this trend around? 2:55 | Nicole Gnazdowsky's brother Andrew was killed…

Coming up on a year since her separation from Canada's Prime Minister, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau talks to us about her own public and personal journey, and her new book Closer Together. 2:30 | Sophie tells us about her conversations with experts on ADHD, infertility, eating disorders, "mindful masculinity," and more. LEARN MORE: https://sophiegregoir…

Ugggggh. Connor McDavid and the Oilers will have to wait another year for a shot at the team's first Stanley Cup in decades. We talk it out - and get an update on the water main mess in Calgary - in this episode of Real Talk. 1:17 | Jespo and Johnny debrief after a heartbreaking Game Seven. 6:55 | The Globe and Mail's Carrie Tait tells us about som…

Naheed Nenshi just RAN AWAY with the Alberta NDP leadership. Connor McDavid's poised to hoist his first Stanley Cup. We've got the two biggest stories in Canada covered (plus a recap of the sold-out Real Talk Golf Classic!) in this episode of Real Talk. 0:30 | Jespo and Johnny tee up Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Final. 10:00 | Are they cheering fo…

Anne's sick of crybabies in Calgary, and Don schools Ryan on the Royal Canadian Navy in The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.comWhen you visit the DQs in Palisades, Namao, Newcastle, Westmount, and Baseline Road, make sure you tell 'em Real Talk sent you!…

Ryan's longtime friend Kathleen McGee joins (2:00) for REAL Talk about living with cancer. You'll laugh, you might cry, and we guarantee you'll be inspired. FOLLOW KATHLEEN ON IG: https://www.instagram.com/kathleen_mcgee DONATE TO HER GOFUNDME: https://www.gofundme.com/f/june-dresses-for-the-alberta-cancer-foundation?member=34764567&sharetype=teams…

Is Justin Trudeau done in the next two months? Paul Wells, one of Canada's best political writers, takes us into his new book "Trudeau on the Ropes: Governing in Troubled Times". 2:50 | We get Paul's opinion on the Canadian warship in Cuba, Justin Trudeau's future with the Liberal Party, Pierre Poilievre's human side, the opioid crisis in Alberta, …

Anybody who's ever been to Calgary knows there's no way the Stampede's getting cancelled, water shortage or not. We look at how that major water main break's been impacting communities (and neighbourly relations) in this episode (18:40). Ahead of that, we hear "the other side" of the story of the HMCS Margaret Brooke docking in Cuba alongside a Rus…

Conversation with young UK influencer Jess Gillhttps://www.jessgill.net/p/how-the-left-have-captured-academiaBy Eric Kaufmann

On Times Radio with Ayesha Hazarika discussing Britain’s mental health crisis, Mar 24 (from 38:18)https://www.thetimes.co.uk/radio/show/20240324-27912/2024-03-24By Eric Kaufmann

While it seems like wokeness is out of control, a new study from the Macdonald-Laurier Institute suggests Canadians aren't actually that woke after all. Author Eric Kaufmann, a professor at the University of Buckingham, joins to explain.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRmaAOmZkCwBy Eric Kaufmann

Why is a Canadian warship docked beside Russian vessels in Cuba? And why didn't Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly even know about it, when asked over the weekend? Defence Minister Bill Blair says it's a "smart" move, while the opposition Conservatives are calling it "reckless, radical, and dangerous." Who's right? 2:15 | Charles Adler dishes Ca…

Real Talker Sierra delivers a eulogy for the Canadian Energy Centre - aka The War Room - in The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park. FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com When you visit the DQs in Palisades, Namao, Newcastle, Westmount, and Baseline Road, make sure you tell 'em Real Talk sent you!…

Fact or fiction? We task two of Alberta's most experienced journalists with scrutinizing our recent interview with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. 3:30 | Veteran commentators Graham Thomson and Markham Hislop dig into our June 12 interview with Premier Smith, including her eyebrow-raising comment about former premier Alison Redford, her thoughts on…

The stars of Spittin' Chiclets - the biggest hockey podcast in the world - join Jespo and Johnny in studio for a special Stanley Cup Final edition of Real Talk. Paul "BizNasty" Bissonnette, Ryan Whitney, Rear Admiral, and Mike Grinnell talk about the Oilers' decade of darkness, today's team (including a Leon Draisaitl contract extension), and wheth…

Why did Premier Danielle Smith appoint her one-time nemesis Alison Redford to the board of Invest Alberta? How is Calgary's water main disaster impacting how she'll approach the province's infrastructure deficit? Is Alberta even ready for a population boom...and if not, why not? Why is Premier Smith allowing her party to host a post-pandemic anti-v…

Professor Eric Kaufmann changed universities after being targeted for his political views – on this No Nonsense, he explains what inspired him to teach a new class on the Woke Ideology.https://pamelawallin.com/woke-ideology-in-canada-with-eric-kaufmann/By Eric Kaufmann

Does your family have rules for phones and tablets? Does your kid's school (or even your own workplace) try to cut back on distraction by limiting access to tech? As Ontario and Quebec take the lead on banning phones in class, and Alberta looks to do the same, we get three different perspectives on tech literacy and brain and social development fro…

There's nothing funny about alleged corruption and shady business deals involving elected officials. But that's not stopping Jespo, Johnny, and Charles Adler from having a chuckle over the "Other Randy" story. We get to that, millionaire conspiracy peddler Alex Jones liquidating his assets, and a troubling report implicating MPs and/or Senators in …

Debra checks in from the States with strong words (!!!) for Donald Trump; Ray, Ed, and Jim take issue with our May 31 Group Chat Round Table's take on Pierre Poilievre, and Dr. Jennifer delivers an unofficial diagnosis of the federal Conservative Leader. It's a feisty federal politics edition of The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Ed…

From 1-10, where's your "climate anxiety" at? In this episode, we meet three "Climate Action Figures" who remind us it's never too late to take action. 5:10 | But first...it's another Real Talk scoop: Alberta will introduce policy on phones in schools as early as this summer. Ryan and Johnny take a look at what Ontario's doing, and what Alberta mig…

This is the most personal and powerful episode of Real Talk we've ever released. Ryan shares his thoughts after the sudden and tragic death of his dear friend Loz (2:00), and we check in with grief educator Jeremy Allen (18:00). SUICIDE CRISIS HELPLINE: CALL OR TEXT 9-8-8 CONNECT WITH JEREMY: https://www.deathed.ca/ EMAIL THE SHOW: talk@ryanjespers…

Now that Connor and crew punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final, are the Edmonton Oilers officially Canada's Team? 2:45 | Everybody's talking about the Oilers around the water cooler - why would our weekly check-in with Charles Adler be any different? The guys also discuss MP Arnold Viersen's comments on abortion and gay marriage, Donald Tru…

I first came across 'White Shift' 4 years ago and recognised it immediately as a very powerful book on this subject. Eric Kaufmann is the author and joins us to give us some snapshots from it. The book starts by setting out the history of over a century of demographic change and we discuss politics by looking at the rise of populism throughout the …

A discussion about the link between religion and reproduction, with Leah Farish.https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Z1QPBydXCRzGUtfVEqnTs?si=Lf8TCki-RluMsQqVlRBbag&nd=1&dlsi=f72fc39677684939By Eric Kaufmann

Cher can't fly her Canadian flag anymore, Tobias has no mercy, Garth calls out "Flip Flop Adler," Commish Daddy says there is no middle class, and Nathan's wondering if Peter Lougheed is rolling in his grave. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com When yo…

Donald Trump is now a convicted felon. He can still run for President, and might very well win. Our Group Chat Round Table digs into the difference between legal strategy and public opinion strategy. Plus, is Pierre Poilievre unbeatable? Are abortion rights going to be a factor in the next election? And, do smartphones belong in classrooms or not? …

Love him or hate him, you can't deny Pierre Poilievre's riding major momentum these days. The Conservative leader claims to have doubled the party's membership, and virtually every poll forecasts a convincing win the next time Canadians go to the polls. What is it about his message (or his strategy) that's attracting so many people, many of them pr…

Three Lethbridge cops are off the hook for using police databases to improperly access a politician's personal information, despite Alberta's police watchdog recommending charges. Then-Energy Minister Shannon Phillips was first targeted when on-duty officers eavesdropped on a private conversation, then posted photos and the personal commentary on F…

More than 70% of Canadians believe they're "middle class". Are you one of them? New polling shows most of us feel "less wealthy" than our fellow Canadians...but is that accurate? In this episode, we learn how our feelings and other factors contribute to our perception of financial security, and how that's changed in recent years. 5:20 | Margaret Ch…

"Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything," wrote George Bernard Shaw. This is one of the most honest episodes of Real Talk to date, as Charles Adler does a 180 on his previous comments about deporting Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, the driver who caused the Humboldt Broncos bus crash. Chuck, Ryan, and Johnny talk about PGA golfer Grayson …

Rob's choked about being duped into signing a petition, Stephen and Robyn have spicy takes on fighting in hockey, and Deaner wants you to GET OUT OF THE PASSING LANE. Real Talkers fire up their Flamethrowers courtesy the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park. If you find yourself in need of a summer fix, look no further: The new Picnic Peach …

It's one thing to have a million (or billion) dollar idea. It's another thing to turn that idea into a legitimate business. So, what's the secret to a successful startup? We talk inspiration, team building, problem solving, and growth strategies in a special Founders edition of the Real Talk Round Table. 2:31 | My Fertility Labs CEO Sarah Harper, E…

Full disclosure: Ryan feels strongly that fighting is an important part of hockey. But, there are several compelling arguments to ban fighting from the game. We know more about short- and long-term effects of repeated blows to the head. We've lost several former NHL heavyweights to suicide, while many more suffer long-term effects of CTE. Maybe it'…