The mayors of Alberta's two biggest cities join Ryan as the Alberta Municipalities Convention continues in Edmonton. We get the inside scoop from Calgary mayor Jeromy Farkas and Edmonton mayor Andrew Knack (2:00) on potential changes to the Municipal Government Act, provincial oversight (overreach?) on roads (bike lanes), libraries under threat, cities taking a stand against separation, and councillors leaking confidential budget information. Feature interviews on Real Talk are presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West.

THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY RapidEX FINANCIAL. THE CRYPTO WORLD MOVES FAST, AND YOUR TRUST IN AN EXCHANGE SHOULDN'T BE A GAMBLE. RapidEX IS SECURE, FINTRAC-REGISTERED, AND NON-CUSTODIAL. SAVE 50% ON FEES ON ONLINE INTERAC E-TRANSFER TRADES WITH PROMO CODE RYAN50 AT https://rapidexfinancial.com/.

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57:00 | Oilers legend Mark Messier says he's "horrified" over the hiring of coach Mike Babcock. How do you feel about it?

1:13:00 | We celebrate Acro Canine Crew's remarkable run on America's Got Talent in this week's Alberta Wins presented by Play Alberta. Shout out to Real Talker Jessalyn for the submission!

PLAY ALBERTA IS THE ONLY APP IN THE PROVINCE THAT PUTS ALL REVENUE DIRECTLY BACK INTO SUPPORTING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT ALBERTANS RELY ON EVERY DAY. LEARN MORE AT https://try.playalberta.ca/lp/realtalk/

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1:26:00 | Real Talkers are fired up over the Alberta government's ad spend leading up to the referendum and Premier Danielle Smith's emotional speech about oil and gas. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park!

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The views and opinions expressed in this show are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Relay Communications Group Inc. or any affiliates.

Alberta's less than a month away from a referendum with ten questions that could have major consequences for the province’s future (and reputation). Before You Vote co-founders Doug Stollery, Sheila Greckol, Marie Gordon, and Peggy Garrity (5:45) apply decades of experience in law, public policy, and communications to examine what Albertans are actually being asked, what could happen next, and what you need to know before you cast your ballot. Feature interviews on Real Talk are presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West.

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51:45 | This is your sign to bring your family to Jasper for the 2026 Jasper Dark Sky Festival! We highlight some of the many family-friendly activities (most of them free!) set to launch in Jasper from October 16-25. #MyJasper Memories is proudly presented every Wednesday on Real Talk by our amazing friends at Tourism Jasper.

JASPER DARK SKY FESTIVAL: https://jasperdarksky.travel/

FAMILY ACTIVITIES BLOG POST: https://www.jasper.travel/blog/family-friendly-events-2026-jasper-dark-sky-festival/

56:00 | Real Talkers respond to our Before You Vote Round Table in our Live Chat powered by Park Power.

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1:14:30 | Will David Eby's early election call blow up in his face? Jespo invokes the 2015 provincial election in Alberta. How do you think this will play out?

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: leave a comment below or email talk@ryanjspersen.com

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The views and opinions expressed in this show are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Relay Communications Group Inc. or any affiliates.

Young men are being radicalized online: pulled into communities built around grievance, misogyny, loneliness, and “toxic masculinity.” Figures like Andrew Tate have turned the so-called manosphere into a powerful cultural and political force, raising difficult questions about why these messages resonate with so many young men...and where they lead. Award-winning novelist Todd Babiak joins us (2:45) to discuss his new book, What Gentlemen Do, and how it relates to the Alberta separation movement. Feature interviews on Real Talk are presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West.

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The views and opinions expressed in this show are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Relay Communications Group Inc. or any affiliates.

"Does this country actually want us?" Everybody's talking about Alberta premier Danielle Smith's emotional speech at the Alberta and the West Assembly hosted by Preston Manning and former B.C. premier Gordon Campbell. We get into it with Supriya Dwivedi (4:20) in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West, before discussing Kerry-Lynne Findlay's resignation as B.C. Conservative leader (24:00), Canada's great airport sale...ish (38:30), right to strike under threat (57:30), Parliament resuming (1:01:45), and Canada's proposed EU associate membership (1:06:15).

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1:18:20 | Real Talkers have their say on Danielle Smith's emotional speech and privatizing Canada's major airports in our Live Chat powered by Park Power.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: leave a comment below or email talk@ryanjspersen.com

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The views and opinions expressed in this show are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Relay Communications Group Inc. or any affiliates.

Pink Pirate, Chad, and Kyle say Mark Carney's on the wrong track; Bradley and ForECanadian have strong words for Danielle Smith; RavenRuled and Jessica have thoughts on the Ed Sheeran-Macklemore debacle, and Tyler calls out Jespo's take on AI. It's The Flamethrower proudly presented by our amazing friends at the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park!

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The views and opinions expressed in this show are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Relay Communications Group Inc. or any affiliates.

What happens when you spend seven months travelling Alberta and talking to people who want out of Canada? Dani Paradis and Tim Querengesser take us inside their new podcast, Separation Anxiety, sharing what they heard from separatists (4:00) about their frustrations, their hopes for Alberta, and why they believe independence is the answer. Feature interviews on Real Talk are presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West.

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SUBSCRIBE to SEPARATION ANXIETY: https://separationanxietypodcast.substack.com/

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: leave a comment here or email talk@ryanjespersen.com

55:00 | Real Talkers chime in on our Live Chat powered by Park Power.

SAVE on INTERNET, ELECTRICITY, and NATURAL GAS: https://parkpower.ca/realtalk/

1:04:15 | Pink Pirate, Chad, and Kyle say Mark Carney's on the wrong track; Bradley and ForECanadian have strong words for Danielle Smith; RavenRuled and Jessica have thoughts on the Ed Sheeran-Macklemore debacle, and Tyler calls out Jespo's take on AI. It's The Flamethrower proudly presented by our amazing friends at the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park!

WHEN YOU SWING BY A DQ IN PALISADES, NAMAO, NEWCASTLE, WESTMOUNT, OR BASELINE ROAD, BE SURE TO LET 'EM KNOW REAL TALK SENT YOU!

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The views and opinions expressed in this show are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Relay Communications Group Inc. or any affiliates.

What would Alberta separation from Canada ACTUALLY look like: legally, economically, re: Indigenous treaty rights, trade, workers, travellers, and everyday Albertans? We dig into the Canada West Foundation’s new Alberta in Confederation report (4:45) with Gary Mar, Dr. Ted Morton, Dr. Audrey Doerr, Dr. Greg Anderson and Dr. Herb Emery in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West.

THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY RapidEX FINANCIAL. THE CRYPTO WORLD MOVES FAST, AND YOUR TRUST IN AN EXCHANGE SHOULDN'T BE A GAMBLE. RapidEX IS SECURE, FINTRAC-REGISTERED, AND NON-CUSTODIAL. SAVE 50% ON FEES ON ONLINE INTERAC E-TRANSFER TRADES WITH PROMO CODE RYAN50 AT https://rapidexfinancial.com/.

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READ THE REPORT: https://cwf.ca/

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: leave a comment here or email talk@ryanjespersen.com

36:30 | Gary, Audrey, and Greg dig deeper into the idea of Alberta as an American state, and the reality of Treaties in any separation debate.

1:05:15 | Real Talker Shannon checks in from the Carbon Capture Canada 2026 conference with a timely Alberta Win. Alberta Wins is presented weekly on Real Talk by our friends at Play Alberta.

PLAY ALBERTA IS THE ONLY APP IN THE PROVINCE THAT PUTS ALL REVENUE DIRECTLY BACK INTO SUPPORTING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT ALBERTANS RELY ON EVERY DAY. LEARN MORE AT https://try.playalberta.ca/lp/realtalk/

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1:08:00 | Real Talker Matthew wants Jespo to switch over to Gander Social. Real Talkers respond to our Round Table in our Live Chat powered by Park Power.

SAVE on INTERNET, ELECTRICITY, and NATURAL GAS: https://parkpower.ca/realtalk/

REAL TALK'S LIVE STREAM IS PRESENTED BY CALIFORNIA CLOSETS. BOOK YOUR FREE CONSULTATION: https://californiaclosets.ca/

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The views and opinions expressed in this show are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Relay Communications Group Inc. or any affiliates.

The president of the European Commission all but endorsed Canada as an "associate member" of the EU two days after Canadian PM Mark Carney downplayed a Wall Street Journal report on the possibility...so what's the truth? Politico's Ottawa bureau chief Nick Taylor-Vaisey tells us what he's hearing (4:00) in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West, including the possibility of Carney calling an election. We recap the first Canada Investment Summit, including former PM Stephen Harper's participation (34:45), and dig into MP Jamil Jivani's future with the Conservative Party (48:00).

THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY HANSEN DISTILLERY. IF YOU LOVE CAESARS, YOU MUST CHECK OUT DISTILLED BY HER, BATCH TWO: TOMATO, DILL & HOT PEPPER GIN! LEARN MORE: https://hansendistillery.com/

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SUBSCRIBE to POLITICO's PLAYBOOK CANADA PODCAST: https://www.politico.com/podcasts/playbook-canada

53:00 | The Jasper Dark Sky Festival is reaching new heights in 2026 with amazing new culinary options, a guided overnight stay under the stars, and a free Bahamas concert. We lay out the perfect Jasper Dark Sky Festival itinerary in this edition of #MyJasper Memories presented by Tourism Jasper.

JASPER DARK SKY FESTIVAL: https://rtrj.info/091626MyJasperURL

57:30 | We check in with Energi Media's Markham Hislop re: the Alberta NDP's byelection win in Calgary-Shaw. Markham tells us what he's demanding before he'll seriously consider the case for a new West Coast pipeline.

SUBSCRIBE to @EnergiMedia on YouTube.

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1:29:00 | Have you been paying attention to the Ed Sheeran controversy? Jespo and Johnny hash it out with input from Real Talkers in our Live Chat powered by Park Power.

SAVE on INTERNET, ELECTRICITY, and NATURAL GAS: https://parkpower.ca/realtalk/

REAL TALK'S LIVE STREAM IS PRESENTED BY CALIFORNIA CLOSETS. BOOK YOUR FREE CONSULTATION: https://californiaclosets.ca/

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The views and opinions expressed in this show are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Relay Communications Group Inc. or any affiliates.