Donald Trump wants Greenland. European leaders are pushing back. What's Canada's best play, all things considered? National Post columnist Rahim Mohamed leads us off (7:00) with a look at comments from Stephen Miller and Bob Rae, and the biggest issue facing Mark Carney. 

Plus, could Alberta separatists actually face charges for meeting with US State Department officials (20:00)? Did Chrystia Freeland step in one (32:00) with her Ukraine advisory announcement? And how are things looking for Pierre Poilievre heading into his CPC leadership review (35:00)? We get into it all. (Forgive us for the YouTube audio glitch from 14:00-17:20. The podcast audio is crystal clear if you'd like to catch Rahim's full comments there.)

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53:00 | Humans have so much to learn from bears. Nobody tells the story more passionately than Trina Moyles, who joins Ryan in studio the day her new book "Black Bear: A Story of Siblinghood and Survival" hits shelves." 

CHECK OUT THE BOOK: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/742032/black-bear-by-trina-moyles/9781039010161

FOLLOW TRINA on IG: https://www.instagram.com/trinariannemoyles/?hl=en

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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.

As dictator Nicolás Maduro appears before a New York judge, the international community is debating American military intervention in Venezuela, and what it could mean for other countries including Canada. Former PMO senior advisor Supriya Dwivedi gives us her take (6:00) in our first feature interview of 2026, presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. 

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39:00 | Alberta separatist Jeff Rath figures Jespo should be added to the United States' No Fly List. As you can imagine, we've got thoughts. 

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: [email protected] 

51:00 | Tragedy struck an Edmonton family on December 22, when 44-year-old father Prasant Sreekumar died after waiting eight hours for urgent care. Alberta Medical Association president Dr. Brian Wirzba was at the Grey Nuns Hospital that day. He tells us how deadly incidents like this can be avoided in future.

AMA: https://www.albertadoctors.org/

1:16:50 | Jespo and Johnny debrief on Venezuela, ER wait times, and other topics teed up in our Live Chat powered by Park Power.

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

1:40:00 | Real Talker Jan shouts out the shovelers in her neck of the woods in this edition of Positive Reflections proudly presented by Solar by Kuby. 

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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.

Randy Boissonnault just endured "the worst year of (his) life". The embattled former Trudeau cabinet minister and Edmonton-Centre MP makes Real Talk his first stop on a redemption tour (3:15) following a court ruling in his favour in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. 

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34:00 | Santa Claus joins us from the Fairmont Banff Springs, and gives Real Talk an exclusive sneak peek into what the highest-profile politicians can expect under the tree this year...

43:00 | Jespo and Supriya Dwivedi discuss Randy Boissonnault's potential return to politics, year-end interviews from PM Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre, and whether or not Australia's new law re: kids and social media would be a good fit in Canada. 

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: [email protected] 

1:18:00 | Jespo and Johnny get into the Real Talk Live Chat powered by Park Power. 

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

1:31:30 | We appreciate you, Real Talkers! Ryan shares some mind-blowing stats from Spotify Wrapped in a year-end edition of Positive Reflections presented by Solar by Kuby.

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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.

Real Talkers Todd and Jenny are fired up over our December 9 interview with Premier Danielle Smith, Laura takes issue with Jespo's comments on private laundry services at hospitals, Michael's frustrated with "culture wars of the week," Marion supports Skate Canada's decision to boycott Alberta, Dwight sounds the alarm on orphan well clean-up, and Brian has thoughts on being forced to pay for the COVID vaccine. It's an "airing of grievances" edition of The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park!

FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: [email protected]

WHEN YOU VISIT THE DQs IN PALISADES, NAMAO, NEWCASTLE, WESTMOUNT, or BASELINE ROAD, BE SURE TO TELL 'EM REAL TALK SENT YOU!

Register your team for the Real Talk Pond Hockey Classic before New Year's Eve and qualify for our early bird prize including six tickets (and Golden Bus transportation) to the Oilers/Wild game on January 31!

SIGN UP to PLAY, SPONSOR, or VOLUNTEER: https://www.ryanjespersen.com/pond-hockey

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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.

Before he was a Senator, Charles Adler held court as one of Canada's most prominent talk radio hosts. In this episode, the longtime purveyor of "Canadian Common Sense" gives us his take on recent federal floor crossings (3:45), Pierre Poilievre's upcoming leadership review (10:00), rumblings around a Jason Kenney Conservative leadership run (18:20), and the differences between Liberal and Conservative platforms (aided by emails from Real Talkers Cliff and Kyle at 23:45). 

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Real Talk feature interviews are presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West: https://www.mercedes-benz-edmontonwest.ca/

29:30 | Register your team for the Real Talk Pond Hockey Classic before New Year's Eve and qualify for our early bird prize including six tickets (and Golden Bus transportation) to the Oilers/Wild game on January 31! 

SIGN UP to PLAY, SPONSOR, or VOLUNTEER: https://www.ryanjespersen.com/pond-hockey

35:15 | Senator Adler gets personal about the Bondi Beach terror attack before commenting on what's happening in Venezuela (46:30), and sharing his Canadian Political Story of 2025 (51:00). We hear MP Michelle Rempel Garner's take on floor crossings back in 2011 (1:08:30), and discuss a potential Alberta independence referendum in 2026 (1:13:00). 

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: [email protected] 

1:28:00 | Real Talkers Todd and Jenny are fired up over our December 9 interview with Premier Danielle Smith, Laura takes issue with Jespo's comments on private laundry services at hospitals, Michael's frustrated with "culture wars of the week," Marion supports Skate Canada's decision to boycott Alberta, Dwight sounds the alarm on orphan well clean-up, and Brian has thoughts on being forced to pay for the COVID vaccine. It's an "airing of grievances" edition of The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! 

FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: [email protected] 

WHEN YOU VISIT THE DQs IN PALISADES, NAMAO, NEWCASTLE, WESTMOUNT, or BASELINE ROAD, BE SURE TO TELL 'EM REAL TALK SENT YOU! 

FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen 

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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.

Whatever Donald Trump's doing in Venezuela, it'll have a major effect on Alberta's bottom line. We break it down in a special year-end edition of the Real Talk Round Table (6:00) with Nathan Mison (Diplomat Consulting), Michaela Frey (Alberta Counsel), Jason Hatcher (Navigator), and Shauna Feth (President and CEO, Alberta Chambers of Commerce). 

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ALBERTA CHAMBERS of COMMERCE: https://www.abchamber.ca/

Real Talk's feature interviews are presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West: https://www.mercedes-benz-edmontonwest.ca/

1:06:00 | We dive into the Real Talk Live Chat powered by Park Power to see what you have to say about Alberta's outlook for 2026.

1:19:45 | Did you see the insane dunk grade 12 student Jordan Hunter threw down at Jasper Place High School? How could we not feature it in Alberta Wins presented by Play Alberta?! 

USE PROMO CODE RYAN50 TO SCORE A $50 CASINO BONUS WITH MINIMUM $50 DEPOSIT ON THE PLAY ALBERTA APP OR AT https://playalberta.ca/. MUST BE 18+ TO PLAY. IF YOU GAMBLE, PLEASE USE YOUR GAMESENSE. 

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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.

Minister of Justice Sean Fraser has "real concerns" about provinces using the Charter's Notwithstanding Clause to circumvent Canada's courts. He talks to us about that, gun regulation (and reflections on the Bondi Beach attack), and plans for an Alberta provincial police service (2:30) in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. 

THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY HANSEN DISTILLERY. CHECK OUT THEIR SEASONAL LIMITED RELEASES - GINGERBREAD COOKIE CREAM LIQUEUR and MINT CHOCOLATE CREAM LIQUEUR: https://hansendistillery.com/

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22:00 and 31:30 | Jespo and Johnny debrief on the Fraser interview, including what Real Talkers have to say in our Live Chat powered by Park Power. 

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

29:45 | Registration is open for the Real Talk Pond Hockey Classic on Saturday, January 31 in St. Albert! Sign up by New Year's Eve to qualify for our early bird prize including six tickets to the Oilers/Wild game that night and transportation to the rink in the Golden Bus. 

RTPHC: https://www.ryanjespersen.com/pond-hockey

50:00 | Tough one for Stuart Skinner in his first game against the Edmonton Oilers. We take a second to toast Leon Draisaitl's 1000th point.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: [email protected] 

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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.

Dr. Raj Sherman's been working in Emergency Rooms for more than 30 years. He's served as an MLA for two different parties, and he recently wrapped his term as chair of Health Quality Alberta. He explains why Alberta's making a big move in the wrong direction on healthcare reform in our feature interview (4:00) presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. 

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READ DR. SHERMAN'S OP/ED: https://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-fix-health-cares-foundation-before-adding-dual-practice

41:00 | "There is something that goes on between life and death." We share a remarkable story from the Royal Alexandra Hospital ER in this edition of Echoes of the Alex presented by the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation. 

GIVE THE GIFT OF HISTORY: https://www.royalalex.org/125years

DONATE IN HONOUR OF SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT: https://www.royalalex.org/year-end-giving

46:00 | Country star Corb Lund is all fired up over his previously-approved petition against coal mining in the Eastern Slopes being cancelled. He's got a thing or two to say about our December 9 interview with Premier Danielle Smith, too. 

JOIN CORB'S FIGHT: https://www.coalpetition.ca/

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: [email protected] 

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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.

At least 15 people are dead and dozens more injured after gunmen opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration at Australia's famed Bondi Beach. We talk to Supriya Dwivedi (3:00) about a rise in anti-Semitism, perceived connections to the Israel-Hamas war, and tightened gun laws in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. 

THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY RAPIDEX FINANCIAL, A PROUD MADE-IN-ALBERTA SOLUTION OFFERING CRYPTO YOUR WAY. FIRST-TIME USERS SAVE 50% WITH THE EXCLUSIVE PROMO CODE RYAN50 ON THE ONLINE PORTAL AT https://rapidexfinancial.com/

MBEW: https://www.mercedes-benz-edmontonwest.ca/

24:30 | Did you catch Pierre Poilievre's interview with Rosie Barton on CBC? Could his "blame Carney" approach to MP floor crossings actually work? 

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: [email protected] 

45:45 | Jespo and Johnny debrief on the top stories, including a look at our Live Chat powered by Park Power. 

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

1:15:00 | Real Talker Helene has a correction on NDP membership in response to our December 11 episode with Naheed Nenshi.

1:31:00 | Real Talker Eileen tells us what she values most about the Real Talk community in a very personal edition of Positive Reflections presented by Solar by Kuby.

SHARE YOUR POSITIVE REFLECTION: [email protected] 

GET A FREE SOLAR QUOTE TODAY: https://kuby.ca/

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THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR SPONSORS! https://ryanjespersen.com/sponsors

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.

Real Talkers Pedro, Margaret, Alison, and Les are all fired up over our Danielle Smith interview on December 9. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park!

FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: [email protected]

WHEN YOU VISIT THE DQs IN PALISADES, NAMAO, NEWCASTLE, WESTMOUNT, or BASELINE ROAD, BE SURE TO TELL 'EM 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.

PM Mark Carney is one seat away from a majority government as Ontario MP Michael Ma crosses the floor to the Liberals. How badly does this hurt Pierre Poilievre (and the Conservatives) about six weeks out from his leadership review? We get into it with The Discourse co-hosts Cheryl Oates and Erika Barootes (2:20) in our feature interview presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. 

THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY RAPIDEX FINANCIAL, A PROUD MADE-IN-ALBERTA SOLUTION OFFERING CRYPTO YOUR WAY. FIRST-TIME USERS SAVE 50% WITH THE EXCLUSIVE PROMO CODE RYAN50 ON THE ONLINE PORTAL AT https://rapidexfinancial.com/

27:00 | We dig into Naheed Nenshi's bold prediction in our December 11 episode, and Premier Danielle Smith's comments (37:00) about changing laws in our December 9 episode. Could a resurgent Alberta Party make an impact (52:30)? And how on earth are property tax increases so different in Calgary and Edmonton (1:02:45)? 

CHECK OUT THE DISCOURSE ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@UC1WjKtBGH6U0S6HDePuLjkw 

1:13:45 | Jespo and Johnny see what Real Talkers have to say about an Alberta sales tax and sex ed (yup, you read it right) in our Live Chat powered by Park Power. 

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

1:41:15 | Real Talkers Pedro, Margaret, Alison, and Les are all fired up over our Danielle Smith interview on December 9. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! 

FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: [email protected] 

WHEN YOU VISIT THE DQs IN PALISADES, NAMAO, NEWCASTLE, WESTMOUNT, or BASELINE ROAD, BE SURE TO TELL 'EM REAL TALK SENT YOU! 

FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen 

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REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch

RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: patreon.com/ryanjespersen

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR SPONSORS! https://ryanjespersen.com/sponsors

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.