Rob's had enough of "MAGA stupidity," Dave and Ted have hot takes on the Alberta library book controversy, Nesen says it's time to rethink Canada's export strategy, and Touring Zebra takes on the Texas Ten Commandments story. It's 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, 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.

Alberta's capital city has the potential to boom just like Dubai. So says Dr. Murtaza Haider, the newly-installed Radhe Krishna Gupta Executive Chair in the Cities Institute at the University of Alberta. The new executive chair is made possible by a $5M gift from Rohit Gupta, president of the Rohit Group, who joins Dr. Haider and BILD Edmonton Metro CEO Kalen Anderson in a smart and inspiring edition of the Real Talk Round Table (2:40).

BUILDING THE CITY of TOMORROW: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/folio/2025/06/building-the-city-of-tomorrow.html

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com

1:01:00 | Donald Trump and Elon Musk are officially friends off. Jespo, Johnny and our Real Talk Live Chatters chime in on the implosion of the high-profile former friendship.

1:19:30 | It's the 81st anniversary of D-Day. Real Talk pays its respects.

FOLLOW HISTORIAN CRAIG BAIRD: https://x.com/CraigBaird

1:23:00 | Rob's had enough of "MAGA stupidity," Dave and Ted have hot takes on the Alberta library book controversy, Nesen says it's time to rethink Canada's export strategy, and Touring Zebra takes on the Texas Ten Commandments story. It's 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, 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.

Critics say the Alberta government is being heavy handed in flagging controversial books found in school libraries. They say teachers and librarians, not politicians and parents, should choose which books are on the shelf. In this episode, we talk to Minister of Education Demetrios Nicolaides (1:03:15) about the UCP's online survey, classroom funding, and a strike that seems more and more likely to happen.

But first...Jespo and Johnny are all amped up after the Edmonton Oilers' big overtime win in Game One of the Stanley Cup Final.

33:45 | The Ranch is looking amazing two weeks out from the Real Talk Golf Classic! Jespo shares a few stories and talks about the Real Talk Julie Rohr Scholarship.

APPLY BEFORE AUGUST 1: https://www.ryanjespersen.com/scholarship

48:45 | Real Talker Jonny isn't happy about our June 3 interview

1:03:15 | We talk to Alberta's Minister of Education Demetrios Nicolaides about the library book controversy and a looming teachers' strike.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com

PARTICIPATE IN THE SCHOOL LIBRARY SURVEY: https://your.alberta.ca/school-library-materials/surveys/slme

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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.

How is Alberta's demand for a better deal landing across the country? Why is Pierre Poilievre pretending to drink from an empty coffee mug? Will this Canada Post labour situation ever get sorted out? And could the Alberta separation movement ACTUALLY succeed? We get answers to these pressing questions in this rock solid episode of Real Talk.

7:30 | This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir breaks down the premiers' meeting with PM Mark Carney, Pierre Poilievre's strange new video, angst over corporate Pride, and his opposition to Bitcoin.

MORE FROM MO: https://www.thisisvancolour.com/

39:45 | Longtime labour lawyer Dwayne Chomyn, K.C. brings great insights on Canada Post/CUPW negotiations and the Alberta sovereignty movement.

FOLLOW DWAYNE on X: https://x.com/Citizen004

1:17:15 | Did you know Jasper features one of North America's highest concentrations of fishable lakes and rivers? We highlight incredible angling opportunities at Maligne and Talbot Lakes in #MyJasper Memories presented by our friends at Tourism Jasper.

BOOK YOUR FISHING TRIP in JASPER: https://www.jasper.travel/things-to-do/rafting-canoeing-water-sport/fishing/

1:26:15 | Real Talker Nathan takes issue with Jespo's comments about the Alberta government taking aim at graphic library books.

HAVE YOUR SAY: talk@ryanjespersen.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.

Parents' rights groups are pressuring the Alberta government to pull what they deem to be "pornographic" books from school libraries. The government's putting it to public consultation before introducing new policy ahead of the next school year. Who's best equipped to decide which books are appropriate for which ages, and what literature belongs in libraries? In this episode, we get into it with Laura Winton from the Library Association and Jim Turk from the Centre for Free Expression at Toronto Metropolitan University (4:00).

49:30 | Real Talkers have their say in the Live Chat powered by Park Power. "Touring Zebra" shares a theory (1:17:45) about the looming book ban.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.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.

What's at stake as Mark Carney meets in person with Canada's premiers for the first time since becoming Prime Minister? What happens if the first ministers' meeting wraps without a deal to advance Canada's role as a "global energy superpower," or progress toward "free trade in Canada," as Carney promised on election night?

Senator Charles Adler gets into it (13:00) with his trademark brand of Canadian common sense.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com

1:00:00 | Would you travel to see the Oilers on the road in Florida, all things considered? Jespo and Johnny tee up the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, and highlight Real Talkers' feedback in our Live Chat powered by Park Power.

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

1:18:45 | "A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit." Jespo shares a personal story for this edition of Positive Reflections presented by Solar by Kuby.

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

Alllllll aboard! 7th Pilot dares Jespo to board the Freedom Train, Alex is pissed at the province for pulling library books, Gerald has a message for ready-to-strike Canada Post workers, Rik calls out Citizens Against Virtually Everything (CAVEs), and Jenny wants YOU to join the resistance. It's The Flamethrower presented by our friends at 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, be sure to tell 'em Real Talk sent you!

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

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For the second year in a row, the Edmonton Oilers will face off against the Florida Panthers for the Stanley Cup. Jespo and Johnny, who first worked together as the team's in-game host and DJ, set the table (2:00) for the Stanley Cup Final.

23:00 | It's Canadian Innovation Week! In partnership with Athabasca University, we learn about innovation in networking from James McInnes (Prompty), DNA genealogy and cold case files from Bradley Pierson (Trouvay), and micro business marketing from Dr. Raewyn Sleeman (Stratagease).

PROMPTY: https://www.prompty.ca/

TROUVAY: https://www.trouvay.ca/

STRATAGEASE: https://www.stratagease.com/

ATHABASCA UNIVERSITY: https://www.athabascau.ca/

1:11:30 | Jespo and Johnny talk AI and national security, and get into the Real Talk Live Chat powered by Park Power.

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

1:38:15 | 7th Pilot has a hot take on Jespo's proposed Alberta referendum Bitcoin bet, Alex is pissed at the province for pulling library books, Gerald has a message for ready-to-strike Canada Post workers, Rik calls out Citizens Against Virtually Everything (CAVEs), and Jenny wants YOU to join the resistance. It's The Flamethrower presented by our friends at 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, be sure to tell 'em Real Talk sent you!

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

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: @ryanjespersen

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.