A $2M report commissioned by the Alberta government advocates for limiting COVID-19 vaccinations, and suggests that health professionals should not face repercussions for promoting alternative treatments. Critics, including the Alberta and Canadian Medical Associations are calling the 269-page report "anti-science," suggesting it attempts to "rewrite history" by downplaying the importance of vaccines.

2:45 | Dr. Shelley Duggan, president of the Alberta Medical Association, explains why the COVID report is flawed.

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

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com

1:04:00 | We're so proud to partner with YouCan Youth Services. Meet Ethan, a young man transforming his life with supports from YouCan.

DONATE TO YOUCAN: https://youcan.ca/

1:10:00 | A horrific crash near Washington, D.C. involving a passenger jet and military helicopter claimed every life on board. What can you say in a situation like this?

1:17:30 | Join Jespo at On the Rocks Super Bowl Sunday!

TICKETS: https://ontherocksyeg.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.

Foreign interference IS a thing in Canada, and Ottawa's dragged its heels doing anything about it. That's the general finding of Justice Marie-Josee Hogue's inquiry, which wasn't all bad. Turns out there aren't "traitors" in Parliament, but we're not out of the woods. We get into common sense conclusions with Mo Amir.

8:30 | But first...how about our new live stream pre-roll? This episode marks the debut of a new feature available exclusively to our live-tuning audience. (We've kept it on this YouTube episode so everybody can see it for the first time, but moving forward you'll only see it on the Real Talk Live Stream presented by California Closets.)

15:30 | Are you rattled, relieved, or "other" over the foreign interference final report? We welcome Mo Amir, host of This is VANCOLOUR, to tackle that story, Trump's tariffs, Pierre Poilievre's Hamas blast aimed at Anthony Housefather, and the awkward interaction between MPs Melissa Lantsman and Nathanial Erskine-Smith.

CHECK OUT MO'S SHOW: https://chekplus.ca/m/xPrh1pKc/this-is-vancolour?r=r1jM6cSC

1:20:30 | This new ice climbing wall in Jasper is UNREAL! We feature the new installation by Rockaboo Mountain Adventures in this week's #MyJasper Memories presented by our friends at Tourism Jasper.

PLAN YOUR JASPER GETAWAY: https://www.jasper.travel/

1:23:15 | Pierre Poilievre says Energy East might not be dead, and it might be time to get serious about lithium mining. Meantime, ICE agents are rounding up illegal migrants in the US. What does that mean for the US-Canada border? Jespo and Johnny open up the Real Talk Live Chat powered by Park Power.

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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.

Did you see those clowns flashing Nazi salutes in St. Albert over the weekend? What's the right way to respond when that happens in your community? Mayor Cathy Heron tells us where her head's at after the "Deport Them All" demonstrators were ushered away by RCMP.

But first...federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson (2:40) tells us what he thinks about Premier Danielle Smith's trips to the States, why he's endorsing Mark Carney for Canada's next P.M., and whether or not the feds would intervene to stop coal mining in Alberta's Eastern Slopes.

30:10 | Real Talker Kimberly and Mayor Cathy Heron respond to recent anti-immigration demonstrations in St. Albert.

48:00 | Did you catch Pierre Poilievre's plan to combat Trump's tariffs, and his thoughts on Mark Carney's plan to ditch the carbon tax? We take a look at his interview with CTV's Todd Battis.

1:13:30 | Peavey Mart is closing all it's locations?! Turns out Real Talkers are pretty big fans of the place. What other Canadian institutions do you miss? Leave a comment below!

1:18:10 | Real Talker Kathy says Alberta's at a breaking point. Ryan reads her email about our January 27 interview with High River Mayor Craig Snodgrass about coal.

WATCH THE SNODGRASS INTERVIEW: https://rtrj.info/012725Coal

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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.

Why on earth is Danielle Smith's government opening up the Eastern Slopes to coal mining again, when the majority of Albertans oppose it and the government makes next to nothing from it? In this episode, straight-shooting High River Mayor Craig Snodgrass (6:15) tells us why he opposes coal mining in the Rockies, and tells us about his ongoing conversations with Premier Danielle Smith and Energy Minister Brian Jean.

1:16:30 | Real Talkers have their say on the coal story, including an email from Kyle, a former coal miner.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com

1:37:20 | Our bucket is full after this email from Real Talker Lyndsi - a perfect fit for Positive Reflections presented by Kuby Energy.

SUBMIT YOUR POSITIVE REFLECTION: 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.

XXX

We've got today's top political stories teed up for Cheryl Oates and Erika Barootes, including Doug Ford's early election call, a lacklustre Liberal leadership race, Pierre Poilievre's "two genders" interview, and Danielle Smith's visit to D.C.

1:30 | But first...everybody's talking about what a great job our buddy Marty Jones did with Gene Principe during the January 23 Oilers broadcast! Jespo and Johnny recap our interview with the 99-year-old D-Day veteran in November.

MARTY JONES on REAL TALK: https://rtrj.info/111124MartyJones

JUNO BEACH CENTRE: https://www.junobeach.org/

9:45 | Erika and Cheryl get into Trump's tariff threats, Canada's military spending, and Danielle Smith's D.C. appearances. Is "lame duck" fair to describe the federal government (24:00), and is Mark Carney the next P.M.? Is Doug Ford right to call an early election (33:45)?

41:45 | If 80% of Albertans oppose coal mining in the Eastern Slopes, how can the UCP possibly defend it?

58:45 | What did you think of that Pierre Poilievre "two genders" moment during a CP24 interview?

1:11:45 | We're a week away from the Real Talk Pond Hockey Classic! Ryan and Johnny share a few details about the big day. Spectators are welcome between 9:30am-3:30pm Saturday, February 1 at Larry Olexiuk Field in St. Albert!

1:16:00 | Ryan throws Johnny under the bus for a cold-hearted comment.

1:19:00 | Tonie hated our interview with Western Standard founder Derek Fildebrandt, Anna Banana peels paint over Danielle Smith's trip to D.C., and KP's got "liberals, dippers, easterners, greenies, Jespo and Johnny" in his sights over "fake love for Canada". 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.

Ranchers, land owners, conservationists, and everyday Albertans are joining forces to protest the Alberta government re-opening the Eastern Slopes to coal mining. With more than 80% of Albertans opposed to these projects, how can the UCP justify lifting its ban on coal exploration?

5:00 | We talk to the Alberta Wilderness Association's Kennedy Halvorson about the history and ecological impacts of coal mining in Alberta, and the lobby against new mining in the Eastern Slopes.

AWA: https://albertawilderness.ca/

33:00 | Dr. Sarah Elmeligi, MLA for Banff-Kananaskis and Opposition Critic for Environment, Parks and Climate, talks about the politics around Alberta lifting its coal mining moratorium.

Real Talk's January 2021 interview with Robin Campbell: https://rtrj.info/011421Coal

1:10:00 | Real Talker Mario, a P.Eng. working for an oil company, explains why doubling Alberta's oil production is a "pipe dream".

1:04:20 | Real Talker Nancy explains how our January 22 episode led to a "significant moment in (her) life". Amazing.

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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.

Canada will look a whole lot different 50 years from now. Our claim to Arctic sovereignty is threatened, existing trade relationships will be forced to evolve, and our population is forecasted to explode (like it or not).

4:00 | Before we get into the future of Canada, Ryan opens this episode with a prayer...sort of. Did you hear Right Rev. Marianne Budde's message to Donald Trump at the inaugural prayer service?

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjspersen.com

7:00 | Dr. Thomas P.M. Barnett has advised the U.S. Department of Defence for decades. He talks to us about Trump's ambitions involving Canada, climate change opening up the Arctic, and demographic shifts fuelling public opinion.

READ THOMAS IN POLITICO: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/01/16/logic-trump-global-ambitions-canada-europe-greenland-00198656

38:00 | "What's with all the talk about white people?!" Jespo and Johnny dive into the Real Talk Live Chat powered by Park Power for your takes on what Thomas had to say.

55:45 | The town of Jasper is hosting a street party you won't want to miss for the final weekend of Jasper in January! We feature some of the upcoming highlights in this week's #MyJasper Memories presented by Tourism Jasper.

CHECK OUT JASPER in JANUARY: https://www.jasper.travel/january/

1:00:30 | The Alberta government quietly rescinded its coal mining moratorium as the world watched Donald Trump take the oath of office. We take a look at what it all means, and early pushback from environmental groups.

1:29:45 | Real Talkers Jenny and Caroline respond to our interview on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) with Garth La Beach a couple episodes ago.

WATCH GARTH'S FULL INTERVIEW: https://rtrj.info/011625Garth

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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.