Shows
Great Northern DiscussionsGND#38-Mayor or Bust: Sonya Sharp Claps Back!Sonya Sharp is running to be Mayor for the City of Calgary, after spending most of her adult life working her way up through the ranks at City Hall. This is her second appearance on the show, and last time she appeared she had yet to decide fully whether throw her hat into the ring or not. Calgary should be grateful she did. Sonya intends to RESCIND the Climate Emergency, previously declared by Jyoti Gondek, on Day 1. She regrets having voted in favor of the Notice of Motion and we dive further into that time. She also intends to...
2025-09-1653 min
Real Talk Ryan JespersenCalgary Election Insights // 3 Pinters Round TableVeteran news anchor Lynda Steele set off a firestorm when she called out Alberta conservatives in our September 4 episode. We lead with the loudest responses (3:10), before turning our attention to a wide-open mayoral race in Calgary. Later in the episode, crack a cold one with Jespo's basketball teammates who bring insights on craft beer, inter-provincial trade, and vibrant communities.
WATCH LYNDA on REAL TALK: https://rtrj.info/090425Lynda
15:00 | Jeremy Klaszus, founder and editor of The Sprawl, identifies Cowtown's number one election issue, and weighs in on the introduction of municipal political parties in Alberta. Real...
2025-09-051h 49
Great Northern DiscussionsGND#37 Jeff Davison-From Dictatorship to Democracy: A Mayoral ShowdownJeff Davison is running to be Mayor for the City of Calgary for the second time. He learned a ton from his first time "failure" and we speak on the importance of failure, both in life, and in business. One thing is for certain, he is NOT the same as current Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek. Jeff is an entrepreneur and currently serves as the CEO at the Prostate Cancer Centre, a respected Alberta-based health charity. In this role, Jeff leads efforts to provide men with comprehensive clinical support, education, and critical resources — helping them make informed decisions about their he...
2025-09-0153 minReal Talk Ryan JespersenTrudeau's Cabinet CollapsingTwo of Justin Trudeau's highest-profile cabinet ministers have jumped ship. Are we watching this government collapse in real time?
4:40 | (Now-former) Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is out, as is (now-former) Housing Minister Sean Fraser. Who and what is next? Ryan gets into it.
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com
32:20 | Sprawl Calgary founder/editor Jeremy Klaszus tells us a survival story of sorts, including his first-hand take on government subsidies for media. We dig into the province's updated plan for Calgary's Green Line LRT, and the three (and counting?) new political parties organizing ah...
2024-12-161h 34
SprawlcastThe Nuances Of NIMBYismAs the debate about blanket rezoning heats up in Calgary, we dig into the Sprawlcast vault for a deep-dive on NIMBYism. Full transcript on our website at sprawlcalgary.com.
2024-03-2332 min
astigpropagandaBald, 5'8" white dude with 2008 swagWe talk about the Stonetoss Comics artist getting doxxed, Nenshi running for the NDP leadership race and the chuds doing OT to redscare that candidacy, Zionists on Hinge, and the TikTok ban (briefly)
Stonetoss Story: https://accollective.noblogs.org/post/2024/03/12/stonetoss-redpanels/
Zionists on Hinge: https://www.thejc.com/news/features/im-just-a-zionist-looking-for-love-jsfhxzcr
CH Nenshi Op-Ed: https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/braid-naheed-nenshi-ucp-legislature-welcome-stalin
Jason Nixon on Sprawl: https://www.sprawlcalgary.com/jason-nixon-ascent-to-power
Join us on Patreon!
https://www.patreon.com/astigpropaganda
Free a...
2024-03-211h 23Real Talk Ryan JespersenCalgary’s New Arena Deal: Did the City Get Hosed?For nearly a decade, Calgarians have seen arena talks gain momentum, then fall apart. Then, just a short time ago, a deal. Approved by council in a unanimous vote with no public debate, the city will front more than $830M - more than three times what it agreed to in 2019 - while the Flames will kick in $40M.
2:40 | So, what changed? What prompted the about face from formerly-critical councillors like Courtney Walcott and Jasmine Mian? What does the agreement do to Calgary's bottom line? Jeremy Klaszus, founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Sprawl, takes us into the real c...
2023-10-171h 04Real Talk Ryan JespersenBattleground CalgaryThe 2023 Alberta provincial election will be won (or lost) in Calgary. Jeremy Klaszus (0:55) has his finger on that city's pulse, as editor-in-chief of The Sprawl. He digs into what'll matter to voters in May, whether or not Calgary has an insecurity issue, the slow wither of the Calgary Herald, and the likelihood of a new arena anytime soon.
SUPPORT THE SPRAWL: https://www.sprawlcalgary.com/
32:54 | Nobody does Casual Friday quite like Donovan Workun, Mark Meer, and Chris Borger. Leaping out of the gates with dog shit jokes, the trio behind March Improv Madness sets the...
2023-02-171h 07
The Morning Brew with Andrew SchultzMWSA DEC 9 , 2022This week Canada's big city Mayors met in Ottawa, including our own Jyoti Gondek. We catch up with the Mayor for details on what was discussed at the annual Caucus. According to a recent article on “Sprawlcalgary.com”, Calgary Transit’s recent issues when it comes to passenger safety is just the ‘tip of the iceberg’. We catch up with Jeremy Klaszus, Editor-in-Chief for “The Sprawl” who points to major issues with our Transit system beginning years ago. WNBA Superstar Britney Griner is back on US soil as of Friday, after a controversial ‘...
2022-12-0930 min
Archives & Things10 | BONUS: Your Questions AnsweredSummary:
It's the last episode of the year. In this bonus episode, I answer questions from you, the listener. The following are the submitted questions:
Q1: Can you talk a little bit about why it's important to document and preserve racist history & archival records?
Q2: Is there an extent to which archive-holding institutions need to do a better job of supporting archivists (e.g., mental health supports), and particularly BIPOC archivists, who may be working with these materials?
Q3: In your own training, were there courses that dealt with the topic o...
2022-12-0312 min
Civically Speaking Podcast with Host, Lenore Swystun and Co-Host, Christina Cherneskey2022.11.29 Civically Speaking - Collaboration, Civic Dialogue, Community Benefit Agreements and Arenas with Urban Planner, Eric WestbergSend us a textDear Listeners,Thanks for tuning in to listen to Civically Speaking - the podcast version. Together with my co-host, Christina Cherneskey, we have a discussion with urban planner, Eric Westberg, about collaboration, civic dialogue, and community benefit agreements - in light of Saskatoon's proposed new downtown Civic Arena District.Thanks Eric for joining the show. Lots of learnings. Including a a few links Eric shares to help you dive in a bit more on a number of related and interconnected topics.The Basics of Community Benefit Agr...
2022-11-3056 minSprawlcastThe Case For Zoning ReformZoning shapes our lives. But for many of us, this powerful tool remains hidden and confusing. Jeremy Klaszus speaks with Sara Bronin, a Cornell University professor and director of the National Zoning Atlas in the U.S., about why zoning matters—and how to better understand it.
This episode begins with a quick crash course on the history of zoning in Calgary:
—How zoning bylaws were created in the 1930s to protect property values
—How Calgary's growth pattern was established in the 1950s, then entrenched
—How city hall shied away from changing zoning in the '60s and '70s, instead...
2022-10-0832 minSprawlcastMore Albertans Who Are LeavingMark Jeffery moved to Manitoba after being squeezed economically out of Calgary, and former NDP cabinet minister Shaye Anderson moved to Vancouver Island after the UCP took power. Hadeel Abdel-Nabi spoke with each about why they left, where Alberta is headed, and what would need to change for them to return.
Support independent Alberta journalism! Become a member at sprawlcalgary.com
2021-02-1349 minSprawlcastThe Longest Playground Zone in CalgaryIn the fall of 1990, drivers hit three pedestrians on Elbow Drive in the span of a week—including a seven-year-old boy. It ignited a decades-old debate about speed limits and led city hall to create a long and contentious playground zone. We tracked down the boy's parents, and a former community organizer, to learn what happened.
Support independent Alberta journalism! Sign up as a Sprawl member at sprawlcalgary.com.
2021-01-3035 min
The Domestic Yak#6 BTB Jason Kenney Special Part 2On this special we overview Jason Kenney's first real job and his subsequent foray into politics. We go over Kenney's sumple wumple and his entry into the political boy band The Snack Pack (one c in Snack). Stay tuned for the next iteration into Alberta's least favorite Premier.
Sources:
https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/a-jason-kenney-alberta
https://twitter.com/paulisci/status/1117542448090079233/photo/1
https://www.sprawlcalgary.com/the-young-zealot-part-2
https://pastebin.com/BRDMSBmR
2020-12-2337 min
The Domestic Yak#4 BTB Jason Kenney Special Part 1Behind the Bastards style deep dive on Alberta Premier, Jason Kenney. Shoutout to Robert Evans. <3
Join Ajax as he listens to a well researched book report by Eddy. *Paint by numbers narrative storybook sold separately*
Sources:
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/jason-kenney
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/athol-murray-college-of-notre-dame
https://thewalrus.ca/true-blue/
https://www.utpjournals.press/doi/pdf/10.3138/cbmh.26.2.527
https://www.sprawlcalgary.com/the-young-zealot-part-1
2020-12-1459 minSprawlcastThe Freest Province in CanadaAs COVID-19 cases surge in Alberta, Kenney doubles down on "personal responsibility"—ignoring doctors and echoing the rhetoric of Republican governors in the U.S.
Call 587-885-3139 to share why you support The Sprawl. If you're not a member yet, join at sprawlcalgary.com!
2020-11-2132 minSprawlcastHere We Go Again: Calgary Developers Push for MoreCalgary has an oversupply of housing and a budget crunch. But developers are lobbying hard to build another batch of costly communities on the city's outskirts.
Become a Sprawl member today! sprawlcalgary.com
2020-10-3029 minSprawlcastThe Silence of Jason KenneyWhy has Alberta's premier been so quiet on racism? We hear from the Black and Indigenous Alliance, among others. Featuring an interview with Heather Campbell, co-chair of the Alberta Anti-Racism Advisory Council.
Help the Sprawl hire another journalist by signing up as a Sprawler—and we'll send you our new zine! Sign up at sprawlcalgary.com.
2020-10-1031 minSprawlcastThe Albertans Who Are LeavingAfter a year and a half of UCP rule, some Albertans are choosing to leave the province and build their lives elsewhere. Hadeel Abdel-Nabi sits down with Dr. Tehseen Ladha, an Edmonton pediatrician, to find out why she's eying the exits. Hadeel also shares why her friend, Adeel Khan, is leaving.
Become a Sprawl member today to support independent Alberta journalism! Sign up at sprawlcalgary.com.
2020-09-1229 minSprawlcastThis Is A Park For EverybodyAs Alberta's UCP government reviews supervised consumption sites, we look at what these places mean for the people who live in and around them. Full transcript at www.sprawlcalgary.com.
2019-09-0643 min
Unpacking the NewsJason Kenney's Twisted Political LegacyIn the lead up to Alberta's April 16th election, Stephen Magusiak of 'The Alberta Advantage' podcast joins host Andre Goulet to explore (likely future Premier) Jason Kenney’s twisted past as a far-right campus activist in the United States.Plus: cataloguing the extremist political views of many of Kenney's United Conservative Party candidates and assessing the successes and failures of the last 4 years of NDP government under Premier Rachel Notley.This conversation was recorded on April 5th, 2019.Taylor Lambert's piece is at: https://www.sprawlcalgary.com/the-young-zealot-part-1Find out more about Jason Ke...
2019-04-0836 min
Hangarcat Podcast012 SprawlCalgary | #yycvoteTalking with Jeremy Klaszus from @SprawlCalgary about his new independent news bureau. Pop up journalism from Calgary AB Canada. On the eve of the Mayoral Election.
2017-10-1704 min