Episode 11: The Budnarchuks

Episode 11: The Budnarchuks

As a finale for Audreys Books' Golden Anniversary, Bree interviews Steve and Sharon Budnarchuk, the proud owners of the store, and their daughter and general manager, Kelly Dyer. Listen to their discussion on the origins of Audreys, the trials of independant bookselling both past and present, what the future may hold, and how they've served their community for the past 50 years.

Episode 10: The CrW

In this episode, Bree interviews two executives from the University of Alberta's Creative Writing Club [https://www.thecrw.club/]: President Sam (he/she/they) and VP Communications Breanne (she/they). The CrW provides a social space for writers from all walks of life looking for a place to write, critique, and share their work with other students on campus. The club publishes an annual anthology [https://audreys.ca/browse/filter/k/author/t/Creative%20Writing%20Club] that's written, edited, and produced by student and alumni volunteers. Listen to their discussion about the club's online reinvigoration [https://www.instagram.com/thecrwuofa/?hl=en], the creation of their newest upcoming anthology, and how the club is fostering a welcoming enviroment for student writers.

Episode 09: Chyana Marie Sage

Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day! In this episode, Bree interviews Chyana Marie Sage [https://chyanamariesage.com/] (she/her), a Cree, Métis, and Salish memoirist, journalist [https://www.huffpost.com/author/chyana-marie-sage], essayist, poet, content creator, public speaker, creative writing teacher, mentor, and screenwriter. Her essay "Soar [https://nmafpublic.s3.amazonaws.com/files/2021/256/1642006260899-Soar---Chyana-Marie-Sage---Personal-Journalism.pdf]" won first place in the 2021 Edna Staebler Essay Contest [https://tnq.ca/the-2021-edna-staebler-personal-essay-contest-results/], and then won the Silver Medal in the National Magazine Awards. Her debut memoir, SOFT AS BONES [https://www.audreys.ca/item/temoIPlhFAidq8S_8vUqOw] (2025), examines intergenerational trauma, hope, and healing. Listen for their conversation about the narrative structure of water, the process of writing memoir, and tales from Chyana's storied career since moving away from Edmonton.

Episode 08: Lisa Martin

In this episode, Bree interviews Lisa Martin [https://www.instagram.com/stillecstatic/] (she/her): author of A STORY CAN BE TOLD ABOUT PAIN [https://www.audreys.ca/item/s55Ya9REjhDE2onl519wqA] (2025), BELIEVING IS NOT THE SAME AS BEING SAVED [https://www.audreys.ca/item/QBQXhdlgipRtROgjQVldCg] (2017), ONE CROW SORROW [https://www.audreys.ca/item/Su7vdElJ3aGasY35NcDCHw] (2008), and the scholarly CREATIVE WRITING IN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION [https://www.audreys.ca/item/qebkWkmg5fAVQUnig-8NHQ] (2025). She also co-edited HOW TO EXPECT WHAT YOU'RE NOT EXPECTING [https://www.audreys.ca/item/3xwN0QWPW-W53vlFXvJU9g] (2013), a collection of essays on parenthood, pregnancy, and loss. Lisa is an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at MacEwan University, and her work has won a National Magazine Award for Personal Journalism and the Stephan G. Stephansson Award for Poetry. She was a finalist for the Robert Kroetsch City of Edmonton Book Prize in 2018. Together they discuss the launch of Lisa's latest work, themes of dereliction and reclaimation, teaching creative writing, and the 19 year journey to create this novel.

Episode 07: Alice Major & Steve Pirot

Happy National Poetry Month! To celebrate the season and the 20th Anniversary of the Edmonton Poetry Festival [https://edmontonpoetryfestival.com], Bree interviews poets Alice Major [https://www.alicemajor.com/] (she/her) and Steve Pirot [https://www.edmontonarts.ca/blog/i-am-yeg-arts-series-steve-pirot] (he/him). Alice is the author of 12 poetry collections, was Edmonton's first poet laureate, and founded the Edmonton Poetry Festival. Steve (aka Unkl Stiv) has worked with Arts Festivals, including The Nextfest Arts Company, for over 30 years, has been active in Edmonton's poetry scene for 15 years, and is currently the executive director of the Edmonton Poetry Festival. Together, they converse about the Festival's beginnings, its challenges, its evolutions, what we can look forward to this year, and how poetry brings community together.