Real Talk with Michelle Budiwski

Real Talk Episode 26-13: The Hidden Accelerator – Reimagining Continuing Education as a Catalyst for Growth and Sustainability In this special episode of Real Talk, Michelle Budiwski shares an adapted recording of her presentation delivered at the 2026 Canadian Association for University Continuing Education (CAUCE) Conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in...

🎙️ REAL TALK with Colin & Michelle — Episode 82 📅 Originally aired March 22 on Island Radio 101.3FM, Amherst Island, CJAI.CA | 🎧 Podcast drops March 31 This week, we take a harder look at political accountability — and the real-world consequences when leadership falls short. From decisions made by Doug Ford to the broader impact of toxic political culture, this episode connects the dots betw...

Politics in Canada is getting loud… but is anyone actually paying attention to the facts? In this episode of Real Talk with Colin and Michelle, originally aired on Amherst Island Radio on March 15, Colin and Michelle break down the controversy around federal MPs crossing the floor to join the Liberal Party of Canada under Mark Carney. Conservatives are calling it corruption. But history tells a ve...

Welcome to REAL TALK — the place for honest conversations about the issues that matter, even when they’re uncomfortable. Today’s episode is different. It’s heavier. And it’s important. Earlier this month, on March 8th, during our live show on Amherst Island Radio, Colin and I had a conversation that started with my own experience being stalked and harassed online. But very quickly, it became somet...

Join Colin and Michelle for some Real Talk on the importance of vaccines, the privilege of vacations and how navigating life after cancer and a permanent ostomy impacts things like travel and how important it is to advocate for early canv=cer screening.   Recorded on February 8th and released on Amherst Island radio on February 15.   Join the conversation follow Michelle on Facebook! @MBudiwski

Welcome to Real Talk — I’m Michelle Budiwski, and with me is Colin Sundaynight. We’re thrilled to be back together again for our original radio show airing Sunday nights at 7 pm EST on Amherst Island Radio — reunions like this remind us why we started Real Talk in the first place: raw, unfiltered, heartfelt conversations about the world we’re living in. Today’s episode was originally broadcast on...

REAL TALK – Episode 25-12 Community Policing & Fear-Based Politics with Dr. Chris Schneider   I was genuinely honoured to sit down with Dr. Chris Schneider of Brandon University — a leading sociologist, acclaimed author, and expert on policing and public perception. His depth of knowledge and decades of research have shaped how we understand community policing, accountability, and the role of...

REAL TALK Episode 25-11 | October 19, 2025 Twenty-five years ago today, I woke up in a hospital after a suicide attempt and began detoxing from the narcotics and opioids that were killing me. I’ve been drug-free ever since. That hospital stay saved my life — because they had the capacity, staff, and time to keep me safe until I was no longer a danger to myself. Sadly, in 2025, that same level of c...

Political violence. Open bigotry. Racism. Hate. Lies from leaders. Silence from those elected to protect us. People in our own communities living in fear.   It’s tempting to turn away—to bury our heads, to hope it’ll pass. But silence has never stopped hate. It didn’t work in history, and it won’t work now.   The truth is: the loudest voices of division don’t speak for the majority. They’re a scar...

On October 16, 2025 the City of Brandon will choose its newest Trustee for the Brandon School Division. Too often school board elections are ignored with some of the poorest voter turnout amongst all elections in Canada and yet these are the people who directly impact the lives and education of our most vulnerable sector, our children. School boards across Canada have been under attack in the pas...

On October 16, 2025 the City of Brandon will choose its newest Trustee for the Brandon School Division. Too often school board elections are ignored with some of the poorest voter turnout amongst all elections in Canada and yet these are the people who directly impact the lives and education of our most vulnerable sector, our children.   School boards across Canada have been under attack in the pa...

Politics shouldn't just be a conversation during elections. Politics and governments impact absolutely every aspect of our lives in some way and we need to understand how they work, how they are formed and what role we play in our government at every level. For this non-partisan discussion on Canadian politics, parties and the responsibilities of voters, I am joined by Chris Hunt - an expert in al...

On Aug 22, Brandon Sun columnist Deveryn Ross wrote: “Social media is a window into the character of a candidate...” 👀 Today, I sat down with Ted Dzogan, PC Party member (and former rival to Grant Jackson for the Sprucewoods nomination), for a raw conversation about how we got here: a by-election in what was supposed to be a PC stronghold. Why does it matter? Because their current candidate, Coll...

Sprucewoods has never elected anyone but a Conservative. Around here, it’s known as a “dead dog” riding — meaning the party could run a sign on a corpse and still win. And because they’ve never had to fight for your vote, we’ve often been ignored. Even with a PC MLA in a PC majority government, we saw little investment in health care, infrastructure, or economic development. But since 2023, that’s...

From the moment a colonoscopy revealed my rectal tumor to the day surgeons removed it—leaving me cancer-free and living with a permanent ostomy—exactly 7 months and 9 days passed. At first glance, that timeline might sound long. “Diagnosed in August, surgery in March?” It’s easy to jump to frustration or blame Manitoba’s health system. But let me be clear: I wasn’t just waiting. I was preparing. M...

In 2020 I released my first book - Butterfly Dreams - Poetry of Hope and Recovery - an autobiographical journey through my own battle with mental illness, addiction and recovery. In honor of Borderline Personality Awareness Month this May, I am releasing my book for free, one chapter at a time to help raise awareness for BPD and those still fighting their own battles. Where there is breath, there...

In 2020 I released my first book - Butterfly Dreams - Poetry of Hope and Recovery - an autobiographical journey through my own battle with mental illness, addiction and recovery. In honor of Borderline Personality Awareness Month this May, I am releasing my book for free, one chapter at a time to help raise awareness for BPD and those still fighting their own battles. Where there is breath, there...

Our family has been homeschooling here in Manitoba since 2020 - not for political or religious reasons but because we started during covid and found that it just worked for us. Now there is no turning back! The kids were in Kindergarten, grade 3 and grade 9 when Covid happened and chose not to return to the public school system. Now, they are working on finishing Grade 5, 8 and one just finished t...

On this week's episode of Real Talk, we're talking 💩 — or more accurately, why so many people don’t want to talk about it. This week, I’m joined by the amazing Randy Daley in Dauphin, Manitoba. Randy has been living with a permanent colostomy for 4 years due to Crohn’s and Colitis, and he’s been an incredible mentor and support to me—especially leading up to my own surgery to remove stage 3 cance...

When was the last time you heard a political candidate speak for 30 straight minutes without slamming, blaming, or even mentioning the opposition? Not once. When was the last time a candidate spoke—really spoke—about feeling a genuine duty to step up and serve, using their knowledge and lived experiences to support their community? If your answer is “never,” well… buckle up. Because today is the d...

While our live stream Weekly Round Up with Colin and Michelle had some technical difficulties (OK - I had some difficulties), it didn't stop Colin Sundaynight and I from jumping on a call and recording our conversation to share with you! It wasn't live but it is raw, unedited and as usual, entertaining! From what I would do if I had a time machine, DR. Oz being placed in charge of the US Medicare,...

By definition, mothers, mother. We take care of everyone and often forget to take care of ourselves. This 30 minute guided meditation with help you reset, recharge and keep on going with new energy and inner peace. You deserve 30 minutes to yourself. Find a comfortable seat and let me guide you!

We all have a voice inside of our heads, you know the one... sometimes it encourages us to expand our experiences, take chances and live with pure joy. Unfortunately it also (far too often) stops us in our tracks with the BUTs... but what if, but what about? BUT BUT BUT It's time to shut your BUT and take control of your life, living it to the fullest! Recorded in 2020!!!

The relationships we have with others are directly impacted by our relationship with ourselves. We cannot begin to truly love others until we love ourselves. Sit back, relax and let me guide you into a space of self love and acceptance.

Originally recorded on October 19, 2020 as Michelle celebrates twenty years free of opioids and narcotics, she shares her message of hope for those struggling with metal health and addiction.