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Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe — Society & Culture
Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe

Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe welcomes listeners into the warm and comforting world of the Vinyl Cafe. Each episode features stories about Canada’s favourite fictional family: Dave, Morley and the kids, narrated by the late Stuart McLean and recorded live in concert. For the first time ever, long-time producer Jess Milton shares rare, behind-the-scenes stories from her 15 years touring, travelling, laughing, and recording with her close friend Stuart.

This is a world that is rooted in kindness, connection, and the laughter of recognition. A world that brings people together to rejoice in our ridiculousness. A world where we celebrate the small triumphs over the adversities of the everyday: like trying to find the perfect gift for someone you love, or the first Christmas without your sister; like trying to stage manage the school Christmas pageant, or trying to defrost a turkey with a hairdryer (we’ve all done that, right?).

Join us. New episodes every Friday.

www.vinylcafe.com

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Copyright: © Apostrophe Podcast Network

Latest Episodes:

Home - Rendi & Fire at the Old Town Hall Nov 01, 2024

“How can you deny an old man his dying wish?”

This week’s episode is all about the powerful pull of home. We start with a story about Dave’s neighbours Eugene and Maria and their longing for their hometown of Rendi. And in our second story, an event in Dave’s Big Narrows brings back a cascade of memories.

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Myths and Magic – The Mermaid and Other Mysteries & Hello, Monster Oct 25, 2024

“It was one of those moments that make you wonder if your life is cursed.”

In this week’s episode, two stories of a mystical flavour, with mysterious encounters for both Stephanie and Dave.

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In Over Your Head - Dave and the Cell Phone & Dave Goes Babysitting Oct 18, 2024

“How was Dave supposed to know the Madden kids were all lactose intolerant.”

Today on the pod, two stories where Dave bites off more than he can chew. In the first he babysits a cell phone that is left in the store; in the second he attempts to babysit some neighbourhood kids, with hilarious consequences.

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The Arthurs Oct 11, 2024

Our Thanksgiving tradition: The Arthur Awards! Two more of our favourite Vinyl Cafe Arthur Awards.

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Listen Carefully - Music Lessons & Rock of Ages Oct 04, 2024

“The day Annie began violin lessons was the most exciting day of her life."

This week’s episode is all about music. It was such an integral part of both the radio show and the touring show. We have two music stories for you today. The first story is about the trials and tribulations of music lessons. In the second, a departed friend is celebrated in song. You’ll even briefly hear Stuart’s dulcet tones as he sings along!

For more information about the sound sculpture Forty-Part Motet see https://www.gallery.ca/whats-on/exhibitions-and-galleries/janet-cardiff-forty-part-motet-2

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Gone to the Dogs - Le Morte D’Arthur Sep 27, 2024

“He was a great dog.”

Today on the podcast, two stories about dogs – one of my favourite subjects! The first is about Dave’s two dogs: Scout and, of course, Arthur. The second is a listener story about a remarkably faithful friend.

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Change - Stephanie Goes to University & Carl’s Retirement Sep 20, 2024

“Carl didn’t want to retire.”

Today on the podcast, two stories about embracing change. Dave’s neighbour Carl Lowbeer (and his wife Gerda) get to grips with a major change in their lives: retirement! And Stephanie starts her new life at university.

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The Congregation of Adults - Sam’s Predictions Sep 13, 2024

“I made predictions. They are all coming true.”

This week, we’re talking about kids and independence. In our story, Sam gets guidance from an unexpected source: a fortune teller named Madame Nina. And we have a very special script: about trust, and hope, and goodness.

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Dave Goes Back to School - Dave Gives a Speech & Planet Boy Sep 06, 2024

“He came downstairs in a Grateful Dead t-shirt and a pair of bell bottoms.”

Welcome back for Season 4 of Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe! This week, two stories about school: Dave gets nervous about presenting to a class at university; while Sam and Murphy go to their first school dance.

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Season 4 – Starting September 6th Aug 30, 2024

We’re so excited to be back next week with Season 04 of Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe. Join us for hilarious Vinyl Cafe stories and inspiring scripts by Stuart McLean. Here's a sneak peek...

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Bonus Episode: The Boy Who Went Over the Falls Aug 16, 2024

In this bonus episode you’ll hear my conversation with Roger Woodward, the boy who went over the falls. You loved hearing his remarkable story in our Niagara Falls episode (back in October 2023) and wanted to hear more. Roger and I had a great time catching up and I learned so much more about that momentous day.

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Bonus Episode: Bloopers II Jul 19, 2024

By popular request, for our first bonus episode of season 3, this is part II of Stuart and I in studio, back in 2011, talking - and laughing - about some of his most hilarious bloopers.

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Summertime - Mexican Climbing Mint & Summer of Stars Jun 21, 2024

“There is nothing like a neighbour throwing money about their garden to make you feel bad about yours.”

It's summer all the way on this week’s episode. In our first story, Mary Turlington unwittingly trips off a chain of events that get heated under the summer sun. And in the second, Sam and Murphy have the summer of a lifetime in Big Narrows, Cape Breton.

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Sam - Boy Wanted Jun 14, 2024

“It was Sam’s first year in high school. And it was not going well.”

Sam’s turn this week: We have a story about Sam’s first job and about finding his passion. Plus, an essay from Stuart McLean about his first jobs. Including his life-changing experience at summer camp.

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Stephanie - Steph’s Statistics Exam & In the Weeds Jun 07, 2024

“How bad could it be? Statistics. That’s how bad it could be.”

This week, two stories about Dave and Morley’s daughter, Stephanie – Stephanie at school and at work. Jess talks about Stuart’s goals in writing those stories and what they show us about success … and failure.

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Road Trip! - Cat in the Car May 31, 2024

“Whenever the cat is around, things seem to go wrong.”

This week, Dave discovers a stowaway on the family road trip, with hilarious consequences. And Jess shares two more of Stuart McLean’s Postcards from Canada: from St John’s, NFLD in the east and Powell River, B.C. in the west.

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Kindness - Wally May 24, 2024

“Not everyone in the world is cut out to be a school janitor.”

We’re full of the milk of human kindness on this week’s podcast. We play Stuart’s heartwarming interview with one of our favourite Arthur Award winners and Jess awards an Arthur of her own – to a Vinyl Cafe character! Plus, a Dave and Morley story that you may not have heard before.

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The Promise of Summer - The Man Who Punched Trees & Rosemary Honey May 17, 2024

“A hive of bees is like a harvest kitchen. They gather up the summer: the heat of the sun, the warmth of the rain…”

This week on the podcast, two Stuart McLean stories to whet your appetite for summer. In the first, Dave remembers an incredible woodland encounter from his youth in Cape Breton; in the second, Eugene puts Sam and Murphy on the trail of a bee line.

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Bucking Bronco (aka Mother’s Day) - Sam’s Underwear & Harrison Ford’s Toes May 10, 2024

“It started like a sprint. One moment you were standing still, and the next you were running as fast as you could.”

Hold on tight! On today’s show, in time for Mother’s Day, two Vinyl Cafe stories about motherhood. And Jess shares a backstory about her own experiences – cue the bucking bronco!

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Food Glorious Food - No Tax on Truffles May 03, 2024

“It says it’s one of the most wonderful tastes in the world.”

It’s a gastronomical episode of the podcast today. Stuart loved writing about his favourite foods – both in fiction and non-fiction – and Jess has gathered some great examples of both for today’s show. Plus a hilariously endearing story about Sam’s first passion.

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The Cricket - The Cricket & I Need to Pee Apr 26, 2024

“He’s not well, Stuart.”

We’re going way back today with two pieces from pre-Vinyl Cafe days! One is a favourite you’ve been requesting, back from Stuart McLean’s regular appearances on Peter Gzowski’s Morningside. (Spoiler alert: You’ll see what happens when two presenters get the giggles on live radio.)

Excerpt from Morningside reproduced by permission of CBC Licensing.

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The Alchemy of Audience - Dad is Dying & Odd Jobs Apr 19, 2024

“There are only so many holes a man can cut in his own house before he is told to stop.”

Today on the show, two classic Stuart McLean stories, including Odd Jobs. That’s the one where Dave tries his hand at some home renovations, with hilarious consequences. And Jess has a backstory about the magic of Vinyl Cafe audiences.

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Spring – The Fish Head Apr 12, 2024

“I guess I figured having a fish head could come in handy.”

On this week’s episode Stuart celebrates the joys of birding and the Spring bird migration. And we have two springy stories, including a favourite from the Vinyl Cafe story exchange. To submit your short, true story to the Story Exchange, send it to vinylcafe@vinylcafe.com.

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Marriage - Dave and the Duck & Margaret Gets Married Apr 05, 2024

“There is nothing like a wedding to addle people’s minds.”

Today on the pod we have two hilarious stories about marriage and proposal. In the first, Dave loses his wedding ring and fears it may have been swallowed by a duck! In the second, Dave’s mom Margaret surprises everyone by agreeing to marry again. And Jess shares her own experience of wedding rings and proposal.

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Seeds of Hope - The Fig Tree & Morley’s Garden Mar 29, 2024

“Eugene’s fig tree is the best-known tree in the neighbourhood.”

We’re all about gardening on the podcast this week, with two Dave and Morley stories about the act of faith and hope that goes into creating a garden.

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What’s in a Name? - Skunks Mar 22, 2024

“It was 4:30 in the morning and Dave was having a nightmare about something that smelled bad.”

On today’s episode we have a fragrant story from way back. And Jess chats in studio with Stuart’s old friends David and Elizabeth, who share how Morley got her name—and surprise Jess with some entertaining backstories of their own!

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Sap’s Running! - Dave Makes Maple Syrup Mar 15, 2024

“It is the best maple syrup I have ever had, said Sam.”

We’re celebrating one of the wonders of spring on the pod this week: Stuart waxes lyrical about his favourite tipple, maple syrup, then tells a story about the time Dave tried to make his own.

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The Wisdom of Children - Annie’s Turn & Dave and the Roller Coaster Mar 08, 2024

“The kids were always up to something in the Narrows.”

This week’s episode is all about kids and what we can learn from them. The first story relates an adventure from when Dave was a boy. In the second, Dave’s adventures continue, with a little help from his son Sam.

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Literary Structures - Dave’s Inferno & Labour Pains Mar 01, 2024

“By the end of the first trimester, Dave had put on 12lbs.”

A surprising theme links our two stories this week. In the first, Dave has a hellish trip to the grocery store—and Jess has a backstory about what shopping with Stuart was really like. Our second story takes us back to the early days of Dave and Morley’s relationship, when Morley is pregnant with their first child.

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Trapped - Rat-a-tat-tat & Dave Buys a Coffin Feb 23, 2024

"He was about to climb in—just for a second, just to see…"

Poor Dave gets himself into some tight situations in both this week’s stories. And Jess explores the snapshots of detail that enrich them.

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The Glide - The Greatest Hockey Game Ever Played Feb 16, 2024

“'They tried to stop us,' says the old man. 'But we kept playing.'”

More about the joy of winter sports on this week’s pod. Including Stuart’s ode to skating from Jasper, Alberta. And a beautiful Big Narrows story about a memorable game of hockey from long ago.

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Valentine’s Day - Holland Feb 09, 2024

“It was the greatest skate of her life.”

Love is in the air today on the pod, with a Dave and Morley origin story—the one about how they first met. For our second story, we’re bringing back the Vinyl Cafe Story Exchange, with one of our favourite listener love stories.

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Occupational Hazards - Kenny Wong and the Tank of Tranquility & Tree Planting Feb 02, 2024

“The secret to planting more trees, is to plant more trees.”

We have two hilarious Vinyl Cafe stories for you on today’s pod. Stories of things that happen at work. In the first, Kenny helps Dave out with something at the store. In our second story, Steph experiences a summer job like no other. And Jess digs into the research process behind the stories.

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Stories Ahead of Their Time - Toilet Training the Cat & Dave Versus the Flu Jan 26, 2024

"Galway began flushing the toilet again in the autumn…"

This week, two Dave and Morley stories that, in hindsight, seem strangely prescient. In the first, a fan favourite, Dave decides to teach Galway the cat a new skill. The second is a story that we haven’t felt comfortable playing in a long time. Jess explains why.

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Analog Dave - The Phone Message & The Razor’s Edge Jan 19, 2024

"It began simply enough. It began with a phone call."

On today’s episode, two stories about technical difficulties. In our first story, Dave attempts an inventive solution to an ill-considered phone message left for the Turlingtons. In our second, an electric razor causes him problems at the airport. And Jess shares some stories about Stuart’s habits with phones …and airports.

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I Resolve To… Jan 12, 2024

I resolve to organize upstairs.

Welcome back for Season 3 of Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe! We’re embracing the spirit of the New Year with a show all about resolutions and lists and getting things done. We start with an essay about Stuart’s fraught relationship with his to do list. And Jess has a backstory about her own relationship to lists and resolutions, and how that informed today’s Dave and Morley story.

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Season 3 - Starting January 12th Jan 05, 2024

A New Year = A New Season of Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe! So join us next week for Episode 1. Hilarious stories by Stuart McLean. Entertaining backstories and more by host Jess Milton. Here's a sneak peek...

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A Perfect, Imperfect Christmas - Christmas at the Turlingtons’ & Christmas on the Road Dec 22, 2023

“Family and friends, they sure mess up our lives…”

For our final episode of this season, two classic Vinyl Cafe Christmas stories by Stuart McLean. Dave tries to make himself useful at Mary Turlington’s festive dinner party, with disastrous consequences. In our second story, the family experiences a very different kind of Christmas, special in its own way.

And Jess realizes a surprising theme that links these two fan favourites…something that she hopes will help her unlock the spirit of the season.

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May Contain Gravel - Rashida & Amir and the Great Gift-Giving & Polly Anderson’s Christmas Party Dec 15, 2023

“Come and get me, copper!”

We’ve got to know Dave and Morley’s neighbours well over the years. This week, two stories about the neighbourhood at Christmas. Holiday gift-giving gets a bit out of hand in our first story, while a punchbowl mix-up livens up the party (for some) in our second.

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Christmas Presents - Christmas Presents & Christmas in the Narrows Dec 08, 2023

“I was thinking it would be fun if we made presents for each other this year”

What’s the best gift you have ever received? On today’s podcast, Jess shares the surprising truth about her favourite gift, ever. Accompanied by two hilarious Dave and Morley stories about Christmas gifts and gift-giving.

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The Turkey Story - Dave Cooks the Turkey & Dave on the Roof Dec 01, 2023

“Did you take the turkey out of the freezer?”

Today is the day Dave Cooks the Turkey! Jess tells us why it gives her such pleasure to say those words on the pod today and plays the beloved turkey story that has become a Christmas tradition for so many. Also on today’s episode more of Dave’s festive shenanigans – in another hilarious story from the very first Vinyl Cafe concert.

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Sounds Like… - Jim & Molly the Cat Nov 24, 2023

“Jim never had any intention of having any pets at all”

To be fair to the other household critters (and no, we’re not talking about headlice again!), last week was dogs, so today we have a story about cats. One of our favourite characters, Jim Scoffield, finds a new friend while caring for his cat Molly. And Jess gets into some of the practical and technical aspects of being out on the road with the Vinyl Cafe, recording 60-80 concerts a year.

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Doggone It! - Stanley & Arthur Takes the Cake Nov 17, 2023

“You know how loud he snores? Ninety decibels. That’s the equivalent of sleeping beside a pneumatic drill.”

This week, two stories about dogs. Oh how we love them! Even if, like Stanley, they snore and have – um – “digestive problems”, or if, like Arthur, they add a whole new level of challenge to Dave and Morley’s important dinner party. Jess shares a backstory about the very early days of the show and how Stuart recorded some of his first stories.

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Remembrance Day Nov 10, 2023

“There’s something about the ghosts who live in the house where you live. Some kind of an inexpressible pull between the people who have lived and loved under the same roof as you have.”

Today, a Dave and Morley story that is seldom heard: a story about place, about history, and about remembering and sharing those histories with the next generation. Also, we play one of our (and your) favourite Story Exchanges: about the bagpiper at Vimy Ridge.

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Finding Beauty - Dave and Tommy & Murphy Kruger, Philatelist Nov 03, 2023

“Our daughter is living with a man who takes pictures of roadkill!”

We’re dealing with difficult and weighty matters on this week’s episode. Yes, this week is all about art and beauty. Dave is slightly perturbed and not a little afraid to receive an invite to an art exhibit about roadkill. The artist is his daughter’s boyfriend, Tommy.

And Jess shares a backstory about Stuart’s favourite handy hint for handling difficult conversations; and how her attempt to follow that advice nearly ended badly.

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After Dark - Halloween & Fireworks Oct 27, 2023

“Let me state the case for Hallowe’en”

The nights are getting longer, the air is getting colder, so this week on the pod, two stories about the season and about finding light in the darkness. In Halloween, Steph learns to trust her instincts (while Dave learns that a painted watermelon will never be a satisfactory replacement for a pumpkin); and in Fireworks, Sam and Dave are mesmerized by a truck load of contraband.

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Niagara Falls Oct 20, 2023

“He was eye level with the falls…”

This week on the show, something different. We’re playing one of Stuart McLean’s most requested stories and you might be surprised to hear it is not a Dave and Morley story. This week: the amazing and moving story of Roger Woodward, the boy who went over Niagara Falls. We play new music (that’s right – music!) by Danny Michel that is inspired by this Niagara story and share Jess and Danny’s conversation about music, waterfalls, life on tour with the Vinyl Cafe (and lots more in between!)

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The Truth is Stranger than Fiction - Shirts & Dave Crosses the Border Oct 13, 2023

“That afternoon, in his first true act of citizenship, Dave wore five lacy bras across the border.”

On today’s episode, Stuart tells two hilarious Vinyl Cafe stories about Dave’s encounters with deception. One of the stories ‘Shirts’, is an old one you may not have heard in a long time – but it is worth the wait! Dave’s favourite shirt goes missing from their washing line and is later discovered being worn by his good friend Jim Scoffield. As always, Dave has an interesting response to the dilemma. Even more interesting is the surprising backstory about that tale.

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The Arthur Awards Oct 06, 2023

“When Stuart stepped off his bus and waved goodbye, he thought to himself: 'This guy deserves an award.'”

Back by popular demand: it’s the Arthur Awards! You asked, we listened; so today on the pod, we’re delighted to share two of our favourite Arthur Award interviews of all time. Plus we’re reopening the polls for next year’s Arthurs, so start thinking of who you’d like to nominate…

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The Beat and the Backbeat - The Lost Chords Sep 29, 2023

“Dave thought, 'It will never get any better than this. Some people have God, and some people have money, and some people don’t have anything at all. I have this. I have the beat and the back beat.'”

This week, a story that captures the joy of live music and performance. Jess reminisces about two amazing experiences on tour with Stuart and the Vinyl Cafe: one at Stuart’s final concert performance, the other at Hillside Music Festival. The story The Lost Chords was recorded that day at Hillside Festival.

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We May Not Be Big, But We're Small - World's Smallest Record Store Sep 22, 2023

“He had, intentionally, set his bar low. Really low. And now someone was telling him he wasn’t even big enough to be small.”

Today’s episode turns out to be a bit of an ode to record stores. Jess talks about her experience working at the record store Sam the Record Man and in our story, World’s Smallest Record Store, Dave’s young employee teaches him the beauty of what he has created at his store The Vinyl Cafe.

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Back to School - School Lunch & Best Things Sep 15, 2023

“Just one day, she wanted one of them to come home and say ‘Gee, lunch was good.’”

On today’s episode, two stories about back to school: first a hilarious (and occasionally gross) account of a school lunch bag; then, in Best Things, a story from when Stephanie starts university and meets her boyfriend Tommy for the first time. And longtime Vinyl Cafe producer Jess Milton notices a theme that ran through so many of the Vinyl Cafe stories.

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There's Something About Mary - Mary Turlington has Lice & Defibrillator Sep 08, 2023

"The best time to share bad news is almost always never.”

Welcome back to Season Two of Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe! We’re thrilled to be back and ready to kick off the new season with two Stuart McLean stories about Dave’s neighbourhood nemesis: the indefatigable Mary Turlington. This week Stuart tells two barn burners about Mary. First up, hypochondriacal Dave has to step up when he learns that Mary has head lice. In the second story, Dave’s neighbours decide to get a defibrillator for the entire neighbourhood to share. They decide that Dave & Morley’s garage is the perfect place to store it…

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Season 2 - Starting September 8th Sep 01, 2023

Charge your AirPods. Get your dog ready for her walk. Because we’re back next week with Season 02 of Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe. Join us for a new season of hilarious Vinyl Cafe stories and back stories. Here's a sneak peek...

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Bonus Episode: The Long Suffering Story Editor Aug 04, 2023

If you’ve listened to the podcast you’ve heard me talk about Stuart’s Long Suffering Story Editor, Meg Masters. I welcomed Meg into the Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe podcast studio for a chat recently and asked her the questions on all our minds: Why did Stuart call you Long Suffering? And just how badly did you suffer?

So, on today’s bonus episode: a no-holds-barred, exclusive interview with the Vinyl Cafe’s Long Suffering Story Editor, Meg Masters.

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Bonus Episode: Postcards from Canada - Nelson & Danceland Jun 30, 2023

In today’s bonus episode, two Postcards from Canada.

When people think about the Vinyl Cafe, they often think about the concerts we did across Canada, in big towns and small. Stuart opened many of those concerts with an essay about the place and over the years it has added up to quite a collection. Here are two of our favourite ‘postcards’: one from Nelson, British Columbia and the other from the glorious Danceland, in Manitou Beach, Saskatchewan.

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Bonus Episode: Bloopers Jun 09, 2023

Something special for you for our first bonus episode. From one of my absolute favourite Vinyl Cafe radio shows, from 2011, this is Stuart and I in studio talking about bloopers! We laughed so hard recording this show.

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Summer - A Letter from Camp & The Waterslide May 26, 2023

"This waterslide was the waterslide to end all waterslides”

We are taking a break over the summer, so in honour of our final episode of Season 1 we’ve got two Vinyl Cafe stories for you about summer. If you listen carefully you’ll hear something unusual in the first, A Letter from Camp, when Stuart inserts a personal story from his own days at his beloved summer camp. And of course, we can’t talk about summer without including the hilarious fan favourite: The Waterslide. All this and more, including a special memory from Jess of what it was like sitting backstage, stage left, and hearing Waterslide performed for the very first time.

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Is Everybody Here? - Field Trip & A Trip to Quebec May 19, 2023

“The Pensionne du Quebec was lit up like a party ship”

Sam is apprehensive about Dave signing up to escort the school field trip to the art gallery. You’ll understand why. On this week’s episode, laugh along with audiences from across Canada with two stories about Sam’s school trips: Field Trip is one from the early days, while in A Trip to Quebec, Sam’s Grade 8 heart is won over by a chance meeting in Quebec City. Jess shares some school trip back stories that didn’t make it into the final story and tells of a special trip to France when she was just 11 years old.

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Mother's Day - The House Next Door & The Pot May 12, 2023

"Coming into Dave and Morley’s house is, quite frankly, a bit of a feat. You have to really want to get in.”

In time for Mother’s Day, this week’s episode is all about Morley – the beating heart of the family and the calm to Dave’s chaos. In The House Next Door, Morley fantasizes about a life very different from her own; and in The Pot, meditates on her role as both a mother and a daughter. And Jess talks about how becoming a mother herself has changed her perspective on so many of the Vinyl Cafe stories.

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I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly - The Fly & Code Yellow May 05, 2023

“What are flies attracted to?”

We’re talking hypochondria on the podcast this week with two stories revealing Dave’s undeniably hypochondriacal tendencies. Jess lets us into the secret of how Stuart was able to portray this trait of Dave’s so authentically. We start with an old favourite: The Fly. Then in our second story, Dave goes to visit a friend in the hospital. Result: Code Yellow!

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Hero Dave - The Yoga Retreat & Dave's Truck Apr 28, 2023

“Dave chose Happy Hour: Three honey-mint-refresh-colonic cocktails.”

The Yoga Retreat: a place of well-being, calm and reflection. Usually. But not always; or not for Dave and Stephanie, at least. This week, Stuart McLean tells two hilarious stories about Dave’s good intentions gone awry. And Jess shares some road stories, including a memorable attempt to get the entire Vinyl Cafe crew up to the remote but spectacular Powell River, British Columbia.

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Sam and Murphy - The Science Experiment & Macaulay’s Mountain Apr 21, 2023

“I found my father’s old chemistry set…”

This week’s episode is about good friends and friendship: two stories about Sam and his best friend Murphy. In the early days of their friendship they get their hands on a vintage chemistry set, with explosive results. And on their first trip to Cape Breton the friends find adventure in the form of an abandoned car on Macaulay’s Mountain.

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Connection - The Laundry Chute & London Apr 14, 2023

“It’s time for Stephanie to see more of the world.”

Stuart McLean talks about connection – to place, to each other and to history – with the stories London and Springhill (aka The Laundry Chute). And Vinyl Cafe producer Jess Milton describes a remarkable moment from the reading of that Springhill story at the Savoy Theatre in Glace Bay and their own special connection that began that day.

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Let’s celebrate! – The Birthday Cake & Morley’s 40th Birthday Bash Apr 07, 2023

“Surely Mary wouldn’t miss one of those little buttercream shrubs…”

Today’s Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe is all about birthdays. Jess shares some behind the scenes stories of ways she and Stuart celebrated birthdays on the road; and we have two hilarious Dave and Morley stories about birthdays that have gone awry. In The Birthday Cake, Dave is left in charge of delivering Mary Turlington’s carefully decorated cake to a party; while in Morley’s 40th Birthday Bash, Dave throws Morley a party. Unfortunately the caterer he has hired to put the event together sets up the party at the wrong house.

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Faith – Morley’s Hairdresser & The Lottery Ticket Mar 31, 2023

"Imagine. A million dollars. What would you do with a million dollars?”

A couple of favourite Vinyl Cafe stories this week. Stories about faith. When Tommy’s grandpa dies the conversation turns to his unscratched lottery ticket and the faith he had in its possibilities. That was one of Stuart’s favourites. And Jess shares a personal story about the inspiration behind the story Morley’s Hairdresser.

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New Beginnings – Spring in the Narrows & Opera Mar 24, 2023

“We stumble upon the great loves of our lives in the oddest ways”

On this week’s episode of Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe, two funny stories about Dave’s mother, Margaret and the new beginnings, loves and friendships she finds in later life. In Opera, she takes a long-awaited trip to New York City. In Spring in the Narrows, Dave heads back to his hometown of Big Narrows, Nova Scotia and finds Margaret has a new spring in her step.

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Everyone Needs a Hobby – Morley’s Book Club & Dave the Dogwalker Mar 17, 2023

“He wanted to be alone so he could try the beef-flavoured toothpaste”

Jess shares a special memory from a concert at the Place des Arts in Montreal – a memory about Stuart and his mom. And we have two Dave and Morley stories about hobbies: in an old favourite – Morley’s Bookclub – Morley finds her new hobby is not as relaxing as anticipated and in Dogwalker, Dave seems to have bitten off more than he can chew.

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All’s Well That Ends Well – Car Wash & Murphy’s Bar Mitzvah Mar 10, 2023

"Thank God, he thought, help has arrived.”

Dave tries to be helpful by offering to take Mary Turlington’s car to the car wash — but things don’t go exactly as planned. No stranger to car wash shenanigans herself, Jess fesses up about the inspiration for that story idea. In the second story, Dave plays an unanticipated starring role in Murphy’s Bar Mitzvah.

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Quiz Time! - Arthur the Dog & Gifted Mar 03, 2023

“Is Your Dog Your Boss?”

Who doesn’t love a quiz? On this week’s episode of Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe, Jess introduces two favourite Stuart McLean stories from way back. In Arthur the Dog, Dave tries to assert his superiority, man over beast. Guess how well that goes? And in Gifted, Sam takes a quiz that he thinks may transform his life.

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Chomp Chomp - Dave Goes to the Dentist & Teeth Feb 24, 2023

“It has been many long years since he sunk his teeth into anything.”

It’s gnashers all the way on the Vinyl Cafe this week! Freezing optional. Things go awry when Dave’s neighbour Eugene struggles with his false teeth and a cob of corn; and we discover Dave has dentist issues after he bites into a hard chocolate and cracks a tooth at Mary Turlington’s dinner party.

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Dave's Buddies - The Turlingtons' Dog & Curse of the Crayfish Feb 17, 2023

“The fragrance of dead crayfish. Mmm-mm.”

Two stories about Dave’s buddies. Bert Turlington gets a dog – but not exactly the kind he was hoping for; and Carl, Kenny, Bert and Dave enter a fishing contest where things get seriously out of hand, with hilarious consequences. Also this week, Vinyl Cafe producer Jess Milton recalls a particularly memorable winter visit to Minnedosa, Manitoba and shares a tale of some less-than-glamorous accommodation that she and Stuart enjoyed there.

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Meet the Neighbours! - Kenny Wong's Practical Jokes & Dorothy Feb 10, 2023

“Big Bucks Polka. Bring your records Monday morning to Dave’s Polka Palace (formerly the Vinyl Cafe)”

Welcome to the neighbourhood! Jess introduces two laugh-out-loud funny Dave and Morley stories about shops near Dave’s Vinyl Cafe record store: Woodsworth’s Books and Wong’s Scottish Meat Pies. We meet the eccentric book lover Dorothy Woodsworth; and learn how the Wongs subtly dealt with a difficult, racist customer.

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The Mistakes We Make - Petit Lac Noir & Dog Pills Feb 03, 2023

“Bonjour,” he said. “Je m’appelle Dave.”

Yup, sometimes things go wrong. It happens to the best of us. Especially on the Vinyl Cafe, as you’ll hear in Stuart McLean’s Dave and Morley stories Dog Pills and Petit Lac Noir. Also on this week’s episode, Jess shares a surprising and funny backstory about the inspiration behind Dave’s mistake in Dog Pills.

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There's No Place Like Home - Tree of Heaven & Burd Jan 27, 2023

“She was a woodland bird, in the middle of the city, way off course, and she had landed at his feeder.”

Stuart McLean tells two Dave and Morley stories that explore the idea of home in its various forms: in Burd, a tiny feathered friend gets blown off course and finds its way to Dave and Morley’s garden where it decides to stop a while. And in Tree of Heaven a seedling takes root – in Dave’s car… and in his heart. Also this week, Jess tells a hilarious story about the trip she and Stuart took to Point Pelee to learn about birders and birding.

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Fitness Gone Wrong - Dave on the Bike & Attack of the Treadmill Jan 20, 2023

"He looked like a kid on a roller coaster. But not one of the happy ones.”

Vinyl Cafe producer Jess Milton lets us into some secrets about life on the road with Stuart McLean and we’ll hear Stuart read two hilarious Dave and Morley stories about fitness gone horribly wrong: Tour de Dave – aka Dave on the Bike – and Attack of the Treadmill.

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Come Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe! Dec 27, 2022

The Vinyl Cafe podcast is back! For the first time ever we’ll share the hilarious backstories from the popular show. Long-time Vinyl Cafe producer Jess Milton tells all, sharing memories and stories from 15 years touring, travelling, laughing, and recording with her close friend, Canada’s favourite storyteller, Stuart McLean. Plus, each week, a selection of her favourite Dave & Morley stories.

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