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...
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Nov 13, 2026 · 38:30
Something different this week on the pod. We are absolutely delighted to spend today's episode chatting with the fabulous Good Lovelies. Those of you who came to see Vinyl Cafe…
Nov 6, 2026 · 43:22
“Bad things happen at sea.” The days are getting shorter but it’s not quite the Holidays. Let’s cheer ourselves up with two funny stories about going away, taking a trip. Ad-free…
Oct 30, 2026 · 1:02:02
“It was one of those moments that make you wonder if your life is cursed.” Especially for Hallowe’en: monsters! Our first story was Stuart’s favourite. Jess has a backstory about…
Oct 23, 2026 · 45:36
“I found my father’s old chemistry set…” Today on the pod, two hilarious Stuart McLean stories about friendships, old and new, sometimes with explosive results! Ad-free listening…
Oct 16, 2026 · 50:59
“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…
Oct 9, 2026 · 46:53
“When Stuart stepped off his bus and waved goodbye, he thought to himself: This guy deserves an award.” Happy Canadian Thanksgiving! This week: shout-outs to some new Arthur…
Oct 2, 2026 · 28:50
“When things go wrong, when, it is seldom the result of some big thing, it is always a chain of simple things, almost all of them avoidable.” What makes a good performer? What…
Sep 25, 2026 · 47:45
This week we’re spending the entire episode on beautiful Manitoulin Island. We have Stuart’s opening essay from our wonderful visit back in 2010, plus a story exchange and a very…
Sep 18, 2026 · 51:35
“Coming into Dave and Morley’s house is a bit of a challenge. You have to really want to get in.” There’s how things look…. And how things actually are! Today on the pod, two…
Sep 11, 2026 · 46:29
“Just one day, she wanted one of them to come home and say ‘Gee, lunch was good.’” The alarm clocks are set, the pencils are sharpened, the backpack is loaded. It’s September!…
Sep 4, 2026 · 1:00
Whether you've been on the road, by the lake or curled up with a good book, we hope you have enjoyed your summer. We are so looking forward to welcoming you back to the Vinyl…
Aug 26, 2026 · 39:30
"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…
Aug 19, 2026 · 37:55
"Dave said: 'You're thinking about dancing, aren't you?'" We’re looking towards summer on today’s episode. We have a script Stuart wrote about a magical evening spent in pursuit…
Aug 12, 2026 · 35:08
Today we bring you an episode from our friends at the Apostrophe Podcast Network – one of the most-loved shows from the podcast ‘ We Regret to Inform You. ’ If you’re new to the…
Aug 5, 2026 · 29:39
“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…
Jul 29, 2026 · 50:38
“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…
Jul 22, 2026 · 40:46
“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…
Jul 15, 2026 · 29:27
This week we bring you an episode from another Apostrophe Podcast network show: Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly. In this episode, Terry shares some of his best opening…
Jul 8, 2026 · 48:16
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…
Jul 1, 2026 · 50:06
“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…
Jun 19, 2026 · 51:33
“This waterslide was the waterslide to end all waterslides” School’s – almost – out for summer! For our final episode of this season we've got the podcast equivalent of a banger…
Jun 12, 2026 · 48:38
"This is the first summer Sam has been in Big Narrows without Dave and Morley..." We are so ready for summer here! Are you? So on today’s podcast we’re talking summer adventures,…
Jun 5, 2026 · 51:41
We're a few weeks early, I know, but this week on the podcast we’re celebrating Dads! We’ve got two hilarious stories about Dave’s parenting adventures. Ad-free listening is…
May 29, 2026 · 53:42
What song would you want played at your funeral? Dave starts thinking about that in our first story and ends by taking funeral preparation to a whole new level! Our second story…
May 22, 2026 · 52:43
“It has been many long years since he sunk his teeth into anything.” On this week’s episode, two stories about everyone’s favourite Vinyl Cafe neighbour: Eugene! And Jess notices…
May 15, 2026 · 34:35
“I swear I smelled his breath.” We’ve got another Postcard from Canada for you today. It’s about the town of Mabou, Cape Breton, but it’s also about the art of fly fishing. And…
May 8, 2026 · 34:18
“Everyone in town heard the lightning hit.” We’re talking about gathering places on this week’s episode; those vital places that serve our communities in so many ways. We start…
May 1, 2026 · 50:22
“And then one night … there were shooting stars.” Today on the pod, two stories set in Dave’s hometown of Big Narrows, Nova Scotia, stories where the grandparents step in to…
Apr 24, 2026 · 42:04
“It’s not clear who thought up the defibrillator” On today’s episode, we’re talking about community. We’ll play one of Stuart’s opening scripts, about an inspiring community…
Apr 17, 2026 · 49:32
"Galway began flushing the toilet again in the autumn…" For all you cat lovers out there, today is your day. Today on the show we’re all about our feline friends, with two…
Apr 10, 2026 · 40:35
“It would work so much better if we could plug the toaster in at the table” Two of your most-requested Vinyl Cafe stories on this week’s show. Some vintage Stuart McLean, at your…
Apr 3, 2026 · 33:16
You asked, we listened! So, this week on the pod, we’ve got two more of Stuart’s love letters to this country, what we call his Postcards from Canada. Ad-free listening is here!…
Mar 27, 2026 · 35:54
"He looked like a kid on a roller coaster. But not one of the happy ones.” On today’s episode, two stories about transportation—and what happens when it takes on a life of its…
Mar 20, 2026 · 43:52
“Bonjour,” he said. “Je m’appelle Dave.” Stuart loved Quebec and was proud to have grown up there. That influence is apparent in so many of his stories. We’ll play one of them…
Mar 13, 2026 · 42:14
“It was a magnificent tree.” We’re thinking about our connection to the natural world on this week’s pod. We’ve got an essay from Stuart McLean about a Winnipeg tree that…
Mar 6, 2026 · 49:24
“It was Sam’s first year in high school. And it was not going well.” On today’s episode: two of Stuart McLean's hilarious Dave & Morley stories about the wonderful world of work.…
Feb 27, 2026 · 47:19
“That afternoon, in his first true act of citizenship, Dave wore five lacy bras across the border.” This week is all about the relationship between Canada and the U.S. We’ve got…
Feb 20, 2026 · 47:14
“There is nothing like a wedding to addle people’s minds.” Today on the pod we’re celebrating one of Stuart’s favourite stores: The good old hardware store. We’ve got two Dave &…
Feb 13, 2026 · 42:33
“He wanted to be alone so he could try the beef-flavoured toothpaste” On this week’s episode: two fan favourites: stories about some of the sweetest characters in the Vinyl Cafe…
Feb 6, 2026 · 40:53
"It began simply enough. It began with a phone call." Stuart loved talking on the phone: much of his work revolved around phone calls. Jess talks about some of the memorable…
Jan 30, 2026 · 42:00
“What’s in a name? When it’s yours – a lot, apparently.” We’re talking about Canadian humour today on the podcast. We're following a thread back to Stephen Leacock and the ways…
Jan 23, 2026 · 50:35
“Dave’s relationship with hospitals over the years has not been without problems.” The two Stuart McLean stories on today’s episode are connected in a very cool way. Both contain…
Jan 16, 2026 · 42:25
“They tried to stop us, says the old man. But we kept playing.” We’re talking about winter sports on this week’s episode. We’ve got two stories about hockey – a Dave & Morley…
Jan 15, 2026 · 2:01
Season 7 of Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe started last week, did you catch the first episode? We’ll be with you every Friday until the summer. Whoo! And for those of you who have…
Jan 9, 2026 · 36:11
“It was the greatest skate of her life.” Happy New Year! Welcome back to Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe! Light a fire, get a bowl of soup, and a cozy blanket and settle in, because…
Dec 19, 2025 · 54:02
“Did you take the turkey out of the freezer?” For our last episode of the season – and our last before the Holidays – two Christmas classics! Plus, a beautiful, seasonal listener…
Dec 12, 2025 · 55:28
“First fires…. and then floods” On this week’s episode, two hilarious Stuart McLean stories about being out and about, Christmas visiting. Our first story is one that many of you…
Dec 5, 2025 · 43:41
“Eustache was bracing himself for a long and lonely Christmas” It’s December so we’re going the full festive from now until Christmas! This week, two classic Dave & Morley…
Nov 28, 2025 · 53:03
“Christmas in Dave’s record store is just plain fun” On today’s episode, Jess talks about the challenges of trying to create Christmas magic when you’re not necessarily feeling…
Nov 21, 2025 · 49:42
“Dave stared at the duck in disbelief. The duck stared back at him.” This week, we’re back talking about birds again, with two of Stuart McLean's hilarious stories about Dave…
Nov 14, 2025 · 40:36
“Christmas Day is going to be a little strained in Dave’s neighbourhood this year.” Today on the pod we’re all about Vinyl Cafe: The Musical! To celebrate its premiere, Jess…
Nov 7, 2025 · 36:50
“There’s something about the ghosts who live in the house where you live.” This week something special for Remembrance Day: an essay Stuart McLean wrote about George Lawrence…
Oct 31, 2025 · 35:48
“Let me state the case for Hallowe’en” Today’s the day - Happy Hallowe’en! We’ve got a wonderful story exchange about an immigrant’s first experience of Trick or Treating. And…
Oct 24, 2025 · 51:04
“The baker, the chef, the Indian maestro.” Today on the podcast it’s a smorgasbord from Stuart McLean. About food, about journeys and more in between! We’ve got a postcard from…
Oct 17, 2025 · 41:58
“There was a time when the Gander airport was the biggest airport in the world” On this week’s episode, we have three of Stuart’s opening monologues – essays about some of the…
Oct 10, 2025 · 37:07
It’s our annual Thanksgiving tradition – the Vinyl Cafe Arthur Awards. More treasures from the Vinyl Cafe archives about some amazing acts of kindness! Ad-free listening is here!…
Oct 3, 2025 · 54:00
“The Pensionne du Quebec was lit up like a party ship” We’ve got a Quebec selection for you on today’s podcast. A story about Sam’s school trip to Quebec City, plus a Stuart…
Sep 26, 2025 · 37:20
“Surely Mary wouldn’t miss one of those little buttercream shrubs…” On this week’s episode of Backstage, two stories about cakes, those special occasion cakes that promise to be…
Sep 19, 2025 · 51:13
“PPMS. Phantom peripheral mouse syndrome” Jess and Dave have something in common: rodent phobia! Jess shares how she got over hers. And in two hilarious Vinyl Cafe stories we’ll…
Sep 12, 2025 · 40:27
“Mary had never ever been downstairs with no clothes on. Never. Ever.” We’ve got some classic Dave and Mary Turlington adventures on this week’s episode – as they find themselves…
Sep 5, 2025 · 37:48
“Every year on the first day of school, to the great amazement of the kids in kindergarten…Miss MacNeal would burp the alphabet from A to Z.” Welcome back to Backstage at the…
Aug 29, 2025 · 1:03
We hope you'll join us next Friday for Season 6 of Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe! We’ve got more Dave and Morley stories for you, more of Stuart McLean’s wonderful Vinyl Cafe…
Aug 20, 2025 · 24:20
This week, more from our Apostrophe Podcast Network family! We think you will enjoy, "We Regret to Inform You: The Rejection Podcast." Sidney O’Reilly shares the stories of…
Aug 13, 2025 · 19:33
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!…
Aug 6, 2025 · 48:40
“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…
Jul 30, 2025 · 43:29
“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…
Jul 23, 2025 · 45:09
Something a little different this week that we think you’ll enjoy. From our friends at the Apostrophe Podcast Network: Terry O’Reilly’s “The Beatlology Interviews”. You may not…
Jul 16, 2025 · 46:06
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…
Jul 9, 2025 · 53:39
"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…
Jul 4, 2025 · 1:03:52
For this summer bonus episode, my conversation with long-time Vinyl Cafe and Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe recording engineer, Greg DeClute. Greg has some great stories to share…
Jun 20, 2025 · 42:08
“There is nothing like a 20th wedding anniversary to drive home the point that you are no longer 20 years old” For our final episode of this season, two entertaining stories…
Jun 13, 2025 · 52:02
“When are you supposed to let your children march off alone? When are you supposed to let them learn from their mistakes” On today’s episode, two stories about childhood. And…
Jun 6, 2025 · 37:54
“Dave said, you’re thinking about dancing, aren’t you?” We’re looking towards summer on today’s episode. We have a script Stuart wrote about a magical evening spent in pursuit of…
May 30, 2025 · 34:37
“When Dave was a boy, dolls terrified him” Something a little different on today’s episode: two stories about kids' toys -- the good, the bad and the ugly! One is a story about…
May 23, 2025 · 42:45
“Murphy was terrified of snakes” Today’s episode features two stories that take place out and about, further afield. Dave’s Cousin Dorothy visits from England and has an exciting…
May 16, 2025 · 46:07
“I don’t want a birthday party, said Morley. I hate birthday parties” Some vintage Stuart McLean this week, as Morley celebrates a milestone birthday. And we have an older story…
May 9, 2025 · 50:46
“Dave was still a kid the night he and Jimmy met.” Stuart loved to write about old friends. This week we’ve chosen two of our favourite friendship stories – one will make you…
May 2, 2025 · 34:32
"Thank God, he thought, help has arrived.” Today on the show, Jess shares a back story about a Vinyl Cafe tour bus adventure. Plus two Dave and Morley stories about more car…
Apr 25, 2025 · 38:06
“Dave was going to see Morley. He was trying to find the courage to ask her to marry him.” Some vintage Stuart McLean this week with two stories from way, way back. Ad-free…
Apr 18, 2025 · 40:04
“It was not as if they *needed* a 1948 red panel truck…” On today’s episode, two hilarious Vinyl Cafe stories that highlight Dave’s tendency to, let’s say, really commit to the…
Apr 11, 2025 · 31:15
“Morley thought she was the Athletic Support” We’re all about equipment failure on this week’s pod. Those everyday items that make life easier – until, suddenly, they very much…
Apr 4, 2025 · 29:29
More about parenting and family life this week, with two moving essays by Stuart McLean. Ad-free listening is here! Listen to the pod ad-free and early, PLUS a whole bunch of…
Mar 28, 2025 · 50:00
“I think I have an alien.” This week, two wonderful stories about kids… and their parents. And Jess admits to a surprising source of inspiration for her own parenting journey.…
Mar 21, 2025 · 39:26
“He didn’t understand that the organic confusion that’s at the heart of the Vinyl Cafe is, in fact, the thing that makes it work.” Is there anything that cuts to the heart…
Mar 14, 2025 · 40:14
“Crimestoppers. It’s synonymous.” We’ve got two of Stuart’s older stories on today’s episode. One from the very early days of the show; it’s one you may not have heard before.…
Mar 7, 2025 · 40:46
“Of all of the theatres, in all the complexes, in all of the towns, she walks into mine.” This week on the pod we’re at the movies, basking in the light of the silver screen. We…
Feb 28, 2025 · 30:20
“I have a genealogy, said Carl. Of the starter. Like a family tree. I have it in a frame in the den.” A pandemic favourite on this week’s episode: Dave and the Sourdough Starter!…
Feb 21, 2025 · 49:14
“In celebration of 100 years. Big Narrows, Cape Breton. Centennial Baby.” In our first story this week, Dave is jolted back in time by a sudden reminder of someone from long ago,…
Feb 14, 2025 · 32:09
“It’s funny the things that you miss.” For you love birds out there, we’re playing one of our most requested love stories today. The chocolate bar story! And Jess plays an…
Feb 7, 2025 · 48:47
“I didn’t know you were a fan of Mr. Bond…” On this week’s episode we’re spending time in Dave’s childhood neighbourhood: Big Narrows, Cape Breton. Our first story is a hilarious…
Jan 31, 2025 · 40:50
“How could he explain skulking around their property when he was supposed to be inside eating” Oh Dave, how do you manage it! This week, two more hilarious stories from Stuart…
Jan 24, 2025 · 35:16
We’re on the road again! On this week’s episode, two of Stuart’s popular postcards from Canada, from two memorable spots across the country that we visited with the Vinyl Cafe.…
Jan 17, 2025 · 47:08
“It’s a tricky thing to negotiate, the war of independence” Today on the pod, Sam and Stephanie step towards independence, while Dave and Morley learn to let go. And Jess shares…
Jan 10, 2025 · 42:48
“Two men who should have known better, climbing onto an old wooden toboggan” Happy New Year and welcome back to Season 5 of Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe! We’ll be with you all the…
Jan 3, 2025 · 0:42
Happy New Year everyone! Join us in 2025 for a brand new season of Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe - featuring heartwarming and hilarious stories and essays by Stuart McLean. Plus…
Dec 27, 2024 · 30:48
“Light, said Dave, amidst the darkness.” An extra episode for the holidays with a special story about Dave and Sam out and about on a perfect winter’s night. Ad-free listening is…
Dec 20, 2024 · 56:02
“There is something about sitting on a plastic chair several sizes too small for you that puts you in touch with feelings you never knew you had.” Ah, the trials and tribulations…
Dec 13, 2024 · 48:04
“It will snow. And it will be deep and crisp and even.” Some alternate approaches to festive gift giving on this week’s pod. In our first story a mysterious parcel keeps the…
Dec 6, 2024 · 53:56
“He stuck his head in the dryer. It was not the wisest decision.” Today on the pod, two more stories of festive shenanigans. Mary and Polly try to outdo each other as the…
Nov 29, 2024 · 49:21
“Genius should never be confused with desperation.” Woohoo! It’s time to play some Christmas stories. This week, two stories from Dave’s hometown of Big Narrows. In the first,…
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