Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe
Episodes
The Glide - The Greatest Hockey Game Ever Played
16 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
“'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...
Valentine’s Day - Holland
09 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
“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 fi...
Occupational Hazards - Kenny Wong and the Tank of Tranquility & Tree Planting
02 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
“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 t...
Stories Ahead of Their Time - Toilet Training the Cat & Dave Versus the Flu
26 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"Galway began flushing the toilet again in the autumn…"This week, two Dave and Morley stories that, in hindsight, seem strangely prescient. In the f...
Analog Dave - The Phone Message & The Razor’s Edge
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"It began simply enough. It began with a phone call." On today’s episode, two stories about technical difficulties. In our first stor...
I Resolve To…
12 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Season 3 - Starting January 12th
05 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 backsto...
A Perfect, Imperfect Christmas - Christmas at the Turlingtons’ & Christmas on the Road
22 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“Family and friends, they sure mess up our lives…”For our final episode of this season, two classic Vinyl Cafe Christmas stories by Stuart McLea...
May Contain Gravel - Rashida & Amir and the Great Gift-Giving & Polly Anderson’s Christmas Party
15 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“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 neighbour...
Christmas Presents - Christmas Presents & Christmas in the Narrows
08 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“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 tod...
The Turkey Story - Dave Cooks the Turkey & Dave on the Roof
01 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“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 tho...
Sounds Like… - Jim & Molly the Cat
24 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“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 headlic...
Doggone It! - Stanley & Arthur Takes the Cake
17 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“You know how loud he snores? Ninety decibels. That’s the equivalent of sleeping beside a pneumatic drill.” This week, two stories about do...
Remembrance Day
10 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“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...
Finding Beauty - Dave and Tommy & Murphy Kruger, Philatelist
03 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“Our daughter is living with a man who takes pictures of roadkill!” We’re dealing with difficult and weighty matters on this week’s episo...
After Dark - Halloween & Fireworks
27 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“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...
Niagara Falls
20 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“He was eye level with the falls…” This week on the show, something different. We’re playing one of Stuart McLean’s most requested stor...
The Truth is Stranger than Fiction - Shirts & Dave Crosses the Border
13 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“That afternoon, in his first true act of citizenship, Dave wore five lacy bras across the border.” On today’s episode, Stuart tells ...
The Arthur Awards
06 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“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 A...
The Beat and the Backbeat - The Lost Chords
29 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“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 a...
We May Not Be Big, But We're Small - World's Smallest Record Store
22 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“He had, intentionally, set his bar low. Really low. And now someone was telling him he wasn’t even big enough to be small.” Toda...
Back to School - School Lunch & Best Things
15 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“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...
There's Something About Mary - Mary Turlington has Lice & Defibrillator
08 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
"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 b...
Season 2 - Starting September 8th
01 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Bonus Episode: The Long Suffering Story Editor
04 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 Backstag...
Bonus Episode: Postcards from Canada - Nelson & Danceland
30 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Bonus Episode: Bloopers
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 st...
Summer - A Letter from Camp & The Waterslide
26 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
"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 ...
Is Everybody Here? - Field Trip & A Trip to Quebec
19 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“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 g...
Mother's Day - The House Next Door & The Pot
12 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
"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, ...
I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly - The Fly & Code Yellow
05 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“What are flies attracted to?” We’re talking hypochondria on the podcast this week with two stories revealing Dave’s undeniably hypochond...
Hero Dave - The Yoga Retreat & Dave's Truck
28 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“Dave chose Happy Hour: Three honey-mint-refresh-colonic cocktails.” The Yoga Retreat: a place of well-being, calm and reflection. Usually. B...
Sam and Murphy - The Science Experiment & Macaulay’s Mountain
21 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“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 f...
Connection - The Laundry Chute & London
14 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“It’s time for Stephanie to see more of the world.” Stuart McLean talks about connection – to place, to each other and to history – wit...
Let’s celebrate! – The Birthday Cake & Morley’s 40th Birthday Bash
07 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“Surely Mary wouldn’t miss one of those little buttercream shrubs…”Today’s Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe is all about birthdays. Jess shares s...
Faith – Morley’s Hairdresser & The Lottery Ticket
31 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
"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...
New Beginnings – Spring in the Narrows & Opera
24 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“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 ...
Everyone Needs a Hobby – Morley’s Book Club & Dave the Dogwalker
17 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“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...
All’s Well That Ends Well – Car Wash & Murphy’s Bar Mitzvah
10 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
"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’...
Quiz Time! - Arthur the Dog & Gifted
03 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“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 M...
Chomp Chomp - Dave Goes to the Dentist & Teeth
24 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“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. Th...
Dave's Buddies - The Turlingtons' Dog & Curse of the Crayfish
17 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“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...
Meet the Neighbours! - Kenny Wong's Practical Jokes & Dorothy
10 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“Big Bucks Polka. Bring your records Monday morning to Dave’s Polka Palace (formerly the Vinyl Cafe)”Welcome to the neighbourhood! Jess introduc...
The Mistakes We Make - Petit Lac Noir & Dog Pills
03 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“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’...
There's No Place Like Home - Tree of Heaven & Burd
27 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“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 ...
Fitness Gone Wrong - Dave on the Bike & Attack of the Treadmill
20 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
"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...
Come Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe!
27 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 J...