Episodes
“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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Published 04/19/24
Published 04/19/24
“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 [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Published 04/12/24
“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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Published 04/05/24
“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.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Published 03/29/24
“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!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Published 03/22/24
“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.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Published 03/15/24
“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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Published 03/08/24
“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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Published 03/01/24
"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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Published 02/23/24
“'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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Published 02/16/24
“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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Published 02/09/24
“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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Published 02/02/24
"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.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Published 01/26/24
"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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Published 01/19/24
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.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Published 01/12/24
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... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Published 01/05/24
“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...
Published 12/22/23
“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.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Published 12/15/23
“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.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Published 12/08/23
“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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Published 12/01/23
“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.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...
Published 11/24/23
“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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...
Published 11/17/23
“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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...
Published 11/10/23
“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...
Published 11/03/23