Location:
United States
Description:
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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Language:
English
Episodes
Kids - Susan is Serious & Sam Goes Green
3/28/2025
“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.
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Duration:00:50:00
The Power of Song - Dave's Last Kind Word Blues
3/21/2025
“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 quicker than music? On the pod today, we’re talking about the power of song. Jess shares a script Stuart wrote for the radio show, about a song that moved him to tears. And we have a story for you, about a song that has a hold over Dave.
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Duration:00:39:26
Stealing - Sam Steals & Emil
3/14/2025
“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. These two stories are both about…stealing! But, as Jess observes, they’re also about parenting, and love, and respect. And they’re both hilarious!
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Duration:00:40:14
The Movies – Sam’s First Kiss
3/7/2025
“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 have Stuart McLean’s Ode to the Movies, recorded at the glorious Capitol Theatre in Port Hope; including a fascinating story about a celebrity interview (with Peter O’Toole) from Stuart’s journalism days. And we have a story about Sam and Murphy’s movie theatre adventures.
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Duration:00:40:46
Deception - Dave and the Sourdough Starter & A Day Off
2/28/2025
“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! And we have two more stories for you, stories about deception!
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Duration:00:30:20
People from the Past - Whatever Happened to Johnny Flowers & Morley and the Century of Wind Theatre Company
2/21/2025
“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, someone he hadn’t thought about for years. And Jess shares the surprising reason why it took so many years to release our second story.
You can find our latest CD, So Long for Now, at our store page on vinylcafe.com
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Duration:00:49:14
Love – Love Never Ends
2/14/2025
“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 entertaining story exchange and reflects on the somewhat less romantic side of Valentines Day.
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Duration:00:32:09
Cape Breton Tales - The Black Beast of Margaree & The Roundabout
2/7/2025
“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 tale of literary adventures, while the adventures in our second story are of the vehicular variety. And Jess shares the inspiration behind that story, inspiration from closer to home.
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Duration:00:48:47
The Neighbourhood - Kenny Wong’s Contest & Late Date
1/31/2025
“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 McLean, stories about good intentions gone awry.
Plus, an exciting announcement about an upcoming project (hint: you’ll finally get to meet Dave).
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Duration:00:40:50
Postcards from Canada - Whitehorse & Annapolis Royal
1/24/2025
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.
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Duration:00:35:16
Growing up - Dream Bunnies & Sam is Home Alone
1/17/2025
“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 a backstory about the inspiration behind Stuart McLean’s story, Dream Bunnies.
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Duration:00:47:08
Winter – Minnedosa & Jim’s Toboggan
1/10/2025
“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 way to summer. But right now, summer is the last thing on our minds: this week’s podcast is all about winter and the joys and perils of winter sports.
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Duration:00:42:48
Season 5 - Starting January 10th
1/3/2025
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 behind-the-scenes back stories by longtime Vinyl Cafe producer, Jess Milton.
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Duration:00:00:42
Hanukkah - Dave’s Christmas Tree
12/27/2024
“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.
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Duration:00:30:48
Christmas Preparations - The Christmas Card & Morley’s Christmas Concert
12/20/2024
“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 of Christmas preparations! On today’s episode we have two wonderful stories for you: our first is the final Christmas story Stuart wrote. Jess tells the backstory of the recording of that story, and the strong emotions that came with it. Our second story is vintage festive Vinyl Cafe.
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Duration:00:56:02
All I want for Christmas… - Stephanie’s Mystery Book & Dave Makes Snow
12/13/2024
“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 family guessing, while in our second, Dave will go to any lengths to give Morley her Christmas wish.
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Duration:00:48:04
Christmas Chaos - Mary Turlington and Polly Anderson’s Christmas Collision & Ferrets for Christmas
12/6/2024
“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 ultimate party planner, while the neighbourhood races to keep up. And in our second story, Sam smuggles home a fragrant guest for the Christmas holidays.
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Duration:00:53:56
Cape Breton Christmas - Morley’s Christmas Present & Dave’s Christmas Parade
11/29/2024
“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, Dave tries to find the perfect gift to win Morley’s heart; in the second, his homemade float causes chaos in the Christmas parade!
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Duration:00:49:21
Getting Older - The Cruise & A Case of the Dwindles
11/22/2024
“Bad things happen at sea.”
Today’s episode is all about aging – in the best possible way! Mistakenly booked onto a seniors’ cruise, Dave has more fun than he could ever have imagined. And in our second story Morley learns that her mom’s independence is something to celebrate.
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Duration:00:49:25
Jobs - Newsboy Dave & On-Stage Defibrillator
11/15/2024
“The door to days gone by is a strange little door.”
Today on the podcast, two stories about jobs and some of Dave’s more unusual work experiences. In the first, in a fit of nostalgia he gets a paper route; in the second story he gets a taste of life on the road with a ‘vintage’ rock band.
For more information about our brand new album, SO LONG FOR NOW, check out our website, www.vinylcafe.com
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Duration:00:48:34