Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe

“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. Ad-free listening is here! Listen to the pod ad-free and early,...

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. Ad-free listening is here! Listen to the pod ad-free and early, PLUS a whole bunch of other goodies – like virtual parties, Q&As, listener shou...

“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 here! Listen to the pod ad-free and early, PLUS a whole bunch of other goodies – like virtual parties, Q&As, listener shout-outs & more. Subscribe here:  apostrophe.supercast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.co...

“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...

“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. Ad-free listening is here! Listen to the pod ad-free and early, PLUS a whole bunch of other goodies – like virtual parties, Q...

“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. Ad-free listening is here! Listen to the pod ad-free and early, PLUS a whol...

“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! Ad-free listening is here! Listen to the pod ad-free and early, PLUS a whole bunch of other g...

“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. Ad-free listening is here! Listen to the pod ad-free and early, PLUS a whole bunch of other goodies – like virtual parties...

“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.vinylc...

“I will never forget that day.” We have something very special for you this week. From one of the most-requested Vinyl Cafe episodes, this is Stuart’s re-telling of the life story of holocaust survivor (and my husband’s Zaidie) David Kilberg. This episode features music by the Manitoba band Finjan, from the album “Dancing on Water”.  Ad-free listening is here! Listen to the pod ad-free and ea...

“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.  Ad-free listening is here! Listen to the pod ad-free and early, PLUS a whole bunch...

“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. Ad-free listening is here! Listen to the pod ad-free and early, PLUS a whole bunch of other goodies – like virtual parties, Q&As, listener shout-outs & more. Subscribe here:  apostrophe.supercast.c...

“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. Ad-free listening is here! Listen to the pod ad-free and early, PLUS a whole bunch of ot...

Our Thanksgiving tradition: The Arthur Awards! Two more of our favourite Vinyl Cafe Arthur Awards. Ad-free listening is here! Listen to the pod ad-free and early, PLUS a whole bunch of other goodies – like virtual parties, Q&As, listener shout-outs & more. Subscribe here:  apostrophe.supercast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“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 dul...

“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.  Ad-free listening is here! Listen to the pod ad-free and early, PLUS a whole bunch of other goodies – like virtual parties, Q&As, listener shout-outs & mo...

“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. Ad-free listening is here! Listen to the pod ad-free and early, PLUS a whole bunch of other goodies – like virtual parties, Q&As, listener shout-ou...

“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. Ad-free listening is here! Listen to the pod ad-free and early, PLUS a whole bunch of other goodies – like virtual parties, Q&...

“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. Ad-free listening is here! Listen to the pod ad-free and early, PLUS a whole bunch of other goodies – like v...

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... Ad-free listening is here! Listen to the pod ad-free and early, PLUS a whole bunch of other goodies – like virtual parties, Q&As, listener shout-outs & more. Subscribe here:  apostrophe.supercast.co...

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.  Ad-free listening is here! Listen to the pod ad-free and early, PLUS a whole bun...

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.  Ad-free listening is here! Listen to the pod ad-free and early, PLUS a whole bunch of other goodies – like virtual parties, Q&As, listener shout-outs & more. Subscribe here:  apostrophe.supercast...

“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. Ad-free listening is here! Li...

“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. Ad-free listening is here! Listen to the pod ad-free and early, PLUS a whole bunch of other goodies – like...

“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. Ad-free listening is here! Listen to the pod ad-free and early, PLUS a whole bunch of other goodies – like virtual parti...