“There is something about sitting on a plastic chair several sizes too small for you that puts you in touch... more

“It will snow. And it will be deep and crisp and even.”Some alternate approaches to festive gift giving on this... more

“He stuck his head in the dryer. It was not the wisest decision.”Today on the pod, two more stories of... more

“Genius should never be confused with desperation.”Woohoo! It’s time to play some Christmas stories. This week, two stories from Dave’s... more

“Bad things happen at sea.”Today’s episode is all about aging – in the best possible way! Mistakenly booked onto a... more

“The door to days gone by is a strange little door.”Today on the podcast, two stories about jobs and some... more

“I will never forget that day.”We have something very special for you this week. From one of the most-requested Vinyl... more

“How can you deny an old man his dying wish?”This week’s episode is all about the powerful pull of home.... more

“It was one of those moments that make you wonder if your life is cursed.”In this week’s episode, two stories... more

“How was Dave supposed to know the Madden kids were all lactose intolerant.”Today on the pod, two stories where Dave... more

Our Thanksgiving tradition: The Arthur Awards! Two more of our favourite Vinyl Cafe Arthur Awards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy... more

“The day Annie began violin lessons was the most exciting day of her life."This week’s episode is all about music.... more

“He was a great dog.”Today on the podcast, two stories about dogs – one of my favourite subjects! The first... more

“Carl didn’t want to retire.”Today on the podcast, two stories about embracing change. Dave’s neighbour Carl Lowbeer (and his wife... more

“I made predictions. They are all coming true.”This week, we’re talking about kids and independence. In our story, Sam gets... more

“He came downstairs in a Grateful Dead t-shirt and a pair of bell bottoms.” Welcome back for Season 4 of Backstage... more

We’re so excited to be back next week with Season 04 of Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe. Join us for... more

In this bonus episode you’ll hear my conversation with Roger Woodward, the boy who went over the falls. You loved... more

By popular request, for our first bonus episode of season 3, this is part II of Stuart and I in... more

“There is nothing like a neighbour throwing money about their garden to make you feel bad about yours.” It's summer all... more

“It was Sam’s first year in high school. And it was not going well.” Sam’s turn this week: We have a... more

“How bad could it be? Statistics. That’s how bad it could be.” This week, two stories about Dave and Morley’s daughter,... more

“Whenever the cat is around, things seem to go wrong.” This week, Dave discovers a stowaway on the family road trip,... more

“Not everyone in the world is cut out to be a school janitor.” We’re full of the milk of human kindness... more

“A hive of bees is like a harvest kitchen. They gather up the summer: the heat of the sun, the... more

“It started like a sprint. One moment you were standing still, and the next you were running as fast as... more

“It says it’s one of the most wonderful tastes in the world.” It’s a gastronomical episode of the podcast today. Stuart... more

“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... more

“There are only so many holes a man can cut in his own house before he is told to stop.” Today... more

“I guess I figured having a fish head could come in handy.” On this week’s episode Stuart celebrates the joys of... more

“There is nothing like a wedding to addle people’s minds.” Today on the pod we have two hilarious stories about marriage... more

“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... more

“It was 4:30 in the morning and Dave was having a nightmare about something that smelled bad.” On today’s episode we... more

“It is the best maple syrup I have ever had, said Sam.”We’re celebrating one of the wonders of spring on... more

“The kids were always up to something in the Narrows.” This week’s episode is all about kids and what we can... more

“By the end of the first trimester, Dave had put on 12lbs.” A surprising theme links our two stories this week. In... more

"He was about to climb in—just for a second, just to see…" Poor Dave gets himself into some tight situations in... more

“'They tried to stop us,' says the old man. 'But we kept playing.'” More about the joy of winter sports... more

“It was the greatest skate of her life.” Love is in the air today on the pod, with a Dave and... more

“The secret to planting more trees, is to plant more trees.”We have two hilarious Vinyl Cafe stories for you on... more

"Galway began flushing the toilet again in the autumn…"This week, two Dave and Morley stories that, in hindsight, seem strangely... more

"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... more

I resolve to organize upstairs. Welcome back for Season 3 of Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe! We’re embracing the spirit of the... more

A New Year = A New Season of Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe! So join us next week for Episode... more

“Family and friends, they sure mess up our lives…”For our final episode of this season, two classic Vinyl Cafe Christmas... more

“Come and get me, copper!” We’ve got to know Dave and Morley’s neighbours well over the years. This week, two stories... more

“I was thinking it would be fun if we made presents for each other this year” What’s the best gift you have ever... more

“Did you take the turkey out of the freezer?” Today is the day Dave Cooks the Turkey! Jess tells us why... more

“Jim never had any intention of having any pets at all” To be fair to the other household critters (and no,... more

“You know how loud he snores? Ninety decibels. That’s the equivalent of sleeping beside a pneumatic drill.” This week, two stories... more

“There’s something about the ghosts who live in the house where you live. Some kind of an inexpressible pull between... more

“Our daughter is living with a man who takes pictures of roadkill!” We’re dealing with difficult and weighty matters on this... more

“Let me state the case for Hallowe’en” The nights are getting longer, the air is getting colder, so this week on... more

“He was eye level with the falls…” This week on the show, something different. We’re playing one of Stuart McLean’s most... more

“That afternoon, in his first true act of citizenship, Dave wore five lacy bras across the border.”  On today’s episode, Stuart... more

“When Stuart stepped off his bus and waved goodbye, he thought to himself: 'This guy deserves an award.'”Back by popular demand:... more

“Dave thought, 'It will never get any better than this. Some people have God, and some people have money, and... more

“He had, intentionally, set his bar low. Really low. And now someone was telling him he wasn’t even big enough to be... more

“Just one day, she wanted one of them to come home and say ‘Gee, lunch was good.’” On today’s episode, two... more

"The best time to share bad news is almost always never.” Welcome back to Season Two of Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe!... more

Charge your AirPods. Get your dog ready for her walk.  Because we’re back next week with Season 02 of Backstage at... more

If you’ve listened to the podcast you’ve heard me talk about Stuart’s Long Suffering Story Editor, Meg Masters. I welcomed... more

In today’s bonus episode, two Postcards from Canada.When people think about the Vinyl Cafe, they often think about the concerts... more

Something special for you for our first bonus episode. From one of my absolute favourite Vinyl Cafe radio shows, from... more

"This waterslide was the waterslide to end all waterslides” We are taking a break over the summer, so in honour of... more

“The Pensionne du Quebec was lit up like a party ship” Sam is apprehensive about Dave signing up to escort the... more

"Coming into Dave and Morley’s house is, quite frankly, a bit of a feat. You have to really want to get in.”In... more

“What are flies attracted to?” We’re talking hypochondria on the podcast this week with two stories revealing Dave’s undeniably hypochondriacal tendencies.... more

“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;... more

“I found my father’s old chemistry set…” This week’s episode is about good friends and friendship: two stories about Sam and... more

“It’s time for Stephanie to see more of the world.” Stuart McLean talks about connection – to place, to each other... more

“Surely Mary wouldn’t miss one of those little buttercream shrubs…”Today’s Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe is all about birthdays. Jess... more

"Imagine. A million dollars. What would you do with a million dollars?”A couple of favourite Vinyl Cafe stories this week.... more

“We stumble upon the great loves of our lives in the oddest ways”On this week’s episode of Backstage at the... more

“He wanted to be alone so he could try the beef-flavoured toothpaste”Jess shares a special memory from a concert at... more

"Thank God, he thought, help has arrived.”Dave tries to be helpful by offering to take Mary Turlington’s car to the... more

“Is Your Dog Your Boss?”Who doesn’t love a quiz? On this week’s episode of Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe, Jess... more

“It has been many long years since he sunk his teeth into anything.”It’s gnashers all the way on the Vinyl... more

“The fragrance of dead crayfish. Mmm-mm.”Two stories about Dave’s buddies. Bert Turlington gets a dog – but not exactly the... more

“Big Bucks Polka. Bring your records Monday morning to Dave’s Polka Palace (formerly the Vinyl Cafe)”Welcome to the neighbourhood! Jess... more