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Rating

★★★★★

4.9

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209 reviews

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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.

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Check latest episodes from Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe podcast

Man and Beast - Arthur the Dog & Dave the Dog Walker

2026/02/13

“He wanted to be alone so he could try the beef-flavoured toothpaste” On this week’s episode: two fan favourites: stories about some of the sweetest characters in the Vinyl Cafe universe – the animals! 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.

Hold the Phone - The Phone Message

2026/02/06

"It began simply enough. It began with a phone call." Stuart loved talking on the phone: much of his work revolved around phone calls. Jess talks about some of the memorable phone calls you may have heard on the Vinyl Cafe radio show over the years, plus we’ve got an essay Stuart wrote about his journalistic practice and a Dave and Morley story. 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.

Leacock - The Roundabout & Keswick

2026/01/30

“What’s in a name? When it’s yours – a lot, apparently.” We’re talking about Canadian humour today on the podcast. We're following a thread back to Stephen Leacock and the ways in which he influenced Stuart McLean's writing. We have a Dave & Morley story for you, plus a postcard from Leacock’s hometown, which includes memories of Stuart's friend, the late CBC Radio host Peter Gzowski. 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.

Shout out to… - Code Yellow & Murphy’s Bar Mitzvah

2026/01/23

“Dave’s relationship with hospitals over the years has not been without problems.” The two Stuart McLean stories on today’s episode are connected in a very cool way. Both contain secret shout outs to people Stuart loved. Jess tells the backstory behind the little easter eggs like this that Stuart occasionally hid. 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.

Après Ski & Other Lessons – The Greatest Hockey Game

2026/01/16

“They tried to stop us, says the old man. But we kept playing.” We’re talking about winter sports on this week’s episode. We’ve got two stories about hockey – a Dave & Morley story and a listener story exchange. Plus, a back story from Jess about her personal connection to sportswriting and how that informed Stuart’s research for his hockey story. 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.

New way to listen: Ad-free and much more!

2026/01/15

Season 7 of Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe started last week, did you catch the first episode? We’ll be with you every Friday until the summer. Whoo! And for those of you who have asked: Our friends at the Apostrophe Podcast Network are now offering a subscriber option. Subscribers listen to the pod ad-free – zero ads across the entire catalogue. Every week subscribers get the show early, PLUS a whole bunch of other goodies too… Click here to learn more about how to subscribe. There's already an early access episode waiting for you! If you are happy with the podcast just the way it is? All good! No need for you to do anything. Nothing is changing unless you want it to. Subscribe here. 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.

Embracing Winter – Holland

2026/01/09

“It was the greatest skate of her life.” Happy New Year! Welcome back to Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe! Light a fire, get a bowl of soup, and a cozy blanket and settle in, because we’re celebrating the season today on the show. We’ve got a story exchange for you, plus an essay Stuart wrote for the radio show about walking on ice. And we have a Dave and Morley story for you about their trip to Europe to skate on the canals. 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.

Christmas Cheer - Christmas at the Turlingtons’ & Dave Cooks the Turkey

2025/12/19

“Did you take the turkey out of the freezer?” For our last episode of the season – and our last before the Holidays – two Christmas classics! Plus, a beautiful, seasonal listener story from the Vinyl Cafe Story Exchange. For many of you, these Stuart McLean stories need no introduction, so grab a cup of egg nog, put your feet up and enjoy. Merry Christmas! 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.

Best Behaviour - Christmas at Tommy’s & Polly Anderson’s Christmas Party

2025/12/12

“First fires…. and then floods” On this week’s episode, two hilarious Stuart McLean stories about being out and about, Christmas visiting. Our first story is one that many of you may not have heard before, about Dave and Morley’s visit to the home of Stephanie’s boyfriend,Tommy. Tommy's parents are facing their own challenges with cooking the turkey. Jess shares a backstory about some of the characters in that story. 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.

Dave on the Roof - Dave on the Roof & Christmas on the Road

2025/12/05

“Eustache was bracing himself for a long and lonely Christmas” It’s December so we’re going the full festive from now until Christmas! This week, two classic Dave & Morley stories of seasonal shenanigans, plus a story exchange about a very special Christmas Eve. 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.

Dave Plays Santa - Dave Plays Santa & Springhill

2025/11/28

“Christmas in Dave’s record store is just plain fun” On today’s episode, Jess talks about the challenges of trying to create Christmas magic when you’re not necessarily feeling it yourself. That’s a bit of the back story behind Stuart’s writing of “Dave Plays Santa” - we’ll play that story for you. And we’ve got another back story connected to “Dave Plays Santa”, which links to our second story this week. 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.

Gobble Gobble - Dave Raises the Turkey & Dave and the Duck

2025/11/21

“Dave stared at the duck in disbelief. The duck stared back at him.” This week, we’re back talking about birds again, with two of Stuart McLean's hilarious stories about Dave and… poultry. Yes, this week’s theme is quite specific! Our first story is one you may not have heard before: Dave decides to try his hand at small-scale poultry farming… 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.

Vinyl Cafe: The Musical - Rashida, Amir and the Great Gift-Giving

2025/11/14

“Christmas Day is going to be a little strained in Dave’s neighbourhood this year.” Today on the pod we’re all about Vinyl Cafe: The Musical! To celebrate its premiere, Jess shares the story of how the musical came into being and the excitement of seeing it come to life. Plus, you can hear one of the stories that inspired the musical in the first place. Vinyl Cafe: The Musical has been held over for an additional week! It runs until December 7th. For tickets see: https://citadeltheatre.com/shows/vinyl-cafe-the-musical/ 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.

We Shall Remember - Remembrance Day

2025/11/07

“There’s something about the ghosts who live in the house where you live.” This week something special for Remembrance Day: an essay Stuart McLean wrote about George Lawrence Price, a Canadian soldier killed in the very last moments of the first world war. And we have two Vinyl Cafe stories for you: a wartime story exchange, and a Dave and Morley story where they learn about the life of someone who lived in their house many years before. 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.

All Hallows Eve – Halloween

2025/10/31

“Let me state the case for Hallowe’en” Today’s the day - Happy Hallowe’en! We’ve got a wonderful story exchange about an immigrant’s first experience of Trick or Treating. And we'll also play Stuart McLean's story about Sam and Stephanie's Halloween; it's a story about this magical evening, but it's also about growing up and finding independence. 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.

Podcast reviews

Read Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe podcast reviews

4.9 out of 5

209 reviews

★★★★★

trmoor 2025/10/03

New season, old stories

I look forward to the podcast every week and was so excited for the new season, but most of the stories have all been stories already done in the prev...

★★★★★

backstageatthelaughtercafe 2025/07/07

Bahaahahah

Such funny, wholesome stories! Stuart is a great story writer and teller. I only wish there weren’t the adds in between. I laugh so hard at the storie...

★★★★★

Wm P II 2025/06/22

First Visit to the Vinyl Cafe?

Then you’ve got a treat waiting for you. These timeless stories capture a slice of Canadian life that even Americans like me can appreciate.

★★★★★

Kaz153 2025/05/10

Simply the Best!

We love this podcast as it makes any gloomy day a bit brighter. Thank you!

★★★★★

Mary-London 2025/02/23

Laughing loudly again!!

So great to listen to and then I can’t stop laughing sometimes. What a treat again!

★★★★★

idahoclearwater 2024/06/06

Thank You

I cannot begin to thank you enough for bringing Stuart’s voice back - I’ve missed hearing him more than I can believe.

★★★★★

EvenTallerDude 2023/09/22

Delightful Pleasure

Every new episode is like a breath of fresh air for the soul.

★★★★☆

2niknam 2024/02/23

Love Stuart!

I love to hear Stuart’s voice - too much time spent on lead up to the recordings.

★★★★★

Brett 828 2023/09/10

Thank you!

Thank you for these wonderful stories! Hearing Stuart’s voice is like visiting with an old and very funny friend. Love the backstories too! Delighted ...

★★★★★

DONINSEATTLE 2023/09/01

Some of the best storytelling ever!

Thank you so much for this! I can not tell you how much I have missed Stuart’s wit and wisdom!

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