Podcast · Society & Culture

Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe

by Apostrophe Podcast Network · English · Society & Culture

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

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 44 min
Latest: 9 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

9 Oct 2026 · 47 min

It's Arthurs Time!

“When Stuart stepped off his bus and waved goodbye, he thought to himself: This guy deserves an award.” Happy Canadian Thanksgiving! This week: shout-outs to some new Arthur nominees and a selection of our favourites from The 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.

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S8 · E4 · 2 Oct 2026 · 29 min
Performance - Kenny Wong and the Tank of Tranquility
“When things go wrong, when, it is seldom the result of some big thing, it is always a chain of simple things, almost all of them avoidable.” What makes a good performer? What makes a great performance? These are the questions we’re exploring on the pod this week, with a backstory about Stuart McLean and a recording of a story that perfectly illustrates the point. 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…
S8 · E3 · 25 Sep 2026 · 48 min
M’Chigeeng - Le Morte D’Arthur
This week we’re spending the entire episode on beautiful Manitoulin Island. We have Stuart’s opening essay from our wonderful visit back in 2010, plus a story exchange and a very special Vinyl Café 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.
S8 · E2 · 18 Sep 2026 · 52 min
Looking Good - The Hairdresser & The House Next Door
“Coming into Dave and Morley’s house is a bit of a challenge. You have to really want to get in.” There’s how things look…. And how things actually are! Today on the pod, two stories about looking good. 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.
S8 · E1 · 11 Sep 2026 · 46 min
School Days - School Lunch & Planet Boy
“Just one day, she wanted one of them to come home and say ‘Gee, lunch was good.’” The alarm clocks are set, the pencils are sharpened, the backpack is loaded. It’s September! We’re back to school and back with a brand new season of Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe and two hilarious Stuart McLean stories about school days. 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.
S8 · 4 Sep 2026 · 1 min
Season 8 - Starting September 11th
Whether you've been on the road, by the lake or curled up with a good book, we hope you have enjoyed your summer. We are so looking forward to welcoming you back to the Vinyl Cafe. We have more of your favourite stories coming up, we'll hear about travels coast to coast and we'll even celebrate the Arthur Awards. Cozy up with a pumpkin spice latte and join us for season 8 starting Friday September 11th. 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:…
S7 · 26 Aug 2026 · 40 min
REWIND WEDNESDAY: All’s Well That Ends Well – Car Wash & Murphy’s Bar Mitzvah
"Thank God, he thought, help has arrived.” Dave tries to be helpful by offering to take Mary Turlington’s car to the car wash — but things don’t go exactly as planned. No stranger to car wash shenanigans herself, Jess fesses up about the inspiration for that story idea. In the second story, Dave plays an unanticipated starring role in Murphy’s Bar Mitzvah. 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…
S7 · 19 Aug 2026 · 38 min
REWIND WEDNESDAY: Summer Things - Dave and Morley, Dancing
"Dave said: 'You're thinking about dancing, aren't you?'" We’re looking towards summer on today’s episode. We have a script Stuart wrote about a magical evening spent in pursuit of fireflies. And a story of summer evenings in Dave and Morley’s neighbourhood. 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.
S7 · 12 Aug 2026 · 35 min
We Regret to Inform You: Rejecting the Goalie Mask
Today we bring you an episode from our friends at the Apostrophe Podcast Network – one of the most-loved shows from the podcast ‘ We Regret to Inform You. ’ If you’re new to the pod, it’s a series that tells the inspiring stories of actors, athletes and even astronauts, who overcame major rejection on their journeys to the stars. This episode, however, is a little different. It's about an object. Specifically, the goalie mask. Before goalie masks were widely accepted, one hall of fame goalie endured over 400 stitches to the head and neck over the course of his career. Some of the early…
S7 · 5 Aug 2026 · 30 min
REWIND WEDNESDAY: The Cricket - The Cricket & I Need to Pee
“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 been requesting, back from Stuart McLean’s regular appearances on Peter Gzowski’s Morningside. (Spoiler alert: You’ll see what happens when two presenters get the giggles on live radio.) Excerpt from Morningside reproduced by permission of CBC Licensing. 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…
S7 · 29 Jul 2026 · 51 min
REWIND WEDNESDAY: Hero Dave - The Yoga Retreat & Dave's Truck
“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; or not for Dave and Stephanie, at least. This week, Stuart McLean tells two hilarious stories about Dave’s good intentions gone awry. And Jess shares some road stories, including a memorable attempt to get the entire Vinyl Cafe crew up to the remote but spectacular Powell River, British Columbia. 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…
S7 · 22 Jul 2026 · 41 min
REWIND WEDNESDAY: Seeds of Hope - The Fig Tree & Morley's Garden
“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. 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.
S7 · 15 Jul 2026 · 29 min
Under the Influence - Setting the Table: Best Opening Stories
This week we bring you an episode from another Apostrophe Podcast network show: Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly. In this episode, Terry shares some of his best opening stories of all time. CBC listeners may remember that Terry begins each episode with a story - usually unrelated to marketing - that helps lay the foundation for that episode. They are always engaging, often surprising and certain to give you a story to share at your next dinner party. We hope you enjoy Setting the Table: The Best Opening Stories. Ad-free listening is here! Listen to the pod ad-free and early, PLUS a…
S7 · 8 Jul 2026 · 48 min
REWIND WEDNESDAY: Bonus Episode - The Boy Who Went Over the Falls
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 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.
S7 · 1 Jul 2026 · 50 min
REWIND WEDNESDAY: There’s No Place Like Home - Tree of Heaven & Burd
“She was a woodland bird, in the middle of the city, way off course, and she had landed at his feeder.” Stuart McLean tells two Dave and Morley stories that explore the idea of home in its various forms: in Burd, a tiny feathered friend gets blown off course and finds its way to Dave and Morley’s garden where it decides to stop a while. And in Tree of Heaven a seedling takes root – in Dave’s car… and in his heart. Also this week, Jess tells a hilarious story about the trip she and Stuart took to Point Pelee to learn about birders and birding. Ad-free listening is here! Listen to the pod…
S7 · E24 · 19 Jun 2026 · 52 min
Summer in the City - The Waterslide & Rosemary Honey
“This waterslide was the waterslide to end all waterslides” School’s – almost – out for summer! For our final episode of this season we've got the podcast equivalent of a banger end-of-year pool party. Get ready to jump in! 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.
S7 · E23 · 12 Jun 2026 · 49 min
Summer Adventures - MacCaulay’s Mountain & Letter from Camp
"This is the first summer Sam has been in Big Narrows without Dave and Morley..." We are so ready for summer here! Are you? So on today’s podcast we’re talking summer adventures, start to finish, with two great summer stories by Stuart McLean. 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.
S7 · E22 · 5 Jun 2026 · 52 min
Dads - Field Trip & Dave and the Rollercoaster
We're a few weeks early, I know, but this week on the podcast we’re celebrating Dads! We’ve got two hilarious stories about Dave’s parenting adventures. 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.
S7 · E21 · 29 May 2026 · 54 min
My Dying Wish - Dave Buys a Coffin & Dad is Dying
What song would you want played at your funeral? Dave starts thinking about that in our first story and ends by taking funeral preparation to a whole new level! Our second story is also about death. But don’t worry, it’s a funny one too. 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.
S7 · E20 · 22 May 2026 · 53 min
Eugene Double Bill - Rendi & Eugene's Teeth
“It has been many long years since he sunk his teeth into anything.” On this week’s episode, two stories about everyone’s favourite Vinyl Cafe neighbour: Eugene! And Jess notices some similarities from closer to home. 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.
S7 · E19 · 15 May 2026 · 35 min
Gone Fishing - Curse of the Crayfish & Mabou
“I swear I smelled his breath.” We’ve got another Postcard from Canada for you today. It’s about the town of Mabou, Cape Breton, but it’s also about the art of fly fishing. And we’ve got a Dave & Morley story for you: Dave and friends enter a fishing derby and catch way more than they expected! 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.
S7 · E18 · 8 May 2026 · 34 min
Where We Gather - Fire at the Old Town Hall
“Everyone in town heard the lightning hit.” We’re talking about gathering places on this week’s episode; those vital places that serve our communities in so many ways. We start with a piece Stuart wrote about the Parliament buildings (a follow up to the Amazing Spaces episode from last season). Then a moving listener story about a town hall, and a story about the town hall in Dave’s hometown. 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…
S7 · E17 · 1 May 2026 · 50 min
Grandparents are the Best Parents -The Mermaid and Other Mysteries & Summer of Stars
“And then one night … there were shooting stars.” Today on the pod, two stories set in Dave’s hometown of Big Narrows, Nova Scotia, stories where the grandparents step in to help, and to work their quiet magic. 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.
S7 · E16 · 24 Apr 2026 · 42 min
Community – Defibrillator
“It’s not clear who thought up the defibrillator” On today’s episode, we’re talking about community. We’ll play one of Stuart’s opening scripts, about an inspiring community project that we learned about on our travels with the Vinyl Cafe: The Smiths Falls Station Theatre. Plus, a Dave and Morley story about a more unusual type of community venture. 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…
S7 · E15 · 17 Apr 2026 · 50 min
Cat show - Jim and Molly the Cat
"Galway began flushing the toilet again in the autumn…" For all you cat lovers out there, today is your day. Today on the show we’re all about our feline friends, with two hilarious stories about the cats in Dave & Morley’s neighbourhood. 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.
S7 · E14 · 10 Apr 2026 · 41 min
Feedback Episode - Odd Jobs & The Turlingtons’ Dog
“It would work so much better if we could plug the toaster in at the table” Two of your most-requested Vinyl Cafe stories on this week’s show. Some vintage Stuart McLean, at your service! 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.
S7 · E13 · 3 Apr 2026 · 33 min
More Postcards from Canada – Tofino & Halifax
You asked, we listened! So, this week on the pod, we’ve got two more of Stuart’s love letters to this country, what we call his Postcards from Canada. 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.
S7 · E12 · 27 Mar 2026 · 36 min
Fun on Wheels - Cat in the Car & Dave and the Bike
"He looked like a kid on a roller coaster. But not one of the happy ones.” On today’s episode, two stories about transportation—and what happens when it takes on a life of its own (with a little help from Dave of course…) 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.
S7 · E11 · 20 Mar 2026 · 44 min
Je Ne Sais Quoi - Petit Lac Noir & Montreal
“Bonjour,” he said. “Je m’appelle Dave.” Stuart loved Quebec and was proud to have grown up there. That influence is apparent in so many of his stories. We’ll play one of them today. Plus one of his Postcards from Canada, from Montreal. 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.
S7 · E10 · 13 Mar 2026 · 42 min
In the Woods - The Man Who Punched Trees
“It was a magnificent tree.” We’re thinking about our connection to the natural world on this week’s pod. We’ve got an essay from Stuart McLean about a Winnipeg tree that galvanized a community, and a story about a woodsman from Dave’s childhood in Cape Breton. 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.

About Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe

Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe is a English society & culture podcast from Apostrophe Podcast Network. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Apostrophe Podcast Network
Language: English
Category: Society & Culture
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 44 min
Latest episode: 9 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1661643068
Rights: Apostrophe Podcast Network

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