“Family and friends, they sure mess up our lives…”
For our final episode of this season, two classic Vinyl Cafe Christmas stories by Stuart McLean. Dave tries to make himself useful at Mary Turlington’s festive dinner party, with disastrous consequences. In our second story, the family experiences a very different kind of Christmas, special in its own way. And Jess realizes a surprising theme that links these two fan favourites…something that she hopes will help her unlock the spirit of the season. 
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A Perfect, Imperfect Christmas - Christmas at the Turlingtons’ & Christmas on the Road

Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe welcomes listeners into the warm and comforting world of the Vinyl Cafe. Each episode features stories about&nbsp;Canada’s favourite fictional family: Dave, Morley and the kids, narrated by the late Stuart McLean and recorded live in concert.&nbsp;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.
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Society & Culture

Personal Journals

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Philosophy

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Kids & Family

Fiction

“A hive of bees is like a harvest kitchen. They gather up the summer: the heat of the sun, the warmth of the rain…”   This week on the podcast, two Stuart McLean stories to whet your appetite for summer. In the first, Dave remembers an incredible woodland encounter from his youth in Cape Breton; in the second, Eugene puts Sam and Murphy on the trail of a bee line.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Promise of Summer - The Man Who Punched Trees & Rosemary Honey

“It started like a sprint. One moment you were standing still, and the next you were running as fast as you could.”   Hold on tight! On today’s show, in time for Mother’s Day, two Vinyl Cafe stories about motherhood. And Jess shares a backstory about her own experiences – cue the bucking bronco! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bucking Bronco (aka Mother’s Day) - Sam’s Underwear & Harrison Ford’s Toes

“It says it’s one of the most wonderful tastes in the world.”   It’s a gastronomical episode of the podcast today. Stuart loved writing about his favourite foods – both in fiction and non-fiction – and Jess has gathered some great examples of both for today’s show. Plus a hilariously endearing story about Sam’s first passion.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Food Glorious Food - No Tax on Truffles

“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.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Cricket - The Cricket & I Need to Pee

“There are only so many holes a man can cut in his own house before he is told to stop.”   Today on the show, two classic Stuart McLean stories, including Odd Jobs. That’s the one where Dave tries his hand at some home renovations, with hilarious consequences. And Jess has a backstory about the magic of Vinyl Cafe audiences. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Perfect, Imperfect Christmas - Christmas at the Turlingtons’ & Christmas on the Road

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