“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. 

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“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. 

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“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.

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“I guess I figured having a fish head could come in handy.”

On this week’s episode Stuart celebrates the joys of birding and the Spring bird migration. And we have two springy stories, including a favourite from the Vinyl Cafe story exchange. To submit your short, true story to the Story Exchange, send it to [email protected].

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“There is nothing like a wedding to addle people’s minds.”

Today on the pod we have two hilarious stories about marriage and proposal. In the first, Dave loses his wedding ring and fears it may have been swallowed by a duck! In the second, Dave’s mom Margaret surprises everyone by agreeing to marry again. And Jess shares her own experience of wedding rings and proposal.

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“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. 

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“It was 4:30 in the morning and Dave was having a nightmare about something that smelled bad.”

On today’s episode we have a fragrant story from way back. And Jess chats in studio with Stuart’s old friends David and Elizabeth, who share how Morley got her name—and surprise Jess with some entertaining backstories of their own! 

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“It is the best maple syrup I have ever had, said Sam.”

We’re celebrating one of the wonders of spring on the pod this week: Stuart waxes lyrical about his favourite tipple, maple syrup, then tells a story about the time Dave tried to make his own. 

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“The kids were always up to something in the Narrows.”

This week’s episode is all about kids and what we can learn from them. The first story relates an adventure from when Dave was a boy. In the second, Dave’s adventures continue, with a little help from his son Sam.

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“By the end of the first trimester, Dave had put on 12lbs.”

A surprising theme links our two stories this week. In the first, Dave has a hellish trip to the grocery store—and Jess has a backstory about what shopping with Stuart was really like. Our second story takes us back to the early days of Dave and Morley’s relationship, when Morley is pregnant with their first child.

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"He was about to climb in—just for a second, just to see…"

Poor Dave gets himself into some tight situations in both this week’s stories. And Jess explores the snapshots of detail that enrich them.

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