The 1st Half Culture Show
The 1st Half Culture Show is a unique podcast series that explores the profound impact of football on North American culture. Hosted by restaurateur and footy culture junkie Paul Desbaillets, this series unites football enthusiasts to discover how the beautiful game influences fashion, art, music, and food. Featuring visits to local neighborhoods and businesses, and interviews with chefs, athletes, artists, and tastemakers, it delves into street art and local scenes. The show provides a vibrant glimpse into how futbol merges with daily life and creativity. Join us for a unique North American perspective on football. Available in video format exclusively on YouTube: @the1sthalf_ All Things Soccer Culture — Our Game, Our Spin! #acertianstyleoflife
Episodes
From Romania to Montreal, Robert Rositoiu has dedicated his career to developing young football talent and shaping the future of the game in Canada.
As head coach of the Montreal Roses FC, Robert talks about winning in Ligue1 Québec, his time at CF Montréal, and what it takes to build players who can compete on the international stage.
⚽ “Coaching is more than tactics — it’s building people, not just players.”
🎧 Watch the full episod...
From the markets of Haiti to the kitchens of Montreal, Chef Paul Toussaint has never stopped bringing culture, community, and soul to the table. In this week's episode, Paul opens up about why he chose food over football, his deep love for the Haitian community, and how he built a BBQ concept inspired by Texas smokehouses and Caribbean soul.🔥 “When you cook, you should do it with the same love you’d show your family.”⚽ “I love...
🎭⚽ From house league heroics to Netflix screen time — Montreal-based actor, writer, and sketch comic Nir Guzinski joins The 1st Half Culture Show to talk football, acting, and how the city shaped his creative hustle.He opens up about:Getting his start in football with the NDG PanthersDealing with setbacks, including the team not making Triple-AHis dad secretly watching games after being asked not to comeScoring the winning goal in...
From university parties to Paris Fashion Week, Schuyler Mota has helped shape Canada’s experiential marketing scene. As President and Co-Founder of CRUEL, he’s led cultural campaigns and branded activations that stretch across Canada and beyond.In this episode of The 1st Half on TSN690, Schuyler sits down with Paul Desbaillets to talk about building CRUEL from the ground up, launching Sports Illustrated’s Circuit Series during F1 W...
🇨🇦⚽ From Wigan to CF Montréal, Tom Pearce shares the ride: growing up near Liverpool, switching academies, getting capped for England, and embracing the poutine life.
In this exclusive sit-down, Tom reflects on culture shock, surviving relegation, and how Montreal is reshaping his game. From Full English breakfasts to playing in the Toulon Tournament, this convo runs deep.
Plus, we hit him with the fan-favorite "12 Questions"—his t...
Rocco Placentino’s story is a journey through passion, grit, and grassroots football power. From playing professionally in Italy to becoming Technical Director at CS Saint-Laurent, Rocco is now helping rewrite Canadian soccer's trajectory—one player, one pitch at a time.
In this episode of The 1st Half Culture Show with Paul Desbaillets on TSN 690, Rocco shares what it was like playing in truffle towns in Italy, how missing a pe...
This week, Paul Desbaillets sits down with Fred and Marco — the beloved faces behind Montreal’s Satay Brothers. From slinging Southeast Asian street food at the Atwater Market to becoming culinary legends on Notre-Dame Street, the boys dish out their origin stories and how football has been a constant thread in their journey.They talk about the multicultural roots of their football passion, the Impact players who used to swing by, ...
This week, Paul Desbaillets sits down with Emilio Zaga Mendez, the Senior Branding Manager at evenko and the creative force behind Canada's premier Latin music festival, Fuego Fuego. From his Peruvian roots and football heritage to shaping the visual identity of major festivals like OSHEAGA, Emilio shares his journey of blending culture, sport, and music into unforgettable experiences.Discover how his uncle, Nolberto Solano, a ...
In this episode of The 1st Half Culture Show, comedian and reality TV alum Kevin Lapierre shares how his path from Occupation Double South Africa and Big Brother Célébrités led him to a growing stand-up comedy career.Kevin opens up about his early days working bars, his influences, and how his time in South Africa wasn’t just about reality TV—it also included an unforgettable football experience at Cape Town Stadium. Plus, he tells...
From the Streets of Paris to Football Glory & Mental Health AdvocacyThis week on The 1st Half Culture Show, we sit down with Hassoun Camara, former CF Montréal defender turned speaker, entrepreneur, and TV personality. In this raw and revealing conversation, Hassoun talks about the hustle of trying to make it in Europe, the emotional highs of playing in the CONCACAF Final at Azteca, and the lowest point in his career when he ha...
Chef Antonio Park returns to The 1st Half Culture Show to talk food, football, and feeding the world’s elite athletes. From cooking for the X-Men to AC Milan players, Washington Capitals, Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, Checo Perez, PK Suban, Thierry Henry, Gabriel Diallo, Alexis Galarneau, Nick Suzuki , Alex Albon and international A-List Celebrities to his love for Tottenham Hotspur and his Argentina football roots, this is a convers...
This week on The 1st Half Culture Show, former CF Montréal fan favorite and current Columbus Crew veteran Evan Bush joins Paul Desbaillets via call-in for an honest look at life during and after MLS. A 17-year professional, Evan shares deeply personal reflections on overcoming multiple injuries, his transition into front-office roles, and what football has taught him about resilience, identity, and community.
From the heartbreak of ...
"If I did well, I was supposed to. If I played bad… how could you be this bad? When your dad's that guy and your brother's this guy." — Bradley Wright-PhillipsIn this exclusive Breville-featured episode of The 1st Half Culture Show, Paul Desbaillets sits down with MLS legend and football royalty Bradley Wright-Phillips.
Presented by Breville in collaboration with evenko and CULTMTL
From growing up in one of Engl...
This week on The 1st Half Culture Show, host Paul Desbaillets sits down with Danny Marinelli—co-owner of the beloved Marinelli Brothers Café and the face behind Montreal’s official AS Roma supporters hub.
From a legendary family-run business rooted in Italian hospitality to unforgettable moments like seeing Chiellini and Bonucci walk into his restaurant during Grand Prix weekend, Danny opens up about the realities of running a café ...
On this episode of The 1st Half Culture Show, Massimo Lecas shares his journey from launching Buonanotte in 1991 to shaping Montreal’s food and nightlife scene for over 30 years. We dive into his vision of blending food, entertainment, and football culture—hosting football legends like Alessandro Nesta, Andrea Pirlo, Paul Pogba, and more.
"We feed you, but we also entertain you. It’s about creating an experience, not just servi...
On this episode of The 1st Half Culture Show, we sit down with the Darby Magazine crew, the team behind Canada’s leading independent football publication. They share their mission to capture the untold stories of Canadian soccer, celebrate its culture, and document the sport’s evolution through high-quality storytelling and print media.
Key Topics We Cover:
0:00 – The Origins of Darby Magazine & Why Print Still Matters
In this episode of The 1st Half Culture Show, host Paul Desbaillets chats with Kei Kamara, one of MLS’s all-time top scorers. Kei opens up about his remarkable career, his ambition to play in the 2026 World Cup for Sierra Leone, and balancing family with football.
“I want to be the Roger Milla of my generation,” Kamara shares as he reflects on his journey and what’s next.
On this episode ofThe 1st Half Culture Show, hostPaul Desbaillets sits down withChien Champion, the Montreal-based visual artist known for hisNike Dunk Bagel box design, CF Montréal murals, and street art that brings the city to life.
What we cover:
0:00 –How the Nike Dunk Bagel collab became a love letter to Montreal
2:15 –The connection between football, identity, and artistic expression
5:30 –His Chilean roots and how family inf...
On this episode of The 1st Half Culture Show, host Paul Desbaillets sits down with Laurent Courtois, head coach of CF Montréal, to explore his transition from player to coach, his leadership philosophy, and what it takes to succeed in modern football.
What we cover:
- How growing up in Lyon’s street football scene shaped his playing style
- The pressure of signing a pro contract at 16 and the reality of expectations
- His transi...
This week on The 1st Half Culture Show, host Paul Desbaillets sits down with Stefano Polillo & Marcello Furgiuele, hosts of Milan Weekly Podcast and key figures in Milan Club Montreal.
🔥 These two die-hard AC Milan fans break down:
⚽ How Milan Weekly Podcast became a go-to for English-speaking Milanisti
🏟️ The rise of AC Milan’s global fanbase & the club’s international brand moves
⚡ The impact of the 2026 FIFA World Cup...
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