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The 1st Half

The 1st Half

The 1st Half goes beyond the pitch, tapping into soccer's cultural pulse, from its influence on fashion to its power to bring people together. Join Paul Desbaillets as he interviews guests from the greater community each week, tapping into their shared passion for the world’s most beautiful game.


  • Jul 25

    This week on The 1st Half Culture Show, Paul Desbaillets sits down with Olympian and British figure skater Olivia Smart as they talk about how important her last skating season was, the upcoming 2026 Olympics, why she supported Manchester United this past season despite being a Sheffield United fan, why putting on a great performance for the fans is important to her, potentially getting other figure skaters to do a soccer match on ice, her most memorable moments and much more. Paul breaks down this week’s hot topics including, England vs Spain in the Women’s Euro Final, Marcus Rashford going to Barcelona, Lionel Messi’s new contract and Canada’s men team moving up the rankings of FIFA. Catch The 1st Half Culture Show every Friday at 6 pm on TSN 690 Montreal, where soccer meets pop culture. With weekly guests, bold takes, and Paul’s signature wit, it’s the ultimate mix of football, culture, and conversation you didn’t know you needed!

  • Jul 18

    1st Half with Guest - Abdul Mohamed

    This week on The 1st Half Culture Show, Paul Desbaillets sits down with Abdul Mohamed of the Montreal Alliance in the Canadian Elite Basketball League, to talk about his upbringing, how his growth spurts led him to basketball, his father's soccer background and allegiances, his support of Manchester City, who in his family is currently playing for West Ham United's women football club, his playing days in Germany with Bayern Leverkusen, how has the season been for him with the Montreal Alliance and much more. Paul breaks down this week’s hot topics including Manchester City's new deal with Puma. Catch The 1st Half Culture Show every Friday at 6 pm on TSN 690 Montreal, where soccer meets pop culture. With weekly guests, bold takes, and Paul’s signature wit, it’s the ultimate mix of football, culture, and conversation you didn’t know you needed!

  • Jul 11

    1st Half with Guest - Emi Jeen

    This week on The 1st Half Culture Show, Paul Desbaillets sits down with musical artist Emi Jeen, to talk about her 45 show world tour, being apart of Osheaga and the Grand Prix in Montreal, her playing football when she was younger and how it helped her with discipline, getting into singing after coming from a very small town near Quebec City and much more. Paul breaks down this week’s hot topics including, FIFA opening up an office in Trump Tower, whether or not there’s too much football being played, the Premier League season getting ready to start, not having big games in the 1st week, Oasis working with Adidas and much more. Catch The 1st Half Culture Show every Friday at 6 pm on TSN 690 Montreal, where soccer meets pop culture. With weekly guests, bold takes, and Paul’s signature wit, it’s the ultimate mix of football, culture, and conversation you didn’t know you needed!

  • Jul 11

    1st Half with Guest - Gionatan Catalano

    This week on The 1st Half Culture Show, Paul Desbaillets sits down with musical artist Gionatan Catalano as they talk about him being born in Italy, how and why he came to Montreal, why he thought he would go back to Italy at a young age, going against the grain and becoming a Milan fan, what got him into music, being at the Champions League semi-final between Milan and Inter and much more. Paul breaks down this week’s hot topics including, Crystal Palace getting hammered and removed from the Europa League and relegated to the Conference League, Jordan Henderson going to Brentford, the UEFA Supercup and the Premier League starting in August. Catch The 1st Half Culture Show every Friday at 6 pm on TSN 690 Montreal, where soccer meets pop culture. With weekly guests, bold takes, and Paul’s signature wit, it’s the ultimate mix of football, culture, and conversation you didn’t know you needed!

  • Jul 4

    This week on The 1st Half, Paul Desbaillets sits down Daniel Lo Manto and Fabio Sperduti the owners of the Bossa sandwich shop in Montreal, celebrating their 7th anniversary, having multiple locations across the city including a coming one at DIX30, opening up sister restaurants, creating new sandwiches, creating football kits, always looking to improve, staying consistent and relevant and much more. Paul breaks down this week’s topics including the tragic passing of Diogo Joto and his brother Andre Silva, Lionel Messi and Inter Miami coming down to play CF Montreal at Stade Saputo, Jonathan David signing with Juventus, the 2025 Women’s Euro tournament and the USA vs Mexico in the Gold Cup Final. Catch The 1st Half Culture Show every Friday at 6 pm on TSN 690 Montreal, where soccer meets pop culture. With weekly guests, bold takes, and Paul’s signature wit, it’s the ultimate mix of football, culture, and conversation you didn’t know you needed!

  • Jun 27

    1st Half with guest - Robert Rositoiu

    This week on The 1st Half Culture Show, Paul Desbaillets sits down with the Head Coach of the Montreal Roses Robert Rositoiu as they talk about how he developed a passion for football, being the Head Coach of AS Blainville’s women’s team, being an assistant for the McGill Redbirds, seeing the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy, being adaptable as a coach, his favorite team being Arsenal, being a part of the Inaugural season for the Roses, his favorite moment so far, meeting Thierry Henry and much more. Paul breaks down this week’s hot topics including, the scrapping of pivotal EPL fixtures and he is also joined by Kevin Duarte to talk about the Buffon Academy Summer Camp which is coming to Montreal in August. The camp is organized and run by, Invicta Sports, the exclusive Canadian partner of the Buffon Academy, founded by legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. This is the first-ever Canadian edition and a unique local opportunity to access top-tier goalkeeper training. Catch The 1st Half Culture Show every Friday at 6 pm on TSN 690 Montreal, where soccer meets pop culture. With weekly guests, bold takes, and Paul’s signature wit, it’s the ultimate mix of football, culture, and conversation you didn’t know you needed!

  • Jun 20

    1st Half with guest - Paul Toussaint

    This week on The 1st Half, Paul Desbaillets sits down with Chef Paul Toussaint who was chosen as Chef of the Year in 2021 by Eater Montreal and was included in Canada’s 100 best in 2020. To talk about his upbringing in Haiti, the culture as a whole, a collaboration that led to the making of a new restaurant, 3 Pierres 1 Feu, his love for the Brazilian national team, his new project called Maison Du Jerk and much more. Paul breaks down this week’s hot topics including, David Beckham being knighted and the upsets that have been happening at the Club World Cup. Catch The 1st Half Culture Show every Friday at 6 pm on TSN 690 Montreal, where soccer meets pop culture. With weekly guests, bold takes, and Paul’s signature wit, it’s the ultimate mix of football, culture, and conversation you didn’t know you needed!

  • Jun 20

    1st Half with guest - Nir Guzinski

    This week on The 1st Half Culture Show, Paul Desbaillets sits down with Nir Guzinski, Actor, Comedian, Writer, and TikTok celeb to talk about what he’s been up to in the comedy world, how he got introduced to football, the current state of the acting world especially in Montreal, the growing complexity of Tik Tok and more. Paul breaks down this week’s hot topics including, the Club World Cup, and he is also joined by Canadian boxing legend Jean Pascal who previews his upcoming title fight against Michal Cieslak for the WBC Interim Crusieweight belt, the current state of boxing in Quebec Catch The 1st Half Culture Show every Friday at 6 pm on TSN 690 Montreal, where soccer meets pop culture. With weekly guests, bold takes, and Paul’s signature wit, it’s the ultimate mix of football, culture, and conversation you didn’t know you needed!

  • Jun 13

    1st Half with guest - Skyler Mota

    This week on The 1st Half Culture Show, Paul Desbaillets sits down with Skyler Mota the Co-Founder and President of Canadian Marketing Agency CRUEL, they talk about the difficulties of the marketing world, working on fashion shows at the Paris Fashion Week, helping to bring the Sports Illustrated Circuit Series to the Grand-Prix this weekend, being a massive Portugal supporter and them winning their 2nd Nations League trophy, being in Portugal for the 2004 Euro and much more. Paul breaks down this week’s hot topics including, Alphonso Davies and Christian Pulisic being at Stanley Cup Final games, the Club World Cup getting ready to kick off, with Inter Miami, Bayern Munich, Champions League winners PSG, LAFC, Atletico Madrid among many others. Catch The 1st Half Culture Show every Friday at 6 pm on TSN 690 Montreal, where soccer meets pop culture. With weekly guests, bold takes, and Paul’s signature wit, it’s the ultimate mix of football, culture, and conversation you didn’t know you needed!

  • Jun 6

    1st Half with guest - Tom Pearce

    This week on The 1st Half Culture Show, Paul Desbaillets sits down with Tom Pearce as they talk about his time playing for Wigan Athletic and Leeds United, how he became a Liverpool fan, playing for Everton Academy, differences between the MLS and the English league, some of the worst experiences of his young career, the best game he’s ever attended, his favorite food since being in Montreal. Paul breaks down this week’s hot topics including, PSG winning their first ever Champions League title against Inter Milan, what it means for Inter going forward, the bright future for PSG, Ange Postecoglou getting sacked by Tottenham and their young stars and the groups for the FIFA Club World Cup. Catch The 1st Half Culture Show every Friday at 6 pm on TSN 690 Montreal, where soccer meets pop culture. With weekly guests, bold takes, and Paul’s signature wit, it’s the ultimate mix of football, culture, and conversation you didn’t know you needed!