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, and how food, football, and good vibes built a lasting community around their kitchens.

#SatayBrothers #MontrealEats #SingaporeanStreetFood #FootballCulture #The1stHalf #TSN690 #iHeartRadio #AtwaterMarket #NotreDameStreet #CulinaryJourney #FCChinatown #SoccerAndFood #MontrealRestaurants #StreetFoodCanada #FoodieMontreal

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 former player for Newcastle United and West Ham, influenced his passion for football and branding. Emilio also delves into the challenges and triumphs of bringing Latin music to the forefront of Canada's festival scene.TSN🎧 Tune in to explore the intersection of football, music, and cultural identity.

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 a wild story about getting too close to AS Roma ultras at the Stadio Olimpico.We also talk about why giving back matters to him, his connection to community as a GOAL Initiatives ambassador, and how comedy helps him tell the stories that matter.

#kevinlapierre #standupcomedy #comedianlife #occupationdouble #bigbrothercelebrites #montrealcomedy #asroma #footballculture #romahooligans #canadiancomedy #comedienquebec #acertainstyleoflife #footballis #communitymatters #TSN690 #iheartradio #goalinitiatives

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 had to rebuild from injury and self-doubt. He opens up about mental health, his mother’s sacrifices, and his mission to give back through youth coaching and conferences.📌 “If I don’t put my leg, it’s gonna be a goal. I knew I was going to break something… but I did it anyway.”Camara reminds us that football isn’t just a game—it’s a reflection of life, sacrifice, and community. A Montreal icon both on and off the pitch, his story is one of perseverance, purpose, and passion.🟢 Watch the full interview now! 🎧 New Episodes Every Wednesday | Live Fridays at 6 PM EST on TSN690

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 conversation that serves flavor and fire. He shares how trust is everything in the kitchen, how he balances high standards with creativity, and why his Montreal flagship, Park, is more than just a restaurant—it’s his way of connecting with people one plate at a time.🗣️ "I might not know their names, but I know what they like—and that’s what matters."Park also gets real about evolving as a chef, parenting, finding peace in cooking, and why making people feel something through food is everything.

#AntonioPark #TottenhamHotspur #WorldCup2026 #MontrealRestaurants #MichelinChef #AsianFusion #MontrealEats #FootballCulture #SoccerPodcast #FineDining #ChefLife #AthleteNutrition #MontrealFoodScene #CulinaryArts #KitchenTalk #SpursFans #BehindTheScenes #MontrealChefs #FootballLifestyle

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 missing the CONCACAF Champions League Final due to a yellow card to the pride of lifting the MLS Cup later in his career, Evan’s journey offers a powerful glimpse behind the gloves.

⚽️ “I’m not sure I even understood what that moment would mean to me emotionally…”
🎧 12 Questions segment starts at 30:28

TSN Listeners — Tune in Fridays at 6PM EST on TSN690 MTL or stream on iHeartRadio Canada.
📺 Full episode available now on YouTube. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

"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 England’s most iconic football families, to carving his own legacy in MLS with the New York Red Bulls, BWP opens up about the real pressures of being a “Wright,” the highs and devastating lows of his career, and why mental health and joy in the game matter more than ever.We dive into what it felt like to miss two penalties in one game, what the Club World Cup means for MLS, the future of youth football in North America, and why retiring a jersey in soccer still blows his mind.📍 This one is for football heads, future athletes, and anyone chasing their own version of greatness.

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 in today’s ultra-competitive market, staying true to football fandom, and why he refused to meet his idol, Francesco Totti.

💥 Best Quote:
"The DJ played a Lazio anthem at a Roma wedding... chaos erupted. That’s when I became a fan."

📍 Dive into family, football, food, and what it means to create a place where culture and community collide in Little Italy, Montreal.

🎧 Full episode available now exclusively on YouTube & Spotify.
🎙️ New episodes every Wednesday.
📻 Live Fridays at 6 PM EST on TSN690 Montreal or the iHeartRadio Canada app.

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 serving food," Massimo reflects on his career.

We also discuss how Gen Z is changing nightlife, the evolution of the restaurant industry, and the passion for football, family, and food that drives his projects.

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
5:30 – The Rise of Canadian Soccer & The Impact of the 2026 World Cup
12:10 – Culture & Football: How the Game Connects Communities
19:45 – The Growth of Women’s Soccer & The Northern Super League
27:20 – 12 Questions with the Darby Crew