Quebec has a different football mentality, and that mindset is helping shape the future of the game in Canada.In this in-depth episode of The First Half, we sit down with Kyt Selaidopoulos, Assistant Coach and Director of Youth Football at Forge FC, Head Coach of Canada’s National Futsal Team, and one of the most respected football minds in the country.Kyt shares insight on the culture of football in Quebec, the evolution of the Canadian Premier League, the impact of the 2026 World Cup, and what it truly takes to build winning programs, from youth development to the professional level.From his playing days with Montreal Impact to building championship culture at Forge FC, this conversation covers mentality, leadership, preparation, and long-term growth in Canadian football.

In this exclusive in-studio interview, FC Supra head coach Nick Rosati shares his journey, philosophy and vision ahead of the club’s 2026 Canadian Premier League debut.

From starting on the sideline at 17 to learning from the NFL, NBA and hockey, Rosati explains why humility, ego management and man management are at the heart of his approach. He breaks down how to build a winning culture from day one, how to develop players the right way and what the growth of the Canadian Premier League means for the future of the game.

⚽ The 1st Half Culture Show with Paul Desbaillets.
Watch the full video here and listen wherever you get your podcasts.

#The1stHalf #acertainstyleoflife #footballis #NickRosati #FCSupra #CanadianPremierLeague #CPL #CanadianSoccer #SportsLeadership #FootballCulture

From Belgium’s academy system to the World Cup stage — resilience defined.
Team Canada defender Zorhan Bassong, now with Sporting Kansas City in MLS, joins Paul Desbaillets for a powerful conversation about sacrifice, identity, and rebuilding a career across continents.

Bassong opens up about:

• leaving Canada at 14 to pursue elite development in Belgium

• navigating the challenges of European football as a teenager abroad

• fighting through setbacks in Romania and finding his way back in MLS

• earning a national team recall after four years

• why mindset and gratitude shape every part of his journey

• and what the rise of North American football means before World Cup 2026

⚽ The 1st Half Culture Show
Presented by Breville in collaboration with evenko and CULTMTL.
Watch the full video here & listen wherever you get your podcasts.

#The1stHalf #acertainstyleoflife #footballis #ZorhanBassong #TeamCanada #SportingKC #MLS #CanadaSoccer #WorldCup2026 #Breville #NorthAmericanFootball #FootballCulture #Resilience #SportsMindset

From sleeping in an abandoned church to sharing the pitch with Didier Drogba — this is the powerful, emotional, and inspiring true story of Novello Yoseke, a refugee turned professional footballer.Born in South Sudan, raised in a refugee camp in Egypt, and sponsored to Canada, Novello’s story is one of resilience, sacrifice, and passion. He went from playing barefoot to representing South Sudan’s National Team in World Cup and AFCON qualifiers, and later became a coach and head scout after a career with CF Montréal (Montreal Impact).In this exclusive in-studio interview, Novello opens up about:His journey from war-torn South Sudan to professional footballHow he overcame poverty and homelessnessPlaying alongside football legends like Didier DrogbaThe emotional moment he touched a real soccer ball for the first timeHis mission to inspire the next generation through coaching🔥 Watch the full episode to discover how determination and faith can turn pain into purpose.

From the backyard to the big stage.
Team Canada and CF Montréal midfielder Mathieu Choinière joins The 1st Half Culture Show for a special Breville collaboration ahead of the Canada vs Ecuador friendly on November 12.

He opens up about his journey from Montreal’s academy to the national team, the lessons he learned from multi-sport training, and why “hard work beats talent” has guided every step of his career.

⚽ The 1st Half Culture Show — Presented by Breville in collaboration with evenko and CULTMTL.
Watch the full video here & listen wherever you get your podcasts.

#The1stHalf #acertainstyleoflife #footballis #MathieuChoiniere #TeamCanada #CFMontreal #CanadaSoccer #Breville #evenko #CULTMTL #FootballCulture #CanadianSoccer

From the streets of Stuttgart to the spotlight in Montreal.
CF Montréal striker Prince Owusu joins Paul Desbaillets to talk about his journey — from Germany’s academy system to finding purpose, perseverance, and family through football.

The Guinean-German forward opens up about his early days in Stuttgart’s academy, lessons from Europe, and how he became one of CF Montréal’s most exciting players — finishing his first season with 17 goals across all competitions.

⚽ The 1st Half Culture Show with Paul Desbaillets — new episodes every Wednesday.
Watch the full video here & listen wherever you get your podcasts.

#The1stHalf #acertainstyleoflife #footballis #PrinceOwusu #CFMontreal #Bundesliga #Stuttgart #FootballCulture #SoccerPodcast #MLS #CanadianSoccer

From kitchens to curveballs, food and football are never far apart.Chef Stephen Marcone, owner of Bistro Amerigo and longtime Roma supporter, joins Paul Desbaillets to talk about cooking, culture, and the Italian soul of Montreal.

From his journey through Italy’s kitchens to opening Café Figata, Marcone shares stories of football fandom, family, and building restaurants that bring people together.

⚽ The 1st Half Culture Show with Paul Desbaillets

Watch the full video here & listen wherever you get your podcasts.

#The1stHalf #acertainstyleoflife #footballis #ChefStephenMarcone #BistroAmerigo #CafeFigata #Roma #ItalianCuisine #MontrealRestaurants #FootballCulture #ASRoma #ItalianFood #Montreal

From Miami to Manchester, the football world never sleeps.Paul Desbaillets unpacks a wild week:

- Lionel Messi signs on with Inter Miami until 2028, a deal that could redefine MLS.

- A full-blown manager shuffle as Ange Postecoglou, Sean Dyche, Nuno Espirito Santo and Graham Potter all switch seats.

- MLS and Apple drop Season Pass fees for the playoffs to make the game more accessible.- And UEFA eyes a €5.9 billion Champions League deal with Netflix, Disney and Amazon.

From Miami to Swansea, last week in football culture has everything. Paul Desbaillets breaks down how Beckham’s Inter Miami is becoming England’s 2026 World Cup base, why Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart now own a piece of Swansea City, and how Ed Sheeran ended up on the Barça shirt.He wraps with the incredible story of Cape Verde, the island nation of just 525 000 people qualifying for the World Cup, proof that passion always beats the odds.

⚽ One-Man Midfield, new every week.

#The1stHalf #acertainstyleoflife #footballis #footballculture #WorldCup2026 #Beckham #InterMiami #SwanseaCity #MarthaStewart #SnoopDogg #FCBarcelona #EdSheeran #CapeVerde #FootballNews

From weddings to the Wu-Tang afterparty, and now the borough ballot. Jason “Jace” Dery, better known as Monsieur Notre Dame, joins The 1st Half to talk about community, creativity, and the real meaning of giving back.

An entrepreneur, entertainer, and now political candidate for Montreal’s Sud-Ouest borough with Futur Montréal, Jace opens up about his journey from raising over $25K for Sun Youth to spinning records for Wu-Tang and building a business that connects people across the city.

It’s a conversation about purpose, music, football, and the power of showing up for your community.

⚽ The 1st Half Culture Show with Paul Desbaillets, new episodes every Wednesday.
Watch the full video here & listen wherever you get your podcasts.

#The1stHalf #acertainstyleoflife #footballis #Jace #MonsieurNotreDame #Montreal #Community #WuTangClan #FuturMontreal #SunYouth #GoalInitiatives #FootballCulture #MontrealStories

From the streets of Cameroon to the Canadian national team, Ali Gerba’s story is pure football culture.Paul Desbaillets sits down with the former striker to talk about his rise from humble beginnings, his time in Europe and MLS, and why he believes Canadian football is still just getting started.Gerba opens up about his foundation work, his training centre Complete Striker, and the resilience that shaped his career , on and off the pitch.⚽ The 1st Half Culture Show with Paul Desbaillets : new episodes every Wednesday.Watch the full video here & listen wherever you get your podcasts.

#The1stHalf #acertainstyleoflife #footballis #AliGerba #CompleteStriker #FootballCulture #CanadianSoccer #MontrealFootball #SoccerLife #GoalInitiatives

This week on One-Man Midfield, Paul Desbaillets dives into some wild headlines that hit deeper than just the pitch:

• 💰 Cristiano Ronaldo becomes football’s first billionaire player — $1.4B net worth and counting

• 🏟️ Manchester United may be changing hands… again. Rumors suggest a Saudi sale in the works

• 🐐 World Cup mascots unveiled: Maple the Moose (Canada), Zazú the Jaguar (Mexico), and Clutch the Bald Eagle (USA)

• 🌎 20 of 48 teams are already locked for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including Canada, USA, Mexico, and more

🔥 Just Paul. No guest. Just the culture, the chaos, and the real talk.

🎥 New drops every Tuesday. Subscribe to The 1st Half Culture Show for the solo segment you didn’t know you needed.

#The1stHalf #OneManMidfield #FootballIs #CristianoRonaldo #ManUnitedSale #FIFA2026 #SoccerBusiness #WorldCupMascots #MapleTheMoose #SaudiFootballTakeover #GlobalGame

What happens when a football-loving, Tottenham-supporting local runs for city council in one of Montreal’s most dynamic boroughs?

We sat down with Shane Thompson, candidate for city councillor in the Sud-Ouest (Little Burgundy, St-Henri, Griffintown & Pointe-St-Charles), to talk about the intersection of football and politics — and why he believes the beautiful game builds better communities.

In this episode:

• Growing up in MTL as a Spurs fan

• Football as a unifier in urban life

• What makes the Southwest so culturally rich

• Shane’s plans for more public sports spaces

• The role of football in mental health, youth identity & inclusion

📥 Watch the full convo now — new episodes every Thursday.
#The1stHalf #FootballIs #MTLPolitics #SouthwestMontreal #ShaneThompson #SpursFan #SoccerAndSociety #FootballForAll

The First Half Culture Show is back, now with two drops every week.🎙️ Wednesdays: Football Culture with Paul Desbaillets🎤 Thursdays: Special Guest ConversationsThis week’s solo drop? Paul’s sounding off on the biggest stories in the game right now:FC Supra shaking up Quebec footballEA’s $55 billion takeover 💰$6,730 World Cup Final tickets — yep, that’s real 🎟️Canada’s historic FIFA ranking 🏆Early-season chaos in the Premier League 🔄New football voices emerging in Quebec 🎤CFM’s rebuild & why hope still lives ⚽Real Madrid gets name-dropped in a Taylor Swift track 🤯📣 No guest. Just Paul. Just soccer culture. 🎥 Watch now & subscribe to The 1st Half Culture Show.#The1stHalf #FootballIs #FCSupra #EASportsFC #CanadaSoccer #WorldCup2026 #PremierLeagueDrama #MontrealFootball

From early-morning training to late-night recovery, CFL pro Tyrell Richards ( Alouettes de Montreal ) opens up about the realities of life as a professional athlete—how sleep, food, mindset, and community shape everything from performance to personal growth.Presented by Birckenstock in support of the GOAL Initiatives Foundation, this special episode is about more than just football, it’s about building a lifestyle around wellness, resilience, and giving back.🧠 What does recovery really look like for a CFL player?🍽️ How does food fuel performance and community?🏘️ Why does community matter now more than ever?🎙️ Recorded at Entre Deux in Montreal’s NDG, this episode blends sport, lifestyle, and culture in the way only The 1st Half can.

🔔 Subscribe for more interviews with athletes, artists, chefs & cultural leaders.#TyrellRichards #Footballplayer #CFL #RecoveryMatters #Birkenstock #The1stHalf #ACertainStyleOfLife #FootballCulture #MentalHealthInSports #MontrealAthletes #GoalInitiatives #LifestyleOfAnAthlete #Football #Soccer #gunners #arsenalfans #montrealalouettes

6’7” forward Abdul Mohamed of the Montréal Alliance joins The 1st Half Culture Show to talk hoops, heritage, and how football culture shaped him off the court.

From growing up in a Somali-Canadian household to playing pro basketball across Germany, England, and Norway, Abdul unpacks how sport built his identity, and why football has always been part of his story.

We dig into African influence in the global game, how football showed up in every country he played in, and why the streets—not the system, are still the best academy.

Canadian media icon and cultural connector George Stroumboulopoulos joins The 1st Half Culture Show presented by Breville, in collaboration with evenko and CULTMTL, for a no-holds-barred conversation about football, music, media, and community.

We talk Spurs heartbreak and Bob Marley, why football supporters aren’t just “fans,” how stadiums tell stories, and what it means to live out your values in a system that doesn’t always care. George also drops gems on storytelling, Canada’s evolving identity, and why kindness still matters—even in the cutthroat world of sports and media.

It’s thoughtful, raw, and as real as Strombo himself.

👉 Watch the full video here & listen wherever you get your podcasts.

#FootballCulture #GeorgeStroumboulopoulos #Spurs #SoccerCommunity #ACertainStyleOfLife #FootballIs

Canadian alt-pop artist Emi Jean joins The 1st Half Culture Show to talk about her journey from singing opera at age 7 in Quebec bars to touring Asia, going solo, and performing on the grid at the Canadian Formula 1 Grand Prix.We dive into her love of football, her Osheaga 2025 stage debut, why storytelling is at the heart of her music, and how discipline and teamwork connect athletes and musicians. Emi also opens up about staying grounded, the pressure of performing, and why her fans feel like teammates.It’s an inspiring look at what it means to stay authentic and keep growing, on stage and off.👉 Watch the full video here & listen wherever you get your podcasts.

In this week’s episode of The 1st Half Culture Show, we sit down with Italian-Canadian independent artist Gion, a rising voice in North America’s alt-pop and R&B scene. From charting with “Je Ne Veux Personne” to consulting for major brands, Gion shares how football culture shaped his creative outlook, why identity matters in his music, and what it means to tell authentic stories through art.If you’ve ever felt the connection between football, music, and community — this one’s for you.
🎧 Watch and listen now on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.📲 Subscribe & hit the bell so you never miss an episode!#FootballCulture #MusicAndFootball #NorthAmericanFootball #IndependentArtist #SoccerInspiration #The1stHalf #ACertainStyleOfLife

Fabio & Dan of Bossa MTL join The 1st Half Culture Show to share how their modern Italian café and market became a cultural landmark in Montreal. From their fresh take on Italian street food to building a warm, vibrant community hub, they talk about staying authentic while creating something truly their own.

We get into what Italian culture means today, why football and family go hand in hand, and how Montreal’s food scene continues to inspire their work.

🎧 Watch the full episode now — new episodes every Wednesday on YouTube and Spotify. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

#BossaMTL #ItalianFood #MontrealEats #FootballCulture #MontrealCulture #ACertainStyleOfLife #The1stHalf