My guest today’s first season was in Club Med Punta Cana in 1998 as a Hostess and she has had some bad luck with hurricanes! From Ottawa, Canada, please help me welcome, Anna “Rubia” Ferdinand!! Anna has held many jobs within Club Med: Reception, Boutique, Excursions and Chief of Excursions. Anna worked for Club Med from 1998 to 2004 in the resorts of Paradise Island, Martinique, Turks and Caicos, Playa Blanca and Ixtapa. Before Club Med and right after high school, Anna was working in retail in...
Dec 05, 2022•56 min•Ep. 97
My guest today is from beautiful San Diego, California and her first season was in Club Med St. Lucia in 1986 as a Snorkeling G.O. Please help me welcome to My First Season, the amazing and funny, Sharon Lee! Sharon had quite an interesting route to Club Med. She went as a G.M. with her mother to Club Med Ixtapa when she was sixteen years old in 1984 and loved that week so much, she knew that she wanted to work for Club Med one day (and one day very soon!). When Sharon graduated from high school...
Nov 28, 2022•58 min•Ep. 96
My guest and I worked together in Club Med Columbus Isle during the 1999/2000 season, but his first season was in Club Med Turks and Caicos in September of 1995 as an Aide Econome. From Montreal, please help me welcome, William Connors! Before Club Med, William was studying Hospitality Management at Carleton University. He also taught English in Japan for two years, from 1991 to 1993. He then got a scholarship to Schiller International University in Florida and obtained a degree in Business Admi...
Nov 21, 2022•55 min•Ep. 95
My guest today hails from beautiful Montreal, Quebec and his first season was in 1996 at Club Med Punta Cana as a Boutique G.O. Please help me welcome to MFS, Steve Ouimet!! Before Club Med, Steve was a singer in a rock band and he also managed a clothing retail store (Neon) in Montreal. From 1996 to 2007 he worked in Club Med resorts such as Magic Isle, Haiti, Club Med 1, Varadero, Cuba, Cancun, Playa Blanca, Paradise Island, Crested Butte, Columbus Isle and Djerba la Douce. When Steve was eigh...
Nov 14, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 94
My guest today went to Club Med Cancun for a two-week vacation in December of 1989. He started as a G.M. that week, but wound up as an au pair Snorkeling and Picnic G.O. We will get into that and more on this episode of My First Season. From Maple Ridge, British Columbia, I am pleased to welcome to the podcast, Dean Barbour! Dean was looking to relax for two weeks when he went to Club Med Cancun as a G.M., but he ended up tearing the ligaments in his ankle and was on crutches for the rest of his...
Nov 07, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 93
My guest today and I just missed crossing paths in Club Med, but his first season was during the summer of 2003 in Club Med Cancun as a DJ/Animation G.O. From New York City, please help give a warm welcome to DJ Wej!! Before Club Med, Wej was pursuing a Criminal Justice degree from Long Island University. Not really wanting to use his degree, he took a friend’s advice that he should check out Club Med. Wej had his interview in New Jersey and at first was offered a Club Med Artist contract. He po...
Oct 31, 2022•53 min•Ep. 92
This is part four in the series, “Amazing Women doing Amazing Things”. In July 2019, my guest today accomplished her goal of visiting all forty-seven National Parks of Canada, making her the first-ever visitor to do so. She is an accomplished wilderness adventurer, Nordic skier, backpacker, kayaker, canoeist, cyclist and world traveler. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and The Explorers Club. Her work has been published in Canadian Geographic Magazine, CBC News onl...
Oct 24, 2022•38 min•Ep. 91
My guest today who worked in Club Med in the early 1980s have never met, but he came to my attention when I saw him post the most excellent photos of his time in Club Med in the 80s on the Official Club Med EXGO Facebook Group. His first season was in December of 1980 in Club Med Magic Isle, Haiti as a stagiere Choreographer. Born in and raised in Alhambra, but now residing in beautiful San Diego, please help me welcome to MFS, Doug Evenson!! Before Club Med, Doug was that rare athlete (football...
Oct 17, 2022•57 min•Ep. 90
My guest today and I met and worked together during an amazing season in Club Med Playa Blanca in 1996/1997. His first season, however, was at the opening of Club Med Lindeman Island in Australia and he arrived on December 12, 1992, as a Musician/Animator. From Newcastle, Australia, please help me welcome former Chief of Village, Luke "Gus” Neale!! Before Club Med, Gus was studying Tourism Management at the University of Newcastle. As part of his degree requirement, he organized a five-day field...
Oct 10, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 89
My guest today and I have never met or worked together before, but we do have a “Quebec” connection that we will talk about in this interview. His first season was in Club Med Martinique in May of 1987 as a Waterski G.O. From Napa Valley, please help me welcome to the podcast, Steve McClaine!! Before Club Med, Steve attended the University of California (Berkeley) and obtained a Political Economy degree. He did not want to start using his degree just yet, so he taught skiing at Heavenly Mountain...
Oct 03, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 88
My guest today and I have never met, but I had heard very funny stories about him from other EXGO’s over the years. His first season was in Club Med Sandpiper in February of 1992 as Manager of the Annex restaurant with Carlos Castro as CDV. From New Jersey (via Florida), please help me welcome, Sammy Orodenker!! Before Club Med, Sammy was doing a double major in Hospitality Management and Musical Theater, making him a much-desired prospect for a company like Club Med! Sammy was given the title o...
Sep 26, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 87
I never had the pleasure of working with my next guest, but we did cross paths at EXGO Reunion 3 in Cancun in 2010 (and we currently have 112 mutual friends!). His first season was in Club Med Eleuthera, Bahamas in the Summer of 1990 as a Mini Club G.O., with the amazing Denis Amsellem as CDV. From Fresno, California, please help me give a big MFS welcome to Chris Wiehl! Before Club Med, Chris was a walk-on shooting guard at UCLA Bruins men’s basketball team. Although the coach was Walt Hazzard ...
Sep 19, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 86
My guest today and I met in Club Med Columbus Isle in January of 1996. I was Landsports and he was the resort photographer. Little did I know at the time that I was in the presence of true greatness and I am very grateful for the 2 ½ years I got to spend with him. His first season was in Club Med Paradise Island in 1980 as a Sailing G.O. Everyone, please help me welcome, the Bahamian sensation, the one and the only, the Best Chief of Sports there ever was, Hansel Moss!! Before he started working...
Sep 12, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 85
My guest today and I crossed paths in Club Med Columbus Isle in 1997/1998 where she was in training to be a Choreographer, but her first season was in Club Med Copper Mountain in Fall of 1996 as a Reception G.O. Originally from Atlanta, but now living in Marina del Ray, please help me welcome the amazing, Ouija Whittemore! Before Club Med, Ouija (and yes, we will get into her name!) was a professional dancer until she was thirty years old and her first dance class was at just four years old. She...
Sep 05, 2022•53 min•Ep. 84
My guest today and I met in the main restaurant of Club Med Playa Blanca during the 1996/1997 winter season. I was a Landsports G.O and he was a G.M. His first season was as an au pair in Club Med Playa Blanca in May of 1992 as a Landsports G.O. From Orange County, California, please help me welcome to My First Season, Stan Bruckheim!! Before Club Med, proud Army brat Stan actually lived in France the first six years of his life and then spent three years in Berlin. His teenage years were spent ...
Aug 29, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 83
My guest today and I worked together in Club Med Playa Blanca during the 1996/1997 winter season, but his first season was in Club Med Cancun on May 8, 1988 (yes, he knows the exact date!) as an Assistant Traffic G.O. From Mexico City, please help me welcome Salvador Cortés! Salvador worked for Club Med from May1988 to May 2022! Before Club Med, Salvador worked for Pemex (the Mexican state-owned petroleum company), as a certified pipe fitting specialist and was also a professional Mountain Climb...
Aug 22, 2022•59 min•Ep. 82
My guest today and I met when he was the Chief of Village of Cancun and I was there for the EXGO Reunion 3 in 2010. He arrived in Club Med Sonora Bay on July 13, 1993 for his first season as a Specialty Restaurant Manager. He is the FIRST Mexican Chief of Village in the history of Club Med, so please help me give a very warm MFS welcome to Eduardo Rojas! Before Club Med, Eduardo was working in a night club in Mexico City. One day while walking down the street, he noticed the Club Med office and ...
Aug 15, 2022•56 min•Ep. 81
My guest today and I have never met, but his name was mentioned on a previous episode by an another EXGO. His first season was in Club Med Sonora Bay during the summer of 1998 as the Animator/DJ. Everyone, please help me give a warm welcome to a very, very funny EXGO from Montreal, Christopher “Christo” Williams!! Christo worked for Club Med from 1998 to 2000 and went on vacation to Club Med as a teenager to the resorts of Huatulco, Playa Blanca and Martinique, so he was no stranger to the life....
Aug 08, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 80
My guest today and I have never met, but I did interview her brother-in-law, Boone, for this podcast in February of 2022. Her first season was in Club Med Cancun in 2013 as a Waterski and Wakeboard G.O., but you could say her actual first season was when she was conceived in Club Med Turks & Caicos (both her parents were G.O.’s for nine years)! Everyone, please help me welcome the amazing and talented, Carly-Ann Dell! Before Club Med, Carly attended the University of Washington and obtained ...
Aug 01, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 79
My guest today and I worked together in Club Med Playa Blanca during the 1996/1997 season, but his first season was in Club Med Cancun in April of 1996 as a Tennis G.O. From Mexico City and now living in Cancun, please help me welcome Vladimir Mayllen! Vladimir worked for Club Med from 1996 to 2014 in resorts such as Cancun, Playa Blanca, Sonora Bay, Sandpiper, Turks & Caicos, Ria Bintan in Indonesia and Phuket in Thailand. Vladimir did everything from Tennis, Landsports, Chief of Traffic, C...
Jul 25, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 78
My guest today and I have never met, but we do have 46 mutual friends in the Club Med family. Her first season was in Club Med Turks and Caicos as a Scuba Instructor in April of 2014. From Quebec City, please help me welcome Jennifer “Jen” Keays! Jen was born in Quebec City, but moved to Whistler, B.C. when she was seventeen years old. Before Club Med, Jen attended Capilano University (CAPU) in Vancouver and obtained a degree in Tourism and Outdoor Recreation. Jen was actually on an internship a...
Jul 18, 2022•59 min•Ep. 77
My guest today and I met at an EXGO Reunion in Cancun in 2008 or 2010 (we’re both not sure), but his first season was in Club Med Turks and Caicos in 1989 as a Sailing and Windsurfing G.O. Fun Fact: he did not know how to do either of those things!! Everyone, please help me welcome, from Vancouver, Cheez! Before Club Med, Cheez (Glenn Jensen) was at the start of a three-month, ten-stop Pacific Rim tour with his brother Jenner and friend, Hammer. They stopped off at Club Med Moorea before the tri...
Jul 11, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 76
My guest and today and I worked together in Club Med Cancun in 2004/2005. His first season was also in Club Med Cancun, but in September of the 1999/2000 season as a Bar G.O. From beautiful Montreal, please help me welcome, Eric Laflamme! Before Club Med, Eric was attending Concordia University in Montreal for Jazz Interpretation (Eric plays the sax) and a friend suggested he would make a good bartender. Then another friend, who he was working with at a golf course, suggested he’d make a good fi...
Jul 04, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 75
My guest today and I have never met, but I did interview her daughter Sydney Gaudreau for this podcast in February of 2022. Her first season was in October of 1989/1990 in Club Med Ixtapa as the G.O. Nurse. From California, please help me welcome to MFS, Lili Bronner Gaudreau! Before Club Med, Lili was a professional ballet dancer, but a knee injury from a wipeout in skiing caused her to change vocation. Lili went to school to become a nurse but would also accompany her mother (who was a travel ...
Jun 27, 2022•56 min•Ep. 74
My guest today and I worked together in Club Med Cancun in October of the 2004/2005 Winter season, which just happened to be her first season as a Bar G.O. From Vancouver, please help me give a warm welcome to Nicole Morrow! Nicole had just completed a degree in Hospitality Management and was planning to move to the city to work at the Hotel Pan Pacific when a friend of hers introduced her to an EXGO. This EXGO then gave Nicole the name of another EXGO, who then set up her interview with Club Me...
Jun 20, 2022•36 min•Ep. 73
My guest today is a British-born, Spanish-based adventurer, writer and windsurfing instructor. In 2015 he achieved his childhood ambition to windsurf around Britain, becoming only the fourth person to complete the circumnavigation this way, and the first to complete it alone and without support. Everyone, please help me welcome to MFS, Jono Dunnett! Jono’s expedition started and ended at the town of Clacton-on Sea. The voyage included the following crossings: Devon to South Wales via Lundy Islan...
Jun 13, 2022•31 min•Ep. 72
My guest today and I have never met (though we do have 78 mutual friends) and his Club Med career ended when mine began (1994). His name was dropped on another episode of MFS (Jenner) and I did hear his name mentioned throughout my career. His first season was in October of 1987 in Club Med Cancun as a Sailing G.O. From England and now living in Virginia Beach, please help me give a warm welcome to Grant Simmons! Grant worked for Club Med from 1987 to 1994 and before Club Med, he taught sailing ...
Jun 06, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 71
My Guest today I and met during my first season in Turks in summer of 1994, but his first season was in Club Med Cancun in July of 1988 as Aide Gestion. Everyone, please help me welcome, Steve Cohn! Before Club Med, Steve attended Georgetown University and obtained a degree in International Finance. After his graduation, Steve went backpacking in Europe and met a few G.O.s on vacation that told him about Club Med. He applied to Club Med (by first calling 1-800 Club Med!) when he got home from hi...
May 30, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 70
My guest today and I met at Club Med Ria Bintan in Indonesia in 2001/2002, but his first season was in Club Med Bali as an au pair Mini Club G.O. in Summer of 1998. Everyone, please help me welcome the first Indonesian EXGO to MFS, Marthen! Uncovered during this interview is the fact that Marthen, who was born in Indonesia but now lives in Malaysia, studied French literature at a private university in East Jakarta and I do not think he even mentioned that to me when we worked together the entire...
May 23, 2022•55 min•Ep. 69
My guest today and I have never worked together, but each of us had our first season in Turks and Caicos. Her first season in Club Med Turks and Caicos was in September of 2014 as a Sailing G.O. From Vancouver, please help me welcome to MFS, Emily Jensen! Interestingly, Emily’s father was also a Sailing G.O. in Turks almost twenty-five years ago to the day Emily started working for Club Med. Her uncle Jenner (whom you all know or have heard of as well as her father) also worked in Club Med. Not ...
May 16, 2022•53 min•Ep. 68
