My guest today worked for CM from 1994 to 2006. Her first season was in Club Med Sandpiper as an Excursion G.O. She held other positions such as Reception, Ski Instructor, IGO Trainer, and Recruitment and Affectations. My trilingual guest grew up in Florence, Italy, and has a bachelor’s degree in Italian Renaissance Art History from Harvard University. She now lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts and she is here to regale us with her many CM stories. Who is this Renaissance woman? Well, it is the o...
Nov 27, 2023•52 min•Ep. 167
My guest today went to Club Med St. Lucia as a teenager and thought that G.O.’s had the coolest job of anyone and that was his first contact with Club Med. He studied at Ithaca College and got certified as an instructor at Pro Dive in Ft. Lauderdale. An EXGO told him about Club Med, and he applied. He had a phone interview with Club Med, and they gave him all of one hour to decide! I would have needed only 30 seconds to decide, but that’s me! His first season was in Club Med Columbus Isle in 199...
Nov 20, 2023•52 min•Ep. 158
My guest today is so far only the second Gestionnaire to appear on the My First Season podcast. He went to Club Med three times as a G.M. in the late 80s to Martinique, La Caravelle, and St. Lucia and that lit the spark for him to apply. He worked for Club Med from 1988 to 2000 and his first season was in Club Med Playa Blanca as a Cashier. He has a degree in Marketing from Fordham University, and he met his future wife in 1993 in Club Med Huatulco and has been married 27 years now. From New Yor...
Nov 13, 2023•55 min•Ep. 157
My guest today worked for Club Med in 1989 in St. Lucia and Cancun as an Excursions G.O. We do not get many Excursion G.O.s on this podcast, so I am thrilled she agreed to come on and share her story. When she was in college, she worked at an archeological Museum, which helped with the excursions to the Mayan ruins in Mexico. From the city of Brotherly Love, please help me welcome, Rose Torelli! Before Club Med, Rose learned French in high school and visited Quebec and France. In her second seme...
Nov 06, 2023•51 min•Ep. 156
My guest today worked for Club Med from 1996 to 2001. His first season was in Club Med Punta Cana in 1996 as a Set Designer. He just might be the only set designer in Club Med that I have encountered who actually has a degree in Set Design from the University of Arizona. Around 1999, he helped form “The A Team”, in which my guest and a few others would travel from village to village evaluating the entertainment teams. I was working in Asia when this was going on and never had heard of it before ...
Oct 30, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 154
My guest’s name has come up before on this podcast, so it’s nice to finally sit down and talk to him. He worked for Club Med from 2013 to April of 2023 and his first season was in Club Med Sandpiper as Teen Club Manager. Before Club Med, he was working for Disney Cruises and before that, he was a teacher! He was also a Sports and Animation Manager at Club Med and he helped create a new position in 2018 at Columbus Isle called “Chief Happiness Manager” and if you know me, you know that I need to ...
Oct 23, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 153
My guest today worked for Club Med from 1987 to 1989. Her first season was in Club Med Martinique in 1987 as an Assistant Choreographer. She worked in Copper Mountain with my first CDV, Jean-Pierre Grand, and Arziv and Roi Soleil in Switzerland. For the last 21 years, she has owned a dance studio called “Real Dance” and we talked about that as well. We have never met, but she came highly recommended by a former CDV of mine and a former guest on this podcast. It turns out, she went to Turks and C...
Oct 16, 2023•57 min•Ep. 155
I had the pleasure of working with my guest today during an amazing time in Club Med Playa Blanca during the 1996/1997 season. I then followed him and a few others after that season to Club Med Otranto during the summer of 1997, where he was my Chief of Sports. His first season was in Club Med Cefalu in 1992 as a Tennis G.O. Altogether he worked for Club Med from 1992 to 2001 in such places as Paradise Island, La Plagne, Metaponto, Haiti, Hammamet, and Ibiza, just to name a few. Please help me w...
Oct 09, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 148
My guest today worked for Club Med from 1994 to 1995 in St. Lucia, Turks & Caicos, Paradise Island, and Playa Blanca. He met his future wife in Playa Blanca, and they have been married since 1996 and have 3 wonderful children. His first season was in Club Med St. Lucia as a Golf G.O. Please help me welcome, from beautiful Bozeman, Montana and now living in Carlsbad, California, Jason Stewart! Get this: Jason went to high school with my first-ever roommate in Club Med, and this G.O. is the on...
Oct 02, 2023•57 min•Ep. 151
My guest today worked for Club Med from 1990 to 1993. His first season was in Club Med Paradise Island as a DJ. He was working for Club Med for, get this, credit! Yes, he was part of the Arizona State University internship program, where he graduated with a degree in International Tourism and Resort Management. Please help me welcome, from Boise, Idaho, Kris Robinson! While he was at ASU, Kris would see future 3x Masters champion, Phil Mickelson, on the golf course! Kris was President of the ASU...
Sep 25, 2023•56 min•Ep. 147
Mon invitée d'aujourd'hui est la première EXGO que j'ai interviewée qui a une page Wikipédia! Elle est chanteuse, mannequin, instructrice de yoga, enseignante et joue également du piano. Elle a travaillé pour le Club Med de 2015 à 2021 dans des villages tels que Turks et Caicos, Kani, Columbus Isle, Miches et Charlevoix. Sa première saison a été au Club Med Turks and Caicos en tant que sauveteuse. S'il vous plaît, aidez-moi à accueillir de Montréal, l'étonnante et talentueuse Sophie Vaillancourt...
Sep 18, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 150
My guest today is the first EXGO I have interviewed that has a Wikipedia page! She is a singer, model, yoga instructor, and teacher and she also plays the piano. She worked for Club Med from 2015 to 2021 in such villages as Turks and Caicos, Kani, Columbus Isle, Miches, and Charlevoix. Her first season was in Club Med Turks and Caicos as a Lifeguard. Please help me welcome from Montreal, the amazing and talented, Sophie Vaillancourt! Before Club Med, Sophie was on the Canadian singing competitio...
Sep 18, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 149
My guest today hails from Red Bluff, California, and worked for Club Med from 2002 to 2008 and then returned from 2010 to 2012. His first season was in Club Med Sandpiper as a Mini Club G.O. He was also a Ski Instructor, Landsports, Chief of Sailing, and Chief of Sports. Please help me welcome, Brian Tranbarger! Brian worked with CDVs such as Hammer, Gus, Joey Templin, Ryan Leach, Hendel, and Alessandro Cordogli (RIP), to name just a few. Before Club Med, Brian studied Kinesiology and Teacher Ed...
Sep 11, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 145
I never worked with my guest today, but we did meet at the EXGO Reunion in Cancun in 2010. He worked for Club Med from March 1995 to January 2002 and then went back from 2010 to 2013. His first season was in Club Med Turks and Caicos in 1995 as Landsports. He’s a graduate of Auburn University and has called eight countries and twenty cities home over the past twenty-six years. Please help me welcome, from Atlanta, Georgia, Scott Duncan, AKA, Scotty D! A friend of Scott’s had been to Club Med on ...
Sep 04, 2023•56 min•Ep. 144
My guest today worked for Club Med from October 2018 to March 2021. Her first season was in Club Med Cancun in 2018 as a Fitness G.O. Please help me welcome from Québec, the fabulous, Melissa Ferland!! Melissa was at the opening of Club Med Michès in the Dominican Republic in November 2019 and also worked at Turks and Caicos. Melissa was very busy in her life before Club Med. When she was in high school in 2009, Melissa placed first at the National Cheerleading Championships in Canada. She then ...
Aug 28, 2023•55 min•Ep. 142
My guest today is the author of three internationally best-selling books, and she is the publisher and editor of the world's most popular English language magazine about France with around 2.8 million readers per issue. She is also the editor of “The Good Life France” website, a travel writer, and a podcaster. Born in London, she now lives in the middle of nowhere rural northern France with her husband and an extended family of furry and feathered creatures! Please help me welcome, author and po...
Aug 21, 2023•32 min•Ep. 143
For today’s guest, I reached out to a former guest on this podcast and asked her if she had anyone amazing that she would recommend. Girl delivered. This incredible young man is from Dallas, Texas and he worked for Club Med from 2017 to 2021. His first season was in Club Med Sandpiper in 2017 as the DJ. If ever there was a name that belongs on a Club Med badge, it’s his. Why? Well, please help me welcome T.J. Walker, AKA, DJ T.J.!!! T.J. worked in the resorts of Columbus Isle and Turks and Caico...
Aug 14, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 141
My guest today worked for Club Med from 1990 to 1999 and was a Set Designer, Choreographer, and Chief of Animation. He met John Shelly in New York City on an elevator and John gave him his business card. A few months later, my guest called John and was in a village less than a week later! His first season was in Club Med St. Lucia in 1990 as a Set Designer. Please help me welcome, from Toronto, Ontario, the only and only, Graham Maxwell!! As I discovered during this interview, Graham is one heck...
Aug 07, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 140
I never got the chance to work together with my next guest, but his name has been mentioned before on this podcast and we do have 70 mutual friends. He worked for Club Med from 1987 to 1994 and his first season was in Club Med Eleuthera in April of 1987, as a Lifeguard and Swimming Instructor. From Montreal, Quebec, and now living in Las Vegas, please help me welcome, Stéphan Coté! Stéphan was also a Circus G.O., a Chief of Circus, and an Animator (in Copper Mountain), where he also got married....
Jul 31, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 139
Mon invité d'aujourd'hui a travaillé pour le Club Med de 1971 à 1988. Sa première saison s'est déroulée au Club Med de Portiragnes, dans le sud de la France, en tant que chef d'orchestre. Il a également été animateur, chorégraphe, Resp. Trafic, chef d'animation, chef des sports, Resp. Chalet d'altitude et de 1981 à 1988, il a été chef de village. Aidez-moi à accueillir, s'il vous plaît, Robert «Bébert» Herin! Avant le Club Med, Robert avait un orchestre qui tournait beaucoup et il écrivait aux h...
Jul 27, 2023•51 min•Ep. 146
My guest today worked for Club Med from 1997 to 2001 as a Costume designer. She was sent to Club Med Sandpiper in 1997 for a stage, but her first season was in 1997/1998 in Club Med Playa Blanca. She is from my hometown of Montreal, so please help me give a warm welcome to, Sophie Boyer! Sophie worked in such villages as Turks and Caicos, St. Lucia, Paradise Island, and Columbus Isle. Sophie went to school for Theater Production (props, lights, sound, set, and costume design), but it was costume...
Jul 24, 2023•55 min•Ep. 137
I had the pleasure of working with my guest today during the summer of 1996 in Club Med Columbus Isle. I knew her as a Scuba G.O. but her first season was in Club Med Sahoro in 1995 as a Mini Club G.O. Please help me welcome, the first Japanese EXGO to the podcast, Makiko Omae!! Makiko’s first experience with Club Med was at Club Med Bali as a G.M. with her parents. She worked for Club Med from 1995 to 1998 in resorts such as Moorea and Turks and Caicos. After Club Med, Makiko worked at Stuart C...
Jul 17, 2023•48 min•Ep. 136
I had the pleasure of working with my guest today during an amazing season in Club Med Columbus Isle in 1999/2000. Her first season, however, was in Club Med St. Lucia in 1992/1993 as a Petit Club G.O. Please help me welcome, Heather Mousserin Corry!! Heather was working as a nanny in Germany when she applied to Club Med and then had her interview in Montreal. Heather worked for Club Med from 1992 to 2000 in villages such as St. Lucia, Sandpiper, Eleuthera, Magic Isle, and Phuket in 1996/1997 (w...
Jul 10, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 132
My guest today worked for Club Med from 1976 to 1979 and then returned in 1991. This first interview will focus on his early years. His first season was in Club Med Martinique as a Snorkeling and Picnic G.O. in 1976. From Montreal, Quebec, please help me welcome, Harvey Richard S., AKA Kid Mercury!! In later seasons, Harvey became an Animator, and he has quite the stories to tell from the early days. Harvey worked the first-ever winter season of Club Med Cancun in 1977 (with CDV Jacky Amzallag, ...
Jul 03, 2023•49 min•Ep. 131
My guest today was born in Alexandria, Egypt then emigrated to Philadelphia in 1961. He got his B.A. and Master’s at Temple University and was 2 years into his Ph.D. when he decided to apply to Club Med. His first season was at Club Med Fort Royale in 1970 as a Tennis G.O., where only three weeks before, he was a G.M. in the same village! Altogether, he worked for Club Med from 1970 to 2001. Who is this mystery person? Well, it is the one and only, Alex ElKayem!! Alex only held three positions i...
Jun 26, 2023•47 min•Ep. 134
Mon invité d'aujourd'hui est né à Alexandrie, en Égypte, puis a émigré à Philadelphie aux États-Unis en 1961. Il a obtenu son baccalauréat et sa maîtrise à l'université Temple et était à deux ans de terminer son doctorat lorsqu'il a décidé de poser sa candidature au Club Med. Sa première saison s'est déroulée au Club Med Fort Royale en 1970 en tant que moniteur de Tennis, alors que trois semaines auparavant, il était G.M. dans le même village! Au total, il a travaillé au Club Med de 1970 à 2001....
Jun 26, 2023•42 min•Ep. 135
My guest today worked for Club Med from 1993 to 1999 and held several positions such as Sailing, Snorkeling, Archery, Light Engineer, DJ, and Circus G.O. His first season was in Club Med Ixtapa in 1993 as a Telephone/Standard G.O. Please help me welcome, from Mexico City and now living in Quebec, Xavier Margain! Xavier worked in villages such as Huatulco, Playa Blanca (with Kenton Smith), Sonora Bay, Turks and Caicos, and Punta Cana. Xavier’s parents went to Club Med and thought he would be a go...
Jun 19, 2023•56 min•Ep. 130
Hey everyone and welcome to a brand-new segment of My First Season. I do not have a name for the segment yet, but I have been workshopping the term, My First Season- “In Couple”. In this new feature of MFS, I will be interviewing a “couple” of G.O.s (see what I did there?) who have worked together during the same season. If there are three of you, we’ll simply call it In Thruple! So, any EXGOs who are very shy or not comfortable about coming on just by themselves, now you can come on with a frie...
Jun 15, 2023•29 min•Ep. 138
I had the supreme pleasure of working with my guest today in Club Med Columbus Isle during the 1997/1998 season. Her first season was in Club Med Sonora Bay in 1997 as a Fitness and Landsports G.O. From Columbus, Ohio and now living in Toronto, Canada, please help me welcome the amazing Kimberly Eberwine!!! Before Club Med and between the junior and senior year of her Creative Writing degree, Kimberly went to Sonora Bay as a G.M. and fell in love with Club Med and the culture. Ever the maverick,...
Jun 12, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 128
In the two-plus years of this podcast, I have never had a guest with such a unique perspective on Club Med, more than my special guest today. She lived for a time in Club Med all over the world, but she was not a G.M. and technically, did not work in the villages either. Confused? From age 0 to 16, she changed countries every 6-12 months and started the flying trapeze at age four and she and her brother had 200 big sisters and brothers everywhere they went. She is the daughter of a very famous C...
Jun 05, 2023•45 min•Ep. 127
