My First Season

My guest today and I started Club Med in the same year, but only met years later at an EXGO Reunion in Cancun. Her first season was in Club Med Punta Cana in October of 1994 as an Archery G.O. Everyone, please help me welcome, from Toronto, Ontario, “Sunny”! Sunny probably has the best G.O. interview story I have ever heard and that is because of the lengths she went to, to get a job in Club Med. I do not want to spoil a word of it, so you will just have to give this episode a listen to find out. As someone who is nicknamed “Sunny” you can imagine she liked everything about Club Med. She started going to Club Med when she was 11 years old. Her first Club Med as a G.M. was in the Mini Club in Ixtapa in the early 80’s. Sunny has many stories from her first season and she is kind of enough to share them with us. Sunny even kept up that traveling spirit long after she left Club Med. In 2017/2018, Sunny, her husband and 3 children went on a 10-month backpacking trip to 19 different countries, 5 continents and they stayed in 94 different places and traveled a total of 69,000 kilometers. She shares that story and how Club Med helped her develop her “purpose”. **My First Season podcast has always been free to listen to and is available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Podbean App, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora and Listen Notes.

My guest today had his first season in Club Med Cancun in July of 1995 as a Sailing G.O. He is from Miami, Florida and before Club Med, he had a summer job teaching Hobie Cat sailing in Biscayne Bay. Everyone, please help me welcome, Larry Katz! Larry had his interview in Florida and then was sent to Cancun at a time when not many G.O’s were sent to Cancun for their first season. He tells a not-so-funny Hurricane Roxanne story-not funny because he was scheduled to leave Cancun the day the hurricane was to hit the Yucatan Peninsula. Larry loved his time as a G.O and took that work ethic to the filmy industry where he became a Second Unit Director or Assistant Director on movies such as Captain America: The First Avenger and X-Men: First Class as well as many more. Larry has agreed to share that story on my other podcast, Butcher Bay Rejects, and I will be posting that link for all of you to hear as well in the near future. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts and please enjoy this interview with Larry. If you want to hear Larry talk about his life as an Assistant Director on my other podcast, Butcher Bay Rejects, please see the link below: https://www.butcherbayrejects.com/e/bbr-ep-42-larry-katz/

My guest today and I met in Club Med Coral Beach in Israel in 2004/2005 after her two-year stint in the Army. Her first season was in the French Alps, in Club Med Avoriaz in November 2002 as a Mini-Club G.O. Everyone, please help me welcome, Maude! She started going to Club Med as a child in the Mini-Club, so it was like a full-circle moment for her. Before she started working at Club Med, Maude was part of a socialist youth group that did volunteer work and were dedicated to bringing about change and equality to society and helping underprivileged children. However it was the group’s collective refusal to allow her to eat a waffle one day, that caused her to leave the group and sign on with Club Med (I’ll let Maude tell that story!). She also shares a funny story about a G.O in Coral Beach asking her to use her signature laugh as a ringtone and Maude nearly getting in trouble because of it. Maude also worked in Production on the Netflix original series “Hit and Run” starring Lior Raz (Fauda) that came out on August 6 2021. **My First Season podcast has always been free to listen to and is available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Podbean App, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora and Listen Notes.

I had the pleasure of working with my guest today in Club Med Cancun in 2004/2005, which was her first season as a Boutique G.O. I was beyond shocked to hear that Cancun was her first season, because if you had met this person that season, you would have sworn she had been a G.O for about five years-she was just that awesome. Everyone, please help me welcome, Shannon (What!!What!!)! Shannon graduated with a double major at McGill University in Montreal and after her audition with Club Med that took place in Montreal (I’m going to find that video, Shannon!), she waited for almost a year until she was told she was headed for Cancun. Shannon is currently pursuing an MBA, which focuses on Disruptive Technology, at Ryerson University. **My First Season podcast has always been free to listen to. My First Season is available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Podbean App, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora and Listen Notes. Please check out Shannon on Instagram and give her a follow: https://www.instagram.com/shannelle_j/?hl=en

My guest today and I worked together in Club Med Paradise Island in 2003/2004 where she was the choreographer, but her first season was in Club Med Sandpiper in October of 2001 as a Reception G.O. Everyone, please help me welcome, originally from New York and Montreal (yes, I’m claiming her) and now living in Las Vegas, Gabrielle LoRe Seidenberg! Gaby had quite the journey to Club Med. She was working in Montreal, won a staff contest for a trip for two to Club Med Ibiza in Spain and then started working for BMW on the European leg of the Formula One circuit, before answering an open audition call for Club Med that took place in Montreal. We’ll talk how Gaby went from reception to choreographer and the culture shock of seeing so many men in Speedos in the main restaurant during her first season. Fair warning, Gaby and I teased each other quite a lot in Paradise Island (all in good fun) and I’m happy to tell you that she can still hit the ‘ole fastball 18 years later. Also, she’s married to the Coney Island Striker, so there’s that too. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts. Gaby also hosted the one-year anniversary episode of My First Season (February 8 2022) and was awesome!! Please take a listen! https://www.myfirstseason.com/e/my-first-season-greg-gaby/

My guest today and I have worked together before in Club Med Cancun in 2004/2005 and he is someone you all know or have heard of. Everyone, from Vancouver, please help me welcome Jenner! Jenner has had quite the career in Club Med. Before Club Med, Jenner completed an undergraduate degree in Physiology at UBC and then obtained a Masters degree in Applied Physiology (department of Kinesiology) at SFU. He started his Club Med career in January of 1989 as an au pair Landsports G.O. at Club Med Moorea, Tahiti, but I will let him tell the story of how he ended up working there with another name you might know, Hammer. I thank Jenner for sharing his stories and taking the time to speak with me, because now he is pursuing a Ph.D. in Public Health (Epidemiology)! **My First Season podcast has always been free to listen to and is available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Podbean App, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora and Listen Notes.

My guest today and I worked together in Club Med Turks & Caicos in Summer of ’94 (my first season), but his first season was in Club Med Playa Blanca in 1993/1994 as a Scuba G.O. He is originally from Minnesota and now lives in Denver. Everyone, please help me welcome, JohnnyScuba! Before Club Med, Johnny served in the United States Navy as a Gunner’s Mate aboard the U.S.S. New Jersey, an Iowa-class battleship. Johnny shares a lot of stories from his first season, as well as our season in Turks and when we met up again in Columbus Isle in January of 1996. Also uncovered during this podcast was that Johnny was the lead singer of an 80’s heavy metal cover band called…wait for it…Alien Force! (I swear to God Johnny, we’re gettin’ those t-shirts made!). Johnny is one helluva funny guy and you’ll get to laugh along with us. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.

My guest today is Derek Baron, the creator of the popular travel website called “Wandering Earl”. On December 25th, 1999, Derek left the USA for a three-month, post-graduation trip to Southeast Asia. The idea was for him to backpack around Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam and then return home and start a career in the sports industry (He wanted to be a Sports Agent). When Derek landed in Bangkok, he had $1500 USD to his name and that was it. Since then, he has visited over 100 countries on 6 continents and has lived, worked, traveled and volunteered all over the world. He has been to India thirty times and was even kidnapped by inept kidnappers for three days in Bangladesh (and yes, he shares that story). He visited and stayed three days in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone and visited the Galapagos Islands among many more. Derek worked also worked as a Tour Manager aboard cruise ships and I asked him to recount a tour-from-hell story and boy...did he deliver! This very funny story involves Mount Kilimanjaro. Why is that funny you ask? Well, the excursion was in Hawaii, for one, but I’ll let Derek tell that tale. It’s not just the traveling that Derek loves, as he prefers to focus on the human interactions and the life lessons learned along the way. These incredible aspects of travel are what keep Derek Baron going after 18+ years traveling the world. Please check out his travel blog website and his social media listed below. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.wanderingearl.com/ https://www.wanderingearl.com/wandering-earl-tours/ https://www.instagram.com/wanderingearl/

My guest today had his first season in Club Med Sandpiper in Summer of 1990. He had a contract as an Animator. Here’s the thing though: he actually worked at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus as a Clown and Acrobat for two years and when he applied to Club Med three months after leaving Ringling Bros., he didn’t know Club Med even offered Circus! Everyone, please help me welcome Carlos Ragas! Originally from Rhode Island now living in California, Carlos shares many funny stories with us from his first season. From animation passages gone awry to “borrowing” the water ski boat one night, to winning a trip to Walt Disney World because he did the splits with an Italian choreographer onstage… he’s got ‘em all! Carlos is currently a stuntman and actor and will be on an upcoming episode of my other podcast, Butcher Bay Rejects, and tell us how he got started in the business and the movie and TV work he has done. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts. If you want to hear Carlos talk about his life as an actor and stuntman on my other podcast, Butcher Bay Rejects, please see the link below: https://www.butcherbayrejects.com/e/bbr-ep-30-carlos-ragas-stuntmanactor/

My guest today's first season was in Club Med Turks & Caicos in February of 1987 as a Windsurf G.O. Only here’s the thing-he wasn’t a windsurfer! I’ll let him tell that funny story, a great JoJo story, and another one involving American currency washing up on the beach one morning. Originally from San Diego and now living in La Jolla, California, please help me welcome the always-entertaining, Eric Eaton! Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.

My guest today and I worked together in Club Med Paradise Island, Bahamas in 2002/2003. His first season was in Club Med Sonora Bay, Mexico in June of 2001 as a Sound Engineer. Originally from Coney Island, NY and now living in Las Vegas, please help me welcome the “Coney Island Striker” himself, Ian Seidenberg! Ian recounts his first season in Sonora Bay and what it was like coming from New York and then suddenly scuba diving with seals in the Sea of Cortez and riding horses in the Sonoran Desert. He even shares a story about how he was Paul Shaffer’s sound engineer one night in Sandpiper while Paul played keyboards. Being a lifelong Letterman fan, I am very jealous! In his Club Med career, he went from sound engineer to Chief of Animation to Chief of Sports, and he’ll tell us all about it. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.

My guest today and I were fortunate to work together in Club Med Columbus Isle in 1999/2000. Her first season was in Club Med Turks & Caicos in 1990 as a Boutique G.O. She went on to become a Chief of Animation and attend the Chief of Sports stage as well. She tells a very funny story about trying to learn to windsurf and JoJo the dolphin not wanting to let her. Originally from California and now living in Las Vegas, everyone, Veronica Margellos! ! **My First Season podcast has always been free to listen to. My First Season is available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Podbean App, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora and Listen Notes.

My guest today and I had the pleasure of working together in Club Med Columbus Isle in 1999/2000. He became a Scuba instructor at age 18 and to date, has logged between 3500-400 dives all around the world. His first time in Club Med was as an au pair in Club Med Sonora Bay in 1993 and then he went back to Club Med as a Scuba G.O. in Club Med Cancun in January of 1998. Originally from Vancouver and now living in Las Vegas, please help me welcome Nick Margellos!! Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts. Nick is now a commercial pilot and he came on MFS to talk about the process to becoming a pilot: https://www.myfirstseason.com/e/my-first-season-nick-commerical-pilot-and-first-officer/ **My First Season podcast has always been free to listen to. My First Season is available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Podbean App, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora and Listen Notes.

My guest today and I worked together in Club Med Paradise Island, Bahamas in 2002/2003, which happened to be her first season as a Tennis G.O. Before Club Med, She attended Arizona State University on a tennis scholarship. Everyone, from Winnipeg, Canada please help me welcome Tannis Goulet! Tannis tells us what it was like her first season and shares an amusing story about a day trip to Exuma, $10.00 all-you-can-eat-and-drink-rum punch and an evening visit to the Atlantis resort (all in the same day), I do not want to spoil at all, so you’ll just have to listen. And yes, I ask Tannis how many times a day in Club Med someone brought up her name and the fact that she teaches tennis. **My First Season podcast has always been free to listen to and is available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Podbean App, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora and Listen Notes.

My guest today did not work for Club Med, but he did spend a year working for Carnival Cruise Lines and was the only American in Carnival Cruise Lines’ thirty-year history to work a full contract in the ships’ restaurants without quitting or transferring. We’ll get into why that is such a huge deal and his first season in the travel and tourism industry and everything he experienced on the high seas. He is author of the books Cruise Confidential, Ship for Brains, Unsinkable Mister Brown, High Seas Drifter, Cruise a la Carte and many, many more. He has adventured in over 60 countries to gather material for his bestselling books and won dozens of literary awards, including the USA REBA Grand Prize. He has been featured on ABC's 20/20 and was anointed Sir Brian by Prince Michael, Regent of the Principality of Sealand (yes, really). Everyone, please help me welcome author, Brian David Bruns! If you worked for Club Med and ever wondered like I did, what the heck goes on aboard a cruise ship, well then you’ll love these books. We only covered a small fraction of his story in the first book on the podcast, so if you want the whole story and you’re looking for that good summer read, look no further. You can find Brian’s first book, Cruise Confidential, at the link below as well as his other books. Brian will be back at a future date to discuss his time as an Art Auctioneer aboard the cruise ships, which is covered in his second book, Ship for Brains. Please see the link below where to find Brian’s books: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=cruise+confidential&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

My guest today and I worked together in Club Med Lindeman Island, Australia in 2000/2001. His first season was at Club Med Chateau Royal-Noumea, New Caledonia in April of 1999 as a Circus G.O. Everyone, please help me give a big Aussie welcome to Luke “Casper” Murphy! Casper is originally from Maitland, New South Wales Australia and now lives in Sydney. Casper recounts a very funny story about his first night in Noumea involving him dressing in drag as Celine Dion and a trip to a local bar. He also tells us what it was like being a high-level gymnast before Club Med. We of course talk about our time in Lindeman Island and all the fun we had there. Casper even recounts a conversation he had with Liev Schrieber and Hugh Jackman on the set of 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine (which was filmed in Australia), where he was a WW1 extra. There is a Club Med, full-circle moment with this story, so you will just have to listen all the way to the end to find out. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts. **You will hear a lot of talk of “VB” in this episode, and that is an Australian beer called VB, or, Victoria Bitter. We also mention the word, “Bush Chook” which is a bird native to Australia (or as Casper likes to call them, a purple-breasted swamp fowl or Australasian swamphen), which is like a bigger, uglier version of a pigeon. I issued a challenge to the Circus Team involving said Bush Chook and an obscene amount of beer.

My guest today and I worked together in what was her first season in Club Med Playa Blanca in 1996/1997. She was a Scuba G.O. and I was Landsports. Funny story…she didn’t like me! (I can respect that). I was a huge fan of hers though and we’ll get into that and more on this episode of “My First Season”. Listen as Dana tells us what it was like going from working as a Commercial Diver and Scuba Instructor in Key West, Florida to working in a big singles resort in Playa Blanca, Mexico. She also shares a hilarious horseback-riding story with us! Everyone, please give a warm welcome to Dana Winess!! **My First Season podcast has always been free to listen to. My First Season is available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Podbean App, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora and Listen Notes.

My guest today and I worked together in Ria Bintan, Indonesia from 2001-2002. Everyone, Mr. Reggie Martin! Reggie’s first season was in the Mini-Club in Club Med Sandpiper during the Summer of 1997. Reggie takes us back to his first season where he thought he was going to be sent somewhere exotic, only to find out he was being sent to Florida! Reggie is originally from Chicago and now living in Macau, with 5.7 million followers on Instagram (check him out @reggiemartin10). Reggie truly believed he was living a millionaire lifestyle while at Club Med and he’ll tell you why. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.instagram.com/reggiemartin10/

My guest today and I have never actually worked a season together, but our paths crossed at the 2008 EXGO Reunion in Cancun. Originally from Newport Beach and now based in Atlanta, he’s been part of the Club Med family since he was a teenager in the 70s. In 1990, he officially joined the ranks as a Waterski G.O. at Club Med Sandpiper after driving down from Atlanta just to attend the in-person interview. He shares a truly moving story about teaching a blind guest named Kitty to ski and offers a rare look at the resort life of the 1970s. Everyone, please welcome the one, the only... Rick Ross! (No, not the rapper, the original!). **My First Season podcast has always been ad-free and free to listen to and is available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Samsung Podcasts, Podbean App, Podchaser, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora, and Listen Notes. And if you like what you hear, please leave a review at Apple Podcasts.

My guest today and I have never worked together, but I did meet him a few years back and was on guest on his radio show, the EXGO Radio Show. He was sent to Club Med Sandpiper for the 88-89 season as DJ and tells a very funny story about the guy in charge of Lighting & Sound Engineers for the North American Zone trying to tank the Cats show being put on one night to test him, but I’ll let him tell it. Everyone, give it up for Hiio “Joel” Kirby! Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.

My guest this week and I worked together in Otranto, Italy in the summer of 1997. I was Landsports and he was the Chief of Animation. His first season, however, was in Club Med Sant’Ambroggio-Corsica in the summer of 1995 as Animator. Originally from Marseille, France but now resides in California, Laurent “Jova” Minnitti didn’t actually feel that he went to some exotic location for his first season, as Corsica is an island off the coast of France. Not only that, when he arrived in the village, he soon found out that the village was rented for two months by an elderly group called “50 and More”. But I’ll let Laurent tell that story and more. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.

My guest today and I had never worked together before, but I kept hearing his name over and over, in the best way, from a good friend in Columbus Isle, Bahamas. We’ll get to that funny story later. Everyone, please help me give a warm welcome to LP! LP LeBlanc-Boucher shares his story of going to Club Med Playa Blanca as an au pair Animator in January 1992. When he arrived at the village, he happened to be on the same bus as the “Atlantis” group that had bought out the village that week. I’ll let him tell that story. He also brings up many names from the past who had a positive influence on him, including some you will recognize. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts. **My First Season podcast has always been ad-free and free to listen to and is available to download on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Samsung Podcasts, Podbean App, Podchaser, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora, and Listen Notes. And if you like what you hear, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Please check out LP's website. You can find an article there he wrote called "11 Reasons Why Being a Club Med G.O. Made Me a Better Person!" http://blog.lplb.com/2016/02/22/11-reasons-why-being-a-club-med-gos-made-me-a-better-person/

My guest and I worked together at Club Med Cancun during the 2004 through 2005 season. His first season began at Club Med Cancun in November 2003, where he served as the entertainer and animator of the resort. He is none other than Bob Dougherty, also known as Bobby D! Bob worked for both Disney Cruises and Club Med, which makes him a double threat for this podcast. He offers candid insight on the differences between life on cruise ships versus resorts. Bob even shares a great story about working with Jennifer Hudson aboard Disney Cruises before she finished in seventh place on American Idol and before she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. I admired Bob’s work ethic, sense of humor, and commitment during my time in Cancun and I am excited for you to hear his story. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts. (*Originally aired on March 29, 2021) **My First Season podcast has always been ad-free and free to listen to and is available to download on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Samsung Podcasts, Podbean App, Podchaser, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora and Listen Notes. And if you like what you hear, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. To explore Bob’s music, please visit the link provided below: https://sensaroundmusic.com/

My guest today had her first season as a Hostess in Club Med Turks & Caicos in November 1985, just one year after that resort opened. We had the pleasure of working together in Columbus Isle in Winter 1999/2000. She needs no introduction as you know her, love her, and cherish her. Everyone, my guest is none other than the amazing Angie Boucher! Listen as Angie recounts her interesting first interview, her ordeal with Hurricane Kate (and bar-beads) that passed over the island on November 18, 1985, and what it was like being a Hostess in the resort. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts. **My First Season podcast has always been free to listen to. My First Season is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Podbean App, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora and Listen Notes.

My guest today has the rare distinction of working in a Club Med in the town where he lives. We worked together in Club Med Coral Beach in 2005, which is in Eilat, Israel. His first season as a Windsurf G.O. happened to coincide with my last season. Listen to my good friend Raz tell us about his first season and a very funny story about a humorous, touching gesture to the choreographer one night after The Jungle Show that hilariously spiralled out of control that season (for us, but not for cool-headed and very creative Raz). Raz also reminds me of a post I made on Club Med Planet back in early 2008 that I had forgot about. I’ll let him tell the tale, but long story short, he was looking for apple tobacco for his hooka, which was hard or impossible to find on Turks & Caicos. I made a post on CMP asking if anyone was going down to Turks and to bring him some, only Raz had to do his Jean-Claude Van Damme impression from the movie Bloodsport, to get it. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.

My guest for this podcast is none other than “7th” Evan Eichler, originally from Wasaga Beach, Ontario. Evan shares his story about auditioning for Club Med in Toronto after hearing a group of people at a table discussing it at the bar where he worked. He nails the audition and heads to Club Med Sandpiper, Florida in January 2003 to be part of the Landsports Team. He recounts a surfing trip with a buddy along the Florida coast gone awry (for Evan) on his day off and lands a dream resort for his second season despite only having been at Sandpiper for about 3 months. Sit back, relax and enjoy! *If you hear some background noise on this podcast, that is due to the fact that the only time Evan could record this podcast was while at the Gym/Physical Fitness Centre he owns, Eastern Shore Performance Center ESPC. If you are in the Stevensville, MD area and looking for a Gym, look him up at: http://www.easternshoreperformancecenter.com/ And please give them a follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/easternshoreperformancecenter/

Welcome everyone, my name is Greg Hannah and this is the first episode of the podcast, My First Season. In this series, I will be interviewing people who have worked for resorts, hotels, cruise ships, and airlines to talk specifically about their first season in the travel and tourism industry. My very first guest is James "Joker" Cradle from Boston! Joker and I worked together at Club Med Lindeman Island in 2000/2001, briefly at Club Med Punta Cana in 2003, and then again at Club Med Cancun in 2004/2005. In this episode, we dive into James's debut season in 1997 at Club Med Cancun, where he started his journey as a Village/Village G.O. Sit back and enjoy! You can listen here or wherever you get your podcasts. Originally aired February 1, 2021. **My First Season podcast has always been free to listen to. My First Season is available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Podbean App, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora and Listen Notes.

My guest for this episode is James Martin. James and I worked together before in Club Med Cancun in 2004/2005. Originally from Minnesota, but now living in Florida, James shares his hilarious story about auditioning for Club Med in 2001 and is placed at Club Med Crested Butte, Colorado in December 2001 as a Bar G.O. He recounts one of the best stories (or only story) I’ve heard about someone meeting the 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter. Sit back, relax and enjoy! **My First Season podcast has always been free to listen to. My First Season is available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Podbean App, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora and Listen Notes.

My guest for this podcast is someone I had not worked with before, but our paths had crossed. She is originally from Montreal and currently resides in Newfoundland. She is also the co-founder and administrator of the largest EXGO site on Facebook with 8.1K members, The Official Club Med EXGO Facebook Group, everyone, Miss G.A! G.A. recounts one of the best of not THE best G.M. to G.O. stories I’ve ever heard that takes places in 1989 in Club Med Martinique. I don’t want to spoil a minute of this amazing story so you’ll really have to listen if you want to hear more and man, is it worth it! G. A. also co-founded Kitchen 4 Missions along with EXGO Katie McGowan and the description for K4M is below: Kitchens 4 Missions (K4M) was sparked by Anthony's Bourdain's loss to his battle with depression. The suicide of this culinary hero drew attention to mental health challenges not just within the hospitality industry, but the world over. Knowing that 1 in 5 Canadians will be faced with a mental health crisis in any given year, yet stigma and limited access to care means many won't get the help they need, K4M emerged to help meet this need. Through our "food philanthropy" event, we work to raise funds for accessible counselling services and normalize conversations about mental wellness. If you’d like to know more, please visit the link below: www.kitchens4missions.com

It gives me great pleasure to introduce today’s guest, you know him, you love him, please help me welcome, Eric Goldberg! Eric’s first season was in Club Med St. Lucia (then a single’s resort) in November 1987 as DJ. He had been to Club Med Turks & Caicos prior on vacation, which is where he got bit by the bug to apply to Club Med. Eric recounts the craziness of Olympic Day in the late 80’s and what it was like being the resort DJ and also his mom crashing his first fashion show by the pool. Sit back, enjoy and shout ,"Hey, lady!"