My First Season

There are certain guests I’ve been trying to land for years, and today, I finally get to welcome one of them. My guest worked for Club Med from 1983 to 1991, starting his journey at Club Med Martinique in 1983 as a Waterski G.O. Over the years, he rose through the ranks to become Chief of Sports and even served as interim Chief of Village. I’ve already had the pleasure of hosting his daughter and his wife on the podcast, and now, it’s his turn. Please join me in welcoming the one and only, Steve Miller! This interview with Steve will be presented in two parts. In Part 1, we focus on his early Club Med journey, covering Martinique (summer ’83), Cancún (’83/84), Eleuthera (summer ’84), Sonora Bay (’84/85), Corfu Ipsos (summer ’85), Haiti (’85/86), Sandpiper (’86/87), and Turks & Caicos (summer ’88). Enjoy! **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.  

Thirty years ago, in a small apartment in West LA, two former Club Med G.O.s were doing what XGOs do best: connecting. John Shelley strummed his guitar while my guest sang, and in that moment, an idea was born: a place where former G.O.s could reconnect and find the people who shaped their unforgettable seasons. It was the early days of the internet, and while John never got to see that vision come to life, his idea and his spirit live on. Anyone who has experienced Club Med knows it was more than just a job. It was a family. People from every corner of the world brought together to work hard, play harder, and build lifelong friendships. But over time, that family scattered across continents, and staying connected became a challenge. Now, that original vision has finally become reality, a true home for former G.O.s, built by an XGO, where memories can be shared and friendships rediscovered. And joining me now is the person who brought that vision to life, Grant Simmons! **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.  

The XGO Directory is just a click away — see the link below:

XGO.directory — Club Med GO Alumni

Catch Grant's My First Season interview from June 2022 — link below:

Grant Simmons | My First Season

In this special tribute episode, we honor the life and legacy of a dear friend and unforgettable member of the Club Med family, Hansel Moss. I first met Hansel in 1996 on San Salvador Island, where his energy, spirit, and presence left an immediate impression. Like so many who crossed his path, I was lucky to call him a friend. To celebrate his life, I connected with six people who worked alongside Hansel during those incredible Club Med years. In no particular order, I had the privilege of speaking with Chris “Hammer” Keeley, Jenner Jensen, Cheez Jensen, Angie Boucher, LP Leblanc-Boucher, and Benoit Collard. Together, we share stories, laughter, and memories that capture who he truly was, both on stage and behind the scenes. This episode is more than a look back; it’s a tribute to a life that brought people together, created lasting friendships, and left a mark that won’t ever be forgotten.

My guest today is someone I met during her very first season at Club Med Cancún in May 2004. A fellow Montrealer, she was part of the waterski team and quickly made an impression. Before Club Med, she was a competitive wakeboarder and a Quebec champion. She grew up in a small lakeside town, which gave her a relatively sheltered upbringing, making her arrival at Club Med all the more eye-opening. That season brought together twenty-two nationalities working side by side, and she dove right into the diversity of cultures, ages, and lifestyles that defined the G.O. experience. She now looks back on it as both meaningful and deeply rewarding. In this interview, my guest shares a hilarious story from a night out at Dady’O’s, along with plenty of memorable moments from that unforgettable first season. After Club Med, she earned her Master’s degree from HEC Montréal and now works as an Operations Manager. Everyone, please join me in welcoming Jo Pilon! **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. (Originally aired on September 6, 2021).

Please check out her Instagram and give her a follow:

Instagram

From the flying trapeze to the chemistry labs of Cambridge University, our guest today has lived a truly unique life. His history with Club Med began as a young G.M. in 1995, but by eighteen, he was center stage as a Circus G.O. at Club Med in Opio, France, in 2001. Over the next six years, he balanced world-class academics with summer seasons abroad, even meeting his future wife at Club Med Nabeul in 2003. Now a published author of three books on his aerial passion, he’s here to tell us all about his story. Please help me welcome, Alastair Pilgrim! **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 visit the link below to check out Alastair's books and more information:

Welcome - Flying Trapeze Books

Our guest today is a man of many talents. Between 2000 and 2001, he served as a Tennis G.O. and DJ at Club Med Paradise Island. He holds a degree in Recreation and Leisure Management, with minors in Psychology and International Tourism, but it was a simple ad in a travel magazine that changed his life forever. Joining us all the way from Lima, Peru, by way of Dallas, Texas, let’s welcome Brady Urrunaga! **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.  

My guest today worked for Club Med from 1998 to 2006. His first season was at Club Med Eleuthera as a Circus G.O. Before joining Club Med, he was a two-time provincial gymnastics champion and later played on the Turks and Caicos rugby team. He also met and married his wife at Club Med Turks and Caicos, something we’ll definitely be talking about, along with much more. This interview has been a long time coming, so it’s with great happiness that I welcome, all the way from Newfoundland, the amazing Josh Munden! **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.  

My guest today worked for Club Med from 1987 to around 2002, beginning his journey during the opening season of Club Med Sandpiper as a lifeguard and swim instructor. Over the years, he took on a wide range of roles with the company before leaving in 1997 to attend law school at Pepperdine University. His career has been anything but ordinary. He later became a Cruise Director with Norwegian and Celebrity Cruises and has even written two books. There is too much life and adventure to fit into one conversation, so this interview will be at least a two-part series. Joining us from California, please help me welcome Fith Fithian! **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.

My guest today worked for Club Med from 2000 to 2002, beginning her very first season at Club Med Sandpiper as a Circus G.O. Her story before and after Club Med is just as fascinating. She holds a degree in Marketing and Finance from the University of Richmond and an MBA from Hofstra University. Before joining Club Med full-time, she was a Loan Officer in the Private Banking division at the Bank of New York. After visiting Club Med a few times as a G.M., she found herself completely hooked. After Club Med, her adventures became even more extraordinary. She performed flying trapeze at the White House Halloween party, where she met President Obama, and also appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Most recently, in October 2025, she published her book Summer to Soar, which we will talk about in part two of her interview, along with so much more. From New York, please help me welcome Lizzy Heinrich Ellis! **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.  

I have known today’s guest since 2004, when we first met at Club Med Cancun, but that is not the journey we are here to talk about. Today, we're discussing a far more powerful one. In May of 2025, he was diagnosed with throat cancer and faced an intense battle that included thirty-five radiation treatments and six rounds of chemotherapy. Through determination, inner strength, and unwavering focus, he came through the fight and is now cancer-free. He has since written an inspiring book about that journey titled Mind over Body: The Story of a Peaceful Warrior, a Journey of Resilience, Discipline and Rebirth. Joining us from Montreal, please help me welcome Simon Fortin!  **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. This episode is rated "E".

To keep up with Simon and follow his ongoing journey, check out the link below:

Instagram

Check out Simon’s book on Amazon, currently available in French only:

mind over body: le récit d'un guerrier pacifique: un chemin de résilience, de discipline et de renaissance: fortin, simon: 9798245483603: Books - Amazon.ca