My First Season

My guest today worked for Club Med from 2014 to 2018. His first season was in Club Med Turks & Caicos as a Lifeguard. He studied Recreation Management at Santa Fe College in Florida where he is from, and according to some G.O.s he worked with, he is considered one of the five best rappers of all time! Please help me welcome, Dylan Kett! Dylan also worked at Club Med Columbus Isle, Sandpiper, and Ixtapa in various positions as Landsports and Water Sports Supervisor. Dylan met his future wife at Sandpiper in 2016 and shares that story and many others with us. Dylan tells us who he enjoyed working with and if there is anything he misses about Club Med. And yes, we’ll find out if he is indeed one of the five best rappers in the world! Please 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. 

Seasoners!! I am SO excited for today’s guest!! You may not know that I have been searching in absolute vain for the name of the person who interviewed me for Club Med in Montreal decades ago! That’s right, I have been searching for the name of my guest for many years. A chance conversation with an EXGO set me on the right path. I reached out to him, we had a lovely conversation and yes, it’s him! He worked for Club Med from 1988 to 1992 and was also a recruiter for Club Med from 1994 to 2000. His first season was at Club Med Cancun in 1984 as a Bar G.O. He has one of the BEST Club Med interview stories you will ever hear. Please help me welcome from my hometown of Montreal, Jimmy Dimopoulos! Jimmy went to Club Med Cancun as a G.M. and decided he wanted to work for them right there. Sadly, his application was rejected, but did that deter Jimmy? No way! Jimmy then decided to drive from Montreal to New York, leaving at 4:00 am, to get an interview, to prove that he was G.O. material. Jimmy also has the best G.O. roommate story you will ever hear, Seasoners!! All I can say is that it involves two Kudamundis (Mexican raccoons)! Trust me, you want to hear this hilarious story! Jimmy also worked at Club Med Haiti from 1984 to 1985 with the legendary Chief of Village, Jean-Pierre Batard. He then switched services for his season at Club Med Eleuthera in 1985 with CDV Jean-Pierre Roch, and became a Waterski G.O., with Ye as his Chief of Sports. And yes, we of course talk about my interview that Jimmy conducted in Montreal! Please enjoy this special trip down memory lane with Jimmy! **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 1997 to 1998 as a G.O. Nurse. She worked in both Club Med Sandpiper (her first season) and Paradise Island. Fun Fact: She went to Club Med Playa Blanca on vacation in 1997 during the season I was there, and we are not sure if we remember each other! She is from New York but now lives in Sarasota, Florida. Please help me welcome Sheera Ashley! Before Club Med, Sheera was working full-time and attending nursing school at the University of Staten Island. After her trip to Playa Blanca, she called 1-800 Club Med and flew down to Sandpiper for her interview. We cover both Sheera’s seasons in detail, and we get a look at village life from a nurse’s perspective. Sheera shares some rather humorous nursing stories and we play the rapid-fire Club Med question game. Please enjoy this episode with a very charming (and photogenic) person!! **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 worked for Club Med from 1995 to 2001 as a Sound Technician. His first season was in 1995 at Club Med Turks and Caicos. He also worked at Cancun, Cherating, Sonora Bay, St. Lucia, and Punta Cana and he was also at the opening of Club Med World in Montreal. For the last 20 years, he has been working for Cirque du Soleil for such shows as Quidam, Ovo, Corteo, KOOZA, Joyà, and Allegria, and yes, we will talk about that as well. Please help me welcome, from my hometown of Montreal, Patrick Burke! I hope you are ready for this episode Seasoners, because Patrick delivers! He has a very funny story from his first season involving Cookie, the Chief of Animation that you must hear! He also shares a hilarious story from Club Med Cancun in 2000 in which Patrick was the “Latino Expert” and was filmed teaching the Crazy Sign, Mambo No. 5 for “Drew’s Party Dance Mix”? (Who’s Drew?!). Near the end of the interview, Patrick tells us the story of how he applied to Cirque du Soleil. He applied for three years and when he decided to move on, that is when they called him and offered him the show Quidam, which was touring in Australia at the time. Patrick worked and lived in the countries of Japan, Korea, China Dubai, and Brazil while continuing to work for Cirque du Soleil as the Head of Sound. Please 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. 

Seasoners, I am SO excited for today’s guest!! I have been waiting so long for her to come on the show!! This is two years in the making, people! I had the pleasure of meeting my guest during her first season at Club Med Columbus Isle during the 1995/1996 Winter season, where she was a Bar G.O. She is a triathlete; she has run 2 marathons and over 100 half marathons! She is a travel and sports fanatic, Foodie, Golfer, Surfer, Skier, and Adventurer. She makes me wonder what the heck I’ve done with my life! Please help me welcome, from Chicago but now living in Miami, Our Miss Brooks, Courtney Brooks! Courtney worked in the resorts of Cancun and Eleuthera and in addition to being a Bar G.O., was also a Reception, Boutique, and Scuba Gestion G.O. Speaking about her life after Club Med, Courtney is gracious enough to ask my burning question about what makes someone run over one hundred half marathons and she explains how it all started. Courtney follows the list of “The World’s 50 Best Restaurants” and has eaten at a lot of the number-one restaurants on the list and we talk about the preparation that you have to do to eat at the number-one restaurant in Copenhagen, for example. Courtney shouts out the G.O.s she enjoyed working with and the thing she misses most about working for Club Med. Please 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. 

My guest today worked for Club Med from 1997 to 2003. His name has come up quite a few times on this podcast, so I am very happy to sit down with him today. His first season was in Club Med Cancun as a Set Designer. He has so many fun facts about himself that I do not know where to start but they will be uncovered during this interview. He is originally from Southampton in England, grew up in Brazil, went to school in Singapore, and now calls Anaheim home. Please help me welcome, Kevin “Painter” Hill! Kevin worked at the Club Med resorts of Sonora Bay, Copper Mountain, Paradise Island, Columbus Isle, Turks and Caicos, and Paradise Island. This interview contains great stories from Kevin, so I hope you enjoy this episode. Stories such as Kevin drawing the disco mural at Sonora Bay in 1998, his “sunglasses” story from Paradise Island, and some ghost stories from that same village. Kevin is now a sketch artist for Disneyland and also taught Photoshop, 3D Graphics, Animation, and Motion graphics. Kevin drew some interesting parallels between his career in Club Med with his job working for Disney that you will want to hear! Please enjoy this interview with Kevin! **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 2003 to 2008. Her first season was in Club Med Sandpiper in 2003 as a Mini Club G.O. She also worked in the Club Med resorts of Ixtapa, Punta Cana, La Caravelle, Hammamet in Tunisia and my favorite village, Lindeman Island in Australia. In her life after Club Med, she obtained a law degree from Bond University in Queensland, Australia and she is a Diplomat with the Canadian government. She is currently accredited as the First Secretary of Canada to the Republic of Turkey. That’s right Seasoners, you heard me, she is the first Diplomat to be on My First Season! The level of sophistication on this podcast just went through the roof!! From Alberta, Canada, please help me welcome, Meagan Dalby! In this episode, we cover Meagan’s villages and her journey from law school to Diplomat. Meagan also lets us know if her employment at Club Med helped her in her current career as a Diplomat. You will not want to miss this one and please 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.

My guest today worked for Club Med from 2004 to 2006 and his first season was at Club Med Crested Butte as a Ski Instructor. He is a graduate of Penn State University with majors in Management and International Business with a minor in French. While at Penn State, he was a member of the Fencing team and won two NCAA Championships with the team. He’s from Pennsylvania but has been living in my favorite country in the world, Australia, for the last seventeen years, and we’ll ask him how the heck that happened! Please help me welcome, Matt Gillig! Matt has some stories from carrying Kenny Loggin’s luggage, getting his book signed by former President Jimmy Carter, and meeting his future wife at Big White in British Columbia! Fun Fact: Matt is probably the only G.O. to have turned down a job with the U.S. Army to work at their resort in Garmisch, Germany for active-duty military service members and retirees of the Armed Services. The U.S. Army has resorts for its members? Yes, I did not know that either and Matt will explain why he chose Club Med over that. Please enjoy your time with Matt! **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 1991 to 2002 (22 seasons!) and his first season was at Club Med Copper Mountain as a Ski Instructor. He worked aboard the Club Med 1 in 1994 and Club Med resorts such as Cancun, Pontresina, Punta Cana, Roi Soleil, Sonora Bay, and Sandpiper. Fun Fact: he replaced me as Chief of Sports in 2001 in my favorite place, Lindeman Island in Australia, though we sadly did not meet. He met his future wife at Club Med Sonora Bay in 1998 and has DJ’d worldwide in countries like Spain, Mexico City, Vancouver, Miami, and Berlin, in his life after Club Med. Seasoners, please help me welcome, the one and only, Eric Turner! Buckle up Seasoners, because Eric came with stories! We detail his 1998 Sonora Bay season with Hammer, and where he met his future wife. Eric got married onstage by a G.M. during the 1998/1999 Copper Mountain season and his son was born while Eric was in Club Med Sandpiper during the 1999/2000 season. Eric takes us through the Chief of Village stage that he was part of in Club Med Vittel in 2001 and he probably has one of the best travel nightmare stories you will ever hear. Trust me, you will want to listen to this story! In his life after Club Med, Eric became a Producer, live techno performer, and self-described synth nerd and we talk a little about this. I know you will love this episode with Eric so please 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. 

Please check out the link below to Eric's YouTube channel and subscribe:

SURCO - YouTube

My guest today worked for Club Med from 2018 to 2022. Her first season was in Club Med Sandpiper as a Teen Club G.O. She held other positions such as Fitness, Landsports, Sailing, Circus, Events and Animation, and Sports Manager. Before Club Med, she attended the University of New Haven and earned a Sports Management and Nutrition and Dietetics degree. While at university, she was on the track and field team, competing in the Pole Vault! Fun facts: She was born in Sydney, Australia, and moved to the United States in 2001. Her name means “laughter” in Aboriginal, and she has competed in American Jiu-Jitsu and Gymnastics. Please help me welcome, the one and only, Keira Mezei! Keira’s journey to Club Med is unique. For much of her youth, Keira attended summer camp in the Poconos. She met her best friend there (who is from England) and when they both aged out of camp, they promised to meet in a different country around the world each year. Her friend came up with the idea to apply to Club Med to be able to work and travel at the same time. Keira also worked at the Club Med villages of Turks and Caicos and Sandpiper and has fond memories of her time there. Keira learned to sail in Club Med and became proficient at certain circus show acts such as Double Hammock, Lyra, Rings, and Chains. Keira is a massive bundle of energy and positivity with an infectious laugh, so I know you will enjoy this episode! **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.