My First Season

Playa Blanca

In this episode, I take you on an in-depth journey through my season at Club Med Playa Blanca, where I was a Landsports G.O. I share some hilarious stories, often at my own expense, and reflect on the incredible G.O.s I had the privilege of working with, many of whom I later interviewed for this podcast. Some of the stories in this episode include earthquakes, pheromones, giant bugs, and, of course, the legendary Uncle Larry. 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. 

 

Benoit Collard

I’m thrilled to introduce a true Club Med legend who joined the G.O. team in 1986, kicking off his journey at Club Med Martinique as a Scuba G.O. His passion and leadership shone through as he later rose to Chief of Sports, and in 1992, he found love at Club Med Sandpiper, meeting his future wife. Beyond Club Med, he’s an endurance athlete extraordinaire, conquering 10 Ironman races, over 50 marathons and ultra-marathons, and tackling the grueling “Rim to Rim to Rim Grand Canyon” race in an astonishing 18 hours. From his roots in Lyons, France, to his current home in Lansing, Michigan, we’re diving into his incredible stories and so much more. Please join me in welcoming Benoit Collard! Since Benoit had such an incredible career with Club Med, I decided to split this interview into two parts. In this first installment, we’ll explore his time at Club Med Martinique, Cancun, Moorea, Santa Teresa, and Turks and Caicos. When I originally asked Benoit to share a few fun facts, he left out one particularly remarkable detail—and in this interview, he finally reveals it! I won’t spoil the fun fact, so you’ll just have to listen to find out what it is. Please enjoy and stay tuned for part two! **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. 

 

Columbus Isle

Dans cet épisode, je vous emmène dans un voyage approfondi à travers ma saison au Club Med Columbus Isle en 1996, où j'ai travaillé dans le domaine des sports terrestres. Je partage quelques anecdotes hilarantes, souvent à mes dépens, et je réfléchis aux incroyables G.O. avec lesquels j'ai eu le privilège de travailler, dont beaucoup ont ensuite été interviewés pour ce podcast. J'ai passé deux ans et demi à Columbus Isle, les prochains épisodes aborderont donc les saisons qui ont suivi. * Le podcast My First Season a toujours été sans publicité et gratuit à écouter. Il est disponible en téléchargement sur : Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Samsung Podcasts, Podbean App, Podchaser, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora et Listen Notes. Et si vous aimez ce que vous entendez, n'hésitez pas à laisser un commentaire sur Apple Podcasts. 

Columbus Isle

In this episode, I take you on an in-depth journey through my season at Club Med Columbus Isle, where I worked in Landsports. I share some hilarious stories, often at my own expense, and reflect on the incredible G.O.s I had the privilege of working with, many of whom I later interviewed for this podcast. I spent two and a half years at Columbus Isle, so future episodes will dive into the seasons that followed. In this episode, we’ve got it all: hurricanes, a vasovagal reaction, stitches, and even some behind-the-scenes notes on the Indiana Jones show! **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. 

Honey Parker

My guest today worked for Club Med from 1991 to 1992, beginning her first season at Club Med Copper Mountain as both a Hostess and a stand-up comedian. Wait—what? Don’t worry, we’ll get into that! She’s an award-winning advertising creative, a former stand-up comedian, and the author of five novels and counting. Her latest series just took gold in the Reader’s Favorite book awards. Along the way, she even stepped into the ring with WBC female boxing champion Christy Martin, and lived to tell the tale. With her husband Blaine, she co-founded Slow Burn Marketing and Slow Burn Story lab, has sold multiple movie scripts, and co-hosted a podcast for couples in business. Beyond her Club Med adventures, we’ll also dive into her latest book, V-Life. Please join me in welcoming the one and only, Honey Parker! In this episode, Honey takes us back to life before Club Med and shares how she landed her very first season at Copper Mountain. Honey opens up about her three seasons with Club Med, then dives into her fascinating journey after: from stand-up comedy and performing with the legendary Groundlings, to screenwriting, and her latest book, V-Life. And there’s more, Honey will return for a second interview soon, where we’ll explore the stories we didn’t get to this time, including why she stepped into the ring with a Hall-of-Fame WBC boxing champion! Get ready for an inspiring, funny, and unforgettable conversation with Honey! **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. 

 

Visit Honey's website for a complete collection of her books:

HONEY PARKER BOOKS - Best-selling author Honey Parker writes fiction with humor and heart.

 

 

 

Narishdath Maraj

My guest today spent four exciting years with Club Med, from 2011 to 2015. He began his journey at Club Med Sandpiper as a Costume Designer and went on to work at Turks and Caicos, Bodrum, Yabuli, and even aboard the Club Med 2. A graduate of the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale and Toronto Metropolitan University, he traveled to more than thirty countries during his time with Club Med. Originally from Trinidad and Tobago and now based in Toronto, please join me in welcoming Narishdath Maraj! We begin this interview with Narishdath reflecting on his childhood in Trinidad and Tobago and sharing how his journey with Club Med first began. He takes us through each of his seasons in detail, from the culture shock of working in China for the first time to unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experiences aboard Club Med 2 while visiting breathtaking countries and islands. We hope you enjoy this conversation with Narish! **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. 

Check out the links below to discover more about Narishdath:

http://www.narishdathmarajdesign.com/home.html

https://www.mpolodesigns.ca/

 

 

 

Tony Vitale

My guest today first joined us back in July 2025, and he’s here again to share the remarkable journey he’s had since his days at Club Med, this time as a creative force in the film and television industry. In 1996, he wrote and directed Kiss Me, Guido, which went on to premiere at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival. The film even earned a glowing review from none other than Janet Maslin, the esteemed critic at The New York Times. Both Kiss Me, Guido and his third feature, Life’s a Beach, draw directly from his Club Med experience. It’s an honor to welcome back to the podcast, Tony Vitale! In this episode, we dive into Tony’s incredible journey in film and television. He tells us how he landed a job as a Location Scout on A Bronx Tale, Robert De Niro’s directorial debut. We then explore Tony’s own first feature, Kiss Me, Guido, which he not only wrote and directed but later adapted into a CBS sitcom starring Jason Bateman. From there, we move on to Life’s a Beach, where Tony takes us behind the scenes of the production and shares hilarious stories about working with Christopher Walken and Rutger Hauer. If you love movies, television, and the fascinating process of bringing stories to life in Hollywood, this episode is a must-listen! **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 watch Life's a Beach, written and directed by Tony, please visit the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrmJ7dSJl4M

 

 

Anne Thouvenot

Mon invitée aujourd’hui a travaillé pour le Club Med de 1986 à 1996, et sa première saison était à Club Med Chamonix en tant que monitrice de ski. Elle a travaillé aussi bien dans les zones Europe qu’Amérique du Nord, et même à Les Arcs 2000 et Les Boucanniers. J’ai eu le plaisir de travailler avec elle dans l’équipe de plongée lors de ma première saison à Club Med Turkoise, et nous allons en parler, ainsi que de bien d’autres choses. Veuillez accueillir chaleureusement Anne Thouvenot! Anne a travaillé dans des villages comme Wengen, Zinal, Cancún ainsi que sur le Club Med 1 et le Club Med 2. Elle a travaillé avec des Chefs de Village tels que La Gitoune, Jean-Pierre Levrier, Ye, Stéphane Dufailly et La Tendresse, pour n’en citer que quelques-uns. Anne a une excellente mémoire et a la gentillesse de partager avec nous quelques-unes de ses plus belles histoires. Profitez bien de cet épisode avec Anne! **Le podcast My First Season a toujours été sans publicité et gratuit à écouter. Il est disponible en téléchargement sur: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Samsung Podcasts, Podbean App, Podchaser, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora et Listen Notes. Et si vous aimez ce que vous entendez, n'hésitez pas à laisser un commentaire sur Apple Podcasts. 

Daniela Guimaraes

My guest today spent twelve incredible years with Club Med, from 1994 to 2006. She began as a Mini Club G.O. at Club Med Itaparica before trading the playroom for the big top as a Circus G.O. Along the way, she met her future husband at Club Med Turks and Caicos, and also brought her talents to Sandpiper, Ixtapa, and Cancun. Originally from Brazil but now proudly calling Canada home, that’s right, we claim her, please welcome Daniela Guimaraes (Munden)! Dany opens up about her life before and after Club Med, reflecting on the bold move from her roots in Brazil to building a new life in Newfoundland. Daniela discusses the unique journey of raising her two daughters in this new chapter and what that transition has meant for her family. Dany also shares what it was like to be married in a Club Med resort, an unforgettable celebration she and her husband Josh experienced at Club Med Turks and Caicos. **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. 

 

Elisa Tauro

Today’s guest has led an extraordinary life filled with adventure, artistry, and performance. She began her journey with Club Med in 2010, debuting as a Circus G.O. in Punta Cana, and continued her path across multiple seasons until 2015. Her talents then took her to the high seas as an acrobat with Royal Caribbean Cruises, and later to Dubai, where she spent four years performing professionally. Most impressively, she flew high as a bateau flyer in the world-renowned Cirque du Soleil show “O” in Las Vegas for three years. Her story began even earlier, at just six years old, when she first stepped onto the trapeze at Club Med Sandpiper. Joining us from Toronto, Canada, please welcome the incredibly talented and fearless Elisa Tauro! Elisa takes us through her incredible journey—from life aboard a cruise ship, to living and working in Dubai, to finally achieving her dream of joining the world-renowned Cirque du Soleil. Elisa also shares stories from her early days as a G.M. at Club Med and what it was like growing up as one of the only families in Canada with a trapeze rig in their backyard! Sit back and enjoy this inspiring conversation with Elisa! **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.