My First Season

Jeff Greene

I had the supreme pleasure of working with my guest today during an amazing season at Club Med Playa Blanca during the 1996/1997 winter season. His first season was at Club Med Paradise Island in 1995 as a Sailing G.O., and you could say his parents helped him get the job. In later seasons, he did Lighting and DJ and ended his career in Club Med in 1998 where it all started. In his life after Club Med, he played rugby for the Lake Brome Ducks where he was a two-time MVP. From Montreal, please help me welcome, Jeff Greene! Jeff was taught to sail with the sink-or-sail method by his father, which came in handy when his parents met the CDV at Paradise Island and helped Jeff land the job as a Sailing G.O. Jeff and I reminisce about our amazing time at Playa Blanca and all our shared memories. Jeff worked at Club Med Huatulco and a brief interim at Columbus Isle in 1996. He has stories from each of his seasons, so if you are a mid-90s G.O., you will love this episode with Jeff, 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. 

Dan Bittle

My guest today worked for Club Med from 1994 to 1998. His first season was in Club Med Ixtapa as a Petit Club G.O. During his time in Club Med, he was also a Circus, Sailing, Windsurfing, Waterski, and Ski Instructor. He was a pole vaulter and nationally ranked springboard diver in high school, and he has a very famous cousin. From Fort Collins, Colorado but now living in Florida, please help me welcome, Dan Bittle! Dan graduated from Arizona State University with a BS in Exercise Science/Physical Education, and it was a postcard from Club Med sent to him by a friend that started Dan on his Club Med journey. Dan worked in the Club Med resorts of Sandpiper, Copper Mountain, Sonora Bay, Punta Cana, Eleuthera, and Cancun. Dan is a 90s G.O., so he comes with a lot of stories and I hope you are ready! Please enjoy this episode with Dan! **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. 

Amandine Allain

Mon invitée aujourd'hui est Amandine Allain, qui a travaillé en tant qu'assistante aux ressources humaines pour le Club Med de 2022 à 2024. Sa première saison s'est déroulée au Club Med Turks and Caicos. Avant de rejoindre le Club Med, Amandine a étudié l'administration des affaires à HEC Montréal, l'une des meilleures écoles de commerce de la ville. Amandine est liée au Club Med depuis l'âge de quatre ans et parle couramment l'anglais, le français et l'espagnol. À l'origine, ses parents avaient prévu  l'appeler Audrey, mais ils ont changé d'avis après sa naissance, une histoire que nous approfondirons au cours de notre conversation. Originaire de Lyon en France, le parcours d'Amandine au Club Med l'a également conduite à Charlevoix, au Québec, pour la saison 2023-2024. Elle partagera avec nous ce qu'est la transition d'un G.M. à un G.O. Au départ, Amandine aspirait à travailler dans les ressources humaines au siège de Lyon, mais on lui a conseillé d'acquérir une expérience pratique dans les villages afin de mieux comprendre la vie dans les stations. Nous parlerons de ses saisons en détail et elle nous racontera de nombreuses anecdotes sur son expérience. L'histoire d'Amandine vient boucler la boucle, et vous devrez écouter pour savoir pourquoi ! Profitez de cet épisode avec Amandine Allain! **Le podcast My First Season a toujours été sans publicité et son écoute est gratuite. Il est disponible sur: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Samsung Podcasts, Podbean App, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora, Podchaser et Listen Notes. Et si vous aimez ce que vous entendez, veuillez laisser un commentaire sur Apple Podcasts.

Veuillez suivre Amandine sur TikTok:

Amandine Allain (@amandineallain4) | TikTok

 

Amandine Allain

My guest today is Amandine Allain, who worked as an Assistant HR Manager for Club Med from 2022 to 2024. Her first season was at Club Med Turks and Caicos. Before joining Club Med, Amandine studied Business Administration at HEC Montréal, one of the top universities in the city. Amandine has been connected to Club Med since she was four years old and is fluent in English, French, and Spanish. Originally, her parents planned to name her Audrey, but they changed their minds after she was born—a story we’ll delve into during our conversation. Hailing from Lyon, France, Amandine's journey with Club Med also took her to Charlevoix in Quebec for the 2023-2024 season. Amandine will share what it's like transitioning from a lifelong G.M. to a G.O. Initially aspiring to work in HR at the head office in Lyon, Amandine was advised to gain hands-on experience in the villages to understand resort life better. We'll discuss her seasons in detail, and she will share numerous stories from her experiences. Amandine's story comes full circle; you'll have to listen to find out why! Please enjoy this episode with Amandine Allain! **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 follow Amadine on Tiktok:

Amandine Allain (@amandineallain4) | TikTok

 

 

 

Adam Reinhart

My guest today worked for Club Med from 2016 to 2020. His first season was in Club Med Sandpiper in 2016 as Landsports Supervisor. During his tenure at Club Med, he also held Sports and Animation Manager and Assistant CDV positions. Before Club Med, he was a Division 1 Varsity Men’s Tennis team player and Team Captain at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, where he graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Management and International Business, and he has almost completed his Master’s degree from Northwestern University. Please help me welcome, from Cincinnati now living in Chicago, Adam Reinhart! Adam worked in the resorts of Turks and Caicos, Punta Cana, and Marrakech and was supposed to go to the resort of Club Med Sanya in China, but he explained the somewhat complicated process to get a Chinese work visa. Adam shares with us what it was like arriving in Marrakesh in 2019 during Ramadan and discusses his six-month season there as an Entertainment Manager. Adam and I talked about whether working at Club Med helped him in his current job and if he still misses dress codes. Please enjoy this interview with a very entertaining 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. 

Carlos Dipres

My guest worked for Club Med from 1989 to 1997. His first season was in Club Med Punta Cana as a Petit Club G.O. only twenty-four hours after finishing university with a degree in Hotel and Tourist Administration! He has spent time with legends like Diego Maradona and Jacques Cousteau, and he is yet another EXGO who met their future wife in Club Med, and we will talk about that as well. Please help me welcome, from the Dominican Republic, Carlos Dipres! Carlos and I talk about many things, and he happened to be at Club Med Punta Cana when that famous ship broke into two on the reef. We discussed meeting Diego Maradona in Punta Cana and Carlos visiting Jacques Cousteau at his home in Eleuthera. Carlos tells the story of how he met his wife and the proposal. We reminisce over being Picnic G.O.s in Martinique with girlfriends and talk about the Club Med reunions Carlos has been to. Please enjoy your time with Carlitos! **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. 

 

Sarah Paster

My guest today worked for Club Med from 2015 until 2021. Her first season was in Club Med Sandpiper as a Mini Club G.O. Before Club Med, she attended Tulane University and graduated cum laude in Spanish Language and Literature with minors in French and Psychology. She was also a member of the Tulane Cheerleading Squad and don’t roll your eyes at me, but of course, we will talk about the movie Bring It On! After Club Med, she went to work at The Four Seasons in Tamarindo, Mexico as The Director of Leisure Activities and we will talk about that as well. Please help me welcome from Florida, Sarah Paster! Sarah worked at the Club Med resorts of Punta Cana, Albion, Cancun and Miches. She was destined for a life of teaching when she took a detour through Club Med. She was about to leave for France to teach English to French high schoolers when she decided to explore the Club Med route further. Sarah shares a rather memorable first season Memorial Day story with us and we talk about her Sports Manager stage in Opio, France, and which EXCDV mentored her during her first interim CDV. Please enjoy your time meeting Sarah, because I know I did! **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. 

Daniel Koellhoffer

My guest today started as a G.M. in 1983. His first season was in Club Med Sandpiper in 2002 as a Reception G.O. Fun Facts: He started working at Club Med when he was 45 years old. He wrote something called, “How Club Med Saved My Life: A True Story” and we will talk about that and many other things as well. Please help me welcome, From New Jersey, Daniel Koellhoffer! Daniel worked in the Club Med resorts of Sandpiper, Turks and Caicos, and Crested Butte. He takes us from his early days as a G.M. to his rewarding career as a G.O. Many laughs were had during this interview and none more so than Daniel trying to explain to your podcast host what an "Atlantis 16:00 Tea Party" is! Daniel also shares with us his fitness journey and what led him to write his short story about how Club Med saved his life. Please take a moment to listen to Daniel’s feel-good interview, you will not regret it. 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. 

Freddy Bermingham

My guest today is a legend of Club Med and he worked for them from 1992 to 2006. I had the SUPREME pleasure of working with him during my first season during the summer of 1994 in Turks and Caicos (and two other villages- Columbus Isle & Cancun). He started playing hockey at 3 years old and learned to barefoot in a Speedo (a Speedo?). His first season was at the opening of Club Med Columbus Isle in 1992 as a Bar. G.O. despite never having taken a bartending course and we are going to ask him all about that and so much more. Still don’t know who I’m talking about? It is the one, the only, the man, the myth, the living legend, from Montreal, Quebec, Freddy Bermingham, AKA, "El Fuego"! Freddy’s connection to Club Med started with his cousin who was a Hostess G.O. at the opening of Club Med Cancun! Freddy worked in the Club Med resorts such as Martinique, Cancun, Playa Blanca, Phuket, Kemer, and Paradise Island, to name just a few. Freddy has so many stories that I do not want to spoil any of them by listing them here! Please enjoy this super-sized 200th episode with an enjoyable and entertaining 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. 

 

 

Freddy Bermingham

Mon invité d'aujourd'hui est une LÉGENDE du Club Med. Il a travaillé pour le Club Med de 1992 à 2006. J'ai eu le SUPRÊME plaisir de travailler avec lui lors de ma première saison durant l'été 1994 aux Turks et Caicos (et dans deux autres villages: Columbus Isle et Cancun). Sa première saison a eu lieu à l'ouverture du Club Med Columbus Isle en 1992 en tant que G.O. Bar. Nous allons lui poser toutes sortes de questions à ce sujet et sur bien d'autres choses encore. Vous ne savez toujours pas de qui je parle? C'est le seul, l'unique, l'homme, le mythe, la légende vivante, de Montréal, Freddy Bermingham, AKA, El Fuego! Le lien de Freddy avec le Club Med a commencé avec sa cousine qui était hôtesse G.O. lors de l'ouverture du Club Med Cancun. Freddy a travaillé dans les villages du Club Med telles que la Martinique, Cancun, Playa Blanca, Phuket, Kemer et Paradise Island, pour n'en citer que quelques-un. Il a tellement d'histoires à raconter que je ne veux pas en gâcher une seule! Appréciez cet épisode de grande envergure avec une personne très amusante et divertissante! **Le podcast My First Season a toujours été gratuit et sans publicité et peut être téléchargé 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 les podcasts Apple.