My First Season

My guest today is a true Club Med legend, having worked with the company from 1985 to 1990. He began his journey at Club Med Punta Cana as—believe it or not—the Chief of Mini Club, before transitioning into Circus and eventually rising to become the Chief of Circus. For the past 36 years, he’s been a familiar face on television as a host and now produces three different shows currently airing. His voice has echoed on the world sta...

My guest today spent over a decade with Club Med, working from 1985 to 1996. He began his journey in Turks and Caicos as Assistant Food and Beverage Manager and quickly rose through the ranks to become Food and Beverage Manager. His career took him around the globe, with assignments in Brazil, Switzerland, Mexico, Haiti, and even aboard the Club Med 2 cruise ship. Originally from Bangor, Maine, and now calling California home, ple...

My guest today had an incredible run with Club Med, working on and off from 1982 to 2009. He kicked off his first season as a Bar G.O. at Club Med Paradise Island—and beyond bartending, he also lent his talents to waterskiing, circus, and picnics. I had the pleasure of meeting him during my very first season, and he’s here today to clear up a funny bit of confusion I had about him back then! A Florida State University alum with a ...

My guest today hails from Newfoundland and began his journey studying Physical Education and playing basketball at Memorial University. He kicked off his Club Med career in 1998 as a Sailing G.O. in Eleuthera but soon found his calling under the big top with the Circus team. He continued with Club Med until 2000, finishing his final season at Playa Blanca. After his time with Club Med, he transitioned into television, co-hosting t...

Today’s guest worked just one season as a Bar G.O. at Club Med St. Lucia in 1991. What’s truly extraordinary is her journey afterward. Among all the guests on this podcast, she’s the only one I know who became a medical doctor after Club Med. Remarkably, she credits her Club Med experience as a pivotal influence on her path to medicine. Hailing from Toronto, Ontario, please join me in welcoming the inspiring Dr. Antonella Morra! I...

My guest today has a fascinating Club Med journey that spans decades. She first joined the company in 1992 as a Costume Designer and worked until 1994. Then, twenty-three years later, she returned to Club Med—this time as an Excursions G.O. at Columbus Isle in 2017. Her very first season was at Club Med St. Lucia, where she had the unforgettable experience of dressing none other than Queen’s legendary guitarist, Sir Brian May—for ...

Mon invitée d'aujourd'hui a un parcours fascinant au Club Med, qui s'étend sur plusieurs décennies. Elle a rejoint l'entreprise en 1992 en tant que costumière et y a travaillé jusqu'en 1994. Vingt-trois ans plus tard, elle est revenue au Club Med, cette fois en tant que responsable des excursions à Columbus Isle en 2017. Sa toute première saison s'est déroulée au Club Med de Sainte-Lucie, où elle a vécu l'expérience inoubliable d'...

My guest today began her Club Med journey as a Reception G.O. and later served as Chief of Horseback. Her first season was at Club Med Sandpiper in 1997. Originally from Walnut Creek, California, she grew up near an equestrian center, which sparked her passion for horses. She went on to play polo at UC Santa Barbara while studying Communications and also showcased her vocal talents by singing in the All-State Honor Choir. Her path...

My guest today is a true Club Med veteran, having worked from 1992 to 1995. He started his adventure at Club Med St. Lucia, juggling roles as a Polyvalent Bartender, Landsports G.O., Tennis G.O., and Golf G.O.—basically, if it involved fun, he was your guy. Fun fact: we apparently met during my very first season… and yet, neither of us remembers it. So clearly, it was very memorable! He once described his most romantic moment at C...

My guest today is a Criminal Justice graduate with a minor in Police Science from Ithaca College. He showcased his athleticism as a collegiate baseball player, playing centerfield, at Ithaca. His journey with Club Med began as a G.M. during the 1984 opening of Club Med Turks and Caicos, leading to his first official season as a Landsports G.O. in Club Med Cancun in 1994. He continued to share his expertise at Club Med Sonora Bay i...

My guest earned her degree in Communications from San Diego State University and her first season was at Club Med Sandpiper in 1997 as a Reception G.O. Although her initial ambition after college was to work for Contiki, she has since become a prolific and award-winning songwriter-artist, best-selling author, producer, and publisher. Beyond her creative endeavors, she dedicated several years to raising funds for the construction o...

In October 1989, Janet Jackson's "Miss You Much" topped the charts, and the film "Look Who's Talking" was a box office hit. With a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Airline Travel, my guest aspired to become a travel agent. After receiving several rejection letters from airlines, she applied to Club Med. In 1989, she began her first season as a Traffic G.O. at Club Med Sandpiper in 1989, where she met her future hus...

This episode serves as the final project for my Winter 2025 course at the School of Irish Studies, Concordia University in Montreal. The course, IRST 398 – Irish Horror, is led Irish Studies professor and author Dr. Emer O’Toole. For this project, I’ve reimagined the narrative of the 2018 film Black '47—set during the darkest year of Ireland’s Great Famine—by introducing a chilling zombie element. In the original story, an Irish R...

Today's guest had an incredible journey with Club Med from 1990 to 1995, starting as an Aerobics G.O. at Club Med Moorea before rising to Choreographer in 1993. Before Club Med, she was a cheerleader and model, and she holds a Communications degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Originally from Moraga and now calling Folsom, California, home—please join me in welcoming the amazing Kendra Courey Blake! Kendra wor...

Salut les saisonniers! Mon invité d'aujourd'hui a travaillé comme instructeur de golf au Club Med de 1991 à 1993. J'ai eu le plaisir de travailler avec lui lors de ma première saison au Club Med Turks et Caicos - et quelle saison inoubliable! Avant de travailler au Club Med, il était un joueur de hockey junior et, depuis 31 ans, il est un professionnel de golf dévoué. Il n'y a pas beaucoup de G.O. de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue (et en...

My guest today worked as a Golf Instructor at Club Med from 1991 to 1993 and his first season was at Club Med Ixtapa. I had the pleasure of working with him during my first season at Club Med Turks and Caicos—and what an unforgettable season it was! Before his time at Club Med, Claude was a junior hockey player, and for the past 31 years, he has been a dedicated golf professional. There aren’t many G.O.s from Abitibi-Témiscamingue...

My guest today worked for Club Med from 1987 to 1990. She began her journey as a Hostess at Club Med Cancun and went on to work in stunning locations like Moorea, Guadeloupe, Paradise Island, Sandpiper, and aboard the Club Med 1 in 1990. A graduate of San Jose State University with a degree in Marketing and Communications, Tiffani first discovered Club Med during a summer break from college. And, surprise of surprises, she is conn...

My guest worked for Club Med from 1991 to 1994, beginning her journey as a Scuba and Snorkeling G.O. at Club Med Sonora Bay. Before Club Med, she worked at Atlantis Submarines in Hawaii, and fun fact—two-time Academy Award winner Olivia de Havilland was the commencement speaker at her high school! You know we’re going to ask her all about that and so much more. Joining us from California, please welcome Kris Painchaud Holden! In t...

My guest today may have only spent one season at Club Med, but what a season it was! In 2000, he kicked off his Club Med journey as a Sailing and Windsurf G.O. at Club Med Lindeman Island—right amid the Sydney Olympics. A Sydney native, he earned a degree in Environmental Science from Macquarie University and even competed in the prestigious Sydney Hobart Yacht Race in 1994. Now calling San Francisco home, please join me in welcom...