My First Season

Greg Hannah
  • 5.0 (8)
  • LEISURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

In this podcast, I will be interviewing travel/adventure writers and athletes as well as people who worked for resorts, hotels, cruise ships and airlines and we’ll talk about their experience in travel and tourism.

  1. FEB 22

    Fith Fithian

    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.

    43 min

  2. FEB 15

    Lizzy Heinrich Ellis

    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.

    43 min

  3. FEB 8

    Simon Fortin

    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

    57 min

  4. JAN 25

    Ginette Bisson

    Mon invitée d'aujourd'hui a travaillé pour le Club Med de 1992 à 1995. Elle a passé sa première saison au Club Med Ixtapa, où elle a occupé le poste de secrétaire du chef du village, avant de rejoindre le Mini Club par la suite. Après son passage au Club Med, elle a obtenu un diplôme en éducation et travaille aujourd'hui comme enseignante dans une école primaire. Comme beaucoup d'autres anciens G.O., sa fille a suivi ses traces et est aujourd'hui G.O. à son tour. Nous parlerons de sa carrière, de son héritage familial et de bien d'autres choses encore. En direct de Montréal, merci d'accueillir Ginette Bisson! **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.

    38 min

  5. JAN 18

    Otranto

    Dans cet épisode, je vous emmène dans un voyage approfondi à travers ma saison au Club Med Otranto en Italie pendant l'été 1997, où j'ai travaillé chez Landsports. Je partage quelques anecdotes hilarantes, souvent à mes dépens, et je repense aux incroyables G.O. avec lesquels j'ai eu le privilège de travailler. C'était ma quatrième saison officielle au Club Med, et celle-ci s'est vraiment démarquée. Bonne écoute!  * 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.

    35 min

  6. JAN 11

    Big Jay

    My guest today and I met at an EXGO Reunion in Cancun in 2008. His first season was as a Mini Club G.O. in Club Med Huatulco in 1997, and his first contract season followed in Eleuthera in 1998/1999. Originally from Ottawa, please help me welcome Jason “Big Jay” Reid! Before joining Club Med, Big Jay was finishing a two-year diploma in Recreation and Facilities Management at Algonquin College in Ottawa. Part of his studies involved a three-week placement at Club Med, which set the stage for his future career. During his first season, his roommate was none other than the Chief of Circus, Darwin. That pairing sparked a determination in Big Jay to learn the craft, and he soon became heavily involved in the circus shows. He loved every aspect of the trapeze, from learning the boards and pulling safety lines to acting as a catcher during the comedy skits. He shares several funny stories with a recurring theme: wardrobe malfunctions. Whether it was almost losing his bathing suit on a picnic boat or losing his bloomers during a circus performance, Big Jay knows how to handle himself! You can listen to our conversation here or wherever you get your podcasts. (*Originally aired on October 11, 2021)**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.

    41 min

  7. 12/29/2025

    Columbus Isle

    In this episode, I take you on an in-depth journey through my season at Club Med Columbus Isle (second time), where I was a Bike G.O. (winter) and a Snorkeling/Picnic G.O. (summer). 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. This marked my fifth official season at 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.

    28 min

  8. 12/21/2025

    Cindi Greatsinger

    Today’s guest trained at Club Med Copper Mountain, and her first season was at Club Med Sandpiper in 1989 as a Bank G.O., with Jean-Luc Olivero as her CDV. It is especially fitting to feature her on the Christmas episode because she now lives in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, also known as Christmas City! Even better, she has performed in A Christmas Carol at the Civic Theatre in Allentown, as well as in two other holiday classics, White Christmas and Holiday Inn, at the Pennsylvania Playhouse in Bethlehem. We are going to talk about all of this, and so much more, so please help me welcome Cindi Greatsinger! **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 at Apple Podcasts.

    35 min
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5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

In this podcast, I will be interviewing travel/adventure writers and athletes as well as people who worked for resorts, hotels, cruise ships and airlines and we’ll talk about their experience in travel and tourism.

Information

  • Creator
    Greg Hannah
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    276
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2021 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    My First Season