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

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. 

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. 

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. 

My guest spent two seasons with Club Med, beginning in November 1993 as a Snorkel G.O. in Eleuthera. She later continued to Playa Blanca, where she served as a Scuba G.O. A graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, with a degree in Commerce, she went on to work in international business and lived in Mexico City. Please join me in welcoming, all the way from California, Laura Ehlers Siebert! In this episode, Laura takes us on a nostalgic journey through her two seasons at Club Med, sharing unforgettable memories and highlighting some of the incredible people she had the chance to work with. She also recounts a few surprising “small world” moments and gives us a glimpse into what she’s been up to since her Club Med days. Enjoy this heartfelt episode with Laura! **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 spent just over a year with Club Med, from March 1986 to April 1987. She began her journey as a Mini Club G.O. at Club Med Eleuthera, and later joined the team at Club Med Cancun as a Hostess, working under CDV Bob Fagan. Her story with Club Med began poolside — while working as a lifeguard, she crossed paths with a recruiter and was later interviewed by Andrea Livingstone. Hailing from California, please join me in welcoming the wonderful Pamela Rich Keller! Although Pamela only worked two seasons at Club Med, she has an incredible memory and shares vivid, captivating stories from her time there. In 2020, two of her fellow G.O.s from Eleuthera searched online for the summer 1986 team — a search that led to not one, but two reunion vacations in Eleuthera: one in 2023 and another planned for summer 2025. Enjoy your time with Pamela! **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 has had quite the journey, beginning with his time at Club Med from 1988 to 1991. He kicked off his first season at Club Med Playa Blanca as a Circus G.O., and after his run there, he went pro, joining the high-flying world of the Flying Farfans in Las Vegas. Fun fact: He went to high school with none other than Adam Horovitz—better known as Ad-Rock from the Beastie Boys! Originally hailing from Strong Island, later making his way to Manhattan, and now proudly calling Las Vegas home, please give a warm welcome to Louis Schneidman! In this episode, we take a deep dive into Louis’s unforgettable seasons at Playa Blanca and Sandpiper, exploring the meaningful and rewarding moments of his Club Med journey, experiences that continued to shape him long after he moved on. We begin with a look at Louis’s life before Club Med and follow his path through to where it led him afterward. Please enjoy this inspiring conversation with Louis! **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 1985 to 1986, starting his first season as a DJ at Club Med Eleuthera. He graduated with honors in Finance from Iona College, worked as a location scout on the classic film A Bronx Tale, and went on to write and direct four feature films, including the Club Med-inspired film Life’s a Beach, starring Rutger Hauer, Christopher Walken, Morgan Fairchild, and Robert Wagner. We’re going to explore all of that and so much more. Please welcome, Tony Vitale! Tony takes us on a vivid journey through all three of his seasons, including his unforgettable time in the grass-hut village of Aighion, Greece, during the summer of 1986. He shares the friendships that shaped him and the experiences that sparked the idea for his 2001 CBS sitcom he created, Some of My Best Friends. In a future episode, we’ll dive into two of the films he wrote and directed: Kiss Me Guido and Life’s a Beach. Enjoy this heartfelt trip down memory lane with Tony! **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:

Life's a Beach | Full Comedy Movie | Christopher Walken, Darren Geare, R.J. Knoll

For more information on Tony, see the Wikipedia link provided:

Tony Vitale - Wikipedia

Dans cet épisode, je vous emmène dans un voyage approfondi à travers ma toute première saison au Club Med Turks et Caicos, où j'ai travaillé comme Gestion Scuba. Je prévois également enregistrer des épisodes sur certaines de mes autres saisons, peut-être pas toutes, mais suffisamment pour combler les lacunes entre les interviews d'invités et assurer la continuité du récit. Je souhaite approfondir tous les détails dont je me souviens de ma première saison. Aujourd'hui, je vais donc me concentrer sur la manière dont je suis arrivé là, ce que je faisais avant et comment j'ai fini par passer dix ans dans une entreprise qui a changé ma vie. Une partie de la raison pour laquelle j'enregistre cela est personnelle : c'est quelque chose que je veux laisser derrière moi, un témoignage de la façon dont tout a commencé. Je partagerai également d'autres enregistrements de mes autres saisons. Merci de m'avoir écouté, et restez à l'écoute! **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. 

In this episode, I’ll be taking you on an in-depth journey through my very first season at Club Med Turks and Caicos, where I worked as a Scuba Gestion. I also plan to record episodes about some of my other seasons—maybe not every single one—but enough to fill in the gaps between guest interviews and keep the story flowing. I’m aiming to dive deeper into the details of everything I recall from my first season, so today’s focus is just that: how I got there, what I was doing before, and how I ended up spending ten years with a company that changed everything. Part of the reason I’m recording this is personal—something to leave behind, a record of how it all began. Thanks for listening, and stay tuned! **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.