On this episode of Learning to Fly, host Bruce Mittman sits down with legendary restaurateur and executive chef Luciano Canova, who has spent over six decades building a celebrated Italian culinary legacy in New England.

Luciano shares his incredible journey from growing up on a humble farm outside Rome after World War II—where surviving on farm-grown ingredients sparked his lifelong passion for food—to graduating with honors from culinary school in Naples at just 16 years old. He reflects on his early years honing his craft across European fine-dining kitchens, working on international cruise ships, and overcoming language barriers and harsh conditions in his relentless pursuit of culinary mastery.

Bruce and Luciano discuss his arrival in the United States, his early restaurant ventures on Cape Cod and near the University of Oklahoma, and his return to New England in 1991 to open his flagship venue, Luciano’s Restaurant in Wrentham, Massachusetts. Luciano details the operating philosophy that brought him national acclaim and gold and silver spoon awards: maintaining uncompromising quality, bringing authentic traditional techniques to the plate, and treating every guest who walks through his doors like family. He also shares how he expanded his empire into the multi-location Torre Restaurant Group across Massachusetts and Rhode Island by empowering his long-term employees to become partners.

Offering an inspiring look at resilience, hard work, and the true meaning of hospitality, Luciano reflects on what it takes to rise from poverty to the top of the restaurant industry while staying grounded in love for family and community. It’s a heartfelt, flavor-packed conversation with one of New England's most respected culinary figures.

On this episode of Learning to Fly, host Bruce Mittman sits down with legendary journalist Maria Stephanos, a trusted pillar of Boston news for over 30 years and current co-anchor of WCVB’s NewsCenter 5.

Maria shares how her spark for storytelling was ignited as a child watching her parents’ reaction to the news of Elvis Presley's death, driving her to pursue journalism at Emerson College. She remembers her early days in radio at WJAR and local stations, her 10 years working at Cheers to put herself through school, and her 18-year career as a reporter and anchor at WFXT TV (Fox 25) during its peak rise in Boston media.

Bruce and Maria discuss the responsibility that comes with reporting the news, the importance of empathy behind the anchor desk, and the lessons Maria learned from early failures and challenges along the way. She also reflects on balancing a demanding career with family life and how her Greek heritage and close-knit family have kept her grounded throughout her time in the spotlight.

Offering a firsthand look at the evolution of local broadcasting and the journey behind one of New England’s most recognizable news personalities, Maria explains how staying true to yourself can be one of the most important keys to lasting success. It’s an intimate, heartfelt conversation that puts Maria in the guest chair for once, allowing her journey to become this week’s headline.

On this episode of Learning to Fly, host Bruce Mittman sits down with Charlie Moore—the high-energy, Emmy Award-winning host of Charlie Moore No Offense. Known to millions as "The Mad Fisherman," Charlie has been a dominant force in outdoor television and sports media for over three decades.

Charlie shares how his journey began as a young entertainer working the crowds at the Winthrop Marina on his father’s boat, eventually transforming a failed outdoor retail business in Beverly into a media empire. He reflects on his early days at NESN, where he relentlessly harassed executives for six months until they gave him a segment on the show Front Row—a move that eventually led to his own half-hour special and a decade-long run on ESPN with Beat Charlie Moore.

Charlie and Bruce dive into the grit required to build a syndicated brand, Charlie’s refusal to sell his "IP" to Hollywood giants, and his transition into the spirits industry with successful lines like Mr. Pickles Gin and Puncher’s Chance Bourbon. He offers a firsthand look at the evolution of outdoor lifestyle programming and his mindset as an entrepreneur who refused to take "no" for an answer.

Preserving his legacy through his own app and global syndication, Charlie discusses the importance of staying true to one's roots while constantly reinventing the brand. It is a rare glimpse into the life of a man who turned a passion for fishing and comedy into a household name.