In this special Athens Bar Show Edition of LUCA, THE PODCAST, Luca Missaglia sits down with Chiara Buzzi to talk about hospitality beyond trends, ego, and performance.

Chiara reflects on her journey running bars in Milan, developing cultural and educational projects, and navigating leadership, burnout, and responsibility in a constantly changing industry. She speaks openly about why hospitality is not about fame or cocktails — but about people, presence, and care.

Topics include:

– The difference between service and real hospitality

– Leadership and responsibility toward young teams

– Why education is still missing in our industry

– Burnout, balance, and learning to say no

– What it truly means to host people today

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📍 Recorded at the Athens Bar Show

🙏 With special thanks to Athens Bar Show

🎙️ Podcast supported by The Art of Shaking

👉 https://theartofshaking.com/

🍊 In partnership with Amaro Santoni

👉 https://amarosantoni.com/en/prodotto/amaro-santoni/

📩 Contact: lucathepodcast@gmail.com

📲 Instagram: https://instagram.com/lucathepodcast

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lucathepodcast

Recorded at the Athens Bar Show, this episode features Georgia Georgakopoulou, whose journey from a small town in Peloponnese to leading one of the world’s most recognized bar teams is nothing short of inspiring.

Georgia shares her grounded and refreshing perspective on hospitality:

– Why humility is her greatest tool behind the bar.

– How The Clumsies shaped her leadership and identity.

– Why “people serving people” is the real essence of hospitality.

– What Greece is missing — and what’s about to change.

– Her dream of creating impact through mentorship and education.

An episode filled with honesty, clarity, and heart.

🙏 Special thanks to the Athens Bar Show for making this conversation possible.

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📍 Recorded at the Athens Bar Show

🎙️ Supported by The Art of Shaking → https://theartofshaking.com/

🍊 Powered by Amaro Santoni → https://amarosantoni.com/en/prodotto/amaro-santoni/

📩 Contact: lucathepodcast@gmail.com

📲 Instagram: https://instagram.com/lucathepodcast

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lucathepodcast

In this Athens Bar Show special, LUCA, THE PODCAST sits down with Bex Almqvist — a bartender turned brand ambassador turned distiller, whose journey embodies passion, humility, and the courage to rebuild a dream from scratch.

Bex shares her incredible story:

– Growing up in the UK cocktail scene at The Lonsdale

– The mentors who shaped her path and pushed her forward

– Competing, learning, and becoming a voice in the industry

– Burnout, four years living in the mountains, and finding herself again

– Building a distillery with her own hands, guided by balance, texture, and purpose

– What the industry needs next — and how education must evolve

A story about obsession, resilience, and the beauty of starting over.

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📍 Recorded at the Athens Bar Show

🎙️ Sponsored by The Art of Shaking → https://theartofshaking.com/

🍊 In partnership with Amaro Santoni → https://amarosantoni.com/en/prodotto/amaro-santoni/

📩 Contact: lucathepodcast@gmail.com

📲 Instagram: https://instagram.com/lucathepodcast

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lucathepodcast

Recorded at the Athens Bar Show, this episode of LUCA, THE PODCAST dives into the mind of Arina Nikolskaya, a linguist-turned-industry leader who reshaped how bar communities connect and evolve.

Arina shares how she went from an accidental job interview to running her own bar show, why communication matters more than technique, and what most people misunderstand about hospitality and creativity.

A sharp, inspiring look into culture, leadership, and building something bigger than yourself.

📍 Recorded at the Athens Bar Show

📩 Contact: lucathepodcast@gmail.com

📲 Instagram: https://instagram.com/lucathepodcast

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lucathepodcast

From barista to brand ambassador to bar owner, Ricardo Nava represents the new wave of Mexican hospitality. Known for his work at Limantour, his years leading education for Bacardí Latin America, and now as co-creator of Bar Mauro, Ricardo brings authenticity, family values, and purpose to every step of his career.

Recorded in Mexico City, this episode of LUCA, THE PODCAST explores:

– How Limantour shaped his identity as a bartender

– What winning World Class Mexico meant for his life

– The birth of Bar Mauro and the meaning behind its DNA

– The importance of community, mentorship, and humility

– His advice for young bartenders chasing a dream

📍 Recorded in Mexico City

📩 Contact: lucathepodcast@gmail.com

📲 Instagram: https://instagram.com/lucathepodcast

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lucathepodcast

From a Kurdish refugee family in Sweden to opening one of New York’s most talked-about bars, Moe Aljaff has turned rebellion into art. Founder of the Schmuck brand, Moe shares his story of persistence, independence, and building something from nothing — by doing it all his own way.

🎙 In this episode of LUCA, THE PODCAST, recorded in New York City, Moe talks about:

– How growing up as a refugee shaped his creative mindset

– The rise of Two Schmucks and what it taught him about identity

– The decision to bring his brand to New York

– His leadership philosophy and approach to chaos

– Why authenticity beats perfection — every time

📍 Recorded in New York City

📩 Contact: lucathepodcast@gmail.com

📲 Instagram: @lucathepodcast

📺 Watch on YouTube: LUCA, THE PODCAST

From Como to Barcelona, from fixing engines to designing the world’s most awarded bars, Simone Caporale has built a career defined by precision, creativity, and passion. Co-founder of SIPS — World’s Best Bar 2023 — and former head bartender at The Artesian, Simone redefines what hospitality can be when design meets emotion.

🎙 In this episode of LUCA, THE PODCAST, recorded in Barcelona, Simone shares:

– How he found his calling behind the bar

– The creative mindset behind The Artesian and SIPS

– The balance between artistry and discipline

– His advice for young bartenders entering the new era of hospitality

📍 Recorded in Barcelona

📩 Contact: lucathepodcast@gmail.com

📲 Instagram: @lucathepodcast

📺 Watch on YouTube: LUCA, THE PODCAST

From shaping the gold standard of luxury service at The Connaught Bar in London to co-founding MWA in Mexico City, Maura Lawrence Milia is leading a new era of hospitality built on authenticity, creativity, and purpose.

🎙 In this episode of LUCA, THE PODCAST, recorded in Mexico City, Maura shares:

– How she left one of the world’s best bars to start fresh in Mexico

– The vision behind MWA and its venues Outline, Café Arigie, and Copal

– Why she believes Mexico is “on fire” with creative energy

– Her philosophy on mentorship, consistency, and building legacy

– What’s next for her and her growing hospitality family

📍 Recorded in Mexico City

📩 Contact: lucathepodcast@gmail.com

📲 Instagram: @lucathepodcast

📺 Watch on YouTube: LUCA, THE PODCAST