0:04

Gaze reading where the greats drop by trendy authors. Tell us all the who, what, and why. Anyone can listen. Comes we're spoiler free Reading from politic stars to book club picks where the curious minds can get their picks. So you say you're not gay. Well that's okay. There's something for everyone. Gays rating. Hello and welcome to GA's Reading. I'm your host, Jason Bluman, and I am joined for this introduction by my lovely husband Franklin. Hi, free. Hi Jay. Hello, listeners. our, um, and if you hear any like jingling and snorting, that is our dog, who also is, oh my goodness, a part of this meeting. Um. Today is my Thanksgiving episode, and so I wanted to have my family here with me for my intro. Happy to be here. Do you, what do you love about Thanksgiving? Hmm. Well, I like that. It's a time of year where you can sort of get together and reflect on, uh, your life with gratitude. And it's the whole. Holidays kind of structured around that and I think that's pretty cool. I agree. And you get to eat a lot of good food. That too. Um, I have been like hesitant to do this introduction, I think because Thanksgiving is such an overwhelming time of year for me. Uh, it just brings out a lot of emotions, I think, there's a lot of like family strife and you know, I think there's just a lot of, there's baggage I think that comes with this holiday in particular, but it's a good reminder that there is chosen family and this is so weird and random, but I was just happy to have you here for my Thanksgiving episode. Oh, well, I'm super happy to be here. Yeah. And anyone who's listening, I hope that you have your, people to spend it with, whether that is your family, your chosen family, your friends, maybe you're volunteering and you're amongst people who are estranged to you and soon to be friends. Um, well, we just hope you have a really great holiday. And I'm thankful for you husband, likewise. And I'm thankful for you. Listeners, thank you all so much for being here. Always. Uh, if you like what you're hearing, share us with your friends. Follow us on social media. We are at Gabe's Reading, and today I am joined by Justinian Huang talking to me about his book Lucky Seed, which is a. Fantastic Thanksgiving book filled with delicious family drama. Uh, hint hint, this is not the last you'll be hearing about Lucky Seed from me. Uh, and then my guest, gay reader today is Lucas Gage, who everybody knows and loves from. The first season of White Lotus. So I'm excited for you to hear those conversations I guess I'll also say while we're talking about family, the book Club Pick with URA this month is like Family by Erin O White. You could find out more about that in the show notes and in the Link tree on Instagram. check out, gaze reading. We're all wherever you find your things and have a really happy Thanksgiving. Thanks everyone. Enjoy the conversations with Justinian and Lucas.

Jason Blitman: 3:32

A gaze reading first where someone is coming live from the car. This is incredible.

Justinian Huang: 3:41

like to, I like to break barriers.

Jason Blitman: 3:44

Obsessed I there is so much about what's going on right now. I'm so glad I hit record when I did. The sunroof just opened. You're wearing your new dad hat. You're like

Justinian Huang: 3:57

Yeah.

Jason Blitman: 3:58

muscle shirty and ready to go.

Justinian Huang: 4:02

I, uh, I was so stressed. I was like, I'm at Equinox. Anyway, let's work out a little bit. Get out. So it's uh, it's been a lot of mental health. So my mental health regimen is working out. I think people like referred to me as like that that always like, as like very thirst trappy. And I'm like, dude, that's just like my survival. That's how I survive. It's how I survive in 2025 as like a gay Um, yeah, I'm, I'm, I think it's probably been a year since we've talked.

Jason Blitman: 4:35

been

Justinian Huang: 4:36

Wow.

Jason Blitman: 4:37

back to Gay's Reading Justinian. It's very nice to see you.

Justinian Huang: 4:40

I'm so glad to be here. This is great. I'm a little awkwardly angled, but I see You great.

Jason Blitman: 4:46

look great. Wait, so there's, before we even dive into the book I'm gonna pull out the most random piece of the book because of what you just said about Equinox. There's a quote that overly attractive people are either an egomaniac or anum poop. All right. You just talked about your regimen for dealing with your mental health obvi. You are overly attractive. Are you an or are.

Justinian Huang: 5:18

That's really sweet. I don't consider myself an overly attractive person. That's very so I, I don't think I, I don't think that applies to me. That is definitely, so you know, the person you know, there's 20 different perspectives in this book, and the person and the character's Right. and then the person who's currently thinking that is Iris the mother of the main character. Right. And my mom used to tell me that all the time. She was like, you don't want to be overly attractive. Because those people are either crazy or stupid, right? So I just sort of distilled it into that

Jason Blitman: 5:52

Oh my God. I love That That is a direct quote from your own mother.

Justinian Huang: 5:57

there's a lot of direct quotes from her in this book. She's definitely the muse of this book.

Jason Blitman: 6:00

That is incredible. okay. Before we even talk about the book, because I'm like, I'm so overwhelmed that I'm talking to you today because it's your pub day, even though this episode doesn't come out for a bit.

Justinian Huang: 6:15

it is, isn't it? Damn, it is my pub date. Oh my God. uh, I'm up

Jason Blitman: 6:21

you're about, you're like, you're a new dad. There's you have so many babies coming out in the world right now.

Justinian Huang: 6:26

I, it is my pub date that just, that sort of just registered, Uh, you know, I, up in, uh, my baby's been, my baby was born five weeks early, so I've been up in in uh, just being with her in, NICU this whole time. And yeah, my brain's just being rewired you know, like, you know, Seed is, is my paper baby. my Flesh baby is also here. it's a lot of things going on right now. A lot of things going on.

Jason Blitman: 6:55

I am not sure I've ever heard the phrase Flesh Baby before.

Justinian Huang: 7:00

It's a distinction required when you have a paper baby.

Jason Blitman: 7:03

Oh my God, that's so funny. all right, how is Flesh Baby doing? How are you feeling? How is New Dad energy going? You feeling good?

Justinian Huang: 7:14

uh, it was such a tumultuous Um, It was a really difficult pregnancy know, there's so much privilege when it comes to assisted fertility. I would say. There's also a lot of privilege. For folks who get to physically take care of the person who's pregnant with their baby because that person's in their household. It was really tough for me because my surrogate was so far for me to I wanted to advocate for her. I wanted to advocate for my daughter, and I couldn't, and It was you know, there, there's Uh, there's gotta be a silver lining to the nicu, which is that, um, a lot of the un unknowns are taken outta the equation and you can physically hold your baby know, help her grow. And you know, overall I'm feeling very blessed right now. I'm very grateful that she's gonna be discharged soon and, yeah. It's a lot like my, every day I, every time I look at her, I can feel the synapses in my brain. Like literally It's, it's so know? It's, it's really weird, but I'm

Jason Blitman: 8:17

That's really cool. And like I'm, I am, obviously you. Don't have to share anything you don't feel comfortable sharing, but at some point in this conversation, what you're doing is really unique and I think inspiring to a lot of queer people around the world. So if it's we, it would be fun to get there at some point if you felt comfortable talking about it.

Justinian Huang: 8:37

Yeah, absolutely. I'm happy to know, um, both of my books have been inspired directly by things that happened to me. Um, I guess you could say I'm a writer of auto fiction, My first book was not exactly auto fiction, but spiritually you know, and this book was, this book is definitely inspired by my mom's family, so, yeah. Yeah, and I, I would say that there's a lot of and, you know, I'm happy to talk to all of it.

Jason Blitman: 9:00

Cool. So this book that we keep referring to is of course Lucky Seed,

Justinian Huang: 9:06

Yes.

Jason Blitman: 9:07

is

Justinian Huang: 9:08

I have a hard cover

Jason Blitman: 9:09

a brilliant, so delicious. I, as you obviously know, was DMing you along the way because I

Justinian Huang: 9:18

thank you.

Jason Blitman: 9:19

I needed to talk to someone who I knew had read the book and you were the person that I knew.

Justinian Huang: 9:25

I love when people do that. I appreciate it so much that

Jason Blitman: 9:29

Yeah, of course. You know there was that, there was a moment specifically that, I wrote to you about and you were like Jason buckle up. And I was like, oh God. Oh. So for the people who have not yet had a chance to read it, what is your elevator pitch for Lucky Seed?

Justinian Huang: 9:45

Sure. Well, Lucky Seed. It's been described as Succession meets Crazy Rich Asians. It's about a family on the west side of Los Angeles who are on this relentless quest. To produce a baby boy, to continue their lineage. And the book is instead about the scandalous secrets and the thrilling twists that they unearth instead. And it's based on this concept that this family's very superstitious and they believe in this ancient belief that billions of people around the world believe in called hungry ghosts, which is that if you pass on without descendants, you're you're cursed in the afterlife to starve because you don't have. You don't have a lineage that remembers you. So, so they're, so, they're very much in shackles about this, in golden handcuffs, so to speak, because it's also very wealthy family consumed their privilege, I would say.

Jason Blitman: 10:40

Do you believe in hungry ghosts?

Justinian Huang: 10:46

Yeah. no short answer Short answer is know, I always,

Jason Blitman: 10:52

from the book.

Justinian Huang: 10:53

I right? I, I short answer is you know, but I have to say, the older I get. Once again, I'm gonna refer to like my daughter's journey. There are a lot of times Jason, where I am not like a go to church prayer cloth type of You know, like there are there are a few moments where I knelt down. I was like, I don't know who I'm praying

Jason Blitman: 11:16

Hmm.

Justinian Huang: 11:16

but like, please protect my daughter. And now my daughter's going to, okay. You know, and you really wonder like, is there something out there? I believe in the powers, I believe power of, of superstition. I do. I believe in the superstitions are complicated because they're often in really problematic dogma, but at the same time, we don't want to obliterate our culture. We don't wanna obliterate what we come from, you know, and a lot of superstitions are hilarious. does, like, you know, everyone knocks on wood when they're freaked out. Right? Or some people like, I like you know, chefs throw salt over their shoulders, like they're, a lot of'em are cute actually. And. This world feels this this world feels so uncertain and weird and scary sometimes. like I, you know, I live in la which is woo woo city there is, right? and like la is one of those cities. you know, someone will just take out a crystal and start petting it mid-conversation with you at a dinner party. Which, which is why I really love setting this book in LA like, uh, because you know this family as traditionally Asian American as they are, they live on the west side. So actually their woo is, works very well in LA's one of those cities where you're like, what is your sign? And they'll be like, do You mean uh, astrological or Zodiac sign? You know, it's like, one of those cities.

Jason Blitman: 12:36

know, it's interesting of hear you say all of that because I like wrote down so many things just based on what you were saying. First of all, I am not a religious person. I don't even know that I'd call myself a quote unquote spiritual person. However, there's definitely like an energy. And so like, okay, where am I sending energy? Where do I need energy to come from? Because energy is real, so that's just like an interesting, con of scientific concept to chew on, right? Where, are we sending our energy? Where's it coming from? How, what are we, how do we use it? How do we expel it? But then also, know, you talking about some traditions or, or some superstitions being funny and how some of it becomes tradition it's, almost less about superstition and more about, uh, tradition is an odd word, but like, you know, the amount of people who say Bless you after someone sneezes,

Justinian Huang: 13:32

Exactly, and which stems from idea that your soul used escape out of your nose, um, when you when you you know, which makes. Which, you like middle aged think like middle, middle ages, thinking it kind of makes sense. Yeah, Yeah. And then now it's just considered polite. It's now, it's just a politeness. It's so ingrained in the way Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Yeah. It's kind of fascinating.

Jason Blitman: 13:56

I wonder what other things have sort of become, just like pieces of culture, knock on wood, being similar, right? Like we, we don't actually knock on wood, we knock on our head, or, know, it's of like a, oh, it's tradition. We just do that,

Justinian Huang: 14:09

Yeah, absolutely. Uh, you know, I think a lot of it is also fear-based, isn't it? Like I said, the world is scary. There's so many unknowns, like knocking on wood is to prevent whatever scary you said from happening. Sneezing is to stuff that the

Jason Blitman: 14:27

Step that spirit back in.

Justinian Huang: 14:28

Exactly, suck it back in. You know, like, yeah. And and like the family in my book, they're literally scared. They're driven by fear. You know, They're driven by fear that they're literally starving in the afterlife, which is a terrifying concept, you know? Uh, which by the way is also. Exists in many different cultures, like the Mexicans have di de MUTOs, which is the exact same belief system as Asian diaspora communities have

Jason Blitman: 14:55

okay, we're talking about tradition. We're talking about starving, we're talking about being hungry, we're talking about family. You mix all those things together and it just so happens that this episode is coming out the week of Thanksgiving.

Justinian Huang: 15:12

Oh wow. Yes. I love that That was my original, that was the original due date for my daughter was Thanksgiving Day.

Jason Blitman: 15:20

Oh, how funny.

Justinian Huang: 15:21

Yeah, I know.

Jason Blitman: 15:22

and I was so excited as I was, know, creating the schedule for this month, I was like, oh, this is the perfect Thanksgiving week episode, because it's about all of these things and like at its core, know, family drama. okay. What are your, do you have any hot tips for surviving the family during Thanksgiving?

Justinian Huang: 15:41

Um, you know, I would seeding is so important and it needs Um, you, you put the liberals in this side, you put the you put the conservatives on this side and you lock the out'cause no one wants to talk to those assholes. Um, I would say it's really important actually. And then also like in my family. We have a lot of dog drama. Like our dogs don't get along. So you need to decide whose house is more conducive to, most conducive to the dog drama. You know? Uh, yes. Like that's,

Jason Blitman: 16:16

dog drama.

Justinian Huang: 16:18

just Um, you know, uh,

Jason Blitman: 16:20

simple. Oh fair, fair.

Justinian Huang: 16:21

Right. And that's why, that's why Lucky. See, the dogs have perspective. Like that's why, you know, out of the 20 different perspectives you have in this book, you also dive into the dog's point of view. Whenever they do fight, like, uh, uh, that our dogs can like, sort of mirror how we're feeling. Like this auntie not getting along with that Auntie, the dogs fight when we get together and I was like, The up. You were talking about energy. The dogs must up on some sort of energy, you know? Which I think is, yeah, it has to be. And I I think dogs, we're always talking about vibes and stuff. I don't think, I think dogs pick up on humans for sure. Because they don't understand our language. They need to be able to read us, you know?

Jason Blitman: 17:00

Yeah. That's interesting. Yeah. Seeding chart, pro tip for Thanksgiving, not to be confused with seeding.

Justinian Huang: 17:11

See, ah, I see what you did there. Hopefully there's not too that'd be a bit but,

Jason Blitman: 17:16

Oh

Justinian Huang: 17:17

you know, you know, uh, you know, Jason, like the, the original name of this book was the Highly Sought and Auspicious Sperm of Wayward Sun, so actually

Jason Blitman: 17:29

Oh my God.

Justinian Huang: 17:30

I've never that before, but you made me think about it. Um, which, you know, my publisher did not let me keep, which I was very was like, how about Lucky Seed? Which is about it, they were

Jason Blitman: 17:42

It really is.

Justinian Huang: 17:43

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. my uh, dealing with my when it comes to things to just like, give them give them like, you know, it's, it's always a matter of just like wearing them down eventually. I'm just, I just really really want to refer to some sort of sperm slash seed, and they're like, fine, you can have seed. So,

Jason Blitman: 18:01

That is so funny. Um, also like his name is Wayward son

Justinian Huang: 18:08

Yeah, I know. I mean like it's um. It just really fit him, you know, like, and the funny thing is that in, in earlier of this, he was a lot more far gone when you met him. I still think that he is ways a wayward kid. Um, you know, I really wanted to, you know, wayward in many ways. He's a younger millennial, but I still think his vibe is very millennial, especially because he is so mature. I think that a lot of us millennials do feel. A departure from our boomer parents. You know what I mean? I think that we just have such a drastically different philosophical values. It's not even political, just the way we view the

Jason Blitman: 18:49

Do you, do you like a, an example that comes to mind off the

Justinian Huang: 18:52

Well, I mean, I, well, I, I would say it's more like I think we sit in a very interesting place because we were the, we are the, we are the generation that remembers life before the internet. Then we helped shape away from us. And now we're just like, what the hell is going on? You know? Um, I think that a lot of boomer people don't quite understand the how nefarious the internet can be because they weren't exactly creating it. We created the monster. We helped create the monster that internet is now. You know, I I feel like a lot of us. Folks who have parents who are boomers and older we're just like, how are you this algorithm? You know what I mean? Like why do you believe that it, it's, it's kind of stunning they believe and then they don't tend to realize that the internet lies to them. They just sort of are like, this is what the, my tells me. And it's true. scary thing I think that we're all still sort of grappling with. Like I, um, you know, I was talking to the nurses in the NICU and then they're like, oh yeah, my mom gives me. Medical advice about how to deal with these babies, and I'm like, but you are the NICU nurse. I'm like, yeah, but my mom thinks she knows better because Fox News tells her this, which is wild. wild.

Jason Blitman: 20:08

mean even regardless of Fox News, like just seeing anything online of makes it gospel. And what's even harder today is, uh, boomers. are used to boomers. I think a lot of people are used to seeing a video and assuming that's true.

Justinian Huang: 20:22

Yes. Absolutely.

Jason Blitman: 20:24

It's a video,

Justinian Huang: 20:26

and now the specter of ai, which is terrifying.

Jason Blitman: 20:29

Yes. And there are so many videos on Instagram that are clearly or not so clearly AI generated, know, the, kid on the porch, uh, and the alligator right next to him And the bomb being like, what do And, and I'm just like, that is not real and there are so many. know, you look at a, at an article that shares why it's not real and it points out all the flaws, it's, it's very hard to see. And, uh, so at first glance, you have people sharing this content and you're like, oh my God, wait, this is, we're just perpetuating this false narrative. It's

Justinian Huang: 20:57

scary. Uh, who knows what happens next, but you know, like I, I, I'm an optimist when it comes have to be I just birthed a baby girl. you know, like it's, if we, we are in a sticky moment right really believe, I really believe. Here's what, okay, so I I really wanted to, I really wanted to write a book about a messy because I feel like humanity is a messy family. right now. You know, I feel like being American is being part of a messy family. A messy family, is that you're sort of like lumped with a group of people that you're supposed to feel kinship with, fuck? Like, why do I need to be in this boat with you? You know? Um, yeah. I, it, it was challenging for me because at first Lucky Seed, didn't, at first I was like, I don't feel like this family's gonna come together at the end. Right. But then as I was writing this book, and also in real life, like reconnecting with my real life family, I was like, wait, this is possible we can find common ground for these people. I, I love that you're, is coming on Thanksgiving because I think it's ultimate Thanksgiving book because it's sort of like

Jason Blitman: 22:02

I agree.

Justinian Huang: 22:03

Right, because like at at the beginning of the, at the beginning of the book, you're like, how the hell are these people ever come to agreement? And hopefully by the end of the book you're just Like wow. Like for many messy families out there, you know?

Jason Blitman: 22:15

Yeah. And that's not a spoiler by any means, right? It's just a matter the cycle of family. I think that it's so often that books have comps are not totally true or not totally fair or, hard Live up to the comp titles and I don't know, I think succession and Crazy rich rich Asians is like the perfect combination compare this book to, it's so true.

Justinian Huang: 22:45

Thank you. I mean, I, you know, no one's been like, you know, people talked about the Betsy. I also the corporate intrigue in this book because, yeah, because you know, that, you know, like before I became a novelist, I was like a film exec. I I, you know, my last

Jason Blitman: 22:59

Yes, you were.

Justinian Huang: 23:00

My last gig was K-pop demon hunters. I know how to wor operate in like a super political corporate setting. And a lot of that know, there's a lot, there's a lot of corporate intrigue in this book as well, and that was really fun for me to write. You know, I think that. I think that a intense just as political as like you know? And in this book the corporation, you know? So that, that was, that was really fun to write as well. Yeah, I, I you know, I wanted them to, I wanted them to make the Murdochs look like Sesame Street, so. Yeah. And also what's different though is different from, than Succession and different than the real life Murs is by the way Rupert Murdoch owns my imprint. But anyways, like, but different different than succession in the real life. Murdochs is that in this book, the the, it's a matriarch that's running this family. But then another twist is she's trying to perpetuate patrilineal. Bs. It's, it's, it's such an odd thing, you know, like, and I, I see that all the time in families of color that are largely ma uh, uh, matriarchal, is that they're trying to perpetuate these patrilineal lines you know, it's, it's, it's the strangest, it's such a weird weird dichotomy. I don't get it. And I was really fun to explore this book as well.

Jason Blitman: 24:21

Do you feel like you perhaps understand things a little better having written the book?

Justinian Huang: 24:28

Yes, I do, or I, I, I don't know if I understand things, but I understand them better.

Jason Blitman: 24:36

You understand the why maybe? Or

Justinian Huang: 24:38

I understand compassion for it. You know, like I feel like, you know, my family, my family, we are Taiwanese, my mom and her sisters grew up with the specter of possibly invading Taiwan any day of their that does something, that trauma does something. Um, you know, It's, it's, I would say that this book really tackles intergenerational trauma and doesn't try to solve it, but just tries to create an understanding that, you know, we're just trying to love ourselves You know, um, ourselves get there. That's our journey, isn't it? Um, and yeah, and then like, you know, in this instance, it's a family. It decides that they're going to learn to love themselves by giving each other a hand. Like That's really this family hopefully. And I think most of them do. Yeah. And you know, like another, I, you know, also like there in this family, villain. There isn't a hero. know, like everyone sort of, I wanted everyone to sort of have, that's what that's what third person omniscient fun because you could really explain their thought processes, you know? Yeah.

Jason Blitman: 25:51

what has that journey been like for Justinian? The, that evolution?

Justinian Huang: 25:58

Well, you know, like when I first started writing this book, tone was super different. It was almost like a revenge fantasy, um, and it was much darker and very angsty. As I was writing this book, I realized that the central relationship is between a mother and her son. Because I realized the book is about healing generational trauma. And in my real life, after not talking to my mom's family for a long time, because of the real us, I found my way coming back to them. You know, it's Like art was and forth, back and forth, you know? Um. I. I, I, you know, I, I, with this with this baby girl coming and me proudly continuing the strong line of my mom's family, even though to have a son. Um, I, I feel like I've come full circle, you know, and I'm, I'm you know, I, I'm very, very hopeful, especially when it comes to just me and my family, you know, like you gotta clean your own the world. And, you know, I feel like my closet's pretty clean now. yeah, and I think that writing this book was a big part of the, of the therapy for me to get there.

Jason Blitman: 27:09

Fantastic. That isn't always the case, and I'm that, that you feel that way. so Okay, because You just brought her up again. And you know, the idea of having the baby. you, are, you, did this journey solo. Generally. Can you share a bit more about becoming a dad?

Justinian Huang: 27:28

sure. So, um, in summer of 2021. My, my mom's big auntie, the matriarch of her clan, told me that she wanted me to have a son because otherwise my mom's family would all become hungry, ghosts in the afterlife. So if this sounds familiar, it speak that's that's premise. Is what inspires Lucky seed, right? I ultimately didn't do it because I just don't subscribe to that way of thinking. And also my family. was fighting a lot and I'm the peacekeeper of my family. It didn't feel right. Um, So I said no. But then my mom I know was really sad because I know my mom wants to be a, wanted to be a grandmother. And I said to her, I was like, let me finish book and then we'll have our own baby. But I want a daughter. You know, And so that's where I am today. That, that, that's how I'm, that's why I'm up here with a little girl about released from NICU and gonna drive her home tomorrow. Probably, uh, taking the preemie route because I can't go too high. The high Yeah. Yeah. I am doing this alone. Um, but you know, like. My first book, A lot of people, uh, to this day, I still get people telling me, oh my gosh, your book ruined me. It's sad. All these things, justice for Calvin, et cetera. You know, I this second book, ha, though it's sort of like a meditate on a happy ending. Um. You know, I I, I fell in love recently and strangely enough, and I didn't really put two and So the romantic co-leader of Lucky Seed, um, is, is this person who's named Jamal, right? He's like the Roman Jamal go lightly. He's sort of like the on and off again boyfriend, recently met a guy who looks strangely like him. I just like, again, life imitating art, I this case. Um, but yeah, I, It's it's really strange. It's kind of, I ending I thought would be ideal and um, and yeah, I sort of manifested it, I guess, which is wild. Which is wild. It's

Jason Blitman: 29:34

mean, it goes, again, goes back of the energy that we're putting out into the world.

Justinian Huang: 29:38

Precisely. I agree with that so much. For sure. Absolutely.

Jason Blitman: 29:44

Though, know, I think, I don't mean to like harp on the fact that, you embarked on the journey solo. However, I think there are a lot of queer people that don't feel empowered to. To have kids on their own or desperately want children and don't feel like it's something in the cards simply because they haven't met the right partner yet. So I, I that, that, to call it admirable is so not the word that I mean, or what I'm looking for, but it

Justinian Huang: 30:22

I like De Lulu.

Jason Blitman: 30:23

Listen, I as a, when I was a kid, I always wanted to be a dad and like

Justinian Huang: 30:30

Aw.

Jason Blitman: 30:30

in, on the journey of coming out, I, who knew how it was gonna work or fit in or whatever. like that is still something potentially in the cards for us. But yeah. Anyway, I is, it is an interesting point of fact and, uh, I think setting a really great example for people in the queer community who don't think that it can happen for them.

Justinian Huang: 30:51

That's really lovely. Thank you so much. I mean, like. I, you know, I, father becoming a parent is such a personal, is such a personal want, and for the longest time I just didn't think it was available to me. Um.

Jason Blitman: 31:10

Mm-hmm.

Justinian Huang: 31:11

You know, in a way I sort of jerry-rigged this plot of my family to get what I want, you know, because I would not be able myself if my family hadn't had this like Machiavellian way to like induce a boy out of me. Right? Um, so. Yeah, I sort of maneuvered that situation. Like I used to maneuver deals when I was a film exec. Right. kind of, it's, you know, like it's, but. I, I, you know, I think once she's home and I can really just like hold her and take care of her and everything, it really will. I think I'm still sort, because she's still in the NICU and she hasn't been released yet, I'm still in like a fight or flight response to the whole situation. Obviously she's doing so well now and we're so grateful to like the team at John Muir Of Walnut Creek. Shout out just the best NICU unit in the world. Literally miracle workers. If you ever have an option and you have a NICU baby, go to Walnut Creek, John Muir. They're just amazing, amazing miracle workers. But yes, I just have so much gratitude. Just simply put, I'm so grateful. I'm so grateful to whatever de he listened to me pray about her.

Jason Blitman: 32:28

Whoever, whoever they might be. Well, so it's interesting that you're saying all of this because, you know, I'm curious what does, well, it's a, it's a weird day to be asking you this because I'm sure two weeks ago your answer would be different, but your book is called Lucky Seed, right? What does, What does luck mean to you? What does feeling lucky mean to you?

Justinian Huang: 32:48

I personally do not believe in like dumb luck. I think that, I think that you need to create your luck by, by pursuing opportunity. Like, no, like, you know, like it's, you know, even. You know, I, I, I've been told many times that I've had a lot of luck in my career, I literally moved to China to get the job at Dreamworks. You know, That really launched my career. Like I, I created the opportunity for myself. You know, I'm very Capricorn to get really superstitious and woo about things like

Jason Blitman: 33:26

LA boy.

Justinian Huang: 33:28

I'm very capric. I'm like, I'm the most Capricorn thing to happen. Everything in my life, I've really carefully planned out and. Yes. There's been moments where I was like, wow, that was really lucky. But it's that I created for myself and that luck happened. You know?

Jason Blitman: 33:42

yeah,

Justinian Huang: 33:43

Um, yes. I, so I don't, I actually, personally, yeah, ironically, I don't believe in luck. I, I, think that you need to tee yourself up for opportunity striking, right? I think that that's what we think. Good luck is absolutely.

Jason Blitman: 33:57

Mm. Right. We don't give ourselves enough credit.

Justinian Huang: 34:00

Yes. Give yourself more credit when good things happen to you.

Jason Blitman: 34:03

Okay. Speaking of. The other elephant in the room you name dropped a minute ago, but we have to say it again for real right now. K-Pop demon hunters.

Justinian Huang: 34:13

Yes. That is

Jason Blitman: 34:15

How do you feel? It's like baby number six for you.

Justinian Huang: 34:18

Oh my gosh. It is wild. I mean, like, we knew, so I joined Sony Animation in summer of 2020, and that was the project Christine Belson, who's like, the, visionary president of Sony Animation. she's like she's, she's like the the, she's like the spiritual guide of that studio. Um, she. She pitched that idea to me in this like park, a socially distanced picnic we had where she was telling me I should join her team. And she was like, I have this that is Buffy meets black pink. And when she said that, I was like, yes. like, that is an idea. That could be huge. I've worked on many movie ideas that I thought would be huge. This is the biggest, this is like a generational cultural reset. That will probably redefine successful movie, not just successful movie. Um, I feel like we, I I don't know, like we, that was, it was not easy because everyone was telling us, and the subtext was this movie that stars all Asian people would never be a huge hit. That was the Often when doubters. Would gaslight us basically. But you know, I'm on many text threads with the directors, Maggie King, Chris Hans, and the producer Michelle Wong, and my exec team, Jeremiah Loeb and Alexandra Kade Tim be like, we are on a lot of text threads where we're just sort of like, everyone needs to chill is, this is too much now.

Jason Blitman: 35:56

Yeah.

Justinian Huang: 35:57

much. But you know, I, I have to say like I feel like that movie really hit a thread because it's ultimately about accepting your own and realizing that they are what make You powerful. You know, Like you need to harness, you need to accept your scars, you need to harness them. And I feel like that's really hitting a moment right where we want to do seems is demonize each other. So I, I it's, it's tracking the, the math is mapping to me why it's, why, why it's such been such a huge hit. It's just that you just, that sort of thing needs to sort of happen because of an alignment of strange stars. You know, Like you just never expect something like that to happen.

Jason Blitman: 36:38

it, it's interesting that that's on the heels of me asking you about Lucky because you just said in alignment of the stars, right? It wasn't, it's not about luck, it's about all of these, the right things coming together at the right time,

Justinian Huang: 36:51

absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah. You know, uh. when Sony and when Sony when, so when our parent company, Sony, they they, they decided they didn't have the ability to market it and therefore they didn't wanna distribute it. We had a crisis moment, and that's when I was like, let's go to Netflix. You know, And I know there's a lot of chatter online about like, how that was such a huge loss, blah, blah, blah. I, you know, I'm a storyteller. At the end of the day, my number one goal is to reach as many people with the stories that I, that I'm working for. You know, that That's my thought process as a film exec. I think that we would never have hit the audience that we did had that not been released to Netflix the moment it had. we just really struck gold at that moment. So, yeah. You know, like it's, uh, I, I'm sure there's a Sony exec somewhere who's like pretty upset with themselves, but I'm not. I'm very proud.

Jason Blitman: 37:51

Of course, and also believing in the project and having faith in the story and the work and, having the foresight to see those stars aligning and saying, okay, we have to figure out another way.

Justinian Huang: 38:03

yes. Stick with itness. You just never ever give up. You never give up. You know, Like the other cultural reset animation is probably frozen, and that was in development for 20 plus years. So you just gotta stick with it.

Jason Blitman: 38:16

know, it's so interesting you, you say this about this stick with Aness because, so once upon a time I worked, and I feel like I say this on every episode these days, I worked for a company called Theater Works, USA in New York City. We developed new musicals for kids that were based on, that are based on properties. but they're like big titles like Dog Man and Charlotte's Web know, whatever. And there was a songwriter who would write a bunch of stuff, including like cow cowgirl, Kate and Coco, the musical, know, writing these sort of seemingly silly songs or musicals or whatever. I, was like gooped and gagged because it was Mark Blech who of course wrote. The biggest songs of the moment right now.

Justinian Huang: 39:05

That's amazing.

Jason Blitman: 39:07

know, I can't get golden out of my head. and I feel like, so, so The Stick with Itness, the sticktoitiveness of Mark, who, you know, was sort of a, a New York composer who's been hoofing it for years and years and years and now like, could win a freaking Oscar. You know, like it's

Justinian Huang: 39:27

I know it's really you know, it it feels very special. Like I think that I'm gonna be, I think I'm gonna be remembering that that I was part of K-pop demon hunters, which is really cool. If it, if, you know, like, if that's my last credit as a film exec, I think it's a pretty good one, I have to say.

Jason Blitman: 39:45

It's a pretty good one. just hearing you say a, small piece of that puzzle. When you think about a puzzle, if you look at it could be a 10,000 piece puzzle. If there's one piece missing, you notice it.

Justinian Huang: 39:56

Yeah. that's true. That's a really beautiful way of looking at it. I love that.

Jason Blitman: 40:01

Yeah.

Justinian Huang: 40:01

Yeah.

Jason Blitman: 40:02

the Suns, they are not a family, but a web.

Justinian Huang: 40:07

Mm-hmm.

Jason Blitman: 40:08

You're either a fly or a spider, which are you.

Justinian Huang: 40:16

You know, I, I and I spin like a spider, but I don't like to have victims. You know, Like I, so yeah, I don't.

Jason Blitman: 40:25

spider. You're a vegetarian spider

Justinian Huang: 40:27

Yeah, I'm a vegetarian spider for sure. You know, like if anything I catch spies not to eat them, but to redirect them into are better for everyone. I'm definitely like that type of person for sure. Um, I'm the master of unsolicited advice amongst my friends. They know me. I'm, I always have an idea of how things can be improved. Um, when I was younger, I was more Machiavellian. Like, My friends would always be like, you, we can feel you like chess playing I'm not like, I'm too tired now, girl. I'm almost 40. Who has the energy for that? You know? And I have a

Jason Blitman: 41:03

Right. You're a new dad of, all sorts of babies.

Justinian Huang: 41:06

Uh, yeah. babies, paint babies. Yeah.

Jason Blitman: 41:09

Yeah. know, it's interesting like something that comes up in the book is the, idea of like allies by circumstance and, when people of see that they have common goals, even though they might not typically see eye to eye or typically see themselves on the same side, you know, I think. Talking about the success of K-pop demon hunters talking about even like spiders versus flies, right? It almost doesn't matter how you define yourself and it's about what your goals are,

Justinian Huang: 41:39

Mm-hmm. Yeah, absolutely. Yes. That's a very very well put for sure. I love that. Would, how would you put that Allies by

Jason Blitman: 41:48

circumstance.

Justinian Huang: 41:49

circumstance. Yeah. definitely. Yes. you

Jason Blitman: 41:53

you know, it's. There is that about having a common enemy, you bond over having a common enemy,

Justinian Huang: 41:59

I mean, that's the quickest way, that's the quickest way, to create teamwork and to create enemy for sure. That was, that's like one of the oldest tricks in the book, you know? Um, yeah, and sometimes, especially when you're the boss or the leader of something, you that common enemy and then you like give them something to team up against, you know, like, And And that's why certain bosses like Anna Wintour do so well. Right. It's Because they're happy to be the common enemy that everyone teams try to vanquish, but really to impress ultimately. Right. Yeah, it makes a lot

Jason Blitman: 42:36

I feel like such an nin can poop that I Think about it like that before,

Justinian Huang: 42:40

mean, I would, you know, like, you know, roses, then come poop. You know, roses. I think like she, when you first meet her, she says that she needs. She knows. She knows the roses is the matriarch who hatches this plan to have her gay nephew have the son, right? She's the Machiavellian operator of this crew, of this family, and she says that she knows that she is the bastion of calm in this messy group of people. And she also knows that these are ends that require merciless means. She's very aware of it. She knows she needs to be the bad guy. She does crazy book. She does terrible things to her, own daughter and granddaughter in this book, you to her, the ends truly justify the means. You know, uh, you know, Someone points out in this book that in Chinese naming systems, the last name comes first, because, which is true like my Chinese name, my American name is Justinian Huang. My Chinese name is Huang. The My, the Huang comes first because you're supposed to think of your family first in all decision making. And that's definitely, that's where a lot of the generational break happens is that this, the elders of this family were raised in Asia and then they're trained to think the family comes first, but the youngers in this generation. Are westerners who are taught individuality and individualism, and that's where a lot of the disconnect happens as well. Um, so that was really funny, fun to explore. And you know, I feel like they both, that each generation teaches the other generation something throughout this book. Yeah.

Jason Blitman: 44:22

Absolutely. And I feel like it's a, it is something we need to remember and hold onto and try to perpetuate.

Justinian Huang: 44:30

There's something to be learned by both schools of thought. You know?

Jason Blitman: 44:34

Sure.

Justinian Huang: 44:35

Um, Being fully individual individualistic is ultimately a very selfish, by definition, a very selfish way of living your life, right? But.

Jason Blitman: 44:44

Mm-hmm.

Justinian Huang: 44:45

Thinking way too much about putting your, putting others above yourself. Having this sort of like idea of what the group needs also people yourself and the people that should be most important to you. You know?

Jason Blitman: 45:01

It is interesting that this of coming up organically because there is a chapter towards the end of the book that talks about how Shannon refuses to be anything but a main character in the story of her life.

Justinian Huang: 45:13

Yes,

Jason Blitman: 45:14

And I'm curious how you recommend doing that. How do we do that? How do we make sure we are the main character, in our own story?

Justinian Huang: 45:24

Thank my favorite character, which is ironic because she's not in the family. Right. She's the she's the influencer girlfriend one of the cousins. Um, and she's, she was a lot of fun to write, because I got to write like an Asian baby girl, which is which is this that exists in San Gabriel east of la you know, like that it, like, you know, it's like those Asian with like. Blonde hair and blue contact lenses who are always wielding a, a milk tea boba. She was so much fun to write with her vocal fry. Um, she was fun to write because people who have that main character energy are likable. I think that people often think having main character energy means barreling your way through life, when really the number one rule of a protagonist is that they need to be readable. If you want to have main character energy, that's not something that you bestow upon yourself. Others need to bestow that upon you. You need to be likable. Even as nefarious as Shannon's plans are, she's ultimately, a quite likable character because she's not wealthy like this family, you know? she is someone who. Picks herself up by her bootstraps and maneuvers herself into this family and outsmarts them in many ways. So yes, I think main character energy is not bestowed upon oneself. It is how you operate by being likable to others. And likable does not mean you're like a sappy person. It means that you are charismatic and magnetic and you add to the equation. You are a force multiplier in life.

Jason Blitman: 47:05

and it is not as one of my favorite quotes in the book says, the human equivalent of gas station sushi.

Justinian Huang: 47:14

There are a lot of ways. Another one that.

Jason Blitman: 47:16

gas station that is not a main character

Justinian Huang: 47:21

it's not. Oh my gosh. Yeah. I really liked That, line too. Um, uh, that, that was one of the descriptors of Shannon by the Right. they they had quite a funny descriptors of her. I, I also think there was also like to her as a, a, a dashboard, bobble boob.'Cause she's'cause she's gifted upstairs. She's God. She was a was, it was a lot of fun to write. It was a, know. You know, I, uh, I just really loved soap. I, I really loved soap operas. I just wanted to write a soap opera. And this book was an homage to not just crazy rich Asian succession, but also obsession as a kid, Collins novels, and, you know.

Jason Blitman: 47:57

my God.

Justinian Huang: 47:58

Yes. And you know like, like Jackie Collins wrote one of the greatest lines of all time, which is someone saying to another person, who the hell are you? A nobody with freak show nipples, just like one of the greatest lines. Of all time. I couldn't, I I just really wanted to capture some of that bit, like that, that, you know, that like, that, like that like, you know, the, the, the gaze refers to as C-U-N-T-Y. I don't really, I want to say it, but, you know, but like, you know, I really want to capture that quality where just someone is so caustic but also so brilliant in their just, it was really fun'cause I actually don't talk like that in real life. Those sentences, those, those, those, some of the barbs in this were like days of like, how should they say it? How can they cut each other down in this moment? You know? So that was a lot of fun. That was fun to formulate

Jason Blitman: 48:50

Days of thinking slash, what did I hear my mom call my aunt that one time.

Justinian Huang: 48:55

maybe under her breath once in a while, but that's never

Jason Blitman: 48:58

So funny. Just kidding, mom. Just kidding. I'm just, I'm so funny. Justinian, it is so great to have you back. Everyone go get your copy of Lucky Seed

Justinian Huang: 49:12

Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you, Jason.

Jason Blitman: 49:17

It is delicious. It is so much fun and I cannot wait for everyone to meet the Sun Family.

Justinian Huang: 49:23

Oh my gosh, what a joy. I can't think of a better to remind myself that today's pub day, um, and you

Jason Blitman: 49:31

Slash Happy Thanksgiving.

Justinian Huang: 49:32

yes slash happy Thanksgiving, and you talk about energy. Your energy has just really set me off. I'm gonna go take care of my daughter now and drive back home with her tomorrow, so I appreciate you.

Jason Blitman: 49:43

I'm so excited.

Justinian Huang: 49:44

I appreciate you so much and yes, can't wait to hear this episode and yeah, thank you and uh, I can't wait for anyone listening. Just tell me if you figured out the twist ending, tell me if you figured it out, because no one has yet. I wanted to write a twist ending that no one would figure out. No one has yet, so if you did give me a shout out, I'm easy to follow.

Jason Blitman: 50:04

Well, and after I stop the recording, I'll talk to you about it.

Justinian Huang: 50:07

Oh, I would love that for sure.

Jason Blitman: 50:13

Lucas Gage, welcome to Gay's Reading.

Lukas Gage: 50:16

Thank you for having me. I'm so excited to be here.

Jason Blitman: 50:18

Thank you for being my guest gay reader today. I, uh. Are you familiar with, uh, Notting Hill?

Lukas Gage: 50:26

Of course one best wrong problems of all time.

Jason Blitman: 50:28

Well, of course, uh, we're, I'm a little bit older than you, but I know that you are a, a early two thousands kid, and I can't, when I say like gaze reading, talking to you, I feel like Hugh Grant saying that he's from Horse and Hound when, when Julia Roberts is there on the really Long press day and she's talking to like the New York Times and Variety and so Gay's reading is your horse and hound. You're welcome.

Lukas Gage: 50:52

I love it. I I'm, this is the most exciting one of the day I can't wait.

Jason Blitman: 50:56

Yes it is. Um, Lucas, I have to know as my guest, gay reader, what have you been reading? What do you read?

Lukas Gage: 51:05

What do I read? Okay. Uh, I'm gonna go to my Amazon shopping cart just to make sure that I don't miss anything that read lately. It's

Jason Blitman: 51:13

And that was not a plug everybody buy from your local indie bookstore.

Lukas Gage: 51:17

buy, uh, a roof is for attention on Amazon right now. Um, okay, so the last book I I, I'll start with the last one I did.'cause it was the most recent, it was Widow Basquiat. Um, and um, part of that was I doing a period piece movie from that, that era. And um, I was obsessed with it. It's about Suzanne who dated Jean-Michel Basquiat. And it's a great story about addiction and, uh, the first intense love and that obsession that comes with it. And it's basically journal entries, uh, and another reflection in present day, uh, by Jennifer Clement, the author, and it's, it's so good.

Jason Blitman: 52:05

Cool. I don't know why I was expecting you to say an article

Lukas Gage: 52:11

An article. I mean, I'm sure I, to this morning I read something on

Jason Blitman: 52:14

No, no, no, of course. Right, right, But like I wasn't expecting you to be like, this is, this is the nonfiction book that I just read as

Lukas Gage: 52:23

Oh, oh, okay. So we're talking about like, okay. Um,

Jason Blitman: 52:27

no, no, no, no. I'm obsessed with it. I love What else is in your, what else do you have on your phone? What, tell me what are you're, you're more of a reader than I was expecting.

Lukas Gage: 52:35

Oh, okay. Um, well, the book I read right before that is called Year of the King. It's Anthony Cher's book, uh, about him playing King Richard II for a year of his life on stage, and he documents the whole entire experience from start to finish. Ups, the downs, the process be, you know, behind him getting into the role, uh, some personal stuff that's intertwined with that. And it's just one of the most fascinating reads ever. And if any actor is listening to this, I feel like it should be like, require reading to do,

Jason Blitman: 53:10

Interesting. Have you ever played a role for that long?

Lukas Gage: 53:13

no, no, I wanna do theater. They won't let me.

Jason Blitman: 53:18

And by they you mean those faces staring at you from behind?

Lukas Gage: 53:21

Exactly this. Me, you won't let me. Um, no, I, I'm starting to, you know, I'm starting to audition for theater and, and I wanna do that next for sure. But we'll see. We'll see what happens.

Jason Blitman: 53:34

totally. Uh, was there anything else on your list that you wanted to share?

Lukas Gage: 53:38

Oh, um, okay. I'll give you something kind of ju, like a little more juicy and a little, a little less like Chic is, I read Verity by Colleen Hoover, um, which I think is actually my favorite book by Colleen. Um, it's more of a thriller. It kind of gives me misery vibes and it's, they just finished shooting it, I think with Anne Hathaway. And an amazing cast. I forget who else was saying, but I, I'm, I loved the book. It's so creepy and disturbing, and I think Colleen Hoover's best, best book

Jason Blitman: 54:17

I, I, I am, I've never read a single Colleen Hoover book. So the fact that you have, you could say what her, what your favorite of hers is, is awesome. You're also. Doing the film adaptation of the people we meet on vacation. Yes.

Lukas Gage: 54:32

am, yeah, the Emily Henry book, which is also a great book. Great, great book.

Jason Blitman: 54:37

I little did. I realize that you were gonna be like as prolific a reader as you are.

Lukas Gage: 54:42

It's cool. It's cool to be able to do. I, I believe, and I probably am Mess. I did Colleen Hoover's web series back in the day with her book Confess, but I think this is like the first big. Production project that had, was adapted from a book. I've never done anything like that. And as a big reader, it was, it was, I don't know. It's been kind of like on the, the goal list, like bo gotta check it off the, check it off the list of things to do. So, um, hopefully there's more books to screen adaptations, I think.

Jason Blitman: 55:11

You talked about reading the Basquiat book in prep role. Is that a common thing for you, just like reading to get into the world? I.

Lukas Gage: 55:21

Yeah. I feel like, um, sometimes like, it's amazing when you're doing an actual, um, you know, like if you're doing a biopic and there's so much material that you can use to source, but sometimes, like, it's not even about that for me. You know, like it could be trying to give you like a good example of something like. I remember when I did you, I read this, it's kind of like a diabolical self-help book, but it's kind of like how to, how to be successful or, or how to win people over. it's like a self-help book that's actually has some really interesting, beneficial things on it. But there's also a lot of things in there where I was like, whoa, this is completely manipulate. Like how to manipulate and get your way in the world. And I just felt like my character Adam, who was this. You know, success hungry, money hungry, uh, would do anything to get to the top. That would be the kind of book that he would read. So sometimes like it informs whatever character I'm playing and, or just like, kind of a mood, a mood thing. You know, I think I was reading, um, like Sally Rooney when I was doing, after I read people we meet on vacation, but there was like that just that. The, you know, the, the idea of finding your soulmate, that, that kind of aspect that I feel like leaked into that film.

Jason Blitman: 56:41

Yeah. Throwing in Sally Rooney, we've got this. I was a hundred percent judging you as a book by its cover, assuming that you weren't a big reader. I don't know why. This part of why doing this series actually, because. The amount of folks I've talked to who you don't equate with reading or books who then are like, oh yeah, I'm a huge reader. Um,

Lukas Gage: 57:06

see me, they think he's a dumb bitch.

Jason Blitman: 57:10

well, maybe, but also, I mean, I've had people like Jeff

Lukas Gage: 57:14

Everyone's shaking their head in the background now. I'm totally, I'm totally kidding. no, no. totally, I get what you're saying. I get what you're saying. No, but I, I think, um, yeah, I don't think I really talk about how much I read or. I don't think that, that's just like not a common question in interviews, especially before the book. Like that's, so, cool to be able to share that part of myself and, uh, you know, I guess I, I've always been a big reader, even since I was a little kid. I was like, first in line to get the new series of unfortunate events or the first in line to get the Harry Potter books. And the first to, uh, yeah, it was, there was another one about circus, just sole, like the horror book. I fuck, I'm blanking on the name of it, but it was like this. series about a circus. Oh God. It's gonna kill me. I'll even, I'll look it

Jason Blitman: 58:01

look up. Yeah. Yeah. Um, all right. Before we dive in to your book, you, there's the list of chapter titles in here. However, to we are not, you haven't, you didn't write about today. If you were to title a chapter present day, what do you think your chapter title would be right now?

Lukas Gage: 58:24

So fucking tired. little bit of rosacea and perial dermatitis Doesn't know where he is. Living in LA and staying with five frat guys in Tribeca. That's a true story.

Jason Blitman: 58:36

Uh,

Lukas Gage: 58:36

An Airbnb with five F Flag from Tribeca.'cause I don't know where to live right now. So that's gonna be three a chapter in the next book I read.

Jason Blitman: 58:43

great chapter. Love it. Um, literally just last night started some sort of cream that a dermatologist recommended for rosacea, so

Lukas Gage: 58:54

you did drop the name.

Jason Blitman: 58:55

Yeah. This is, we're, uh.

Lukas Gage: 58:57

I just started on um, cilantro, which is, sounds like cilantro, but it's, um. It's Ivermectin cream that's supposed to help with rosacea. I don't know.

Jason Blitman: 59:08

great. This is an educational podcast,

Lukas Gage: 59:11

books and skincare

Jason Blitman: 59:12

right? Exactly. Um, all right. Your book, I wrote this for attention, which is out now. Wherever you get your books, uh, I, I would say, what's your elevator pitch? But I think it says so in the title. What, what? Take us beyond that.

Lukas Gage: 59:29

I think beyond that, it tells a story of a, a needy attention seeking, uh, reactive child who becomes a needy attention seeking reactive adult and how that manifests and, uh, his journey along the way. Um, and I think it's. Just a wild tale that is, um, will take you on a ride to many different places. And, and I think ultimately you get to see this, uh, this young boy that's seeking for attention, that's, that still lives there, but how he uses it for maybe the right reasons and the right kind of attention, but he'll still mess up and still do it in the wrong way a lot of the times too.

Jason Blitman: 1:00:13

Yeah, and it's such a great story of, uh, proving that things don't just come easily to people

Lukas Gage: 1:00:21

Oh, really? I like that.

Jason Blitman: 1:00:22

or things. Don't just get handed to them.

Lukas Gage: 1:00:25

Right, right. Like you kind of, I said this earlier today, but like you make your own luck is something that I said in an interview earlier that we were talking about some of the, the stories and some of the decisions I had made and, and I think people were surprised by it or they thought. It had come easier or things were, uh, you know, I, I've lived a great blessed life and, and all that, but I think, uh, a lot of times people think, you know, you just get lucky and, and I just think luck has not a lot to do with it.

Jason Blitman: 1:00:56

Totally. And I think that, uh, you know, if someone else was writing your book for you or if someone else was writing a book that was fictionalized version of this and they said, let me, uh, throw a whole lot of hurdles for the character, they like, wouldn't even, it would almost come across as unbelievable the things that you going on for you. Something that you say in the book is, uh, impulsivity is second nature to you. Uh, and if you want something, then you go for it and you just do

Lukas Gage: 1:01:24

Yeah.

Jason Blitman: 1:01:25

Is that the case for this? Is that part of how that the book came to be?

Lukas Gage: 1:01:29

Yeah, I mean, I'm like absolutely not qualified to write a book whatsoever at all. I don't know what in my DNA or what in my head was like, yeah, you uh, absolutely should do this. And I, I was totally in over my head at first and. Yeah. But I think that's kind of how I've been in my whole entire life. I mean, I didn't know anything about acting. I just knew I wanted to do it since I was a kid and I was like, screw it. I'm gonna move to LA and figure it out. And um, that's always been kind of my, uh, the plus side of being impulsive. I mean, being impulsive has made me, made a lot of mistakes and a lot of shortcomings in my life. But also some of the good stuff is like having this delusional. Confidence, I would say of with like becoming an actor or writing a book and, um, I don't know, I think sometimes we can think ourselves out of, out of things. I think we can overthink to the point of, of self-destruction and, and sometimes you just have to like go for it.

Jason Blitman: 1:02:30

Yeah, I'm a firm believer in leap and the net will come.

Lukas Gage: 1:02:34

Exactly. I agree. What's the worst that could happen?

Jason Blitman: 1:02:37

What's the worst that can happen? Well, Lucas Gage, it is a pleasure. I would, I could sit here and hear about all of the books that you have on your list going on, but my time with you is running short. Um, anything else you wanted to shout out before we go?

Lukas Gage: 1:02:55

No, I think, uh, I'll just, I'll come back a second time and keep reading you my Amazon book list and go through all the, all the crazy, insane titles next time. But please check out the book and anyone listening. Uh. I promise. It's a fun, easy read and it's a wild time, and just go do it.

Jason Blitman: 1:03:12

I wrote this for attention. Go everyone. Give Luke Gage your attention. He is desperate for it. Thanks Lucas. Have a great rest of your day.

1:03:20

Thank you Justinian. Thank you Lucas. Everybody make sure to check out their books. I'll be taking next week off because But I'll see you back, with a really fun episode on December 9th, and I can't wait for you to hear these exciting and fun December episodes. Have a wonderful rest of your day. Happy Thanksgiving. Have a great week, and see you soon. Bye.