Meeting someone for the first time can either be a nightmare or a joy. For Lucas Castellani, who has spent his life striving to connect with people, meeting new faces isn’t diving deep into a pool of anxiety—it’s a breath of fresh air.

Brazil-born Castellani, whose television debut, The Castellani Show, premiered on Fox LA late last year, uniquely aims to bridge the gap between persons of all backgrounds and passions, guided by a clear theme of simple connection. The show features numerous guests against a bright-colored and textured background, where Castellani asks questions and gives his guests a chance to be honest and vulnerable; consider actor Richa Moorjani opening up about her dating app experiences, or model Josephine Skriver sharing insight into being born in vitro. But above all else, Castellani wants to use his platform for good, to give back what the world has granted him. Flaunt sat down to talk with the influencer-turned-talk show host about his creative process, future plans, and misconceptions about his generation.

**HERMÈS** blazer and **EMANUELE BICOCCHI** ear cuff, and **CARTIER** bracelet and ring.

Congratulations on The Castellani Show. What was the process in setting that up and realizing you’re joining an elite group of late-night hosts?

Setting up my first talk show as a host and executive producer was an incredible learning process. I had to do so much research—I felt like I was back in college. It took me about a year to learn every aspect of production, and then putting a great team of people together to work on the production, visuals, lighting, audio, set design, copyrights, etc. It was honestly one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life, because I didn’t know anything about producing or directing. Yet, I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, and it became one of the greatest learning experiences of my life. I honestly never believed the show was going to happen, but I just kept putting my love and passion into bringing it to life because, regardless of the outcome, I knew it was my dream and I needed to try. I was at home turning on every TV in the house, scared no one else was watching it—meanwhile, the show ended up achieving records in its time slot.

What was the experience of filming The Castellani Show for the first time like?

I remember I couldn’t sleep the night before. I had butterflies in my stomach, but once the lights were on and cameras were rolling, it was so much fun and I felt filled with joy. It was a feeling of true happiness. My first guest was the photographer Damon Baker, who is a dear friend, and I purposely invited him to be my No.1 because I knew he would be honest and real, and we would be able to laugh and enjoy our time together without me feeling any pressure.

ZEGNA top and pants and CARTIER bracelet.

Your interview lineup has been really entertaining, from actor Gabrielle Dennis, to Hollywood medium Tyler Henry. How do you like to choose which guests will appear?

The show is very focused on representation and being a platform for minorities, so my team and I were always looking for celebrities who have different cultural backgrounds, those who stand for important causes, or minorities of people who are segregated or not yet heard or seen enough from. Just like me, a Brown and gay immigrant who moved to Los Angeles to become a TV host.

What’s something new about The Castellani Show that other latenight shows don’t have?

The very raw and real format. Nothing is fabricated or produced with huge budgets—it’s basic, raw and relatable. It’s like having tea at home with a guest, but also focusing on representation and breaking diversity barriers on a network television station.

Who are some people you’ve looked up to for inspiration in the creation of this show?

Oprah and an incredible Brazilian journalist named Pedro Bial. What does it mean for you to be from Brazil and have this incredible platform? It means the world to me, and I will never take this opportunity for granted. I know it paves the way for so many other young Latino, Brown and queer kids to have hope and follow their dreams. I remember how much I doubted myself growing up, simply because I couldn’t look up to anyone doing the things I dreamed of doing.

BOSS jacket, TAAKK pants, CARTIER bracelet and ring, and MAURICE LACROIX watch.

You’ve traveled a lot recently, whether it be for fashion shows or just for fun. What’s been the best trip you’ve taken in recent memory?

It was my recent trip to Egypt. The country has always been on my bucket list and I had a magical time exploring their culture, gastronomy, and history. Just exploring the oldest civilization in human history through all the ruins and tombs, along the Nile River, it felt like time traveling.

What’s next for Lucas Castellani?

Season 1 is now wrapped up. The show’s fans can expect to see the episodes uploaded weekly on The Castellani Show YouTube channel, so they can watch it over and over again. We can definitely expect season 2 to come to life, as I will be back on set in November this year.

Lastly, what is a misconception about Gen Z you want to debunk? That the Gen Z’s are all the same—lazy and glamorizing mental illnesses. Gen Z is textured, nuanced, and different. Almost half of Gen Z’s are part of an ethnic or racial minority, and minorities will soon be the majority. They celebrate differences in body shape and skin color, and they are normalizing, not glamorizing, mental health. No matter where they land on the political spectrum, they are radically inclusive. Yes, we do spend a lot of time on social media, but that doesn’t make us lazy. What the Gen Z’s are doing on social media is not what older generations are doing—Gen Z’s use social media (particularly TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube) to be connectors, to be job seekers, and to be activists