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Being Human with Leana Deeb

Leana Deeb & Pursuit Network

Hi, my name is Leana Deeb, and this is the space I wish existed when I was growing up, finding myself, and figuring out who I truly wanted to be.

We all go through seasons of growth and realignment, trying to stay grounded, build discipline, and stay true to ourselves.

Every week, I’ll share honest conversations and reflections around faith, identity, discipline, purpose, health and everything in between. Sometimes it’s just me talking about what I’m learning, and other times I’ll sit down with people who inspire me to think deeper and live better.

Some episodes will challenge you. Others will bring peace. But every one of them is here to remind you that you’re not alone, and that growth is never perfect, it’s personal.

Welcome to Being Human with Leana Deeb.

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  • 27 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 48 min
  • English

Episodes 27

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  • Thursday · 1 hr

    How to Become a Content Creator, Overcome Fear of Judgment & Find Your Purpose with Jun Yuh

    In this episode, Leana sits down with Jun Yuh — creator, entrepreneur, and founder of Creator College, one of the most impactful content creation communities in the world. Jun built his entire following from a college dorm room in Philadelphia with no support system, a biomedical engineering degree, and a shattered iPhone 12. He was doubted by everyone around him, posted into the void for years, and still kept going. This conversation is part content masterclass, part deeply personal story — and it does not hold back. This one is for anyone who has ever wanted to put themselves out there but talked themselves out of it before they even started. Leana and Jun get into: → How he started posting fitness and fashion content in his parents' basement during quarantine — wearing his brother's clothes → The zoom call moment where his classmates posted his TikTok link to 300 people and made fun of him → Why being judged is a sign you are doing something right — and how he finally started to believe that → Six years of building in loneliness with no one in his corner who actually understood what he was doing → How an engineering mindset helped him reverse engineer content — studying formats, hooks, pacing and story arcs → Why your first 200 views matter more than you think and how one person in your DMs can change everything → The moment he discovered Creator College and why he almost did not do it → What it actually takes to build an audience — and why packaging what you already know is the whole strategy → The difference between chasing virality and building a community that lasts → His daily routine and why his entire life has become the business → The over-optimisation trap — sleep scores, routines, and why he thinks we are doing too much → Growing up watching his dad work construction with no choice in his sacrifices — and how that shaped everything → Becoming the financial provider for his family at 24 and the complicated emotions that come with it → How money changes relationships — and the ongoing tension between generosity and boundaries → Reconnecting with his mom after 14 years apart and what that taught him about assumptions and perspective → Why he believes life is not fair — and why he stopped resenting it → What it means to be human — and why his answer is empathy "Perspective drives performance. The way that you view what you do affects how you do what you do." — Jun Yuh TOPICS DISCUSSED 02:34 Joon’s Start in Content Creation 06:52 Overcoming the Fear of Judgment 10:27 Loneliness, Doubt & Finding Support 13:27 Sharing Your Struggles & Building Your Story 18:50 Believing in Yourself Before Anyone Else Does 20:32 Faith, God & Finding Contentment 25:57 Consistency, Systems & Using AI for Content 31:07 The “Younger You” Principle for Finding Your Niche 39:49 Money, Success & Choosing Impact Over Metrics 45:09 Finding Purpose, Phone Addiction & Burnout Stay connected with Leana Deeb: Instagram: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpodcast TikTok: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpod Stay connected with Jun Yuh: Instagram, TikTok & YouTube: @jun_yuh Podcast: Creator Unplugged Community: Creator College Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • September 24 · 31 min

    How to Stop Scrolling, Overcome Procrastination & Build Self-Discipline

    In this solo episode, Leana takes the struggles you sent in through her Q&A box and works through them one by one. Scrolling, staying up late, music and binge eating all came up again and again, and she believes they share one root: a constant need for stimulation that leaves us feeling low, lost and without purpose. She talks about it as someone still in it. She shares what changed her relationship with her phone, the 10-3-2-1 rule she uses to get to sleep earlier, why she still catches herself playing Drake in the car, and why quitting music cold turkey made her resent her faith. She gets candid about lust and self-control and why a relationship won't fix it. She also opens up, for the first time, about binge eating while living in New York. Throughout, she brings it back to faith, science and self-compassion: God is loving, you can start again as many times as you need, and awareness is the first step. Leana gets into: → The top struggles Gen Z shared, and the constant need for a dopamine high behind them → Why we scroll, and how locking your apps changed her relationship with her phone → Replacing your phone with a gratitude journal first thing in the morning → Gary Brecka's 10-3-2-1 rule for going to sleep earlier → Music, the hadith, and why quitting cold turkey made her resent her faith → Why fear mongering yourself into faith doesn't work → Why you should never beat yourself up when you fall back → Binge eating in New York, gut health, and the 80/20 vs. 90/10 rule → Journaling, gratitude and affirmations "You can scroll your life away, and you'll look back five years from now and still be living the same life." - Leana Deeb TOPICS DISCUSSED (0:00) Intro: The Struggles of Gen Z (1:21) Scrolling and Locking Your Apps (6:57) Replacing Your Phone With a Gratitude Journal (10:26) Gary Brecka's 10-3-2-1 Rule for Better Sleep (13:27) Music, Faith and Self-Control (21:31) Why You Shouldn't Go Cold Turkey (25:16) Porn, Masturbation and Overcoming Lust (33:01) Don't Beat Yourself Up When You Fall Back (33:24) Binge Eating and the 80/20 vs. 90/10 Rule (39:06) Journaling, Gratitude and Outro Stay connected with Leana Deeb: Instagram: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpodcast TikTok: @leanadeeb / @beinghumannpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • September 17 · 48 min

    Iskra Lawrence on Body Confidence, Rebuilding Herself, and Financial Freedom

    In this episode, Leana sits down with Iskra Lawrence, model, mental health advocate, and founder of Saltair, one of the fastest-growing body care brands in the country. Iskra takes it back to growing up in a small town in England, entering a modeling competition at 12, and being watched by agencies through puberty while her changing body was treated like a problem. She opens up about developing an eating disorder, being told she was too curvy for straight-size modeling and too small for plus-size modeling, and the breaking point when she realized she was never the problem. The industry was. She shares how she rebuilt her sense of self through affirmations, began pitching herself directly to brands at 19, and eventually created a career on her own terms. Iskra also gets candid about losing herself postpartum during the pandemic, unexpectedly losing her Aerie contract, and how a five-minute shower became the inspiration for Saltair. She breaks down why she still does not take a salary from the company, why she prioritizes long-term financial security over a luxurious lifestyle, and what it means to build generational wealth. Leana and Iskra also talk about motherhood, ambition, being the breadwinner in a marriage, finding a partner without ego, and why having a successful career does not mean having everything perfectly together. Leana and Iskra get into: → Entering the modeling industry at 12 years old → Being told she was too curvy, too commercial, and too womanly at 14 → Developing an eating disorder while trying to control her body → Being rejected by plus-size agencies for being too small → Realizing she was never the problem, the industry was → Cattle calls, rejection, comparison, and body dysmorphia → Using mirror affirmations to rebuild her self-worth → Why women are taught to view attractiveness as currency → Pitching herself directly to brands at 19 → Her dad eventually quitting his job to work alongside her → Loving pregnancy but completely losing herself postpartum → Losing her milk supply during the formula shortage → The five-minute shower that inspired Saltair → Losing her Aerie contract and feeling disposable again → Why owning her own company gave her control over her future → Faith, ambition, and her “why not me?” mindset → Why she does not take a salary from Saltair → Moving to New York with $15,000 and living with five models in a one-bedroom apartment → Choosing future financial security over luxury today → Why women need to talk more openly about money → Her goal of retiring her parents and creating generational wealth → Redefining what success actually looks like → Motherhood, dishes in the sink, missed workouts, and giving herself grace → Being the breadwinner in her marriage → Finding a partner without ego → Writing letters about things that felt too difficult to say out loud “At that breaking point, I realized I was never the problem. The industry was the problem.” — Iskra Lawrence TOPICS DISCUSSED (00:00) Preview + Intro (01:22) Starting Modeling at 12 Years Old (03:20) Developing an Eating Disorder in the Modeling Industry (08:02) Body Dysmorphia, Mental Health & Rebuilding Self-Worth (12:33) Postpartum Identity Loss & Finding Herself Again (14:32) How Saltair Was Born (17:24) Moving to Austin & Stepping Away From Her Old Life (18:56) Losing Her Aerie Contract & Feeling Disposable Again (23:13) Faith, God & the “Why Not Me?” Mindset (26:31) Building Saltair Without Taking a Founder Salary (30:35) Money, Sacrifice & Building Long-Term Financial Security (34:27) Redefining What Success Actually Means (37:42) The Reality of “Doing It All” as a Working Mom (41:31) Being the Breadwinner in Her Marriage (43:43) Communication, Partnership & Writing Each Other Letters (47:45) What Does It Mean to Be Human? Stay connected with Leana Deeb: Instagram: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpodcast TikTok: @leanadeeb / @beinghumannpod Stay connected with Iskra Lawrence: Instagram: @iskra / @saltair TikTok: @iskra / @saltairbody Thank you to our sponsors! Go to curehydration.com/Leana and get 20% off your first order with promo code LEANA. Take control of your health with Superpower. For a limited time, listeners get $50 off their Superpower membership. Head to Superpower.com and use code LEANA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • September 11 · 24 min

    The Truth On Modesty, Feminism, and Oppression

    In this solo episode, Leana says the things she has been sitting on for a while. She opens up about the plastic surgery trend taking over social media, why she thinks it is dangerous for women to project it onto each other, and the moment she realized getting her lips done at 18 was never going to fill the gap she was trying to fill. From there she gets into feminism and whether it actually makes room for every woman, what the conversation around Afghanistan gets wrong about Islam, and why she believes covering up gave her power back rather than taking it away. She talks openly about being a former hardcore feminist who thought the hijab was oppressive, and what changed. She closes with the softer half of the conversation: why beauty is something God loves, and the everyday habits that make her feel most in tune with her feminine. Leana gets into: → The plastic surgery trend on social media and why she felt she had to speak on it → Why this is not a jab at women who have had work done, but at women projecting it onto others → The money argument: what a surgery budget could do as an investment instead → God designing you uniquely and what it means to change that → Picking apart your face and body even when nothing is wrong with either → Getting her lips done at 18 and the cycle of wanting to keep going → Why you will never feel enough externally if you do not feel enough internally → What feminism actually fought for, and what subjective feminism has become → Whether feminism accepts every woman regardless of what she chooses for her body → Afghanistan, Iran and forced hijab, and why she does not stand with it → Covering the eyes is not in scripture, and extremist groups do not represent Islam → Education, business and why a woman's money is her money in Islam → Why showing your body to be accepted might be its own form of oppression → Knowing exactly what attention her old clothes were bringing her → How covering up felt like taking her power back → Head covering in Islam, Christianity and Judaism, and why modesty is not male centered → Mary, peace be upon her, and living in alignment with the women of that time → Studying the Quran, the Bible and the Old Testament side by side → Why every person practicing a faith believes theirs is the truth → Being okay with being disliked and living in your truth anyway → Letting go of attachment to this worldly life → Why beauty is loved by God and does not need to be hidden from yourself → Her full list of habits for feeling feminine: natural fibers, skincare, cleanliness, food, movement, and getting ready for no one but you "If you don't feel enough inside, you're never going to feel enough externally, even if you get the work done." - Leana Deeb TOPICS DISCUSSED (0:00) Intro and What We Are Covering Today (0:38) The Plastic Surgery Trend That Inspired This Episode (1:54) What That Money Could Do Instead (2:32) Didn't God Design You Beautifully? (3:29) Why It Is Never Enough (4:07) Getting My Lips Done at 18 (4:45) Where Are the Feminists? (5:42) Forced Hijab Is Not Islam (6:20) Education, Business and a Woman's Money (8:01) Is Showing Your Body to Be Accepted the Real Oppression? (8:58) I Used to Be the Biggest Man Hater (10:16) How Covering Up Gave Me My Power Back (10:54) Head Covering in Islam, Christianity and Judaism (11:13) Mary, Peace Be Upon Her, and the Veil (12:48) Everyone Believes Their Faith Is the Truth (14:04) It Is Okay to Be Disliked (15:01) Not Being Attached to This Worldly Life (15:58) God Created Beauty and God Loves Beauty (16:36) Habits to Feel In Tune With Your Feminine (22:37) Outro Stay connected with Leana Deeb: Instagram: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpodcast TikTok: @leanadeeb / @beinghumannpod Thank you to our sponsors! Make your house smell amazing at aurahouse.com and use code LEANA for 10% off your order Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • September 3 · 56 min

    Lean Beef Patty on Eating Disorder Recovery, Identity & the Reality of Social Media

    In this episode, Leana sits down with Patty — known online as Lean Beef Patty — one of the most recognisable women in the fitness space. But this conversation goes far beyond fitness. Patty opens up about her journey through an eating disorder, losing her identity after quitting gymnastics, navigating social media without losing herself, and why she still drives the same Prius. She is funny, refreshingly self-aware, and genuinely one of a kind — and this episode captures all of it. This one is for every woman who has ever felt like she lost herself and had to figure out who she was all over again. Leana and Patty get into: → How Lean Beef Patty got her name — and why it was actually the runner-up option → Growing up doing gymnastics for 12 years and what that level of structure did to her identity → The period after quitting gymnastics where she felt completely lost and without purpose → Her experience with an eating disorder — what it felt like, how it started, and the long road to getting help → Why she tried to trick her therapists — and what finally made her decide she actually wanted to get better → How losing her gymnastics identity led to self-punishment and what eventually helped her let it go → Her psychology degree, why she did not need it — and why she is still glad she went to school → What it was like going to the gym for the first time and how her relationship with training has shifted now that it is her job → How she navigates mental health as a public figure — and why she rarely talks to friends about how she is feeling → Her morning habits, walking, and why keeping a routine is the foundation of her mental peace → Why she lives simply, still drives the same car, and genuinely does not care about material things → Her take on success — and why the answer is peace, not money or status → Baggy clothes, not wanting to be looked at, and the difference between self-validation and seeking outside validation → Boundaries, small friend groups, and how she learned to stop communicating with anger → Her thoughts on God, religion, guilt, and where she stands with faith right now → Her clothing brand Lean Beef Tees and the cow painting that started it all → What it means to be human — and why her answer is simply: raw "To be human is to be raw. Just being yourself. Whatever that is." — Lean Beef Patty TOPICS DISCUSSED (00:00) Intro & How Lean Beef Patty Got Her Name (01:43) Growing Up on a Farm, Gymnastics & Her Family (08:39) Going to the Gym for the First Time & How Her Relationship with Training Has Changed (12:58) Her Eating Disorder — What Happened & The Road to Getting Help (18:47) Losing Her Identity After Gymnastics & Finding Herself Again (22:35) Mental Health Practices, Meditation & Walking (25:14) Faith, God & Her Relationship with Religion (29:35) Her Clothing Brand, Painting Cows & Tapping Into Her Inner Child (40:35) Living Simply, The Same Prius & Why She Does Not Care About Materialism (42:51) What Success & Peace Actually Mean to Her (44:54) Social Media, Boundaries & Her Small Circle of Friends (53:18) Baggy Clothes, Validation & Not Wanting to Be Looked At (55:40) What It Means to Be Human Stay connected with Leana Deeb: Instagram: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpodcast TikTok: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpod Stay connected with Lean Beef Patty: Instagram, TikTok & YouTube: @leanbeefpatty Shop: leanbeeftees.com Thank you to our sponsors! use code LEANA for 15% off the Premium Starter Kit at https://BranchBasics.com Go to https://curehydration.com/code and get 20% off your first order with promo code LEANA. Head over to https://Superpower.com and use code LEANA for $20 off your $199 Superpower membership Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 27 · 21 min

    The Habits That Made Me More Disciplined

    In this solo episode, Leana gets into one of the topics she lives by — discipline and how to actually stick to your word. Not the aesthetic version of discipline you see online, but the real, practical, day-by-day habits that have changed how she shows up in her work, her training, her relationships, and her relationship with herself. She shares the exact systems, mindset shifts, and daily habits that took her from someone who consistently fell off track to someone who genuinely commits to herself — and keeps that commitment. This one is for every woman who knows what she needs to do but keeps getting in her own way. Leana gets into: Why committing to yourself changes everything — including your confidence and your aura How to build a daily plan that actually works using Google Calendar and the five daily prayers as anchors Why a consistent sleep and wake schedule is more important than how many hours you get The night routine that tells your body it is time to rest — and why scrolling before bed is working against you Why picking up your phone first thing in the morning spikes your cortisol and sets your whole day back The apps she uses to lock her phone and protect her focus — Opal and Brick How to set up your environment so that good habits are easier than bad ones Eating as a non-negotiable — why your food directly affects your mood, your energy, and your habits Work blocks, doing the hardest task first, and how to structure your day for real progress How affirmations rebuilt her relationship with herself when she did not even like who she was The 10 rapid-fire habits that will change your life Why natural fiber clothing — linen, cotton, hemp, bamboo — actually affects how you feel in your body Praying your prayers on time as the foundation everything else is built around Why negotiating with yourself is the fastest way to lose respect for yourself Learning the scripture of your faith and why it brings a different kind of peace and purpose to your days "When I made the decision to commit to myself, everything started flowing. I started to feel less stressed, less overly anxious. All it took was a little bit of attention to where I'm going wrong." — Leana Deeb TOPICS DISCUSSED (00:00) Intro — What Discipline Actually Looks Like (01:14) Starting With a Plan — Google Calendar, Prayer Times & Structuring Your Day (04:00) Sleep Schedules, Night Routines & Why Scrolling Before Bed Is Hurting You (06:30) Morning Routines & Why Your Phone Is the Worst Way to Start the Day (08:30) Food, Energy & Why What You Eat Drives Everything Else (10:30) Work Blocks, Doing the Hardest Task First & Finding Your Purpose (13:00) Preparation & Systems — How to Actually Stay Consistent at the Gym (14:30) Mindset, Affirmations & Building a Relationship With Yourself (16:00) 10 Rapid-Fire Habits That Will Change Your Life (18:00) Natural Fiber Clothing, Prayer on Time & Learning Your Scripture Stay connected with Leana Deeb: Instagram: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpodcast TikTok: @leanadeeb / @beinghumannpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 22 · 1 hr 8 min

    George Heaton on Discipline, Doubt & the Real Cost of Success

    In this episode, Leana sits down with George Heaton — founder of Represent, one of the leading luxury streetwear brands in the world, built from a bedroom operation printing t-shirts for friends into a 15-year global business. George opens up about losing himself in his early 20s, the trademark dispute that nearly took the brand down, going nearly two years without knowing if Represent would survive, and why he still lives with doubt every single day despite everything he's built. This one is for anyone building something from nothing, anyone questioning whether discipline can really be taught, and anyone wondering what's actually on the other side of "overnight success." George and Leana get into: Looking in the mirror and not recognizing himself in his early 20s, and what pulled him back Why he avoided being the face of his own brand for years, and what it took to build that confidence Falling in love with art through his brother, and how a leadership video game unexpectedly shaped his approach to business Printing his first t-shirts and never having a plan B Building Represent with his brother for five years before it was even a real company Writing the brand's mission statement around quality and family — and why "the best product" always came before margin The trademark dispute that put the brand's entire future at risk, and living for two years not knowing if it would survive Losing hope daily during that period, but never stopping training — and using it as fuel instead His mother's influence and the quiet pressure of never wanting to let her down Believing in himself over any higher power, and how that differs from Leana's own journey into faith Their contrasting views on God, karma, the afterlife, and where meaning actually comes from His actual daily routine — from 5:30am wake-ups in the UK to running a business across two time zones now Why he dislikes the word "sacrifice" and prefers to think of it as leverage Treating discipline like a muscle — hard to build, easy to maintain once it's there Loneliness in the early years, and choosing to pour that energy into the brand instead of filling the void elsewhere Cutting off friendships and relationships that didn't align with where he was going How the 24/7 product line and Represent's activewear side actually started — almost by accident, during COVID Redefining success beyond money — health, freedom, and being able to take care of the people around him Living on minimum wage for the brand's first ten years, and staying at his parents' house until 27 Comparison, competition, and why he actively looks for someone "on his tail" to stay sharp What it means to lead a creative team without controlling every decision His closing answer to Leana's recurring question: what does it mean to be human? "If you're at rock bottom and you don't know what to do with yourself, the first thing you can do is work on you." — George Heaton TOPICS DISCUSSED (00:00) — Intro: Meeting George Heaton & Represent (01:39) — Building the Confidence to Be the Face of the Brand (12:35) — Mass Appeal vs. Exclusivity & Protecting the Brand's Identity (18:00) — Fitness, Resilience & Building a Culture Around Discipline (25:14) — Faith, God, Karma & the Afterlife (39:19) — Moving Countries, Chasing a Feeling & Building a Life Outside the UK (42:13) — Legacy, Leadership & Staying Ahead of a Changing Industry (53:24) — Ten Years on Minimum Wage & Redefining What Success Means (58:24) — Creative Control, Team Culture & Trusting His People (01:02:43) — Patience, Standards & the Rules That Run the Brand Stay connected with Leana Deeb: Instagram: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpodcast TikTok: @leanadeeb / @beinghumannpod Stay connected with George Heaton: Instagram: @georgeheaton Brand: @representclo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 13 · 15 min

    Self-Sabotage, Self-Forgiveness & Why the Way You Talk to Yourself Is Everything

    In this solo episode, Leana gets into one of the most relatable struggles she has faced — self-sabotage. She opens up about how she used to let one mistake spiral into losing all her progress, dropping every habit, and going completely off track. This episode is her honest reflection on what it actually takes to break that cycle and why the way you speak to yourself when things go wrong is everything. This one is for every woman who has ever let one bad day turn into a bad week, a bad month, or a reason to give up entirely. Leana gets into: What self-sabotage actually looks like and why it keeps so many of us stuck Why it is okay to mess up — and why staying in that feeling is where the real problem begins The difference between suppressing your emotions and actually sitting with them Why God can forgive us but we struggle to forgive ourselves How to talk to yourself after a mistake the way you would talk to someone you love Journaling as a tool for self-awareness — and how to make it actually productive The five daily practices that keep her grounded: journal, pray, eat clean, learn, and train Why self-sabotage and consistency are so deeply connected The power of envisioning who you are five years from now — and starting to act like her today Why recognizing your worth changes everything about how you show up Living with the awareness that God is watching — and how that makes discipline easier A reminder that even in your lowest moments, you are making more progress than you think "Deep down, you already are her. It's just maybe a little bit of work that is needed to get there — but I'm confident in the fact that you will get there." — Leana Deeb TOPICS DISCUSSED (00:00) Intro & What Self-Sabotage Really Is (01:30) Why One Mistake Does Not Have to Ruin Your Progress (03:00) Sitting With Your Feelings Instead of Suppressing Them (04:30) Why We Can't Forgive Ourselves the Way God Forgives Us (06:00) How to Speak to Yourself After a Mistake (07:30) Journaling for Self-Awareness & Growth (09:00) The Five Daily Practices: Journal, Pray, Eat Clean, Learn & Train (10:30) Envisioning Your Future Self & Embodying Her Now (12:00) Recognizing Your Worth & Rooting for Yourself Stay connected with Leana Deeb: Instagram: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpodcast TikTok: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 6 · 46 min

    Sara Saffari on God, Grief & Finding Purpose

    In this episode, Leana sits down with Sara Saffari — one of the biggest fitness creators in the space, known for her humor, her honesty, and her ability to stay completely true to herself on camera. Sarah opens up about the DM that changed everything, the eating disorder she struggled with at 21, losing her father at six years old, and why she's never once had a content plan in four-plus years of posting. This one is for anyone building an audience without a strategy, anyone who's ever felt insecure while still showing up, and anyone quietly carrying grief they've never fully unpacked. Sara and Leana get into: The DM to Bradley Martyn that led to Zoo Culture, and how one invite changed the trajectory of her content Why there has never been a plan behind any of her videos — no scripts, no strategy, just showing up Consistency versus luck, and why she refuses to miss a week even when she doesn't love the video Feeling insecure but never nervous — and where that distinction comes from Why she's tried journaling over therapy, and has never quite committed to either Her biggest fear as a creator: that the content itself makes it harder to find the right partner Shifting toward solo content and what that's taught her about her own purpose Having a 90% male audience despite wanting to motivate women, and finding the balance between the two Her eating disorder at 21 — weighing 100 pounds, hiding her body, and what led her there How fitness didn't just change her body, but rebuilt her mentally Growing up in a small town in Kentucky, moving to LA, and staying connected to her Iranian culture Why she doesn't drink — and how that's tied to her mom's faith, not necessarily her own Growing up Muslim without religion being pushed on her, and still figuring out her own relationship with God Grief — losing her father at six, suppressing the emotions, and never fully processing it Her mom's sacrifices, from working two jobs to giving up the garage bedroom Redefining success as being happy and surrounded by people who love her back — not the money Her Gymshark origin story, from a $20-an-hour tutoring job to becoming an athlete Her actual daily routine, filming process, and posting schedule Advice for women dealing with judgment, insecurity, or online hate What she'd want to do next — acting, but never a dating reality show Her answer to Leana's recurring question: what does it mean to be human? "I don't want the negative comments to break my day, and I don't want the positive ones to make my day." — Sara Saffari TOPICS DISCUSSED (00:00) — Cold Open: Fitness, Faith & Grief (00:50) — Welcome & Introducing Sarah Safaree (02:16) — How Sarah Started Creating Content (06:57) — Consistency, Luck & Staying Authentic (11:07) — Finding Her Purpose as a Creator (12:58) — Her Eating Disorder & Fitness Journey (16:19) — Kentucky Roots, Moving to LA & Iranian Culture (19:15) — Faith, Sobriety & Her Relationship with Islam (23:34) — Grief, Losing Her Dad & Family Sacrifice (32:41) — Redefining Success, Handling Hate & What It Means to Be Human Stay connected with Leana Deeb: Instagram: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpodcast TikTok: @leanadeeb / @beinghumannpod Stay connected with Sara Saffari Instagram: @sarasaffari__ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • July 30 · 23 min

    Why God Makes Us Wait for Love

    In this episode, Leana goes solo for a raw, personal reflection on wanting a partner and not yet finding the right one. She talks through the feelings that come with waiting — overthinking in quiet moments, watching friends and strangers online seem to have it figured out, feeling pressure from parents or society — and walks through what she's actually doing to work through it instead of just telling you to "trust God's timing" and leave it there. This one is for anyone who feels like they're doing everything right and still waiting, anyone who's been made to feel ashamed of wanting intimacy or companionship, and anyone questioning whether the relationship they saw growing up is the one they actually want to repeat. Leana gets into: Wanting a partner but not finding the right one, and why that feeling is normal, not a flaw Why God may be making you wait — building your character before you build a relationship Looking honestly at her parents' marriage and deciding what she does and doesn't want to repeat Why financial independence and "having something going for yourself" isn't about needing to prove anything to a man Trusting fate (qadar) and why doubt in prayer can block what you're asking for The power of tahajjud (the night prayer) and why she wants to start waking up earlier for it Feeling worthy of what you want — tying confidence, fitness, journaling, clean eating, and prayer together Actually putting yourself out there instead of waiting to be found from your bedroom Self-care and presentation as part of the waiting season, not about becoming "perfect" Wanting to trust men without losing herself in the process Focusing on your relationship with God and yourself before your relationship with another person A listener comment on the taboo around women talking about intimacy and desire in religious communities — and how to handle those feelings without shame Why she doesn't believe in male friendships, and where she draws the line "Love who you are, because at the end of the day, that is the most important relationship you're going to have — is with yourself." — Leana TOPICS DISCUSSED (00:00) — Cold Open: Wanting a Partner, Trusting the Wait (01:08) — Wanting a Partner but Not Finding the Right One (04:09) — Trusting God's Timing Over Rushing Into Marriage (05:16) — Looking at Her Parents' Marriage & What She Doesn't Want to Repeat (07:09) — Financial Independence & Having Something of Her Own (08:17) — Fate (Qadar) & Praying Without Doubt (09:25) — The Power of Tahajjud, the Night Prayer (10:33) — Feeling Worthy: Confidence, Fitness, Journaling & Prayer (12:03) — Putting Yourself Out There (12:48) — Self-Care & Presentation While You Wait (15:27) — On Trust, Men & Not Being a "Man Hater" (16:12) — Relationship With God vs. Relationship With a Person (17:42) — Listener Comment: The Taboo Around Women, Intimacy & Desire (21:06) — Why She Doesn't Believe in Male Friendships (22:59) — Closing Thoughts & Subscribe Stay connected with Leana Deeb: Instagram: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpodcast TikTok: @leanadeeb / @beinghumannpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • July 23 · 51 min

    The Truth About PCOS, Periods & Women’s Hormones with Dr. Hazel Wallace

    In this episode, Leana sits down with Dr. Hazel Wallace — medical doctor, registered nutritionist, personal trainer, and founder of The Food Medic — for an honest, no-fluff conversation about the parts of women's health that rarely get explained properly. They get into what's actually happening in your body throughout your cycle, when period pain stops being "normal" and starts being a red flag, and why the supplement industry preys on exactly the confusion that leaves so many women without real answers. This one is for anyone who has ever been told their pain, their fatigue, or their irregular cycle was "just stress," who has quietly wondered if what they're feeling is normal, or who wants to understand their body well enough to actually advocate for themselves in a doctor's office. Note: this episode was recorded before the announcement of PCOS's new name. Throughout the conversation, the condition is referred to as PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) rather than its updated name, PMOS (polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome). Leana and Dr. Hazel get into: What's actually happening hormonally in each phase of your menstrual cycle, and why most women were never taught this How to tell the difference between normal period pain and a sign that something needs medical attention Whether you should train through your period, and how to actually listen to your body instead of forcing a routine Iron deficiency and anemia — who's at risk, the symptoms that get missed, and how to actually get tested The wild-west world of women's health supplements, and how to tell if one is actually worth taking Inositol for PCOS — what it is, how it works, and why it's becoming a first-line option before medication The real difference between PCOS and endometriosis, and why both get so often missed or misdiagnosed Hazel's own PCOS diagnosis story — the dismissive advice she got, and what actually helped her symptoms go into remission Why cutting carbs isn't the answer for PCOS, and what to focus on instead The 90-day window before trying to conceive, and what actually matters for fertility — for both partners Hazel's personal experience freezing her eggs, and what she wishes she'd known going in What IVF actually involves, and why it's often one of several options rather than the first step Perimenopause and menopause — when it really starts, how it's diagnosed, and why it can happen earlier than people think Nutrition for pregnancy and breastfeeding, and the nutrients that matter most Hazel's go-to diet recommendation, and the simple, unglamorous habits she says actually move the needle "If you are unable to manage your period because of pain or leaking or flow, then that's too much for you. And that's when you should seek help." — Dr. Hazel Wallace (00:00) — Cold Open: "Women Are Fat and Hairy If They've Got PCOS" (00:53) — Welcome to Being Human with Dr. Hazel Wallace (01:45) — The Four Phases of the Menstrual Cycle, Explained (09:30) — Normal vs. Red-Flag Periods: When to Seek Help (13:00) — Iron Deficiency, Anemia & the Truth About Supplements (20:16) — PCOS vs. Endometriosis: Diagnosis Criteria & Medical Bias (23:03) — Insulin Resistance, Genetics & Living with PCOS Long-Term (27:50) — Hazel's Own PCOS Diagnosis Story (30:36) — Training with PCOS, Perimenopause, Menopause & Freezing Her Eggs (38:00) — Fertility Nutrition, Pregnancy, Stress Management & Closing Thoughts Stay connected with Leana Deeb: Instagram: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpodcast TikTok: @leanadeeb / @beinghumannpod Stay connected with Dr. Hazel Wallace: Instagram: @drhazelwallace TikTok: @drhazelwallace Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • July 16 · 54 min

    Everything I Wish Someone Told Me Going Into My 20s

    In this episode, Leana sits down with you, her audience, for a raw, unscripted Q&A. No prep, no filter: she reads every question cold and answers exactly as she would if you were sitting across from her. The conversation moves from stress eating and gym consistency into deeper territory — hijab, Islamophobia, self-worth, marriage, purpose, and what it actually means to build your character before you build anything else. This one is for anyone who has ever felt stuck in an unhealthy habit, unsure of their purpose, or like they need to prove themselves to people who were never going to understand them anyway. Leana gets into: Why stress eating usually isn't about willpower, and what actually fixes it Staying consistent with training by removing decisions before they become excuses Choosing discipline over motivation, and why chasing "motivation" will always let you down Reframing fitness as an act of worship instead of a punishment for your body Where to actually find modest, natural fiber clothing (and why it's harder than it should be) What kept her showing up even when she didn't feel motivated or happy How Islam reshaped her relationship with physical strength and health Living with anxiety about Islamophobia as a revert, and separating your worth from other people's stares Working through the hardest, most misunderstood parts of her faith instead of walking away from them What hijab really means to her — and why it was never about a man Building a daily structure around prayer instead of an overpacked routine What to do when prayer feels numb and disconnected Finding your purpose by fixing your habits first Being scared of change, adulthood, and responsibility — and finding the growth in the discomfort Why she refuses to build her life around getting married Building any platform — fitness or faith-based — from intention instead of chasing views "You have to consistently work on your character in order to attract the man that you also want in your life, because you can't be picky... but we also don't always have the character to match it." — Leana TOPICS DISCUSSED (00:00) – Intro (motivation, hijab preview, welcome to the Q&A) (01:05) – "How can you stop stress eating?" (05:45) – "How do you stay consistent when it comes to training?" (11:15) – "Where do you get your modest natural fiber fits?" (15:50) – "How do you motivate yourself?" (asked again) (17:35) – "How has Islam changed your perspective on physical strength and taking care of your body?" (18:15) – "Your take on Islamophobia" (31:00) – "What does hijab mean to you?" (34:33) – "How to stay focused without getting overwhelmed with my daily routine" (35:45) – "How can I stay consistent with my salah?" (39:15) – "What to do when you feel like you don't have your life figured out yet" (41:50) – "What to do when you're scared of change and becoming an adult" (44:05) – Rapid-fire (47:30) – "Your roots?" (48:00) – "Advice for building a fitness-based platform while honoring God" Stay connected with Leana Deeb: Instagram: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpodcast TikTok: @leanadeeb / @beinghumannpod THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! go to curehydration.com/LEANA, and get 20% off with code LEANA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • July 9 · 1 hr 6 min

    Why Discipline Beats Motivation Every Time with Bradley Martyn

    In this episode, Leana sits down with Bradley Martyn — fitness pioneer, entrepreneur, and one of the earliest creators in the social media fitness space. Bradley has been doing this for over 15 years, and this conversation goes far beyond fitness. He opens up about losing his father to suicide at age six, the anxiety that sent him to the ER four times, how psychedelics reshaped his view on life and death, and why being authentically himself has been the only strategy he has ever needed. He built Zoo Culture from the ground up, is now expanding to Miami, and has quietly been one of the most copied creators in the industry — from his coaching model to his gym concept. This one is raw, reflective, and genuinely refreshing. This one is for anyone who has ever questioned what they're building, why they're building it, and whether any of it actually matters. Bradley and Leana get into: Losing his father to suicide at age six and how grief quietly shaped everything Health anxiety so severe he went to the ER four times in a row - and how he got out of it Why proactive mental health practices matter more than reactive ones How he found Instagram before anyone knew what it was - and built one of the earliest fitness followings Posting every single day for eight years and what that kind of consistency actually costs you Getting addicted to validation and what it took to grow out of it → Why he has always winged everything - and why it worked Building Zoo Culture, almost not doing it, and why he undershot how big it would be Zoo Culture Miami finally happening after three years of searching Being one of the most copied creators in the fitness space and what that did to him Why he keeps his relationships off the internet - and when he would change that How to tell who is actually in your corner versus what you have built Trust, loyalty, and why he stopped expecting people to show up the way he does His views on God, religion, karma, and whether any of it adds up What it means to be human - and why his answer comes back to love "Everything we do is for love — to receive love, to give love. And all the stuff we've dressed it up as, money, success, notoriety — it's all just that." — Bradley Martyn TOPICS DISCUSSED (00:00) — Cold Open: Losing Faith, Losing a Father (01:05) — Life Before Social Media: The Twitter & Instagram Beginnings (04:22) — First Bodybuilding Shows & Early Instagram Fame (08:48) — Losing His Father at Six (10:31) — Views on Death, the Afterlife & the Soul (11:52) — Battling Anxiety and Learning to Cope (20:59) — Chasing Validation, Staying Authentic & Longevity Online (27:54) — Building Zoo Culture Gym From the Ground Up (37:37) — Faith, Karma & Questioning Religion (54:58) — Real Friendships, Relationships & What It Means to Be Human Stay connected with Leana Deeb: Instagram: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpodcast TikTok: @leanadeeb / @beinghumannpod Stay connected with Bradley Martyn: Instagram: @bradleymartyn TikTok: @bradleymartyn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • July 2 · 38 min

    What I Learned About Womanhood, Faith & Hormonal Health at a Women’s Retreat

    In this solo episode, Leana opens up about everything she learned on her week-long faith-focused retreat in Deià, Mallorca, Spain. The healing plants, the women's health deep dive, the spiritual lessons, the connection with her mom - and she is bringing all of it back to you so you can feel like you were right there with her. She gets into the Quranic plants that have been used for centuries as medicine, breaks down the four phases of the female hormonal cycle and the herbs that support each one, and shares the personal reflections that hit her hardest during the retreat, from her relationship with God to her relationship with the women in her life. This one is equal parts wellness education and soul nourishment. This one is for every woman who wants to feel more in tune with her body, her faith, and herself. Leana gets into: Why who you surround yourself with is one of the most transformative choices you can make Her relationship with her mom and the Islamic teaching that heaven is at the feet of your mother The 99 Names of Allah and the name Ya Jabar - the One Who Mends All Things The healing power of olive oil, black seed, pomegranate, dates, and figs as mentioned in the Quran How to identify real, medicinal cold-pressed olive oil and why most store-bought versions don't count Black seed oil as a remedy for blood pressure, anxiety, skin, memory, joints, and more The four phases of the female cycle, what you feel in each one, and why it matters The herbs to take in each phase: raspberry leaf, nettle, yarrow, cramp bark, red clover, chaste tree berry, and dandelion root Seed cycling for hormone balance and irregular cycles Why God removes the obligation of five daily prayers from women during their cycle and what to do instead Cooking with intention and how the retreat chef Aisha inspired Leana to bring more beauty into her kitchen Why Leana came home and signed up for Arabic and Spanish lessons "When you start to approach life in this way of trying to find the beauty in everything, you find the beauty in people, you find the beauty in food, you find the beauty in every single situation of your life." — Leana Deeb TOPICS DISCUSSED (00:00) Intro (00:13) Welcome Back & The Retreat Setting in Mallorca, Spain (02:22) Lesson 1: Who You Surround Yourself With (04:39) Lesson 2: Your Relationship with Your Mom - "Heaven is at the Feet of Your Mother" (06:54) Lesson 3: Understanding Who God Is - The 99 Names of Allah & Ya Jabar (13:55) Plants of the Quran #1 & #2: Dates & Olive Oil - Health Benefits & How to Choose the Right One (20:46) Plants of the Quran #3: Black Seed Oil - "A Cure for Everything But Death" (23:07) Plants of the Quran #4 & #5: Pomegranate & Fig + Cooking with Intention & Love (27:52) Women's Hormonal Cycle - Phase 1: Menstrual (Days 1–7) & Phase 2: Pre-Ovulation (Days 7–13) - How You Feel & Herbs to Take (30:07) Women's Hormonal Cycle - Phase 3: Ovulation (Days 14–20) & Phase 4: Pre-Menstrual (Days 21–28) - How You Feel, Herbs, Seed Cycling & Women in Islam During Their Cycle Stay connected with Leana Deeb: Instagram: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpodcast TikTok: @leanadeeb / @beinghumannpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • June 25 · 1 hr 8 min

    Roxie Nafousi on Love, Manifesting, & How To Become Your Highest Self

    In this episode, Leana sits down with Roxie Nafousi, bestselling author, manifestation coach, and founder of the Manifest app, for one of the most honest and wide-ranging conversations on the show yet. Roxie opens up about a decade of addiction, crippling body dysmorphia, losing her father, and how hitting rock bottom at 28 led her to build a global community of millions of women. She and Leana connect deeply over growing up as Arab Muslim women in the West, navigating identity, faith, culture, and the relentless pressure to fit in. This episode is equal parts raw, healing, and deeply practical. A reminder that your past does not define your ceiling, and that the work you do on yourself is never wasted. Leana and Roxie get into: Growing up Iraqi and Muslim in 1990s Oxford and hiding her Iraqi heritage after 9/11 How manifestation and Islam are more aligned than people think, and what the Quran says about gratitude, purpose, and mindset Manifesting her partner Wade, an Islamic marriage seven weeks in, a baby a year later, and what co-parenting looks like now Dating as a successful, independent woman: why what she's attracted to has completely changed Why making love your entire goal is exactly what blocks it from coming in Vision boarding your whole life across six categories, not just the relationship box High-vibe vs. low-vibe emotions and how your frequency is pulling things toward you or pushing them away Body Dysmorphic Disorder: what it actually is, why external validation never fixes it, and the panic attacks she had before every camera appearance Cosmetic procedures that changed everything on the outside and nothing on the inside What finally worked: medication, CBT, journaling, affirmations, and why she's sharing it publicly Losing her father in October 2024: the last words he said to her, the signs she still receives, and how grief has drawn her family closer Why discipline is not about being hard on yourself and knowing the difference between giving yourself grace and indulging in your sadness Her daily non-negotiables and how she built them all into the Manifest app "To be human is to evolve, grow, and unlock all the potential within you." — Roxie Nafousi TOPICS DISCUSSED (00:00) Intro — Meet Roxy Nafisi01:32 Growing Up Arab in the UK + Identity Crisis (05:30) Manifestation, Faith & How They Coexist (08:00) Depression, Addiction & Hitting Rock Bottom (14:43) Manifesting Love — Meeting Wade & Starting a Family20:38 Dating as a Successful Woman & What Changes (32:00) Removing Fear, Doubt & Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone (38:39) Sacrificing Your Social Life to Build Your Purpose (43:18) Losing Her Father & Finding Signs from the Universe (46:41) Grief, Letting Go & Overcoming Tests from the Universe (56:00) Body Dysmorphia, BDD & Learning to Heal from the Inside Stay connected with Leana Deeb: Instagram: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpodcastTikTok: @leanadeeb / @beinghumannpod Stay connected with Roxie Nafousi: Instagram: @roxienafousi _____ Thank you to our sponsors! Head to Jonesroadbeauty.com and use code LEANA at checkout for a FREE full sized Mascara on their first purchase For a limited time, try OneSkin with 15% off using code LEANA at oneskin.co/LEANA Head to truenutrition.com/LEANA and use code LEANA for 20% off your first custom protein blend _____ See Roxie Live in NYC here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • June 18 · 25 min

    What I Found in My Blood & Hair Tests (And Why Every Woman Needs to Do This)

    In this solo episode, Leana opens up about the health journey she has been on behind the scenes. The fatigue, the mood swings, the painful periods, the bloating and she finally shares the full results of her blood test, stool test, and hair toxin panel. She gets into what it felt like to finally have answers after years of wondering if what she was experiencing was just normal. From discovering she has leaky gut, to finding out she has mold and mercury in her body, to talking honestly about the emotional weight of being a woman who overthinks and over-stresses, this episode is equal parts health deep dive and raw personal reflection. This one is for every woman who has ever felt like something was off in her body but couldn't quite explain it. Leana gets into: Why she decided to finally get her blood, stool, and hair tested Low ferritin and how iron deficiency connects to heavy periods, hair shedding, and exhaustion Vitamin D deficiency and why it affects so much more than just energy Low riboflavin (B2) and the supplements she is now taking to correct it Her leaky gut diagnosis and why it explains her IBS symptoms, mood swings, and acne The gut-brain connection and how a disrupted gut can make your emotions feel out of control Mercury toxicity from raw fish and what she is doing to detox Mold in her body, potentially from coffee or a past apartment in New York Her sauna and hydration protocol to cleanse her system Why she chose a naturopathic doctor over a conventional one Her experience with birth control and spironolactone and why she will not go back The cortisol and hormone panel she is doing next through the Dutch Plus test Overthinking and anxiety as a physical stressor, not just an emotional one What it is like to be a woman in business and why being stern gets misread as being emotional The book Start with Yourself by Emma Greed and why it made her feel seen Her morning routine as an anchor for peace before a chaotic day Boundaries, stress, and the version of herself she is working toward "I envisioned so much for myself, and I have to go through these chapters of being able to tolerate more stress, being more calm in certain situations, to get to that next level and be the person I really want to be." — Leana Deeb TOPICS DISCUSSED (00:00) Intro (00:43) Welcome Back & Episode Setup (01:44) Blood Test Results: Low Iron, Vitamin D & B2 (03:20) Stool Test: Leaky Gut & the Gut-Brain Connection (05:53) Choosing Natural Over Synthetic Medication (06:34) Toxin Test: Mold, Mercury & Detoxing (10:35) Stress, Boundaries & Balancing Training (15:13) On Being "Stern": Stress Tolerance & Growth as a Woman in Business _____ Stay connected with Leana Deeb: Instagram: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpodcast TikTok: @leanadeeb / @beinghumannpod _____ Thank you to our sponsor! Use code BEINGHUMAN for 20% off at curehydration.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • June 11 · 1 hr 33 min

    Leo Skepi: On Hate, Healing, and Why He Opened the Bible

    In this episode, Leana sits down with Leo Skepi, TikTok's most unapologetically real creator, host of the Aware and Aggravated podcast, and someone whose depth goes far beyond what most people see on their FYP. Leo opens up about being bullied as a kid, coming out as gay, a year of daily cocaine use, giving away over half a million dollars for the wrong reasons, and how he ended up reading the Bible trying to figure out how Jesus loved people who wanted him dead. This conversation goes places you will not expect. If you think you already know Leo, you don't. Leana and Leo get into: Growing up Albanian, coming out nearly dead at birth, and being bullied relentlessly in school and how fighting back forged the protector side of Leo that still shows up today Coming out as gay, being disowned by his grandmother, and navigating faith in a community that was not always welcoming Why Leo started reading the Bible, not for religion, but to understand how Jesus loved people who hated him to death, and what that restraint actually looks like Looking at God as a verb and the mindset shift that changed how he handles conflict, rage, and misalignment in real time Giving away over $500,000 in a single year and why God had to jolt him out of it - the difference between giving from love and giving to feel worthy The real weight of having a massive platform, the feelings no one can understand but you, and how Leo holds that privately His evolving relationship with fitness and discipline - why stoicism and grinding yourself into the ground is over, and what actually lasts Why you do not need a religious community to have a relationship with God, and how he navigates backlash for sharing his faith journey publicly His Houston pop up where 5,000 people showed up, his new merch drop, and what he is quietly plotting next "I used to scream at God. Like, actually, just like how I would cuss out somebody I don't like." — Leo Skepi TOPICS DISCUSSED (00:00) Intro (00:46) Welcome & Guest Introduction (02:38) The Pop-Up Store: 5,000 People Showed Up (03:48) Who Was Leo as a Kid? (06:32) The Duality: "Little Leo" & the Protector (07:53) Albanian Culture & Where His Personality Comes From (09:54) Before Social Media: Nursing School & a Toxic Ex (10:53) Suicidal Thoughts & What Kept Him Going (15:16) Turning Inward: Journaling & Self-Knowledge (18:33) Prayer as an Open Dialogue (26:38) Faith Background: Finding His Own Path (27:46) Why He Started Reading the Bible (28:50) "God Is a Verb" (33:27) Navigating Scripture Without Gatekeepers (38:49) Giving $500K Away & Learning the Hard Lesson (44:16) Relationships & What Money Can't Buy (46:48) Cutting People Off & Communicating First (52:04) Loneliness, Solitude & Finding Himself (54:32) The Isolating Side of Fame Nobody Talks About (57:41) Thick Skin, Hate & Online Critics (1:01:16) Weight Loss & Dropping the Grind Mentality (1:14:58) Sharing His Bible Journey Online (1:16:37) Coming Out: Resisting His Sexuality & Finding Peace (1:19:33) Celibacy, Scripture & Homosexuality in the Bible (1:23:37) Coming Out to Family (1:25:18) Why He Thinks Souls Choose Their Parents (1:28:22) Jesus Loved the Outcasts (1:30:35) What's Next & Where to Find Leo _____ Stay connected with Leo Skepi: Instagram: @leoskepi TikTok: @leoskepi Stay connected with Leana Deeb: Instagram: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpodcast TikTok: @leanadeeb / @beinghumannpod _____ Thank you to our sponsors! Get 15% off OneSkin with the code LEANA at https://www.oneskin.co/LEANA #oneskinpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • June 11 · 2 hr

    The Health Journey Nobody Believed: PCOS, Hair Loss, Hypothyroidism & Building Milamend with Mila Magnani

    In this debut episode of Being Human, Leana sits down with Mila Magnani, founder of Milamend, for a vulnerable conversation about PCOS and hormone imbalance. Mila opens up about spending years living in a body nobody took seriously. From stealing her dad's razor blades before school to manage facial hair, to passing out in SoulCycle at 16, to a Paris doctor telling her to simply "eat less and move more" after years of suffering. She shares how she took her healing into her own hands, built her own supplement protocol from scratch, and accidentally built a business that reached $250,000 in sales in a single week. This one is for every woman who has ever been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or told that what she is feeling is normal. Leana gets into: What PCOS actually is and why it is so hard to diagnose Growing up as a Mexican immigrant in Dallas with undiagnosed hormonal issues Stealing her dad's razor blades at school to manage facial hair as a teenager Severe childhood allergies and weekly immunotherapy at the children's hospital POTS, spironolactone, and passing out in a SoulCycle class at 16 A six month long period that no doctor could explain 30 pounds of weight gain, moon face, and hypothyroidism developing during Covid Panic attacks, night sweats, and irrational fears taking over her relationship The Paris endocrinologist who told her to "eat less and move more" and lit a fire in her Lucas, her husband, finally understanding what women go through with doctors Building her own supplement protocol from scratch with her pharmacist Why most hormone balance supplements on the market are underdosed and ineffective The guide that went viral and led to $250,000 in a single week The hospital stay that changed everything and made her decide to share her story A shaman who told her she was put on this earth to help women heal The Paris woman with a wrinkle-lined smile who changed how Mila sees beauty Body image, moon face before and after, and beauty standards across cultures A singing talent she was never allowed to share, and why it still sits with her Her grandmother's connection to Hollywood and Vincente Minnelli Protecting independence as a founder and why she never wanted to raise VC Evil eye, superstition and why she waits to share things she is working on What it means to be human, through the lens of Aristotle, philosophy, and the soul "She lit a fire in me and I said, oh my God, I am going to prove you wrong." — Mila Magnani TOPICS DISCUSSED (00:00) Intro (00:08:30) Growing Up Different: Early Symptoms & Body Hair (00:08:59) The Doctor Who Said "You're Just Mexican" (00:14:11) Birth Control, Painful Cycles & No Real Answers (00:55:19) The Endocrinologist Who Told Her to Accept It (00:58:54) Building Her Supplement Stack with a Pharmacist (01:02:10) Going Viral on TikTok After a Life-Changing Surgery (01:05:06) The Supplement PDF That Changed Everything (01:07:59) From Guide to Product: Founding Mila (01:46:39) Beauty, Aging & the Woman in Paris (01:51:19) The Music Career She Was Never Allowed to Have (01:57:13) What It Means to Be Human _____ Stay connected to Mila: Instagram: @milamagnaniTikTok: @mila.magnani Stay connected with Leana Deeb: Instagram: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpodcast TikTok: @leanadeeb / @beinghumannpod _____ More about Milamend: Milamend is a supplement company that specializes in Hormone Balance Supplements for PCOS Management. With only 16 ingredients, Milamend was created by a woman who found a supplement stack that finally helped her PCOS symptoms and turned it into a solution all women can try. Try Milamend at Milamend.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • June 4 · 36 min

    I Had to Let Go of People to Find Myself: Here's What God Was Teaching Me

    In this solo episode, Leana gets real about the season she's currently in: one of realignment, protecting her energy, and learning to trust what God removes just as much as what He brings. She opens up about the dangers of the wrong circle, over-sharing your goals, and how people-pleasing quietly keeps you out of alignment with yourself. She also responds to a listener DM about navigating the desire for a partner while staying rooted in faith, and shares why loneliness is often a sign you're not pouring enough into your purpose. This episode is a reminder to lock in, guard your energy, and trust that God knows exactly what He's doing with your life. Leana gets into: Why Leana chooses to have only one close friend and what that cost her to get to The danger of oversharing your goals, even with people who seem to have good intentions Evil eye, prayer, and why she kept an exciting podcast guest completely private until it happened A real situation: being leveraged by someone she thought was a genuine friend People-pleasing on the podcast and in daily life and how she's working to stop it Love shouldn't feel hard: what healthy relationships actually look like Men who feel threatened by ambitious women and recognising that pattern The concept of naseeb (what's meant for you will find you) and how it applies to relationships Responding to a listener DM: how to handle the desire for a partner while staying in faith Why filling the void with the wrong person makes loneliness worse, not better Loneliness is a selfish feeling and how pouring into others dissolves it Locking into one thing instead of chasing every opportunity Gary Breck's insight on isolation and craft The nafs in Islam: battling your desires and impulses and how discipline wins that fight Why gratitude needs to be practised at the same level in highs and lows Curating what you consume: why scrolling politics first thing destroys your energyBeing grateful for what you have as a prerequisite for receiving more "God is not going to bring you this far just to leave you this far." — Leana Deeb _____ TOPICS DISCUSSED (00:00) Intro (01:45) Your Circle & Who You Surround Yourself With (05:10) The Danger of Oversharing Your Goals (08:30) Not Everyone Is Meant to Stay (11:20) People Pleasing & Losing Yourself (14:18) Not Every Person That Comes Into Your Life Is From God (17:00) You Attract a Reflection of Yourself (20:30) Loneliness Is a Selfish Feeling (23:15) Answering a DM: How Do You Deal With Not Having a Partner? (27:00) Naseeb — What's Meant for You Will Find You (30:45) Lock Into One Thing (34:00) Faith, Gratitude & Giving 100% Every Day _____ Stay connected with Leana Deeb: Instagram: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpodcast TikTok: @leanadeeb / @beinghumannpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • May 21 · 39 min

    Why I Stopped Training with Music

    In this solo episode, Leana comes back from the London Marathon and gets radically honest about where she is right now. She talks about breaking through the wall at mile 17, her complicated history with music and why she gave it up, and the faith dip she has never spoken about publicly until now. This one is less of a structured episode and more of a venting session, and that is exactly what makes it worth listening to. Leana gets into: Running the London Marathon, going numb at mile 17, and why pushing through 26 miles is more of a mental battle than a physical one How setting physical goals trains you to handle the pressure and pain that shows up in real life Her history with music as emotional numbing, the withdrawals she went through when she gave it up, and why she no longer trains with it The honest question she is sitting with: are we filling our lives with noise to avoid the feelings we actually need to face Why she feels distant from faith right now and what it feels like to know the sweetness of closeness to God and then lose it The moment she sat on her prayer mat and just started ranting to God out loud, and why she thinks you should try it too The pressure of growing an audience online while still figuring out who you are as a creator and a host How toxic environments can make you lose yourself without realising it, and why setting boundaries is how you find your way back Why blaming the world for your circumstances keeps you powerless, and how taking ownership hands the control back to you The verse she returns to every time life feels impossible, and what it actually means to find ease inside of hardship "God is not going to put me through something I cannot handle." — Leana Deb TOPICS DISCUSSED (00:00) Intro (00:46) London Marathon Recap (02:11) Marathon Is More Mental Than Physical (04:49) Running for a Purpose Bigger Than Yourself (06:01) My Relationship With Music (08:28) When Music Dependency Becomes a Problem (09:02) Music, Faith & What Religions Say (14:53) Turning to the Quran Instead (18:01) You Can't Have Both in Your Heart (20:36) Finding Balance, Not Extremism (22:15) Feeling Far from Faith Right Now (24:37) Platform Pressure & Locking Back In (27:35) Practical Steps When Struggling with Faith (30:29) When Staying Feels Scarier Than Leaving (31:12) Misalignment & Taking Back Control (34:17) Don't Numb the Pain, Sit in It (36:40) Closing _____ Stay connected with Leana Deeb: Instagram: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpodcast TikTok: @leanadeeb / @beinghumannpod _____ Thank you to our sponsors! Visit Carawayhome.com/LEANA to take an additional 10% off using code LEANA on your next purchase Head to cozyearth.com and use my code LEANA for an exclusive 20% off Use code BEINGHUMAN for 20% off at curehydration.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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