Being Human with Leana Deeb

In this episode, Leana sits down with Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson — veterinary epidemiologist, scientist, co-founder of Fatty 15, and the woman who discovered C15 while working with aging Navy dolphins in San Diego. This conversation is equal parts science deep dive and deeply personal story, and Dr. Stephanie makes one of the most complex topics in longevity research genuinely easy to understand and exciting to care about. This one is for every woman who wants to take her health seriously and actually understand what she is putting in her body and why. Leana and Dr. Stephanie get into: → What C15 actually is — breaking down fatty acids, saturated fats, and why not all of them are bad → Why C15 is being called the first essential fatty acid discovered in over 90 years since omega-3 → The difference between C15 and omega-3 EPA — and why C15 had 36 cellular benefits versus omega-3’s third of that in independent testing → How C15 strengthens cell membranes and why fragile cells are linked to faster aging and…

In this solo episode, Leana is back with her biggest update yet — and she has a lot to share. She got engaged, she bought a house, she is stepping into a new era of her business, and she is navigating all of it while trying to stay grounded, disciplined, and close to God. This one is raw, unscripted, and straight from the heart. For every woman who is in a season of big changes and is trying to hold it all together with grace… You’re going to love this one! Leana gets into: → How she met her fiancé — first in 2019, then again in 2023, and why the timing was never right until now → What she wrote in her journal about the partner she wanted — and how he checked off every single thing on that list → Why she was not ready for a relationship before and what changed in her that made her finally open to it → The Islamic approach to dating and why there is no closed-door alone time before marriage → Getting engaged in about a month — and why when you know, you know → What it actually takes to balance a career and a…

In this episode, Leana sits down with Brenda Antón — content creator, entrepreneur, and someone whose story is as real as it gets. Brenda opens up about growing up as one of the only Hispanic girls in a small, predominantly white town in New York, spending years shrinking her identity just to fit in, and the long journey back to herself. From her garage workouts during Covid, to moving to Florida alone at 22 with no friends and no guarantee it would work out, to now stepping into her faith and figuring out who she is outside of work — this conversation covers it all. This one is for every woman who has ever felt like she had to be someone else to be accepted, and is slowly finding her way back to who she actually is. Leana and Brenda get into: → Growing up as one of the only Hispanic girls in a privileged, predominantly white town — and spending years wanting to be anyone but herself → Going to college and finally feeling seen — but still searching for validation in all the wrong places → How Covid shut out…

In this solo episode, Leana breaks down everything she has learned over five years of building a consistent morning and night routine — not the aesthetic influencer version, but the real, practical habits that actually changed how she shows up every single day. She opens up about who she used to be before any of this: a night owl, binge eating late, doom scrolling until she fell asleep, completely undisciplined. And she gets into exactly how she got out of it and why her faith is the foundation everything else is built around.This one is for every woman who keeps saying she wants a morning routine but cannot figure out why she still cannot make it happen. Leana gets into: → Why your morning routine actually starts the night before — and what happens when you skip that step → The 10-3-2-1 rule for winding down and why it works → Why nothing good happens past 10pm — and how to actually believe that → How to lock your apps at night so your phone stops making the decision for you — Opal and Brick → Why picking…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

In this episode, Leana sits down with Devon Levesque, Everest summiteer, entrepreneur, man of faith, and one of the most quietly influential people living life at full volume. Devon opens up about staring death in the face on the Hillary Step, losing his father at 16, building one of the cleanest supplement brands on the market, and why your values, not your goals, are what set you free. This conversation is raw, real, and deeply human. If you walk away wanting to do more with your life, that is exactly the point. Leana and Devon get into: What it actually took to summit Mount Everest 47 days, avalanches, and a near-death moment on a six-inch ledge at 28,000ft How losing his dad at 16 became the defining turning point that shaped everything about how he lives today Why therapy, mental performance coaching, and seven-day phone detoxes are non-negotiables in his life The five core values that run his entire schedule and how to find yours The riverbank tool he uses to instantly disarm negative people without…

In this episode, Leana gets vulnerable about the chapter she is currently in — one full of new opportunities, real overwhelm, and the uncomfortable work of becoming who you are meant to be. She opens up about what it actually feels like when a blessing is also a challenge, why realignment is never a clean process, and the daily habits and mindset shifts that are helping her stay the course. Leana gets into: Why stepping into a new blessing can feel just as hard as it feels exciting How she navigated her own realignment — from removing her content to putting on the hijab — and why it had to happen in phases, not all at once The difference between being aligned and just going through the motions Why you cannot pour yourself into multiple things at once and expect results Self-doubt, overthinking, and the daily practices — journaling, prayer, talking to God — that help her fight back How to know when your environment is the problem, not you Letting go of her old identity and the worldly success she was once…

In this episode, Leana sits down with entrepreneur, dancer, and former reality TV star Raven Ross for a conversation that is raw, real, and completely unfiltered. They go deep on what it means to stay true to yourself when the world is watching, why we stop shrinking for men, and how pouring into your purpose is the ultimate cure for loneliness. Raven and Leana get into: What it was really like filming Love Is Blind — the mental prep, the villain arc, and coming out the other side Why Raven tried the 50/50 relationship model and why she will never do it again The trap independent women fall into when they start compromising piece by piece for a man Growing up mixed in New Orleans and what it taught Raven about identity and belonging How a single-parent household shaped the way both women think about money, relationships, and men Why Raven started making free Pilates on YouTube — and how she set out to diversify a space that wasn't built for women like her The difference between Pilates, sculpt, Lagree, and…

In this episode I am being more open than I have ever been. I am talking about the lonely chapter I am currently in, why I stopped looking for love, what happened when I did, and the real reason so many of us feel lonely that has nothing to do with not having a partner. Leana gets into: Why she was lowering her standards and talking to people she knew were wrong for her The moment she realized she was using relationships to escape things she had not dealt with herself Why you can feel completely alone sleeping next to someone you love What Gary Brecka told her about isolation that changed how she thinks about loneliness The connection between loneliness and not living your purpose yet Why she went against her parents to pursue social media and what that cost her Her three-year hijab journey and why she still does not feel fully confident in it Why she stopped needing to explain herself to people who will never understand "If I feel lonely, I am not locking into my purpose enough." - Leana Deeb TOPICS…

I’ve been holding this in for a long time. This is the first time I’m truly speaking without filters, without pressure to be perfect, and without trying to fit my thoughts into 60 seconds. In this first episode of Being Human, I’m sharing why I started this podcast, what I’ve been struggling with behind the scenes, and what this space really means to me. For a long time, I felt like I couldn’t fully express myself on social media. Everything felt polished, shortened, and incomplete. But that’s not who I am. I’m someone who wants to go deeper, ask real questions, and have honest conversations about life, faith, purpose, and growth. This podcast is that space. I talk about what “being human” actually means to me. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being real. It’s about embracing differences, having conversations with people from completely different walks of life, and still finding connection. I also open up about fear, imposter syndrome, and what it feels like to step into something new when you don’t…

I used to think longevity was about biohacking, supplements, and expensive technology. But after this conversation, I see it differently. In this episode, I sit down with Gary Brecka—human biologist, longevity expert, and founder of The Ultimate Human. Gary spent 20 years in the mortality research space predicting life expectancy for insurance companies. He could tell to the month how long someone had left to live. What he saw changed everything. We get into: - Why contentment, purpose, and passion don't happen to you—they happen within you - How disconnection from yourself is one of the biggest threats to your health span - The role of faith, silence, and radical responsibility in actually living longer - What "being human" really means and why most of us are living far below that "Satisfaction and contentment don't come from outside of you. They happen within you. When you learn to be comfortable with silence, you can start an inner monologue that really uncovers what your purpose here is on Earth." - Gary…

Welcome to Being Human, I’m Leana Deeb and I am so happy you’re here. I built this podcast because I myself was looking for a space where people of all walks of life can connect, let down their guards and be their most authentic selves and find their similarities even when the world tells you you’re different. I couldn’t find that space, so I built it. I hope you are able to join this journey with me where we can grow together, have open minds and dive into all the topics that we are sometimes scared to …. Faith, identity, discipline and so much more. _____ Stay connected with Leana and follow along on her journey: Instagram: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpodcast TikTok: @leanadeeb / @beinghumannpod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leanadeeb Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices