Being Human with Leana Deeb

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

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 HumanStay 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 losing his peace Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3 fun, and why Type 2 is the one that actually changes your life His 90/10 nutrition approach, the supplements he takes every single day, and why he goes directly to the source for every ingredient Why faith, prayer, and leading others in gratitude are woven into everything he does Sweet Honey Farm, Monroe Austin, and the Running Man Festival; the community-first projects he is building right now "If you don't control your time, someone else will." — Devon Levesque TOPICS DISCUSSED (00:00) Introduction to Devon Levesque (01:39) Climbing Mount Everest: The Journey Begins (11:51) Near-Death on the Hillary Step (20:24) Faith, God & the Afterlife (34:12) Daily Rules for a Fuller Life & Type 2 Fun (39:33) Core Values: The Framework That Changed Everything (39:51) Living by Your Values & Owning Your Time (56:25) Promix Origins: Finding the Baobab Seed in Africa _____ Stay connected with Devon Levesque Instagram: @devonlevesque TikTok: @devonlevesque Stay connected with Leana Deeb: Instagram: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpod TikTok: @leanadeeb / @beinghumannpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 attached to What she learned about conditional love — and why nobody is coming to save you Her current health struggles: inflammation, mood swings, painful cycles, and why she is finally getting her blood tested How she structures her entire day around the five daily prayers — and how anyone, regardless of faith, can use that same framework A full practical reset: routines, phone habits, morning practices, and how to audit your good and bad habits right now "Whatever is meant for you in life will never miss you." — Leana Deeb TOPICS DISCUSSED (0:00) Intro + Why Leana Is Sharing This Now (3:48) New Blessings Come with New Challenges (5:30) Focus on One Thing: Why Splitting Your Energy Keeps You Stuck (7:00) How Realignment Actually Works — Leana's Hijab Journey & Doing It in Phases (9:00) Self-Doubt, Overthinking & Using Prayer and Journaling to Fight Back (11:14) Whatever Is Meant for You Will Never Miss You (13:00) Letting Go of the Old Identity & Worldly Success (16:00) Conditional Love vs. Real Love — Nobody Is Coming to Save You (19:00) Discipline Is the Foundation: Sleep, Food, Training & Taking Care of Your Health (21:00) Inflammation, Mood Swings & Getting Her Blood Tested — A Real Health Update (23:00) Training for a Marathon + Why She Is Exploring Pilates and Yoga (24:30) The Habit Audit: Write Down Your Good Habits, Your Bad Habits, and Be Honest (25:30) Morning Routine Breakdown: Water, Electrolytes, No Phone, Prayer First (26:00) Using the Five Daily Prayers as Time Blocks for Your Whole Day (27:02) Night Routine: When to Eat Dinner, When to Wind Down, How to Actually Rest (28:30) Protecting Your Energy — Boundaries, Ego, and Responding with Calm (30:56) Your Environment Is Either Helping You Flourish or Draining You Stay connected with Leana Deeb: Instagram: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpod TikTok: @leanadeeb / @beinghumannpod Thank you to our Sponsors! Head to cozyearth.com and use my code LEANA for an exclusive 20% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 what actually works for longevity vs aesthetics How to build a life so full you stop obsessing over romantic love Why women feel guilty about wanting money — and why that has to stop What success actually means: habits, discipline, and keeping the promises you make to yourself "The more that you just pour into yourself and go above and beyond to be the best you can be — that is what is going to attract the right things into your life." — Raven Ross _____ Topics Discussed (00:00) Intro — Becoming the Best Version of Yourself (00:30) Welcome to Being Human with Raven (01:03) Love Is Blind + Rebranding After Reality TV (04:35) Independence + Not Making Yourself Smaller for Men (05:35) Evolving Views on Relationships + The 50/50 Trap (08:03) Faith, Prayer + Building Your Spiritual Practice (27:14) Growing Up in a Single Parent Household (32:08) Living in Barbie's Dreamhouse + Nighttime Routines (35:11) Friendship, Community + Putting Yourself Out There (19:23) Making Pilates Accessible + Breaking Down Barriers (44:46) Pilates vs Lagree vs Sculpt — What's the Difference? (43:15) Movement for Longevity, Not Just Aesthetics (48:04) Body Image, Pressure + The Dance Body Standard (51:37) Money, Ambition + Overcoming Guilt as a Woman (58:05) Success, Discipline + Keeping Promises to Yourself _____ Stay connected with Leana Deeb: Instagram: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpod TikTok: @leanadeeb / @beinghumannpod Stay connected with Raven Tracy: Instagram / TikTok / YouTube: @PilatesBodyRaven Website: pilatesbodyraven.com _____ Thank you to our Sponsors! Head to cozyearth.com and use my code BEINGHUMAN for an exclusive 20% off Visit Carawayhome.com/LEANA to take an additional 10% off your next purchase or use code LEANA at checkout. _____ Leana Deeb, Being Human podcast, Being Human with Leana Deeb, lonely chapter, lowering your standards, societal pressure on women, hijab journey, trusting God's timing, finding your purpose, women and relationships Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 DISCUSSED (0:00) Intro + Why I’m Sharing This Now (3:12) Pressure to Get Married + Have Kids (5:07) Forcing Love + Ignoring Red Flags (8:04) Escaping Yourself vs Building Yourself (11:21) Self-Respect + Not Settling (15:30) Money, Power + Relationship Dynamics (19:56) The “Lonely Chapter” + Attraction Shift (24:30) Family, Culture + Expectations on Women (28:45) Love, Validation + Empty Relationships (32:39) Struggling with Modesty + Faith (35:42) Hijab Journey + Online Criticism (37:58) Austin vs Dallas Energy + Identity (39:19) Going Against Family + Choosing Your Path (40:00) Final Thoughts + Trusting Timing _____ Stay connected with Leana Deeb: Instagram: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpod TikTok: @leanadeeb / @beinghumannpod Thank you to our Sponsors! Use code BEINGHUMAN for 20% off at curehydration.com — or find it on Amazon.  Leana Deeb, Being Human podcast, Being Human with Leana Deeb, lonely chapter, lowering your standards, societal pressure on women, hijab journey, trusting God's timing, finding your purpose, women and relationships Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 feel ready. This episode is for the version of me who felt lost, unsupported, and unsure of who she was becoming. And if that’s you right now, I hope this reminds you that you’re not alone. We’re going to grow together. Learn together. And figure this out together. Welcome to Being Human. _____ TOPICS DISCUSSED (0:00) Introduction — Why This Show Exists (4:20) Welcome to the Being Human Podcast (5:10) Why Long-Form Over Short-Form Content (6:05) What "Being Human" Means (7:00) Who This Podcast Is For (7:55) Guest Format & Topics We'll Cover (8:30) Pivoting to the Next Chapter (9:00) Main Takeaways & What to Expect _____ 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

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 Brecka _____ TOPICS DISCUSSED (0:00) Intro (1:40) The Truth About Longevity (6:20) Why Isolation Is Shortening Our Lives (10:05) How Pain Becomes Purpose (11:03) Finding Purpose Through Pain (18:05) Gary's Life Pivot and Career Shift (34:05) Gary's Morning Routine for Longevity (43:40) Dopamine, Addiction and Social Media (49:15) Gut Health and Depression (57:20) Pregnancy, Folic Acid and Supplements (1:05:35) Blood Sugar and Hunger Explained (1:10:30) Fasting and Addiction (1:14:30) Staying Calm and Perspective _____ Gary Brecka is a human biologist and founder of The Ultimate Human. After two decades predicting life expectancy for insurance institutions, he shifted his mission to helping people extend their health span through practical, science-backed lifestyle changes–focused on whole foods, sleep, mobility, faith, and radical responsibility. Follow Gary Brecka: Instagram: @garybrecka Website: theultimatehuman.com Podcast: The Ultimate Human _____ Stay connected with Leana: Instagram: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpodcast TikTok: @leanadeeb / @beinghumannpod YouTube: youtube.com/@leanadeeb _____ Thank you to our sponsors! Head to cozyearth.com and use my code BEINGHUMAN for an exclusive 20% off Visit Carawayhome.com/LEANA to take an additional 10% off your next purchase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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