The Ultimate Human with Gary Brecka
Episode 223: Leana Deeb – On Faith, Fitness, and Finding Purpose
Release Date: December 2, 2025
Host: Gary Brecka
Guest: Leana Deeb, Fitness Influencer & Community Builder
Episode Overview
In this deeply insightful and candid episode, Gary Brecka sits down with Leana Deeb, a rising icon in fitness and lifestyle influence, to explore her unconventional path to success—one defined as much by letting go and starting over as by achieving fame. Together, they unpack themes of faith, authentic living, female empowerment, and redefining fitness for holistic wellbeing. Leana shares her personal journey from chasing aesthetics and validation to fostering discipline, community, and spiritual connection. This conversation is a masterclass in intentionality, vulnerability, and what it truly means to lead a fulfilled, purpose-driven life.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Early Success and Inner Emptiness [00:00–05:51]
- Leana reflects on the paradox of external success and internal emptiness:
“Throughout all the times where I was experiencing the most success, I felt the most emptiest. It felt like I had everything in the world materialistically. But deep down, I guess I just wanted to feel whole from within.”
(Leana Deeb, 00:00) - Began as a fitness influencer, following the prevailing trends focusing on physical aesthetics.
- Found that industry accolades and social validation left her feeling isolated and disconnected from family and friends.
2. Radical Authenticity—Deleting Everything to Start Over [07:49–11:55]
- Leana describes her leap of faith, deleting a successful platform and choosing to present herself authentically:
“I was so afraid of losing the millions of followers and the millions of likes and the partnerships that I built...throughout all the times where I was experiencing the most success, I felt the most emptiest... I needed to stay true to who I am, then nothing is going to go wrong.”
(Leana Deeb, 08:27 & 11:55) - Inspired by her emerging faith in Islam and a growing sense that her previous persona didn’t align with her true values.
- Despite her team’s hesitation, Leana rebuilt from scratch, choosing vulnerability over curation.
3. Faith, Modesty, and the New Narrative [14:25–23:06]
- Leana highlights how her faith brought new discipline and community:
“I believe that faith and being healthy and eating clean, it's just a way of life. And it's together in, so faith and fitness... when you, when you believe in a higher power... you also have more drive.”
(Leana Deeb, 14:25) - Experiences in Ramadan and structured prayer shaped daily discipline and purpose.
- Transitioned to modest physical presentation, shattering stereotypes in both Western and Muslim contexts.
- Their discussion reframes modesty: not as suppression, but as a form of self-respect and autonomy:
“It was built on respect. And...modesty is not suppressing a woman's capacity to be herself. It is actually allowing her to respect herself.”
(Gary Brecka, 23:05)
4. Community, Impact, and Universal Spirituality [25:32–29:55]
- Overcame initial fears of losing both brand deals and social support—most partners remained, inspired by her mission.
- Created a highly diverse community:
“It's women of all different backgrounds and different faiths… the way that I share faith is trying to speak about it in a universal way.”
(Leana Deeb, 14:42) - Actively inspires women (including many Christians) toward personal modesty, self-love, and spiritual exploration.
- Advocates for women’s connection to soul and higher purpose, beyond social validation.
5. Present Day: Innovations, Routines, and Future Plans [29:55–35:18]
- Leana’s endeavors now include:
- Time 100 Creators recognition
- Gymshark’s first modest line
- Oxford Union speaker appearance
- 'Uplift You' app and women’s run club
- Forthcoming podcast “Being Human”
- Training for a marathon while fully covered, and shifting away from exclusively aesthetics-driven fitness:
“I am now leaning more into a mix of hybrid training... training for a marathon...and podcasting is the next thing for me.”
(Leana Deeb, 29:55) - Daily Routine Includes:
- Waking before dawn, prayer, study, high-protein meals, hydration, scheduled workouts, digital minimalism, and reflective journaling
6. Habits, Journaling, and Oxygenating the Mind [36:07–53:47]
- Audience feedback: Leana’s community is most impacted by her vlogs on routine, clean eating, habit formation, and vulnerability with struggles (not just successes).
- Journaling is central:
“Gratitude in the morning always... setting an intention for the day... And then I like to journal at the end of the night, reflecting of where I went wrong... and always reflecting and thinking about myself in terms of trying to be better.”
(Leana Deeb, 48:55) - Leana’s prompts focus on gratitude, intentions, self-inquiry, and reframing negative experiences.
- Discussion of the scientific benefits of gratitude and prayer on mental health, immune function, and overall wellbeing.
7. Discipline vs. Motivation [58:06–60:59]
- On why discipline outweighs fleeting motivation:
“Discipline is the highest form of self love and it has truly given me so much freedom in my life... Motivation comes and goes. So I never rely on motivation... Discipline is every single time that I've chosen to do something that I did not want to do, I felt so much better in myself.”
(Leana Deeb, 58:37) - Provided advice against excessive self-diagnosis and victimhood—focus instead on habits, action, and consistency.
- The importance of standing for something, setting an identity, and not living passively.
8. Authenticity, Identity, and Psychological Health [65:23–67:02]
- On the psychological toll of inauthentic living:
“Not being authentic, you feel this deep desire to find your true self always...not living authentically...constantly feeling like you have to please people around you, you're going to feel just this disconnect with yourself, like you don't know who the person is in the mirror.”
(Leana Deeb, 65:32) - Advocacy for listening to intuition, allowing for personal growth, and making pivots in life to honor inner truth.
9. Closing Reflections on Being the Ultimate Human [67:59–69:23]
- Leana’s definition:
“To be an ultimate human is to live... authentically yourself, to treat people with respect, to show up every single day for you, to stick to your word and do the thing that you said you're going to do, and to love yourself in every single way... I guess being an ultimate human is to live authentically yourself.”
(Leana Deeb, 67:59)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Throughout all the times where I was experiencing the most success, I felt the most emptiest.” (Leana Deeb, 00:00)
- “You took a successful business and...just deleted it all. And completely started over.” (Gary Brecka, 07:51)
- “Faith and fitness...it's been one thing.” (Leana Deeb, 14:25)
- “No amount of success, no amount of validation ever made me feel whole from within.” (Leana Deeb, 25:32)
- “Discipline is the highest form of self love and it has truly given me so much freedom in my life.” (Leana Deeb, 58:37)
- “If you have food, a roof over your head, and a family that loves you, then you have everything in life.” (Leana Deeb, 53:47)
Important Timestamps
- 00:00–05:51: Early success and finding emptiness
- 07:49–11:55: The decision to wipe her platform clean
- 14:25–23:06: Community, faith, and the deeper purpose of fitness and modesty
- 25:32–29:55: How transition affected friendships, partnerships, and self-image
- 29:55–35:18: Current projects, future direction, and daily routine
- 36:07–53:47: Building habits, journaling, audience impact, tips for productivity
- 58:06–60:59: Discipline as freedom, not relying on motivation
- 65:23–67:02: Living authentically and its necessity for mental health
- 67:59–69:23: Leana’s definition of the “ultimate human”
Takeaways for Listeners
- Find fulfillment in internal alignment, not external validation
- Vulnerability and authenticity are powerful connectors and attractors
- Integrating faith, discipline, and routine creates lasting wellbeing
- Community thrives on honesty, respect, and shared struggle
- Gratitude, journaling, and ritualized reflection enhance resilience
- Being the “Ultimate Human” is about daily authenticity and self-respect—inside and out
For more:
- Find Leana on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube (@leannadeeb)
- Look for her upcoming podcast, “Being Human”
- Explore the Uplift You app and Leana’s content for routines and journaling prompts