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
