July 29, 2025 • 37 mins
This week, Tommy is joined by the undeniable breakout star of Love Island USA Season 6, Leah Kateb. Leah has dominated the conversation like no one before her, cementing her place as a pop culture icon. She has an electric and unapologetic authenticity and charisma, and we are seeing that on full display in Love Island: Beyond The Villa. Today, Leah opens up about how distance and time have affected her thoughts on that “situationship" with Rob, a side to Miguel that the viewers didn’t always get to see, what made her realize she could open up and trust Miguel in the villa, advice she would give Islanders both in and out of the villa, the biggest ways Serena and JaNa helped her while living in the villa, the very different types of advice they give her, who the most unhinged Powerpuff Girl is, if she watches the new season of Love Island, her thoughts on Cierra being removed from the villa for her past racist remarks, how she has dealt with racism herself, why she had to think twice about returning to reality TV so quickly, what a certain producer said to both her and Miguel that negatively impacted her mental health, the lies told by this producer that made her want to leave the villa, stepping into her business woman era with Skylar, if we can expect a “Spare Me” fragrance, what she has never said before, and so much more.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hey, guys, welcome to I've never said this before with me,
Tommy di Dario. Love Island, Man, it has taken over
the world. I feel like wherever I go, people are
either talking about it, or I see something about it,
or somebody's like, hey, do you watch Love Island? It
is pure escapism television and the world is paying close attention.
(00:21):
So obviously I had to invite on the fan favorite
Leah kateb who is arguably the breakout star of Love
Island USA season six, and it was currently back on
our screens in the spinoff Love Island Beyond the Villa.
We have been waiting for her return. Leah. She has
dominated the conversation like no one before her. Right, she
has this unapologetic authenticity and a charisma that is just electric.
(00:46):
Oh and excuse me, she's emerging as a business mogul. Yeah,
she's the moment. She is a pop culture icon, and
today y'all aren't ready because we are covering it all
and Leah as usual is one hundred percent unapologetic self.
So let's see if today we can get Leah to
say something that she has never said before. Leah, how
(01:18):
are you?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
I'm good?
Speaker 1 (01:19):
I am so good. I'm so happy to be hanging
out with you today.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
I really excited.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
I am obsessed with your last name. Really, do people
butcher it all the time?
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Yes? Yeah, well okay, everyone thinks that my last name.
It was okay, this was like a whole thing. It's
still a thing. People always think it's Leah kate B.
Like they think Kate is my middle name. No, yes,
this is like a thing, and I'm like, no, guys
like it's Leah Kteb. They think it's like the abbreviation
(01:49):
of my last name, and then it's like my middle
name is Kate. But I'm like, not that way.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
No, I love it. I'm Italian Sadario. People like it
is a Dadario wherever you want it to be. Just
make it sound pretty like you're going an accent and
we're good. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
I'm like, it's like a whole thing, but it's you
said it right, Thank.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
You, thank you very much. I feel like we have
so much to cover today. What a time it is
in your life right now? I know, right like, what
a time? First and foremost, I must know, do people
just run up to you and scream spare me like
all over.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
You know, at the beginning they honestly, yeah, maybe still
spare me and white Woman scared the suck my dick one.
There's a lot. There's a lot, and I love it.
I think it's so funny, Like did.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
You ever think you'd be known for these one liners?
Speaker 2 (02:40):
No? And the thing is too Like when I first
got out and I had done like a couple like podcasts.
I think it was with like chicks in the office,
they were like, can we do a voiceover to one
of your like iconic tiktoks? And I was like, my what?
And then they knew the voice or they knew the
voiceover and I was trying to learn it. I was like,
I don't even remember saying what I said. No, I
(03:01):
literally had to like sit down and like hear it
like ten times before. I was like, and I still
butchered it. I was like, I don't, I don't remember
saying that. That is so good. Yeah, it's so good.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
It's so good. Well, we you are such a fan
favorite phenomenon in pop culture, which is just so exciting
because you're somebody who makes so many people feel just good.
Like they love watching you, they love seeing what you
have to say, they love what's going to come out
of her mouth and we don't really know which sometimes
I can relate to, which is so great. So let's
(03:34):
talk about first the season you were on right season
six to kick it off, people were so invested originally
in your situationship. Yeah, we'll call it yeah right with Rob.
So now that distance in time has been in your
life from that, how would you describe that period of
your life with that relationship on the show.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
I think I definitely like appreciated it. I think that
it all all played into where I am now and
like who I'm with now, And I definitely I don't
feel like any sort of way towards Rob like whatsoever.
And I wish him really well. I think he's a
(04:15):
great person. I just don't think like we meshed well
on like a romantic level.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
I think, yeah, we clashed a lot, So I just
don't think that was for me.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Yeah. Yeah, And it's nice when you can kind of
have that insight and not not your hindsight, I should say,
and not feel any sort of way about It's like
that was a period of my life.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
And I appreciated his friendship in the villa like after
like everything was done, like romantically. I was like, I
like him so much more as a friend and not
as like a partner.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Yeah. Yeah, yeah, well Miguel was a breath of fresh
air for so many people were like, yeah, Leah and Miguel,
we love it.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
No, he's my favorite place. Yeah. So what is.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
Something that you know Miguel showed you, maybe a side
to him that we didn't get to see as viewers
where you were like, oh, hell yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
He's so understanding and he's very good at putting things
and giving different perspectives, and I think it's really important.
I'm a very hardheaded person, and he always is just
really positive and I feel like that he always gives
like such amazing inputs that sometimes maybe I wouldn't think of.
(05:32):
And he's also just the best person, Like honestly, he
makes everything so fun. Yeah, and like I get excited
to just literally sit on the couch with him. So
he's just like my favorite person.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
I hope you have that for a long time. I've
been married for almost ten years and I still feel
that way. I do. It's like the best we can
be doing everything in the world that's like glamorous and
sexy and fun or nothing at all and.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Yeah, best, No, I really do appreciate like every moment
together because I feel like I haven't had like great relationships,
so now that I'm in one that I'm being treated
like so well, I'm like, I'm so happy. I feel
like it's like how it was meant to feel like
being in a relationship, Like you don't need to feel
(06:19):
like you're like fighting for your life every second.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Isn't it funny? I guess your so, Yeah, isn't it
funny how going through shitty relationships in the past make
you appreciate so much more what you have in the presence.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
It's wild, I feel, you know, it's actually I was
literally thinking the other day. I was like, I wonder
like how people who like haven't gone through like really
bad relationships, Like I guess maybe they're like really like
stern on what they accept and what they don't. But
I was like, fuck, after being treated so bad for
so long, I'm.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Like, yeah, yeah, I'm with you. I'm with you.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Crazy.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
I know what I used to say, Oh, man, like
I wish I never wasted time in my young twenties
with this person. Then I thought, no, you know what
I needed to because now I appreciate this.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Yeah, I feel like it's like so easy to blame
yourself and like think, like I really wish I didn't
waste all this time on this person. But like when
I sit back and think about it, I'm like, it
really all makes sense when you take a step back
and look at the bigger picture.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Yeah, for sure. So what moment made you realize you
could open up with Miguel. Did something happen in the
villa or like what made you be like I could
trust this dude.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
I think he just has like such like a calming presence,
and I think we have very very similar personalities. I
think like we literally fit together like a puzzle piece.
Like from day one, we were really close. And I
know they didn't like show that, but like we would
talk all the time, and like he was just my
(07:51):
favorite person in there because he made everything so fun.
Like everything felt so serious and like end of the world.
But Miguel was like, honestly the one person that made
things feel so lighthearted and that's how I normally am.
It just was so like you really do feel like
you're in a pressure cooker and so everything feels so
(08:12):
like major and crazy, like you're gonna die if you
don't do certain things. But like Miguel was just making
everything so so fun and like how I thought it
was supposed to be.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Yeah, so I don't know how you did that, And
I mean that's I give you a lot of credit.
I would be a hot mess.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
No, it's wild, Like it's really wild. I can't believe
I did that either.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
Yeah. Yeah, well, and can't you emerge to such a
fan favorite and you you know, you survived the villa,
you survived drama, you found love, and now so many
people in the show kind of view you as this
blueprint for what they want to be like and how
they want to navigate the villa and what they want
like post villa to be Like, So, what advice would
(08:55):
you have for people who are.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Looking to use that what the heck? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Yeah, girl, own it.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Yeah, I would say definitely be proud of yourself. It's
really hard to go on national television and have all
these eyes on you and all these opinions. And also
it's really hard being in the actual villa. I know
people are like, oh, but it's not that serious. Honestly,
(09:23):
they make you feel really serious in there, like very very,
very serious, like down to like everyone where you're with,
down to the producers, like all of that. It does
feel really serious, like it really does, and I thought
it was supposed to feel really fun. And I just
hope that people go on there and honestly just have fun,
like it's really really, really not that serious. And also
(09:46):
when you come out to just don't look at your
phone too much. Not everyone's gonna like you. Not everyone
has to like you. I had to teach myself that lesson,
Like you don't need to be liked by everybody. It's fine,
you're going to but it's really hard to focus. I
don't know, It's like our humans are so weird because
(10:07):
I feel like you can get like a million nice
comments and then you see that one and you're like
thinking about it for the rest of the day, and
you don't even think about the nice ones. And it's
so crazy, like our brains are just wired so weird.
I swear, it's like maybe it's just mine. It's like
fighting against itself. But I think, just have fun and
(10:27):
not to take things seriously, like it really is meant
to be just like a fun thing, and I don't
want people And also to just like take your time
with it, Like you don't need to feel like you're
on like a schedule to you know, it's to post
content and to just you know, do all these things,
like just decompress first. Like I really do feel for
(10:50):
the Islanders this season because it became like such a
spectacle last season and then this season. People are expecting
things of these people and you know, they're they're thinking
they're trying to be somebody or you know, act a
certain way, and it's like, these are also humans. Like,
let's just take a second and just enjoy it's a show.
(11:11):
It's a fucking dating show. Yeah, Like you're not watching
National Geographic, Like you're literally watching like corny television. Like
just take it as it is. Let's not make it
that serious.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
So yeah, yeah, but you guys are I mean, you're
real people who have feelings, and you're right, you deal
with so much, so many opinions that you didn't ask for.
And there's a lot of people who say, well, you
went into reality TV, so you should be ready for it,
or you should be ready for any sort of question
or any sort of reaction. But at the same time,
you went on it for your own reasons. You don't
(11:44):
know people anything.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
And I do. The thing is too, I really do
get people having their own opinions, and I do. I
honestly I get it. Like I do. Think it's fine,
Like there's no like you're not gonna like everyone. We've
all said, you know, things about people that we don't like,
and like that's so fun. So that's why when people
like do say like rude things about me, I'm like,
I'm I really am not everyone's like cup of tea,
(12:08):
Like I can. I can see it, like I am
kind of annoying sometimes I get it. But also at
the same time, I'm like people will be so like
sure about like, oh, like she's a nasty, terrible person,
and I'm like, you actually don't know me right, like
at all, right, And so when it gets down to
(12:30):
like serious like character flaws that people are trying to
point out, I'm like, you don't know me, you don't
know these people. Like let's just take a breather, like
maybe you know, go outside, the weather's nice, like there's
things to do.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
But good on you for not letting that weigh you down. Right.
You had to learn quickly, and I'm sure you had
moments that weren't great, and moments of weakness and sad moments,
and you know that's part of dealing with the new
reality that's your life. But yeah, you seem to be
someone who could turn that around and now live a
life you want to live without letting any of that
(13:08):
affect you, which is awesome.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Yeah, I feel like it took a little while to
get there, but we're here. Well.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
I love that. I love that. What I also love
is your relationship with the Powerpuff Girls. The Powerpuff Girl
it's the trio that we love to watch your writer dies.
They had your back, you had their back. I mean,
what was it like having that sort of friendship and
camaraderie during such a heightened emotional state of your life.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
It was amazing. Honestly, to this day, I really do
love Serena Engineer a lot, and I have a lot
of appreciation for them because I also want to say that,
you know, it's just really hard for black women on television. Also,
It's like there's so many stereotypes and there's people trying
to fit certain narratives, and they have navigated their path
(13:56):
really beautifully and I am so proud of them. I
feel like there couldn't be better role models right now
for black women in TV and honestly in social media
and all that stuff. So I think that and knowing
them personally, people would love them even more, like they
really are such good people. And having them in the
(14:19):
villa was just really like just our friendship is really
sacred and special to me, and I honestly couldn't have
imagined my experience without them being there. I really would
have been very sad and very bored because they were
who I spent most of my time with other than Miguel.
So I'm really really thankful for them. And we're still
(14:42):
as close as we were to this day, which I'm
really thankful for as well.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
And they found their love and happiness. Is that so
cool to see?
Speaker 2 (14:49):
It's so cool. We were like always panicking. We were like, fuck,
a trio never makes it to the finals, and we
were like like what do we do? What do we do?
Like WHOA? I was like, you know what, Like I'll leave,
I'll take one for the team. I'm gonna go, I'm
gonna support you guys, and like it was just like
this whole thing. But honestly, like we were so shocked
(15:13):
when we all made it to the final four and
then when we were top three, like it was just crazy.
But I think it's just really special, like to still
be able to have them, like all of us be
so close and then also like our men also be
close and get along. It's like it's really special.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
And I love that you show that even in a
competitive environment, women can come together and thrive.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Yeah, I feel like we kind of forgot it was
a competition. Like honestly, when you just said that, now,
I'm like, oh, yeah, we weren't competing, but like, I
don't know, I feel like that was never like our
goal or focus was like never to win. And also
I've never watched Love Island, so I was like, what
the hell, how do you even win Love Island? I
don't know anymore, Like at this point, it's like what yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
So out of Serena and Janee, who gives the best advice?
Speaker 2 (16:10):
They both give really good advice. I think Janey gives
like all around really good advice. But Serena is good
at like being like bitch, snap out of it.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
I love that she sounds like yeah, like.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
She'll like be like come on, stand up. But Jannay
is very like, okay, like this and also you can
try that. Like it's like very two different types of advice.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Yeah, what you need both?
Speaker 2 (16:32):
I do. I do. I need all the advice I
can get. I mean you, but I mean in general,
I really do. I'm like, I never know what I'm doing.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
I think you're doing pretty well. I think you're doing
pretty well. Who's the most unhinged out of the three
of you? Me?
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Yes, and I would say the same, Okay, yeah, I
stay doing weird shit.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
Okay, I feel that. Well, let's talk about the current
season that's out now, so you don't watch.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
No, I've never watched the Violand I know people get
really shocked when I say that. I don't know. I've
never been into reality TV. And oddly enough, like when
I was growing up, my parents never let me watch
reality TV. They must be really proud of me now,
but they were really really proud of me. They did. Oh,
(17:18):
they were tuned in, hooked, hooked. It's like it was
the funniest thing my mom was all the time. No,
because I was like not like I don't know, I
was like, no, I know. My sister was like really cheering.
I knew the whole time. In the back of my
head that my sister was like fuck yeah, like no
matter what I was doing, because my sister is like,
(17:41):
honestly one of my biggest supporters, so I knew regardless,
I was like, Okay, my sister, fuck yeah. And mom
and dad got hooked. Like my and my parents like
hate reality television, Like we were not allowed to watch
it growing up, like at all, so it just never
like got It was never like something in my routine
(18:04):
to watch.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
Well, I think that's why you were also so great
at it. Like there's a lot of comments about this
season and people feeling like it's a little stage or rehearsed,
or people are trying to be like you or like
other people in the cast, right yeah, And I feel
like that can get a little tricky.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
I think it's like it is hard because you know,
there's so many people can be similar in a lot
of ways without even trying, and so I think it's like,
you know, when people like make comparisons, like comparison really
is like the thief of joy.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
Honestly, aping that knowledge.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Philosopher, it's horrible. I like ruins everything, like when you
start comparing, like how you look your career certain things,
like it just ruins, like just that's why I'm always
so like the first person to just say, like, the
only person that you should be in competition with is yourself,
(18:58):
like honestly, because when you start comparing, everyone's journey is
so different, and just because someone else is winning doesn't
mean that you're losing. So it's like there's.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
Just so much suff I'm gonna need to make a
coffee table book with all these quotes because I am
feeling it. That is your next project, coffee table book
right here, Lea's words of wisdom. Let's go, Let's go,
Let's go. But you're so right, I mean even online
right now. I don't know if you've seen, but everyone's
saying with Sierra, like the bombshell line she stole from
(19:31):
you and is trying to make it hers, Like have
you seen that? What are your thoughts on all of that?
Speaker 2 (19:36):
I mean, I'm like, I don't, I don't know, Like
it's just very like I see, like I don't know,
I don't really think I have like an opinion on it,
just because I'm like there's so many like quotes that
I feel like people may be subconsciously here and then
they like say it. You know, I don't know. I
feel like it's very whatever. Yeah, yeah, because I'm I
(19:59):
don't know, not very much so like a competitive, like
crazy competitive person unless it's in a funny, fun way, right,
otherwise I'm like, yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Like you don't see something like that and you're offended,
You're like, what happened?
Speaker 2 (20:10):
No? Not at all? Yeah, no, literally not at all,
like at all.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
Yeah. And then something out of this season. I know
you don't watch, but you've also probably seen the headlines
about the posts that came out that she did, and
it was, you know, the racist remarks she made, Like
do you what do you think when something like that happens?
Because it's out there, she's on TV, people have opinions
like how do you view.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
All of that? I think they did make the right decision,
you know, taking her out. I think it's also really hard.
It's just it's a lot to navigate on every end,
so it sucks. And also it's like, you know, I
personally can't I don't know, I just don't like condone
(20:55):
that type of stuff like at all. And it's it's
hard and it sucks because it's a lot to hear.
And but it's like, it's what can you do? Like,
you know, like they like, I think they made the
right decision, And I don't know. I don't follow her,
(21:15):
so I don't. I don't know if she's like spoken
up about it, has she I'm not sure.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
She's made a Yeah, I don't. I don't follow her
super closely either. Obviously I don't condone what that was
about at all, but you know, she's got to navigate
it in her own way. Now.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Yeah, it's definitely a lot so but I don't really
support that kind of I don't at all, period.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
But yeah, yeah, yeah, well that's that's part of the
reality world is you have to realize if you go
public that things in the past can come back, which
is terrifying.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
It is, it is, it's crazy.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
Yeah, luckily you don't have to worry about that. I
feel like you're also someone who always is very very transparent.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
I am.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
You seem like you were raised by two really good people.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
Oh yeah, my parents are the bed.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
Who also probably didn't put up with shit.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
No they don't, you know, that's.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
Like my Italian.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
Household, so really don't.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Yeah, yeah, it's cool.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
And I think like we also like growing up have
dealt with a lot of like racism ourselves.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
Oh really like yeah, just.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
Like being like Middle Eastern. I think it's just something
that is really like sensitive and like serious to us.
So that's why I like anytime I hear anyone speaking
about like me or like my friends or like you know,
I just I don't. I don't like it and I
don't stand for it.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
And it's like, guys, it's twenty twenty five. Can we
move past that? Like who still wants to be? Who
still is a racist?
Speaker 2 (22:42):
It's crazy?
Speaker 1 (22:42):
Like what the actual thought?
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Like, it's crazy. I know.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
Don't get me on a tangent, because I will go
and like I can't. I just I can't wor if
we're going to keep this about you, let's talk about
the new spin off show you are on, which I
feel like you haven't spoken a lot about. Very tight lips.
I tell everybody purpose well, I will tell you to
do the name and what we can expect and what
the premise is. Give me the lowdown.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
It is beyond the Villa, Love Islands, Beyond the Villa,
and it's just season six Islanders navigating our life after
the Villa, and we're all in La. You'll get to
see Miguel and I a lot. You'll see our relationship,
you see PPG, you see our men, you see living
(23:27):
Kaylor Connor, Aaron and Nicole comes in Kendall. It's it's
it's fun. It was, it's fun. I feel like it's
like a it's a hot mess express, but it's fun.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
Yeah, did you feel like you would return back to
reality TV?
Speaker 2 (23:46):
I didn't think that I wanted to return back to
reality TV for like a really long time. I don't
think it was ever like a final note at all.
And I think that's also a really big thing that
people kind of like mistook what I said when I said,
like I wouldn't go like back on Love Island again,
(24:09):
because they had called me to go back on Love
Island games like right after I got out the villa,
and like I really meant I didn't want to work
with like certain producers on Love Island again, just because
of my personal experience and what they have said to
me after the show was filmed. Like it's not even
(24:30):
about like the villain edit or like oh like my edit,
like really like that stuff I don't even care about.
But it's just stuff that like personally, like my experience
that like I had outside of that was not positive.
So it was just like certain producers that I wouldn't
work with again. And that's all I meant. I never
(24:51):
said that. I was like, like, I love Peacock, They're amazing.
I love NBC, and I honestly love a lot of
the producers that were on Love Island as well. It
was just a few people that were not very respectful
and I feel like they took a lot of advantage.
(25:12):
And I don't know shit, Like what do I know,
Like I like, I'm like twenty four years old, like
in that villa, like a like, I don't know anything
about the industry at this point in time. I'm like,
I'm just there, and I do think that they do
mold certain things how they want it.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
Was there something specific without naming anybody, of course, but
was there something specific said to you that really just
wasn't cool.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
Yeah, there were so many things said to me that
wasn't cool. Like there were so many times where they
would be like so they pull Islanders like aside, Like
a lot of the producers will pull you aside on
the show and they'll kind of like say, how do
you feel like they do like check ins, yeah, and
like during those check ins, like they would be like, oh,
like Miguel told me that he doesn't see a future
(26:05):
with you outside of this and like but you know
other people did. And I'm like yes because after that
and when I told Miguel, he was like, I literally
never said that. And I because they were trying to
like shove me in a different direction away from Miguel,
(26:25):
because I know, like they thought that would be like
the craziest reality TV moment, but I'm like I am
a human being with like feelings, Like I'm not like
this is crazy, like come on, guys, but I really
do think because and they were also saying like the
same things to Miguel, like it was just like the
same producer, and he was saying like the same things
(26:48):
to Miguel, and they're like while he's in while Miguel
was in Costan, he's like, you know, you don't know
what Leah's doing over there, Like I think it's a lot,
and it's like another lie, like dude, So it was
just a lot. And I feel like there was like
a lot of situations like that where they were trying
(27:08):
to like manipulate a situation, and I just wasn't like
a big fan of that because I'm like, you guys
clearly had a narrative and like that's fine because like
it's TV, I guess, but it's reality TV. Well, so
it's like you're not writing a show right right.
Speaker 1 (27:24):
It's it's not fine because when you start manipulating the truth,
that's the problem. Like there's things I get that producers
say to stoke the fire, like hey, so and so
said this about you, and they really did say that,
and they're just adding to the drama. It's a flat
out makeup lies, Like come on, that's not why we
watch it, Like we watch it, well, a lot of
people watch it, yes, for the entertainment and drama, but
real drama, not that get out of here, you know
(27:47):
what I.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
Mean, too manufactured at that point, and like people see
through that. So but I am really glad that mcgaul
and I were into each other enough that we didn't
even care about the things that they were say we
still knew. I feel like at that time, like obviously
we weren't as close as we are now, but I
(28:07):
feel like we just got each other. And I think
that that was like such a big thing that we
were able to just be like, I don't give a fuck.
Speaker 1 (28:21):
So in the news in the new series you're in,
who were you the most excited to see again and
who are you kind of like, Oh, I'm a little nervous.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
I don't have anyone that I really do have such
a love for everyone that was on the show, just
because it's so I really do feel for everyone, Like
it really is hard, and I think like people are
always like, oh, you shouldn't respond to things, and I'm like, dude,
it hasn't even been a year since we've been home.
When you think about it, it literally it's gonna be
(28:47):
a year soon. But like it hasn't even been a
year since like this new this new life. Yeah, so
it's like, of course, like there's going to be so
much to have to navigate and so much that you
don't know. It's like unknown territory, like you don't know
what you're doing. And so there's no one that that
(29:08):
I feel any any sort of way towards, like truly
and honestly, but I'm always excited to be with my girls.
And I was really happy that Jenny got because Serena
and Court I live in LA, but Janay and Kenny.
Jenny lives in Vegas and Kenny lives in Dallas, So
I was really happy that they got to stay in
LA for two months. Yeah, I just got to like
(29:29):
hang out like they lived there. And we've been trying
to convince Jenny to live in LA, but she doesn't
want to.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
Maybe one day. Maybe my friends in LA trying to
convince me too. I'm like, you never know, we'll buy
a compound one day, I'll just live on it. You
you're also killing it as a little entrepreneur Miss Skylar Beauty.
I see you, I see you. So how did that
come to d and like, what made you want to
be a part of this brand?
Speaker 2 (29:52):
No, it's honestly, it was so crazy how it came
to be because I have loved Skylar for years. I've
been a very I've been really big into fragrance always,
and I never thought I would have my own on
this earth. I'm like, this is crazy, like every damn
like this is just this is wild. But I had
(30:16):
posted when I got out of the villa because while
I was in the villa, a lot of people were
trying to figure out what perfumes I was using and
I know, like the girls would come off like you know,
the dumped Islanders and they would be like, oh, like
Lea smelt so good, and like a lot of the
girls would use my perfumes because I brought a bunch
and Skyler was one of them. I had made a
(30:38):
top five favorite perfume thing I think it was, and
Skyler was one of them. It was Vanilla sky And
after that they had reached out and they sent me
like pr but then they reached out to Uta my
agency and they were like, we really want Leah to
come on and take over and just you know, so
(31:00):
we had so many meetings and we finally were like
you know what, like this is it? Like we got
to do it. And I was like, like so so
happy because honestly, the first thing that every time everyone
would ask me like what do you want to do
after the Villa, I was like, really, I definitely wanted
my something of my own, and I really really wanted
(31:23):
it to be fragrance because I love body stuff. I
love fragrance, like it's something that I'm really into. Like
in the Villa, the girls, I, me and my sister
we make this body bomb and my sister would make
the best one. It had like the almond oils and
like it was like the we would homemake it. And
(31:43):
so I brought like one of the jars that my
sister gave to me, and the girls were using it
and it was just so amazing. I feel they called
me Leah's Pharmacy because I just had so much stuff.
But it's always been such like an interest of mine. Yeah,
and I feel like it was very I feel like
(32:06):
it was so meant to be because I also have
egzema and I did not. First of all, I didn't
even know that Skyler was like a clean brand. I
just went into Sephora one day and I just smelled
really good. So I was like, okay, But at this point,
I didn't know I had egzema. This is like a
new founding thing, and I just loved how it smelled.
(32:27):
And then now though, I feel like I have to
be so careful about what I put on my skin.
But what I love about Skyler is like just because
it's clean doesn't mean it's gonna smell like dirt, you
know what I mean. Like it still smells good, like
you still smell audible, It still smell a beautiful cupcake.
But I really appreciate things that are good for the environment,
(32:47):
don't harm animals, and they don't harm yourself. So I
feel like that's really important to me, and that's what
I really wanted in a brand myself, and I'm really
glad that it has become my And it really is
like such, I've been working on this for like ten months.
I've been working on my own fragrance that so basically
(33:08):
everything from this point forward is gonna be my fragrance
is dropping Like I know, people have like questions about
things like that, and like it's not just one you know,
I'm not dropping like one fragrance with It's like, this
is my brand. Yeah, this is my brand.
Speaker 1 (33:24):
Now, will you have a spare me fragrance?
Speaker 2 (33:27):
Maybe I'm trying to think of like should I make
weird names?
Speaker 1 (33:31):
I feel like you need a spare me? Yeah? Really yes,
it would be like Gangbuster number one, number one fragrance ever.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
I have, Oh my gosh, I have one that I've
been working on and it's my favorite thing in the world.
Everyone's gonna die for it.
Speaker 1 (33:48):
Okay, we can't wait. I see you, entrepreneur, I see
it all happening. And congratulations on that, because it's it's
a really really big deal, Leah, before we wrap the
name of the shows, I've never said this before. And
I bring artists on. I cover a lot of red
carpet premieres and a lot of sit down junkets with
casts of movies and shows, and they're always so quick,
and I'm sure you've done a lot of quick interviews yourself.
(34:10):
And I felt like I wanted to create a space
where people could come on and just share something that
they don't get the chance to say often. Whatever that
means to you. So is there something you've never said
before that you want to share today?
Speaker 2 (34:23):
Oh my gosh, I'm on the spot.
Speaker 1 (34:26):
Whatever it means, I think.
Speaker 2 (34:33):
Maybe like I feel like I had to shrink myself
a lot to feel to fit into certain places, or
to feel like loved, or to receive certain things, or
like to receive good things or feel deserving. And I
(34:54):
feel like I've always had like I've always felt like
maybe I was like too much or like, you know,
like I don't know how to like describe it or
put it into a lot of words. But I think
being on the show and honestly, people seeing me in
every light. I think it made me really feel like
(35:15):
it's okay to be your full self. And you know,
people who are gonna love you, are gonna love your
whole self. You don't need to like minimize yourself in
order to make someone you know feel bigger to fit
into their life. Like the right people, You're just gonna
(35:38):
fit regardless.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
Yeah, but yeah, I love that. That's a good reminder
for us, all right. And I think that going through
the experience you went through and coming out of it
and now really being this public facing person in ways
you probably never expected, I think it's such an important
lesson for you to remind yourself of two like you
are enough as you are. Ye, don't need to fit
(36:00):
anyone else's mold, right, Yeah, I like that. What's your sign?
Speaker 2 (36:05):
I'm a Leo, I'm a triple Leo.
Speaker 1 (36:06):
Okay, I'm an Aquarius. Okay, I feel you. I'm like
you're an mpath I am yeah, Yeah, you feel deeply.
Speaker 2 (36:13):
I really do. I cry like all day, Oh my god,
what about everything? Do you?
Speaker 1 (36:18):
I'm an Italian that happens.
Speaker 2 (36:20):
I cry like laughing, I cry.
Speaker 1 (36:21):
I'm in the blows and it's part of it. Yeah,
Leah I just I'm so happy for you and your success,
and I'm so happy you found love, and I'm happy
you're popping off as a businesswoman, and I'm so happy
you came on this show. Thank you for hanging out.
Of course, thank you, and until we meet again. Okay,
(36:44):
I've never said this before. It is hosted by me,
Tommy Didario. This podcast is executive produced by Andrew Puglisi
at iHeartRadio and by me Tommy, with editing by Joshua Claudney.
I've never said this before. It's part of the Elvis
d Rampi podcast network on iHeart Podcasts. For more, rate
review and subscribe to our show. And if you liked
(37:06):
this episode, tell your friends. Until next time, I'm Tommy Diderio.
Hey, guys, welcome to I've never said this before with me,
Tommy di Dario. Love Island, Man, it has taken over
the world. I feel like wherever I go, people are
either talking about it, or I see something about it,
or somebody's like, hey, do you watch Love Island? It
is pure escapism television and the world is paying close attention.
(00:21):
So obviously I had to invite on the fan favorite
Leah kateb who is arguably the breakout star of Love
Island USA season six, and it was currently back on
our screens in the spinoff Love Island Beyond the Villa.
We have been waiting for her return. Leah. She has
dominated the conversation like no one before her. Right, she
has this unapologetic authenticity and a charisma that is just electric.
(00:46):
Oh and excuse me, she's emerging as a business mogul. Yeah,
she's the moment. She is a pop culture icon, and
today y'all aren't ready because we are covering it all
and Leah as usual is one hundred percent unapologetic self.
So let's see if today we can get Leah to
say something that she has never said before. Leah, how
(01:18):
are you?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
I'm good?
Speaker 1 (01:19):
I am so good. I'm so happy to be hanging
out with you today.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
I really excited.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
I am obsessed with your last name. Really, do people
butcher it all the time?
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Yes? Yeah, well okay, everyone thinks that my last name.
It was okay, this was like a whole thing. It's
still a thing. People always think it's Leah kate B.
Like they think Kate is my middle name. No, yes,
this is like a thing, and I'm like, no, guys
like it's Leah Kteb. They think it's like the abbreviation
(01:49):
of my last name, and then it's like my middle
name is Kate. But I'm like, not that way.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
No, I love it. I'm Italian Sadario. People like it
is a Dadario wherever you want it to be. Just
make it sound pretty like you're going an accent and
we're good. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
I'm like, it's like a whole thing, but it's you
said it right, Thank.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
You, thank you very much. I feel like we have
so much to cover today. What a time it is
in your life right now? I know, right like, what
a time? First and foremost, I must know, do people
just run up to you and scream spare me like
all over.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
You know, at the beginning they honestly, yeah, maybe still
spare me and white Woman scared the suck my dick one.
There's a lot. There's a lot, and I love it.
I think it's so funny, Like did.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
You ever think you'd be known for these one liners?
Speaker 2 (02:40):
No? And the thing is too Like when I first
got out and I had done like a couple like podcasts.
I think it was with like chicks in the office,
they were like, can we do a voiceover to one
of your like iconic tiktoks? And I was like, my what?
And then they knew the voice or they knew the
voiceover and I was trying to learn it. I was like,
I don't even remember saying what I said. No, I
(03:01):
literally had to like sit down and like hear it
like ten times before. I was like, and I still
butchered it. I was like, I don't, I don't remember
saying that. That is so good. Yeah, it's so good.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
It's so good. Well, we you are such a fan
favorite phenomenon in pop culture, which is just so exciting
because you're somebody who makes so many people feel just good.
Like they love watching you, they love seeing what you
have to say, they love what's going to come out
of her mouth and we don't really know which sometimes
I can relate to, which is so great. So let's
(03:34):
talk about first the season you were on right season
six to kick it off, people were so invested originally
in your situationship. Yeah, we'll call it yeah right with Rob.
So now that distance in time has been in your
life from that, how would you describe that period of
your life with that relationship on the show.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
I think I definitely like appreciated it. I think that
it all all played into where I am now and
like who I'm with now, And I definitely I don't
feel like any sort of way towards Rob like whatsoever.
And I wish him really well. I think he's a
(04:15):
great person. I just don't think like we meshed well
on like a romantic level.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
I think, yeah, we clashed a lot, So I just
don't think that was for me.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Yeah. Yeah, And it's nice when you can kind of
have that insight and not not your hindsight, I should say,
and not feel any sort of way about It's like
that was a period of my life.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
And I appreciated his friendship in the villa like after
like everything was done, like romantically. I was like, I
like him so much more as a friend and not
as like a partner.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Yeah. Yeah, yeah, well Miguel was a breath of fresh
air for so many people were like, yeah, Leah and Miguel,
we love it.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
No, he's my favorite place. Yeah. So what is.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
Something that you know Miguel showed you, maybe a side
to him that we didn't get to see as viewers
where you were like, oh, hell yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
He's so understanding and he's very good at putting things
and giving different perspectives, and I think it's really important.
I'm a very hardheaded person, and he always is just
really positive and I feel like that he always gives
like such amazing inputs that sometimes maybe I wouldn't think of.
(05:32):
And he's also just the best person, Like honestly, he
makes everything so fun. Yeah, and like I get excited
to just literally sit on the couch with him. So
he's just like my favorite person.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
I hope you have that for a long time. I've
been married for almost ten years and I still feel
that way. I do. It's like the best we can
be doing everything in the world that's like glamorous and
sexy and fun or nothing at all and.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Yeah, best, No, I really do appreciate like every moment
together because I feel like I haven't had like great relationships,
so now that I'm in one that I'm being treated
like so well, I'm like, I'm so happy. I feel
like it's like how it was meant to feel like
being in a relationship, Like you don't need to feel
(06:19):
like you're like fighting for your life every second.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Isn't it funny? I guess your so, Yeah, isn't it
funny how going through shitty relationships in the past make
you appreciate so much more what you have in the presence.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
It's wild, I feel, you know, it's actually I was
literally thinking the other day. I was like, I wonder
like how people who like haven't gone through like really
bad relationships, Like I guess maybe they're like really like
stern on what they accept and what they don't. But
I was like, fuck, after being treated so bad for
so long, I'm.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Like, yeah, yeah, I'm with you. I'm with you.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Crazy.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
I know what I used to say, Oh, man, like
I wish I never wasted time in my young twenties
with this person. Then I thought, no, you know what
I needed to because now I appreciate this.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Yeah, I feel like it's like so easy to blame
yourself and like think, like I really wish I didn't
waste all this time on this person. But like when
I sit back and think about it, I'm like, it
really all makes sense when you take a step back
and look at the bigger picture.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Yeah, for sure. So what moment made you realize you
could open up with Miguel. Did something happen in the
villa or like what made you be like I could
trust this dude.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
I think he just has like such like a calming presence,
and I think we have very very similar personalities. I
think like we literally fit together like a puzzle piece.
Like from day one, we were really close. And I
know they didn't like show that, but like we would
talk all the time, and like he was just my
(07:51):
favorite person in there because he made everything so fun.
Like everything felt so serious and like end of the world.
But Miguel was like, honestly the one person that made
things feel so lighthearted and that's how I normally am.
It just was so like you really do feel like
you're in a pressure cooker and so everything feels so
(08:12):
like major and crazy, like you're gonna die if you
don't do certain things. But like Miguel was just making
everything so so fun and like how I thought it
was supposed to be.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Yeah, so I don't know how you did that, And
I mean that's I give you a lot of credit.
I would be a hot mess.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
No, it's wild, Like it's really wild. I can't believe
I did that either.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
Yeah. Yeah, well, and can't you emerge to such a
fan favorite and you you know, you survived the villa,
you survived drama, you found love, and now so many
people in the show kind of view you as this
blueprint for what they want to be like and how
they want to navigate the villa and what they want
like post villa to be Like, So, what advice would
(08:55):
you have for people who are.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Looking to use that what the heck? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Yeah, girl, own it.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Yeah, I would say definitely be proud of yourself. It's
really hard to go on national television and have all
these eyes on you and all these opinions. And also
it's really hard being in the actual villa. I know
people are like, oh, but it's not that serious. Honestly,
(09:23):
they make you feel really serious in there, like very very,
very serious, like down to like everyone where you're with,
down to the producers, like all of that. It does
feel really serious, like it really does, and I thought
it was supposed to feel really fun. And I just
hope that people go on there and honestly just have fun,
like it's really really, really not that serious. And also
(09:46):
when you come out to just don't look at your
phone too much. Not everyone's gonna like you. Not everyone
has to like you. I had to teach myself that lesson,
Like you don't need to be liked by everybody. It's fine,
you're going to but it's really hard to focus. I
don't know, It's like our humans are so weird because
(10:07):
I feel like you can get like a million nice
comments and then you see that one and you're like
thinking about it for the rest of the day, and
you don't even think about the nice ones. And it's
so crazy, like our brains are just wired so weird.
I swear, it's like maybe it's just mine. It's like
fighting against itself. But I think, just have fun and
(10:27):
not to take things seriously, like it really is meant
to be just like a fun thing, and I don't
want people And also to just like take your time
with it, Like you don't need to feel like you're
on like a schedule to you know, it's to post
content and to just you know, do all these things,
like just decompress first. Like I really do feel for
(10:50):
the Islanders this season because it became like such a
spectacle last season and then this season. People are expecting
things of these people and you know, they're they're thinking
they're trying to be somebody or you know, act a
certain way, and it's like, these are also humans. Like,
let's just take a second and just enjoy it's a show.
(11:11):
It's a fucking dating show. Yeah, Like you're not watching
National Geographic, Like you're literally watching like corny television. Like
just take it as it is. Let's not make it
that serious.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
So yeah, yeah, but you guys are I mean, you're
real people who have feelings, and you're right, you deal
with so much, so many opinions that you didn't ask for.
And there's a lot of people who say, well, you
went into reality TV, so you should be ready for it,
or you should be ready for any sort of question
or any sort of reaction. But at the same time,
you went on it for your own reasons. You don't
(11:44):
know people anything.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
And I do. The thing is too, I really do
get people having their own opinions, and I do. I
honestly I get it. Like I do. Think it's fine,
Like there's no like you're not gonna like everyone. We've
all said, you know, things about people that we don't like,
and like that's so fun. So that's why when people
like do say like rude things about me, I'm like,
I'm I really am not everyone's like cup of tea,
(12:08):
Like I can. I can see it, like I am
kind of annoying sometimes I get it. But also at
the same time, I'm like people will be so like
sure about like, oh, like she's a nasty, terrible person,
and I'm like, you actually don't know me right, like
at all, right, And so when it gets down to
(12:30):
like serious like character flaws that people are trying to
point out, I'm like, you don't know me, you don't
know these people. Like let's just take a breather, like
maybe you know, go outside, the weather's nice, like there's
things to do.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
But good on you for not letting that weigh you down. Right.
You had to learn quickly, and I'm sure you had
moments that weren't great, and moments of weakness and sad moments,
and you know that's part of dealing with the new
reality that's your life. But yeah, you seem to be
someone who could turn that around and now live a
life you want to live without letting any of that
(13:08):
affect you, which is awesome.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Yeah, I feel like it took a little while to
get there, but we're here. Well.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
I love that. I love that. What I also love
is your relationship with the Powerpuff Girls. The Powerpuff Girl
it's the trio that we love to watch your writer dies.
They had your back, you had their back. I mean,
what was it like having that sort of friendship and
camaraderie during such a heightened emotional state of your life.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
It was amazing. Honestly, to this day, I really do
love Serena Engineer a lot, and I have a lot
of appreciation for them because I also want to say that,
you know, it's just really hard for black women on television. Also,
It's like there's so many stereotypes and there's people trying
to fit certain narratives, and they have navigated their path
(13:56):
really beautifully and I am so proud of them. I
feel like there couldn't be better role models right now
for black women in TV and honestly in social media
and all that stuff. So I think that and knowing
them personally, people would love them even more, like they
really are such good people. And having them in the
(14:19):
villa was just really like just our friendship is really
sacred and special to me, and I honestly couldn't have
imagined my experience without them being there. I really would
have been very sad and very bored because they were
who I spent most of my time with other than Miguel.
So I'm really really thankful for them. And we're still
(14:42):
as close as we were to this day, which I'm
really thankful for as well.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
And they found their love and happiness. Is that so
cool to see?
Speaker 2 (14:49):
It's so cool. We were like always panicking. We were like, fuck,
a trio never makes it to the finals, and we
were like like what do we do? What do we do?
Like WHOA? I was like, you know what, Like I'll leave,
I'll take one for the team. I'm gonna go, I'm
gonna support you guys, and like it was just like
this whole thing. But honestly, like we were so shocked
(15:13):
when we all made it to the final four and
then when we were top three, like it was just crazy.
But I think it's just really special, like to still
be able to have them, like all of us be
so close and then also like our men also be
close and get along. It's like it's really special.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
And I love that you show that even in a
competitive environment, women can come together and thrive.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Yeah, I feel like we kind of forgot it was
a competition. Like honestly, when you just said that, now,
I'm like, oh, yeah, we weren't competing, but like, I
don't know, I feel like that was never like our
goal or focus was like never to win. And also
I've never watched Love Island, so I was like, what
the hell, how do you even win Love Island? I
don't know anymore, Like at this point, it's like what yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
So out of Serena and Janee, who gives the best advice?
Speaker 2 (16:10):
They both give really good advice. I think Janey gives
like all around really good advice. But Serena is good
at like being like bitch, snap out of it.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
I love that she sounds like yeah, like.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
She'll like be like come on, stand up. But Jannay
is very like, okay, like this and also you can
try that. Like it's like very two different types of advice.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Yeah, what you need both?
Speaker 2 (16:32):
I do. I do. I need all the advice I
can get. I mean you, but I mean in general,
I really do. I'm like, I never know what I'm doing.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
I think you're doing pretty well. I think you're doing
pretty well. Who's the most unhinged out of the three
of you? Me?
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Yes, and I would say the same, Okay, yeah, I
stay doing weird shit.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
Okay, I feel that. Well, let's talk about the current
season that's out now, so you don't watch.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
No, I've never watched the Violand I know people get
really shocked when I say that. I don't know. I've
never been into reality TV. And oddly enough, like when
I was growing up, my parents never let me watch
reality TV. They must be really proud of me now,
but they were really really proud of me. They did. Oh,
(17:18):
they were tuned in, hooked, hooked. It's like it was
the funniest thing my mom was all the time. No,
because I was like not like I don't know, I
was like, no, I know. My sister was like really cheering.
I knew the whole time. In the back of my
head that my sister was like fuck yeah, like no
matter what I was doing, because my sister is like,
(17:41):
honestly one of my biggest supporters, so I knew regardless,
I was like, Okay, my sister, fuck yeah. And mom
and dad got hooked. Like my and my parents like
hate reality television, Like we were not allowed to watch
it growing up, like at all, so it just never
like got It was never like something in my routine
(18:04):
to watch.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
Well, I think that's why you were also so great
at it. Like there's a lot of comments about this
season and people feeling like it's a little stage or rehearsed,
or people are trying to be like you or like
other people in the cast, right yeah, And I feel
like that can get a little tricky.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
I think it's like it is hard because you know,
there's so many people can be similar in a lot
of ways without even trying, and so I think it's like,
you know, when people like make comparisons, like comparison really
is like the thief of joy.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
Honestly, aping that knowledge.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Philosopher, it's horrible. I like ruins everything, like when you
start comparing, like how you look your career certain things,
like it just ruins, like just that's why I'm always
so like the first person to just say, like, the
only person that you should be in competition with is yourself,
(18:58):
like honestly, because when you start comparing, everyone's journey is
so different, and just because someone else is winning doesn't
mean that you're losing. So it's like there's.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
Just so much suff I'm gonna need to make a
coffee table book with all these quotes because I am
feeling it. That is your next project, coffee table book
right here, Lea's words of wisdom. Let's go, Let's go,
Let's go. But you're so right, I mean even online
right now. I don't know if you've seen, but everyone's
saying with Sierra, like the bombshell line she stole from
(19:31):
you and is trying to make it hers, Like have
you seen that? What are your thoughts on all of that?
Speaker 2 (19:36):
I mean, I'm like, I don't, I don't know, Like
it's just very like I see, like I don't know,
I don't really think I have like an opinion on it,
just because I'm like there's so many like quotes that
I feel like people may be subconsciously here and then
they like say it. You know, I don't know. I
feel like it's very whatever. Yeah, yeah, because I'm I
(19:59):
don't know, not very much so like a competitive, like
crazy competitive person unless it's in a funny, fun way, right,
otherwise I'm like, yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Like you don't see something like that and you're offended,
You're like, what happened?
Speaker 2 (20:10):
No? Not at all? Yeah, no, literally not at all,
like at all.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
Yeah. And then something out of this season. I know
you don't watch, but you've also probably seen the headlines
about the posts that came out that she did, and
it was, you know, the racist remarks she made, Like
do you what do you think when something like that happens?
Because it's out there, she's on TV, people have opinions
like how do you view.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
All of that? I think they did make the right decision,
you know, taking her out. I think it's also really hard.
It's just it's a lot to navigate on every end,
so it sucks. And also it's like, you know, I
personally can't I don't know, I just don't like condone
(20:55):
that type of stuff like at all. And it's it's
hard and it sucks because it's a lot to hear.
And but it's like, it's what can you do? Like,
you know, like they like, I think they made the
right decision, And I don't know. I don't follow her,
(21:15):
so I don't. I don't know if she's like spoken
up about it, has she I'm not sure.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
She's made a Yeah, I don't. I don't follow her
super closely either. Obviously I don't condone what that was
about at all, but you know, she's got to navigate
it in her own way. Now.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Yeah, it's definitely a lot so but I don't really
support that kind of I don't at all, period.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
But yeah, yeah, yeah, well that's that's part of the
reality world is you have to realize if you go
public that things in the past can come back, which
is terrifying.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
It is, it is, it's crazy.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
Yeah, luckily you don't have to worry about that. I
feel like you're also someone who always is very very transparent.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
I am.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
You seem like you were raised by two really good people.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
Oh yeah, my parents are the bed.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
Who also probably didn't put up with shit.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
No they don't, you know, that's.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
Like my Italian.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
Household, so really don't.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Yeah, yeah, it's cool.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
And I think like we also like growing up have
dealt with a lot of like racism ourselves.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
Oh really like yeah, just.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
Like being like Middle Eastern. I think it's just something
that is really like sensitive and like serious to us.
So that's why I like anytime I hear anyone speaking
about like me or like my friends or like you know,
I just I don't. I don't like it and I
don't stand for it.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
And it's like, guys, it's twenty twenty five. Can we
move past that? Like who still wants to be? Who
still is a racist?
Speaker 2 (22:42):
It's crazy?
Speaker 1 (22:42):
Like what the actual thought?
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Like, it's crazy. I know.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
Don't get me on a tangent, because I will go
and like I can't. I just I can't wor if
we're going to keep this about you, let's talk about
the new spin off show you are on, which I
feel like you haven't spoken a lot about. Very tight lips.
I tell everybody purpose well, I will tell you to
do the name and what we can expect and what
the premise is. Give me the lowdown.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
It is beyond the Villa, Love Islands, Beyond the Villa,
and it's just season six Islanders navigating our life after
the Villa, and we're all in La. You'll get to
see Miguel and I a lot. You'll see our relationship,
you see PPG, you see our men, you see living
(23:27):
Kaylor Connor, Aaron and Nicole comes in Kendall. It's it's
it's fun. It was, it's fun. I feel like it's
like a it's a hot mess express, but it's fun.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
Yeah, did you feel like you would return back to
reality TV?
Speaker 2 (23:46):
I didn't think that I wanted to return back to
reality TV for like a really long time. I don't
think it was ever like a final note at all.
And I think that's also a really big thing that
people kind of like mistook what I said when I said,
like I wouldn't go like back on Love Island again,
(24:09):
because they had called me to go back on Love
Island games like right after I got out the villa,
and like I really meant I didn't want to work
with like certain producers on Love Island again, just because
of my personal experience and what they have said to
me after the show was filmed. Like it's not even
(24:30):
about like the villain edit or like oh like my edit,
like really like that stuff I don't even care about.
But it's just stuff that like personally, like my experience
that like I had outside of that was not positive.
So it was just like certain producers that I wouldn't
work with again. And that's all I meant. I never
(24:51):
said that. I was like, like, I love Peacock, They're amazing.
I love NBC, and I honestly love a lot of
the producers that were on Love Island as well. It
was just a few people that were not very respectful
and I feel like they took a lot of advantage.
(25:12):
And I don't know shit, Like what do I know,
Like I like, I'm like twenty four years old, like
in that villa, like a like, I don't know anything
about the industry at this point in time. I'm like,
I'm just there, and I do think that they do
mold certain things how they want it.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
Was there something specific without naming anybody, of course, but
was there something specific said to you that really just
wasn't cool.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
Yeah, there were so many things said to me that
wasn't cool. Like there were so many times where they
would be like so they pull Islanders like aside, Like
a lot of the producers will pull you aside on
the show and they'll kind of like say, how do
you feel like they do like check ins, yeah, and
like during those check ins, like they would be like, oh,
like Miguel told me that he doesn't see a future
(26:05):
with you outside of this and like but you know
other people did. And I'm like yes because after that
and when I told Miguel, he was like, I literally
never said that. And I because they were trying to
like shove me in a different direction away from Miguel,
(26:25):
because I know, like they thought that would be like
the craziest reality TV moment, but I'm like I am
a human being with like feelings, Like I'm not like
this is crazy, like come on, guys, but I really
do think because and they were also saying like the
same things to Miguel, like it was just like the
same producer, and he was saying like the same things
(26:48):
to Miguel, and they're like while he's in while Miguel
was in Costan, he's like, you know, you don't know
what Leah's doing over there, Like I think it's a lot,
and it's like another lie, like dude, So it was
just a lot. And I feel like there was like
a lot of situations like that where they were trying
(27:08):
to like manipulate a situation, and I just wasn't like
a big fan of that because I'm like, you guys
clearly had a narrative and like that's fine because like
it's TV, I guess, but it's reality TV. Well, so
it's like you're not writing a show right right.
Speaker 1 (27:24):
It's it's not fine because when you start manipulating the truth,
that's the problem. Like there's things I get that producers
say to stoke the fire, like hey, so and so
said this about you, and they really did say that,
and they're just adding to the drama. It's a flat
out makeup lies, Like come on, that's not why we
watch it, Like we watch it, well, a lot of
people watch it, yes, for the entertainment and drama, but
real drama, not that get out of here, you know
(27:47):
what I.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
Mean, too manufactured at that point, and like people see
through that. So but I am really glad that mcgaul
and I were into each other enough that we didn't
even care about the things that they were say we
still knew. I feel like at that time, like obviously
we weren't as close as we are now, but I
(28:07):
feel like we just got each other. And I think
that that was like such a big thing that we
were able to just be like, I don't give a fuck.
Speaker 1 (28:21):
So in the news in the new series you're in,
who were you the most excited to see again and
who are you kind of like, Oh, I'm a little nervous.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
I don't have anyone that I really do have such
a love for everyone that was on the show, just
because it's so I really do feel for everyone, Like
it really is hard, and I think like people are
always like, oh, you shouldn't respond to things, and I'm like, dude,
it hasn't even been a year since we've been home.
When you think about it, it literally it's gonna be
(28:47):
a year soon. But like it hasn't even been a
year since like this new this new life. Yeah, so
it's like, of course, like there's going to be so
much to have to navigate and so much that you
don't know. It's like unknown territory, like you don't know
what you're doing. And so there's no one that that
(29:08):
I feel any any sort of way towards, like truly
and honestly, but I'm always excited to be with my girls.
And I was really happy that Jenny got because Serena
and Court I live in LA, but Janay and Kenny.
Jenny lives in Vegas and Kenny lives in Dallas, So
I was really happy that they got to stay in
LA for two months. Yeah, I just got to like
(29:29):
hang out like they lived there. And we've been trying
to convince Jenny to live in LA, but she doesn't
want to.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
Maybe one day. Maybe my friends in LA trying to
convince me too. I'm like, you never know, we'll buy
a compound one day, I'll just live on it. You
you're also killing it as a little entrepreneur Miss Skylar Beauty.
I see you, I see you. So how did that
come to d and like, what made you want to
be a part of this brand?
Speaker 2 (29:52):
No, it's honestly, it was so crazy how it came
to be because I have loved Skylar for years. I've
been a very I've been really big into fragrance always,
and I never thought I would have my own on
this earth. I'm like, this is crazy, like every damn
like this is just this is wild. But I had
(30:16):
posted when I got out of the villa because while
I was in the villa, a lot of people were
trying to figure out what perfumes I was using and
I know, like the girls would come off like you know,
the dumped Islanders and they would be like, oh, like
Lea smelt so good, and like a lot of the
girls would use my perfumes because I brought a bunch
and Skyler was one of them. I had made a
(30:38):
top five favorite perfume thing I think it was, and
Skyler was one of them. It was Vanilla sky And
after that they had reached out and they sent me
like pr but then they reached out to Uta my
agency and they were like, we really want Leah to
come on and take over and just you know, so
(31:00):
we had so many meetings and we finally were like
you know what, like this is it? Like we got
to do it. And I was like, like so so
happy because honestly, the first thing that every time everyone
would ask me like what do you want to do
after the Villa, I was like, really, I definitely wanted
my something of my own, and I really really wanted
(31:23):
it to be fragrance because I love body stuff. I
love fragrance, like it's something that I'm really into. Like
in the Villa, the girls, I, me and my sister
we make this body bomb and my sister would make
the best one. It had like the almond oils and
like it was like the we would homemake it. And
(31:43):
so I brought like one of the jars that my
sister gave to me, and the girls were using it
and it was just so amazing. I feel they called
me Leah's Pharmacy because I just had so much stuff.
But it's always been such like an interest of mine. Yeah,
and I feel like it was very I feel like
(32:06):
it was so meant to be because I also have
egzema and I did not. First of all, I didn't
even know that Skyler was like a clean brand. I
just went into Sephora one day and I just smelled
really good. So I was like, okay, But at this point,
I didn't know I had egzema. This is like a
new founding thing, and I just loved how it smelled.
(32:27):
And then now though, I feel like I have to
be so careful about what I put on my skin.
But what I love about Skyler is like just because
it's clean doesn't mean it's gonna smell like dirt, you
know what I mean. Like it still smells good, like
you still smell audible, It still smell a beautiful cupcake.
But I really appreciate things that are good for the environment,
(32:47):
don't harm animals, and they don't harm yourself. So I
feel like that's really important to me, and that's what
I really wanted in a brand myself, and I'm really
glad that it has become my And it really is
like such, I've been working on this for like ten months.
I've been working on my own fragrance that so basically
(33:08):
everything from this point forward is gonna be my fragrance
is dropping Like I know, people have like questions about
things like that, and like it's not just one you know,
I'm not dropping like one fragrance with It's like, this
is my brand. Yeah, this is my brand.
Speaker 1 (33:24):
Now, will you have a spare me fragrance?
Speaker 2 (33:27):
Maybe I'm trying to think of like should I make
weird names?
Speaker 1 (33:31):
I feel like you need a spare me? Yeah? Really yes,
it would be like Gangbuster number one, number one fragrance ever.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
I have, Oh my gosh, I have one that I've
been working on and it's my favorite thing in the world.
Everyone's gonna die for it.
Speaker 1 (33:48):
Okay, we can't wait. I see you, entrepreneur, I see
it all happening. And congratulations on that, because it's it's
a really really big deal, Leah, before we wrap the
name of the shows, I've never said this before. And
I bring artists on. I cover a lot of red
carpet premieres and a lot of sit down junkets with
casts of movies and shows, and they're always so quick,
and I'm sure you've done a lot of quick interviews yourself.
(34:10):
And I felt like I wanted to create a space
where people could come on and just share something that
they don't get the chance to say often. Whatever that
means to you. So is there something you've never said
before that you want to share today?
Speaker 2 (34:23):
Oh my gosh, I'm on the spot.
Speaker 1 (34:26):
Whatever it means, I think.
Speaker 2 (34:33):
Maybe like I feel like I had to shrink myself
a lot to feel to fit into certain places, or
to feel like loved, or to receive certain things, or
like to receive good things or feel deserving. And I
(34:54):
feel like I've always had like I've always felt like
maybe I was like too much or like, you know,
like I don't know how to like describe it or
put it into a lot of words. But I think
being on the show and honestly, people seeing me in
every light. I think it made me really feel like
(35:15):
it's okay to be your full self. And you know,
people who are gonna love you, are gonna love your
whole self. You don't need to like minimize yourself in
order to make someone you know feel bigger to fit
into their life. Like the right people, You're just gonna
(35:38):
fit regardless.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
Yeah, but yeah, I love that. That's a good reminder
for us, all right. And I think that going through
the experience you went through and coming out of it
and now really being this public facing person in ways
you probably never expected, I think it's such an important
lesson for you to remind yourself of two like you
are enough as you are. Ye, don't need to fit
(36:00):
anyone else's mold, right, Yeah, I like that. What's your sign?
Speaker 2 (36:05):
I'm a Leo, I'm a triple Leo.
Speaker 1 (36:06):
Okay, I'm an Aquarius. Okay, I feel you. I'm like
you're an mpath I am yeah, Yeah, you feel deeply.
Speaker 2 (36:13):
I really do. I cry like all day, Oh my god,
what about everything? Do you?
Speaker 1 (36:18):
I'm an Italian that happens.
Speaker 2 (36:20):
I cry like laughing, I cry.
Speaker 1 (36:21):
I'm in the blows and it's part of it. Yeah,
Leah I just I'm so happy for you and your success,
and I'm so happy you found love, and I'm happy
you're popping off as a businesswoman, and I'm so happy
you came on this show. Thank you for hanging out.
Of course, thank you, and until we meet again. Okay,
(36:44):
I've never said this before. It is hosted by me,
Tommy Didario. This podcast is executive produced by Andrew Puglisi
at iHeartRadio and by me Tommy, with editing by Joshua Claudney.
I've never said this before. It's part of the Elvis
d Rampi podcast network on iHeart Podcasts. For more, rate
review and subscribe to our show. And if you liked
(37:06):
this episode, tell your friends. Until next time, I'm Tommy Diderio.
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