Jun 18, 2022
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Today we hear our first Combat Story from a member of our close
partners in New Zealand: Joe Hotai. Joe successfully completed not
only the New Zealand SAS Selection and Training Course, but then
(likely because he enjoys pain) also went on to complete the
Australian SAS Selection and Training course. Joe then served in
combat with the Australian SAS in direct action operations.
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Since leaving the service, Joe overcame a childhood fear of putting
himself out there and has created two podcasts (the Epich Podcast
which explores people making a positive change in the world - and
which he has graciously invited me to be on - and the Move Sweat
Suffer Podcast which promotes a more healthy way of life).
Joe has also co-founded the Mill Gym in Australia and is the
founder of Zero Alpha, which puts on ultra endurance events
combining some of the experiences from his time in Special
Operations, and is also a consultant. His YouTube channel is full
of pragmatic workouts that remind me of Pat Mac!
Joe has an incredibly humble persona with a great sense of humor.
In fact, he’s described himself as ‘imperfect, annoying, and
striving to improve as a husband, father, and human being on a
daily basis.” I hope you enjoy this interview of highs and lows and
overcoming difficult situations from someone at the forefront of
the Special Operations community, as much as I did.
Find Joe Online:
- Instagram @joehotai
- Podcast Epich Aotearoa https://www.epichpodcast.co.nz
- YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/joehotai1936
- Move, Sweat, Suffer YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/movesweatsuffer
- Zero Alpha https://www.zeroalpha.co.nz/
- Burpee Wear https://www.burpeewear.com/
- LinkedIn article: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/putting-myself-yourself-out-joe-hotai/
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- Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus
- Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle
Show Notes:
0:00 - Intro
1:07 - Guest Introduction (Joe Hotai)
2:31 - Interview begins
2:55 - Growing up in New Zealand and family dynamics
19:30 - The impact of not having a dad as a child
26:00 - Desire to join the military and special forces
specifically
31:15 - Lacking confidence to speak up and a moment in basic
training when he found his confidence
39:15 - If not the military what would you be doing?
47:29 -Experience with both New Zealand and Australian SAS
selection and qual course
1:08:56 - The type of operations that come down the Australian SAS
vs. New Zealand SAS
1:21:36 - How having a Maori (indigenous Polynesian people of
mainland New Zealand) background came up during his time in the
military
1:24 - Crazy story of Blackhawk crashing while he and his team were
in it
1:26:38 - The emotions and mindset on his first deployment to Iraq
at 25
1:35:19 - Combat Story - Having to troubleshoot and fix a Mk-19
while actively being shot at
2:04:05 - What he is doing today with his 2 podcasts
2:14: 28 - What did you carry into combat?
2:15:23 - Would you do it again?
2:20:37 - Listener comments and shout outs