Gregg “PUP” Johnson 1NZSAS Regiment (ret) “NATURE DOESN’T LIE” www.pakari.nz

Welcome to a most refreshing conversation with a true Renaissance Warrior- Greg “PUP” Johnson.

I became aware of Pup’s current endeavours through a post I quote in the show- “
7 deployments with the SAS, 3 years as a security contractor in Iraq at the height of the sectarian violence, 2 years in Thailand during a military coup was all so easy compared to now trying to help people thrive. Its so hard trying to educate closed organisational minds. So much talk of He tangata he tangata he tangata. So much ✔️ box support. Have run 5 Pakari programs for 2/1RNZIR with amazing outcomes and not a single thank you, not a single returned email. “

and link to it is here- https://www.instagram.com/p/CjgkPtmvmRT/

So in order to facilitate a very open conversation in order to help our younger generation and to train our soldiers differently, we linked up and here it is!!

After joining the army at 17 and a lengthy career in the NZSAS and Tier 1 Military Contracting in Iraq, Pup eventually returned to NZ and after a conversation with the world’;s best multisport athlete, Nathan Fa'avae, started a new chapter of his life at Outward Bound.

He is now a part of pakari.nz where he uses “Mother Nature” to teach, show and improve both toughness and resilience in both civilians and the soldiers in our New Zealand Military.

Pup has been a guest on Joe Hotai’s Epic Aotearoa https://www.epichpodcast.co.nz/ show this year and I am humbled that he is now appearing on here.

Like many SF Veterans, Pup is using his Special Forces Experience and Training to help others, and of all of these I think the words “ACTA NON VERBA” sums up the necessity of what he teaches (ACTIONS NOT WORDS).


So many organisations these days- including the New Zealand Military simply pay Lip Service to “Mental Health” to “OHS” to “Self Care” and they lack the actions that are required to achieve an actual outcome.

The outcome being a combat mindset, stress inoculation, toughness, resilience and performance.



Our current society does not teach these to the degree that we learned, that our grandparents knew, and it’s not the current generation that is to blame, but Pup has taken up the mantle of RECOGNISING A PROBLEM, AND CREATING A SOLUTION.

A very open conversation with a Special Forces combat veteran, it was an honour to have Pup speak on the show and I am sure you will love listening to him as much as I did.

I will leave you with Pup’s quote- “Nature heals, and Nature Doesn’t lie.”

After this I encourage you to get outside the front door , your car and just take a 2 min walk in our gorgeous world and heal.

You can find Gregg at www.pakar.nz and on Insta at https://www.instagram.com/gregspartan/



I am Damian Porter , Former Special Forces Operator, High Performance Living Coach from www.eatwellmovewell.netand you can listen to my STRAIGHT TALK MIND AND MUSCLE PODCAST sponsored by www.realketonesaustralia.comthe best and most effective ketone supplement on the market to reduce anxiety, enhance brain performance and supply twice as much energy as glucose.

links for my former shows are here-
spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1rlAGRXCwLIJfQCQ5B3PYB?si=UmgsMBFkRfelCAm1E4Pd3QItunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/straight-talk-mind-and-muscle-podcast/id1315986446?mt=2

YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpt-Zy1jciVn7cWB0B-y5WATyzrzfwucZ

Google - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vMTA5NDc4L3JzczI?ep=14

Amazon https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5bce2d31-a171-4e83-bada-d1384c877e76