Episode #5 – Roger Hanney (Part 1): FROM the Rise of HOKA to the 4 Deserts Grand Slam

Roger Hanney isn’t just a runner—he’s a force of nature.

As the man behind HOKA’s rise in Australia and New Zealand, Roger helped turn an obscure, oversized shoe into one of the most trusted names in running. From battling early industry scepticism to watching the big brands follow suit (looking at you, Nike), he’s lived the brand’s growth from the inside out.

But Roger’s story doesn’t stop at retail strategy and product launches. He’s also an ultra-endurance athlete who became the first Type 1 diabetic in the world to complete the 4 Deserts Grand Slam—a series of four 250km footraces across the Atacama, Gobi, Sahara, and Antarctica.

In this two-part conversation, we go wide and deep.
In Part One, we cover: 👟 The early days of HOKA and why the brand was seen as “moon shoes”
👟 Whether Nike really did follow HOKA’s lead on shoe design
👟 Roger’s mindset shift after being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes
👟 What it took to build trust in a radically different running shoe
👟 Balancing brand leadership, family life, and long trail runs
👟 Why sometimes, you just need to give it a go

Part Two goes deep into the 4 Deserts Grand Slam, what it takes to suffer well, and how adventure has shaped Roger’s view on leadership and life. Stay tuned.

This one’s for the shoe nerds, the adventurers, and anyone who’s ever asked, “Can I really do this?”