Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Joel Speakman sits down for an in-depth conversation after a recent training session, with topics ranging from stand-up comedy to MMA and personal growth. Joel opens up about the lessons he's learned on and off the mats.
On this episode:
- Joel’s journey through sobriety and returning to MMA competition
- How stand-up comedy and acting shaped his mindset as a fighter
- Insights from his first amateur MMA bout and what he took away from it
- The role of nature, camping, and holistic wellness in his life
- Balancing passions: soccer, martial arts, and creative expression
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WE'VE GOT NEW MERCH:
Head on over to rafesparza.com/merch
You can purchase our BRAND NEW Grappling Hour HOODIES and T-SHIRTS.
----
We're on PATREON now!
Head over to patreon.com/grapplinghour to become an EARLY ACCESS or PREMIUM Grappling Hour member.
With early access, you'll see our interviews 30 days before everyone else and as a premium member, you'll get exclusive content (extra episodes, bonus episodes, technique breakdowns) that aren't available anywhere else.
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👾 - JOIN THE GRAPPLING HOUR DISCORD: discord.gg/hsePzUxZrA
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#JoelSpeakman #SparStarMMA #jiujitsu #grappling #grapplinghour #mma
YOU CAN LISTEN TO OUR SHOW AT:
🍏 - APPLE PODCASTS - podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grappling-hour/id1437702200
🎶 - SPOTIFY - open.spotify.com/show/28tKXEawj9SIwlr5fd1sx3?si=5415e680b0bc4fb5
🛒 -AMAZON MUSIC - music.amazon.com/podcasts/040e2ca4-e265-4be6-9477-3cd0e6474aeb/grappling-hour
🗣 - AUDIBLE - audible.com/pd/B09TYVGR51?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp&shareTest=TestShare
🔎 - GOOGLE PODCASTS - podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucmFmZXNwYXJ6YS5jb20vZ3JhcHBsaW5naG91cj9mb3JtYXQ9cnNz?hl=en
YOU CAN FOLLOW OUR SHOW’S SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES:
📸 - INSTAGRAM - instagram.com/grapplinghour
📝 - THREADS - threads.net/@grapplinghour
✍🏽 - TWITTER - twitter.com/grapplinghour
👍🏽 - FACEBOOK - facebook.com/grapplinghour
👾 - TWITCH - twitch.tv/grapplinghour
🕺🏽 - TIKTOK - tiktok.com/@grapplinghour
YOU CAN LISTEN TO MY OTHER SHOW – VERBAL TAP AT:
🍏 - APPLE PODCASTS - podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/verbal-tap-mma-comedy-podcast/id580639209
🎶 - SPOTIFY - open.spotify.com/show/2WWnrdsH0ozNUe8VLpWIeg?si=52349ad38eeb4575
🗣 - AUDIBLE -
audible.com/pd/Verbal-Tap-MMA-Comedy-Podcast-Podcast/B08K4QQPMX?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp&shareTest=TestShare
🛒 - AMAZON -
music.amazon.com/podcasts/f58ddb33-36de-4f63-92f4-4e9414f2436a/verbal-tap-mma-comedy-podcast
🔎 - GOOGLE PODCASTS - podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5yZWRjaXJjbGUuY29tLzRmODJhYzczLWQwOTctNGFjMC05MGQyLTU3ZjI1ODIwNDAzMA?hl=en
YOU CAN FOLLOW VERBAL TAP’S SOCIAL MEDIA AT
📸 - INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/verbaltapcast
✍🏽 - TWITTER: twitter.com/verbaltapcast
👍🏽 - FACEBOOK: facebook.com/VerbalTapCast
🕺🏽 - TIKTOK - tiktok.com/@verbaltapcast
📝 - THREADS - threads.net/@verbaltapcast
Joel Speakman sits down for an in-depth conversation after a recent training session, with topics ranging from stand-up comedy to MMA and personal growth. Joel opens up about the lessons he's learned on and off the mats.
On this episode:
- Joel’s journey through sobriety and returning to MMA competition
- How stand-up comedy and acting shaped his mindset as a fighter
- Insights from his first amateur MMA bout and what he took away from it
- The role of nature, camping, and holistic wellness in his life
- Balancing passions: soccer, martial arts, and creative expression
------
WE'VE GOT NEW MERCH:
Head on over to rafesparza.com/merch
You can purchase our BRAND NEW Grappling Hour HOODIES and T-SHIRTS.
----
We're on PATREON now!
Head over to patreon.com/grapplinghour to become an EARLY ACCESS or PREMIUM Grappling Hour member.
With early access, you'll see our interviews 30 days before everyone else and as a premium member, you'll get exclusive content (extra episodes, bonus episodes, technique breakdowns) that aren't available anywhere else.
----
👾 - JOIN THE GRAPPLING HOUR DISCORD: discord.gg/hsePzUxZrA
----
#JoelSpeakman #SparStarMMA #jiujitsu #grappling #grapplinghour #mma
YOU CAN LISTEN TO OUR SHOW AT:
🍏 - APPLE PODCASTS - podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grappling-hour/id1437702200
🎶 - SPOTIFY - open.spotify.com/show/28tKXEawj9SIwlr5fd1sx3?si=5415e680b0bc4fb5
🛒 -AMAZON MUSIC - music.amazon.com/podcasts/040e2ca4-e265-4be6-9477-3cd0e6474aeb/grappling-hour
🗣 - AUDIBLE - audible.com/pd/B09TYVGR51?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp&shareTest=TestShare
🔎 - GOOGLE PODCASTS - podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucmFmZXNwYXJ6YS5jb20vZ3JhcHBsaW5naG91cj9mb3JtYXQ9cnNz?hl=en
YOU CAN FOLLOW OUR SHOW’S SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES:
📸 - INSTAGRAM - instagram.com/grapplinghour
📝 - THREADS - threads.net/@grapplinghour
✍🏽 - TWITTER - twitter.com/grapplinghour
👍🏽 - FACEBOOK - facebook.com/grapplinghour
👾 - TWITCH - twitch.tv/grapplinghour
🕺🏽 - TIKTOK - tiktok.com/@grapplinghour
YOU CAN LISTEN TO MY OTHER SHOW – VERBAL TAP AT:
🍏 - APPLE PODCASTS - podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/verbal-tap-mma-comedy-podcast/id580639209
🎶 - SPOTIFY - open.spotify.com/show/2WWnrdsH0ozNUe8VLpWIeg?si=52349ad38eeb4575
🗣 - AUDIBLE -
audible.com/pd/Verbal-Tap-MMA-Comedy-Podcast-Podcast/B08K4QQPMX?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp&shareTest=TestShare
🛒 - AMAZON -
music.amazon.com/podcasts/f58ddb33-36de-4f63-92f4-4e9414f2436a/verbal-tap-mma-comedy-podcast
🔎 - GOOGLE PODCASTS - podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5yZWRjaXJjbGUuY29tLzRmODJhYzczLWQwOTctNGFjMC05MGQyLTU3ZjI1ODIwNDAzMA?hl=en
YOU CAN FOLLOW VERBAL TAP’S SOCIAL MEDIA AT
📸 - INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/verbaltapcast
✍🏽 - TWITTER: twitter.com/verbaltapcast
👍🏽 - FACEBOOK: facebook.com/VerbalTapCast
🕺🏽 - TIKTOK - tiktok.com/@verbaltapcast
📝 - THREADS - threads.net/@verbaltapcast
