In this episode of Conversations with Big Rich, Justin “Aussie” Khoo shares the winding journey that took him from growing up on a Malaysian rubber plantation and swimming competitively in Australia to working in mining, commercial diving, railroading, and the motorcycle industry.
Justin talks about discovering his passion for off-roading, adapting to life in the United States, and returning to the trail through vehicle builds, 12-volt installations, and overlanding adventures. He also recalls guiding Australian filmmakers through California’s Rubicon Trail and introducing them to American off-road culture.
The conversation then turns to Rugged Revive, the personal-care product Justin and his wife, Kelly, developed for people who spend time outdoors. Inspired by real-world challenges on the trail, Rugged Revive offers an effective way to clean up without a traditional shower. Justin explains how they created the formula, bootstrapped the business, and expanded beyond off-road into hunting, hiking, camping, sports, and other outdoor activities.
Along the way, Justin and Big Rich swap stories about Australian wildlife, remote travel, beer, space for off-road toys, and the dream of building a massive garage.
TRANSCRIPT
[00:01:13.390] – Big Rich Klein
My next guest is better known by his nickname, but it’s only half right, and that’s from his mom’s side, although he carries the correct accent. He has bounced around job-wise but found his true calling in off-road. My guest is Justin Khoo, better known as Aussie. All right, Justin Khoo, it’s so nice to have you on Conversations with Big Rich, and we’re going to talk about your upbringing, which by your accent is obviously not here in the U.S., at least not to begin with. And then we’re going to talk about your business and everything else. So it’s good to have you on.
[00:01:54.780] – Justin “Aussie” Khoo
Yeah, thanks for having me, Rich. I appreciate reaching out and having a conversation with you.
[00:01:59.760] – Big Rich Klein
Great. So first question I ask everybody, where were you born and raised?
[00:02:05.760] – Justin “Aussie” Khoo
I was, uh, even though everyone calls me Aussie and they think I’m Australian, I was actually born in Malaysia.
[00:02:12.180] – Big Rich Klein
Oh, really?
[00:02:12.580] – Justin “Aussie” Khoo
Uh, yeah, I spent my first few years till I was about 5 or 6 living on a rubber plantation in the jungle in Malaysia with pet monkeys. And, uh, and then when we, we moved to Australia when I was, uh, of school age, uh, for the education system. And because my mom, my mom’s from Australia, so yeah, we moved back there. So born in Malaysia, raised, uh, in Malaysia and Australia.
[00:02:40.640] – Big Rich Klein
That’s awesome. And, uh, do you remember much of Malaysia?
[00:02:45.930] – Justin “Aussie” Khoo
Oh, absolutely.
[00:02:46.970] – Big Rich Klein
Oh, really?
[00:02:47.810] – Justin “Aussie” Khoo
A lot of core memories there. Um, yeah, the, the religious festivals, but the food— you can never go past the food in Asia. Uh, it’s— that is still to this day. Um, you know, my wife Kelly can attest to it. I’ll, I’ll, uh, want comfort food of certain, certain stuff that we just cannot get in the US. I just really, really have a, have a hankering for.
[00:03:13.790] – Big Rich Klein
And, uh, you went to Australia where— when you were around 5, you said?
[00:03:18.360] – Justin “Aussie” Khoo
Yeah, about 5 or 6. Um, yeah, and we moved there and because all, all the cousins on my, my mum’s side and all my mum’s family’s from Australia, so moved there. And, uh, my parents started a business, uh, metal fabrication business in Australia, and I was pretty much lived in Australia until 2005. 15 when I moved here to the US. READ MORE
