The World According to Gar
The World According to Gar is a completely personal podcast based on the unique life experiences of Gar Leyshon. Gar is currently a track and field coach, and more specifically the personal coach of The World's Greatest Athlete: Damian Warner, the Olympic Gold Medalist in decathlon from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. But this podcast is not just about sports and coaching the decathlon; Gar also talks, rants and swears about politics, pandemics and pinheads who piss him off. And he does so from the perspective of a man who has lived and worked in Taiwan, Australia, England, Scotland, the USA and on an oil rig in the arctic. On top of that Gar, who retired from teaching in 2021, has taught and coached for 25 years, has a wife and 2 teenaged sons, and STILL doesn’t drink! He does however, have a bad attitude and an ugly ass beard to match. So, if you are looking for a sports themed podcast about coaching world class athletics, with plenty of bizarre stories, strong opinions and foul language, then you are in the right place!
- Update frequency
- every 8 days
- Average duration
- 44 minutes
- Episodes
- 197
- Years Active
- 2020 - 2024
Episode 97: Fixing the Diamond League, and Kramatorsk = Guernica
How to run the Diamond League in a way that grows track and field and enriches the athletes while including everybody! And the horrors in Ukraine remind me of Guernica.
Episode 96: Damian's Opponents, and Abuse within Canadian Sports Organizations
Who does Damian compete against and which guys are his biggest competitors? Also, Canadian sports organizations are being accused of abusive behaviour by their own athletes!
Episode 95: World Indoors, the Good, the Bad, and the UGLY!
Amazing athletes, but why are championships always awarded to countries run by authoritarian governments or those willing to pay bribes?
Episode 94: Damian wins World Indoors
It wasn't easy but Damian Warner won the 2022 World Indoor Championship gold medal in the heptathlon.
Episode 92: It takes a Team
How the whole team rallied to get Damian through February and on to his first competition of the year. And why I do support the banning of Russian athletes at the para-Olympics.
Episode 91: Russia Invades Ukraine
Some background on Ukraine, the Soviet Union, Russia, Zelensky, Putin and the invasion.
Episode 90: Ignorance at the heart of the Convoy Occupying Ottawa
My thoughts on the harm caused by the Convoy that has occupied Ottawa for the last 3 weeks, plus a shot at Own the Podium.
Episode 89: Russia's doping history, Canada's lunatic fringe
I wonder why is Russia even allowed to compete internationally, and how Canadians living in the freest country in the world have been manipulated into thinking they need to overthrow th…
Episode 88: China and the I.O.C.
My thoughts on the wisdom of holding the Winter Olympics in Beijing this year.
Episode 87: Analytics
The numbers and what they mean and how they effect Damian Warner's training and planning.
Episode 86: The "Get Back" Effect
The Beatles documentary "Get Back" is a learning tool for anybody trying to achieve greatness.
Episode 85: Motivation!
How doing "hard" things like hurdles or ground school or writing a book is what keeps us motivated.
Episode 84: Mental and Emotional Health for athletes
I talk about the "web" of support Damian has to help him retain his emotional balance and be the best decathlete in the world.
Episode 83: Komodo New Years, and on to 2022!
My favourite New Year's Eve memory and my thoughts on what I need to do to enjoy 2022.
Episode 82: A Recap of 2021
The two halves of 2021: the uncertainty and stress, then the competitive season and success
Episode 81: The Heptathlon, and a Christmas message
Damian inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame, an explanation of the indoor heptathlon, and two people who make me proud to be a coach.
Episode 80: Damian Warner, Canadian Athlete of the Year!
Damian Warner wins the Lou Marsh Award as Canadian Athlete of the Year, then faces tough questions about racism and a boycott of the Beijing Olympics.
Episode 79: Money Money Money!
I talk about funding and where the money comes from and how little of it is available! Also, how and where a decathlete might win money, if he was good enough.
Episode 78: Damian's training plan for December
Some specifics on what Damian does at practice and how we are constantly searching for ways to work smarter rather than harder.