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 77: Competition and preparation
I talk about how sweet it is when athletes finally overcome obstacles and have the emotional stability to find joy in competition.
Episode76: Training tips and advice
I talk about my conversations with Damian and British marathoner Mara Yamauchi about training for beginners and experts. Books too!
Episode 75: Damian Warner (Post/Pre) Season Interview
Damian and I talk about last season, this season, and what it feels like to win a gold medal at the Olympics.
Episode 74: Damian talks, qualification rules and Hallowe'en!
I talk about the stresses leading into the 2021 season and marvel at Damian's growing voice and maturity.
Episode 73: Talking to Dennis about the upcoming season
I consult the big man and we talk about what Damian's 2022 season will look like. And marvel at how close the 2024 Olympics are already!
Episode 72: Getting shit done
Bleeding your own brakes, delivering papers, working on an oil rig and listening to Dave Chappelle are all important to achieving success in life!
Episode 71: Thanksgiving
Tibet, Haiti, The Darien Gap, Olympic athletes and the amazing toughness of human beings. And why we should all be thankful for what we have!
Episode 70: Doctors, Emotions and meeting Nick Nurse
I talk about the horrors of the annual physical, homicidal Tibetan dentists, and how coaches need to understand emotions!
Episode 69: Games, Talent and Context
The games kids play are more important than the drills they do, plus games give athletes context. And what exactly is talent? Here's a new definition!
Episode 68: The Importance of Telling Stories
How telling stories and creating metaphors help us learn and teach and, hopefully, change people's minds: even if those stories are about shit eating pigs and homicidal turtles!
Episode 67: The events, the planning, and how coaches learn
I talk about world rankings, Damian's numbers in specific events, and how having a cadre of professional colleagues is vitally important to every coach and teacher.
Episode 66: The Art of Making Appearances
Attending corporate and athletic events as a "celebrity" requires energy and patience and is not as easy as Damian made it look this week!
Episode 65: Shooting Commercials, and the importance of Listening
My apologies, lots of technical difficulties this week! Another busy week, shooting a commercial, schmoozing, and of course attending the air show.
Episode 64: Gold medal aftermath
The celebration and the media whirlwind, or at least some of it, after returning home with Damian and his gold medal from the Olympics!
Episode 63: The Olympics Part 3, Damian carries the flag!
In the aftermath of Damian's gold medal performance in the decathlon he was chosen to be Canada's flag bearer at the Closing Ceremonies, and I got to go with him!
Episode 62: The Olympics Part 2, Damian wins Gold!
Damian Warner wins the GOLD MEDAL in decathlon at the 2020 (21) Olympics in Tokyo with an Olympic record score of 9018 points. Damian not only wins gold and shatters the Olympic record …
Episode 61: Tokyo Olympics Part 1
I made it to Tokyo, the Village, and the Olympic Stadium and for some reason it all feels more real now. Damian competes in 3 days and I can't wait!
Episode 60: Reporting live from Gifu, Japan
Damian and I are here at the Athletics Canada Training Camp in Gifu Japan. Most of Team Canada's track and field athletes are here and we are prepping for the Olympics.
Episode 59: Off to Tokyo
Final stressors and preparation for not only the Olympics but the 30 hour trip to get there! And BTW why are things like golf and tennis even in the Olympics?
Episode 58: We leave in a week!
The final preparation and all the rules and regulations we have to follow in Japan. And my take on removing names from schools.