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 37: Are they listening?
You can be as brilliant a coach or teacher as there is in the world but what's the point if nobody's listening? I also rant about the education system's role in the divisiveness of poli…
Episode 36: Evolution
I talk about what the theory of evolution really means and how it can apply to athletes. More ranting about the bullshit surrounding kids "missing out" by not going to school, and the …
Episode 35: Big picture ideas
I quote one of my favourite authors, Kurt Vonnegut, extensively this week because he was a humanist who believed in the inherent goodness of people. He also thought most people were idi…
Episode 34: Coaching 101
This week I talk about the lessons to be found in Raptor's coach Nick Nurses' book Rapture. I also talk about the difference between internal and external cues. And I read a 3rd insta…
Episode 33: Testing, Testing
I talk about genetic testing, physical testing, school testing, testing as competition and all sorts of different types of assessment. I also wonder why we are so obsessed with testing …
Episode 32: Too good too soon
I talk about the relative age effect and how difficult it can be to overcome. I also talk about how harmful it can be to keep telling kids and athletes just to work harder if they want …
Episode 31: Doping, Resolutions, and Ventland
The show Chernobyl - Soviet Union - Russia - doping - what the hell is going on with doping anyway?! And what about New Year's resolutions? As an added bonus I read a story rather than …
Episode 30: Merry Christmas!
Spending Christmas in a foreign country can really make you miss home, even if home is boring and predictable! Oh, and I read my favourite Christmas story this week.
Episode 29: The Season has started!
Not the Christmas Season, the Decathlon Season! The first results of the year are in and the countdown to the 2021 Olympics has begun. I talk about the qualifying process, and Christmas…
Episode 28: Music to my ears!
Music fans are gonna want to listen to this one, it's pure gold! I talk about musical connections and my memories of Tom Waits, April Wine, and my all time favourite from Gotzis: "The…
Episode 27: Generalists vs Specialists
All this talk about "genius" got me thinking, and reading, about the topic. I have always had issues with the way we teach and coach exceptional people and this week I talk about it in …
Episode 26: Could the glass be half FULL?
My new class, The Queen's Gambit and a solid week of practice in the new arena have all conspired to open my eyes. It's late November, the days are short and dreary and we're in the mid…
Episode 25: Jen and Tracey Interview
This week I talk to a pair of women who have unique perspectives on what Damian and I are doing. Jen Cotten is Damian's long time partner and Tracey Watson-Leyshon is my sainted wife. …
Episode 24: Kris Mack interview
This week I talk to Kris Mack, the multi-events coach at the US Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista California. We talk about coaching and social media and dancing on the track at Go…
Episode 23: Is 99% better than 100%?
Inspired by the Biden victory I talk about the polarization of politics and how blindly believing 100% in something can be dangerous and unhealthy. I also get around to talking about co…
Episode 22: Damian Warner Interview
After 22 weeks I figured it was time you actually heard from Damian himself! Damian Warner talks 2019 World Championships, the 2020 COVID non-season, making the best of the situation a…
Episode 21: Dennis Nielsen Interview
Okay, I finally interviewed Damian's "other" coach and you get to hear somebody else talk! Dennis talked to me about Damian and coaching the decathlon and how COVID may not have been su…
Episode 20: 2020: The decathlon
The episode where I moan about the realities of 2020, and ramble on about the decathlon. There may be some foul language, but it kills me that 6 year old kids can still play hockey whi…
Episode 19: Learning in 2020
2020 has been an asshole of a year so far, but we have learned a lot! Despite the cancellation of the Olympics and the closure of training facilities, Damian has come through this year …
Episode 18: The 2019 Season Finale
The 2019 World Championships and My Octopus Teacher all rolled into one! I get all Zen with it this week.
Topics:
2019 Worlds
Decathlon
My Octopus Teacher
Orangutans
Komodo Dragons
Every singl…