How Great Coaches Teach More Than Sports | Evan Johnsen episode artwork

EPISODE · May 7, 2025 · 41 MIN

How Great Coaches Teach More Than Sports | Evan Johnsen

from What Do You Know To Be True? · host Roger Kastner

Remember that coach or teacher who inspired you to working harder and achieving your goals?  If you had experience where a coach or teacher made an impact, I’m sure that experience includes more than just playing a sport better or passing that algebra test – they were able to empower you with life skills. Many of us were fortunate enough to have a positive role model when we were kids, and for myself it’s easy to see the profound impact they had on who I am today. And while we appreciate those teachers and coaches for the impact they had on our lives, if you’ve been a mentor, a coach or instructor, you know how rewarding and fulfilling it is to be in that role. Today, I get the opportunity to talk with Evan Johnsen, the Vice President of Programs and Development at First Tee Greater Seattle and get to learn about how he uses his superpower to inspire and empower young people through the game of golf.As someone who has played a variety of sports throughout my life, as well as coached youth sports for 14 seasons across four different sports, I know the demand, the opportunities, and the rewards of sports both as a player and as a coach.In this conversation, you can tell Evan brings a lot of intention, purpose, and meaning to his craft and it’s the interaction with the young people and other coaches that fills him up. As a coach of youth and manager of adults, Evan shared some wisdom he’s learned along his journey.In this episode, Evan answers the following questions:▶️ What’s important in coaching youth sports?▶️ How do you make an impact in the lives of young people?▶️ How do you connect with kids?▶️ How do you teach life lessons through sports?My favorite quote from the episode: “They won’t care what you know until they know you care.” Whether you are coaching youth sports, managing a team, or being a friend, the role of empathy in amplifying the impact you want to have is critical to your success. And sometimes, their success too.Resources mentioned in the episode: ▶️ Evan’s email: [email protected] ▶️ Evan on Instagram: coach_evan▶️ First Tee Greater Seattle: www.firstteeseattle.org ▶️ First Tee National: www.firsttee.org ▶️ Chambers Bay Solstice Fundraiser for First Tee Seattle: ✨ Support Evan: https://tinyurl.com/Evan-Solstice ✨ Support Roger: https://tinyurl.com/Roger-Solstice Chapters0:00 Intro & Welcome 4:38 First Tee Greater Seattle5:46 Best Sport for Life Lessons7:58 Chambers Bay Solstice Event for First Tee12:47 What or Who Inspired Evan's Superpower17:32: Role of Curiosity in Evan's Superpower20:49 Learn to Laugh at Adversity21:32 Performance Equals Skill Minus Interferences23:10 Relationship between Joy and Superpower26:12 Bill Wright Golf Complex and Community30:32 What Do You Know To Be True?34:38: Lightning RoundVideo in this episode used by permission from First Tee Greater Seattle.Music in this episode by Ian Kastner."What Do You Know To Be True?" is a series of conversations where I speak with interesting people about their special talent or superhero power and the meaningful impact it has on others. The intention is to learn more about their experience with their superhero power, so that we can learn something about the special talent in each of us which allows us to connect more deeply with our purpose and achieve our potential. For more info about the podcast or to check out more episodes, go to: https://whatdoyouknowtobetrue.com"What Do You Know To Be True?" is hos

Remember that coach or teacher who inspired you to working harder and achieving your goals? If you had experience where a coach or teacher made an impact, I’m sure that experience includes more than just playing a sport better or passing that algebra test – they were able to empower you with life skills. Many of us were fortunate enough to have a positive role model when we were kids, and for myself it’s easy to see the profound impact they had on who I am today. And while we appr...

NOW PLAYING

How Great Coaches Teach More Than Sports | Evan Johnsen

0:00 41:23

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

MG Show MG Show The MG Show, hosted by Jeffrey Pedersen and Shannon Townsend, is a leading alternative media platform dedicated to uncovering the truth behind today’s most pressing political issues. Launched in 2019, the show has grown exponentially, offering unfiltered insights, comprehensive research, and real-time analysis. With a commitment to independent journalism and factual integrity, the MG Show empowers its audience with knowledge and encourages active participation in the political discourse. Breaking News Show | eTurboNews Juergen Thomas Steinmetz News is relevant to the global travel and tourism industry, human rights and global issues.Breaking news when it happens and only from the source. Eat to Live Jenna Fuhrman, Dr. Fuhrman Our health is our most precious gift and smart nutrition can change your life. Each month, join Dr. Fuhrman and his daughter, Jenna Fuhrman as they discuss important topics in the world of nutrition. Eat to Live will change the way you eat and think about food. French Your Way Jessica: Native French teacher founder of French Your Way Boost your French listening skills and test your comprehension with this one of a kind series of podcasts. Get the chance to listen to a real conversation between native speakers talking at normal speed AND customise your learning experience through carefully designed sets of questions (2 levels of difficulty) available for download at www.frenchvoicespodcast.com. All interviews also come with the transcript. French teacher Jessica interviews native speakers of French from around the world who share a bit of their life and passion. Where else would you meet in one same place a French yoga teacher based in Melbourne, a soap manufacturer from Provence, or a couple cycling around the world?

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of What Do You Know To Be True??

This episode is 41 minutes long.

When was this What Do You Know To Be True? episode published?

This episode was published on May 7, 2025.

What is this episode about?

Remember that coach or teacher who inspired you to working harder and achieving your goals?  If you had experience where a coach or teacher made an impact, I’m sure that experience includes more than just playing a sport better or passing that...

Is there a transcript available for this episode?

Yes, a full transcript is available for this episode. You can read the complete transcript on the episode page.

Can I download this What Do You Know To Be True? episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!