Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
"If you keep moving forward, things will get better." Nicholas Thompson is the CEO of the Atlantic and the former editor in chief of Wired; he's also an American record-holding distance runner.
In his new memoir, The Running Ground, Nicholas philosophizes on what running can teach us about life, work, resilience, confidence, commitment, focus, and good habits. "The effort is what you remember," he tells us. Also: "Discipline is cumulative." What does "talent" actually mean? How important is goal-setting? Nicholas talks to host Charles Yao about why showing up every day is the most important thing you can do. They also delve into how Nicholas' fascinating family history and hectic work schedule impact his running and vice versa. Success is not a mountain, he reminds us. It's a series of rolling peaks.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- How to overcome mental barriers in running and life
- Why your brain limits your performance (and how to trick it)
- The science of pain during exercise and endurance sports
- What makes someone talented at running (and why it's not what you think)
- How to balance career ambitions with athletic training
In conversation with The Lavin Agency's Director of Intellectual Talent, Charles Yao, Nicholas answers these questions and more:
- Can you get faster at running in your 40s?
- What are the best marathon training tips for busy professionals?
- What is ultra marathon training like?
- Can you improve running performance with age?
- How can you stay motivated during long training cycles?
Learn more about Nicholas or book him as a keynote speaker: thelavinagency.com/speakers/nick-thompson/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=nick+thompson+lavin+voices
Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok for more big ideas: @TheLavinAgency
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Credits:
Producers: Alethea Ng and Kshiteej Sawhney
Host: Charles Yao
Guest: Nicholas Thompson
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Timestamps:
0:00 Cold Open
0:30 Intro to Nicholas Thompson
2:09 The Philosophy of Running
4:01 The Habit of Confidence
5:46 Success and Failure
7:24 Joy in the Process
9:38 Pain and Performance
13:55 Tricking the Brain
15:16 Role of a Coach
17:57 Nature vs Nurture
22:05 The 80/20 Rule
22:49 Rolling Peaks of Motivation
24:53 Fighting Cancer
27:26 Family and Legacy
30:53 Freedom vs Analysis
31:56 Discipline Is Cumulative
34:28 Outro
"If you keep moving forward, things will get better." Nicholas Thompson is the CEO of the Atlantic and the former editor in chief of Wired; he's also an American record-holding distance runner.
In his new memoir, The Running Ground, Nicholas philosophizes on what running can teach us about life, work, resilience, confidence, commitment, focus, and good habits. "The effort is what you remember," he tells us. Also: "Discipline is cumulative." What does "talent" actually mean? How important is goal-setting? Nicholas talks to host Charles Yao about why showing up every day is the most important thing you can do. They also delve into how Nicholas' fascinating family history and hectic work schedule impact his running and vice versa. Success is not a mountain, he reminds us. It's a series of rolling peaks.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- How to overcome mental barriers in running and life
- Why your brain limits your performance (and how to trick it)
- The science of pain during exercise and endurance sports
- What makes someone talented at running (and why it's not what you think)
- How to balance career ambitions with athletic training
In conversation with The Lavin Agency's Director of Intellectual Talent, Charles Yao, Nicholas answers these questions and more:
- Can you get faster at running in your 40s?
- What are the best marathon training tips for busy professionals?
- What is ultra marathon training like?
- Can you improve running performance with age?
- How can you stay motivated during long training cycles?
Learn more about Nicholas or book him as a keynote speaker: thelavinagency.com/speakers/nick-thompson/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=nick+thompson+lavin+voices
Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok for more big ideas: @TheLavinAgency
------
Credits:
Producers: Alethea Ng and Kshiteej Sawhney
Host: Charles Yao
Guest: Nicholas Thompson
------
Timestamps:
0:00 Cold Open
0:30 Intro to Nicholas Thompson
2:09 The Philosophy of Running
4:01 The Habit of Confidence
5:46 Success and Failure
7:24 Joy in the Process
9:38 Pain and Performance
13:55 Tricking the Brain
15:16 Role of a Coach
17:57 Nature vs Nurture
22:05 The 80/20 Rule
22:49 Rolling Peaks of Motivation
24:53 Fighting Cancer
27:26 Family and Legacy
30:53 Freedom vs Analysis
31:56 Discipline Is Cumulative
34:28 Outro
