Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
In this week’s episode of Everyday Better, Leah Smart sits down with Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic, champion long-distance runner, and author of ‘The Running Ground.’ Together, they explore the profound lessons that running, or any dedicated discipline, can teach us about facing life’s hardest challenges.
Nicholas shares his journey of rediscovering running later in life and how his commitment to the sport — despite the demands of leading a prestigious publication and raising a family — has shaped his mindset and approach to leadership. From breaking personal running records in his forties to becoming one of the fastest marathoners in his age group, Nick’s story is a testament to the cumulative power of discipline and the importance of pursuing meaningful practices outside of work.
“I think you learn skills in intense running that help with an intense job. You learn certain kinds of concentration, you develop daily habits,” Nick says. “I think that discipline is cumulative. If you do something hard in the morning, it makes it easier to do hard things as the day progresses.”
Whether you’re a runner or not, this conversation will inspire you to reflect on the habits and challenges that make you stronger, both personally and professionally.
#linkedinnews #everydaybetter #running #discipline #challenge
00:00 - Introduction to Nicholas Thompson
03:14 - Nicholas’s running journey
05:36 - Balancing running, business, and family
07:25 - Discipline in action
11:36 - Running as a life metaphor
17:19 - Overcoming mental limits
22:06 - Persist through challenges
25:24 - Redefining aging with running
28:08 - Injuries don’t define you
31:07 - Family influence and life lessons
36:47 - Legacy through running
37:35 - Closing
In this week’s episode of Everyday Better, Leah Smart sits down with Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic, champion long-distance runner, and author of ‘The Running Ground.’ Together, they explore the profound lessons that running, or any dedicated discipline, can teach us about facing life’s hardest challenges.
Nicholas shares his journey of rediscovering running later in life and how his commitment to the sport — despite the demands of leading a prestigious publication and raising a family — has shaped his mindset and approach to leadership. From breaking personal running records in his forties to becoming one of the fastest marathoners in his age group, Nick’s story is a testament to the cumulative power of discipline and the importance of pursuing meaningful practices outside of work.
“I think you learn skills in intense running that help with an intense job. You learn certain kinds of concentration, you develop daily habits,” Nick says. “I think that discipline is cumulative. If you do something hard in the morning, it makes it easier to do hard things as the day progresses.”
Whether you’re a runner or not, this conversation will inspire you to reflect on the habits and challenges that make you stronger, both personally and professionally.
#linkedinnews #everydaybetter #running #discipline #challenge
00:00 - Introduction to Nicholas Thompson
03:14 - Nicholas’s running journey
05:36 - Balancing running, business, and family
07:25 - Discipline in action
11:36 - Running as a life metaphor
17:19 - Overcoming mental limits
22:06 - Persist through challenges
25:24 - Redefining aging with running
28:08 - Injuries don’t define you
31:07 - Family influence and life lessons
36:47 - Legacy through running
37:35 - Closing
