Uncanny Valley | WIRED BIG INTV: Why Nicholas Thompson Made a Custom GPT to Run Faster
5 snips
Oct 28, 2025 
Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic and former WIRED editor, explores his new book, The Running Ground, where he reflects on running's profound impact on his life, especially after surviving thyroid cancer. He discusses how running fosters deep social connections, builds discipline, and even aids in addiction recovery. Thompson shares insights from Nike's coaching breakthroughs on performance science and reveals how he utilizes a custom AI to enhance both his training and writing processes.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Illness Can Conceal A Performance Ceiling
- Nicholas Thompson realized a decades-long performance block traced to thyroid cancer and its psychological aftermath.
- That insight reframed running as a sport that can hide deep personal obstacles and drive unexpected growth.
A Father's Rise, Fall, And Running Connection
- Thompson recounts his father's dramatic life arc and how running became their shared language.
- His father's story provided narrative material and emotional context for the book.
Running As Coping And Recovery
- Thompson shares stories of runners using endurance to cope: a friend ran to remember addiction pain, and Tony Ruiz used running during recovery.
- These examples show running can both mirror and help manage addictive behaviors.
