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Interview with Nicolas Thompson

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Dec 1, 2025

Guest

Nicholas Thompson

Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic and accomplished runner, shares his journey of using running to navigate personal challenges. He reflects on his tumultuous relationship with his father and how it inspired his book, 'The Running Ground.' Thompson discusses overcoming obstacles after turning 40 and training for marathons, ultimately achieving a 2:29 PR at 44. He shares insights on balancing his demanding CEO role with family life and training, while also recommending influential running books. It's a heartfelt exploration of resilience and passion.

47:37

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ANECDOTE

Straightforward Family Motivation

Nicholas Thompson's 15-year-old son bluntly told him not to post a slow marathon time and to enter another race immediately.
The son's tough-love reaction motivated Thompson to improve rather than accept praise for a subpar race.

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ANECDOTE

Running Sparked By Dad And Cut From Basketball

Thompson began running with his father as a child during his dad's midlife running phase and returned to running after being cut from JV2 basketball.
Running gave him confidence through high school and led to college-level competition at Stanford before injury derailed the team path.

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ANECDOTE

Crash Course In Marathon Reality

Thompson ran his first marathon with poor training, holding sub-3 pace to mile 21 before completely collapsing and vomiting at the finish.
The experience taught him the consequences of inadequate preparation despite natural speed from earlier years.

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Nick's running beginnings and early heartbreak

05:50 • 4min

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First marathon experience and hitting the wall

10:04 • 2min

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The complicated portrait of his father

12:31 • 4min

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Running to process grief and acceptance

Choosing the book title 'The Running Ground'

21:16 • 2min

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Why the book took five years

23:33 • 50sec

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'Falling apart at 40' and renewed discipline

24:23 • 3min

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Cancer diagnosis and its impact on running

27:04 • 2min

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Late improvements and marathon PR at 44

29:06 • 1min

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Why he ventured into ultras

Balancing CEO life with training

36:33 • 3min

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How he multitasks training with family

39:59 • 2min

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Running books and reading recommendations

Running with the Greeks

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The Science of Running

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What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

Haruki Murakami

In this memoir, Haruki Murakami reflects on his experiences with long-distance running and how it has influenced his writing. He started running in the early 1980s and has since completed over twenty marathons and an ultramarathon. The book delves into the parallels between running and writing, highlighting the discipline, perseverance, and mental fortitude required for both. Murakami shares his training regimens, memorable races, and the philosophical insights he has gained from his running experiences, which have significantly impacted his creative life.

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The Running Ground

A Father, a Son, and the Simplest of Sports

Nicholas Thompson

The Running Ground is a story about fathers, sons, and the transformative power of running. Nicholas Thompson explores how running has influenced his life, from coping with personal crises to achieving remarkable athletic feats. The book delves into the complexities of family relationships and the discipline that running instills, weaving in stories of other remarkable runners who have used the sport to overcome challenges.

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Do Hard Things

A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations

Harris, Alex, Harris, Brett

In 'Do Hard Things,' Alex and Brett Harris combat the idea of adolescence as a vacation from responsibility. They weave together biblical insights, history, and modern examples to redefine the teen years as the launching pad of life. The book maps out five powerful ways teens can respond for personal and social change, and is packed with humorous personal anecdotes, practical examples, and stories of real-life 'rebelutionaries' in action. It challenges a generation to lay claim to a brighter future, starting today.

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Once a Runner

Parker, John L. , Jr.

Once a Runner tells the story of Quenton Cassidy, a competitive runner at fictional Southeastern University, whose lifelong dream is to run a four-minute mile. When the Vietnam War era intrudes into his school’s athletic department, Cassidy becomes involved in an athletes’ protest and is suspended from his track team. Under the tutelage of his friend and mentor, Bruce Denton, a graduate student and former Olympic gold medalist, Cassidy gives up his scholarship, his girlfriend, and possibly his future to train in a monastic retreat in the countryside. The novel provides a rare insider’s account of the incredibly intense lives of elite distance runners and is an inspiring, funny, and spot-on tale of one individual’s quest to become a champion.

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Born to Run

Cathy Freeman

This book recounts Cathy Freeman's journey from a little girl who loved to run to a world champion athlete. It includes her experiences growing up in a loving family, her relationship with her severely disabled sister who inspired her, and her rise to the top in athletics. The book also touches on the challenges she faced, including racism and personal losses, and how she overcame them through hard work, self-belief, and the support of her family. The narrative is honest and simple, making it relatable to young readers. The book is accompanied by black and white photos, some of which are family shots, adding a personal touch to the story.

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Endure

Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance

Alex Hutchinson

In 'Endure,' Alex Hutchinson delves into the science and psychology of human endurance, highlighting the complex interplay between the mind and body. The book discusses various physical limits such as pain, muscle, oxygen, heat, thirst, and fuel, and how these are influenced by psychological factors. Hutchinson draws on his experiences as a distance runner and his access to Nike’s secret training project to break the two-hour marathon barrier, providing insights into how individuals can push beyond their perceived limits. The book blends cutting-edge science with gripping storytelling, making it a comprehensive and engaging read on the elastic limits of human performance.

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Why We Run

Bernd Heinrich

Bernd Heinrich's "Why We Run" explores the evolutionary and biological underpinnings of human running. Heinrich examines the physiological adaptations that make humans uniquely suited for long-distance running, and he delves into the cultural and spiritual aspects of running across different societies. The book challenges the notion that running is solely a modern phenomenon, highlighting its deep roots in human history. Heinrich's work combines scientific analysis with personal reflections on the experience of running. He argues that running is not merely a physical activity but a fundamental aspect of the human experience.

In this episode we speak with Nicolas Thompson -CEO of The Atlantic and author of the book, ‘The Running Ground -A Father, A Son, and the Simplest of Sports’. Hear his reflection on how running helped him amid personal crises; getting faster after 40; and how he finds time to fit running into his day.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

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Nicholas Thompson (born 1975) is an American technology journalist, author, and media executive. He has been the chief executive officer of the American magazine The Atlantic since February 2021. Thompson previously worked as editor-in-chief of Wired and The New Yorker’s website. He is the author of two non-fiction books, is a contributor for CBS News, and regularly appears on CBS This Morning and CBSN. Thompson competed in running as both a high school student and briefly on his college team at Stanford. In 2021, Thompson set the American 45-49 age-group record at the 50-kilometer distance after running 3:04:36 at the Brooks Row River 50K in Oregon. As of 2025, he had completed the New York City Marathon 12 times, running his fastest time of 2:29 at the age of 44.

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