In this powerful conversation, John R. Miles sits down with Nick Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic and author of The Running Ground: A Father, a Son, and the Simplest Sport. Together, they explore how running became a thread through Nick’s life—a tool for resilience, self-discipline, and understanding his father’s complex legacy.

From the early memories of running beside his dad during the American running boom to surviving thyroid cancer and breaking the three-hour marathon barrier, Nick shares how the sport has shaped his mind as much as his body. The discussion expands far beyond the track—touching on fatherhood, AI and authenticity, the psychology of limits, and how pain can be both teacher and truth-teller.

This episode is a reminder that sometimes the hardest miles—whether in life or on the road—are the ones that teach us who we really are.

👉 Read the full show notes: https://passionstruck.com/nick-thompson-the-miles-that-make-us-who-we-are/

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To learn more about Nick Thompson, visit nickthompson.com

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🧠 About the Episode

• Running as Identity: How movement connects memory, focus, and meaning.
• Breaking Mental Ceilings: The invisible limits that look like data but are really belief.
• Discipline and Flow: What marathons teach us about self-trust and persistence.
• Fatherhood and Legacy: How Nick’s turbulent relationship with his father shaped his resilience.
• Authenticity in the Age of AI: Why real voices matter in writing and leadership.
• Pain as Information: Learning to differentiate discomfort from danger.

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