It’s a holiday week for many of us, which means a lot of Turkey Trots and a lot of TV. We have something for both in this episode! First, Nick Thompson, the CEO of The Atlantic and author of the new book, The Running Ground, joins the show to talk about his lifelong journey as a runner, and all the tech — from smartwatch to shoes to custom GPTs — he uses in training. After that, The Verge’s John Higgins makes his first Vergecast appearance to help us understand how motion smoothing works, why you should turn it off, and all the other ways you can improve your TV watching experience this holiday season. Finally, David follows up on a question on the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email vergecast@theverge.com!) with some recommendations on inexpensive earbuds worth cranking up the volume on. 0:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 01:13 Interview with Nick Thompson: Running and Technology 03:45 Nick's Running Gear and Training Insights 08:59 The Role of Data in Running Performance 13:33 The Impact of Coaching and Accountability 15:17 Balancing Technology and Personal Motivation 26:41 Advancements in Running Shoe Technology 32:05 Running with Headphones: When and Why 32:31 The Importance of Mental Focus in Training 33:42 Debating the Role of Music in Running 35:08 Congratulations on the Book 35:25 TV Buying Guide for the Holidays 37:39 TV Settings and Motion Smoothing 42:21 Choosing the Right TV for Your Needs 44:39 Gaming and TV Settings 50:20 Affordable TV Recommendations 53:54 Smart TV Interfaces 57:48 The Frame TV Dilemma 01:06:19 Vergecast Hotline: Best Cheap Earbuds 01:10:14 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes Subscribe: http://goo.gl/G5RXGs Like The Verge on Facebook: https://goo.gl/2P1aGc Follow on Twitter: https://goo.gl/XTWX61 Follow on Instagram: https://goo.gl/7ZeLvX Follow on TikTok: http://bit.ly/42VeCVU Watch The Vergecast on YouTube: https://bit.ly/40RFRkg The Vergecast Podcast: https://bit.ly/3WQDexZ Decoder with Nilay Patel: http://apple.co/3v29nDc More about our podcasts: https://www.theverge.com/podcasts Read More: http://www.theverge.com Community guidelines: http://bit.ly/2D0hlAv Wallpapers from The Verge: https://bit.ly/2xQXYJr Shop our Verge merch store here: https://bit.ly/4kPCmEc Subscribe to The Verge: https://bit.ly/3FT6n5S Subscribe to The Vergecast on YouTube, new episodes on Tuesday and Friday: https://bit.ly/3I6nJtz If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may receive a commission without exerting any influence on editorial content. For more information about our ethics policy, visit: https://www.theverge.com/ethics-state...