What happens when you stop choosing comfort - and start choosing growth instead?In this episode Nick Thompson introduces us to a life shaped by curiosity, movement, and constant reinvention. From growing up in a small desert town in California with a multicultural background, to moving to Germany as a teenager without speaking the language, to building a career across publishing, advertising, and tech - Nick’s story is one of choosing growth, again and again.This conversation explores identity, belonging, and what happens when the life you’ve built no longer aligns with who you are. From the glamour of creative industries in Berlin to burnout, health challenges, and multiple cross-continental moves, Nick reflects on the moments that forced him to pause, reassess, and rethink everything.The episode also considers “taste” in a world increasingly shaped by AI, the importance of mentorship and community, and why real growth often requires stepping into discomfort - on purpose.At the heart of this episode is a simple but powerful idea: rethinking your life isn’t about having all the answers - it’s about staying curious enough to keep asking better questions.In this episode, we explore:Growing up in a small, culturally isolated town while feeling connected to a wider worldHow curiosity became the driving force behind Nick’s life decisionsMoving to Germany as a teenager and learning a new language from scratchBuilding a career in publishing, design, and creative industries in BerlinThe influence of taste, curation, and discernment in a world of infinite contentGetting caught up in a fast-paced, glamorous lifestyle - and the cost of itA health wake-up call that forced a major life resetTransitioning into tech and navigating career uncertainty in the age of AIMoving between San Francisco, London, and back to California—and what each chapter revealedLoneliness, identity shifts, and the challenge of building community as an adultChoosing a slower, more intentional life after years of chasing momentumWhy mentorship and environment shape who you becomeWho this episode is for:People who feel like they don’t fully belong where they areAnyone navigating big life transitions or identity shiftsThose questioning a career that no longer feels alignedExpats, travellers, or anyone living between culturesCreatives thinking about their place in an AI-driven worldPeople feeling stuck but unsure what their next move isAnyone learning to choose growth over comfortListeners in a “liminal” phase - between what was and what’s nextAbout the guest:Nick Thompson is a creative leader whose career spans publishing, design, advertising, and technology. Originally from a small town in California, he has spent much of his life living and working across Europe and the United States, building a perspective shaped by movement, curiosity, and cultural exploration. His work has long been rooted in ideas of taste, storytelling, and creative direction, and he is currently exploring these themes through his new platform, Liminal Standard, where he documents life in transition and the space in between.Support the show