Best of 2025—Strategies for Deliverability, Data-First Marketing, and LOL-Worthy Campaigns

It’s been a BIG year for email innovation—and 2026 is right around the corner! 

Join Guy and Danielle as they revisit some of the most exciting, insightful, and hilarious email marketing conversations from the past year. In this special episode, we’re diving into our favorite moments, packed with actionable takeaways and fresh ideas for the future of email marketing.

Get ready for rapid-fire insights on transitioning away from third-party cookies, using AI in email marketing, cold emailing in the B2B space, leading email teams like a pro, and so much more!

Featuring email marketing experts like Beata Linz, Karen Talavera, Sarah Kappler, and Philip Storey.

Karen Talavera is a B2B email marketing expert and cold outreach strategist known for balancing compliance, deliverability, and acquisition strategy. With a pragmatic approach to list-based campaigns and domain warm-up infrastructure, she helps brands navigate the often-controversial world of cold email while maintaining sender reputation and avoiding spam filters. In this episode, Karen addresses the critical tension between aggressive acquisition and sustainable deliverability, offering real-world case studies and testing frameworks that challenge the industry's knee-jerk rejection of cold outreach. Her nuanced perspective on when cold email makes sense—and when it doesn't—provides essential guidance for email marketing managers tasked with growing B2B subscriber bases responsibly.

Sara Kappler is an AI ethics and automation strategist at Validity, specializing in the intersection of predictive analytics, personalization, and responsible data use in email marketing. With expertise in send-time optimization (AudiencePoint), dynamic content customization (Movable Ink), and inbox engagement signals, she bridges the gap between innovation and ethical AI implementation. In this episode, Sara explores real-world applications of machine learning—from Victoria's Secret's multi-thousand-version campaigns to cross-brand engagement analysis—while thoughtfully addressing consumer consent, data transparency, and the future of AI-powered email. Her insights are critical for deliverability professionals and email marketing managers seeking to leverage AI without compromising trust or compliance.

Philip Storey is an email marketing agency leader and team-building strategist with a proven track record building high-performance "dream teams" around ambitious brands. With decades of experience solving email mysteries—from hidden deliverability crises to innovative revenue-driving campaigns (including the legendary TUI Travel champagne pre-booking initiative)—he brings a coaching mindset to email strategy and organizational design. In this episode, Philip shares hard-earned lessons on transitioning from individual contributor to leader, assembling world-class talent across design, development, deliverability, and account management, and knowing when to pivot or let go. His perspective on relationship-driven email marketing and the power of solving "the one thing" resonates deeply with email marketing managers and deliverability professionals building scalable, people-first teams.

Beata Linz is a leading authority in data-driven marketing and email strategy, specializing in transforming data challenges into strategic advantages for businesses. With extensive experience in digital marketing and data optimization, she excels at helping brands navigate the evolving landscape of privacy regulations and cookie deprecation while maximizing customer engagement through first-party and zero-party data collection. 

Danielle Gallant - Danielle is a Senior Email Strategist at Validity. She has over seven years of experience working with global brands to craft strategies that amplify email performance. She is a self-professed email nerd, dog lover, and podcast fanatic.

Danielle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-gallant-6443a248/

Guy Hanson - Guy is Vice President of Customer Engagement at Validity. He has led global consulting teams working with clients to improve email deliverability, subscriber engagement, and revenue. He believes in giving back to his community and is a regular speaker at flagship events, providing training and producing fresh and insightful thought leadership.

Guy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guyhanson/

Topics we discuss:
[00:19] From third-party cookies to zero and first-party data
[04:55] Progressive profiling: Building database richness without opt-in fatigue
[08:08] Customer data platforms: Unifying email, web, and mobile touch points
[11:25] Cold email testing protocol: Protecting sender reputation
[14:10] Personalization over templates: Avoiding spam filter triggers
[15:41] AI ethics and consent: Transparency in automation
[17:02] April Fools' campaigns: Humor as engagement driver
[22:38] Why brands fear humor (but consumers want it)
[24:47] Building Your email dream team: Recruitment and delegation
[27:23] Turning campaign failures into leadership moments
[28:21] Key Takeaways: 2025's essential email insights

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