Well, you asked for it. After a brief, life-induced hiatus (it’s your fault for wanting Simo’s course so badly), we’re back. And we’re a little bit sick and a lot cynical. 🤷 Juliana kicks things off with a life update: she’s switched allegiances, joined Jellyfish, and has been thrown head-first into the deep end of Server-Side GTM, Pantheon, and Google's cloud ecosystem. This sends us down a rabbit hole of Google Tag Gateway, the future of one-click vendor integrations (terrifying), and why Juliana finally has to take Simo’s course. Speaking of courses, Simo spills the beans on the brand new Mastering GA4 with BigQuery program, the challenges of teaching analysis in an LLM world, and a sneak peek at his next course on data analysis with R. But the main event? A full-blown, unhinged rant on the iOS 26 FUD that took over LinkedIn. We break down what actually changed (spoiler: not much for now), why everyone needs to calm the hell down, and why using server-side tagging as a shady "workaround" is giving the tech a bad name. Listen in for our unfiltered take on the state of the industry, a couple of big event announcements, and the usual dose of Balkan & Scandinavian reality.

We’re back from summer break with a suitcase full of rants: from Google’s AI Overviews and the absurd death-of-SEO/CRO discourse to the Shopify + ChatGPT overreactions and the ongoing collapse of attention spans. We call out the engagement-bait apocalypse on LinkedIn, the myth of LLM “reasoning,” and why boring truths never make headlines. Then we shift gears to Apple’s vague Safari privacy update and how a single line in a press release sent the adtech world spiraling into “UTMs are dead” chaos—before anyone even tested the beta. Plus, special guest Tim Ceuppens, joins us to unpack data storytelling, analyst-stakeholder dysfunction, and what Pixar can teach you about presenting insights that actually land. Welcome back to Standard Deviation Podcast.

In the latest episode of Standard Deviation Podcast, we are joined by attribution expert, Barbara Galiza, for a deep dive into measurement done right. We discuss how to navigate server-side tagging, the best use cases for MTA versus MMM, and why incrementality testing often cuts through the noise better than flashy dashboards or AI-driven hype. In the intro, we will also chat about Google's surprise changes to Analytics cookies and explore the ups and downs of managing product releases, especially when plugins update faster than users can keep up.

In this episode of Standard Deviation, Juliana and Simo finally sit down with Dave Cain, Head of Digital Marketing at Euro Car Parts, after months of scheduling chaos and flu-induced delays. What starts with parental war stories and Gen Alpha slang quickly shifts into the deep end: Google’s communication failures, the agency/in-house tension, AI’s limitations in emotional resonance, and the underrated power of musical precision. This is the first time the pod features an in-house leader, and Dave delivers — mixing empathy, strategic rigor, and no-BS takes on vendor relationships and team dynamics. Oh, and yes, Clapton vs. Mayer gets debated too.

We’re back with Season 4, Episode 2, kicking things off with AI agents, code, and whether Simo should build a SIMO-bot to replace himself. Then, we switch gears for a real convo with Nicola Strand about imposter syndrom and why she doesn’t call it that anymore. We dig into self-doubt, the pressure to “know everything,” and why learning more can actually make imposter syndrome worse. Nicola shares how she flipped imposter tendencies into an advantage and how she once spent 33 days learning JavaScript before deciding, yeah, this isn’t for me. If you’ve ever second-guessed yourself (so, all of us), this one’s for you. Tune in, and let’s make peace with the fact that no one really knows what they’re doing.

We're back! Season 4 of Standard Deviation Podcast kicks off with an unhinged, completely off-the-rails episode where Simo and Juliana attempt to say hello but end up deep in Romanian childhood chaos, bartering pigeons, and the questionable economics of happy hour poker. Somewhere in between, Simo reveals he's getting a puppy (which gets completely overshadowed by Juliana’s dad's animal trade escapades). We promise, the season will have more structure—real guests, real discussions on data, AI, and analytics—but for now, let’s just embrace the madness. Welcome back.

In this episode of Standard Deviation Podcast, Juliana Jackson and Simo Ahava host Bhavik Patel from LeanConvert to explore the power of critical thinking in analytics and experimentation. Bhav shares his practical insights on using data to make smarter decisions, why statistics are a must-have skill for CRO professionals, and how product analytics differs from traditional web analytics. The discussion dives into the challenges of measuring user experience, building stakeholder trust, and fostering a culture of curiosity in data-driven teams. Bhav also speaks about his passion project, Crap Talks, and its mission to challenge conventional thinking in the analytics community.

In this episode of Standard Deviation, Juliana and Simo chat with Denis, co-founder of Stape, about server-side tagging. They cover why it’s gaining traction, debunk myths like “it bypasses consent,” and show how better tagging can boost data quality. Dennis explains how even small teams can implement server-side tracking without a deep tech background and shares Stape’s recent analytics and education projects. They also touch on Nordic weather, Denis’ journey in scaling a company, and simplifying backend processes with a “one-button” approach. Expect insights on GTM, some Scandinavian life stories, and a few of Simo’s spooky encounters!

In this episode, we had Dana DiTomaso over, and we will cover a broad range of topics, from GA4 and SEO to the complexities of data and digital marketing. We will discuss the challenges of working with GA4, particularly in integrating SEO metrics and analytics. Dana shares insights on combining SEO with behavioral analytics and CRO, stressing the need for SEOs to engage more deeply with data to improve effectiveness. Aaaand she will share some really good tricks for how to get more out of tracking and analysing how users consume content on a website.

In the latest episode of the Standard Deviation Podcast, Simo and I sit down with Michael King, founder of iPullRank, to talk about some big topics in SEO and marketing. Michael shares insights from his 10 years of running an agency, explaining how he's evolved from hiring freelancers to building a structured team with solid processes. He emphasizes the importance of balancing creativity with scalability and how being adaptable has helped him stay on top. A significant highlight is Michael's deep dive into the Google algorithm leak. He breaks down what we've learned, mainly how Google uses click data, user behavior, and UX's role in search rankings. One key takeaway: SEO and UX teams must work more closely, as user satisfaction directly impacts rankings. We also discuss branding in the age of AI, touching on how companies can influence results in generative AI platforms like ChatGPT by focusing on authoritative content, proper markup, and structured data, which plays a key role in AI-driven search results. If you're into the technical side of SEO or just want tips for staying ahead in search and marketing, this episode is packed with valuable insights.

In this episode, we chat with public speaking pro Michael Aagaard. He shares practical tips for first-time speakers, explains how to handle stage fright, and offers tips for delivering a standout presentation. We will also discuss how to captivate your audience and manage stress with actionable steps you can use immediately. Perfect for aspiring speakers or anyone looking to sharpen their skills, this episode is packed with valuable insights to boost your confidence and performance on stage. If you liked the episode, don't forget to subscribe!

In this episode of the Standard Deviation Podcast, we dive into some fun and insightful discussions about AI and data science. We share our frustrations about how people often oversimplify AI and don't always appreciate the hard work data scientists put in. Simo talks about the layers of abstraction in technology, highlighting how users often work with simplified interfaces without realizing the complex work behind them. We’re joined by the awesome Jordan Peck from Snowplow, who shares his journey in the analytics world and provides insights into what makes Snowplow a unique tool. We wrap up by geeking out over big data tools like GCP's BigQuery and how they fit into the marketing analytics puzzle.

In this episode of the Standard Deviation Podcast, Simo and I will discuss the barrier to entry in this industry in terms of speaking opportunities, especially at events like MeasureCamp. Then, we switch gears and chat with our guest, Erin Weigel, about product design, the importance of feedback loops when writing a book, and its role in creative processes. If you liked this episode, don't forget to subscribe.

In today’s episode, Simo and I kick things off with a discussion about how these topics related to GA4, consent mode, etc, dominate our industry conversations making us miss other things that are happening in our space that are either more relevant or useful than GA4 rants. We're also joined by the fantastic Jill Quick, an expert in analytics consulting and training. Jill shares her bespoke approach to digital analytics training, ensuring that it aligns perfectly with client needs and truly addresses the real-world challenges marketers face today. If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe or show some love!

In this episode of the Standard Deviation Podcast, Simo and I are talking AGAIN, about GA4 consent mode. This feature, while technically impressive, brings constant challenges for all analysts, complicating our practices significantly. We also explore the critical implications of EU data consent regulations, emphasizing the risks involved in collecting data without explicit user consent and the misleading nature of "anonymous" pings used for data modeling. Also ID-Bridging?? WTF is that?! Luckily we stop our ranting to chat with our amazing guest, Els Aerts, a seasoned expert in user research, about the common misconceptions around 'best practices' in Experimentation. OK, we will rant with her too :D If you enjoyed this episode don't forget to subscribe and share it with your friends!

We are back with episode 2 and we had Krista Seiden over! In the intro, our hosts will talk about education gaps in the digital analytics community, gaps that cause fear, misunderstandings, and hesitance when it comes to topics like the DMA, Privacy Sandbox, and whatever the hell is going on right now in our space. Luckily things take a more positive note with our amazing guests where we cover topics related to digital analytics education, online courses, content creation, and GA4, of course. Hope you will enjoy it!

We are back in the groove with Season 3 of Standard Deviation Podcast. In this episode, me and Simo are talking about the importance of building T-shaped skills, both as a marketer or someone fully in a technical role. We also share with you what are some topics you can expect in this season. Big shouts to Jason Packer and Josh Silverbauer for creating our new podcast intro, we love it and we need to figure out a visual for it so we don't sit there idling looking at each other while it plays hahaha. If you enjoyed the episode consider subscribing? That would be nice.

In this festive season finale of the Standard Deviation Podcast for 2023, we're talking with our special guest Charles Farina. We will dive into the unpredictable and messy world of digital analytics and marketing, reflecting on the year's significant shifts and exploring predictions for the future. We will also touch on things like GDPR compliance, the role of technical marketers, the shifts in the analytics tools market, particularly Adobe’s advancements, and the ongoing evolution of Google's platforms. Thank you all for tuning in with us throughout this year, we wish you Happy Holidays, whatever you are celebrating, and see you all again in 2024!

In this episode, Myles Younger from U of Digital joins us to explore challenges and the future of ad tech. We discuss industry consolidation by major players like Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Meta, emphasizing the need for regulations to ensure fair competition. Privacy regulations, especially the phasing out of third-party cookies, raise concerns, leading to discussions about regulatory solutions and their impact on advertisers. We stress the importance of strategic insights in areas like CTV, identity, analytics, measurement, and privacy. The conversation concludes with the necessity of industry-wide standards and potential government involvement in shaping ad tech's future.

We are back with episode 14 of this season. OMG, episode 14. 2023 went pretty fast! In this episode, we are doing a deep dive into Natural Language Processing in the intro, and we're discussing different use cases of NLP and how it can benefit experimentation and data activation programs. We also had Timo Dechau over and are talking about event tracking! Timo will review different strategies to ensure you work with well-defined events and proper data collection. We are also discussing the limitations and caveats of all these approaches. If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe and show some love.