This is the final Fresh Salmon of the year

Gratitude, perspective, and a calm reset before what’s next.

Author

Vivek Nanda
December 28, 2025

Hello and welcome to the 199th edition of Fresh Salmon.

If you're new here, welcome aboard! 🧡
And if you’d like to catch up on past issues, click here.

Meet our partners for today’s edition: Roku and 1440 Media. Check them out 👇

Shoppers are adding to cart for the holidays

Over the next year, Roku predicts that 100% of the streaming audience will see ads. For growth marketers in 2026, CTV will remain an important “safe space” as AI creates widespread disruption in the search and social channels. Plus, easier access to self-serve CTV ad buying tools and targeting options will lead to a surge in locally-targeted streaming campaigns.

Read our guide to find out why growth marketers should make sure CTV is part of their 2026 media mix.

Seeking impartial news? Meet 1440.

Every day, 3.5 million readers turn to 1440 for their factual news. We sift through 100+ sources to bring you a complete summary of politics, global events, business, and culture, all in a brief 5-minute email. Enjoy an impartial news experience.

Year-End Note

This is the final edition of Fresh Salmon for the year.

Before we close the loop on 2025, I want to simply say: thank you.

Thank you for reading.
Thank you for thinking deeply instead of chasing noise.
Thank you for building businesses, brands, and careers with intention.

This year reinforced a few truths that are hard to ignore:

  • Attention is rented. Trust is earned.

  • Volume beats perfection - every time.

  • Media-first companies are pulling away from everyone else.

  • The real advantage isn’t tactics. It’s clarity.

  • And the strongest brands aren’t louder - they’re clearer.

Fresh Salmon was never meant to be a newsletter you skim.
It was meant to be something you think with.

As we head into the holidays, my hope is that you take a breath, zoom out, and remember this:

You don’t need to do everything next year.
You just need to do the right few things, consistently, with conviction.

I’m deeply grateful for this community - founders, operators, marketers, creators - who care about substance over shortcuts.

Wishing you and your loved ones a peaceful holiday season, a Happy New Year, and a strong reset heading into the new year.

We’ll be back in 2026 - clearer, sharper, and ready to build what actually matters.

Do what is good for your soul ❤️

Until then,
- Vivek