When every email, especially automated/mass emails, starts with "Hey ___" or "Hi ___", starting the address with the name feels more personable. While it's not an automated/mass email, personal emails are in danger of being discarded or ignored for resembling an automated/mass email even in the slightest.

David starts out by saying that he's a follower, listener, and admirer with details that undoubtedly tell Tyler that this is indeed a personal email. The kind words also help him become more likable. It's hard to say no to someone who's genuinely flattering.

At this point, David starts to introduce himself and give context to why he's reaching out. It includes all the relevant facts about who he is and then subtly drops the notion that he'd like to have Tyler on the podcast. I like the fact that he lets him know his intentions before making a more formal request (which comes later in the email).

This next section is, in my opinion, the most critical factor to getting a response. It's social proof. Hosting other high-profile characters like Neil deGrasse Tyson and Seth Godin is a signal that he's legit. He's worthy. Other people like Tyler are accepting his requests and taking him up to be on the podcast.

Now we get to the call to action. Similar to Mathilde's trial reactivation email, David asks without actually asking a question. And if you really think about it, this is much more common than you might realize. That's because it's a common way to phrase a question in face-to-face conversation, but not so much digitally.

The request is followed by an explanation of what they'd talk about, how they'd record, and what to expect. I can attest from personal experience that while receiving an invitation to a podcast is flattering, I'm always still hesitant without knowing what the topic is or what they'd like to talk about. I then, as the receiver, have to ask what they had in mind. By telling Tyler what he'd like to talk about and what he's particularly curious about, that's one less thing Tyler has to think about and makes it that much easier to accept the invitation.

Of course, the receiver will always want to know what's in it for them, whether that's audibly expressed or not.

The email signs off with another question in the form of a statement, putting the ball in Tyler's court to respond. But the intentions are clear.