Meet the Podcast Producer: Robert Weinberg

We are lucky to have so many fantastic team members across the company at History Hit.

But what is it like in their different roles, and what have they learnt about the industry along the way? In our Meet the Team series we get to know people from each department and provide insight into how our award-winning history content gets made.

Robert Weinberg is the Podcast Producer behind the popular Not Just the Tudors and Gone Medieval History Hit podcasts. Rob describes a day in the role of a podcast producer, and how he has been surprised by the continuity of history.

Sum up your role in one sentence.

I produce the Not Just the Tudors and Gone Medieval podcasts.

Take us through a typical day in your role.

I am coming up with ideas and setting up future episodes of the podcasts, looking after the recording sessions and making sure all the recordings are in the right folders for the editors. I mix the episode openings and QC (quality check) the finished edited episodes. I look after the Twitter and Facebook posts for each episode and generally keep both shows rolling along in collaboration with the presenters.

What are the most enjoyable and challenging parts of your role?

The most enjoyable part of my role is going through forthcoming publications, exhibitions, TV shows, and anniversary dates and thinking up suitable guests and subjects for future podcasts. The most challenging part is dealing with guests who may be great historians but are not naturals at communicating clearly, or have trouble with technology when recording.

How did you get into the role?

I have been working in radio since I left university and have been a producer in BBC radio and was at Classic FM for almost 20 years. I am interested in history of course - I have a BA and an MA in Art History - and started producing podcasts for History Hit during lockdowns in 2020, after first contacting History Hit when I saw a web editor role advertised. Seems like my radio experience was more valuable and useful to the team!

What is the most interesting or surprising thing you’ve learned working at History Hit?

I have learned a huge amount about periods and people of history about which I knew next to nothing. The most surprising thing I have learned is that people and human behaviour have not really changed much in 1,000 years. We just have more gadgets.

Any advice for someone looking to get into your field?

I would suggest that it's important to have a very curious mind about everything, keep on top of new books, new films, new exhibitions, TV shows etc, and keep thinking about how they can translate into podcasts. Get experience in radio or podcasting, learn the ropes on the job, and read and listen voraciously!

Who is your History Hero (and why)?

I have always had a bit of a thing about the tragic Englishman - someone convinced of their own abilities to do extraordinary things but usually woefully unprepared. They usually fail but find nobility and heroism in failure, or coming second. For that reason, I've always had a fascination with Captain R.F. Scott and his ill-fated antarctic expedition.