←back to thread

Melvyn Bragg steps down from presenting In Our Time

(www.bbc.co.uk)
290 points aways | 2 comments | 04 Sep 25 06:18 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
Show context
avian ◴[04 Sep 25 06:59 UTC] No.45124373[source]▶
In Our Time has been my favorite podcast to listen. It made me appreciate how well moderated a discussion among experts can be and how poorly most moderators on other radio programs or conference panels do their jobs.

My complaint with In Our Time is that BBC started inserting the "this program is supported by ads outside of the U.K." ads in the middle of the discussions. The ads start and end with an extremely annoying loud chime that just blows out the speakers if I have the volume turned up to understand a guest that's speaking in a more soft voice.

replies(7): >>45124471 #>>45125048 #>>45125095 #>>45127060 #>>45127716 #>>45132250 #>>45132277 #
1. penguin_booze ◴[04 Sep 25 14:32 UTC] No.45127716[source]▶
> how well moderated a discussion among experts can be

I've been listening to the podcast for years. I don't think the format counts as a 'discussion among experts'. It's more like Melvin asks prepared questions individually to each expert--a hub and spoke model. The experts rarely talk to or debate each other, although they often agree which each other. Melvin largely controls the narrative and direction, which I think works better. Guests do get to free-wheel at the end of the podcast, however.

replies(1): >>45132557 #
2. iainmerrick ◴[04 Sep 25 21:43 UTC] No.45132557[source]▶
He’s really, really good. Whenever I listen to the show I’m amazed at how precise his questions are - he’s perfect in the role of the intelligent non-expert, often asking about the exact thing that was confusing to me in the expert’s previous reply.