Diving Into A B2B Podcast Producer's Tech Stack: A Conversation with Robb Conlon from Westport Studios
If you’ve ever wondered how B2B podcasting differs from the indie or entertainment space—not just in audience strategy but right down to the tools—it’s time to meet Robb, founder of Westport Studios..
Westport Studios is a full-service B2B podcast production agency that operates more like a creative consultancy than a content mill. I sat down with Robb for an inside look at how his team builds shows designed to connect with decision-makers, not algorithms—and how that mindset influences every piece of his tech stack.
Why B2B Podcasting Is a Different Game
Q: You work exclusively in the B2B podcast space. How does that affect how you approach production?
Robb: “Everything we do is designed for what I call ‘boardroom success.’ We're not chasing virality. We’re trying to get our clients in front of the people they actually want to be talking to.”
Instead of aiming for mass visibility, Robb focuses on podcasts as a reputation and relationship-building tool - which is a far cry from other podcasters’ laser-focus on CPM’s and sponsorships. In fact, that one small change in fact changes everything—from how his shows are structured to how the content is promoted.
“One of our clients closed over $2 million in business by bringing on high-level guests from companies like Mastercard and AstraZeneca. That’s not about downloads. That’s about access.”
The B2B Production Tech Stack: Clean, Fast, Controlled
Q: What’s your current tech stack for production?
Robb’s Core Tools:
Recording: Riverside.fm
Editing: Descript (with some caveats)
Cleanup: Adobe Enhance Speech (used sparingly)
File Management: Google Drive
Project Management: Asana
Robb: “We record everything in Riverside. Even though they’ve added some AI features we’re not fans of, it’s still the cleanest remote recording option.”
But Robb is quick to clarify that automation doesn’t equal quality. When asked about Descript, he doesn’t mince words:
“It’s the most important and most overrated tool in our stack. Nothing else does what Descript does better… but nothing breaks more often either.”
He refuses to trust things like Descript’s “remove filler words” button without human review. “I wouldn’t trust the deliverable. That sucker’s coming back to us for sure.”
Instead, the Westport team does light edits in Descript, then exports to a traditional DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) when higher fidelity is required.
Guest Booking: No Spreadsheets, Just Strategy
Q: How do you book high-caliber guests for B2B clients without using talent agencies or cold lists?
Robb: “We tell our clients: send two guest invites a day, five days a week. Keep it personal. Use your own domain. People follow people—not brands.”
This method generates a consistent pipeline and converts because it feels organic. Robb doesn’t believe in over-automating the guest process, and prefers humanized outreach over platforms like Matchmaker.fm or Podchaser Connect.
Discovery & Growth: Rethinking the Funnel
Q: A lot of podcasters obsess over Apple Charts and SEO. Do your clients care about discoverability?
Robb: “Discoverability is a bonus, not the objective. We publish to Apple, Spotify, YouTube—but most of our growth comes from LinkedIn, newsletters, and word of mouth.”
That said, the moment his clients started adding video to their shows, the game changed:
“When we launched YouTube clips and full episodes, subscriber growth jumped 200% month over month. Visibility matters—but in B2B, it has to be targeted.”
Post-Production Polishing: No Over-AI
Q: You mentioned using Adobe Enhance — do you rely on AI tools for audio cleanup?
Robb: “We’ll use Enhance as a starting point, but never solo. It tends to flatten voices and remove nuance.”
The Westport team often blends the raw track with the AI-enhanced version to retain warmth while improving clarity. It’s a manual step—but it aligns with their high-touch, quality-over-speed mindset.
Final Thoughts: Why Tech Alone Isn’t the Solution
Robb’s takeaways are clear:
Don’t chase tools—chase workflows that serve your strategy
Don’t assume automation means quality
And in B2B, relationships > reach
“Most people try to fix their podcast with more gear. But if you’re not clear on your goals, no mic, plugin, or platform is going to save you.”
👀 Stay tuned for the full video interview, where we go deeper on how Westport prices its services, handles client onboarding, and manages internal quality control.
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