Peter Brod was born in Prague in 1951 and, together with his parents, he moved to Bavaria in 1969. After graduating from secondary school in Munich, he studied political science, East and Southeast European history and journalism at the University of Munich where he gained his M.A. in 1977. He also studied at the London School of Economics and Political Science and at Harvard University.

Between 1980 and 1987 he held various positions with BBC radio and television in London. Later he worked for Radio Free Europe until 1993, first serving in various posts in Munich and in 1990 - 1992 as the stations first permanent correspondent and bureau chief in Prague.

In 1993, Brod joined the staff of the Süddeutsche Zeitung in Munich and left the paper in 1996. After a two-year stint as a freelance journalist in Munich, he returned to the daily as its Prague correspondent. In 2000, Brod rejoined the BBC and was in charge of its Prague bureau.

Since 2006, he has been freelancing in Prague. His activities have included presenting the programme Historical Magazine on Czech public TV́s news and current affairs station CT24.

He regularly chairs debates on contemporary and historical topics at the Jewish Museums Department of Education and Culture.