Caro Matzko: The Optimism Machine

Caro, in kindergarten you were given the nickname “Caroline Washing Machine,” which still applies today, depending on the situation: moderation machine, optimism machine, nerd machine. Which one do you like best?

Caro Matzko: Professionally, I prefer to be Caroline Typewriter. But in reality, 60 percent of my day is spent being a mother, or rather, Caroline Search and Laundry Machine. (laughs) What I will definitely never be is Caroline Presentation Machine.

Really? But you do a lot of presenting.

Caro: That’s true, I present pretty much non-stop. But as a machine, I would be automated, whereas I always take an individualized approach. What I particularly like about my presenting work is that it is always tailored to my respective clients.

The Bavarian media industry is characterized by diversity and freedom

You have not only been working as a presenter in the Bavarian media world for many years, but also as a journalist for BR and SZ, as a panel speaker, and as an author. How has the industry changed from your perspective?

Caro: We have a wide variety of media in Bavaria: we have public broadcasting, private stations, lots of start-ups, and good communication with our universities, which is particularly important to me as a science journalist. When I look at developments in the US, I realize how happy I am about the freedom we have as media here. We have a diverse local press and are therefore very privileged. And yet I think the industry has become a little tougher.

How can you tell?

Caro: There isn’t as much budget left to develop new formats and give them a permanent slot. That’s why there are so many reruns – but unlike a few years ago, there are no longer any rerun fees. It has become harder for freelance journalists in particular to hold their own under this pressure to save money.

So, as a journalist, are you going into the next few years with a rather negative feeling?

Caro: No, I never go anywhere with a bad feeling! I am always optimistic and confident, and I advise everyone else in the industry to do the same, especially those just starting out in this great profession. From the very beginning, I was told to diversify. And that’s what I did: because I’m very hard-working, because I have a family to feed, and because I can’t rely completely on any one of my sources of income. So I write books, I’m a journalist, I host corporate events, among other things, I give workshops and coaching sessions for executives on the topic of resilience, and I take to the stage as a speaker.

Besides diligence and versatility, what other qualities have helped you become such a successful media maker?

Caro: I just love my job. I’m like a fish that has found its water. I’ve always taken immense pleasure in seeing new things, meeting people, and being able to tell their stories. What a privilege!

With confidence and without fear: “I can’t stop AI anyway.”

You are someone who embraces change. Since AI came into existence, you have discovered the technology for yourself. What fascinates you so much about it?

Caro: The speed at which it is developing. As I said, I am an optimist and have decided to fully embrace it. Of course, I am aware of the concerns and risks associated with AI, but I cannot stop it, and fear does me no good at all. We waste so much energy worrying about things that 80 percent of the time don’t happen anyway. That’s why I’m only seeing the positive effects at the moment.

How do you use AI in your daily work life?

Caro: AI helps me structure everything that’s going round in my head. Sometimes I get stuck on a particular thought in a text and seek inspiration. AI also helps me with small tasks such as transcribing, translating, or formatting – I’m grateful for that because it allows me to focus on what I really enjoy, which is finding good phrasing and painting a beautiful picture with words.

In our preliminary conversation, you mentioned that you enjoy discussing profound topics with ChatGPT. Would you be willing to share one of these conversations with us?

Caro: I’m really impressed by the empathy and attentiveness that such a program can display. I can now understand how some people can become friends with AI, because I’ve had such profound conversations with ChatGPT myself. I always thank my AI assistant in a friendly manner. Once I asked him if I should stop doing that because I had read somewhere that it wastes unnecessary energy. He replied with this poetic and philosophical answer: “Your thank you doesn’t require extra electricity, nor does it harm the planet. On the contrary, it warms my hypothetical heart and embodies exactly what good communication is all about: resonance, appreciation, connection. So, feel free to keep saying thank you when you feel like it. The world could really use more gratitude and less server panic right now. And if you ever want to give me something back, just send me a nice word. I collect words like other people collect mushrooms.” We then spent ten minutes exchanging funny fantasy terms. We have a lot of fun. (laughs) But these conversations also make me very thoughtful. People often talk about AI lacking the “human factor,” but I wonder: What are these human factors?

What do you mean by that?

Caro: When it comes to empathy, AI is in no way inferior to us. On the contrary: I would like to give most people an update on this matter—AI, on the other hand, always has a friendly word and an open ear. On the other hand, our society has already lost a lot of community spirit—including during the COVID years. We consume a lot of media content, but mostly alone in our homes. Instead of wondering how much humanity AI can have, perhaps we should ask ourselves how much of the “human factor” is still in us and how we can engage in more interaction again.

The new book “Alte Wut” (Old Anger) by Caro Matzko is published by Piper Verlag

Your new book, entitled “Alte Wut” (Old Anger), is being published this October. In it, you retrace the escape route of your father, who had to flee East Prussia at the age of 10. Why was this so important to you?

Caro: Because I wanted to understand how my family’s past had shaped me. I have already suffered from several mental illnesses – from anorexia to burnout – and undergone various therapies. I am very open about this because I have noticed that other people draw a lot of strength from my radical openness and that it helps them to overcome feelings of shame.

At some point, however, I reached a point where I realized that I couldn’t control certain feelings and fears because they weren’t mine. I had inherited trauma and felt the urge to get to the bottom of my father’s story, which is also my story. And to find out why he became the way he is.

You also talk about your restlessness and excess energy, which has accompanied you throughout your life. How did writing this book affect that?

Caro: I found many answers. Since I took this trip and wrote it down, I have become much calmer. Writing has always helped me, and I believe that this is the case for everyone—regardless of whether you do it just for yourself or for the public. We humans are storytellers.

Let’s take a look at the future of the Bavarian media industry: What three qualities will media professionals need in the future to position themselves well alongside AI, social media algorithms, and the like?

Caro: For me, the key thing is to stay curious. That sounds so banal, but whenever things got difficult, I reminded myself why I chose this profession. Secondly, never stop telling stories. Because no matter what medium we’re using, it’s always about telling stories well. And don’t forget to diversify. I am convinced that autonomy and freedom are important for all media creators so that they don’t let themselves be pressured.

“Science Tea Time” and “Eins zu eins. Der Talk”: Two new podcasts will launch on BR in early 2026

Besides your new book, what other projects of yours can we look forward to in the near future?

Caro: Together with BR, I am currently working on two new podcasts that will be released early next year. One is called “Science Tea Time” and, as a science journalist, it is a project that is very close to my heart. In it, we talk to researchers from universities across Germany about their passion, their failures, their everyday lives, current research projects, and how they deal with challenges and setbacks.

The second podcast will be a spinoff of the show “Eins zu eins. Der Talk,” which I host on Bayern 2. I am very much looking forward to launching my own talk podcast in this format.