Millions of viewers have grown up with Good Times, Bad Times. In this episode of RTL stories – The podcast, UFA’s Executive Producer takes us behind the scenes of Germany’s most successful daily drama and reflects on two decades of storytelling, an unexpected move to Australia and the responsibility that comes with being part of people’s everyday lives.

More than a television show

For more than 30 years, Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten (GZSZ) has been an iconic part of German television. In this conversation with Lisa Burke, Katja Bäuerle explains why daily dramas continue to resonate with audiences, why the show feels like part of the family for many viewers and how it has evolved alongside changing viewing habits. As Katja puts it: “We are developing along with our audience, and I think that’s our biggest strength.”

An opportunity on the other side of the world

“How can I say no? I mean, what an opportunity and what a great honour to be asked.” That was Katja’s first reaction when she received a call asking whether she could move to Australia within just a few months to join Fremantle’s iconic soap Neighbours. She reflects on the experience of working internationally during the Covid pandemic and what it taught her about the universal craft of daily storytelling.

Storytelling comes with responsibility

“We are being watched by millions of people, which makes us carry a lot of responsibility.” Beyond her production work, Katja also served as Creative Responsibility Manager at UFA, helping drive diversity and sustainability initiatives across the company. In the interview, she discusses the role content creators can play in shaping conversations and reflecting the societies they serve.

Also in this episode:

• How a casting director's visit to Katja’s parents’ pub ultimately changed the course of her career
• How audience research and viewing data influence storytelling decisions
• The future of television production, from nurturing new talent to experimenting with AI

Listen to the full episode!