As seen in the New York Times, on NPR, and the TODAY Show, Man of the Year is the #1 friendship podcast in the country! Comedians and friendship experts Matt Ritter and Aaron Karo will help you make new friends, reconnect with old ones, and build lifelong social fitness. Each November they award a gigantic Man of the Year trophy to one of their childhood friends – a tradition that has kept their crew going strong since the '80s. But the country is currently facing a friendship recession – 15 ...
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In this episode, we dive into the challenges of building genuine connections at work, especially in today's world of remote and hybrid setups, where colleagues are often spread across the globe. With fewer opportunities for face-to-face interactions, it's harder to find those you can be open and vulnerable with. But socialization is essential, so w…
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#93 - Friendship Literacy For New College Grads
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We learn (or should learn) financial literacy in school, but no one teaches you friendship literacy. Karo and Matt offer some advice for the Class of 2024 on how to make friends in the real world. They also discuss which pill they would take in The Matrix and why Matt’s work records are sealed by the Warren Commission. Watch this episode on YouTube…
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Matt and Karo discuss Matt's favorite guru James Clear and how some of his principles can be applied to friendship. It's not just about the end result - aka more or healthier friendships, it's about the daily, weekly, monthly process we put in place so we don't even have to sweat the outcome. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manofth…
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#91 - Bouquet or “Bro-quet” with 1-800-Flowers founder Jim McCann
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Karo and Matt are joined by their friend and mentor Jim McCann, the CEO and founder of 1-800-Flowers. They discuss whether platonic men can give each other flowers, whether the “one hour’s salary” rule works for buying gifts for your buddies, and what it was like to own a piece of the New York Mets. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at …
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#90 - The Dude Pyramid (aka Social Nutrition for Healthy Friendships)
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We all learned about the foot pyramid and how to have a balanced diet. Though it turns out most of it was wrong. So maybe it's time to make sure your social nutrition is also well balanced! Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com Man of the Year on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok Matt Ritter on Instagram, TikTok, and…
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Everyone feels lonely sometimes. The surgeon general has declared loneliness a national epidemic, with some studies equating its harmful effects to smoking fifteen cigarettes a day. Karo and Matt discuss several strategies to combat loneliness, and ask some deeper questions about life, such as who is the Dalai Lama’s social media manager? Watch thi…
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#88 - How Often Should You See Your Friends? - aka The TCS Method
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Matt and Karo came up with a great rubric so you know how often you need to text, call and see your friends. Follow the TCS method and take the guesswork out of it. For the record: it's text weekly, call monthly, see IRL quarterly. These are the basic minimums for your quality friend maintenance. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at man…
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One day in the late aughts, an up-and-coming corporate lawyer in New York City named Matthew Ritter just stopped going to work one day. And thus, quiet quitting was born. Since then, the term “quiet quitting” has pervaded all aspects of life, including friendship, which is where we come in. Karo and Matt discuss the telltale signs you’re being quie…
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Matt and Karo discuss how America is number 1 at a lot of things, and hell, we wanna be the top dogs of friendship too, so we need to get cracking after we finish all those non-vegan hotdogs! We're all about rugged individualism, but maybe it's time for rugged interdependence. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com…
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What can we learn from our summer camp experiences that will help us be better friends? Karo and Matt discuss why summer is the most social season, how we can recapture some of our camp glory days, and whether or not it’s ever okay to throw your buddy’s cell phone in a river. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com …
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Some people hate small talk. But frankly all of us could do a bit better and use it more as an opportunity to spark the beginnings of a friendship. Let's face it all friendships start small. Matt and Karo come up with some guidelines for small talk. Let's face it, we all dread it sometimes, but maybe we need to reframe it. Every friendship starts s…
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#83 - Friendship Goals: Achieving "Tenure"
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Buddies you’ve known so long they’re now obligated to be in your life are known as tenured friends. You know where you stand with them and they have deep knowledge in a very specific field: You. Karo and Matt discuss some of the pros and pitfalls of friends earning tenure, and coin the term “friend emeritus” for those you don’t see that much anymor…
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#82 - What Jalen Bruson and Josh Hart's Friendship Can Teach Us
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The Knicks are not only winning but they are doing it with a group of long time bffs. Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Dante DiVincenzo aren't just teammates, they are old college teammates and bff's who now have a podcast called The Roommates pod. When they aren't competing with NBA players they are competing with us in the friendship space. We welcom…
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#81 - Your 2024 Wedding Season Survival Guide
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Another year has gone by and another set of friends is taking the plunge this summer. From making a toast to making out with a bridesmaid, Karo and Matt have all the tips and hacks you need to be the ultimate wedding guest. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com Man of the Year on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok Mat…
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The Fine Line Between Friendly Competition and Jealousy towards Friends. We believe a little healthy competition between friends has a lot of benefits, but we are also aware of the famous Teddy Roosevelt quote "comparison is the thief of joy." So in this episode we dig into what is a healthy level of friendly rivalry vs. when it becomes a jealous r…
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#79 - From Fringe Friends To Binge Friends
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How do you take someone from your outer circle and upgrade them to a homie you hang out with all the time? Today on the pod Karo and Matt teach you how to turn fringe friends into binge friends! Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com Man of the Year on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok Matt Ritter on Instagram, TikTok…
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On our latest episode, we dive into a hot take from Gayle King and the Giggly Squad that posits there is a benefit to gossip! Are there times where it's just good practice to share information to protect your friends, or are we just rationalizing? Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com Man of the Year on Instagram,…
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#77 - Jay Shetty and Tony Soprano walk into a bar...
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Tony Soprano says that “remember when” is the lowest form of conversation and Jay Shetty says that instead of relieving old memories we should be creating new ones. With those two titans in mind, Karo and Matt take a trip down memory lane to discuss how often you should be taking a trip down memory lane with your buddies. Watch this episode on YouT…
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We get into the pros and pitfalls of starting a business with a friend. It can be very rewarding but there are a lot of things that you need to be aware of going in and your expectations need to be aligned otherwise it may destroy both the business and your friendship. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com Man of …
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Time is truly the only nonrenewable resource, so Karo and Matt ask the important questions: How much time should you be spending with your friends? What is the grace period when someone is running late? And when does lingering too long at a dinner party turn into the invitation for an orgy? Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manofthey…
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We think of them as casual friends, work buddies, etc. But research has shown weak social ties are even more important than our intimate friendships and relationships that we have because they connect us to a wider world. We explore the important of what we call the "outercircle" on this week's MOTY. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at…
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#73 - The Return of Friendship Cuffing Season!
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Spring has sprung, which means it’s the ideal time to get out there and meet new friends using our patented (not really) Man of the Year formula. Find the right clothes, body language, and attitude to get into full friend-making mode! If you have any questions, ask Matt – or as we call him: MattGPT (his info is inaccurate, the references are old, t…
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Getting sick is a bummer. Especially when you have an event you're supposed to go to or a friend that was relying on you. But sometimes you have to listen to your body! And also if you're "sick" when you were supposed to be at a friend's birthday party, maybe don't flood Instagram with photos of you out ;) We discuss the etiquette around when and h…
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#71 - It’s Man of the Year March Madness!
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Karo and Matt introduce their inaugural Best Friends Bracket – a March Madness-style competition to find the best buds in buddy comedy history. Will it be Ferris and Cameron, Riggs and Murtaugh, Harold and Kumar, Bill and Ted, or Harry and Lloyd? Or will Swingers be the Cinderella story of 2024? Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at mano…
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A recent article suggests that men's health would be greatly improved if they had at least TWO boys nights per WEEK. We swear we didn't write the article ;) We're not sure if we'll be able to sell this to the general public, but let's discuss. Are we not getting enough boys nights? Also, a listener asks what to do when one of the boys in a boys nig…
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If there was an AI chatbot with two settings – Karo and Matt – how quickly would you delete it and go outside and touch grass? The guys tackle this philosophical question and more, plus all the ways artificial intelligence is affecting our relationships. They also pitch a reboot of the movie Weird Science. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY me…
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Guys there are only a few tickets left for our show at the Netflix is a Joke comedy festival on May 8th in Los Angeles! GET TICKETS NOW @ manoftheyearpodcast.com And check out our first magazine cover story! https://thepenngazette.com/the-magazine/current-issue/By Matt Ritter and Aaron Karo, Bleav
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Matt and Karo tackle an article about ritualized intimacy. It's not what it sounds like ;) Accountability partners are currently enjoying a rise in popularity because they offer something that is in dwindling supply – ritualised intimacy. According to psychologist Suzy Reading, "there’s a huge element here around social connection and shared experi…
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Matt is walking on eggshells as he reveals to Karo his deepest, darkest, most disgusting secret. The guys also offer advice to all the wives and girlfriends out there who have partners with no friends. Finally, Karo and Matt try a little role play, and it does not go well. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com Man…
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#66 - Happy Valentines, Galentines and Palentines Day
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Happy Valentines Day to all the lovers out there and Happy Galentines, Malentines or Palentines Day to those who celebrate, which is probably not that many of you, but it should be. Don't forget to cherish and celebrate your friends for this even newer corporate holiday that we are inventing! Matt and Karo discuss all physical intimacy in friendshi…
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#65 - Not Another Travis Kelce / Taylor Swift Episode
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It’s Super Bowl week and Karo and Matt are once again tackling (see what we did there) the role of sports in friendship. The guys also discuss murderous Eagles fans, murderous Red Sox fans, and whether it’s socially acceptable for Matt to leave a game in the first inning if it’s a blowout. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheye…
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#64 - The Secret to Making Work Friends with Smiley Poswolsky
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Karo and Matt interview millennial workplace expert and man with best nickname ever Smiley Poswolsky. They discuss work besties, remote vs. hybrid, and office romances. Also, Producer Theo continues to insist he’s a millennial even though he has major Gen Z energy. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com Man of the …
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Huge news! Matt and Karo are taking Man of the Year to the stage at Netflix Is A Joke - the largest comedy festival in the world - on May 8th in Los Angeles! Come see our all-new interactive comedy show - bring an old friend or make a new friend! GET TICKETS NOW @ manoftheyearpodcast.comBy Matt Ritter and Aaron Karo, Bleav
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Matt and Karo discuss the fraught topic of favors: asking for them, doing them, and (sometimes) charging for them. We all need a favor at some point. In fact, every friend you ask to lend a hand is probably asking a buddy for help as well, resulting in what the guys call a human centipede of favors. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at …
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The guys discuss when to say no to plans with friends, when to say yes, and when to cancel. Karo also belatedly declines a Bat Mitzvah invitation and Matt details his Bar Mitzvah at an exclusive singles-only nightclub on Long Island called Zachary’s. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com Man of the Year on Instagr…
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#61 - Introverts vs. Extroverts with Kat Vellos
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Karo and Matt interview Kat Vellos, the go-to source for guidance about cultivating meaningful friendships and healthy workplace colleagueships. They chat common myths about introverts and how to “fall in friendship.” You’re going to want to hear this interview and find out more about Kat at weshouldgettogether.com! Watch this episode on YouTube! G…
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#60 - Matt and Karo’s New Year’s Res-BRO-lutions (TM)
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The guys ring in 2024 by sharing their resolutions for the new year. As usual, Karo started his three months early and Matt practices his own brand of cock-eyed optimism known as “Mattifestations.” They also discuss the unwritten rules of friendship, texting from your laptop, and how Producer Theo has never heard of the Addams Family. Watch this ep…
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#59 - How to Make Friends as an Adult: The Three Pillars of Friendship with Shasta Nelson
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Matt and Karo may play friendship experts on TV but today they interview real life friendship expert Shasta Nelson, who drops all kinds of knowledge about vulnerability, modeling behavior, and why the clergy is the loneliest profession. Check out Shasta’s books and hire her at shastanelson.com! Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manof…
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#58 - What Is Your Friendship Love Language?
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Matt and Karo seek words of affirmation as they discuss gift-giving and love languages. The guys also debate White Elephant parties, women buying diamonds for their friends, and the most romantic gift of all: a $3.99 banana holder from Amazon. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com Man of the Year on Instagram, You…
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Matt and Karo interview comedian Gabe Mollica, whose one-man show SOLO is taking the country by storm. Things go a bit off the rails though once the guys find out Gabe’s dad is a horse track lawyer, and they must find out who the highest paid jockey in the world is and whether jockeys get a W-2 or a 1099, and then discuss Karo’s ill-fated date with…
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#56 - American High with Jeremy Garelick & Will Phelps
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Did you peak in high school? Today on the pod Matt and Karo interview two people who definitely did not: Jeremy Garelick and Will Phelps of American High, the new kings of high school movies. The guys discuss translating Gen Z, working with Adam Sandler, and the real inside story of Jeremy’s rewrite of The Hangover. Watch this episode on YouTube! G…
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Matt and Karo interview Devon Werkheiser of Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide on Nickelodeon – and the only former child star who’s neither in prison nor a realtor. The guys discuss the child actor to realtor pipeline, getting recognized while on mushrooms, and how to stay in touch with your friends when you’re both so busy. Watch this episo…
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#54 - Trophy Life – The 20th Annual Man of the Year Dinner
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It’s the Tuesday before Thanksgiving – aka our Super Bowl! Matt, Karo, and the rest of their childhood crew gather at Peter Luger Steak House in Brooklyn for the 20th annual awarding of their coveted Man of the Year trophy. The guys discuss the origins of the night, the importance of friendship traditions, and oh yeah Karo got a FREAKIN’ TATTOO! Wa…
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It’s the week before Thanksgiving and Matt and Karo are headed home to Long Island to talk bagels, New York accents, and setting the alarm off when you’re staying at your parents’ house. Let us know what it’s like when you visit your hometown – but keep it positive! Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com Man of the…
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#52 - Getting FUBAR with Travis Van Winkle
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Matt and Karo interview actor, mentor, and – according to Karo – full on smoke show Travis Van Winkle. They discuss Travis’s new Netflix show FUBAR, the importance of Men’s Groups, and of course, becoming friends with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com Man of the Year on Instagram, YouTub…
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Happy Halloween! Matt and Karo discuss why October 31st is one of the best days of the year to make friends. They also chat about murder houses, Karo’s Batgirl costume, and Matt’s run-in with the law dressed as a clown. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com Man of the Year on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok Matt Ri…
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#50 - The Man of the Year 50th Episode Friendtacular!
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Matt and Karo celebrate one year working in the most respected field in America: Podcasting. The guys look back at their first 50 episodes – the tips, the hacks, the ups, and the downs. Also we’re still trying to figure out what to call our fans! Buddies? Champs? Send in your ideas! Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodca…
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#49 - How To Teach Your Kids About Friendship
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Matt and Karo always say it’s never too late to make a new friend, but is it ever too early? The guys discuss making friends as little kids, give some bullying advice to their buddy Oscar, and Matt literally steals candy from a baby. Get ready for some parallel play! Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com Man of th…
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#48 - Country Club Adjacent with Griff Pippin!
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Matt and Karo welcome their first-ever in-studio guest – Griff Pippin: comedian, scratch golfer, and one fourth of the golf comedy podcast Country Club Adjacent! Griff discusses making friends on the golf course, roasting Trump in the tee box, and why Stoicism is the cure for absolutely everything, like literally everything. Watch this episode on Y…
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#47 - Becoming BFFs with Bumble’s Beth Berger
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Matt and Karo interview Beth Berger, the head of the hottest friendship app in town – Bumble For Friends. Beth and the guys discuss how to choose the right photo, how to find potential buddies in your neighborhood, and how to go from stranger to acquaintance to friend. Also, Matt has never been on a dating app but Karo has plenty of horror stories …
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