How to Turn Acquaintances into Friends

Practical moves: treat acquaintances like friends, invite them, do small favors, and celebrate milestones.

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AJ sits down with Matt Ritter, co-host of Man of the Year, to unpack the male loneliness epidemic and why so many men lose friendships as they get older. Matt shares his TCS framework for keeping friendships alive, why proximity and ritual are the real secrets to connection, and how to design a “friendship strategy” that fits your life instead of waiting for it to happen.

You’ll learn how to move acquaintances into real friends, how to host like a pro without burning out, and why your partner can’t (and shouldn’t) be your only friend.

Chapters:
00:00 – The male loneliness crisis and the “Man of the Year” tradition
05:00 – Why friendship dies without a dramatic ending
10:00 – Proximity and strategy: building real connection
15:00 – The TCS framework and the myth of the lone wolf
20:00 – How to be “worth knowing” — standing out socially
25:00 – The friendship habit: stacking connection into your life
30:00 – Overcoming rejection and fear of the invite
35:00 – Rituals, hosting, and creating sticky friendships
40:00 – Why your wife can’t be your only friend
45:00 – Friendship as self-care and the original life hack

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Episode resources:

Man of the Year Podcast

The Buddy System