

Man of the Year - Champions of Friendship
Matt Ritter and Aaron Karo
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 facing a friendship recession – 15% of men report having zero close friends – and they’re on a mission to change that with tips, hacks, and decades of hilarious stories. Join the revolution at manoftheyearpodcast.com and instagram.com/manoftheyearpodcast
Episodes
Mentioned books

11 snips
Jul 22, 2025 • 30min
#141 - Long Distance Friendships
Explore the art of maintaining long-distance friendships with creative communication strategies. Delve into personal anecdotes showcasing the challenges and joys of distance. Learn how technology can bridge gaps, along with tips for nurturing connections through shared activities. Discover the intricate dynamics that evolve over time and the importance of effort in keeping friendships alive. Unpack the emotional hurdles of reconnecting and the power of expressing gratitude, proving that distance doesn't have to diminish bonds.

9 snips
Jul 15, 2025 • 33min
#140 - Clique Bait
Hosts dive into the lively dynamics of friend groups, exploring how they form and evolve. They share hilarious anecdotes about loyalty tests and subgroup drama. The discussion highlights the emotional nuances of belonging, jealousy, and feelings of exclusion in social circles. With humor and practical advice, they navigate the challenges of blending into established friendships. The episode ends with a playful call for listeners to creatively name their own friend groups, emphasizing the joy of connection and community.

Jul 8, 2025 • 30min
#139 - Bring Your Friend To Work Day
There was always a bring your child to work day, but what if we let our friends into our work world a bit. Maybe we'd feel a bit closer. Ask your friends more about their work.
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 X
Aaron Karo on Instagram, TikTok, and X Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jul 1, 2025 • 33min
#138 - Rhaina Cohen, author of “The Other Significant Others”
Journalist and author Rhaina Cohen joins us to talk about the evolution of friendship and her new book “The Other Significant Others.”
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 X
Aaron Karo on Instagram, TikTok, and X Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jun 24, 2025 • 30min
#137 - Be The Reason, Not the Excuse
If it often seems like everyone is always looking for an excuse not to get together, it's because they often are. But you don't have to be that person. Instead you can be the reason you get together, the reason you take the walk together, the reason you and your friends keep your weekly drinks or monthly get togethers.
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 X
Aaron Karo on Instagram, TikTok, and X Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jun 17, 2025 • 33min
#136 - Adult Best Friends with Delaney Buffett and Katie Corwin
Today on the pod we welcome Delaney Buffett and Katie Corwin, writers and stars of the new movie ADULT BEST FRIENDS – now streaming on HBO Max!
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 X
Aaron Karo on Instagram, TikTok, and X Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jun 10, 2025 • 31min
#135 - The Friendship Eras Tour
Matt and Karo explore how the definition of friendship has evolved across generations - and centuries. Would your current crew survive in 1925’s smoky speakeasies? What about 1525’s plague-ridden villages? From handwritten letters to group chats, they break down what friendship meant then and now.
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 X
Aaron Karo on Instagram, TikTok, and X Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jun 3, 2025 • 31min
#134 - 24-Hour Friends
Karo and Matt dive into the magic of “24-hour friends” – those buddies you make over a short period of time at weddings, on vacation, or on a work trip. Why do these accelerated bonds feel so deep, and is it possible to turn them into long-lasting friendships?
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 X
Aaron Karo on Instagram, TikTok, and X Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

May 27, 2025 • 31min
#133 - Friendship Myths
Matt and Karo break down common friendship myths. As we all know there are things we believe to be true about friendship, but were did we get these beliefs from and when put to the test are they actually accurate? Usually the answer is no!
here are some common friendship myths we discuss/debunk:
Friendship should last forever
Good friends never argue
You need a large circle to be happy
Making friends is easy
True friends have everything in common
Online friends cant be as real as IRL Ones
if a friendship ends it was a failure
Friendships should always be equal or 50/50
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 X
Aaron Karo on Instagram, TikTok, and X Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

May 20, 2025 • 32min
#132 - The Friendship Social Contract
Matt and Karo dive into the Friendship Social Contract - the unspoken rules that hold friendships together. From keeping secrets to showing up on time (and what happens when you don’t), they explore the quiet agreements that separate great friends from flaky ones.
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 X
Aaron Karo on Instagram, TikTok, and X Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.