

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

Dec 24, 2024 • 36min
#111 - Bro Bro Bro! Merry Christmas!
The guys celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah with some holiday friendship tips, including the “one hour’s salary” rule for buying gifts for your buddies, and offering “friendship amnesty” to any pals you might have beef with. They also discuss the etiquette of sending holidays cards and Karo’s recent journey to see Taylor Swift. Happy Holidays MOTY crew!!
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.

Dec 17, 2024 • 35min
#110 - Posting Up
People often think they need to make a concrete plan that involves a location and an activity, but we found a hack that seems to work. Friends benefit from lowering the barrier and just putting out the open call, aka posting up. Just telling people where you're gonna be and make it real easy for them to hang or just swing by.
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.

Dec 10, 2024 • 34min
#109 - What’s Your Friendship Style?
Fireflies, Butterflies, and Wallflowers, oh my! Karo and Matt discuss the different friendship styles, as outlined in a fantastic quiz by New York Times reporter Natalie Proulx. They also debate whether people who are good at foosball are tools and whether people who play Magic the Gathering are called Magic the Gatherers.
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.

Dec 3, 2024 • 36min
#108 - When Friend Groups Collide
In this episode, we tackle the challenges of navigating friend group dynamics when different social circles collide. Should you keep them separate to avoid awkwardness, merge them into one big happy group, or find a balance somewhere in between? We explore the pros and cons of each approach, share tips for managing potential conflicts, and discuss how to create a space where everyone feels comfortable. Whether you're planning a party, introducing new friends, or dealing with unexpected overlap, we've got you covered!
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.

Nov 26, 2024 • 31min
#107 - The 21st Annual Man of the Year Dinner!
Tonight is Karo and Matt’s Super Bowl – their annual dinner at Peter Luger in Brooklyn with their childhood friends at which the iconic Man of the Year trophy will be awarded. The guys discuss the origins of the trophy, the importance of creating rituals with your buddies, and Karo jumps the gun by referring to this as their 22nd annual dinner, when it’s actually only the 21st...
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.

Nov 19, 2024 • 34min
#106 - Assuming the Best in Friendship
We have a viewpoint on the pod that you are better served to assume the best of intentions for your friends even when they mess up. It's the better way to friend. Why, well here are just a few reasons: Trust is the foundation of any strong friendship. Assuming the best helps to maintain and build trust between you and your friends. Enhances Communication: When you assume the best, you're more likely to communicate openly and honestly, fostering better understanding and resolving conflicts more easily. Promotes Positivity: A positive outlook can lead to a more optimistic and supportive social circle, benefiting everyone involved. Reduces Misunderstandings: Misinterpreting a friend's actions or words negatively can lead to unnecessary conflicts. Assuming the best helps to prevent such misunderstandings. Encourages Support: Believing in your friends' good intentions can make you more supportive and empathetic, strengthening the bond between you. #maleadultfriendship #scaredtobevulnerable #adultfriendship #socialfitness #howtomakefriends
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.

Nov 12, 2024 • 34min
#105 - Getting Medieval On Your Friendship Rituals
This podcast was inspired by the world’s greatest friendship ritual – Karo and Matt’s annual Man of the Year dinner with their childhood friends. But how can you incorporate rituals into your everyday friendships? The guys share some best practices, and Matt recounts his recent trip to Medieval Times, which apparently still exists.
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.

Nov 5, 2024 • 30min
#104 - The Politics of Friendship - Election Day
We recorded this before the election so we have no idea who won, but we wanted to discuss the thorniest of friendship issues in the hope that not too many friendship bridges get burned Tuesday regardless of what happens. #friendshipexpert #friendship #maleadultfriendship #electionday #trump #kamala #nov5 #politicalnews #politics
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 Twitter
Aaron Karo on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oct 29, 2024 • 34min
#103 - Exorcise Your Friendship Demons
Happy Halloween wolfmen of the year! It’s spooky szn so today Karo and Matt discuss facing your friendship fears, meeting the Ghost of Friendship Past, and dealing with old buddies who know you have skeletons in the closet. Have we beat this Halloween analogy to death yet? Well if you don’t like this episode take it to the grave!
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 Twitter
Aaron Karo on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oct 25, 2024 • 27sec
Man of the Year is coming to NEW YORK CITY on November 22nd!
Karo and Matt are coming to New York City on November 22nd for their next live show!
Man of the Year Podcast presents Friendsgiving Live!
Stand-up, celebrity guests, and the chance to make a brand new bestie!
TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW:
https://manoftheyearpodcast.com/
or
https://www.caveat.nyc/events/man-of-the-year-podcast-presents-friendsgiving-live-11-22-2024 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.