Matt Ritter and Aaron Karo

Man of the Year - Champions of Friendship

Society EN ↓ 195 episodes

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...

Author

Matt Ritter and Aaron Karo

Category

Society

Podcast website

bleav.com

Latest episode

Jul 7, 2026

Where to listen?

Podcasts in the app Replaio Radio Coming soon

Podcasts are coming to the app soon. Install now and be the first to see a whole new take on podcasts

Get it on Google Play Install for free Android 5M+ downloads · 4.8 rating iOS soon

Episodes

#142 - Friendship Amnesia 29.07.2025

We all have friends who we love hanging out with – and then completely forget about. Buddies who, for whatever reason, are not on our day-to-day radars. Karo and Matt discuss the causes of and cures for Friendship Amnesia. 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...

#141 - Long Distance Friendships 22.07.2025

We come up with a great list of ways to keep up the long distance friendships. Letting your friends know they are valued and missed, but also figuring ways to keep living in the moment. 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 Hoste...

#140 - Clique Bait 15.07.2025

Friend groups can be a source of deep connection - or quiet chaos. This week, Karo and Matt dive into the subtle dynamics of cliques: how they form, why they last, and what happens when the group starts to shift. From loyalty tests to subgroup drama, we explore the pros, pitfalls, and politics of the friend group ecosystem. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com M...

#139 - Bring Your Friend To Work Day 08.07.2025

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 Simpl...

#138 - Rhaina Cohen, author of “The Other Significant Others” 01.07.2025

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.adswiz...

#137 - Be The Reason, Not the Excuse 24.06.2025

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...

#136 - Adult Best Friends with Delaney Buffett and Katie Corwin 17.06.2025

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 p...

#135 - The Friendship Eras Tour 10.06.2025

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...

#134 - 24-Hour Friends 03.06.2025

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...

#133 - Friendship Myths 27.05.2025

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 frie...

#132 - The Friendship Social Contract 20.05.2025

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 Ritte...

#131 - The Loneliness Economy 13.05.2025

An entire ecosystem is being built around confronting the loneliness epidemic. Matt and Karo discuss all the new ways help is there for you and all the pros and cons. The Government even has an entire program to help you become more socially fit. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com Man of the Year on Instagram , YouTube , and TikTok Matt Ritter on Instagram , T...

#130 - #NoRegrets 06.05.2025

We all have regrets in life – but we don’t often talk about friendship regret – that falling out you never reconciled, that misunderstanding you never corrected, that old pal you never picked up the phone and called. This week Matt and Karo talk about how to deal with and avoid friendship regret. Also, vasectomies. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com Man of the...

#129 - Rebound Friendships 29.04.2025

This week, Karo and Matt dive into the world of rebound friendships—the new buddies you make following a friend break-up. We talk about how to move on without bitterness, what to look for in new friendships, and why rebounds aren’t just for romance. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com Man of the Year on Instagram , YouTube , and TikTok Matt Ritter on Instagram...

#128 - The Invisible Men 22.04.2025

Karo and Matt tackle the quiet, heavy feeling of invisibility that can creep into male friendships. We explore why so many men feel unseen—even among their closest friends. We talk about the unspoken rules that keep guys from reaching out, and the cost of staying silent. Plus, how taking the smallest step to “be the friend” can help break the spell. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at...

#127 - Social Fitness Test Revisited 15.04.2025

It's been a year since we last did our score count. Have you improved in any category? Is there a balance to your friendships? Are you being more vulnerable, scratching beyond the surface? Do you have a good circle that lives nearby? Have you built a trophy? We wanna hear from you! Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com Man of the Year on Instagram , YouTube , and...

#126 - Moving for Friends 08.04.2025

Matt and Karo give a scorching hot take. It's perfectly normal to move for a love interest, but it's really not at all discussed whether you should move for your friends. Matt chased after Karo in California and maybe you should move if your bff is elsewhere. It's at least worth debating. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com Man of the Year on Instagram , YouTub...

#125 - Our Final Episode (April Fools’!) 01.04.2025

Don’t worry, you’re not getting rid of us that easily! Today Karo and Matt introduce “limited series” – friendship activities that have a finite end date so they’re not as much of a commitment. The guys also discuss April Fools’ Day, the prank-industrial complex, and why their hometown is famous for the greatest prank of all time. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcas...

#124 - Q1 Friendship Check In 25.03.2025

Since we are about to hit the end of our first fiscal friendship quarter, we thought it made sense to track our progress. How has your social fitness improved since Jan 1 and what are some areas to revisit and lock in on? 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...

#123 - Fake It Til You Make It 18.03.2025

They say dress for the job you want. Well we want you to do that, but for friendship. If you have an acquaintance that you want to be a good friend, start acting like they’re ALREADY a good friend. Share with them, check in on them, invite them out. In other words, fake it til you make it. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com Man of the Year on Instagram , YouTu...

#122 - Keeping Score 11.03.2025

Matt and Karo discuss the pros and cons of keeping track of friendship. Why it can be healthy to have some sense of the balance but unhealthy if it becomes a tit for tat transactional friendship. 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 , an...

#121 - The Vibes of March 04.03.2025

March is all about competition, luck, and celebration—so what better time to talk about friendship? In this episode, Karo and Matt explore how friendships evolve through the highs and lows of March Madness, the traditions that bring people together on St. Patrick’s Day, and what red flags you should beware of on The Ides of March. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcas...

#120 - Man's Best Friend - Part II 25.02.2025

Matt and Karo give a proper ode to dogs, man's best friend. And Matt says goodbye to his faithful companion of twelve years. Olive the Tiny Frenchie. He talks about how much part of the community you become when you have a dog and how you feel you're suddenly left out when they're gone. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com Man of the Year on Instagram , YouTube...

#119 - How To Supercharge Your Hangs: Write An Agenda 18.02.2025

Too many guys show up to hang-outs with no plan, leading to dead air, surface-level convos, and wasted time. In this episode, Karo and Matt break down why men should write an agenda (or “men-genda”) and share more tips on how to make your bro time more fun, meaningful, and memorable. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com Man of the Year on Instagram , YouTube , a...

#118 - Sahil Bloom - The Five Types of Wealth 11.02.2025

Matt and Karo have a very special guest on the podcast this week. Sahil Bloom has created a groundbreaking blueprint to build your life around five types of wealth: Time Wealth, Social Wealth, Mental Wealth, Physical Wealth, and Financial Wealth. A life of true fulfillment engages all five types—working dynamically, in concert across the seasons of your journey. His new book is out in stores every...

Listen to the Man of the Year - Champions of Friendship podcast in Replaio

Radio and podcasts in one app - free, with no sign-up. Install today and do not miss the launch

Get it on Google Play

Replaio is not a podcast publisher; show names, artwork and audio belong to their authors and are distributed through public RSS feeds.