Man of the Year - Champions of Friendship

Karo gets ganged up on this in special Valentine’s Day episode with our good friend Matchmaker Maria. How do you meet The One? It’s the same way you meet new friends! And make sure to pre-order Maria’s new book: “Matchmaker Maria's No-Nonsense Guide to Finding Love” Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com Man of the Year on Instagram , YouTube , and TikTok Matt Rit...

Couples go to therapy to work out their issues, and now there's a growing trend of friends doing the same thing. Would you ever consider friend therapy? We debate the pros and cons of working it out with your friend on this week's episode of Man of the Year. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com Man of the Year on Instagram , YouTube , and TikTok Matt Ritter on I...

This episode delves into the theory that good friends have hard conversations, emphasizing that addressing conflict is essential to building strong and meaningful relationships. Avoiding tough topics may seem easier, but it often leads to resentment or distance. By embracing honest, respectful dialogue, friends can resolve misunderstandings, strengthen trust, and create deeper connections. Hard co...

This is the second half of our two part series that breaks down all of our tips into a very clear straightforward step by step process on how to make friends. Please check out Episode 113 for the full picture! 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...

It’s a new year so we thought we’d get back to basics and answer the foundational question that launched this podcast – how exactly do you make a friend? In the first of this two-part episode, we talk about taking inventory of your existing network to find potential friends that are hiding in plain sight. In next week’s episode, we’re gonna increase the degree of difficulty, and talk about how to...

Most people make resolutions in various areas of their lives, vow to join the gym, which usually lasts all of 3 weeks, vow to save x number of dollars that we fall woefully short of while we rack up credit card debt, but very few of us include our friendship goals into our resolutions. We want to normalize that. So please include one friendship related resolution for 2025. Watch this episode on Yo...

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...

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...

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 Ma...

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 comfort...

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 episod...

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 like...

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 manoftheyearpodca...

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 manoftheyearpodcas...

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...

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 compan...

If you're gonna be lifelong friends with someone, shouldn't you do epic sh*t? We think so! We discuss what should go on your friendship bucket list!   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 AdsW...

Apparently, Penguins are ahead of the curve on friendship! They do this act called pebbling where they literally bring little pebbles one by one back as a show of affection to their little ones. Pebbling in human form refers to little signs of love or affection that are gifted to a friend or a loved one that you think they would enjoy. So when you think you're just being funny sending your friends...

It’s our 100th episode and Karo and Matt welcome a very special guest – the freakin’ Surgeon General of the United States! Dr. Murthy and the guys discuss the epidemic of loneliness, the importance of showing up for your friends, and who pays for margaritas when he goes out for drinks after work in DC. The Surgeon General also officially deputizes Karo and Matt as Chief Friendship Officers of the...

Chappell Roan is speaking out against toxic fan behavior, so Karo and Matt are discussing parasocial friendships – one-sided relationships between a civilian and a celebrity. When is it harmless fandom, and when does it cross the line? 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...

Let's face it, we've all been in this situation. When you have a friend that just won't respond to your text, won't ever make plans, basically would never speak to you again if you didn't put in the work, it can be super frustrating. And you ask yourself, why are you putting up with this. We explore why this happens and what should you do about it! And if this is even a friendhsip at all?? Also, w...

Karo and Matt welcome special guest Anna Goldfarb! Called “the New York Times’ friendship correspondent,” Anna's reporting has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Vox, and more. Her new book, “Modern Friendship: How to Nurture Our Most Valued Connections,” explores the nuances of navigating adult friendships in a hyperfluid society. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoft...

Let’s be honest—whether you’re joining a fraternity or a country club, you're essentially paying to make friends. But aren’t we all doing that in one way or another? From gym memberships to couples' dinners and mommy-and-me classes, forming and maintaining friendships often involves some level of spending. In this episode, we dive into the hidden (and not-so-hidden) costs of socializing and share...

Karo and Matt discuss how to handle what they’ve coined “The SAD Sixty” – the roughly 60 days from Labor Day to Halloween when social plans are sparse and Seasonal Affective Disorder is rampant. 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...

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 we’re sharing some tips to beat the office blues an...