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?

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Episodes

#20 - Eight-Minute Calls: The Secret To Effective Friendship Communication 28.03.2023

Matt just wants to shoot the breeze but Karo has a hard out. The guys debate the statute of limitations for introducing yourself, what to call Yugoslavians, and how long you should wait to call the police if you think your friend might be missing. Happy Head is the fully customizable hair loss solution. Use promo code FRIEND at checkout for 55% off! Watch this episode on YouTube! We’re Featured In...

#19 - The 10-Step Method Guaranteed To Make New Friends! 21.03.2023

Matt gets jealous because Karo used all of their tips / hacks to make a new friend. The guys also discuss Millennial baby names, converting to Judaism just for kicks, and producer Theo has never heard of the band R.E.M. Happy Head is the fully customizable hair loss solution. Use promo code FRIEND at checkout for 55% off! Watch this episode on YouTube! We’re Featured In The New York Times! Man of...

#18 - Five Ways Gen Z Fails At Friendship! 14.03.2023

Matt and Karo are shooketh from a listener question about adult circumcision! The guys also discuss having friends that are younger or older than you, Matt gets some unsolicited parenting advice, and Karo discovers a TikToker. Happy Head is the fully customizable hair loss solution. Use promo code FRIEND at checkout for 55% off! Watch this episode on YouTube! We’re Featured In The New York Times!...

#17 - The #1 Secret to Supporting Your Friends: Be Their Cheerleader 07.03.2023

Matt and Karo discuss the fine art of cheerleading – pumping your friends up when they need it (and even when they don’t). Whether you’re watching your friend’s band or going against them at the Emmys – sometimes they need a pep talk and sometimes you should tell it to ‘em straight. Matt also delves into his open mic days and Karo reveals he’s tracking Matt on IMDbPro. Happy Head is the fully cust...

#16 - Would You Lie For Your Friends? 28.02.2023

Matt and Karo discuss some of the unwritten rules of friendship etiquette. Do you stop or snub when you see a friend in the street? Do you alert the caller if your significant other is in the room? Do you pick up a buddy after surgery if it’s not brain or torso related? Matt also discusses his strategy for stacking habits, which basically involves unstacking Karo’s habits. Happy Head is the fully...

#15 - Man’s Best Friend - Matt DESTROYS Karo’s five complaints about pet owners 21.02.2023

It’s our most controversial episode ever! Matt and Karo debate the pros and cons of pet ownership and discuss how animals can both be great friends and help you meet humans. The guys also discuss pet etiquette, making friends at the dog park, and whether pet insurance is a scam. No animals were harmed in the making of this episode. Happy Head is the fully customizable hair loss solution. Use promo...

#14 - Best Under The Radar Places To Meet New Friends 14.02.2023

The tailgate. The barbershop. The Elks lodge. Finding your “third place” – somewhere besides home or work where people gather and socialize – is so important that Matt and Karo are doing a second episode on it! From the gym to the metaverse, they walk you through all the best under the radar places to meet new friends. The guys also debate going to grad school, where to look when you’re working ou...

#13 - The Super Bowl of Friendship - Why Sports Matters in Friendship 07.02.2023

Pick-up basketball games. Super Bowl Sunday. Magic the Gathering tournaments. Sports – no matter how you define them – are an integral part of friendship. So lace up those cleats and put in the Scrub Offense because Matt and Karo are here to help you figure out who to take to the big game, who to draft in your fantasy league, what Magic the Gathering Is? and when to stand for the Progressive Insur...

#12 - Where Should You Go to Make Friends - Try the "Third Place" 31.01.2023

Matt and Karo discuss the importance of your “third place” – a place besides home and work where people gather and socialize. Matt also reveals that he’s never tried soda in his life, Karo explains his lifelong dream of winning the bronze medal in curling, and the guys discuss their disdain for people who have water coolers in their homes, aka “jugheads.” Happy Head is the fully customizable hair...

#11 - Ditch your Friend for a First Class Upgrade - Do's and Don'ts of Traveling with Friends 24.01.2023

Traveling with your friends is rife with potential landmines but Matt and Karo help you get there in one piece, including rules for flying, houseguests, and road trips. Also, Matt falls down a flight of steps in Italy, Karo holds down the fort in Miami, and the guys recount a very unfortunate incident in Buenos Aires. Happy Head is the fully customizable hair loss solution. Use promo code FRIEND a...

#10 - My Best Friend’s Wedding Do’s and Don’ts 17.01.2023

Black tie optional. No kids allowed. Irish goodbyes encouraged. Strict seating arrangements. Matt and Karo discuss proper wedding etiquette when your buddies get married. They also debate what makes a good wingman, Matt practices the opposite of inbox zero, and Karo gets ghosted by Blink-182. Happy Head is the fully customizable hair loss solution. Use promo code FRIEND at checkout for 55% off! Wa...

#9 - What To Do When Friendships End 10.01.2023

Unfortunately, not every friendship can last forever. The guys discuss some of their friendship fails and what they can learn from them. They also discuss the merits of tattooing a name tag on your chest and debate the two most important friendship beefs of all time: Thomas Jefferson vs. John Adams and Will Ferrell vs. Adam McKay. Happy Head is the fully customizable hair loss solution. Use promo...

#8 - Whatever Happened To Work Friends? 03.01.2023

The Wall Street Journal says people aren’t interested in making friends on the job anymore. Matt and Karo beg to differ and offer some tips on how to form healthy work friendships. They also discuss how they’ve made friends with their barbers, trainers, agents, and Karo’s primary care physician, who doesn’t ask him to turn and cough anymore. WE’RE FEATURED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES! Watch this episode...

#7 - The New York Times Asks Us For Friendship Advice! 27.12.2022

We made it, Ma! The guys discuss their recent write-up in the New York Times . They also debate whether Karo should get a shark or a duck tattoo, Matt learns to say I love you, and the guys throw down the gauntlet to Glennon Doyle. We’re coming for you Glennon! Watch this episode on YouTube! Man of the Year on Instagram and TikTok Matt Ritter on Instagram , TikTok , and Twitter Aaron Karo on Insta...

#6 - Holiday Friendship Survival Guide - Don't Spike the Eggnog 20.12.2022

It’s our holiday episode! Matt and Karo discuss the best holiday to make new friends. The guys also debate whether thread count is a myth, Matt defends having a Christmas tree in his house, and Karo recounts his Little League no-hitter. WE’RE FEATURED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES! Watch this episode on YouTube! Man of the Year on Instagram and TikTok Matt Ritter on Instagram , TikTok , and Twitter Aaron...

#5 - Open Bar Funeral? How To Be There For Grieving Friends 13.12.2022

Matt and Karo get (sorta) serious about being there for your friends when someone kicks the bucket. The guys also plan their own open bar funerals, Matt shops for life insurance, and Karo takes up mediation to meet women. WE’RE FEATURED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES! Watch this episode on YouTube! Man of the Year on Instagram and TikTok Matt Ritter on Instagram , TikTok , and Twitter Aaron Karo on Instagr...

#4 - Divorce Party, Saving the Marriage, or Sleeping with the Enemy – How Do You Handle Your Friend’s Spouse? 06.12.2022

Hide your kids hide your wife (because we’re talking about them). Matt and Karo debate whether it’s better to be friends with your wife’s friends’ husbands or your kid’s friends’ dads. They also discuss Karo’s biological clock, Matt’s trip to the sperm bank, and the importance of Other Significant Others. WE’RE FEATURED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES! Watch this episode on YouTube! Man of the Year on Insta...

#3 - Skydiving, Surprise Party, or Schadenfreude – How Do You Celebrate Your Friends? 29.11.2022

Celebrate good times, come on! Matt and Karo debate the difference between a soft pass and a soft maybe. They also discuss Eyes Wide Shut masks, how long you should keep a sonogram, whether they invented Wordle, and where mini PB&J sandwiches sit in the cocktail hour food hierarchy. WE'RE FEATURED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES ! Watch this episode on YouTube ! Man of the Year on Instagram  and TikTok Matt...

#2 - How Do You Meet New Friends? The Gym, The Grocery Store, or Hiding in the Bushes 22.11.2022

Let’s talk making new friends! Matt and Karo debate the difference between good stalking and bad stalking. They also discuss adult playdates, WeWork friends, parallel parking on the first date, usurping other people’s friends, Uber XL etiquette, and Karo’s new all-female gym. Watch this episode on YouTube ! Man of the Year on Instagram  and TikTok Matt Ritter on Instagram , TikTok , and Twitter Aa...

#1 - Which Friend Are You? Life of the Party, Secret Keeper, or Mother Hen 15.11.2022

It’s our first episode!! Matt and Karo debate who is the Friend of Pleasure and who is the Friend of Utility. They also discuss the types of friends every crew must have, the proper format for a text invitation, how to properly grease a bouncer, why the chef always brings free sorbet, and how to pee in a toga. Watch this episode on YouTube ! Man of the Year on Instagram  and TikTok Matt Ritter on...

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