Man of the Year - Champions of Friendship

Karo and Matt are joined by returning champion Adam Pally to celebrate their 200th episode of Man of the Year! The guys chat about Hollywood, wellness, and working with friends. Stick around for the end when Adam roasts Karo for not casting him in the Tickle Me Elmo movie. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Karo and Matt have both recently returned from trips to London, which got them thinking about how friendship differs across the pond. They discuss why American friends tend to be more expressive, British friends tend to be more deeply-rooted, and how both qualities can be taken too far. Plus, what each country could learn from the other about being a better friend. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Does it seem like friendship is effortless or more present in your life in summer? It's because it is. Why? Because you're in a summer friendship mindset. This week we discuss how to carry that forward into the fall - through what we call the Sad Sixty, to avoid that lull. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

College graduation comes with plenty of advice about careers, money, and success, but almost none about how to build a life filled with strong friendships. Karo and Matt share the lessons they wish they'd known at 22, from making new friends after college to staying connected as life inevitably pulls people in different directions. Whether you're a recent grad or just looking for a friendship reset, this episode offers practical advice for building the kind of relationships that last. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Whatever happened to fun? Are you still having it with your friends? If so, great. Friendship doesn't stay fun by accident. In this episode, we talk about the small shifts that keep your relationships from becoming predictable and why the people you love deserve more than just dinner reservations and catching up. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

What if the biggest influence on your spending isn't your job or your neighborhood, but your friends? Karo and Matt explore the hidden financial culture inside every friend group, from the one guy who always wants to make it rain to the one who can sniff out the best happy hour deal town. They also tackle one of friendship's biggest taboos: would knowing what your friends actually earn make your relationships stronger, or blow up the group chat? Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

You've heard of Love Bombing, well now there's a new term...that we invented...called Friendship Bombing. Most of the same principles apply. We debate how to feel when someone comes in hot and heavy! Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Have we reached peak friendship? Karo and Matt explore this idea on three levels: 1) the high-water mark of an individual friendship, 2) why research suggests most people have the largest social circles around age 25, and 3) whether friendship itself has peaked as a cultural force. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Matt and Karo discuss a very thorny friendship topic. Should you ever refriend? Should you open space for someone who you were friends with but something happened or didn't happen and now you're pondering whether to give it a second chance. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Happy 250th birthday America! Karo and Matt celebrate Independence Day by talking about independence in friendship – the line between autonomy and neglect, why some people are too self-sufficient to ask for help, and the bittersweet reality of what happens when a friend stops needing you the way they once did. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

What is the "friendship danger zone" and how do we manage to avoid it. Most friendship advice is for people in crisis. But the real danger zone is when someone isn't in crisis at all. They're not depressed. They're not getting divorced. They're not calling you at 2 a.m. They're just... a little quieter canceling more initiating less less excited a little lost not quite themselves The problem is nobody knows what to do because nothing is technically wrong. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

It’s the third installment of our Friendship Myths franchise! In Friendship Myths III, Karo and Matt tackle some of the most common misconceptions about friendship, including whether good friendships should be effortless, whether you should feel 100% like yourself around your friends at all times, whether time spent equals closeness, whether friends should celebrate you exactly the way you celebrate them, and whether good friends really don't need boundaries. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Matt and Karo debate whether it's a good idea to date one of your friends. To cross that line between friend and lover, and if you can ever go back if it doesn't work out. It's a high risk, high reward maneuver! Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

What do you do when a friend starts copying your style, your slang, your hobbies, or even your entire personality? Karo and Matt discuss copycats, the fine line between admiration and identity theft, and whether imitation really is the highest form of flattery. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Matt and Karo have talked about the benefits of being a host many times before, but we decided this week to talk about the other side. The guests who seem to never host. Is it ok to be a permaguest, and if so, what are your obligations? Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Karo and Matt the discuss the rules for optimizing the group chat with your friends – but more importantly, fad king Matt spends ten minutes on his effort to eat as many sardines as possible. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Matt and Karo discuss a strategy most people don't talk about when it comes to friendship - what if you stopped waiting for invites and started inviting yourself over? Yes, maybe that sounds aggressive, but the truth is most of the time invites don't come for any particular reason, you could be in the right time or right place, or at top of someone's mind, or you can be forgotten or neglected for no reason. So what if you took a little bit of an assertive approach and invited yourself more. We discuss the pros and cons of the "Invite Yourself" Approach. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Karo and Matt break down the rise of the “buddymoon” – the trend of friends tagging along on (or replacing) the traditional honeymoon – and whether it’s a genius evolution or a relationship red flag. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Matt and Karo debate where the line is. You want friends who will tell it like it is but at some point does it cross from support to unhealthy friending? Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

There’s no friendship more intimate than a roommate. You see everything: habits, quirks, and the stuff no one else can ever know. Karo and Matt break down the upsides, the downsides, and why living together can either cement a friendship or quietly destroy it. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Matt and Karo came up with a great rubric because lets face it if we don't have any structure our friendships fall by the wayside. We find TCS - text once a week, call once a month, see IRL once a quarter, to be an ideal baseline. Obviously more is better but this is a healthy way to stay connected. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Alcohol can act as a powerful social lubricant, lowering inhibitions and making it easier for friendships to form. But it can also mask real issues and create a version of connection that doesn’t always hold up in the sober light of day. This week, Karo and Matt examine where drinking genuinely enhances friendship, where it quietly undermines it, and how to tell the difference. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Matt and Karo get back to a topic they discussed slash invented a few years back. We all know about "cuffing season" for relationships, but there's also a friendship cuffing season and it is upon us. So we give you the best practices to get out and friend! Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Steady Eddy vs. Rich but out of touch. Stick to the plan guy vs. Up for anything guy. Hype man vs. Guy who disappears for months at a time. Connector vs. Screwed up his life guy. Karo and Matt put the many types of friends into a bracket to determine who is the worthiest of them all. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Sometimes things are hard and people need their friends to show up. When someone away, that's what separates the real ones. Matt and Karo discuss the best ways to show up in the hard times. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Everyone’s talking about Stoicism these days. But is it a guide for taking control of your life, or a bunch of BS? Karo and Matt discuss applying Stoicism to friendship! Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

There's a growing trend of people gathering with their friends to take care of the mundane tasks: taxes, cancelling subscriptions, clearing inboxes. Matt and Karo get into the pros and cons of all of this. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Karo and Matt discuss the “friend group fallacy” – the belief that a tight knit crew is preferable to and more common than strong one-on-one bonds. They unpack how sitcoms, social media, and comparison culture distort our expectations, and why a constellation of close individual friendships can be just as meaningful as any group text thread. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Matt and Karo discuss what happens when you evolve. Does your crew need to evolve along with you? If you outgrow them, does the friendship need to end? Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

When your buddies reach out for plans, are you an immediate Yes (Matt) or a knee-jerk No (Karo)? This week the guys discuss best practices for when to accept an invitation from a friend, and when to politely decline. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

It's Superbowl weekend and Matt and Karo share the best tips for making the most of it from a Friendship perspective. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Some friends are elite in a group chat, unstoppable at a party, and absolutely lethal at a 12-person dinner. But put them in a one-on-one situation and suddenly you’re both checking the exits. This week Karo and Matt break down why certain friendships only thrive in a herd and how to keep those friendships strong without forcing awkward solo hangs. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Matt and Karo discuss what the line is between being playful and an a-hole, and how relating in a friendship, especially between men, often comes with some good old smack talk. As long as it's to your face and not behind your back, there can be a lot to be said for it. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Karo and Matt are famously extroverts – but today they’re taking all of their friendmaking tips and hacks and discussing how they can be used by introverts too!! They break down what works, what doesn’t, and the unique strengths introverts bring to building real friendships. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Matt and Karo kick off the new year by discussing those friends that somehow still drive us crazy. We know they're likely to show up two hours late or not at all, yet we keep inviting them, keep hoping for them to change. Is there a solution that doesn't involve just cutting them out of their lives, because let's face it, many of them are super fun and can be great friends....when they bother to show up. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Another year of friendship is in the books and guys look back on how well they did on their 2025 resolutions (mixed bag) as well as make their New Year’s resolutions for 2026. Res-BRO-lutions is a registered trademark of Man of the Year. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Matt and Karo interview Jourdann Lubliner, the founder of Doubles Social, the hit friendship app for couples to meet, to find out what the hype is all about. Would you and your partner go online to make friends? We explore all the pros and cons of a new way to make friends. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Karo and Matt discuss friendships between people who seem like total opposites - from different worlds, backgrounds, or stages of life. We break down why these connections sometimes click, when they can get tricky, and the signs that help you tell the difference. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Have we become so transactional that we've forgotten the value of Useless friends? We kid. Everyone has some "use." But this week is about praising the friends whose company we keep just...because. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

When your friends hang out without you, the sting of FOMO hits hard. Karo and Matt dig into why it feels so personal and what it really says about your relationships. And when you’re the one who plans something and has to leave people out, we unpack the guilt and how to handle both sides with clarity and kindness. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Matt and Karo head home to celebrate the 22nd year of the greatest friendship ritual on Earth: the Man of the Year dinner at Peter Luger Steakhouse. A crew of friends from second grade, one annual winner, and a trophy etched with names for life. At its core, it’s about how tradition anchors friendship and removes the guesswork. That’s why we’re such big believers in creating your own ritual. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Instead of trying to turn complete strangers into friends, we recommend starting with “fringe friends” – acquaintances you already kinda know. Karo and Matt discuss where to find fringe friends and how to turn them into binge friends – buddies you see all the time. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

We all have it easy when there are friends everywhere: in school, in the dorms, in your first apartment, at your office. But what happens as you get older and that surface area dwindles? Matt and Karo discuss how to handle it and make sure you have friends at all phases of life. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

In the second installment of their Friendship Myths series, Karo and Matt tackle whether friends should always take your side no matter what, if it’s possible to reconnect once you drift apart, and whether your friends should like all the same people you do. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Matt and Karo discuss how in every friend group there's usually someone who takes the lead, so what does that leadership entail and what does it mean to be someone who models good friendship. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Huge day!! Our new Audible Original “The Buddy System: A Modern’s Man Guide to Mastering Friendship” is out now – exclusively at audible.com/thebuddysystem – and if that wasn’t cool enough, we appeared on Chrissy Teigen’s Audible podcast “Self-Conscious” where we were joined by none other than John Legend!! And you can hear that episode right in this feed! But first go check out The Buddy System!! The Buddy System: audible.com/thebuddysystem Self-Conscious with Chrissy Teigen: audible.com/chrissy 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.

Karo and Matt introduce the PALS test: a simple framework for evaluating whether a friendship truly serves you. The guys break down the four pillars—passion, appreciation, loyalty, and support—and explain how each reveals the strength of your connection. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Matt and Karo have vastly different styles in life, Karo plans everything and needs 6 weeks notice, Matt lives in the moment. We examine the pros and cons of each when it comes to friendship. Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM 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.

Karo and Matt break down the three-man crew - why rolling three deep can feel like the sweet spot, and when it can backfire compared to pairs or bigger squads. It’s the ultimate debate: is three really the magic number for friendship? Check out our new Audible Original THE BUDDY SYSTEM! 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.

Matt and Karo discuss a taboo topic: Territorial friends. Ever have a scenario where you're getting boxed out or frozen out from a friend's friend or a friend group? We discuss why this happens and how to deal with it. 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.