Best Aaron Karo Podcasts (2025)

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#128 - The Invisible Men 35:10

1d ago35:10

35:10

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…

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#127 - Social Fitness Test Revisited 34:49

12d ago34:49

34:49

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 manoftheyearpodcas…

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#126 - Moving for Friends 31:18

15d ago31:18

31:18

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 manoftheyea…

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#125 - Our Final Episode (April Fools’!) 31:51

26d ago31:51

31:51

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 episod…

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#124 - Q1 Friendship Check In 33:08

29d ago33:08

33:08

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 …

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#123 - Fake It Til You Make It 32:00

1M ago32:00

32:00

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 manoftheye…

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#122 - Keeping Score 34:49

1M ago34:49

34:49

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, TikTo…

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#121 - The Vibes of March 35:28

2M ago35:28

35:28

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 episod…

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#120 - Man's Best Friend - Part II 30:24

2M ago30:24

30:24

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 manoftheyearp…

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#119 - How To Supercharge Your Hangs: Write An Agenda 31:03

2M ago31:03

31:03

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 manoftheyearpodc…

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#118 - Sahil Bloom - The Five Types of Wealth 34:39

3M ago34:39

34:39

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…

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#117 - Love and Friendship with Special Guest Matchmaker Maria! 35:05

3M ago35:05

35:05

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…

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#116 - Friendship Therapy 32:28

3M ago32:28

32:28

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…

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#115 - Good Friends Have Hard Conversations 32:10

3M ago32:10

32:10

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, streng…

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#114 - How To Make A Friend: Part II 30:13

3M ago30:13

30:13

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 In…

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#113 - How To Make A Friend: Part I 32:32

4M ago32:32

32:32

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 increas…

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#112 - New Year's Res-BRO-lutions 2025 34:09

4M ago34:09

34:09

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 rel…

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#111 - Bro Bro Bro! Merry Christmas! 35:32

4M ago35:32

35:32

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 cr…

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#110 - Posting Up 34:45

4M ago34:45

34:45

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 …

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#109 - What’s Your Friendship Style? 33:35

4M ago33:35

33:35

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 You…

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#108 - When Friend Groups Collide 35:47

5M ago35:47

35:47

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 …

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#107 - The 21st Annual Man of the Year Dinner! 30:59

5M ago30:59

30:59

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, whe…

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#106 - Assuming the Best in Friendship 34:16

5M ago34:16

34:16

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 Communi…

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#105 - Getting Medieval On Your Friendship Rituals 33:42

6M ago33:42

33:42

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 episo…

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#104 - The Politics of Friendship - Election Day 29:58

6M ago29:58

29:58

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 …

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#103 - Exorcise Your Friendship Demons 33:38

6M ago33:38

33:38

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…

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#102 - Friendship Bucket List 32:50

6M ago32:50

32:50

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,…

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#101 - Pebbling (What Penguins Can Teach us about Friendship) 33:33

6M ago33:33

33:33

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 …

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#100 - UNITED STATES SURGEON GENERAL DR. VIVEK MURTHY! 39:06

7M ago39:06

39:06

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 …

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#99 - Parasocial Activity 36:42

7M ago36:42

36:42

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, an…

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#98 - One-Sided Friendships 29:55

7M ago29:55

29:55

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!…

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#97 - Modern Friendship With Author Anna Goldfarb 39:05

7M ago39:05

39:05

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…

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#96 - How Much Does It Cost to Make Friend? 31:43

8M ago31:43

31:43

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 (…

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#95 - How To Beat The Fall Friendship Blues 35:35

8M ago35:35

35:35

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…

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#94 - Lonely at Work 33:15

8M ago33:15

33:15

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 w…

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#93 - Friendship Literacy For New College Grads 33:51

8M ago33:51

33:51

We learn (or should learn) financial literacy in school, but no one teaches you friendship literacy. Karo and Matt offer some advice for the Class of 2024 on how to make friends in the real world. They also discuss which pill they would take in The Matrix and why Matt’s work records are sealed by the Warren Commission. Watch this episode on YouTube…

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#92 - Process vs. Goals 33:55

8M ago33:55

33:55

Matt and Karo discuss Matt's favorite guru James Clear and how some of his principles can be applied to friendship. It's not just about the end result - aka more or healthier friendships, it's about the daily, weekly, monthly process we put in place so we don't even have to sweat the outcome. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manofth…

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#91 - Bouquet or “Bro-quet” with 1-800-Flowers founder Jim McCann 33:06

9M ago33:06

33:06

Karo and Matt are joined by their friend and mentor Jim McCann, the CEO and founder of 1-800-Flowers. They discuss whether platonic men can give each other flowers, whether the “one hour’s salary” rule works for buying gifts for your buddies, and what it was like to own a piece of the New York Mets. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at …

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#90 - The Dude Pyramid (aka Social Nutrition for Healthy Friendships) 34:04

9M ago34:04

34:04

We all learned about the foot pyramid and how to have a balanced diet. Though it turns out most of it was wrong. So maybe it's time to make sure your social nutrition is also well balanced! 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…

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#89 - Alone, Together 37:08

9M ago37:08

37:08

Everyone feels lonely sometimes. The surgeon general has declared loneliness a national epidemic, with some studies equating its harmful effects to smoking fifteen cigarettes a day. Karo and Matt discuss several strategies to combat loneliness, and ask some deeper questions about life, such as who is the Dalai Lama’s social media manager? Watch thi…

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#88 - How Often Should You See Your Friends? - aka The TCS Method 38:01

10M ago38:01

38:01

Matt and Karo came up with a great rubric so you know how often you need to text, call and see your friends. Follow the TCS method and take the guesswork out of it. For the record: it's text weekly, call monthly, see IRL quarterly. These are the basic minimums for your quality friend maintenance. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at man…

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#87 - 2 Legit 2 Quit (Your Friendships) 37:43

10M ago37:43

37:43

One day in the late aughts, an up-and-coming corporate lawyer in New York City named Matthew Ritter just stopped going to work one day. And thus, quiet quitting was born. Since then, the term “quiet quitting” has pervaded all aspects of life, including friendship, which is where we come in. Karo and Matt discuss the telltale signs you’re being quie…

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#86 - July 4th and American Friendship 34:21

10M ago34:21

34:21

Matt and Karo discuss how America is number 1 at a lot of things, and hell, we wanna be the top dogs of friendship too, so we need to get cracking after we finish all those non-vegan hotdogs! We're all about rugged individualism, but maybe it's time for rugged interdependence. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com…

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#85 - Hot Friendship Summer 35:28

10M ago35:28

35:28

What can we learn from our summer camp experiences that will help us be better friends? Karo and Matt discuss why summer is the most social season, how we can recapture some of our camp glory days, and whether or not it’s ever okay to throw your buddy’s cell phone in a river. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com …

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#84 - Mastering the Art of Small Talk 39:24

10M ago39:24

39:24

Some people hate small talk. But frankly all of us could do a bit better and use it more as an opportunity to spark the beginnings of a friendship. Let's face it all friendships start small. Matt and Karo come up with some guidelines for small talk. Let's face it, we all dread it sometimes, but maybe we need to reframe it. Every friendship starts s…

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#83 - Friendship Goals: Achieving "Tenure" 36:36

11M ago36:36

36:36

Buddies you’ve known so long they’re now obligated to be in your life are known as tenured friends. You know where you stand with them and they have deep knowledge in a very specific field: You. Karo and Matt discuss some of the pros and pitfalls of friends earning tenure, and coin the term “friend emeritus” for those you don’t see that much anymor…

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#82 - What Jalen Bruson and Josh Hart's Friendship Can Teach Us 37:38

11M ago37:38

37:38

The Knicks are not only winning but they are doing it with a group of long time bffs. Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Dante DiVincenzo aren't just teammates, they are old college teammates and bff's who now have a podcast called The Roommates pod. When they aren't competing with NBA players they are competing with us in the friendship space. We welcom…

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#81 - Your 2024 Wedding Season Survival Guide 37:35

11M ago37:35

37:35

Another year has gone by and another set of friends is taking the plunge this summer. From making a toast to making out with a bridesmaid, Karo and Matt have all the tips and hacks you need to be the ultimate wedding guest. Watch this episode on YouTube! Get MOTY merch at manoftheyearpodcast.com Man of the Year on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok Mat…

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#80 - Unfriendly Competition 39:30

11M ago39:30

39:30

The Fine Line Between Friendly Competition and Jealousy towards Friends. We believe a little healthy competition between friends has a lot of benefits, but we are also aware of the famous Teddy Roosevelt quote "comparison is the thief of joy." So in this episode we dig into what is a healthy level of friendly rivalry vs. when it becomes a jealous r…

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#79 - From Fringe Friends To Binge Friends 34:36

11M ago34:36

34:36

How do you take someone from your outer circle and upgrade them to a homie you hang out with all the time? Today on the pod Karo and Matt teach you how to turn fringe friends into binge friends! 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…

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Aaron Karo Podcasts

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