Man of the Year: How Rituals Enrich our Friendships with Matt Ritter and Aaron Karo

Ever since the pandemic disrupted an already increasingly socially isolated population, the number of adult men in the US who report having no close friends has grown to 15%. As someone in the business of helping others foster meaningful relationships, I’ve become very concerned with the loneliness epidemic facing our country. What can men, who often have a difficult time expressing their emotions, do to make new friends, strike up old friendships, and deepen their relationships with the friends they have?

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Matt Ritter and Aaron Karo, friendship experts and hosts of the hit podcast "Man of the Year.” Matt and Aaron just celebrated their 20th annual dinner and “Man of the Year” trophy ritual, a tradition they started to keep close with their childhood friends. I invited them onto Celebrations Chatter to discuss what men can learn from their friendship and the complex dynamics of friend groups. Tune in to hear their insights on friendship best practices and the importance of social fitness.

Listen to the full episode in the links attached, and please share it forward by leaving a review.

Best,

Jim McCann