#173 - The Friend Group Fallacy

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.