“Matt Ritter—a former lawyer turned Hollywood multi-hyphenate who’s fast becoming the definitive voice of the modern friendship movement. Matt is the creator, writer, producer, and star of The Buddy System, a hilarious and heartfelt Audible Original which has just launched. The special blends personal storytelling with cutting-edge research on social fitness—challenging the idea that friendship is a luxury and making the case that it’s actually the most important wellness tool we have.
He’s also co-host of Man of the Year, the #1 podcast on male friendship, and the founder of Friendship Productions, a creative studio developing original content across film, TV, audio, and social—cantered around the theme of connection in an age of isolation.
As a storyteller and performer, Matt is taking centre stage in a new wave of character-driven, friendship-forward content. His current projects include:
The Maccabees: A “Remember the Titans meets Moneyball” sports drama, produced by Mayim Bialik
Breached: A dark comedy about friendship and betrayal, starring Anna Faris and Tiffany Haddish
Doll Wars: A satirical script that landed on the Hollywood Black List
A docu-comedy series based on The Buddy System, in which Matt stars and executive produces
Matt has previously produced hit unscripted series like Duck Dynasty, Fat N’ Furious, Tasteless, and Chained to My Ex, and has been featured on The Today Show, Netflix Is a Joke, NPR, The New York Times, and more. He also recently interviewed the U.S. Surgeon General and is slated to give his first TED Talk in 2026: “Friendship Is the Original Life Hack.”
We chat about leaving law, being the friendship guy and inspiring others, Fat N’ Furious, Man of the Year awards & podcasts, The Buddy system, lying his way into Hollywood + plenty more!”
I love how Matt highlights the importance of friendship and how it directly impacts our wellness. The beauty of friendship is often something we neglect or take for granted. As Matt says, we’re so concerned with trying to hack life that we spend time and money on the latest fads (many of which can be helpful). However, we can lose sight of what we already have — our friendships and human connection. In many ways, this is the simplest and most powerful “life hack,” and it’s something we can all access with ease.
“In the midst of Chaos, laughter and friendship are the best’- Ardys Reverman
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