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"Even in a house full of trophies, it’s friendship that makes life feel full."

Hey Reader,

One of the surreal parts of this new chapter, being “The Friendship Guy” and one of the leading friendship experts in the space, is that I get to do things I never imagined.

I love meeting people, I always have. People seem to feel comfortable opening up to me (so keep those personal emails coming). Sometimes I get calls that the me who moved out here to chase my dreams would never believe.

The best part isn’t the access, it’s what I learn in those rooms that helps all of us get a little better at friendship.

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👥 The Friend

As part of the launch for our new Audible Original, The Buddy System, Chrissy Teigen invited us on her hit podcast Self-Conscious to talk about something we all struggle with: friendship.
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(You can 👉 Watch the behind-the-scenes moment on Instagram — it’s a fun peek inside the day and how the conversation started.)

About twenty minutes before I arrived, her producer called:

“John wants to join in.”

I thought, John? As in John Legend? Why me? Why now?

It was the first time John Legend had ever gone on her show, not to promote an album, but because he wanted to talk about friendship.
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Specifically, his own lack of fulfillment in that department and the loneliness epidemic we’re all feeling in one form or another.

When I got there, they were as kind and grounded as you hope they’d be. And yes, I got a peek at the trophy room, the kind of space that reminds you what “success” looks like from the outside. After all the man has an EGOT!

But what struck me most was what John said:

“How do I even make a friend in L.A.?”

I laughed: “You put out your hand and say, ‘Hi, I’m John Legend.’”
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But I didn’t let him off the hook. I made him pick someone and plan a man-date, because he genuinely came on for the same reason so many of us are here: he’s trying to get better at friendship.

And I brought Chrissy into it, too, because friendship doesn’t just need space from your relationship, it needs support within it.

Before I left, I shared the mantra I live by in my house:
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​“When I nourish my partner’s friendships, I’m nourishing myself.”
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​Moments like that remind me that friendship isn’t something you figure out once, it’s something you keep learning, no matter who you are.

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⚒️ The Fix

That visit reminded me of something I see everywhere, from Hollywood sets to pre-school pickup lines:
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No matter how famous, busy, or successful you are, friendship remains the quiet foundation of a full life.
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​Success fills the room. Friendship fills your cup.

What I told John and Chrissy applies to all of us: friendship isn’t separate from our relationships, it’s what keeps them alive.

When you encourage your partner to see their friends, you’re not giving something up, you’re getting something back.

So here’s your Friendship Habit assignment for the week:

If you’re partnered:​
Be a friendship sponsor. Encourage your partner to make plans, offer to handle something that frees them up, or simply say, “You should go. I’ll hold down the fort.”
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Do this once, and notice how much more relaxed and connected you feel too. They’ll come back lighter, funnier, more themselves and that energy will ripple through your relationship.

If you’re single:​
Be that same sponsor, but for a friend. Remind them that connection matters. Help them make the time. Celebrate them for choosing to show up. And notice how that act, helping someone else stay connected, draws you closer too.

Because connection is contagious and friendship is how it spreads.

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📘 The Reco

Keep an eye out for my episode on Self-Conscious with Chrissy Teigen.​
It’s one of the warmest, most honest conversations I’ve had, proof that even in a house full of trophies, what we all really want is a handful of true friends.

And yes, I’m still waiting for the follow-up text from John to see how his man-date went.

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Until next time,
​Matt Ritter​
​The Friendship Guy

🧠 Keep Building Your Friendship Habit
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🎙️ Listen to the full Chrissy Teigen episode​
🎧 Hear my Audible Original The Buddy System
​⏩ Forward to a friend to subscribe here!

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