Men's Journal's Blog, page 111

SI Swim Model Makes Telling Admission About Dating Life

Brooks Nader has her radar set on older men, she confirmed in a new interview.

Nader, 28, who just made her seventh appearance in the pages of Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue, appeared on Barstool Sports' "Chicks in the Office" this week, alongside her sister Grace Ann.

At one point, the two siblings and host Francesca Mariano were discussing the May-December relationship between UNC head football coach Bill Belichick, 73, and pageant queen/former cheerleader Jordon Hudson, 24. 

"I love an age gap. I only do age gaps," Nader admitted, signaling her preference for older guys.

The Louisiana native was previously married from 2019 to 2022. Now that she's back in the dating world, Nader has her eyes on more seasoned men, though she did concede there's a limit to how old she's willing to go.

"My dad's rule is 'I don't wanna call your next husband 'Sir,'" Nader explained. "My dad's 50." 

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Recently, Nader was in a whirlwind romance with 41-year-old dancer Gleb Savchenko, her partner on Dancing with the Stars.

Originally, Nader said she was only looking for some fun romance with the Russian-born Savchenko, but wound up getting more than she bargained for.

"Day one, when I met him I was like, 'Oh, this is perfect. This isn't gonna go anywhere serious, I know exactly what I'm gonna do here and it's gonna be a bit,' " she said. "Day two, I was in love and it wasn't a bit anymore. And I was actually really, really into him."

Reportedly, Nader and Savchenko split up amid allegations that he cheated on her, but the DWTS pro claimed in a statement to PEOPLE in April that he was "surprised to learn" through the news "that Brooks has ended our relationship."

"The last communication I received from her was a text on April 6th, asking to speak. I called her today in response, but she has not replied," he said.

"The last time I saw Brooks was when I traveled to New York to support her and film an episode of her reality show on March 31st and April 1st and she was sad to see me leave, but I had to return to DWTS to finish my four month tour at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood. I am still processing everything, and while I don’t have all the answers, I wish Brooks the best moving forward.”

Bindi Irwin Gives Health Update Following Emergency Hospitalization

The Steve Irwin Gala, an annual event that celebrates the legacy of the beloved “Crocodile Hunter,” was short two Irwins this year.

On Saturday night, Irwin’s son Robert, 21, informed spoke with People from the event in Las Vegas to confirm that his 26-year-old sister Bindi would not be in attendance, as she was undergoing emergency surgery for a ruptured appendix. And that his mom, Terri, was by her daughter’s side so sadly had to miss the event, too.

Related: Steve Irwin's Daughter Rushed to Hospital With Medical Emergency

On Tuesday, Bindi posted a message to her Instagram to give her 5.7 million followers an update on her health. “After many months of a grumbly appendix, I finally had to seek help the day of our Steve Irwin Gala,” she said.

After consulting with her doctors, they recommended that Bindi fly to New York for a further examination. In March 2023, Irwin shared that she had been diagnosed with endometriosis following a 10-year period of what she called “indescribable” pain. 

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A post shared by Bindi Irwin (@bindisueirwin)

Irwin was able to consult with her doctors in New York, who determined that an emergency appendectomy was necessary. “Surgery was a success,” Irwin shared. “My appendix was removed, along with another 14 lesions (after having 37 endometriosis lesions and a cyst removed two years ago). I also had a repair to a large hernia I acquired through childbirth four years ago.”

Fortunately, Bindi confirmed that she is “on the road to recovery” and thanked her followers for their support. She also took a moment to thank her family—brother Robert for stepping up to host the event on his own, her “dear” husband Chandler, their daughter Grace, and most especially “to Mum for being there with me every step of the way.”

“Rest assured, I’ll see you at the next Steve Irwin Gala in Brisbane this November,” Bindi added. “One day at a time. Time to heal now. Sending my love to you all.”

NFL Fans Are Not Happy After Chiefs Get Seven Primetime Games

The Kansas City Chiefs appeared to get some special treatment from the NFL as a result of their enormous popularity, and NFL fans are not all that happy about it.

The Chiefs have been arguably the most popular team in the NFL for several seasons now, thanks in large part to Patrick Mahomes emerging as the face of the league and leading the team on deep playoff runs every season since he's been the starter.

That popularity was only amplified in 2023 when Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce began dating pop sensation Taylor Swift, who is arguably the most famous woman on the planet. With Swift regularly in the stands at games, the Chiefs were brought to a whole new audience, bringing ratings through the roof, and it seems like the Chiefs are getting rewarded for that.

On Wednesday, the league officially rolled out its schedule for the 2025-26 NFL season, and the Chiefs certainly got some favorable television timeslots. 

As Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk points out, the Chiefs have the most standalone games and primetime games of any team in the league this season. Kansas City will play eight total standalone games, seven of which are in primetime, meaning that nearly half of their games this season will be nationally televised.

Needless to say, fans from other teams around the league were not necessarily amused by this decision.

"Oh wow! Couldn’t have seen that one coming!" one fan wrote sarcastically.

"All because of Taylor Swift," another fan wrote.

"The NFL watched the Chiefs fail to post 31 points in a single game all season and then get trounced in the Super Bowl and said 'put that in every primetime window, STAT,'" someone else said.

"Taylor Swift effect like it or not," another fan added.

"Lose on the grandest stage get rewarded nonetheless," someone else commented.

"WE (America) DONT WANT THIS," someone else declared.

Like it or not, NFL fans are going to see the Chiefs on television a lot this upcoming season.

Chiefs Have Most Primetime Games in the NFL

The Kansas City Chiefs have been one of the most popular teams in the NFL the past several seasons, and that was only amplified by superstar tight end Travis Kelce entering a relationship with pop sensation Taylor Swift. As a result, it sounds like the team is getting some special treatment from the league.

The NFL officially unveiled its 2025-26 schedule on Wednesday, and it became pretty clear that the league was giving the Chiefs some pretty favorable broadcast windows.

As Charean Williams points out for Pro Football Talk, the Kansas City Chiefs have the most standalone games and primetime Games of any team in the entire league. The Chiefs have eight standalone games, seven of which will be in primetime.

This means that for nearly half of the team's games this upcoming season, they will be playing in front of a national television audience with few or no other games airing at the same time as competition.

Obviously, this is a good business decision from the league as the Chiefs were already one of the most popular teams in the league even before Taylor Swift, arguably the most famous and influential woman on the planet, began attending games in support of her boyfriend.

The Chiefs will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing result in Super Bowl LIX. While Kansas City had the best record in the entire league entering the playoffs, earning the No. 1 overall seed with a 15-2 record, they were not able to become the first team ever to win three Super Bowl titles as they fell to the Eagles in a blowout.

As the Chiefs look to avenge last year's disappointing finish, fans across the nation will have plenty of chances to watch them.

177 Chick-fil-A Employees Graduate Debt-Free

It's no secret that college education in the United States is expensive these days, but thanks to a program sponsored by Chick-fil-A Operators, 177 of the company's employees were able to graduate debt-free this week.

Thanks to a partnership between Ficus Education, Point University, and over 120 Chick-fil-A Operators, 177 Chick-fil-A employees were able to graduate this week, completing their degrees online while working at restaurants nationwide.

Andre’ Kennebrew, Chairman of the Board at Point University, Director of Relationships for Lifeshape, and former Chick-fil-A leader himself, had some words to celebrate the occasion.

“Anything we can do to grow Operators and team members, that’s what matters,” said Kennebrew, according to QSR. “This program is making dreams possible for so many people.” 

He also sent a message to Chick-fil-A operators, encouraging them to help grow the program even further.

“This is worth growing. It needs to double—one hundredfold,” he said.

The Ficus Education employer-sponsored subscription model allows for employees to complete flexible, accredited degree programs online through Point University without loans or out-of-pocket tuition.

Given that national student loan debt now exceeds $1.6 trillion and the average borrower carries between $30,000 and $38,000 in student loans, these  177 Chick-fil-A graduates collectively avoided more than $6 million in debt.

“Every graduate represents a story of perseverance, support, and opportunity,” Doug Danowski, president of Ficus Education, said. “This is what it looks like when businesses champion education, not just as a perk, but as a strategy for long-term growth and impact.”

We'll have to see how this program continues to grow in the coming years, but it's clear that many Chick-fil-A employees are already taking advantage of it.

Tom Cruise Defies Experts With ‘Mission: Impossible’ Stunt Deemed Impossible

Considering that Tom Cruise has consistently done all of his own stunts, it’s hard to imagine that hearing something can’t be done would keep him from trying to find out.

That stands true even if the people telling him a stunt is impossible are actual experts on the subject.

This proved to be the case with one insane stunt Cruise wanted to do for the upcoming film, Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning. The stunt features Cruise hanging off the wings of a biplane, and has been used for various marketing campaigns for the movie (spoiler alert: Cruise was obviously going to find a way to pull it off).

As director Christopher McQuarrie revealed in an interview with GQ, Cruise approached expert wing walkers about the stunt, who bluntly told him it "will never happen."

Tom Cruise hanging off a biplane 8000 ft in the air with 140 mph winds for ‘MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: THE FINAL RECKONING’ pic.twitter.com/DBDwOlmaX8

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 17, 2025

“They said, ‘What do you want to do?’ ” McQuarrie told GQ. “And Tom said, ‘I want to be between the wings of the plane holding on to the tension wires, and I want to be in zero G between the wings.’ And wing walkers who do this for living said, ‘That will never happen. You can never do that.’"

Cruise has never shied away from pushing the limits with stunts. And considering the many clips circulating that showcase what he pulled off in the upcoming film, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Cruise found a way to make some movie magic with the successful stunt.

As McQuarrie explained in the interview, Cruise's response to the wing walkers was: "‘All right, well, thank you very much for your time.’"

The rest was death-defying history, so credit to Cruise for still doing unthinkable stunts, even at 62 years young.

Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning will hit theaters on May 23, 2025, and the early reviews are mostly positive, with the film holding an 87% critic score through its first 97 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.

Related: 'Reacher' Star Alan Ritchson's Candid Take on New Co-Star Owen Wilson Turns Heads

'The Diplomat,' 'The Four Seasons,' and 'Bridgerton' Renewed by Netflix

Netflix is betting big on continuity. In a wave of renewals announced during its Wednesday upfront, the streaming giant confirmed new seasons for a slate of popular series, including Bridgerton, The Diplomat, and The Four Seasons.

Fan-favorite Bridgerton will now continue through Seasons 5 and 6, further cementing its place as one of Netflix’s flagship titles. The Regency-era romance has remained a global sensation since its debut and shows no signs of slowing down.

Political thriller The Diplomat has also been renewed for a fourth season, even ahead of the Season 3 premiere this fall. Keri Russell returns in the lead, joined by Bradley Whitford and Allison Janney in the upcoming episodes.

Tina Fey’s ensemble dramedy The Four Seasons, based on the 1981 film, scored a second season. The show stars Fey alongside Will Forte, Steve Carell, and Colman Domingo as long-time friends navigating relational rifts on vacation. “We are so grateful that audiences worldwide share our love of cozy sweaters, drinks by the ocean, and picking fights in a hot tub,” said co-creators Fey, Lang Fisher, and Tracey Wigfield.

Other titles making a return include Forever, Mara Brock Akil’s adaptation of the Judy Blume novel; Love on the Spectrum, a heartwarming docuseries about autistic adults navigating dating; and the psychological reality competition Million Dollar Secret.

Related: The Netflix Series That’s Starting a New Conversation About Manhood

Not all renewals come without caveats: Michelle Buteau’s Survival of the Thickest will return for a third and final season.

In a crowded streaming landscape, Netflix appears to be sticking with what works—renewing shows that strike a chord and keep audiences coming back. With new episodes already on the horizon, viewers won’t have to wait long to dive back into their favorite worlds.

Rosamund Pike Reveals Uncomfortable Request Made During James Bond Audition

It’s no secret that the James Bond franchise, especially in its earliest days, was built on a strong foundation of sexism. (Just ask Helen Mirren.) And now one former Bond Girl is speaking out about an uncomfortable moment during her audition back in the early aughts.

Today, Rosamund Pike is best known for her roles as Jane Bennet in Joe Wright’s Pride & Prejudice (2005) and Amy Dunne in David Fincher’s Gone Girl (2014), for which she earned a Best Actress Oscar nomination. But it’s possible Pike may have never landed those roles if it hadn’t been for her breakthrough role as traitorous MI6 agent Miranda Frost in 2002’s Die Another Day with Pierce Brosnan.

Related: Why the Most Famous Ex-Bond Girl Says James Bond Can't Be Female

In a recent interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Pike spoke out about that early role. On the one hand, it was a life-changing event. “I’d never been to America until I went with Bond,” she told the outlet. “Doing the press tour was mind-blowing, a magic-carpet ride. That was the first time I had a bowl of berries for breakfast. Isn’t it funny: that was the thing that really made me think, ‘OK, this is different.’”

Yet while that may convey a kind of naïveté, Pike was only 21 at the time she auditioned for the role. And up until that point had only had a handful of small or one-off roles in a handful of British TV shows or miniseries. Then she hit the big-time with Bond.

Pike knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but notably wasn’t willing to compromise her principles to get the role. She told Harper’s Bazaar how, “In the Bond audition, I was asked to unzip and drop the dress I was wearing, to just stand there in underwear.”

While disrobing was part of the role itself, Pike saw no reason why she should be doing that before being hired. So she refused. “I thought, ‘Well, no, I’ll be doing that if I get the part. I won’t be doing that now.’”

“I don’t know what possessed me,” Pike said of the fortitude she seemed to surprise herself with in saying no to the people who could make or break her chances. And her instincts turned out to be right, because she was quickly hired for the part.

This Streaming Deal Gets You a Full Year of Peacock for $25

Peacock is rolling out one of the best streaming deals of the season. As part of a Memorial Day promotion, the service is offering a full year of Peacock Premium for just $25, slashing $55 off the usual $80 price tag. The catch? You have to act before May 30 and enter code SPRINGSAVINGS at checkout to lock it in.

This ad-supported version of the platform grants access to a growing lineup of original shows and sports coverage. While Peacock hasn’t reached the cultural footprint of Netflix or Disney+, it has carved out a niche with quirky, inventive programming. 

Originals like Mrs. Davis, a sci-fi romp involving AI and nuns, and Poker Face, a Rian Johnson-created mystery-of-the-week series, have earned critical praise. More recently, Peacock has turned heads with surprisingly solid video game adaptations like Twisted Metal and Knuckles.

The Scranton documentary crew is heading to Toledo. #ThePaper arrives this September on Peacock. pic.twitter.com/Mzmbw7TBzF

— Peacock (@peacock) May 12, 2025

Looking ahead, Peacock is gearing up for a big fall. The long-rumored spinoff of The Office, called The Paper, is set to debut in September as a platform exclusive. And thanks to a new 11-year broadcasting deal, NBA coverage will join the roster later this year, making the service more appealing for sports fans. The streaming service also released its Sunday Night Football lineup for the fall. 

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Still, there’s a fine print note worth remembering: this $25 promo rate only lasts one year. After that, the subscription auto-renews at the full $80 price unless you cancel. But for now, it’s a low-cost entry point into a platform quietly building an identity around offbeat originals and premium sports content.

For anyone looking to expand their streaming rotation without another full-price subscription, this might be the right time to give Peacock a try—just don’t forget to set a calendar reminder before renewal rolls around.

Related: Peacock Cancels 4 Shows, Including A-Lister's Comedy

Staffing Shortages Threaten National Weather Service Readiness for Hurricanes

As hurricane season looms, the National Weather Service is scrambling to fill 155 critical vacancies across its nationwide network of forecast offices. A move that highlights just how thin the agency has been stretched.

The NWS is looking to temporarily fill the gaps by reassigning qualified employees from other parts of NOAA, its parent agency. But with a federal hiring freeze still in effect, insiders say the stopgap measure is far from ideal.

“This is not the best solution,” one NOAA staff member told CNN, describing the approach as a “Band-Aid” that does little to solve a deeper staffing crisis. The anonymous source cited a wave of early retirements, firings, and resignations that have hollowed out the agency in recent years—more than 560 employees have left the NWS, and many of their roles remain unfilled.

One weather office in Houston is reportedly operating without any management staff. In Kansas, the Goodland office has already cut back from its longstanding 24/7 schedule. The situation has become so severe that NWS leadership has unsuccessfully pushed to reclassify the agency as a public safety department to escape the hiring freeze.

The new openings span a wide array of roles, from forecasters and hydrologists to electronics technicians and IT specialists. Four top meteorologist positions responsible for issuing weather warnings in local offices are among the 155 being filled through internal transfers. Notably, one of these is with the Spaceflight Meteorology Group in Houston.

Nearly half the roles, 76 in total, are for meteorologists. Other clusters of positions include 22 physical scientists, 16 electronics technicians, and 16 hydrologists. The vacancies stretch from Guam to Alaska to cities across the Lower 48.

The vacancies span the entire country, and NWS officials have warned that staffing levels could affect forecast accuracy and emergency response during hurricane season.