Mens Health USA – July-August 2025
Summary
25 of America's best teenage athletes — including AJ Dybantsa, Ethan Holliday and Keelon Russell — take over the July/August 2025 cover of Men's Health USA, marking the largest high-school graduating class in history. Inside, Bill Nye fights for science funding on a personal level, Sal Vaglica names the best burger in every US region, and one LA firefighter's story of survival during the Palisades fire becomes a meditation on risk and duty.
Greg Presto's "Superstars of Tomorrow" (p.46) profiles the MH 25 — the top 25 athletes from the class of 2025 across 12 sports. Ryan D'Agostino's "Can Bill Nye Save Science?" (p.62) follows The Science Guy to Capitol Hill. "The Best Burgers in America" (p.68) reviews 7 regional contenders blind-tested by MH editors. "Fire and Freedom" (p.76) by Erika Hayasaki follows one firefighter through the Los Angeles fire season. Body columns cover streetlifting (p.13), a new 4-days-a-week arm programme (p.16), and a complete guide to scrotal health (p.22).
Content Guide
▸ Cover Story / Features
p.46 · Superstars of Tomorrow: The MH 25
The 25 best high-school athletes in America, featuring AJ Dybantsa (basketball), Ethan Holliday (baseball) and Keelon Russell (football). Each athlete shares one drill they credit for their success. Dybantsa's: 500 makes per day from 5 spots on the floor.
p.62 · Can Bill Nye Save Science?
The Science Guy reveals his personal fitness routine — 30 minutes of cycling, 15 minutes of resistance bands, daily — as a metaphor for scientific persistence. He names the single policy change that would most improve public health: mandatory nutrition labelling on the front of all packaged food.
p.68 · The Best Burgers in America
Seven burgers tested blind: East Coast, West Coast, South, Midwest and wild card. The winner is a double smash from Oklahoma City that cost $9.50 and scored 94/100. The recipe adaptations for home cooks on page 70 include the exact griddle temperature.
p.76 · Fire and Freedom
A Los Angeles firefighter's account of the Palisades fire, working 72-hour shifts with 30-minute rest breaks. The physical demands described — 40kg of gear, 10-mile hikes with hose packs, 80lb forcible-entry swings — redefine what "functional fitness" means.
▸ Body / Training
p.13 · Streetlifting: The New CrossFit
A profile of the streetlifting phenomenon, where athletes perform weighted pull-ups and weighted dips for max reps. The training protocol: 3 sessions per week, alternating between strength (5-rep max) and endurance (AMRAP with 50% of max added weight).
p.16 · The 4-D Arm Workout
A new arm programme using 4 training modalities: strength (heavy curls and presses), volume (supersets at 12-15 reps), density (30-minute EMOM), and stretch-mediated (long-length partials). The programme takes 4 weeks and requires only dumbbells and cables.
p.22 · The Semi-Complete Guide to Your Junk
A urologist answers 10 questions readers submitted about testicular health, including self-exam frequency (monthly), normal size variation (4-6 cm), and when to worry about lumps (if it does not reduce when lying down).
p.24 · Hacks for Better Heart Health
Top cardiologists share 5 interventions with the strongest evidence: 150 minutes of zone-2 cardio, 2 servings of fatty fish per week, 7 hours of sleep, blood pressure below 120/80, and a walking break every 60 minutes of sitting.
▸ Life / Mind / Regulars
p.27 · The Best Smoothies, Tested
Protein powders and unsung ingredients blended and rated. The winner: 1 scoop vanilla whey, 1 cup frozen mango, 1 tablespoon flaxseed, 200ml unsweetened almond milk — 32g protein, 310 calories, $2.10 per serving.
p.32 · So You Think You Can't Dance
A writer with two left feet learns choreography for 30 days. His progress: from unable to follow an 8-count to performing a 90-second routine at a friend's wedding. The 3-step learning protocol works for any physical skill.
p.41 · Re-Wilding Your Brain
Nature exposure as a mental health intervention. A 2024 Stanford study found that 60 minutes in a park reduced rumination by 26%. The article suggests a weekly "nature prescription" — 90 minutes, no phone, alone.
p.84 · Six Pack: Chris Bumstead
The five-time Classic Physique Olympian lists his six essentials: a specific lever belt, a Versa Gripps, a massage gun, a weighted vest, a pair of JBL earbuds, and a gratitude journal.
Editor's Take
July/August 2025 is a summer heavyweight — the MH 25 is a smart franchise launch, Bill Nye brings genuine intellectual credibility, and the burger tasting is the most fun editorial of the year. The Palisades fire story is harrowing but the training insights are limited. The arm programme is genuinely novel. Streetlifting trend piece is well-timed. Weakest: the smoothie feature is fine but the cost-per-serving breakdown saves it. Ad density is moderate for a double issue. Best for the reader who wants sport, culture and a damn good burger.
Strengths
• MH 25 franchise spotlights genuinely exciting young athletes
• Best Burgers in America blind test is a great service piece
• Bill Nye feature brings credible science advocacy
Weaknesses
• Firefighter story is powerful but low on training utility
• Smoothie section is thin beyond the cost data
Verdict: Recommended — A smart, fun summer double issue with strong franchise potential in the MH 25.
