We're taking you inside the mind of a man. This is how Men Thick and I heard radio podcast. Hey, what's going on everybody. I'm Jeff Timmins and you may know me from the boyband Degrees. I'm so happy and thrilled to be guest hosting How Men Think. I'm gonna answer all your questions and try to help you understand how Men Think. But first, this is eleven Questions with Jeff Timmins. So let's get into it. What are you known for? Well? Uh, mostly known for being a member of ninety eight Degrees, which has been an amazing run for me. It's our twenty fifth year. Uh this year Degrees being in existence. Although it makes me feel really old, I feel very blessed and fortunate to get out there and still be performing for such wonderful fans and be doing this for a living and supporting my family. So I think all of you a little bit about me. I love music, of course, that's the obvious thing. I'm a big family man. I've got five kids, They're all amazing. I've been very blessed, got a beautiful wife, and you know I like to work behind the scenes as well. I'm a big studio guy. Um like to do music and produce stuff for other people, I mean the tech space. It's like to keep busy. So who am I in my personal life? I'm just a guy that likes the screw around. I don't take myself too seriously at all. I take other people seriously. But I like to have a lot of fun, roll with the flow, make people laugh, and you know, enjoy family and friends and you know, the little things in life are are very very important to me. All right. What are three shows that I'm binge watching. Well, there's a show called Elite. There's a lot of these Spanish shows that are translated to English on Netflix that I really love. Elite is one of them. Money Heisten is another one. And then I've really been kind of getting my guilty pleasure from the Pam and Tommy story on Hulu, which I absolutely love. What is my favorite food? Well, it's kind of a toss up. I'm a low carb guy, so it's usually meat and cheese and seafood and things like that. I would have to say steak and lobster. I'm you know, I like the finer things in life, so I'd say steaks, steak, steak and lobster my favorite foods. Tell us about your career, Well, I have been totally blessed. Uh, it's been a wonderful ride. I'm from a very small town in Ohio where you know, a lot of not a lot of people kind of venture off into the entertainment business. UM. I was inspired by the group Boys Two Men and wanted to create a similar group just like that. Um, we didn't have the Internet and uh things that like like like um, Twitter and Snapchat and YouTube at our disposal and TikTok, so you literally had to go pursue your dreams. I drove with my original band across the country to l a Um to pursue the dream and got lucky. You know. We ended up singing backstage at a Boys de Men concert ironically, and we're fortunate enough to get signed and we got signed to Motown Records, which is a legendary label. UM, like Boys Demand Did. We toured the world, we sold millions and millions of records and we're still around twenty five years later with great fans that embrace our music and we enjoy the camaraderie of our brotherhood of getting up on stage and acting silly and singing songs for our living. So it's been a blessing. We've got to perform with Stevie Wonder on a song for Disney's Mulan with Mariah Carey that went and Joe that a song that went number one. We got to perform for Michael Jackson with Usher and Luther Vandrow's anything you can imagine. We've been fortunate enough to do and and we never took different granted. So it's been an amazing ride. What's my biggest fear in life? I think just not being successful. I mean I think that, uh you know, it's important for me to always get better every day. Uh, never settled for mediocrity. I don't expect that of everybody else that I meet in my life, particularly my beautiful wife and my kids. But for me, it's always achieving something new and it doesn't necessarily have to do with monetization and making money or being famous. It's just getting better every day. So my fear is to become relaxed and not be a success or not really have the influence and impact that I hope to do to encourage others to pursue their dreams. So the fear of failure is probably my biggest driver, ah, my biggest pet peeve. On that note, I despise people that are lazy. I like people that like to kick back and take it easy, but laziness drives me absolutely crazy. Absolutely my pet peete laziness. What makes me most happy seeing smiling faces in my family. I mean, I think it's really really important. Um. The world is always, uh, you know, a challenging place to live in and life is hard, so you know, the small victories for me or when I see smiling faces on all of my kids, I see happy faces, and you know, when my wife's happy, that's always nice. My ideal Saturday morning, well, you know, Saturday, the day is kind of blur together. I travel a lot. I'm very fortunate to do, and um, so Saturdays could be a Sunday, it could be a Monday. I'm always working, which is a really very fortunate thing for myself. Um, but you know, if if you're talking about the weekend, a Saturday morning would be watching college football. I know that's a boring answer, but I'm a big sports fan and being from a small town in Ohio that revolves around football, Massillon, Ohio, Um, I love watching my college football and I'm just hanging out with my kids on a Saturday if I'm in town and if we're all together. But traditionally I'm I'm watching college football, either with the guys in ninety eight degrees or even by myself. But that's a that's a typical Saturday for me. Am, I'm more of an athlete or our share quarterback. Um, well, I'd like to think. I'd like to think of an athlete. I but you know what, I'm just I'm coming to terms with the fact that I'm not that good of an athlete, so I'm sort of both. I try to keep in shape. I wanted to play football collegiately, and of course in the NFL where I'm from, it's all about that. And unfortunately I was vertically challenged. I didn't have enough skills, wasn't good. I mean, the list goes on and on. But I would say now I've I've come to terms with the fact that I'm an arm chair quarterback. I watched you criticize the coaches and throw stuff at the TV and say they should have any better choices and all that stuff. But at the end of the day, I'm just a fan like everybody else. What keeps you motivated? Um? Well, I have a lot of self motivation. UM. I think you know, striving to be successful is an important thing for me, and to get better every day. Like I mentioned, Um, but my family does you know? I want to be able to provide for them so they don't have to struggle. I've been very fortunate, but you know, along the ways there are high highs and low lows in the entertainment industry. And if I can prevent anybody in my life, not just my family, but groups and bands and artists that I mentor or just people along the way that I meet in life, if I can um prevent them from having some of those low lows. Uh, that's very very motivating for me in life. So that was eleven questions and now we're going to get right into some of your phone calls. Hi Meggan, are you there? Hi? Hi? How are you? I'm good? How are you? Wow? Such a clear, clean sound coming from your computer. Oh, thank you, I am using my earbuds. Oh nice, nice, Nice to meet you too. So do you have a question for me or anything you want to talk about. I do have a question for you. Okay, here's the deal. A guy asked me on a date, and then on the day of the day, I didn't hear from him. So I reached out to him like two hours before to make sure we were on and he bales and says he has to go to his friend's mother's birthday dinner. So that seems kind of like a cop out. But whatever, indeed does seem like a cop out, I don't think that, you know, I think that obviously you want to follow up to make sure that the data is still on and all that good stuff, and and sometimes that kind of stuff can be awkward. But the fact that he canceled if it was a different excuse, for example, if he had kids or it was his own mother, but it was his friend's mother's birthday, and you know, and you reached out to him two hours beforehand instead of him reaching out to you to kind of let him know, it sounds like he bailed time to move on. Okay, But see, now here's my follow up though, he just asked me out on another day, So like, do I give him another try or am I? Like? Nah? I think maybe a conversation would be had about why he canceled. Kind of feel out the vibe on the phone, right yeah, time call, which you can really kind of tell cues with people's visuals right lying in the queues there, um, with the spatial expressions and all that, and maybe saying hey, I totally forgot, I'm so sorry. I want to make it up to you, or he says, well, uh, and he if he does that, obviously a second date, well, a first second date isn't an effect. I don't think. Okay, I think that's a good plan. I like that. Thank you. I'm not a relationship expert, but you know, no, but that's helpful because I just couldn't even tell, like I was like, I don't even know how to I don't know how to perceive with this, like what's your deal? So that's great. You got to feel the vibe out on all this stuff for sure. Thank you. Bye bye, Hey Simona, how are you? I'm good? How are you? I'm good. I'm enjoying this. Uh, this Q and A that I'm doing with people that are calling it about relationship advice. The worst guy in the planet to give advice, but I'll do my best. What kind of questions do you have for me today. Well, okay, so my question is, I'm so, I'm a divorced mom of two kids and dating kind of sucks right now. Um, I'll have a great date, and then as soon as my date hears about my kids, it doesn't go further. Um. So my question is how far into dating someone should I bring up my kids? Is there a way to do that that won't scare them off? Well? Look, I mean anybody that you want to be with long term, it depends on whether you're looking for a long term relationship or you just out there looking to have fun. Right. If you're out there looking to have fun, you can mention them later, mention your kids later on in your dating process. But I think if you're serious about settling down with somebody, finding the one, I think you got to mention your kids right away. I mean, with with me, I always talked about my kids right away, and if that was an issue, then that was an automatical, automatic X out for for me. With uh with that, because you know, obviously my children are the most important thing to me in my entire life. So if someone is kind of, you know, getting scared or afraid of you because you have kids, I mean I say run for the hills. But like I said in the beginning of the conversation, if you're just going to have fun and it's not going to be a long term thing, then it might not necessarily be a topic of conversation. Okay, all right, thank you, thanks Semona. Hi, Kate, how are you? Hey? Good? How are you nice? To be connected with you over zoom you too, It's really nice to connect. Um. I guess I could use some advice. Okay, Well, I'll do my best to give you some advice. I'm not I'm not I'm not a doctor and expert, but I'll try my best from life experience to help you out. Okay, Um, well, here's my scenario. I went on a date, a first date with a guy the other day. I met him on just like a dating app and it was a it was a great date. But he drank a lot about the date, like a lot, A lot, And what's a lot coming from a drinker? A lot to mean, you know, how much? Was a lot? He had two drinks before the appetizer got there, three before dinner was over, and two more before the check came, so like seven drinks and I had to the whole time, so we're under twelve. No, did he was he? Was he drinking it like he was needed to drink the booze to get through the night. Or was he drinking because he was trying to be social? How was his behavior as he drank? I mean, there's so many lays I need to know about this fellow drinking guy that I need to. I don't want to. I don't want to disparage the guy or or kind of lead you in the wrong direction. If he's a nice guy, maybe he was nervous. You know a lot of times us guys are nervous around beautiful women like yourself, and you know, afraid that especially if he's been on the dating scene for a while, maybe not had that much success like most people don't um And so that was a way for him to calm his nerves. But if he's drinking, is almost he has a problem, and the guy's getting sloppy and he's fallen all over the place. I mean that's probably self explanatory, right, yeah. I mean that's the thing that he wasn't mesty, he wasn't slurring, He was totally fine, Like he needed it to like self regulate his his nerves or something because he wasn't drunk, which is also amazing, Like, what kind of metabolism does he have that he can drink that much and be fine. He's a pro. Where's this guy lit? Because that's what what Midwestern people like myself, Dude, there's nothing to do except for drink um and and talk about sports. But no, look, I mean, certainly that's a lot of drinks to having at night. And if he was getting sloppy, or he was embarrassing himself or you in the process, you know, obviously you know, there's probably not a call for a second date there. But if the guy was just getting through the night and it was your first was at your first date with the guy, Yes, it was our first time meeting. I'm pretty laxed with that stuff. I'd say give the guy a pass, give him a second date. If the guy is sitting on a Tuesday afternoon and he doesn't have a job and he's smashing you know, bush leg draft or you know, or or bottle jack, I would start to get worried then, but I think, you know, maybe give him a second shot and see if he kind of slows it down the second time around. Or maybe that's just part of the guy's personality. But you know, it's something to watch, but not something to be concerned with on the first date. Just my opinion. Okay, cool, I'll take that and I'll definitely give him another shot. And you know, I don't know, maybe I'll call and give you an update again. I would love it. Right now. I need to know, so send me a note. I want to find out how it goes. Alrighty, we'll do Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Appreciate it alright, by bye bye. Hi, Susan, how are you? Hi? I'm great, how are you. I'm doing great. I'm having a lot of fun on with this, uh this podcast. It's pretty cool, wonderful. So, um, I'm dating this guy who he's a great guy. He has two kids and I have three kids, and we're getting pretty serious and I'm thinking it's time that the kids met each other. So I'm just wondering, you know, like what's a good way to introduce them and is there anything I need to be careful of to ensure it goes well? Like I'm just I'm a little nervous about the whole thing, you know, because so far it's been me and him. It sounds like a great question. And and look, I've been through this, so I can speak to what what worked for me doesn't necessarily mean it works for everybody. Um, but I actually, have you ever seen how First of all, how long have you been dating this guy? Like seven and a half months? That's a long time. I mean that's a that's a pretty lengthy amount of time. And it probably is time that you, you know, sort of see how the family members would interact in there if you're getting started to get pretty serious about it. Um, you know, I think that with regards to you know, watching somebody other how the other person parents? Have you parents their kids? Have you been able to take a look at how he is with his kids? Um? Yeah, I mean I haven't, like I haven't had a lot of time with them either, you know. Um, but he seems like, you know, they seem to kid around kind of and like they have a nice They seem pretty close. Does he talk with affinity for his kids? Is that like a lot of the topic of conversation. I know a lot of people, you know, are are scared and shy away from talking about their kids because they're afraid that this person that they're gonna date doesn't like that. But in this case, he's got kids of his own, does he does he speak affectionately about his own kids? Oh yeah, oh yeah, definitely. Well look, I think that's a start, and um, you know, I think that with me. I saw my wife with her kids, and I was like, Okay, she's a good mom. She takes care of her kids, she handles her business, she disciplines them the right way, they have respect for her, they're well put together. So that after I saw that, I thought it would be a good time to introduce her to my kids, which was, you know, kind of a difficult thing because I didn't have the easiest of of divorce process of the divorce process going on, so it was I was always very nervous about introducing um my kids to other people, which I didn't forever until I met my wife and felt comfortable about how she was with her kids, and they ended up getting along famously. I mean, uh, And what I was. I travel a lot, So I was in a certain city that was close to them, and and her kids were close to to us, and really we were just out and about and we went and did an event and took him to a hotel and they all kind of had a good time, went swimming and all that stuff. And then you know that the rest after that was always positive. So they all got along. You know, they fought a little bit like any uh, you know family would do. But um, you know it, are any of them still in the house or three of them are gone? Three of them are off to school and doing other things and graduated, you know, and then we have two left here. So my my youngest stepson just turned sixteen yesterday. He's still here and now he's driving and it's gone to buy in a flash. I've known him since he's three years old. And then um uh, my daughter's ten. So those are the only two that are left. And then the other ones are are all growing up now one and almost twenty one. So it's been a fun ride. That's so great. So do you have any suggestions on like like a things like what kind of setting should we be in? Do you think for the kids to meet each other? I think it might be cool, you know what, just do something fun where they can have fun together, like, uh, take him to Wet and Wild or go to like a theme park or something like that that's a good way kids ice. They can hang out with each other, they can go run around and and do fun stuff together and you know, like kids would do if as if they're meeting friends right as opposed to like some formal dinner we're like you're sitting across from Yeah, yeah, I know sister or you know step sisters. So I think in a fun environment is always a really really cool way for for young people to break the ice. Okay, that's a good idea. I'm thinking maybe even mini golf or something like that. Do people's don't great? Yeah, something like that bowling mini golf like you know, yeah, I don't know where you live, but like a small theme park Disney Went and Wild. Their kids always love to go to the water parks together, that kind of stuff, don't car Okay, yeah, no, I think that's a good idea, good idea. Well, thanks you. I appreciate it, of course, thank you so much, because, um now you've given me some um you know, now at least I have some ideas. Like I before, I was just like I have no, I can't even I don't know. I've just been nervous, you know, Yeah, I completely relate and understand. And UM, I got your email from the producers, so I'll send you the bill. It's only gonna be a hundred for this short call. I'm just just playing anyhow. Nice to talk to you and good luck with all that. Thank you so much, Thank you. Bye. Hi, it's up late. Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you. How are you today? Oh? I'm good? Are you? I'm doing great? Um? So um, thank you so much for taking my call. Um. I'm so. I'm thirty six. My boyfriend is twenty six. Um, we've been together for a while. Um. Anyways, we've been talking a lot about having kids lately and uh. Um, so I've kids have always been part of my plan and I feel like my biological clock is ticketing. Um, and so I really want to get married and start trying for kids. But when we started talking about it, he thinks that kids are like four years away for him at least. But I'm worried that four years might be too late for me. Should I Should I stay in this and be patient with him? Or like, should I try and find someone who's more like in the line with my timeline? Wow, what a tricky question where I'd hate to give you the wrong advice on this one. But how long? First of all, there's some important factors. You said you've been a long together for a long time. How long is a long long time? Um? Well it's been like, well, a long time for me is three years. The three years He was twenty three and you were thirty three at the time. Yeah, so three years. It's kind of a long time. And when you first started dating, was this any part of the discussion at all that you would like to have kids? And obviously he knows you're just a little bit older than him. Um, I'm sure it's in the back of his mind that you would probably want to have kids at some point. Um, did that ever come up in the beginning or all of a sudden, Did you just spring it on him that you know what, I think it's time for us to have kids. Yeah. No, we definitely have had those conversations since the beginning. It was you know, I would not have gotten with him in the first place if he hadn't been someone who have said that he wanted kids. Uh, it's just that, Um, now I'm realizing, Oh no, this like age gap, uh might actually be a problem. Well, this is something you often hear. I mean, look, I mean there are a couple of different other factors. Does his career prevent him from being able to put the time in it that's necessary to be a father. Is there anything going on with regards to his his professional life that would prevent him. Does he travel a lot? Or is he a baseball player or rock star? I mean, is there something that that keeps this man, keeps him on the road all the time that he wouldn't be able to put the time and necessary to be a good dad. Uh No, No, he works a pretty standard like nine to six job um in finance. Like he's very you know, he's he's got his stuff together. Everything is, everything's in a good place. I think he just feels like, you know, he's not really you know, he wants to do traveling and stuff like that, and you know he feels like there's just a lot that he still wants to do before having kids. Well, look, I mean there there are a couple of things. One he has to respect that you know, you you're having anxiety about your biological clock. Although that as we know now, there are things you can do with regards to science that enable you to carry children and bear them a lot older than you used to be able to do back in the day that's available, but he also has to respect your desire to to do this in a in a in a natural way. And and so I think, you know, three years just my opinion, and all of a sudden, this relationships and I get I get like a d M on Instagram from this guy who is mad at me because you broke up with them. Um, no, I I think that probably time you have that talk with him and say, hey, look, we've been together three years. I've invested this time into you. You know me well enough that this is kind of something that I really see on the horizon and want to do before I feel like it's too late or I have to go through obstacles to make it more difficult for me to have kids. And I think it's it's definitely worth the conversation. Yeah, yeah, I'm I guess I'm worried that you know, if I if for some reason I break up with him, like that's a no go, then you know, well I just ruin my chances at all. But I guess we'll we'll find out. Well, I mean, look, you don't have to break up with them. But you know, maybe feel it, feel it out, because sometimes guys will prolong the you know, they'll they'll just kind of there. There might never be a time, you know what I mean that they'll say he wants to have kids and he just enjoys dating you, which is perfectly fine. But if you have different life goals for yourself and and and the way you envision you know, being a mother, and that's not going to play into his plans, and then maybe it is good good to cut it short. Yeah, yeah, okay, okay, cool, Well, thank you so much, Thank you appreciated, Bhie, thank you made to you. Holdine is the and busy man. Oh I'm so sorry. Let me let me turn that down. The problem by all means, please play our music at all times in your house. That's awesome. I had to go back and it brought back so many memories. I mean, ninety degrees in rising, it's a classic. I'm loving the backdrop with the co posters back there, the Moman ruge, what is that? The aviator? Gladiator? Oh gladiator? Nice, very nice. Thanks for taking the time to join me today. Of course. Oh here's my cat right on time. She loves boys to her name is Pixy. Yes, what a cool name. Hey, Okay, you can go, let me talk to Jeff. Um, I'm so excited to me You've been such a huge fan for a long time. Thank you. I'm totally flattered and excited to meet you too. I really appreciate it. Yeah, of course. Um. So I'm just gonna jump in with my question. Um, So, it seems like, you know, back in the day, there was like rivalries among the groups, right, but recently, you know, we see guys from different groups doing things together, right, like the boy Man Christmas specialty you were in last year. So aside from maybe just being like a little bit older and wiser, what do you what do you think has changed to sort of encourage those kind of collaborations. Well, here's what's really interesting, Donna, because we never really had a rivalry with the other other quote unquote boy bands. I know, it's it's contrary to popular belief and it's not a it's not a great hot button for the media, but we really really had a ton of respect for both the Backstreet Boys groups we were compared to Backstreet Boys and instinct although we were un formulated a little bit differently and that we put ourselves together and considered ourselves a vocal group. Certainly years later, we're thrilled and honored to be mentioned in the same company with those guys and you know, experience in the same sort of journey, the high highs and low lows that those guys that we had nothing but respect for them, they had tons of hits, tons of talent, and we're just great guys to be around on the road. I mean, like you had mentioned there, there was the boy band Christmas Special, there was this thing called back Sync. They had this thing here in Vegas called the After Party. I'm part of a company, a group called A T C K with A J and christ you know. Um, so you know, I I have an affinity and love and appreciation for those guys, their journey, their work ethic and just what what type of great people they are. You know, haven't been in the business now for twenty seven years, it's anniversary. You know, you don't really come across people that are really true and genuine and and great folks to be around. And to be honest, it sounds like I can't answer, but those guys are all fantastic dudes. Okay, And because I just saw Backstreet in Vegas two weeks ago, and now I have to ask when are we going to see nine? Well, look, yeah, as I mentioned, it's our twenty fifth anniversary. Thanks for asking the question. Um, we're thrilled and excited that so many people are coming out to see us. I mean we've we've been you know, back since two thousand and thirteen when we toured with Boys the Men and New Kids, and since then, I've had multiple tours. The fans are always there for us. We're gonna be recording some stuff last week of I want to say May, uh, first week of May, we're recording some new material, and then we're gonna be back on the road end of August, probably into September, and then go through the holiday season. I don't know that we'll probably do a holiday tour like we've done in the past, but we will definitely be on the road, you know, going out there and uh hitting the pavement, doing some shows for our fans. Were super excited about it. That's awesome. I'm super excited. And I just have to say this gift is one of my favorite Christmas songs. Thank you. I mean you look the Christmas album I'm proud of all the material and feel blessed and fortunate and lucky to be a part of any of it. But I think that the Christmas music for us, because we're a true court quartet. I think the fact that we can, you know, arrange all the harmonies and the vocal stacks that we like to do. We I feel like the Christmas music is our best stuff. So I appreciate the compliment. Every year I have to listen to it, I find it and I'm like, Okay, I love this song and totally superficially you're a tiny box, but you look fabulous. I thank you, very appreciate. I'm trying to keep up with the young bucks. You know, I'm about to turn forty nine here in a few days, so I'm trying to try to stay young and vibrants so we can, uh, we can still compete in our old age are anti created souls. I'm right behind you, so don't say old age, please you. And uh, I appreciate your time down and and asking me such great questions and the compliments to yeah, no problem. It's so great to me, you know, I'm I'm so happy to do it. Thank you, Okay, Hey, how are you good. How are you I'm doing I'm doing great. Thanks, Thanks a lot for hopping on with me. Yeah. So, being in the industry so long, we're all curious to know what is the one song you wish she never had to sing? Ever again, that's a good one. You know. I hate to sound like a corny person, but I love all the songs I mean, you know, especially the ones that were hits that you know, people say, oh my gosh, I'm so sick of singing I Do or Invisible Man or Hardest Thing or whatever the hit is or song that we've done. Um, it's actually the opposite. I used to not like singing some of the songs that we recorded back in the day in concert, like Dizzy or the Way You Want Me To, because I wanted to sing all the love songs and ballads. But now many years later, those are tempo dance songs. Yeah, I think that they seem relevant now. So it's the opposite. I actually like singing more songs then the ones I don't like. I mean, you know, I wish I had a different answer and said, oh man, I hate singing because of you, but I get it. Joked out of it out of it every time because the crowd responds differently every time. And you know, look at this point you mentioned many years, many years later, for anybody to know any of the lyrics to any of our songs and back to us. I'm thrilled. That's awesome. My first concert was actually one of the All That tours of ninety eight degrees, so I'll never forget. Well, thanks, We're we're part of the world. Are you in? Where was that at UM in southern California? It was like before they tore down the Universal Amphitheater. Yeah, that's right, So that was And so you got Monica and the Keenan and kel and n that's fun. Well, I appreciate that. Geez, that's awesome. Thank you. Yeah, so glad you guys have all success witching many years ahead. Thank you guys for having such great anthems. Oh, I appreciate it, and I love the love. And thanks Joyce. I appreciate they appreciate the support seriously, Thanks Joyce, what great calls. We're gonna take a little break and we're gonna get right into the Q and A. So the question, the first question is how did I meet my beautiful wife, Amanda. It was very interesting. So a friend of mine, Jordan's Knights, who is a member of New Kids on the Block. He and I had been touring for a couple of years together as solo artists and having a lot of fun, and he asked me to be a part of this thing that he had called he was doing called Jordan's Idol, and jordan Idol was essentially a basically a version of his version of American Idol would where fans would come out and they would sing covers and then a winner of the contest would get to record with Jordan's and Jordan wanted me to be a judge. Well, I was really busy with my kids. I was going through going through a divorce and only had limited amounts of times time to spend with my kids. And at that time I was like, look, I get I have visitation with my kids. I can't make it. So Jordan was like, look, you have to be here, please bro do it. So I drove to l a um from Orange County and and um, you know, reluctantly went and uh and then judge this contest and my wife was there, my future wife was there at a v I P table, and I thought I was gonna be really, really cool, and I sauntered up to her like she was gonna know who I was, and said, hey, you must be one of Jordan's younger fans. And she was like, no, I'm in my thirties. You know you're by the way, you're sitting at my table, and she kind of dismissed me, which I was kind of like taking her back, and it was definitely a bruise to my ego. But I was like, hey, you know, what's your name? And she told me her name was Amanda, and she really kind of ignored me, and then her friend said, don't you know who this guy is. It's a guy from ninety degrees. So her exact words were, what do you want a cookie? So I was like, I walked my butt back to my own judgment judge chair and spent the rest of the night doing the doing the thing in the contest and all that. But on my way out she denies this, but she followed me. On my way out, I was going home to be with my kids and do their homework with them, and she said, hey, where are you going. I said, well, I gotta go home and be with my kids. And by the way, you didn't know who I was earlier. And then um, we didn't exchange numbers at the time, but we exchanged Twitter handles, and so I immediately d M her and was trying to chat her up, and I slid into the d M s and all that stuff. And then eventually I just started seeing her uh now and again on the road. It wasn't anything seriously I was taking seriously. I never really wanted to get married again. I was kind of disenchanted, disenchanted with relationships. But she was sweet, She really had her stuff together. She was a good mom, she was impressive, she didn't rely on me to do everything for her, and she was just there for me at a very rough time in my life. So um ended up being a blessing in disguise that I went to the jordanal event and she changed my life. The other question is how did I know I was ready to marry? Well, you know, look, I again, I didn't think I was ever going to get married again. I obviously I love women and and dating is okay, and and you know, sort of wanted to focus on being a father. But this person came into my life and completely changed it around for the better, almost effective immediately. And you know, I sat there and it kind of was like a revelation to me. I was visiting her in uh in l A. She was doing something, she was in the medical field, doing something, and I visited her at a restaurant at her hotel, and I thought, wow, you know, um, this one might be the one. I remember, you know, going home after hanging out with her and telling my parents, Man, I think this is gonna be the person that I end up you know, having a long term relationship with. And you know, eventually, very shortly thereafter, Um, we got married. We kind of just fell in love with each other and life got better with with both of us in each other's lives, and um, the rest is history totally changed my life around, all right. So the question is do men have a one track mind? Can they listen to women when they're also doing something else? Now, this is something you want to talk about pet peeves. We talked about pet peeves earlier, um, and one of the questions was my pet peeve, mine's lazy people? Well, probably my wife Amanda's pet peeve is the fact that I cannot do more than one thing at a time. If I'm crafting an email in my phone, I am literally hearing the words as I'm typing them, and she could be saying, well, you need to take the trash out or the pool guys gonna come, and I cannot hear anything else. So one track mind, it's kind of a rough, rough sort of term for that. I would say focus. I would say I'm focused on one thing, and I don't speak for all men. There are other guys that multitasks, can talk texts and you know, do all kinds of things. I have to be focused on whatever it is, and it doesn't necessarily have to do with being a man. It could be that I have like a d D and I have to like focus on that because if I start to focus on a bunch of other things that I can't pay attention. But in this case, I would say most men do have a one track mine. It's been wonderful spending time with you, great calls, great Q and A. I loved, you know, spending some time with everybody, and love the fact that twenty five years later, degree still has fans out there, and it's been a pleasure and honor for me to spend so much time with you, you probably learned a little bit too much. But one last thing I want to talk about is nine Degrees is gonna be on the road recording some new music. I have a new song out right now called Lit featuring Pompeii, debut number one on the iTunes Dance chart. I'm very, very proud of it. It's been a blast hanging out here on How Men Think. Thanks for having me, We'll see you soon. This is How Men Think and I Heart Radio London Audio Production. Listen each Thursday on the iHeart Radio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.

We're taking you inside the mind of a man. This is how Men Thick and I heard radio podcast. Hey, what's going on everybody. I'm Jeff Timmins and you may know me from the boyband Degrees. I'm so happy and thrilled to be guest hosting How Men Think. I'm gonna answer all your questions and try to help you understand how Men Think. But first, this is eleven Questions with Jeff Timmins. So let's get into it. What are you known for? Well? Uh, mostly known for being a member of ninety eight Degrees, which has been an amazing run for me. It's our twenty fifth year. Uh this year Degrees being in existence. Although it makes me feel really old, I feel very blessed and fortunate to get out there and still be performing for such wonderful fans and be doing this for a living and supporting my family. So I think all of you a little bit about me. I love music, of course, that's the obvious thing. I'm a big family man. I've got five kids, They're all amazing. I've been very blessed, got a beautiful wife, and you know I like to work behind the scenes as well. I'm a big studio guy. Um like to do music and produce stuff for other people, I mean the tech space. It's like to keep busy. So who am I in my personal life? I'm just a guy that likes the screw around. I don't take myself too seriously at all. I take other people seriously. But I like to have a lot of fun, roll with the flow, make people laugh, and you know, enjoy family and friends and you know, the little things in life are are very very important to me. All right. What are three shows that I'm binge watching. Well, there's a show called Elite. There's a lot of these Spanish shows that are translated to English on Netflix that I really love. Elite is one of them. Money Heisten is another one. And then I've really been kind of getting my guilty pleasure from the Pam and Tommy story on Hulu, which I absolutely love. What is my favorite food? Well, it's kind of a toss up. I'm a low carb guy, so it's usually meat and cheese and seafood and things like that. I would have to say steak and lobster. I'm you know, I like the finer things in life, so I'd say steaks, steak, steak and lobster my favorite foods. Tell us about your career, Well, I have been totally blessed. Uh, it's been a wonderful ride. I'm from a very small town in Ohio where you know, a lot of not a lot of people kind of venture off into the entertainment business. UM. I was inspired by the group Boys Two Men and wanted to create a similar group just like that. Um, we didn't have the Internet and uh things that like like like um, Twitter and Snapchat and YouTube at our disposal and TikTok, so you literally had to go pursue your dreams. I drove with my original band across the country to l a Um to pursue the dream and got lucky. You know. We ended up singing backstage at a Boys de Men concert ironically, and we're fortunate enough to get signed and we got signed to Motown Records, which is a legendary label. UM, like Boys Demand Did. We toured the world, we sold millions and millions of records and we're still around twenty five years later with great fans that embrace our music and we enjoy the camaraderie of our brotherhood of getting up on stage and acting silly and singing songs for our living. So it's been a blessing. We've got to perform with Stevie Wonder on a song for Disney's Mulan with Mariah Carey that went and Joe that a song that went number one. We got to perform for Michael Jackson with Usher and Luther Vandrow's anything you can imagine. We've been fortunate enough to do and and we never took different granted. So it's been an amazing ride. What's my biggest fear in life? I think just not being successful. I mean I think that, uh you know, it's important for me to always get better every day. Uh, never settled for mediocrity. I don't expect that of everybody else that I meet in my life, particularly my beautiful wife and my kids. But for me, it's always achieving something new and it doesn't necessarily have to do with monetization and making money or being famous. It's just getting better every day. So my fear is to become relaxed and not be a success or not really have the influence and impact that I hope to do to encourage others to pursue their dreams. So the fear of failure is probably my biggest driver, ah, my biggest pet peeve. On that note, I despise people that are lazy. I like people that like to kick back and take it easy, but laziness drives me absolutely crazy. Absolutely my pet peete laziness. What makes me most happy seeing smiling faces in my family. I mean, I think it's really really important. Um. The world is always, uh, you know, a challenging place to live in and life is hard, so you know, the small victories for me or when I see smiling faces on all of my kids, I see happy faces, and you know, when my wife's happy, that's always nice. My ideal Saturday morning, well, you know, Saturday, the day is kind of blur together. I travel a lot. I'm very fortunate to do, and um, so Saturdays could be a Sunday, it could be a Monday. I'm always working, which is a really very fortunate thing for myself. Um, but you know, if if you're talking about the weekend, a Saturday morning would be watching college football. I know that's a boring answer, but I'm a big sports fan and being from a small town in Ohio that revolves around football, Massillon, Ohio, Um, I love watching my college football and I'm just hanging out with my kids on a Saturday if I'm in town and if we're all together. But traditionally I'm I'm watching college football, either with the guys in ninety eight degrees or even by myself. But that's a that's a typical Saturday for me. Am, I'm more of an athlete or our share quarterback. Um, well, I'd like to think. I'd like to think of an athlete. I but you know what, I'm just I'm coming to terms with the fact that I'm not that good of an athlete, so I'm sort of both. I try to keep in shape. I wanted to play football collegiately, and of course in the NFL where I'm from, it's all about that. And unfortunately I was vertically challenged. I didn't have enough skills, wasn't good. I mean, the list goes on and on. But I would say now I've I've come to terms with the fact that I'm an arm chair quarterback. I watched you criticize the coaches and throw stuff at the TV and say they should have any better choices and all that stuff. But at the end of the day, I'm just a fan like everybody else. What keeps you motivated? Um? Well, I have a lot of self motivation. UM. I think you know, striving to be successful is an important thing for me, and to get better every day. Like I mentioned, Um, but my family does you know? I want to be able to provide for them so they don't have to struggle. I've been very fortunate, but you know, along the ways there are high highs and low lows in the entertainment industry. And if I can prevent anybody in my life, not just my family, but groups and bands and artists that I mentor or just people along the way that I meet in life, if I can um prevent them from having some of those low lows. Uh, that's very very motivating for me in life. So that was eleven questions and now we're going to get right into some of your phone calls. Hi Meggan, are you there? Hi? Hi? How are you? I'm good? How are you? Wow? Such a clear, clean sound coming from your computer. Oh, thank you, I am using my earbuds. Oh nice, nice, Nice to meet you too. So do you have a question for me or anything you want to talk about. I do have a question for you. Okay, here's the deal. A guy asked me on a date, and then on the day of the day, I didn't hear from him. So I reached out to him like two hours before to make sure we were on and he bales and says he has to go to his friend's mother's birthday dinner. So that seems kind of like a cop out. But whatever, indeed does seem like a cop out, I don't think that, you know, I think that obviously you want to follow up to make sure that the data is still on and all that good stuff, and and sometimes that kind of stuff can be awkward. But the fact that he canceled if it was a different excuse, for example, if he had kids or it was his own mother, but it was his friend's mother's birthday, and you know, and you reached out to him two hours beforehand instead of him reaching out to you to kind of let him know, it sounds like he bailed time to move on. Okay, But see, now here's my follow up though, he just asked me out on another day, So like, do I give him another try or am I? Like? Nah? I think maybe a conversation would be had about why he canceled. Kind of feel out the vibe on the phone, right yeah, time call, which you can really kind of tell cues with people's visuals right lying in the queues there, um, with the spatial expressions and all that, and maybe saying hey, I totally forgot, I'm so sorry. I want to make it up to you, or he says, well, uh, and he if he does that, obviously a second date, well, a first second date isn't an effect. I don't think. Okay, I think that's a good plan. I like that. Thank you. I'm not a relationship expert, but you know, no, but that's helpful because I just couldn't even tell, like I was like, I don't even know how to I don't know how to perceive with this, like what's your deal? So that's great. You got to feel the vibe out on all this stuff for sure. Thank you. Bye bye, Hey Simona, how are you? I'm good? How are you? I'm good. I'm enjoying this. Uh, this Q and A that I'm doing with people that are calling it about relationship advice. The worst guy in the planet to give advice, but I'll do my best. What kind of questions do you have for me today. Well, okay, so my question is, I'm so, I'm a divorced mom of two kids and dating kind of sucks right now. Um, I'll have a great date, and then as soon as my date hears about my kids, it doesn't go further. Um. So my question is how far into dating someone should I bring up my kids? Is there a way to do that that won't scare them off? Well? Look, I mean anybody that you want to be with long term, it depends on whether you're looking for a long term relationship or you just out there looking to have fun. Right. If you're out there looking to have fun, you can mention them later, mention your kids later on in your dating process. But I think if you're serious about settling down with somebody, finding the one, I think you got to mention your kids right away. I mean, with with me, I always talked about my kids right away, and if that was an issue, then that was an automatical, automatic X out for for me. With uh with that, because you know, obviously my children are the most important thing to me in my entire life. So if someone is kind of, you know, getting scared or afraid of you because you have kids, I mean I say run for the hills. But like I said in the beginning of the conversation, if you're just going to have fun and it's not going to be a long term thing, then it might not necessarily be a topic of conversation. Okay, all right, thank you, thanks Semona. Hi, Kate, how are you? Hey? Good? How are you nice? To be connected with you over zoom you too, It's really nice to connect. Um. I guess I could use some advice. Okay, Well, I'll do my best to give you some advice. I'm not I'm not I'm not a doctor and expert, but I'll try my best from life experience to help you out. Okay, Um, well, here's my scenario. I went on a date, a first date with a guy the other day. I met him on just like a dating app and it was a it was a great date. But he drank a lot about the date, like a lot, A lot, And what's a lot coming from a drinker? A lot to mean, you know, how much? Was a lot? He had two drinks before the appetizer got there, three before dinner was over, and two more before the check came, so like seven drinks and I had to the whole time, so we're under twelve. No, did he was he? Was he drinking it like he was needed to drink the booze to get through the night. Or was he drinking because he was trying to be social? How was his behavior as he drank? I mean, there's so many lays I need to know about this fellow drinking guy that I need to. I don't want to. I don't want to disparage the guy or or kind of lead you in the wrong direction. If he's a nice guy, maybe he was nervous. You know a lot of times us guys are nervous around beautiful women like yourself, and you know, afraid that especially if he's been on the dating scene for a while, maybe not had that much success like most people don't um And so that was a way for him to calm his nerves. But if he's drinking, is almost he has a problem, and the guy's getting sloppy and he's fallen all over the place. I mean that's probably self explanatory, right, yeah. I mean that's the thing that he wasn't mesty, he wasn't slurring, He was totally fine, Like he needed it to like self regulate his his nerves or something because he wasn't drunk, which is also amazing, Like, what kind of metabolism does he have that he can drink that much and be fine. He's a pro. Where's this guy lit? Because that's what what Midwestern people like myself, Dude, there's nothing to do except for drink um and and talk about sports. But no, look, I mean, certainly that's a lot of drinks to having at night. And if he was getting sloppy, or he was embarrassing himself or you in the process, you know, obviously you know, there's probably not a call for a second date there. But if the guy was just getting through the night and it was your first was at your first date with the guy, Yes, it was our first time meeting. I'm pretty laxed with that stuff. I'd say give the guy a pass, give him a second date. If the guy is sitting on a Tuesday afternoon and he doesn't have a job and he's smashing you know, bush leg draft or you know, or or bottle jack, I would start to get worried then, but I think, you know, maybe give him a second shot and see if he kind of slows it down the second time around. Or maybe that's just part of the guy's personality. But you know, it's something to watch, but not something to be concerned with on the first date. Just my opinion. Okay, cool, I'll take that and I'll definitely give him another shot. And you know, I don't know, maybe I'll call and give you an update again. I would love it. Right now. I need to know, so send me a note. I want to find out how it goes. Alrighty, we'll do Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Appreciate it alright, by bye bye. Hi, Susan, how are you? Hi? I'm great, how are you. I'm doing great. I'm having a lot of fun on with this, uh this podcast. It's pretty cool, wonderful. So, um, I'm dating this guy who he's a great guy. He has two kids and I have three kids, and we're getting pretty serious and I'm thinking it's time that the kids met each other. So I'm just wondering, you know, like what's a good way to introduce them and is there anything I need to be careful of to ensure it goes well? Like I'm just I'm a little nervous about the whole thing, you know, because so far it's been me and him. It sounds like a great question. And and look, I've been through this, so I can speak to what what worked for me doesn't necessarily mean it works for everybody. Um, but I actually, have you ever seen how First of all, how long have you been dating this guy? Like seven and a half months? That's a long time. I mean that's a that's a pretty lengthy amount of time. And it probably is time that you, you know, sort of see how the family members would interact in there if you're getting started to get pretty serious about it. Um, you know, I think that with regards to you know, watching somebody other how the other person parents? Have you parents their kids? Have you been able to take a look at how he is with his kids? Um? Yeah, I mean I haven't, like I haven't had a lot of time with them either, you know. Um, but he seems like, you know, they seem to kid around kind of and like they have a nice They seem pretty close. Does he talk with affinity for his kids? Is that like a lot of the topic of conversation. I know a lot of people, you know, are are scared and shy away from talking about their kids because they're afraid that this person that they're gonna date doesn't like that. But in this case, he's got kids of his own, does he does he speak affectionately about his own kids? Oh yeah, oh yeah, definitely. Well look, I think that's a start, and um, you know, I think that with me. I saw my wife with her kids, and I was like, Okay, she's a good mom. She takes care of her kids, she handles her business, she disciplines them the right way, they have respect for her, they're well put together. So that after I saw that, I thought it would be a good time to introduce her to my kids, which was, you know, kind of a difficult thing because I didn't have the easiest of of divorce process of the divorce process going on, so it was I was always very nervous about introducing um my kids to other people, which I didn't forever until I met my wife and felt comfortable about how she was with her kids, and they ended up getting along famously. I mean, uh, And what I was. I travel a lot, So I was in a certain city that was close to them, and and her kids were close to to us, and really we were just out and about and we went and did an event and took him to a hotel and they all kind of had a good time, went swimming and all that stuff. And then you know that the rest after that was always positive. So they all got along. You know, they fought a little bit like any uh, you know family would do. But um, you know it, are any of them still in the house or three of them are gone? Three of them are off to school and doing other things and graduated, you know, and then we have two left here. So my my youngest stepson just turned sixteen yesterday. He's still here and now he's driving and it's gone to buy in a flash. I've known him since he's three years old. And then um uh, my daughter's ten. So those are the only two that are left. And then the other ones are are all growing up now one and almost twenty one. So it's been a fun ride. That's so great. So do you have any suggestions on like like a things like what kind of setting should we be in? Do you think for the kids to meet each other? I think it might be cool, you know what, just do something fun where they can have fun together, like, uh, take him to Wet and Wild or go to like a theme park or something like that that's a good way kids ice. They can hang out with each other, they can go run around and and do fun stuff together and you know, like kids would do if as if they're meeting friends right as opposed to like some formal dinner we're like you're sitting across from Yeah, yeah, I know sister or you know step sisters. So I think in a fun environment is always a really really cool way for for young people to break the ice. Okay, that's a good idea. I'm thinking maybe even mini golf or something like that. Do people's don't great? Yeah, something like that bowling mini golf like you know, yeah, I don't know where you live, but like a small theme park Disney Went and Wild. Their kids always love to go to the water parks together, that kind of stuff, don't car Okay, yeah, no, I think that's a good idea, good idea. Well, thanks you. I appreciate it, of course, thank you so much, because, um now you've given me some um you know, now at least I have some ideas. Like I before, I was just like I have no, I can't even I don't know. I've just been nervous, you know, Yeah, I completely relate and understand. And UM, I got your email from the producers, so I'll send you the bill. It's only gonna be a hundred for this short call. I'm just just playing anyhow. Nice to talk to you and good luck with all that. Thank you so much, Thank you. Bye. Hi, it's up late. Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you. How are you today? Oh? I'm good? Are you? I'm doing great? Um? So um, thank you so much for taking my call. Um. I'm so. I'm thirty six. My boyfriend is twenty six. Um, we've been together for a while. Um. Anyways, we've been talking a lot about having kids lately and uh. Um, so I've kids have always been part of my plan and I feel like my biological clock is ticketing. Um, and so I really want to get married and start trying for kids. But when we started talking about it, he thinks that kids are like four years away for him at least. But I'm worried that four years might be too late for me. Should I Should I stay in this and be patient with him? Or like, should I try and find someone who's more like in the line with my timeline? Wow, what a tricky question where I'd hate to give you the wrong advice on this one. But how long? First of all, there's some important factors. You said you've been a long together for a long time. How long is a long long time? Um? Well it's been like, well, a long time for me is three years. The three years He was twenty three and you were thirty three at the time. Yeah, so three years. It's kind of a long time. And when you first started dating, was this any part of the discussion at all that you would like to have kids? And obviously he knows you're just a little bit older than him. Um, I'm sure it's in the back of his mind that you would probably want to have kids at some point. Um, did that ever come up in the beginning or all of a sudden, Did you just spring it on him that you know what, I think it's time for us to have kids. Yeah. No, we definitely have had those conversations since the beginning. It was you know, I would not have gotten with him in the first place if he hadn't been someone who have said that he wanted kids. Uh, it's just that, Um, now I'm realizing, Oh no, this like age gap, uh might actually be a problem. Well, this is something you often hear. I mean, look, I mean there are a couple of different other factors. Does his career prevent him from being able to put the time in it that's necessary to be a father. Is there anything going on with regards to his his professional life that would prevent him. Does he travel a lot? Or is he a baseball player or rock star? I mean, is there something that that keeps this man, keeps him on the road all the time that he wouldn't be able to put the time and necessary to be a good dad. Uh No, No, he works a pretty standard like nine to six job um in finance. Like he's very you know, he's he's got his stuff together. Everything is, everything's in a good place. I think he just feels like, you know, he's not really you know, he wants to do traveling and stuff like that, and you know he feels like there's just a lot that he still wants to do before having kids. Well, look, I mean there there are a couple of things. One he has to respect that you know, you you're having anxiety about your biological clock. Although that as we know now, there are things you can do with regards to science that enable you to carry children and bear them a lot older than you used to be able to do back in the day that's available, but he also has to respect your desire to to do this in a in a in a natural way. And and so I think, you know, three years just my opinion, and all of a sudden, this relationships and I get I get like a d M on Instagram from this guy who is mad at me because you broke up with them. Um, no, I I think that probably time you have that talk with him and say, hey, look, we've been together three years. I've invested this time into you. You know me well enough that this is kind of something that I really see on the horizon and want to do before I feel like it's too late or I have to go through obstacles to make it more difficult for me to have kids. And I think it's it's definitely worth the conversation. Yeah, yeah, I'm I guess I'm worried that you know, if I if for some reason I break up with him, like that's a no go, then you know, well I just ruin my chances at all. But I guess we'll we'll find out. Well, I mean, look, you don't have to break up with them. But you know, maybe feel it, feel it out, because sometimes guys will prolong the you know, they'll they'll just kind of there. There might never be a time, you know what I mean that they'll say he wants to have kids and he just enjoys dating you, which is perfectly fine. But if you have different life goals for yourself and and and the way you envision you know, being a mother, and that's not going to play into his plans, and then maybe it is good good to cut it short. Yeah, yeah, okay, okay, cool, Well, thank you so much, Thank you appreciated, Bhie, thank you made to you. Holdine is the and busy man. Oh I'm so sorry. Let me let me turn that down. The problem by all means, please play our music at all times in your house. That's awesome. I had to go back and it brought back so many memories. I mean, ninety degrees in rising, it's a classic. I'm loving the backdrop with the co posters back there, the Moman ruge, what is that? The aviator? Gladiator? Oh gladiator? Nice, very nice. Thanks for taking the time to join me today. Of course. Oh here's my cat right on time. She loves boys to her name is Pixy. Yes, what a cool name. Hey, Okay, you can go, let me talk to Jeff. Um, I'm so excited to me You've been such a huge fan for a long time. Thank you. I'm totally flattered and excited to meet you too. I really appreciate it. Yeah, of course. Um. So I'm just gonna jump in with my question. Um, So, it seems like, you know, back in the day, there was like rivalries among the groups, right, but recently, you know, we see guys from different groups doing things together, right, like the boy Man Christmas specialty you were in last year. So aside from maybe just being like a little bit older and wiser, what do you what do you think has changed to sort of encourage those kind of collaborations. Well, here's what's really interesting, Donna, because we never really had a rivalry with the other other quote unquote boy bands. I know, it's it's contrary to popular belief and it's not a it's not a great hot button for the media, but we really really had a ton of respect for both the Backstreet Boys groups we were compared to Backstreet Boys and instinct although we were un formulated a little bit differently and that we put ourselves together and considered ourselves a vocal group. Certainly years later, we're thrilled and honored to be mentioned in the same company with those guys and you know, experience in the same sort of journey, the high highs and low lows that those guys that we had nothing but respect for them, they had tons of hits, tons of talent, and we're just great guys to be around on the road. I mean, like you had mentioned there, there was the boy band Christmas Special, there was this thing called back Sync. They had this thing here in Vegas called the After Party. I'm part of a company, a group called A T C K with A J and christ you know. Um, so you know, I I have an affinity and love and appreciation for those guys, their journey, their work ethic and just what what type of great people they are. You know, haven't been in the business now for twenty seven years, it's anniversary. You know, you don't really come across people that are really true and genuine and and great folks to be around. And to be honest, it sounds like I can't answer, but those guys are all fantastic dudes. Okay, And because I just saw Backstreet in Vegas two weeks ago, and now I have to ask when are we going to see nine? Well, look, yeah, as I mentioned, it's our twenty fifth anniversary. Thanks for asking the question. Um, we're thrilled and excited that so many people are coming out to see us. I mean we've we've been you know, back since two thousand and thirteen when we toured with Boys the Men and New Kids, and since then, I've had multiple tours. The fans are always there for us. We're gonna be recording some stuff last week of I want to say May, uh, first week of May, we're recording some new material, and then we're gonna be back on the road end of August, probably into September, and then go through the holiday season. I don't know that we'll probably do a holiday tour like we've done in the past, but we will definitely be on the road, you know, going out there and uh hitting the pavement, doing some shows for our fans. Were super excited about it. That's awesome. I'm super excited. And I just have to say this gift is one of my favorite Christmas songs. Thank you. I mean you look the Christmas album I'm proud of all the material and feel blessed and fortunate and lucky to be a part of any of it. But I think that the Christmas music for us, because we're a true court quartet. I think the fact that we can, you know, arrange all the harmonies and the vocal stacks that we like to do. We I feel like the Christmas music is our best stuff. So I appreciate the compliment. Every year I have to listen to it, I find it and I'm like, Okay, I love this song and totally superficially you're a tiny box, but you look fabulous. I thank you, very appreciate. I'm trying to keep up with the young bucks. You know, I'm about to turn forty nine here in a few days, so I'm trying to try to stay young and vibrants so we can, uh, we can still compete in our old age are anti created souls. I'm right behind you, so don't say old age, please you. And uh, I appreciate your time down and and asking me such great questions and the compliments to yeah, no problem. It's so great to me, you know, I'm I'm so happy to do it. Thank you, Okay, Hey, how are you good. How are you I'm doing I'm doing great. Thanks, Thanks a lot for hopping on with me. Yeah. So, being in the industry so long, we're all curious to know what is the one song you wish she never had to sing? Ever again, that's a good one. You know. I hate to sound like a corny person, but I love all the songs I mean, you know, especially the ones that were hits that you know, people say, oh my gosh, I'm so sick of singing I Do or Invisible Man or Hardest Thing or whatever the hit is or song that we've done. Um, it's actually the opposite. I used to not like singing some of the songs that we recorded back in the day in concert, like Dizzy or the Way You Want Me To, because I wanted to sing all the love songs and ballads. But now many years later, those are tempo dance songs. Yeah, I think that they seem relevant now. So it's the opposite. I actually like singing more songs then the ones I don't like. I mean, you know, I wish I had a different answer and said, oh man, I hate singing because of you, but I get it. Joked out of it out of it every time because the crowd responds differently every time. And you know, look at this point you mentioned many years, many years later, for anybody to know any of the lyrics to any of our songs and back to us. I'm thrilled. That's awesome. My first concert was actually one of the All That tours of ninety eight degrees, so I'll never forget. Well, thanks, We're we're part of the world. Are you in? Where was that at UM in southern California? It was like before they tore down the Universal Amphitheater. Yeah, that's right, So that was And so you got Monica and the Keenan and kel and n that's fun. Well, I appreciate that. Geez, that's awesome. Thank you. Yeah, so glad you guys have all success witching many years ahead. Thank you guys for having such great anthems. Oh, I appreciate it, and I love the love. And thanks Joyce. I appreciate they appreciate the support seriously, Thanks Joyce, what great calls. We're gonna take a little break and we're gonna get right into the Q and A. So the question, the first question is how did I meet my beautiful wife, Amanda. It was very interesting. So a friend of mine, Jordan's Knights, who is a member of New Kids on the Block. He and I had been touring for a couple of years together as solo artists and having a lot of fun, and he asked me to be a part of this thing that he had called he was doing called Jordan's Idol, and jordan Idol was essentially a basically a version of his version of American Idol would where fans would come out and they would sing covers and then a winner of the contest would get to record with Jordan's and Jordan wanted me to be a judge. Well, I was really busy with my kids. I was going through going through a divorce and only had limited amounts of times time to spend with my kids. And at that time I was like, look, I get I have visitation with my kids. I can't make it. So Jordan was like, look, you have to be here, please bro do it. So I drove to l a um from Orange County and and um, you know, reluctantly went and uh and then judge this contest and my wife was there, my future wife was there at a v I P table, and I thought I was gonna be really, really cool, and I sauntered up to her like she was gonna know who I was, and said, hey, you must be one of Jordan's younger fans. And she was like, no, I'm in my thirties. You know you're by the way, you're sitting at my table, and she kind of dismissed me, which I was kind of like taking her back, and it was definitely a bruise to my ego. But I was like, hey, you know, what's your name? And she told me her name was Amanda, and she really kind of ignored me, and then her friend said, don't you know who this guy is. It's a guy from ninety degrees. So her exact words were, what do you want a cookie? So I was like, I walked my butt back to my own judgment judge chair and spent the rest of the night doing the doing the thing in the contest and all that. But on my way out she denies this, but she followed me. On my way out, I was going home to be with my kids and do their homework with them, and she said, hey, where are you going. I said, well, I gotta go home and be with my kids. And by the way, you didn't know who I was earlier. And then um, we didn't exchange numbers at the time, but we exchanged Twitter handles, and so I immediately d M her and was trying to chat her up, and I slid into the d M s and all that stuff. And then eventually I just started seeing her uh now and again on the road. It wasn't anything seriously I was taking seriously. I never really wanted to get married again. I was kind of disenchanted, disenchanted with relationships. But she was sweet, She really had her stuff together. She was a good mom, she was impressive, she didn't rely on me to do everything for her, and she was just there for me at a very rough time in my life. So um ended up being a blessing in disguise that I went to the jordanal event and she changed my life. The other question is how did I know I was ready to marry? Well, you know, look, I again, I didn't think I was ever going to get married again. I obviously I love women and and dating is okay, and and you know, sort of wanted to focus on being a father. But this person came into my life and completely changed it around for the better, almost effective immediately. And you know, I sat there and it kind of was like a revelation to me. I was visiting her in uh in l A. She was doing something, she was in the medical field, doing something, and I visited her at a restaurant at her hotel, and I thought, wow, you know, um, this one might be the one. I remember, you know, going home after hanging out with her and telling my parents, Man, I think this is gonna be the person that I end up you know, having a long term relationship with. And you know, eventually, very shortly thereafter, Um, we got married. We kind of just fell in love with each other and life got better with with both of us in each other's lives, and um, the rest is history totally changed my life around, all right. So the question is do men have a one track mind? Can they listen to women when they're also doing something else? Now, this is something you want to talk about pet peeves. We talked about pet peeves earlier, um, and one of the questions was my pet peeve, mine's lazy people? Well, probably my wife Amanda's pet peeve is the fact that I cannot do more than one thing at a time. If I'm crafting an email in my phone, I am literally hearing the words as I'm typing them, and she could be saying, well, you need to take the trash out or the pool guys gonna come, and I cannot hear anything else. So one track mind, it's kind of a rough, rough sort of term for that. I would say focus. I would say I'm focused on one thing, and I don't speak for all men. There are other guys that multitasks, can talk texts and you know, do all kinds of things. I have to be focused on whatever it is, and it doesn't necessarily have to do with being a man. It could be that I have like a d D and I have to like focus on that because if I start to focus on a bunch of other things that I can't pay attention. But in this case, I would say most men do have a one track mine. It's been wonderful spending time with you, great calls, great Q and A. I loved, you know, spending some time with everybody, and love the fact that twenty five years later, degree still has fans out there, and it's been a pleasure and honor for me to spend so much time with you, you probably learned a little bit too much. But one last thing I want to talk about is nine Degrees is gonna be on the road recording some new music. I have a new song out right now called Lit featuring Pompeii, debut number one on the iTunes Dance chart. I'm very, very proud of it. It's been a blast hanging out here on How Men Think. Thanks for having me, We'll see you soon. This is How Men Think and I Heart Radio London Audio Production. Listen each Thursday on the iHeart Radio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.