Are Men Okay? A Conversation about Masculinity, Emotions & Pressure ft. Swaggy Mo | AITL S2 EP 44

POD FAM 💚 Today on Am I Too Loud, we are joined by a man who is single-handedly trying to prove that men, in fact, can moisturize, lift heavy, be disciplined, smell good, be accountable and keep their sanity at the same time.

Our guest is Mohamet Mbaye — better known as Swaggy Mo and The Fit African — a creator, athlete, model, and wellness advocate based in Los Angeles.

Born to Gambian and Senegalese parents, Mo grew up in a village in Gambia until he was 15. When he moved to the US, he had to navigate colorism, bullying, and being “the dark-skinned African kid” in America. Instead of shrinking, he transformed his body, his confidence, and his life — and made it his mission to help men (and women) build real self-worth through fitness, discipline, mindset, and self-care.

Since then, he’s become a full-time creator and model working with global fashion, fitness, and beauty brands — from runway shows and campaigns to health and skincare partnerships, including his recent work in the wellness and beauty space and collaborations with brands like Sephora.

And today, he’s here for a conversation I’ve been DYING to have because… genuinely… ARE MEN OKAY?

If you’re raising men, dating men, friends with men, or are a man trying to unlearn and rebuild, then this one is for you.

Chapters
01:02 — Introducing Swaggy Mo
02:18 — Mo’s story: Gambia → Senegal → America
03:55 — Colorism, bullying & building confidence
05:32 — Skincare, masculinity & being called “gay” for moisturizing
07:40 — Cleanliness, Islam & redefining masculine self-care
08:55 — This Came Up on My FYP: Men, softness & stereotypes
10:21 — Men & mental illness: “I don’t want to burden anyone.”
12:09 — African upbringing, isolation & survival mode
14:53 — Success anxiety, pressure & fear of losing it all
17:40 — Street Culture 101: Mo’s viral video & the backlash
20:48 — Black men, gang culture & community impact
22:30 — Accountability, empathy & calling a spade a spade
24:00 — The “clean cut Black man” movement & why it matters
27:12 — Being Muslim in America: extremism vs reality
29:50 — Media bias, Islamophobia & reclaiming narrative
32:14 — Faith, rediscovery & personal relationship with God
34:05 — Being raised by grandma + abusive uncles
36:04 — African dads, fear-based parenting & emotional distance
40:11 — Masculinity, promiscuity & escaping through women
42:37 — Why men must unlearn early conditioning
44:20 — Feminism: “Are you a feminist?” + definition breakdown
47:55 — Finances, softness & emotional safety in relationships
50:33 — The burden women carry that men don’t see
53:13 — Fitness as therapy: depersonalization & mental clarity
56:22 — Pressure, responsibility & why men need challenge
58:44 — Provider identity & redefining manhood
01:00:30 — Softness: What it is & why men struggle with it
01:03:18 — Men don’t have community — and why it’s killing them
01:05:45 — Manhood 101: Mo’s 5 rules for becoming better
01:09:16 — What men wish women understood
01:10:59 — Black men dating myths & media manipulation
01:13:54 — Black love, interracial narratives & reality vs internet
01:15:06 — Hard truth Mo learned about himself
01:17:17 — GAME: What Men Say vs What They Mean
01:20:47 — The Loud Guest Seat: Mo hypes himself up
01:22:35 — Closing + Pod Fam Hotline



🎙 Am I Too Loud? is hosted by The Odditty



Follow the guest (Swaggy MO):

YouTube - ‪@Swaggymo‬

Instagram -   / swaggy_mo  

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@swaggy_mo_?la...

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