Motherhood for Good with Kate Duffy

Angela Ferrell-Zabala and the Moms are Taking on the Gun Industry, One State at a Time

Episode Summary Kate sits down with Angela Ferrell-Zabala, Executive Director of Moms Demand Action — one of the largest grassroots gun violence prevention organizations in the country — for a conversation that is equal parts inspiring and eye-opening. They talk about what really drives gun violence in America (hint: it's way bigger than school shootings), what regular moms can actually do about it, and why Angela still has hope. What You'll Hear Angela shares how growing up watching her mother and grandmother show up for their community planted the seeds for a lifetime of advocacy. She talks about what it felt like to become a mom of four and how that deepened her sense of urgency around keeping all kids safe, not just her own. Then they get into the real stuff: the full picture of gun violence in America. Kate gets honest about her own learning curve: coming in mostly worried about school shootings, and realizing the issue is so much bigger. Angela walks through some stats that might surprise you (like the fact that Black Americans are 12 times more likely to die from gun violence than white Americans, and that guns are now the leading cause of death for children and young people in the U.S.). They also talk about what's actually working, including wins in red states that never make the headlines, and what you can do right now, no matter how busy or overwhelmed you are. Topics Covered * How Moms Demand Action started at Shannon Watts' kitchen table after Sandy Hook and grew into a nationwide movement * Why gun violence looks very different depending on where you live - and why all of it matters * The difference between the gun lobby and actual gun owners (spoiler: a lot of gun owners support common-sense reforms) * What the NRA's influence actually looks like today — and why it's not what it used to be * The Be SMART program and why asking "is there a gun in your home, and is it locked up?" is as normal as asking about a pool fence * Wins from 2025 * What's on the agenda for the 2026 midterms * The Students Demand Action movement and why young people give Angela her biggest source of hope Get Involved Text READY to 64433 to join Moms Demand Action in your state. About Angela Ferrell-Zabala Angela Ferrell-Zabala is the Executive Director of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of the Everytown for Gun Safety network. A mother of four, she has spent her career working on reproductive health, immigrant rights, education, and economic justice — and brings that whole-person lens to the fight to end gun violence.

Surveillance Nation: The Hidden Costs of Being Constantly Watched

Surveillance isn’t just a conspiracy theory, it’s a centuries-old tactic of power, targeting marginalized communities and expanding into every corner of our lives.  In this eye-opening episode, Amanda Merkwae, Advocacy Director at the ACLU of Wisconsin, reveals how government and corporate surveillance have intertwined, influencing everything from police policies to everyday privacy. Discover how historical tactics of control still echo today, from the secret tracking of civil rights leaders to modern facial recognition at your local grocery store. You'll learn about the steady erosion of privacy rights as legislation like the Patriot Act paved the way for sweeping data collection, and how new technologies, from data brokers to AI-powered facial recognition, urn your everyday routines into open books. Amanda breaks down the alarming scope of surveillance at the local level, including Milwaukee’s recent push to regulate facial recognition tech, and why community activism often remains our strongest defense. This episode unpacks critical questions:  * Are you truly anonymous online?  * Do supposedly innocuous apps secretly keep tabs on your every move?  * How can ordinary citizens push back against the unseen forces surveilling us all?  Whether you’re a parent concerned about your children’s digital safety or a civically-minded individual eager to protect your community, this conversation offers essential insights for reclaiming your privacy in a surveillance-saturated society. Amanda Merkwae is an experienced civil rights lawyer and the Advocacy Director for the ACLU of Wisconsin. With deep expertise in surveillance policy and a passion for community organizing, she sheds light on a hidden system that impacts us all—often without our knowledge or consent.

Catelin Drey is Bringing Eldest Daughter Energy to the Iowa Senate

What happens when a regular mom decides to step into power? In this episode, I sit down with Catelin Drey, founder of Moms for Iowa and newly sworn-in state senator, to talk about her advocacy journey, what she’s learning in her first legislative session, and why moms need a seat at the table.

Francesca Hong Isn’t the Establishment Pick—and That’s the Point

Francesca Hong is running for governor of Wisconsin, and while some in the political establishment have written her off as a wild card, voters clearly haven’t. Since launching her campaign, she’s already inspired more than 1,400 volunteer sign-ups, packed rooms across the state, and built real momentum both online and in person. Some have endearingly nicknamed her the “Mamdani of the Midwest,”  but in this conversation, Francesca explains why it's her service industry roots—and the lived experience that comes with them—that give her a clear-eyed understanding of what people actually need, and why the solutions she’s talking about aren’t actually radical at all. This is a conversation about authenticity, power, and why the so-called underdog might be exactly the main character this moment calls for as we head into the 2026 Midterms. Links: Fran's Campaign Site: https://francescahong.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqblFPdTRDX3dKNFFaa3NyUGF6SnVhTi03Wk91Z3xBQ3Jtc0trLWd6OVMxSTJpZ2pXR2ZTZ3R4SW1qVmxKNkRtWEpyNnhyU1lWUkZ1d2s2M2JpQ2tCTUh4eTZkd2JIby0yaWlhaFV3Sk8wS2JiMmphNFRHX3Y1MmVJOHFPRXhfUlRVdnJ4TnNkWEo2a09oZk15QXFnOA&q=https%3A%2F%2Ffrancescahong.com%2F&v=i8bJIori4qY] Reddit AMA:   / im_francesca_hong_candidate_for_gov_of_wi_ama  [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa3kxXzNkN1B5SmFVWHkxRDFQQXBEbWJ6SGJKd3xBQ3Jtc0ttV0hRTmFhU0lIblFQeEh4NHJnTjNDdXJ6VjZ4UjFhd0pzMUNrZHVsNU1oRExJT2RKYTVUNGdKNktxeDNSVFRjZEZsUnU2dEU2YjFoUV95UGNDQ3phUmFHSkpXZnZ0cUtudG5BYXNpTmIxcDVScTdMRQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reddit.com%2Fr%2Fwisconsin%2Fcomments%2F1p1dhr9%2Fim_francesca_hong_candidate_for_gov_of_wi_ama%2F&v=i8bJIori4qY] Subscribe and follow @motherhoodforgood on all your favorite platforms. Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@motherhoodforgood Instagram - instagram.com/motherhoodforgood [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa0hWTHdMWjBWRDg0OW1JbVZFNnI4UFJGU0VLZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsNDRRaUhpQXVQM0F3ZVN5QVpsTlQtMXdYWHROSWJhUERSeXd0U1ladmU2eHpWSFY4UnFmQW9objgxMjVyOEtyUW41SlFrQTY5UXpaSUtqNFU0RVAtVWRXYnBLajlEdDZCam9DNE5MdE9oUm5IOEtsOA&q=https%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fmotherhoodforgood] Substack - https://motherhoodforgood.substack.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbHc1bUtmU1pxTXdIbzFKSGZQb3dKOEtPNjhhd3xBQ3Jtc0trMm5DUENMOGJOYkNLZ3llSnVpMzc3N2RLMExBTW5mRlo1bi0xT250ekhlaDBSOTd5emF2b2hfVzFiRWVRTHhaSmFpd0NGUUlOTzFwWHRkLXJNNVdMWUhGdEdBQUEtQzdRejdmYzJId2pyYUlabkVmMA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fmotherhoodforgood.substack.com%2F&v=i8bJIori4qY]

This Is Why We Fight: A Personal Story of Medicaid and Miracles

In this special episode, I’m joined by my sister-in-law, Morgan, to share the story of my nephew Jaxon—a joyful, thriving four-year-old who wouldn’t be here without Medicaid. At just one year old, Jaxon was diagnosed with a rare and serious condition that required intensive brain surgery and long-term therapy. The care he needed wasn’t optional, and it wasn’t affordable even with private insurance. Without Medicaid, he wouldn’t have survived. This episode is about what happens when policy gets personal, why the fight to protect programs like Medicaid is one we can’t afford to lose, and how it is a lifeline in rough seats for moms like Morgan, who hope to someday graduate from it, and go back to work full time.  Subscribe and follow @motherhoodforgood on all your favorite platforms. Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@motherhoodforgood Instagram - instagram.com/motherhoodforgood [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa0hWTHdMWjBWRDg0OW1JbVZFNnI4UFJGU0VLZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsNDRRaUhpQXVQM0F3ZVN5QVpsTlQtMXdYWHROSWJhUERSeXd0U1ladmU2eHpWSFY4UnFmQW9objgxMjVyOEtyUW41SlFrQTY5UXpaSUtqNFU0RVAtVWRXYnBLajlEdDZCam9DNE5MdE9oUm5IOEtsOA&q=https%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fmotherhoodforgood] Substack - https://motherhoodforgood.substack.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbHc1bUtmU1pxTXdIbzFKSGZQb3dKOEtPNjhhd3xBQ3Jtc0trMm5DUENMOGJOYkNLZ3llSnVpMzc3N2RLMExBTW5mRlo1bi0xT250ekhlaDBSOTd5emF2b2hfVzFiRWVRTHhaSmFpd0NGUUlOTzFwWHRkLXJNNVdMWUhGdEdBQUEtQzdRejdmYzJId2pyYUlabkVmMA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fmotherhoodforgood.substack.com%2F&v=i8bJIori4qY]