How One Mom Sparked a National Movement with Shannon Watts
Jun 23, 2025•35 min
Episode description
Twelve years ago, Shannon Watts was folding laundry when breaking news stopped her in her tracks: a mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary. The next morning, she woke up with a fire inside her, and turned her grief and rage into action.
That action became Moms Demand Action, now part of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country. In today’s episode, Shannon joins Jessi Hempel to reflect on the grassroots journey that began in her kitchen and grew into a national movement.
Shannon’s new book, Fired Up, is a call to action for women everywhere who are ready to turn their spark into action, but aren’t sure where to start.
Jessi and Shannon discuss:
Shannon’s journey from corporate PR to grassroots activism
The power of starting before you feel ready
Why burnout can be a turning point
How women, especially mothers, are the hidden engine of societal change
Lessons from more than a decade of advocacy and organizing
Join the conversation at Hello Monday Office Hours. Catch us Wednesday at 3 PM ET on the LinkedIn News Page. See you there.
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