The Fire of Liberty Show

Joleen Degelau from St. Croix County, Wisconsin, is our 2026 Penelope Barker Founders Award winner, recognized for her work bringing parents together and standing up for their children. When a New Richmond school board policy involving boys using girls’ bathrooms came to light, Joleen knew it was time to take action.

In just five weeks, parents rallied, students walked out, and the Department of Education launched an investigation. Now, with a federal lawsuit moving forward, the fight continues, and parents are not backing down. How do you turn outrage into action and get a community to stand together? Joleen shares how it happened in her own backyard and what other parents can learn from their fight.

Donna Culberson from Cecil County, MD, saw firsthand the challenges facing her local schools while serving on the county council. But when her youngest grandson came to live with her reading at a kindergarten level in sixth grade, the fight for better education became more personal. Now, she’s working to open a charter school while navigating the challenges of keeping her Moms for Liberty chapter active and growing membership. Donna discusses the realities of fighting for change in her community, the roadblocks she’s faced, and why she’s determined to find a better path for students and families.

We sit down with Danielle Buck, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Patriot Mobile and host of the Courage in Faith podcast. Danielle is a mom of two boys, a former Division I athlete, and has spent her career in television news, nonprofit leadership, media relations, marketing and fundraising.

We’ll talk about Danielle’s journey, the experiences that have shaped her, and how her faith and career have led her to where she is today. We’ll also take a closer look at Patriot Mobile and how they use their business to support organizations like Moms for Liberty and other causes they believe in.

This is a conversation about faith, family, purpose, and finding the bigger reason behind the work we do.

Lisa Adams, our Chapter Chair from Plymouth County, MA, spent six years in the Navy serving as a cryptologist. She understands psychological warfare and sees clearly how it is being used in America today. Lisa comes from a long line of military and police service. She was also one of the five moms behind what they called “The Motherlode.” 

Tune in to hear how Lisa sees psychological warfare is being deployed and tips on how to fight back. Learn how inviting the opposition media into a chapter meeting can be a good thing. Hear how standing up at a school board meeting for your children is the best thing. 

Lisa has stayed unwavering in her belief that you cannot be afraid to speak the truth.

Terry Schilling, President of the American Principles Project and dad of eight from Virginia, shares his perspective on fatherhood, family, and what parents can do to have a greater impact in their communities.

Terry talks about what raising eight kids has taught him, why fathers play such an important role in their children’s lives, and the importance of being present and leading your family.

He also shares more about his work with the American Principles Project and the importance of getting parents more involved and connected. And we tackle a bigger question: How do parents build a governing majority in America?

From fatherhood to getting parents more engaged, Terry shares some of the lessons he’s learned both at home and through his work.

Katie Gorman, our Shasta County, California Chapter Chair, was never the person who wanted the microphone. She was a wife, mom, and teacher who was perfectly happy staying behind the scenes.

But sometimes life puts you in a place you never expected to be.

In this episode, Katie shares the moment that pushed her to finally speak up, how a meeting at a local sandwich shop turned into something much bigger, and what she has learned through the wins, the backlash and everything in between.

Her story is proof that you don’t have to be the loudest person in the room to make a difference.

Patty Alexander always believed two things: that parents are a child's first teacher and that strong relationships between parents and educators matter.  After 34 years in the classroom Patty has retired from her job, but she continues to find new ways to fight for children and education. She ran for school board twice, speaks at the Iowa State Capitol on important bills, serves on the Social Studies Standards Rewrite Team and continues to work with future educators as a student teacher supervisor.

Now servings as our Warren County, IA Chapter Chair, Patty shares what she learned during her years in education, what pushed her to get involved after retirement, the battles she has taken on in Iowa and why she believes it's never too late to become an advocate for the next generation.

Carrie Moore, our Nueces County, Texas Chapter Chair, has been part of Moms for Liberty almost from the very beginning. She launched the first chapter in Texas and over the last five years has experienced just about every high and low that comes with this fight.

She’s served as both Chair and Vice Chair, and she and her current Chair have a pretty simple agreement: when one gets tired, the other steps up. That sisterhood has carried them through some of the hardest moments and kept them fighting for their community.

Carrie also shares why our annual Joyful Warrior Summit means so much to her and why she has attended every single one. We will even here about one Summit that became especially unforgettable when Carrie ended up in the hospital—and one of our keynote speakers showed up there to present her with her Founders Award!

Tune in to hear Carrie share the ups, the downs, her faith, and the sisterhood that has been such an important part of her five years with Moms for Liberty.

Annette went from working in tobacco fields to standing in the Oval Office beside the President of the United States. Her path has taken her places she never imagined, including Moms for Liberty. She is our brand-new Mecklenburg County, NC Chapter Chair who was raised in a small North Carolina town by parents who believed education was non-negotiable.  Annette knows firsthand how education can change the course of a life. Join us as we discuss her concerns about what is happening in classrooms across the country today and what can be done to impact change.

Colette Cooper is passionate about saving America, but she believes that starts with putting first things first: God and family.

An active member of the original Brevard County, Florida, chapter of Moms for Liberty, Colette now serves as the Human Resources and Compliance Manager for Moms for Liberty and the Moms for Liberty Foundation.

Her diverse background has uniquely prepared her for this work.  Colette managed a statewide literacy program for Utah’s Governor and First Lady, promoting the importance of reading to children. She later worked in human services, advocating for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, before bringing her experience in human resources, policy development, and people-centered leadership to Moms for Liberty. Colette was  present at the original Madison Meetings where the idea for Moms for Liberty was born. Today, she is humbled to help support the grassroots movement and the members who make it possible.

Above all, Colette is a devoted wife, mother of five, and daughter of God. In this episode of The Fire of Liberty Show, we talk about faith, family, service, and why strengthening the family is essential to preserving liberty in America.