Raising Kids to Raising Capital: Shana Moore’s Unexpected Midlife Reinvention
In this episode of Mom to MORE®, Sharon Macey welcomes founder and CEO Shana Moore, the visionary behind WeSkreech, a startup focused on personal safety through innovative sonic technology. After 25 years as a stay-at-home mom raising four children, Shana reached a point where she began asking what was next, leading her into an unexpected chapter as an entrepreneur.
In this conversation, Shana shares her transition from full-time motherhood to startup founder and the mindset shifts that came with stepping into a completely new role. She reflects on the resilience, patience, and problem-solving skills she built over the years, and how they carried into this next phase, along with navigating fear, uncertainty, and learning as she goes.
Tune in for a grounded and honest conversation about reinvention, starting something new later in life, and what it looks like to take small, steady steps forward even when you are not fully sure where they will lead.
[00:00] Introduction
[02:58] Shana’s transition from teacher to stay-at-home mom
[04:20] The realities of motherhood through different stages
[06:02] Skills from motherhood that translate into entrepreneurship
[09:30] Recognizing opportunity and starting WeSkreech
[11:06] Navigating fear and taking daily action
[13:19] The inspiration behind WeSkreech and the startup journey
[18:07] Highs, lows, and lessons from building a business
[20:37] Stepping into a new identity as a founder
[23:53] Advice for women who feel it’s “too late” to start
[26:47] Defining her “more” and evolving identity
Meet my guest, Shana Moore:
Website:https://weskreech.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weskreech/
Looking for More? Sign up for the Mom To MORE® newsletter and grab your freebie: The Mom To MORE® Guide at momtomore.com
Want to interview Sharon? Connect here.
Inspired to start on your next chapter? Book a free 15 minute mentorship call here.
Follow @momtomore on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Substack.
Keep an eye out for episode #62 of the Mom to MORE® podcast where Sharon is joined by Susan De Marco, the woman who went from SAHM to CEO of Brand K Partners. Coming soon - you won’t want to miss it ♥
-
Sharon Macey (01:07)
welcome back to a new episode of Mom to More. I'm Sharon Macy. Before we jump in, are you feeling that itch for something more? I've got you. Grab my free guide, Six Ways to Reinvent Yourself Beyond Motherhood at momtomore.com. The link's in the show notes too. Okay.
Today, I am speaking with a really interesting mom who reinvented into her next phase of fabulous and unique and perhaps unexpected industry.
Shana Moore is the visionary founder and CEO of WeScreetch, a bold startup rethinking personal safety, one piercing alarm at a time. What began as a simple but powerful insight grew into a mission. After years of noticing just how weak and ineffective many key chain alarms are, she teamed up with her life and business partner, Larry LaPatta, to translate his sonic defense research into a real product. The result?
is the Screech, love that name, a compact high decibel personal alarm engineered to deliver a focused sonic punch designed to disorient threats and create a window for escape. Since launching WeScreach in 2024, Shana has been riding the startup roller coaster, juggling product development, student-led marketing collaborations, and pre-orders while holding space for the bigger purpose behind it all, empowering people, especially women,
to reclaim confidence and safety in their everyday lives. Before diving into entrepreneurship, Shauna was a stay at home mom spending 25 years raising her four children. Now with the kids having flown the nest and on their own, she's channeling all of that motherhood grit and creativity into building something bigger, proving it is never too late to reinvent yourself. Well, welcome to Mom-to-More Shauna.
Shana Moore (02:58)
Thank you so much. You did such a good job. I feel like I could just move on now. Thank you.
Sharon Macey (03:05)
Who is that woman? I want to know her. Yeah. All right.
I'm so thrilled you have so many questions I want to ask you.
Shana Moore (03:11)
Thank you
so much. really appreciate it.
Sharon Macey (03:14)
you're most welcome. So we know that you were a stay-at-home mom for 25 years. I can totally relate as I was 20 years in myself. Did you plan to step back from your career to raise your kids or did you just find yourself in that role because we all know that, hey, kids can be overwhelming.
Shana Moore (03:31)
I always wanted to have a big family. It was always my plan. I was really lucky. I wanted to have the opportunity to stay home with them. I have four kids. And I was a teacher earlier. I was a middle school teacher, which was, believe it or not, lots of fun. It's a great age. But when the kids started coming,
Then I stepped back and I stayed at home and
I felt lucky to be able to do that and I wanted to do that. And I know a lot of women prefer to stay working and whatever works obviously is the best, right? So I stayed at home
and got immersed with kid life and raising kids and being in a small Connecticut
that life for a long time.
Sharon Macey (04:18)
a very long time, actually, very long time. So looking back, I would ask what surprised you most about those years and what did you learn about yourself that you didn't know before?
Shana Moore (04:20)
Mm-hmm.
Probably what surprised me most, and I suppose this isn't that surprising, but to me it was the younger years were to me very easy and enjoyable. I was just like a fish to water. I loved the baby stage and everything.
Sharon Macey (04:46)
Interesting.
Shana Moore (04:53)
then obviously when they get into middle school and high school there are absolute heartaches and difficulties and bullying and you know anxieties especially with kids these days
that is
just excruciating. mean, as every parent knows, you feel your children's emotions. You're there right with them. And so that was surprising.
and what's interesting is you realize also that it never ends. I remember thinking, well, once they're out of the house, no, no, no, no.
Sharon Macey (05:35)
No, no, no.
⁓ Because both you and I are empty nesters and no, it never ends. It just changes, right? Bigger kids, bigger issues. It just changes.
Shana Moore (05:36)
Which continues to Yeah, Right. It just changes.
Sharon Macey (05:46)
Right. So let's dive a little deeper into some of those skills you were talking about. You spent 25 years raising four kids. Bravo. I mean, it's a huge job. What skills and instincts from those years
became your superpowers in this chapter.
Shana Moore (06:02)
Well, I'm sure everyone says this, but it is patience. But I think the other aspect is crisis management. And you realize that as awful and scary as something seems, you'll get through it somehow. You may not know how yet.
Sharon Macey (06:12)
Yes.
Shana Moore (06:28)
but I remember when the kids started getting older and, feeling like this, this, this situation is the end of the world. I, I, it's terrible, you know, for my child or, know, for the family. Yeah. Yeah. And I, and I went through a divorce too. So there's, know, so, you know, it's really serious matters, but somehow you ride the roller coaster. And if you can remember that, that life swings back and forth.
Sharon Macey (06:38)
We have all been there, all been there, yeah.
Shana Moore (06:57)
and luckily I don't want to belittle you know I'm very lucky to say that I have never had anything truly traumatic or you know difficult that way but I would say that understanding that whatever comes your way
you'll come out the other end you'll figure it out somehow something will will work itself out
Sharon Macey (07:19)
that's a really good point, Shana,
we realize we developed this inner resilience and grit and tenacity that we can do anything. Because if you can raise kids, you can do absolutely anything.
Shana Moore (07:30)
Absolutely, yeah, agreed.
Sharon Macey (07:32)
OK, this happened to me and I'm wondering if this happened to you. I find that many moms reach a point when the kids are older and we have that heart to heart with ourselves and the bathroom mirror.
when we ask, what is next for me? Because I am so not done.
did you have one of those conversations and did it coincide with your decision three years ago
to pivot big, quoting you, pivot big time is what you actually said.
And when what was happening in your life that made you ready to take that big step.
Shana Moore (08:03)
Yeah, absolutely. I think you can't not have that time in the mirror. ⁓ My challenge was
I had no idea what I wanted to do. So I didn't want to go back at this stage to teaching. That just seemed to, even though starting a business is no small feat. But I
Sharon Macey (08:30)
No.
Shana Moore (08:30)
I didn't know what I wanted to do and I couldn't even really conceive of which direction to take. And you do hear people saying sometimes that certain opportunities just come to you. And this opportunity, never in a million years would think that I would be a founder of what's basically a tech company ever, ever.
Sharon Macey (08:59)
All right. So I'm sensing a little bit of like tech boob happening with you because I can totally relate to that.
Shana Moore (09:03)
you
Yes,
but This opportunity came along. I saw the opportunity. I identified the opportunity I researched the opportunity and and it was just glaring at me and
I think I feel like a lot of us are just a little bit lazy and you just think Gosh, should I do that? And I just thought
You know what?
Everything in my life is pointing in this direction. This is literally just this opportunity with Larry's patented sonic defense technology is here. We can put it into this elegant little keychain alarm and make it the most powerful keychain alarm in existence and have it be like an actual deterrent as opposed to an alarm. And we can do this. It's within my
And so I decided to put on my big girl pants and move forward. And I just, it's just like one day after another. And you just have to say, I can do this. In fact, Sharon, when I met you
Sharon Macey (10:04)
But you know it.
Shana Moore (10:13)
at that forum.
Sharon Macey (10:13)
At Haven,
yeah.
Shana Moore (10:15)
The woman that was speaking, I loved that she said, because she's quite accomplished at this point in her career, and she said, we all feel like we don't know what we're doing, or we all feel like frauds at times, you know? And I really appreciated that she said that, because to me, she's done. She's launched, you know?
Sharon Macey (10:37)
Right,
so true. You know, you said something earlier. It's not about being lazy.
at all. I think it's about the fear factor that sets in. It's like, well, gee, what if I fail or perceive failure? feel, you know, I always say that anytime you think you fail, it's really a positive because you've learned something and you can pivot.
Shana Moore (10:45)
⁓ yes. Well said, yes.
Agreed.
Sharon Macey (10:56)
applause to you, know, bravo to you for actually taking that first step. And like you said, those tiny little,
baby steps that have to happen to make anything work. Yeah.
Shana Moore (11:06)
And by the way,
the fear is ongoing. deal with it every single day. I think, and not in a debilitating way, but in a way like, I can do this, I can figure this out, this is where we're going, this is who we're bringing on,
just plotting forward. It's a daily task.
Sharon Macey (11:28)
I love that. Hey, Shauna, we are going to take a quick break. And when we return, we are jumping into WeScreatch. Don't go away.
Hey, welcome back to Mom to More with Shana Moore and WeScreach. Okay, what first opened your eyes to the need for
better personal safety alarm, right? You saw this opportunity, you researched it, and what exactly is sonic technology?
Shana Moore (13:19)
Yeah, so the patent that my boyfriend life partner now business partner has is on a specific sonic defense technology. And basically you could think of it as a very targeted directional beam of sonic frequencies that give you an overwhelming instant headache, ear pain, very painful. And
He designs for
home security, business security, of bigger spaces.
our offices were on a campus, university campus, and I just saw all the girls were carrying little, ⁓ lovely little key chain alarms. And that's when I did the research and found out
that it is a huge and growing market. fact, personal safety device market globally is like $11 billion market and non-lethal companies are just growing and growing year over year. Unfortunately, it's always, you know, there's always a need for self-defense, which is too bad. But it's also important to have a device that
is effective when you are in a situation, not just a little alarm that might or might not alert someone.
Sharon Macey (14:39)
just out of curiosity on the decibel scale, where does the screech fall in that broad spectrum versus your competitors? Like where would your competitors be versus where are you?
Shana Moore (14:45)
So that's interesting. Yeah, so
our major competitor claims 130 decibels. When we tested, it was lower. We are 120, but what's interesting is the sonic technology that we use
The aspect that gives you a shock and a headache and an ear pain is actually not the decibel level, even though it's loud.
the blend of frequencies that comes out of the device. So it's like a punch, super focused and.
Sharon Macey (15:24)
Interesting. it's super focused. It's almost like a laser beam. Okay.
Shana Moore (15:30)
Yes, it will come across as super loud, but it will be in your head
someone described it as Brain freeze like having instant brain freeze when you eat something that's really cold fast So that's the difference we can have a similar decibel level We can even have a lower decibel level, but have a much more effective device still
Sharon Macey (15:56)
That's fantastic. Now, are you producing this yet? Are you still taking pre-orders?
Shana Moore (16:00)
So
we are pre-launch. We are ⁓ looking for seed funding right now. We've had a wonderful lead investor that has brought us up to prototype stage. And so we are full on funding right now. with funding, we should be able to produce and fulfill
Sharon Macey (16:02)
okay.
Shana Moore (16:20)
third quarter 2026. know, cross fingers.
Sharon Macey (16:24)
That's exciting. Yeah.
Shana Moore (16:27)
we're 90%, 95
with a design for manufacturing.
it is exciting.
So we will be taking pre-orders, but we don't have the platform quite yet. But we have a website. We have Instagram.
stay tuned.
Sharon Macey (16:43)
But you're still in the works. mean,
this just started last year or two, basically two years ago. Yeah. Yeah. You know, there's something symbolic and significant about finding your voice through a product designed to help others be heard. How does that resonate with you personally?
Shana Moore (16:47)
yeah, we were... Exactly, exactly, yes.
Well
said, I like that, absolutely, yes. Well, it's most interesting because I think my greatest, I don't know if we could say weakness, but I am not, I'm not a ⁓ self promoter.
Sharon Macey (17:15)
You're a we all have them. Yeah.
Shana Moore (17:20)
Not that there's anything wrong with that. wish I was. So many of my wonderful friends are so good at Facebook, Instagram, that kind of thing. And I realized right away that I have to be the face of this brand and I should be the face of this brand. And it's a woman owned company and this product is for women's safety and family safety. And
I was nervous about this.
podcast sharing.
Sharon Macey (17:49)
We're going to point out folks, is Shana's first podcast
interview, so you're doing a great job.
Shana Moore (17:54)
Right?
but it is ironic that I have, you know, created something that is unbearably obnoxiously loud.
Sharon Macey (18:03)
Right. And you seem,
and you're just so kind and chill and laid back. So yeah, totally opposite your personality. Yeah. Yeah. You you said that you learned something new every day and describe this journey that you're on now as a total roller coaster, which I can totally appreciate that. What has been your highest high and your lowest low so far?
Shana Moore (18:07)
Yeah, buddy! You're right, right.
gosh, I would say it was the same event, which is we, we,
did a demo for a non-lethal company, a large non-lethal company, and we demoed to the COO, so the second in charge. He loved the screech so much that he said he was writing up an agreement, he wanted exclusivity, and...
So my partner and I, after so many years, we were on cloud nine. We thought, this is amazing. How wonderful, you blah, blah. So you can already tell what the ending is. So end of the story is the CEO was not ready yet. They wanted to wait until their
show in...
January. So it's not completely out, it might be, but he had to come back and say, I'm so sorry, this the CEO isn't isn't on board right now.
so that was really tough, because we thought, ⁓ this is this is our big break, right? And, and
Sharon Macey (19:38)
It's not
really a no, it's just a not yet. He didn't say no, they just said not yet. Did just say no? Okay.
Shana Moore (19:41)
Well, he didn't say no. And
The other great thing that came out of that was that we really got confirmation that this has traction. This is real. This is something that someone who is in a big non-lethal company said, I want this, I like it. So that was a big event for us.
Sharon Macey (20:09)
That is, that is.
I think it's all part of the journey, right? It is just all part of the journey. There's going to be highs and lows and almost and not quite and yeses. And mean, it's all part of the journey. So, and you're, and I love how you're like, you learn from every, every moment, right? Yeah. We have to, we have to. What is one thing that
Shana Moore (20:12)
Yes, I'm sure.
Absolutely, yes.
You have to, right?
Sharon Macey (20:33)
like completely stretched you out of your comfort zone in this journey so far?
Shana Moore (20:37)
Becoming and being the businesswoman, the founder,
the cheerleader, the, you know, everything for my brand and really encompassing that and being that person, which is wonderful. But it's something I'm stepping into and I'm becoming as I go through this.
Sharon Macey (20:58)
I like that. Yes, you are as all of us in midlife. are becoming. And I'd say that it is
a journey and you get used to it as it goes on. I think if you ask any of the people who are huge on Facebook or Instagram when they first started,
absolutely there was that fear factor and like, what am I doing here? All these other people know so much more than I do. But you step into it.
Shana Moore (21:20)
Mm-hmm.
Sharon Macey (21:22)
Right? You
Shana Moore (21:22)
Mm-hmm.
Sharon Macey (21:22)
become and you step into it. So well said. I like how you said that.
so your kids, all four of your adult kids, how have your kids reacted to seeing you take on this new role?
Shana Moore (21:32)
I think they are both delighted and amazed. And
they joke amongst each other. They're like, yeah, imagine mom becomes like.
this big like non-lethal arms seller or arms dealer. I'm like, no, no, no, I just have a little self-defense device. I'm not gonna be some kind of big non-lethal weapons dealer.
But, I think it's wonderful for them to see and they are definitely cheering me on and they wanna know about it. And my son who's an engineer, he's very curious about how it works and my daughter is cheering me on. So yeah, they're very supportive and surprised.
Sharon Macey (22:30)
You
know what? They live well together. I think that's terrific. So do you think it has changed their perceptions of what a mom can do beyond raising kids?
Shana Moore (22:32)
Yeah.
⁓ I'm sure that it has because I was 100 % mom at home. I didn't have any side hustles.
I mean, with four kids, that's your hustle. That's your main So yes, absolutely. I think it's great for them to see, but especially now, Sharon, when
Sharon Macey (22:53)
There's no time. Yeah, there's no time.
Shana Moore (23:05)
You know, when you're at this stage of life, know, God willing,
you're with good health and good medical and, you know, advancements and that kind of thing, hopefully we'll all be living healthy for such a long time. So I'm sure you still feel young. I still feel young, you know? So, yeah, right.
Sharon Macey (23:29)
100%. Yeah.
Shana Moore (23:31)
So it's really important for them to see this whole new life.
Sharon Macey (23:37)
That is true. I love that.
So put on your CEO and your advice hat for a moment. And I'd like to ask you, what advice would you give another mom listening who has an idea, but she is maybe thinking like her window of opportunity for something has passed her by. What would you say to her?
Shana Moore (23:53)
I would say get on the internet and just Google.
success stories with women,
whatever your age and older. And there's just hundreds. I did it myself,
and they're so inspiring. And these women who have gone from,
really actually dire financial situations in their 50s and have turned things around. And so I would say use the Internet
as the wonderful resource that it can be and look for those stories because there's tons of them out there.
because we're i'm sorry
Sharon Macey (24:36)
And don't you think at the age that we
are at now, we are so much wiser and we have so much life experience behind us, which accounts for a lot moving forward, right? We know so much more now than we did 30 years ago.
Shana Moore (24:51)
absolutely, and that obviously goes into any career that you pivot to. Absolutely, 100%.
Sharon Macey (25:01)
All right, so I think I know what the answer to this next question is going to be. But if someone had said to you 10 years ago that you would be a CEO and co-founder of a company like WeScreach, you would have said.
Shana Moore (25:13)
I would have said you have a wrong person.
Sharon Macey (25:17)
And you know what's so interesting about that answer, Shawna, is when I ask that to other women I interview, it's the same answer. They're like, no way. I would never have written that book. I would never have gone back to that career. I would never have become an entrepreneur. So pretty classic answer, which I love. So that just says to women, you'd never know until you try, right? You never know. And it's worth that first step. It's worth exploring. It's going down that pathway. And if you pivot, you pivot.
Shana Moore (25:31)
I know it is!
You never know.
Sharon Macey (25:47)
But you've tried, right? I think the biggest failure in life when you get to the end of our lives is you don't want to look back and go, hmm, gee, what if?
Shana Moore (25:47)
Yeah.
⁓ absolutely. And it's such a cliche to say, but you have to be brave every single day. And I mean brave with a small b. Like, get out of bed. Get to your computer. You know, send those emails. Whatever. But,
That's what makes life worth living is moving and taking those steps.
Yes.
Sharon Macey (26:26)
love that.
Thank you for that.
Okay, so at Mom to More, we always talk about the idea that motherhood is not a pause, it's a launch pad. And you have shown that in such an extraordinary way. So, Shana Moore, what is the more that you are stepping into now?
Shana Moore (26:47)
the more. I think I keep hearkening back to this, but.
the more is really the evolution of my identity, which is wonderful in a wonderful way and understanding myself in this completely new way.
going to these founders meetings and meeting with other business people and having them accept me and ask me intelligent questions.
having them see me as they should but see me founder.
more is this totally new identity at this point in my life.
Sharon Macey (27:33)
I love that. So it's really the evolution of you.
haven't heard that yet. That's really wonderful. Thank you for that.
Shana Moore (27:36)
⁓
Sharon Macey (27:38)
unfortunately our time is drawing to a close. This has been so enlightening and so much fun. So thank you for that. ⁓ You're so welcome. One more question. Where can our listeners find you online? And folks, everything will be in the show notes.
Shana Moore (27:42)
I've loved to share and I'm so grateful. Thank you.
sure, our website is wescreech.com. Instagram we are at wescreech.
W-E-S-K-R-E-E-C-H.
Sharon Macey (28:06)
Got it.
Shawna Moore, I'm so glad we met at Haven. Shout out to Haven. And I love your story because you so epitomize
Shana Moore (28:11)
Yes!
Sharon Macey (28:16)
the mom to more journey. You really epitomize the mom to more journey. Dialing it back, being a stay at home mom, and then finding all of these inner goodies that are within you to create.
really an astounding and your next chapter of your life that is going to benefit society. So I applaud you for that. Thank you.
Shana Moore (28:34)
⁓
Thank you, Sharon. And I applaud you for the service that you're bringing and giving voice to all of these women. So thank you. It's really wonderful.