More Human. More Kind. | Parenting LGBTQ Kids, Unlearning Fear, Becoming More Human

Pride Month Series

Are you parenting an LGBTQ child or striving to be a better ally, but worried you’re unintentionally doing more harm than good?

In today’s episode, Heather Hester shares the first of five transformative lessons from her own journey of parenting with pride. As she reflects on her son's coming out, she opens up about the surprising power of choosing curiosity over judgment and why even well-meaning reactions can create distance instead of connection. If you’ve ever wondered how to truly show up for your LGBTQ child, this is a must-listen.

• Discover how curiosity can completely shift your relationship with your child
• Learn how to practice unconditional love through presence, not perfection
• Understand why certain common reactions can feel judgmental, even when you mean well

Press play to learn how embracing curiosity over certainty could be the most powerful gift you give your LGBTQ child today.

You’ll also hear the first installment of our Listener Queer-y segment: Why we celebrate Pride and why there’s no such need for “straight pride.”

Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!

Feeling uncertain or overwhelmed? Stay informed - visit my website

Join the Conversation on Substack

Read my book, Parenting with Pride.

Support the Show - Learn more here!

Watch on YouTube

Listen * Share * Review *NEW* episodes every Tuesday and Friday!

This is a place to feel messy while you're figuring it out.

At the heart of my work is a deep commitment to compassion, authenticity, and transformative allyship, especially for those navigating the complexities of parenting LGBTQ kids. Through this podcast, speaking, my writing, and the spaces I create, I help people unlearn bias, embrace their full humanity, and grow their capacity for courageous connection.

For parents, allies, and those pioneering a way to lead with love and kindness, I’m here with true, messy, and heartwarming stories, real tools, and grounding support to help you move from fear to fierce, informed action.

Whether you’re listening in, working with me directly, or quietly taking it all in, I see you. And I’m so glad you’re on this journey with me.

More Human. More Kind. formerly Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen is a safe and supportive podcast in a heartfelt and empowering space where a mom and advocate offers the wisdom of lived experience and practical guidance and education to parents and allies, teaching empathy, kindness, love, and strong boundaries while supporting LGBTQ teens and the diverse LGBTQ community, including gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, transgender, and queer individuals, through conversations about mental health, grief, gender identity, sexual orientation, human rights, social justice, parenting, parent support, and meaningful LGBTQ allyship and allyship in action.

Have you ever felt like no one talks about what it really means to grieve as a queer person or as someone who loves one?

In today’s heartfelt episode, Heather Hester sits down with Josh Nagler and Sam Wasserman, the creative minds behind What About Me, a new series born from the raw, unfiltered experience of sibling grief and queer identity. Whether you're a parent, ally, or part of the LGBTQ community, their story sheds light on what it means to hold space for both loss and visibility, especially when the world wants things tidy.

• Hear how Josh and Sam turned a deeply personal tragedy into powerful queer storytelling.
• Learn why humor and heartbreak must coexist, and how that shows up in their creative process.
• Gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of grief, especially for LGBTQ+ people navigating family dynamics and identity.

Press play now to hear an unforgettable conversation that will challenge what you thought you knew about grief, queerness, and the healing power of art.

Notable Quotes:

• “Mourning comes from a place of love - ultimately, it’s a reflection of what was beautiful and meaningful.” – Josh
• “Being gay isn’t the most interesting thing about someone. Grief, family, love - they’re all part of the bigger story.” – Josh
• “This was never just about a show; it was about healing, about sharing, about turning something so personal into something universal.” – Sam

Where to Watch the Series:

Watch What About Me? on YouTube.

Watch all six episodes and learn more at wamtheseries.com.

Follow them on Instagram and TikTok @wamtheseries.

Connect with Josh and Sam:

👉 Instagram: @wamtheseries

👉 TikTok: @wamtheseries

👉 Website: wamtheseries.com

Support Queer Independent Art:

As Josh and Sam so beautifully shared, supporting queer independent art means creating space for real, messy, and vital stories to be told. If you’re moved by this episode, consider sharing their work, donating to support indie artists, or simply starting a conversation about the power of grief and healing.

Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!

Feeling uncertain or overwhelmed? Stay informed - visit my website

Join the Conversation on Substack

Read my book, Parenting with Pride.

Support the Show - Learn more here!

Watch on YouTube

Listen * Share * Review *NEW* episodes every Tuesday and Friday!

This is a place to feel messy while you're figuring it out.

At the heart of my work is a deep commitment to compassion, authenticity, and transformative allyship, especially for those navigating the complexities of parenting LGBTQ kids. Through this podcast, speaking, my writing, and the spaces I create, I help people unlearn bias, embrace their full humanity, and grow their capacity for courageous connection.

For parents, allies, and those pioneering a way to lead with love and kindness, I’m here with true, messy, and heartwarming stories, real tools, and grounding support to help you move from fear to fierce, informed action.

Whether you’re listening in, working with me directly, or quietly taking it all in, I see you. And I’m so glad you’re on this journey with me.

More Human. More Kind. formerly Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen is a safe and supportive podcast in a heartfelt and empowering space where a mom and advocate offers the wisdom of lived experience and practical guidance and education to parents and allies, teaching empathy, kindness, love, and strong boundaries while supporting LGBTQ teens and the diverse LGBTQ community, including gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, transgender, and queer individuals, through conversations about mental health, grief, gender identity, sexual orientation, human rights, social justice, parenting, parent support, and meaningful LGBTQ allyship and allyship in action.

Are you feeling the emotional weight of injustice, rising hate, and systemic collapse AND still want to lead with love?

In this final reflection of the More Human, More Kind series on mothering, Heather Hester invites listeners to consider what it means to “mother the world.” This powerful episode is for those holding grief and hope at the same time, navigating fear and fatigue in a chaotic world, and still choosing compassion, clarity, and courage.

1. Discover how to care deeply for the world without abandoning yourself
2. Learn why tending with love, not fixing everything, is the most powerful form of resistance
3. Feel seen, grounded, and reconnected to your values and your voice

Listen now and walk away with a new definition of courage; one rooted in tenderness, alignment, and collective healing.

Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!

Feeling uncertain or overwhelmed? Stay informed - visit my website

Join the Conversation on Substack

Read my book, Parenting with Pride.

Support the Show - Learn more here!

Watch on YouTube

Listen * Share * Review *NEW* episodes every Tuesday and Friday!

This is a place to feel messy while you're figuring it out.

At the heart of my work is a deep commitment to compassion, authenticity, and transformative allyship, especially for those navigating the complexities of parenting LGBTQ kids. Through this podcast, speaking, my writing, and the spaces I create, I help people unlearn bias, embrace their full humanity, and grow their capacity for courageous connection.

For parents, allies, and those pioneering a way to lead with love and kindness, I’m here with true, messy, and heartwarming stories, real tools, and grounding support to help you move from fear to fierce, informed action.

Whether you’re listening in, working with me directly, or quietly taking it all in, I see you. And I’m so glad you’re on this journey with me.

More Human. More Kind. formerly Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen is a safe and supportive podcast in a heartfelt and empowering space where a mom and advocate offers the wisdom of lived experience and practical guidance and education to parents and allies, teaching empathy, kindness, love, and strong boundaries while supporting LGBTQ teens and the diverse LGBTQ community, including gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, transgender, and queer individuals, through conversations about mental health, grief, gender identity, sexual orientation, human rights, social justice, parenting, parent support, and meaningful LGBTQ allyship and allyship in action.

Have you ever worried that you're not doing enough - or doing it all wrong - as the parent of an LGBTQ child?

In this honest and empowering conversation, Heather Hester is joined by Ash Beckham to break down what it really means to evolve as a parent and an ally. Together, they unpack the myths of perfection, the paralyzing weight of guilt, and the liberating power of curiosity, compassion, and healthy boundaries.

• Learn how to unlearn ingrained biases without getting stuck in shame or self-judgment
• Discover what true allyship looks like in parenting, especially when you don't get it “right”
• Get clear, real-world tools for navigating tough conversations with non-affirming family members

Press play now to gain permission to grow, mess up, and keep showing up with fierce love for your LGBTQ+ child - because evolving is the most powerful kind of parenting.

Guest Spotlight:

Ash Beckham is an advocate, speaker, and author of Step Up: How to Live with Courage and Create Connection in Every Conversation. Her TEDx talk, Coming Out of Your Closet, has inspired millions with its blend of humor and profound truth. Connect with Ash at ashbeckham.com and follow her on Instagram @ashbeckham.

Resources & Links:

• Ash’s TEDx Talk: Coming Out of Your Closet
• Ash’s book: Step Up: How to Live with Courage and Create Connection in Every Conversation
• Resource - Mastering Everyday Leadership

Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!

Feeling uncertain or overwhelmed? Stay informed - visit my website

Join the Conversation on Substack

Read my book, Parenting with Pride.

Support the Show - Learn more here!

Watch on YouTube

Listen * Share * Review *NEW* episodes every Tuesday and Friday!

This is a place to feel messy while you're figuring it out.

At the heart of my work is a deep commitment to compassion, authenticity, and transformative allyship, especially for those navigating the complexities of parenting LGBTQ kids. Through this podcast, speaking, my writing, and the spaces I create, I help people unlearn bias, embrace their full humanity, and grow their capacity for courageous connection.

For parents, allies, and those pioneering a way to lead with love and kindness, I’m here with true, messy, and heartwarming stories, real tools, and grounding support to help you move from fear to fierce, informed action.

Whether you’re listening in, working with me directly, or quietly taking it all in, I see you. And I’m so glad you’re on this journey with me.

More Human. More Kind. formerly Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen is a safe and supportive podcast in a heartfelt and empowering space where a mom and advocate offers the wisdom of lived experience and practical guidance and education to parents and allies, teaching empathy, kindness, love, and strong boundaries while supporting LGBTQ teens and the diverse LGBTQ community, including gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, transgender, and queer individuals, through conversations about mental health, grief, gender identity, sexual orientation, human rights, social justice, parenting, parent support, and meaningful LGBTQ allyship and allyship in action.

Do you feel guilty for resting or like your needs are always last on the list?

In this deeply personal solo episode, Heather Hester reflects on what it truly means to mother yourself and why so many of us have been conditioned to believe that self-care is selfish. She speaks directly to the exhausted, over-functioning, and emotionally depleted listener who’s ready for a more compassionate way forward.

• Learn how to recognize the signs that your “cup” is empty and what to do about it
• Discover how to speak to yourself with more grace, kindness, and curiosity
• Gain permission to set boundaries, rest without guilt, and model healthy love in action

Tune in now and start the healing practice of self-mothering because nurturing yourself is the most radical gift you can give the world.

Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!

Feeling uncertain or overwhelmed? Stay informed - visit my website

Join the Conversation on Substack

Read my book, Parenting with Pride.

Support the Show - Learn more here!

Watch on YouTube

Listen * Share * Review *NEW* episodes every Tuesday and Friday!

This is a place to feel messy while you're figuring it out.

At the heart of my work is a deep commitment to compassion, authenticity, and transformative allyship, especially for those navigating the complexities of parenting LGBTQ kids. Through this podcast, speaking, my writing, and the spaces I create, I help people unlearn bias, embrace their full humanity, and grow their capacity for courageous connection.

For parents, allies, and those pioneering a way to lead with love and kindness, I’m here with true, messy, and heartwarming stories, real tools, and grounding support to help you move from fear to fierce, informed action.

Whether you’re listening in, working with me directly, or quietly taking it all in, I see you. And I’m so glad you’re on this journey with me.

More Human. More Kind. formerly Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen is a safe and supportive podcast in a heartfelt and empowering space where a mom and advocate offers the wisdom of lived experience and practical guidance and education to parents and allies, teaching empathy, kindness, love, and strong boundaries while supporting LGBTQ teens and the diverse LGBTQ community, including gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, transgender, and queer individuals, through conversations about mental health, grief, gender identity, sexual orientation, human rights, social justice, parenting, parent support, and meaningful LGBTQ allyship and allyship in action.

Have you ever questioned your faith or your worth because of what you were taught about being LGBTQ+?

In this transformative episode, Heather Hester is joined by therapist and theologian Ann Russo to unpack the rarely discussed but deeply felt wounds of religious trauma, especially among LGBTQ+ individuals. From purity culture and existential fear to parental shame and spiritual disconnection, they explore how healing can begin without abandoning your faith, identity, or dignity.

• Learn how to recognize the signs of religious trauma and how they may still be showing up in your life
• Understand why you don’t have to choose between faith and identity and how to redefine both on your terms
• Discover real strategies for healing from shame, control, and spiritual disconnection, no matter your background

Press play to begin healing the painful intersections of religion, identity, and belonging — and learn how to reclaim your wholeness with love, curiosity, and hope.

Connect with Ann:

annrusso.org

amrtherapy.com

Ann Russo, LCSW, MA (Theology), is a licensed clinical social worker, sex-positive therapist, and the founder of AMR Therapy & Support Services. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in healing religious trauma, supporting LGBTQ+ individuals, and providing affirming care for those in non-traditional relationships. Ann offers training, consulting, and therapy services that center on inclusivity, trauma-informed practices, and spiritual healing. She is also the creator of the Empowering Pathways Continuing Education Program, designed to equip mental health professionals with tools to support marginalized communities.

In addition to her clinical work, Ann is a published author and speaker, contributing to podcasts and media events that explore themes of sexuality, identity, and healing. Her work is rooted in a commitment to social justice and the transformation of mental health and wellness spaces.

Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!

Feeling uncertain or overwhelmed? Stay informed - visit my website

Join the Conversation on Substack

Read my book, Parenting with Pride.

Support the Show - Learn more here!

Watch on YouTube

Listen * Share * Review *NEW* episodes every Tuesday and Friday!

This is a place to feel messy while you're figuring it out.

At the heart of my work is a deep commitment to compassion, authenticity, and transformative allyship, especially for those navigating the complexities of parenting LGBTQ kids. Through this podcast, speaking, my writing, and the spaces I create, I help people unlearn bias, embrace their full humanity, and grow their capacity for courageous connection.

For parents, allies, and those pioneering a way to lead with love and kindness, I’m here with true, messy, and heartwarming stories, real tools, and grounding support to help you move from fear to fierce, informed action.

Whether you’re listening in, working with me directly, or quietly taking it all in, I see you. And I’m so glad you’re on this journey with me.

More Human. More Kind. formerly Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen is a safe and supportive podcast in a heartfelt and empowering space where a mom and advocate offers the wisdom of lived experience and practical guidance and education to parents and allies, teaching empathy, kindness, love, and strong boundaries while supporting LGBTQ teens and the diverse LGBTQ community, including gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, transgender, and queer individuals, through conversations about mental health, grief, gender identity, sexual orientation, human rights, social justice, parenting, parent support, and meaningful LGBTQ allyship and allyship in action.

Ever feel like your project, business, or mission is asking more of your heart than your hustle?

In this reflective solo episode, Heather Hester reframes mothering as a creative, courageous act — not just for parenting, but for anything we’re building or nurturing in the world. Whether you're launching a business, leading a classroom, writing a book, or quietly tending to a dream no one else can see yet, this episode offers soul-level encouragement for those showing up with love, even in the face of fear, burnout, and uncertainty.

1. Learn why your work matters even when it’s unseen, messy, or slow
2. Understand the emotional cycles of creating something with meaning — and how to stay connected to your “why”
3. Discover how to mother your mission with tenderness, vision, and trust

Press play to receive the permission you didn’t know you needed: to love your mission into life with presence, patience, and purpose — and to let it shape you along the way.

Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!

Feeling uncertain or overwhelmed? Stay informed - visit my website

Join the Conversation on Substack

Read my book, Parenting with Pride.

Support the Show - Learn more here!

Watch on YouTube

Listen * Share * Review *NEW* episodes every Tuesday and Friday!

This is a place to feel messy while you're figuring it out.

At the heart of my work is a deep commitment to compassion, authenticity, and transformative allyship, especially for those navigating the complexities of parenting LGBTQ kids. Through this podcast, speaking, my writing, and the spaces I create, I help people unlearn bias, embrace their full humanity, and grow their capacity for courageous connection.

For parents, allies, and those pioneering a way to lead with love and kindness, I’m here with true, messy, and heartwarming stories, real tools, and grounding support to help you move from fear to fierce, informed action.

Whether you’re listening in, working with me directly, or quietly taking it all in, I see you. And I’m so glad you’re on this journey with me.

More Human. More Kind. formerly Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen is a safe and supportive podcast in a heartfelt and empowering space where a mom and advocate offers the wisdom of lived experience and practical guidance and education to parents and allies, teaching empathy, kindness, love, and strong boundaries while supporting LGBTQ teens and the diverse LGBTQ community, including gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, transgender, and queer individuals, through conversations about mental health, grief, gender identity, sexual orientation, human rights, social justice, parenting, parent support, and meaningful LGBTQ allyship and allyship in action.

What if LGBTQ+ youth could see themselves in stories that weren’t defined by fear, shame, or tragedy, but by curiosity, love, and joy?

In this luminous episode, Heather Hester welcomes award-winning author and illustrator Brian Selznick (The Invention of Hugo Cabret) to discuss his latest YA novel, Run Away With Me, a tender, illustrated queer love story that unfolds across a ghostly Rome, blending historical fiction, LGBTQ+ identity, and emotional truth. Together, they explore how stories can offer healing, visibility, and hope for queer youth without erasing struggle, but without being defined by it.

You’ll hear Brian’s powerful reflections on growing up gay, writing without fear, and choosing love over pain in storytelling. You’ll also explore how illustrated novels can act as emotional mirrors, offering guidance, empathy, and a sense of inclusion for readers navigating identity, grief, or first love. This conversation is a heartfelt invitation for parents, educators, and allies to expand what queer stories look and feel like, especially for kids who deserve to see themselves in pages not marked only by suffering.

Press play to rediscover the magic of storytelling through the lens of LGBTQ+ love, radical compassion, and artistic courage and walk away inspired to affirm, protect, and celebrate the full spectrum of queer joy in your family, bookshelf, and life.

Brian Selznick’s books have sold millions of copies, garnered countless awards worldwide, and

have been translated into more than 35 languages. He broke open the novel form with his

genre-breaking thematic trilogy, beginning with the Caldecott Medal-winning #1 New York

Times bestseller, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, adapted into Martin Scorsese's Oscar-winning

movie Hugo. He followed that with the #1 New York Times bestseller, Wonderstruck, adapted

by celebrated filmmaker Todd Haynes, with a screenplay by Selznick, and then the New York

Times bestseller, The Marvels. In praising his body of work, The Washington Post said, “Brian

Selznick proves to be that rare creator capable of following one masterpiece with another.” The

Associated Press called Selznick “one of publishing’s most imaginative storytellers.” Selznick’s

most recent novels, Big Tree (inspired by an idea from Steven Spielberg) and Kaleidoscope,

were both national bestsellers and were named New York Times Notable Children’s Books. He

also illustrated the 20th anniversary edition covers of the #1 globally bestselling Harry Potter

series. Selznick has appeared on Good Morning America, NBC’s Today Show, CBS Sunday

Morning, and has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, The

Guardian, Le Monde, la Repubblica, among many other renowned publications worldwide. He

and his husband Dr. David Serlin divide their time between Brooklyn, New York and La Jolla,

California.

https://brianselznick.com

https://instagram.com/thebrianselznick

Buy Run Away With Me Now!

Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!

Feeling uncertain or overwhelmed? Stay informed - visit my website

Join the Conversation on Substack

Read my book, Parenting with Pride.

Support the Show - Learn more here!

Watch on YouTube

Listen * Share * Review *NEW* episodes every Tuesday and Friday!

This is a place to feel messy while you're figuring it out.

At the heart of my work is a deep commitment to compassion, authenticity, and transformative allyship, especially for those navigating the complexities of parenting LGBTQ kids. Through this podcast, speaking, my writing, and the spaces I create, I help people unlearn bias, embrace their full humanity, and grow their capacity for courageous connection.

For parents, allies, and those pioneering a way to lead with love and kindness, I’m here with true, messy, and heartwarming stories, real tools, and grounding support to help you move from fear to fierce, informed action.

Whether you’re listening in, working with me directly, or quietly taking it all in, I see you. And I’m so glad you’re on this journey with me.

More Human. More Kind. formerly Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen is a safe and supportive podcast in a heartfelt and empowering space where a mom and advocate offers the wisdom of lived experience and practical guidance and education to parents and allies, teaching empathy, kindness, love, and strong boundaries while supporting LGBTQ teens and the diverse LGBTQ community, including gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, transgender, and queer individuals, through conversations about mental health, grief, gender identity, sexual orientation, human rights, social justice, parenting, parent support, and meaningful LGBTQ allyship and allyship in action.

What if mothering had nothing to do with being a mom and everything to do with how we show up for others with love, empathy, and presence?

In this tender solo reflection, Heather Hester shares the emotional layers behind her daughter’s college graduation not just as a parent but as a human navigating grief, transition, and healing. This milestone becomes a mirror for a deeper truth: that mothering is not a role reserved for women or parents it's a universal practice of care, practiced by anyone who holds space, offers comfort, and chooses presence in a world that often rushes past what matters.

You’ll learn how mothering can show up in ways we rarely name in friendships, in allyship, in advocacy for LGBTQ+ youth, and in the everyday tenderness of letting go. Heather invites us to embrace our identity as caregivers and connectors, no matter our gender or title, and reminds us that love is leadership and it doesn’t have to be loud to be radical.

Press play to reflect on the people who have mothered you and the gentle ways you may already be mothering others, yourself, and even a mission bigger than you. This episode is a quiet permission slip to honor your compassionate strength, your parenting path (or not), and your place in the inclusive, healing work of love.

Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!

Feeling uncertain or overwhelmed? Stay informed - visit my website

Join the Conversation on Substack

Read my book, Parenting with Pride.

Support the Show - Learn more here!

Watch on YouTube

Listen * Share * Review *NEW* episodes every Tuesday and Friday!

This is a place to feel messy while you're figuring it out.

At the heart of my work is a deep commitment to compassion, authenticity, and transformative allyship, especially for those navigating the complexities of parenting LGBTQ kids. Through this podcast, speaking, my writing, and the spaces I create, I help people unlearn bias, embrace their full humanity, and grow their capacity for courageous connection.

For parents, allies, and those pioneering a way to lead with love and kindness, I’m here with true, messy, and heartwarming stories, real tools, and grounding support to help you move from fear to fierce, informed action.

Whether you’re listening in, working with me directly, or quietly taking it all in, I see you. And I’m so glad you’re on this journey with me.

More Human. More Kind. formerly Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen is a safe and supportive podcast in a heartfelt and empowering space where a mom and advocate offers the wisdom of lived experience and practical guidance and education to parents and allies, teaching empathy, kindness, love, and strong boundaries while supporting LGBTQ teens and the diverse LGBTQ community, including gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, transgender, and queer individuals, through conversations about mental health, grief, gender identity, sexual orientation, human rights, social justice, parenting, parent support, and meaningful LGBTQ allyship and allyship in action.

What if grief wasn’t something to fix or silence but a truth to live through, honor, and let change you?

In this vulnerable, deeply human episode, Heather Hester reflects on the one-year anniversary of her sister Corinne’s death and the emotional unraveling that followed from the collapse of her book launch to the heaviness of a nation in crisis. With honesty, grace, and fierce love, she invites you into a conversation that holds personal grief and political grief side by side without minimizing either.

You’ll learn how grief intersects with parenting, allyship, and identity, and how it shapes the way we show up, especially for LGBTQ+ youth and marginalized communities. Heather offers compassionate guidance for parents, allies, and anyone navigating grief or burnout in a chaotic world, reminding us that loss doesn’t make us weaker, it makes us real. When we choose to stay present with our sorrow, we uncover what matters most: love, inclusion, and the power to keep going.

Press play to walk with Heather through a year of heartbreak, rage, and rebirth, and discover how grief, when honored, can become a source of deep healing, purpose, and fierce allyship in a more human, more kind world.

Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!

Feeling uncertain or overwhelmed? Stay informed - visit my website

Join the Conversation on Substack

Read my book, Parenting with Pride.

Support the Show - Learn more here!

Watch on YouTube

Listen * Share * Review *NEW* episodes every Tuesday and Friday!

This is a place to feel messy while you're figuring it out.

At the heart of my work is a deep commitment to compassion, authenticity, and transformative allyship, especially for those navigating the complexities of parenting LGBTQ kids. Through this podcast, speaking, my writing, and the spaces I create, I help people unlearn bias, embrace their full humanity, and grow their capacity for courageous connection.

For parents, allies, and those pioneering a way to lead with love and kindness, I’m here with true, messy, and heartwarming stories, real tools, and grounding support to help you move from fear to fierce, informed action.

Whether you’re listening in, working with me directly, or quietly taking it all in, I see you. And I’m so glad you’re on this journey with me.

More Human. More Kind. formerly Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen is a safe and supportive podcast in a heartfelt and empowering space where a mom and advocate offers the wisdom of lived experience and practical guidance and education to parents and allies, teaching empathy, kindness, love, and strong boundaries while supporting LGBTQ teens and the diverse LGBTQ community, including gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, transgender, and queer individuals, through conversations about mental health, grief, gender identity, sexual orientation, human rights, social justice, parenting, parent support, and meaningful LGBTQ allyship and allyship in action.