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

Is it possible to be trans, a person of deep faith, and still feel whole in a world that constantly attempts fragmentation?

In this deeply moving and expansive episode of More Human, More Kind, Heather Hester is joined by Celia Daniels, a trans femme, Christian, South Asian DEI leader, and one of LinkedIn’s Top LGBTQ+ Voices, for a conversation that is as honest as it is healing.

• How Celia navigated the intersections of gender, faith, and culture growing up in India
• Why colonialism and Christian supremacy still shape global views of gender and identity
• The difference between performative DEI and meaningful workplace inclusion
• How her “ALLIES” framework helps individuals and organizations show up for LGBTQ+ people with integrity and empathy

For LGBTQ individuals and the parents, allies, and leaders who support them wholeness can feel impossible in spaces rooted in judgment, shame, or binary thinking. Celia’s story proves that healing, visibility, and faith can coexist and that allyship isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being present, informed, and human.

Press play to witness one of the most powerful conversations of the season and walk away with renewed courage to create spaces of safety, inclusion, and love for your kids, your colleagues, and yourself.

Celia Daniels is a globally recognized DEI champion, motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and trans advocate. Named one of the Top 20 LGBTQ Leaders in Biopharma and among the Top 100 LGBTQ+ Women in DEI, Celia brings a rare blend of vulnerability, vision, and lived expertise. She currently resides in Southern California with her family.

Click here to learn more!

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 confusing being “nice” with being kind and unintentionally avoiding the hard conversations that true LGBTQ allyship demands?

In this eye-opening solo episode of More Human, More Kind, host Heather Hester explores a subtle but crucial distinction: the difference between niceness and kindness, especially when it comes to showing up as an LGBTQ ally, parent, or advocate for social justice.

• Why "being nice" often keeps you silent when your voice and presence are most needed
• How to move from performative allyship to genuine, values-based action
• Ways to practice empathy and inclusion even in moments of discomfort
• How kindness protects mental health, safety, and connection for you and those you're showing up for

In a world that prioritizes politeness over progress, it’s easy to equate being agreeable with being good. But real kindness, the kind rooted in love, advocacy, and justice, requires courage. It requires standing up, speaking out, and creating safety and belonging for marginalized identities, especially when it's hard.

Tune in now to discover how to show up as a more present, powerful, and compassionate ally not by avoiding conflict, but by embracing your full humanity.

Links referenced in this episode:

• thetrevorproject.org
• showingupforracialjustice.org
• humanrightscampaign.org
• nami.org

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 reacting or are you responding with wisdom?

What if the difference between judgment and discernment could change everything from how you parent your LGBTQ child to how you engage in difficult conversations around identity, inclusion, and justice?

In this transformative solo episode of More Human, More Kind, Heather Hester explores one of the most important mindset shifts we can make as parents, allies, and conscious humans. She unpacks why judgment fuels reactivity and division, while discernment builds clarity, empathy, and resilience, especially in emotionally charged moments.

• The psychological and spiritual roots of judgment vs. discernment and how they impact your daily decisions
• How discernment strengthens LGBTQ allyship, mental health, and parenting
• Why defensiveness is often a sign of unexamined judgment and how to interrupt the cycle
• Practical tools like metacognition, mindfulness, and curiosity to build discernment in real time

We live in a world that rewards quick opinions and snap judgments, but true guidance, advocacy, and healing come from deeper wisdom. Whether you're advocating for LGBTQ inclusion, navigating parenting challenges, or confronting social justice issues, discernment helps you pause, reflect, and act with courage and clarity.

Listen now to shift from reactive judgment to conscious discernment and become the kind of ally, parent, and human the world truly needs.

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.

Is your teen overwhelmed by college applications and feeling the pressure to be perfect?

In this honest and eye-opening episode of More Human, More Kind, Heather Hester is joined by Dylan Nellis, Stanford graduate and founder of NextGen Admit, for a refreshing look at the college admissions process. Together, they unpack the emotional, mental health, and identity challenges teens face and what parents can do to provide real guidance, empathy, and support.

• Why elite colleges actually prefer “spiky” applicants over “well-rounded” ones and how to help your child find their “spike”
• How storytelling and self-awareness are far more impactful than test scores or résumés
• Why college essays should be story-first (not trauma-dump-first), and how to avoid common mistakes
• How to support your teen's mental health, reduce stress, and model love over pressure during this major life transition

The college application process is often filled with anxiety, pressure, and perfectionism, especially for LGBTQ+ teens and those navigating identity, inclusion, and expectations. Parents play a crucial role in creating safety, modeling self-compassion, and prioritizing authenticity over achievement.

Press play now to ditch the overwhelm and guide your teen toward a values-driven college journey, one rooted in clarity, confidence, and connection.

Links referenced in this episode:

• nextgenadmit.com
• nextgenadmit.com/masterclass
• Dyllen Nellis on YouTube

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 we forgotten how to hold people, especially those in power, accountable?

In this heartfelt and timely episode of More Human, More Kind, host Heather Hester reflects on why accountability is one of the most radical, necessary acts of love in parenting, relationships, and our collective life. Through her own stories and real-world examples, she invites listeners to explore why the absence of accountability isn’t kindness; it’s abandonment — and how we can return to truth-telling with empathy and courage.

• Why emotional maturity and accountability go hand in hand
• How to model accountability in parenting and allyship to foster trust, love, and inclusion
• How our failure to hold leaders accountable impacts mental health, justice, and community safety
• What it looks like to lovingly name harm without shame and commit to repair
• How to build the courage to speak up in your family, workplace, or civic life, even when it’s hard

From family dynamics to political chaos, we’re seeing what happens when there are no consequences for harm. As parents, allies, and citizens, we must reclaim the tools of courageous accountability not as punishment, but as the path to healing, connection, and real leadership.

Press play to explore how holding yourself and others accountable can be a radical act of love, inclusion, and social justice in a world that needs more of all three.

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.

Can a fictional speech and a state address both expose the same creeping threat to democracy, and what does that mean for us as parents, allies, and citizens?

In this timely and emotionally charged episode of More Human, More Kind, Heather Hester reads and reflects on two powerful speeches: one from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s recent State of the State address, and the other from a 10-year-old episode of Madam Secretary. The overlap isn’t just uncanny, it’s chilling.

Both highlight the dangerous resurgence of authoritarianism, the scapegoating of marginalized communities, and the dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) under the guise of tradition, order, or neutrality. If you’re a parent, an LGBTQ+ ally, or someone committed to social justice, this episode will leave you stirred, grounded, and ready to act.

• Hear two unforgettable speeches that echo with truth and urgency
• Learn how recent political attacks on DEI, the arts, and education are rooted in fear and power, not fairness
• Understand how these rollbacks threaten the mental health, identity, and safety of already marginalized groups, including LGBTQ+ youth
• Explore real ways to stay engaged without burning out, including how to use your voice, your vote, and your values as tools for change
• Be reminded why your allyship, parenting, and presence matter more than ever in this moment

When fictional dialogue from a political drama mirrors a modern governor’s warning almost word for word, we can’t afford to dismiss it as coincidence. We are witnessing a coordinated attack on inclusion, empathy, and truth, and the time to respond with courage, clarity, and compassion is now.

Press play to be reminded that your advocacy isn’t just resistance, it’s protection. For your kids. For your communities. For democracy itself.

Links referenced in this episode:

• national LGBTQ task force
• just security

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 hoping your love is enough, or are you actually showing up for the trans people in your life in ways that heal, protect, and affirm?

In this vital, eye-opening episode of More Human, More Kind, Heather Hester sits down with licensed therapist, speaker, and trans man Alexander Stefanini for a deep and courageous conversation about what true support looks like for trans teens, adults, and their families, especially now, when political attacks and misinformation are endangering lives and dignity.

Whether you're a parent, professional, or ally-in-progress, this conversation offers empathy without coddling and guidance without fluff. It’s the clarity we all need to move from intention to impact.

1. Understand why affirming someone’s identity goes far beyond pronouns or politics
2. Learn how families and friends must "transition" too and what that process looks like
3. Explore the emotional, mental, and relational impact of transition on everyone involved
4. Hear practical strategies for how parents, allies, and professionals can support trans people with skill and integrity
5. Discover how to navigate common missteps and what true inclusion and healing actually require

Trans people, especially trans youth, are under attack, not just legislatively but emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically. And love alone isn’t enough.

They need safety, affirmation, and advocates who are willing to do the work, even when it’s messy or uncomfortable.

As Alexander shares, transition isn’t just an individual process. It’s a communal transformation that requires presence, humility, and active learning from everyone involved.

Visit MoreHumanMoreKind.com for tools, private coaching, guided allyship resources, and safe spaces for parents, caregivers, and LGBTQ+ advocates.

Press play to move from love to impact and learn how to truly show up for the trans people who need you most.

Links referenced in this episode:

1. arrivetherapy.com
2. erinreed.substack.com

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 waiting for the “right time” to speak up while LGBTQ+ rights disappear in real time?

This week’s episode is a call to rise above overwhelm and inaction. With heartfelt urgency, Heather Hester addresses the systemic rollbacks of LGBTQ+ rights, especially those targeting trans youth, and how our silence, even when rooted in fear or fatigue, feeds the systems we wish to dismantle.

Weaving together thought-provoking poetry, real-time legal updates, and grassroots solutions, Heather challenges willful ignorance and offers a grounded path forward for allies, parents, and everyday people who know the stakes but may not know where to start.

• Learn what willful ignorance looks like in families, communities, and even well-meaning inboxes
• Get a snapshot of current legal battles and wins affecting LGBTQ+ and especially trans youth
• Discover how to turn your unique talents into meaningful advocacy even if you don’t work in politics or law
• Walk away with one doable action to take this week that supports real, lasting change

Pick one small act of allyship that aligns with your strengths:

• Are you a writer? Send a letter to your local officials or school board.
• Are you a parent? Advocate for inclusive curriculum and bathroom access.
• Are you on social media? Amplify trusted LGBTQ+ voices.
• Are you overwhelmed? Start with a donation or a conversation. Just start.

Press play to move from passive to powerful, from informed to intentional and learn how to show up for trans youth before it’s too late.

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Ologies (podcast)
• Campaign for Southern Equality
• GLSEN
• Human Rights Campaign
• Erin in the Morning Substack with Trans Girl Scouts info
• Pattie Gonia Ted Talk

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 carrying a heaviness you can’t quite name: a fog of anxiety, heartbreak, or helplessness that won’t lift, no matter how much you care or try to stay positive?

You're not broken. You're human and you're paying attention.

In this gentle, grounded episode, Heather Hester speaks directly to the emotional overwhelm so many are experiencing, especially parents and allies of LGBTQ+ youth who are navigating the dual weight of advocacy and empathy in a world that feels increasingly cruel and chaotic.

Whether it’s the news, the attacks on trans rights, or the silent grief of watching people you love be misunderstood or legislated against, this conversation gives you permission to feel exactly what you’re feeling, without shame, while learning how to move through it with intention and care.

You’ll walk away with:

1. Validation that your emotional heaviness is real and rooted in both personal and collective trauma
2. Self-regulation practices to calm your nervous system in real time (yes, even mid-scroll or mid-spiral)
3. Tools for maintaining deep empathy and sustained action without sacrificing your well-being
4. A compassionate reminder that being sensitive isn’t a weakness, it’s a sign that you’re still connected to your values

Press play for the breath you didn’t know you needed.

Then share this episode with someone else who’s quietly carrying too much.

Because healing doesn’t come from pushing through, it comes from pausing, naming, and tending what hurts.

Links referenced in this episode:

1. morehumanmorekind.com
2. humanrightscampaign.org
3. thetrevorproject.org
4. glad.org
5. pflag.org

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.

Did you know over 80% of LGBTQ+ youth experience disordered eating?

This issue is deep, complex, and urgent, and yet it's rarely discussed with the compassion and nuance it deserves.

In this powerful and timely conversation, Heather Hester is joined by Kristin Szostak, Regional AVP at The Renfrew Centers, one of the nation’s leading eating disorder treatment programs, to shine a light on how identity, trauma, and body image collide for LGBTQ+ youth.

They go beyond surface-level symptoms to unpack the real reasons queer teens and young adults are more vulnerable, and what parents, educators, and allies can do to help them feel seen, safe, and supported.

You’ll learn:

• The difference between disordered eating and clinical eating disorders and why both matter
• How body dysphoria, shame, and societal messaging contribute to eating struggles in queer and trans youth
• What signs to look for if you're worried about your child, student, or loved one
• How to talk about food, bodies, and identity without shame or triggering language
• Why affirmation, safety, and inclusion are essential parts of recovery

This is not just a mental health issue, it’s a social justice issue rooted in the fight for belonging, dignity, and healing.

Press play to gain the tools, clarity, and compassion you need to show up in meaningful, informed ways for LGBTQ+ youth who are quietly struggling with food, body image, and identity.

You might just save a life.

Links referenced in this episode:

• renfrewcenter.com

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.