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

Feeling emotionally wrung out after 2024, but not sure how to reset for the year ahead?

You’re not imagining it. This year asked a lot of all of us, especially those parenting, advocating, or simply trying to show up with empathy in an overwhelming world.

In this tender and honest solo episode, Heather Hester reflects on a year marked by grief, hard boundaries, and fierce love, and offers a gentle, grounding ritual for moving into 2025 without bypassing what’s been hard.

She speaks directly to parents of LGBTQ+ youth, allies, and emotionally exhausted changemakers who are wondering:

"How do I keep caring without falling apart?"

You’ll hear:

1. How Heather navigated a year of deep loss, political heaviness, and advocacy burnout
2. Why boundary-setting became both a survival strategy and a model for raising resilient LGBTQ+ kids
3. A simple 3-part year-end ritual you can use to reflect with compassion not criticism
4. A sneak peek into what’s coming in 2025: a new supportive community, deeper content, and more space for healing and action.

This episode is a soft landing and a loving nudge toward reflection, reimagining, and reclaiming your energy.

Press play to pause, breathe, and remember:

You don’t need to power through.

You need to feel, reflect, and realign with what truly matters.

This isn’t just a year-end wrap-up.

It’s an invitation to return to yourself — before you begin again.

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 constantly showing up for others while quietly falling apart inside?

You’re not alone, and you’re not failing. In this honest and healing episode, Heather sits down with Aransas Savas to unpack what real self-care looks like when life is heavy and how high-capacity women, mothers, and allies can reclaim their energy without guilt.

Through deeply personal stories, including the terrifying moment she had to fight for her daughter’s safety, Aransas offers practical tools and radical wisdom for navigating leadership, parenting, and advocacy with more intention and trust.

You’ll hear why safety and vulnerability are non-negotiable in parenting LGBTQ+ youth, and how reclaiming your Meaning, Energy, and Time (MET) can change everything from how you show up at work to how you show up for yourself.

You’ll learn:

• The MET Framework and how to use it daily not just in crisis
• What “real” self-care looks like for overwhelmed, high-achieving women
• How to parent from a place of trust and safety, especially in a world that doesn’t always feel safe
• Why restoring your energy is the most courageous act of allyship and leadership you can take

This is more than self-help; it’s a masterclass in living well while carrying a lot.

Press play to release the pressure, feel seen, and take one small step toward a more aligned, compassionate version of you.

Because parenting, leading, and loving others shouldn’t cost you your own well-being.

Connect with Aransas Savas: https://www.aransassavas.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.

Feeling overwhelmed by political chaos, fear-based headlines, or growing attacks on LGBTQ+ rights, and unsure how to stay grounded as a parent?

You're not alone, and you're not powerless. In this heartfelt episode, Heather Hester shares how parents and allies can become a source of calm, clarity, and connection for LGBTQ+ youth during even the most uncertain times.

Heather speaks directly to the emotional exhaustion so many parents are feeling, and offers a new path forward, one rooted in self-regulation, intentional learning, and deepening your relationship with your child.

You’ll learn:

1. Why emotional regulation is the first step to supporting your child
2. How to filter media noise without becoming disengaged
3. Why building an affirming, inclusive home is more critical than ever
4. How to hold space for both grief and resilience in real time

You’ll also hear about Heather’s Learning to Parent With Pride course: a step-by-step program designed to help parents move from fear and confusion to confidence, compassion, and powerful allyship.

Whether you’re new to this journey or feeling stuck, this episode offers both comfort and concrete tools to help you keep showing up.

Press play to discover how to steady your nervous system, build stronger family connections, and become the trusted anchor your LGBTQ+ child needs most.

You don’t need to have all the answers, just a willingness to lead with love, empathy, and resilience.

Independent news sources mentioned in this episode:

1. The Guardian
2. ProPublica
3. The Atlantic
4. Politics Girl
5. Pod Save America
6. No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen

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 happens when you discover your true gender identity in your 30s while married, raising four kids, and living in the religious heart of America?

In this profoundly moving episode, Britt Sandoval shares their powerful story of coming out as nonbinary, navigating spiritual deconstruction, and radically redefining parenting, love, and selfhood all in real time.

This conversation explores the complexities of gender identity, parenting, and faith with depth, humor, and radical honesty. Heather and Britt cover:

• How Britt’s journey of self-discovery impacted their marriage, family, and faith
• The process of rebuilding a relationship through truth, trust, and deep emotional labor
• How to talk to children about identity, inclusion, and authenticity from a young age
• What it means to be a present, emotionally intelligent parent while navigating personal transformation
• The role of deconstruction and healing in finding wholeness

This episode is for every parent, ally, LGBTQ+ person, and human seeking to live with more courage, love, and integrity, even when it breaks the rules you were raised with.

You’ll walk away with a renewed belief in the power of honest parenting, queer joy, and the importance of healing the parts of us we were taught to hide.

Press play to hear a transformative story about what it means to become your truest self and raise children who know how to do the same.

Because living fully and loving honestly is the most radical kind of parenting there is.

Links referenced in this episode:

• oddmompod.com
• britsandoval.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.

Bio:

Britt Sandoval is an inspiring keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and thought leader with a unique blend of experience in authentic leadership, healthcare, and entrepreneurship. As the founder of Your Feeding Friend LLC, Britt has empowered countless families while building a thriving business. With a background as a registered nurse and expertise in inclusive leadership, Britt brings valuable insights into effective leadership and inclusive work environments.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittsandoval-speaker/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brittsandovalspeaks/

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.

Exhausted by this election cycle?

Feeling like the weight of the world is sitting on your chest, especially as a parent or ally of LGBTQ loved ones?

You're not imagining it.

You're not overreacting.

And you're definitely not alone.

If the nonstop news, toxic division, and rising threats to LGBTQ+ rights have you feeling depleted and panicked, this episode is your calm in the storm.

Heather shares a deeply personal reflection on what it means to stay grounded while the world feels like it's unraveling and offers 10 powerful strategies to protect your nervous system, preserve your energy, and parent from a place of love, not fear.

In this episode, you’ll:

✔️ Learn why obsessively checking polls can harm your mental health and what to focus on instead

✔️ Discover 10 real-world self-care practices that actually work when you're in advocacy mode

✔️ Explore simple, grounding techniques to regulate your nervous system and reclaim your clarity

✔️ Hear how Heather’s own experiences as a parent, ally, and advocate are shaping her 2024 game plan (and beyond!)

✔️ Celebrate the podcast's 5th birthday and her recent Women in Podcasting award win!

Whether you’re navigating fear, fatigue, or a fierce desire to fight for justice, this episode gives you permission to pause and the tools to rise again.

Listen now to learn how to stay strong, steady, and centered in the chaos so you can continue showing up for yourself, your LGBTQ+ child, and the future we’re all fighting for.

Bonus: You’ll also get a step-by-step breakdown of how to make a voting plan that fits you.

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 overwhelmed by the weight of the political moment, anxious about what it means for your LGBTQ+ child, and wondering how to stay emotionally steady without shutting down?

You’re not alone, and your nervous system isn’t broken. It’s just trying to protect you.

In this powerful and timely conversation, Heather Hester welcomes back nervous system specialist Kelly Lubeck to unpack why so many of us are feeling stuck in a fog of overwhelm, shutdown, or reactivity and what to do about it.

With the 2025 election season stirring anxiety, division, and dread (especially for LGBTQ+ families and allies), this episode offers the science, empathy, and guidance you need to shift from fear to presence.

You’ll walk away with:

✔️ A deeper understanding of what “functional freeze” is and how it silently drives burnout and detachment

✔️ A simple nervous system exercise to use anytime you feel overwhelmed or ungrounded

✔️ Tools to reconnect with your body, breath, and surroundings with no complicated routines or hours of meditation required

✔️ Insight into how healing your nervous system creates safer spaces for your LGBTQ+ child and helps you parent with more clarity, empathy, and strength

Listen now to learn how to shake off stress, reclaim calm, and lead from grounded, loving power in your home, your community, and this critical election season.

You don't need to do more; you just need to come home to your body.

• Stress is biological, not a personal failure your body is doing its best to protect you.
• “Functional freeze” is a common nervous system response that feels like apathy, numbness, or quiet burnout.
• Movement, breathwork, visualization, and connection to nature can help regulate your nervous system in real time.
• Nervous system regulation is not just self-care it’s how we parent, advocate, and lead with integrity.
• When adults stay regulated, children feel safe. It’s not about perfection it’s about presence.

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.

Feeling overwhelmed by the rising hostility toward trans and LGBTQ+ youth and unsure what real support looks like in 2024?

You’re not imagining it. Rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among LGBTQ+ teens have surged alongside political attacks and cultural backlash. But here’s the truth: your love, words, and action can save lives.

In honor of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, Heather brings together an extraordinary group of voices:

a mother of a trans teen, a fierce LGBTQ+ ally, and a trans author and advocate, alongside insights from Kevin Wong of The Trevor Project and Ann Moss Rogers, a nationally recognized mental health activist.

Together, they unpack how parents, allies, and educators can show up with courage and compassion amid the chaos. Through personal stories and practical strategies, they illuminate how connection not perfection creates safety and belonging.

In this deeply moving and resource-filled episode, you’ll learn how to:

✔️ Recognize the early signs of emotional distress and respond with empathy, not panic

✔️ Support LGBTQ+ youth beyond words from affirming language to advocacy at school and home

✔️ Understand how family acceptance reduces suicide risk by up to 40%

✔️ Build resilience in yourself and your kids through curiosity, connection, and courage

✔️ Take small, meaningful actions before the 2024 election to defend equality and safety for trans youth

You’ll also hear about critical resources, including The Trevor Project, 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and peer support networks designed specifically for LGBTQ+ young people.

Listen now to hear three powerful voices break down fear, amplify love, and offer you clear, doable actions that can change lives including your own.

If you or someone you love is struggling, reach out now:

Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)

Text START to 678-678 to reach The Trevor Project

Visit thetrevorproject.org for 24/7 LGBTQ+ crisis support

Together, we can transform awareness into action, and fear into fierce love.

• Suicide prevention begins with open, shame-free conversations.
• Family acceptance is one of the strongest protective factors for LGBTQ+ youth.
• Connection through empathy, eye contact, or listening can interrupt a suicidal thought.
• Political attacks on trans and queer youth are mental health issues; allyship is suicide prevention.
• You don’t need to be perfect, you just need to stay present.

AnneMoss Rogers

Kevin Wong, The Trevor Project

Jackie Simmons

Cara McNulty

Jay Reid

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 does real allyship for transgender youth look like in a year marked by fear, legislation, and rising hate?

With nearly 600 anti-trans bills introduced in 2024 alone and an increase in hate crimes targeting the LGBTQ+ community, we are living in a moment where silence is harm. The time to show up isn’t next year. It’s now.

In this deeply honest and inspiring episode, Heather is joined by three remarkable guests:

• Kate Brooks, a mother who wrote a guide to affirm and support parents of trans kids
• Jeannie Gainsburg, author and educator helping allies build respectful, inclusive practices
• Jayna Sheats, a trans author whose fiction work humanizes and expands understanding of trans identity

Together, they share how storytelling, language, parenting, and political action intersect to create change—especially when the stakes are this high.

You’ll walk away with:

✔️ Practical, everyday actions to create affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ youth

✔️ The truth about pronouns—why they matter and how to use them with confidence

✔️ Science-backed ways to improve LGBTQ+ mental health through simple affirmations

✔️ A toolkit of actions you can take before the election—even from your kitchen table

✔️ Real stories that help reframe fear into empathy, connection, and courageous love

Whether you're parenting a trans teen, leading a classroom, or speaking up in your community, this conversation will give you the language, confidence, and heart to take action.

Listen now to learn how you can move from passive support to fierce, informed allyship—because protecting trans youth requires more than love. It requires action.

• Allyship isn’t neutral—it’s proactive, consistent, and uncomfortable at times
• Affirmation from family is one of the strongest protective factors for LGBTQ+ youth
• Using correct pronouns isn’t “polite”—it’s essential for safety and belonging
• Books, media, and stories humanize the trans experience and challenge fear-based narratives
• There are doable actions you can take ahead of the 2024 election—no burnout or perfection required

Bios

Jayna Sheats (she/her) is the author of Hanna’s Ascent. She is also a noted chemist and

entrepreneur, who has published over 60 articles and started 3 companies. Today she lives in

Northern California with her children.

Jeannie Gainsburg (she/her) is the founder of Savvy Ally Action and is an award-winning

educational trainer and consultant in LGBTQ+ inclusion and allyship. The second edition of her

book, The Savvy Ally: A Guide for Becoming a Skilled LGBTQ+ Advocate, is now available.

Jeannie lives with her husband in Upstate New York.

Kate Brookes (she/her) is a former TV reporter/anchor turned writer/producer/filmmaker. Her

memoir, Transister: Raising Twins in a Gender-Bending World, was published last summer.

These days she produces videos for non-profits and speaks to schools, hospitals and groups

about raising a trans child.

Links Mentioned

www.Jaynasheats.com

www.savvyallyaction.com

www.transistermom.com

https://kamalaharris.com/

https://www.turnoutpac.org/postcards/

https://www.inequalitymedia.org/aboutus.

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.

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.

Are you raising an LGBTQ+ teen and wondering how to prepare them for a world that feels increasingly polarized, uncertain, and overwhelming, especially with a critical election approaching?

In this unfiltered, honest, and energizing conversation, Heather sits down with three college students, Luke, Lars, and Grace, to talk about the 2025 election, media literacy, political fear tactics, and the future of allyship. They open up about where they get their news, what issues matter most to them, and how they think older generations can show up better for queer and trans youth.

They also dive into:

• The dominance of the two-party system
• The flaws of the electoral college and Senate structure
• What excites (and worries) them about Kamala Harris’ nomination
• How to keep hope alive while pushing for radical change

You’ll walk away with:

✔️ A clear understanding of what today’s young voters care about beyond party lines

✔️ Insight into how Gen Z balances hope, skepticism, and activism

✔️ Six practical strategies for parents and allies to better support LGBTQ+ youth during election season

✔️ A reminder that real conversations across generations are key to political healing

✔️ A push to get informed without spiraling and take action without burning out

Press play now to hear what young voters wish you knew and how you can be a more grounded, effective ally and parent in this crucial moment for democracy and LGBTQ+ rights.

Want to go deeper? Subscribe to More Human, More Kind and get access to upcoming episodes on Gen Z allyship, parenting LGBTQ+ teens, and navigating the political noise with grace and grit.

• Gen Z uses diverse media sources but still values fact-checking and critical thinking
• Social media is a news entry point, not a final destination
• Issues like housing, healthcare, education, and LGBTQ+ rights matter more than party loyalty
• The two-party system feels broken but many still see voting as necessary harm reduction
• Representation matters but so does follow-through
• Parents can build bridges by listening more, judging less, and talking openly about politics and identity

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 felt completely lost trying to help your child through a mental health, educational, or identity-related crisis, and unsure where to turn?

In this candid and compassionate episode, educational consultant Jodi Liston shares her personal journey as a parent of children with severe mental health needs, and how it led her to become a trusted guide for families navigating complex school and clinical systems. From IEPs to therapeutic placements, from LGBTQ+ support to advocating within unsupportive school systems, Jodi offers decades of wisdom and actionable advice.

✔️ Learn the real role of an educational consultant and why early support matters

✔️ Understand how to advocate for your child with IEPs, 504s, or during a mental health crisis

✔️ Discover what safe, affirming environments for LGBTQ+ youth actually look like

✔️ Know what red flags to watch for when evaluating schools, therapists, or programs

Listen now and walk away with real tools, expert insight, and hope so you can confidently advocate for your child, no matter what challenges you’re facing.

• What educational consultants really do (hint: not just college)
• Supporting kids with mental health diagnoses, neurodivergence, and learning differences
• The intersection of identity, trauma, and school safety for LGBTQ+ youth
• How the pandemic changed the educational and emotional landscape for students
• The power of family-centered, values-driven consulting

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.