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

Is college really safer for LGBTQ students now, and what happens when the support offices disappear?

Interest: Heather talks with Jorge Valencia, executive director and CEO of Point Foundation and former executive director of the Trevor Project. He shares how growing up gay, Mormon, and first-generation in Texas shaped his work, and why LGBTQ students face higher dropout rates and discrimination even after they reach campus. They also talk about what families can do when support isn’t there.

In this episode you’ll learn how to:

• Understand how Point Foundation supports LGBTQ students through scholarships, group mentoring, and leadership training
• Use the Campus Pride index and ask current students to look past a school’s stated programs
• Find community near campus when a Pride office no longer exists
• Help young people turn worry about the election into action, including through a student-founded voting group

Action: Press play to hear what families and students can do when college doesn’t feel as safe as everyone says it is.

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.

What if your coming-out story sparked a legacy of activism? In this powerful episode, Eric Marcus, acclaimed author, LGBTQ+ historian, and host of the Making Gay History podcast, joins us to share his deeply personal story, the roots of queer advocacy, and how the past can shape a more inclusive future.

Eric’s journey from a young man coming out to his Jewish mother in Queens to becoming a key voice in documenting LGBTQ+ history is anything but ordinary.

You’ll hear:

• Eric’s emotional coming-out experience
• How his mother helped co-found the Queens chapter of PFLAG
• Personal stories of LGBTQ+ pioneers like Jean and Morty Manford
• The devastating impact of the AIDS crisis through families like the Ashworths
• How Making Gay History evolved from a book into a podcast and educational tool
• The emotional truth behind preserving these stories for future generations

If you’ve ever wondered how family, advocacy, and history intersect or how to better support the LGBTQ+ people in your life this episode will move and inspire you. Eric’s reflections offer a rare window into the early fight for LGBTQ rights and why storytelling remains one of our most powerful tools for change.

You’ll walk away with:

• A deeper understanding of LGBTQ+ history and resilience
• A renewed sense of why allyship and intergenerational connection matter
• Concrete resources to learn more and take action

Listen now to be inspired by Eric’s legacy and the powerful stories behind Making Gay History.

Explore the resources mentioned:

• Making Gay History Podcast
• Stonewall 50 Consortium
• American LGBTQ+ Museum

Share this episode with someone who believes in the power of stories to spark change.

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 ever feel overwhelmed, anxious, or emotionally exhausted and wonder why? It might be your nervous system trying to tell you something. In this powerful episode, I sit down with nervous system expert and healer Kelly Lubeck to explore how our bodies are wired for safety, and what we can do to support true healing and balance.

Kelly brings decades of experience in coaching, shamanic healing, yoga, and mindfulness, sharing how the nervous system, particularly the sympathetic (fight/flight) and parasympathetic (rest/digest) branches, impacts our breathing, digestion, hormone regulation, and emotional responses.

You’ll hear:

• How COVID has reshaped our collective nervous system health
• Why parents of LGBTQ+ kids often experience heightened activation and how to find calm
• Real-world tools to identify and regulate nervous system responses in the moment
• A powerful self-soothing technique using arm strokes that works for adults and children alike
• The importance of normalizing our reactions to stress and creating space for healing

If you’ve ever felt stuck in a cycle of anxiety, overreaction, or burnout or seen it in your kids or partner this conversation will give you tools and hope. Kelly’s compassionate, science-backed approach will help you better understand your body’s messages, reclaim calm, and create space for growth and resilience.

This episode will leave you with:

• A fresh perspective on the mind-body connection
• A sense of empowerment to respond rather than react to life’s stressors
• Simple practices to reconnect with your inner calm

Listen now to reconnect with your nervous system and rediscover peace from the inside out.

• Kelly Lubeck’s Website

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with anyone who needs to hear this.

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.

What does it actually take to be a good ally, and what do you say when someone challenges you for being one?

Heather offers an “ally 101” starting point built on one idea: ally is not an identity; it is a verb. She walks through eight ways anyone can show up, including what to say and not say when someone comes out to you. She also shares ways to answer the questions allies hear most.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

• Listen actively and know what to say, and what to avoid, when someone comes out to you
• Speak up calmly when you hear a slur, or someone is misgendered
• Spot rainbow capitalism and choose where to spend and donate
• Answer common challenges, including “I treat everyone the same” and “Why isn’t there a straight Pride parade?”

Action: Press play for a practical starting point you can put to use this week.

If you or someone you love needs support right now, the Trevor Project is available at 1-866-488-7386 or by texting START to 678-678.

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 know the real history behind Pride Month and why it still matters for LGBTQ teens and families today?

Many parents and allies celebrate Pride without fully understanding the history, activism, and courage that shaped the LGBTQ rights movement. In this encore episode, Heather walks listeners through the origins of Pride, the Stonewall Riots, the meaning behind LGBTQ symbols like the rainbow flag and pink triangle, and why allyship remains essential for protecting LGBTQ youth and communities today.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• The powerful history behind Stonewall and the LGBTQ Pride movement
• Why symbols like the rainbow flag and pink triangle matter to LGBTQ identity and visibility
• How parents and allies can practice meaningful LGBTQ allyship beyond Pride Month

Press play to deepen your understanding of LGBTQ history, strengthen your allyship, and learn how parents can better support LGBTQ teens with compassion, education, and advocacy.

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 your teen isn’t confused about who they are, but curious?

Heather talks with Lily and Eric, two young hosts of the podcast I’m Feeling Queer Today, and Celeste, co-founder of the Trevor Project and the Future Perfect Project. The podcast was created by queer youth and built around queer joy. Together they share what they wish parents and allies understood, and why trying matters more than being perfect.

In this episode you’ll learn how to:

• See your teen’s changing sense of self as curiosity instead of confusion
• Hear what queer youth say about effort, and why your best is enough
• Find free virtual creative writing and performance programs for queer young people ages 13 to 19
• Be the one accepting person a young person needs, and why that matters

Press play to hear queer youth tell parents and allies what they wish you knew.

If you or someone you love needs support right now, the Trevor Project is available at 1-866-488-7386 or by texting START to 678-678.

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 a family chooses vulnerability, honesty, and love over fear and silence?

In this deeply personal episode, Heather welcomes Connor and Gray back to the podcast for an emotional conversation about family growth, LGBTQ allyship, and the vulnerability of sharing their story publicly. Together, they explore how open communication, authentic storytelling, and unconditional support transformed their family dynamics and strengthened their connection through moments of uncertainty and change.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

• Build stronger relationships with LGBTQ teens through honest communication and emotional safety
• Navigate parenting challenges with more curiosity, compassion, and allyship
• Understand how visibility, vulnerability, and storytelling can empower LGBTQ youth and their families

Press play to hear a heartfelt conversation about parenting, personal growth, and the courage it takes to support LGBTQ teens with authenticity, connection, and 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.

Why did Heather write Parenting with Pride, and what will you find inside?

Heather answers the questions she has been getting about her book. She shares what the writing and editing process was like, what she learned from it, and why she moved unlearning bias into the Educate pillar. She also explains how the book is built around four pillars.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

• Understand the four pillars: Embrace, Educate and Unlearn Bias, Empower, and Love
• See why unlearning bias is not about pointing fingers or shame, and why every one of us has biases
• Know what the book covers, from self-care and grounding tools to the coming out process, mental health, self-harm, suicide risk, and substance use
• Think about why love cannot be felt or given unconditionally without the other three pillars

Press play to hear why Heather wrote Parenting with Pride and what is inside.

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 Pride events are about far more than celebration, and are actually shaping the future of LGBTQ allyship and inclusive leadership?

In this powerful conversation, Heather sits down with LGBTQ advocate and Whistler Pride founder Dean Nelson to discuss the urgent need for compassionate leadership, stronger allyship, and safer communities for LGBTQ people, especially LGBTQ teens. Together, they explore how Pride events, visibility, activism, and civic engagement can challenge discrimination, inspire inclusion, and empower allies to create meaningful change.

In this episode, you’ll discover how to:

• Become a stronger LGBTQ ally through advocacy, education, and inclusive leadership
• Support LGBTQ teens and communities by creating safer, more affirming spaces
• Understand how Pride events and visibility movements inspire connection, courage, and long-term social change

Press play to learn how compassionate leadership, allyship, and everyday advocacy can help create a more inclusive future for LGBTQ teens, families, and communities everywhere.

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 the most powerful thing you can do for your LGBTQ child is help them know they are fully human?

Heather talks with Michael Tyler, a writer and speaker who co-wrote Girls of the World Doing More Than Ever Before with Lindsay Davis. He shares what he calls loving with power, and why he sees parents as active builders of their child’s sense of self, not passive allies. He also draws on his own experience as the father of a gay son.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

• Understand what it means to be an active, not passive, ally to your LGBTQ child
• Love with power by giving your child the strength to meet a world that may push back
• Think of your child’s sexuality as one part of who they are, not as the whole story
• Help your child build what Michael calls a Teflon shield, so that how society sees them doesn’t define how they see themselves

Press play to hear a bestselling author explain how to raise a child who knows they are fully human.

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.