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

Join me on Substack for more tools to stay human in a complicated world. Have you ever received a message that made your stomach drop, and left you unsure how to respond without hurting the relationship or abandoning yourself? In this episode of More Human. More Kind. , Heather Hester speaks directly to parents, LGBTQ allies, and families navigating complex conversations in today’s world. When som...

Join me on Substack for more tools to stay human in a complicated world. What if one small shift in how you respond to your child could change how safe they feel with you? After this week’s conversation about fear and how it shows up in our parenting, this Friday Reset offers something simple, but powerful. Most of us don’t need more information, we need something we can actually do in the moment....

Are you an overwhelmed mom of a gay or lesbian teen who's feeling lost trying to navigate the coming out process, and wants to let go of shame and embarrassment, as well as build a deeper connection of trust within yourself and your teen? Click here to learn how to work with me 1-1. Have you ever said, “I just don’t want you to have a hard life,” and meant it with every ounce of love you have? Whe...

Join me on Substack What do you say in the moment your child tells you, “I think I’m gay, bi, or trans”… when everything inside you reacts? As a parent, you want to get it right; but when your child opens up about their identity, the pressure to respond perfectly can feel overwhelming. This episode meets you in that exact moment, the fear, the love, the uncertainty, and shows you how to stay groun...

Join Me on Substack What if the moment your child comes out to you isn’t something to fear, but something sacred? When your child says, “I think I’m gay,” bi, or trans, it can trigger fear, confusion, and urgency to respond the “right” way. But underneath that moment isn’t a problem to solve; it’s your child asking if they are safe, seen, and accepted by you. Understand what your child is really s...

Join Me on Substack What if the goal isn’t to “move on” from grief, but to carry it differently? Many of us feel pressure to be “over it” by now, to fix our pain, or to move forward faster. But grief doesn’t work that way. It returns, shifts, and lingers, not because you’re doing it wrong, but because love doesn’t disappear. Learn a healthier, more compassionate way to live with grief Release the...

Join me on Substack for more tools to stay human in a complicated world. What does it actually look like to live with grief… without letting it take you down? In this final episode of the grief series, Heather shares honest, grounded guidance for parents, LGBTQ families, and allies navigating loss, identity, and a complicated world. Drawing from her own experience grieving her sister Corinne and p...

Are you an overwhelmed mom of a gay or lesbian teen who's feeling lost trying to navigate the coming out process, and wants to let go of shame and embarrassment, as well as build a deeper connection of trust within yourself and your teen? Click here to learn how to work with me 1-1. You may have said, “Let’s not tell anyone yet,” believing you were protecting your child. And maybe you were trying...

Join me on Substack for more tools to stay human in a complicated world. What happens when the grief you carry isn't about losing a person, but about losing the world you thought your child would grow up in? In this second episode of the grief series, Heather goes where most parenting conversations won't: into the tender, often-shamed space of mourning expectations. She explores why parents of LGB...

Are you an overwhelmed mom of an LGBTQ+ teen who's feeling lost trying to navigate the coming out process, and wants to let go of shame and embarrassment, as well as build a deeper connection of trust within yourself and your teen? Click here to learn how to work with me 1-1. Are you trying to do the right thing for your LGBTQ child by finding them a therapist, but quietly hoping that someone will...

Join me on Substack for more tools to stay human in a complicated world. Do you ever feel like you should be "past" your grief by now? Like there's some invisible finish line you haven't reached? On what would have been her sister Corinne's 49th birthday, Heather opens up about the moment that cracked her wide open and why grief doesn't expire, it shape-shifts. In this deeply personal episode, she...

SPECIAL EPISODE If you’ve ever wondered where you belong or longed for spaces where you can show up fully as yourself then this episode is for you. In this special Podcastathon spotlight, Heather highlights the work of Nothing Without a Company , a Chicago-based nonprofit theater company creating immersive, inclusive storytelling experiences that center LGBTQIA+, trans, gender non-binary, AANHPI,...

Are you an overwhelmed mom of an LGBTQ+ teen who's feeling lost trying to navigate the coming out process, and wants to let go of shame and embarrassment, as well as build a deeper connection of trust within yourself and your teen? Click here to learn how to work with me 1-1. Have you ever prayed, "God...please let this go away?" For many parents of LGBTQ teens, faith has always been the place the...

Get Your Coming Out Script Guide Are you an LGBTQ parent or ally who worries about saying the wrong thing when someone comes out as gay, trans, or questioning? When someone says, “Mom, I’m gay,” or “I think I’m trans,” the first 30 seconds matter more than most parents realize. That moment becomes a permanent emotional memory. It shapes trust. It impacts mental health. It defines the tone of your...

Are you an overwhelmed mom of an LGBTQ+ teen who's feeling lost trying to navigate the coming out process, and wants to let go of shame and embarrassment, as well as build a deeper connection of trust within yourself and your teen? Click here to learn how to work with me 1-1. Have you ever quietly hoped that what your child just told you about their identity… might still be a phase? Many parents o...

Are you a parent of an LGBTQ child, noticing that something inside you is shifting even if you’re not ready to admit it yet? Parenting an LGBTQ child doesn’t just change your child’s life; it transforms you. Many parents and allies experience a quiet evolution. You begin noticing gendered language in school forms. You feel tension when someone makes a “joke.” You question faith spaces, friendships...

The biggest mistake LGBTQ parents and allies make when a child comes out isn’t what you think, and it can quietly damage trust if you don’t catch it early. So many loving parents and allies want to support their LGBTQ child, but fear takes over in real conversations. You worry about saying the wrong thing, offending them, or not doing enough. In today’s media environment, the pressure to “get it r...

Are you an overwhelmed mom of an LGBTQ+ teen who's feeling lost trying to navigate the coming out process, and wants to let go of shame and embarrassment, as well as build a deeper connection of trust within yourself and your teen? Click here to learn how to work with me 1-1. Are you a parent of an LGBTQ teen who is still carrying guilt about how you reacted when your child came out as gay, trans,...

Get Your Ally Impact Checklist! Are you sure your LGBTQ allyship is creating real impact or just looking supportive on the surface? If you’ve ever bought Pride merch, shared a rainbow post, or wondered whether you’re “doing enough,” you’re not alone. In a culture filled with rainbow logos and marketing campaigns, it’s harder than ever to tell the difference between meaningful support and performat...

Are you an overwhelmed mom of an LGBTQ+ teen who's feeling lost trying to navigate the coming out process, and wants to let go of shame and embarrassment, as well as build a deeper connection of trust within yourself and your teen? Click here to learn how to work with me 1-1. Do you ever scroll social media and wonder why everyone else’s family looks lighter, easier, less complicated than yours? P...

SPECIAL GUEST EPISODE! Contact Nicole and learn more about Undead Voice Voice is more than sound. It’s identity. It’s safety. It’s confidence. It’s how we take up space in the world. And yet voice dysphoria is one of the most overlooked and misunderstood parts of gender-affirming care. In this episode, Heather sits down with Nicole Gress (she/they), licensed speech-language pathologist and founder...

Get the 60-Second Ally Response Kit! Have you ever said, “I treat everyone the same,” thinking it signaled love only to feel the room shift? In this episode, Heather Hester unpacks one of the most common phrases well-meaning parents and allies use and why it often lands as erasure instead of inclusion. If you’re trying to support your LGBTQ child but sometimes feel unsure what to say, this convers...

Are you an overwhelmed mom of an LGBTQ+ teen who's feeling lost trying to navigate the coming out process, and wants to let go of shame and embarrassment, as well as build a deeper connection of trust within yourself and your teen? Click here to learn how to work with me 1-1. Have you been telling yourself, “Let’s just give it time,” while the distance between you and your LGBTQ teen quietly grows...

Get your copy of Connected Without Forcing It! As a parent of an LGBTQ teen, are you constantly told that community is the answer? While community can be powerful, it’s not one-size-fits-all. In this episode, Heather Hester unpacks why traditional LGBTQ support spaces sometimes increase anxiety instead of easing it and how well-meaning parents can unintentionally create pressure instead of inclusi...

Download your free guide, From Panic to Plan Are you up at 2AM Googling everything about your LGBTQ teen and somehow feeling more panicked and alone? This episode is for parents who are trying to be a steady LGBTQ ally, but feel stuck in late-night searching that only fuels fear. Heather breaks down why information isn’t bringing relief, how anxiety quietly leaks into your home, and what grounded...