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

Grab your copy of Permission to Feel here! Are you silently grieving the future you imagined for your child and feeling ashamed for having those feelings? In this episode, I gently unpack the hidden grief that many parents of LGBTQ youth carry in silence. If you’ve been telling yourself “this shouldn’t be about me,” while secretly struggling with sadness, confusion, or fear, this episode gives you...

Let's help you step out of the fixing trap and into a relationship where your child actually wants to come to you. Click Here Do you find yourself trying to “fix” everything for your LGBTQ child only to watch them shut down and pull away? In this episode, I dive into the hidden trap many loving, well-meaning parents fall into: the urge to manage, smooth over, and solve instead of validate and conn...

Click Here to Get Your Guide: Decode the Silence Is your teen unusually quiet, withdrawn, or different, and you’re wondering what’s really going on beneath the surface? For many LGBTQ teens, the process of coming out begins in total silence, long before they have the words to express who they are. In this powerful episode, Heather Hester shares essential guidance for parents to recognize what’s re...

Do you want relief from carrying all of this alone, someone who won't judge you for being human, and tools to process these feelings so they stop controlling you? Let's find out if working together is the answer! CLICK HERE You love your LGBTQ child fiercely, so why do you still have thoughts that terrify you? Thoughts you’d never say out loud. Thoughts that make you question if you’re a good pare...

Take a breath and download this guide for a little extra "you're not alone" support! Does the start of a new year feel heavy instead of hopeful? Are you tired, overwhelmed, or carrying a kind of sadness you can't quite name? If you're a parent of an LGBTQ+ teen, this episode is your reminder that nothing is wrong with you, your body, your mind, and your heart are simply asking to be heard. In toda...

Download a calming breath with the Panic to Plan Guide If you've ever thought, "They're too young to know," or hoped your child might “grow out of it,” this episode is a must-listen. What feels like caution or protection may actually be causing deep harm to your child’s mental health, identity, and your relationship with them. Many well-meaning parents hold back, fearing they’ll say the wrong thin...

If you're an LGBTQ parent or ally feeling emotionally drained after the holidays, you're not alone, and there is nothing wrong with you. This episode offers practical guidance for recovering from the hidden stress so many of us carry this time of year. Even when the holidays are joyful, the emotional labor of parenting , allyship , and navigating family dynamics can quietly overload your nervous s...

Are you an overwhelmed parent of an LGBTQ+ teen? Click here to get the Panic to Plan Guide. If you’re an parent or ally of an LGBTQ+ kid who feels like the last few months or even years have been hellish , this episode is for you. This is guidance for the parent who has been white-knuckling through crisis, carrying fear, grief , and exhaustion in silence while trying to protect their child’s menta...

Have you been second-guessing yourself, polling others for answers, or feeling totally disconnected from your inner knowing? In this grounding and compassionate episode, Heather Hester explores how fear, cultural conditioning, and emotional overwhelm silence the voice within and why that’s not your fault. You’ll learn how intuition actually works (yes, it's backed by science), and how to begin hea...

Are you an overwhelmed parent of an LGBTQ+ teen? Click here to get the Panic to Plan Guide. Are you smiling through meetings, school pick-ups, and family dinners while silently falling apart inside? You’re not alone and you’re not broken. Many parents of LGBTQ+ kids are living two parallel lives: the one everyone sees, and the one consumed by fear, shame, and “what if” spirals. In this raw and rev...

If you’re starting the new year feeling emotionally scrambled, stretched thin, or just... not ready to jump into goals and plans then this episode is for you. January asks so much of us. But what if you didn’t need to fix, improve, or push? What if you just needed a way to come back to yourself, gently, honestly, and on your own time? In today’s episode, Heather Hester shares why this post-holiday...

Tired of the pressure to reinvent yourself every New Year? You’re not alone AND you’re not doing it wrong. In this final episode of 2025, Heather Hester offers a powerful shift from the tradition of resolutions to something more meaningful for LGBTQ+ parents, caregivers, and allies: repair . Rather than fix or perfect, you’re invited to reflect, release, and re-enter the next year with clarity, ca...

DAY 12 MORE HUMAN MOMENTS FOR THE MOST WONDERFUL (AND COMPLICATED!) TIME OF THE YEAR! 12 TINY REBELLIONS TO COUNTER HOLIDAY CHAOS After a year of navigating challenges and showing up with fierce love, are you wondering if it’s made a difference? In this final capsule episode, Heather Hester reminds us that real hope, especially for LGBTQ+ families, isn’t wishful thinking. It’s a steady, relational...

DAY 11 MORE HUMAN MOMENTS FOR THE MOST WONDERFUL (AND COMPLICATED!) TIME OF THE YEAR! 12 TINY REBELLIONS TO COUNTER HOLIDAY CHAOS Are you already exhausted by the pressure of “New Year, New You” messages? If you’re a parent or ally of an LGBTQ+ child, you don’t need more demands. You need direction that honors your humanity. In today’s 5-minute reflection, Heather Hester invites you to replace per...

DAY 10 MORE HUMAN MOMENTS FOR THE MOST WONDERFUL (AND COMPLICATED!) TIME OF THE YEAR! 12 TINY REBELLIONS TO COUNTER HOLIDAY CHAOS Ever caught yourself enjoying a moment, only to immediately feel guilty for it? If you’re parenting or advocating for an LGBTQ+ child in a world that feels heavy, joy can feel almost… irresponsible. On Day 10 of our holiday capsule series, Heather Hester names the guilt...

DAY 9 MORE HUMAN MOMENTS FOR THE MOST WONDERFUL (AND COMPLICATED!) TIME OF THE YEAR 12 TINY REBELLIONS TO COUNTER HOLIDAY CHAOS Are you finding it hard to celebrate the holidays when the world feels like it’s unraveling? If your heart is heavy with the weight of injustice, violence, and overwhelm, this episode is for you. In Day 9 of the More Human, More Kind holiday capsule, Heather Hester invite...

DAY 8 MORE HUMAN MOMENTS FOR THE MOST WONDERFUL (AND COMPLICATED!) TIME OF THE YEAR 12 TINY REBELLIONS TO COUNTER HOLIDAY CHAOS Ever found yourself watching your LGBTQ+ child shrink at a family tradition that no longer feels right? You're not imagining it, and you're not alone. In Day 8 of the More Human, More Kind holiday capsule, Heather Hester explores why some holiday rituals, like gendered gi...

DAY 7 MORE HUMAN MOMENTS FOR THE MOST WONDERFUL (AND COMPLICATED!) TIME OF THE YEAR! 12 Tiny Rebellions to Counter Holiday Chaos Scrolling social media this time of year and feeling like everyone else’s holiday is warmer, happier, or more “together” than yours? You’re not alone AND it’s not your fault. In Day 7 of the More Human, More Kind holiday capsule, Heather Hester walks you through the emot...

DAY 6 MORE HUMAN MOMENTS FOR THE MOST WONDERFUL (AND COMPLICATED!) TIME OF THE YEAR! 12 Tiny Rebellions to Counter Holiday Chaos Do you ever lie awake replaying moments you wish you could rewrite - things you didn’t know, didn’t say, or didn’t protect your LGBTQ+ child from? That quiet ache of guilt sneaks in, especially during the holidays. In Day 6 of More Human, More Kind's holiday capsule seri...

DAY 5 MORE HUMAN MOMENTS FOR THE MOST WONDERFUL (AND COMPLICATED!) TIME OF THE YEAR! 12 Tiny Rebellions to Counter Holiday Chaos You're at the holiday table. Your child walks in. A relative misgenders them on purpose. The room freezes, your heart races, and you feel that internal tug between protecting your child and keeping the peace. In this holiday capsule episode, Heather Hester shares a groun...

DAY 4 MORE HUMAN MONETS FOR THE MOST WONDERFUL (AND MOST COMPLICATED!) TIME OF THE YEAR! 12 Rebellions Against Holiday Chaos Is your stomach in knots before a holiday gathering, already dreading that one comment you know is coming? You’re not alone. Conflict is hard enough. But when you're an LGBTQ+ parent or ally, it comes with an emotional cost most people don’t see. In this holiday capsule epis...

DAY 3 MORE HUMAN MOMENTS FOR THE MOST WONDERFUL (AND MOST COMPLICATED!) TIME OF THE YEAR 12 Tiny Rebellions Against Holiday Chaos The holiday lights are twinkling, the house is full, and yet, you feel... alone. If you're parenting or advocating for an LGBTQ+ child, this ache is more common than you think. You’re not imagining it. And you’re not alone. In today’s holiday capsule episode Heather Hes...

DAY 2 MORE HUMAN MOMENTS FOR THE MOST WONDERFUL (AND MOST COMPLICATED!) TIME OF THE YEAR! 12 Tiny Rebellions Against Holiday Chaos! The holidays are magical, but they’re also messy, especially when you're parenting or supporting an LGBTQ+ child. Old family patterns, loaded conversations, and invisible emotional labor can leave you feeling like you’re managing landmines while trying to spread cheer...

 Today is day 1 of our 12 day holiday capsule! More Human Moments for the Most Wonderful (and Complicated!) Time of the Year. 12 Tiny Rebellions Against Holiday Chaos Let Go of Holiday Perfection and Embrace Presence, Grounding, and Enoughness This is a powerful moment of reflection for LGBTQ+ parents and allies navigating the complexities of the holiday season. If you're feeling the pressure to "...

SPECIAL EPISODE ALERT!! We are so happy to share this special episode that is a celebration of both 6 years AND 200 episodes for this podcast ! It is honest and raw...and the sound may be a little off our usual high quality recording levels. In this heartfelt milestone episode, Heather Hester is joined in person by two of her children, Connor and Grace, to share the deeply personal and powerful st...