More Human More Kind: Practical Guidance for Parenting LGBTQ Teens

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 parent at all.
This episode brings those hidden fears into the light, gently and without judgment.
In this raw and healing episode of More Human, More Kind, Heather Hester talks directly to parents who are trying to show up with love… while secretly battling shame, fear, and doubt.
You’ll learn:
Why your brain creates “dark” thoughts when your child comes out
How internalized fear and cultural conditioning shape your parenting response
Why mental health and emotional regulation are essential in LGBTQ parenting
How shame harms your relationship even when left unspoken
The truth about what kind of ally your child actually needs

This is the episode to listen to if you’ve ever thought:
“What if I mess this up?”“Why can’t I just be okay with this already?”“What’s wrong with me?”The truth? Nothing is wrong with you. You’re not broken.
You’re a parent trying to unlearn generations of fear and step into open-minded, practical allyship.
And that process takes empathy, not perfection.
Listen now to release the shame that’s been holding you back from deeper connection with your LGBTQ child.
Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!
Learn how to create your own blueprint to build trust and connection with yourself and your teen!
Invite me to speak at your workshop or event
Receive a free excerpt and reflection guide from my book, Parenting with Pride.
Share More Human. More Kind. Please subscribe, rate, and review!
Connect [email protected]
Buy Me A Coffee
Watch on YouTube
Listen to *NEW* episodes every Tuesday and Friday!
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...

Are you ready to move through the heaviness so you can connect and communicate with your LGBTQ+ child? Let's have a discovery call to see if working together is the right fit!
Click Here!
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 today’s deeply grounding episode of More Human, More Kind, Heather Hester gently explores the emotional aftermath of the holidays and why so many parents, especially those parenting LGBTQ+ kids, feel grief instead of motivation in January.
You’ll learn:
Why grief and hope can coexist (and must)
How mental health is impacted by unacknowledged stress and survival mode
What January grief really looks and feels like (hint: it’s not always tears)
Why emotional support for parents is essential, not optional
Five simple, research-backed practices to help you feel lighter

This isn’t about pushing through or forcing joy. It’s about understanding the very real mental and emotional cost of caregiving, advocacy, and parenting LGBTQ+ teens in a world that often asks too much.
Heather offers a message of healing, empathy, and deep parental self-trust, helping you move from silent bracing to honest presence.
Listen now to validate your experience and learn one small shift that can lighten your emotional load.
Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!
Learn how to create your own blueprint to build trust and connection with yourself and your teen!
Invite me to speak at your workshop or event
Receive a free excerpt and reflection guide from my book, Parenting with Pride.
Share More Human. More Kind. Please subscribe, rate, and review!
Connect [email protected]
Buy Me A Coffee
Watch on YouTube
Listen to *NEW* episodes every Tuesday and Friday!
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 foster courageous, compassionate connection.
If you’re in the thick of parenting,...

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.
Or go to https://morehumanmorekind.com/discovery
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 thing or wishing this is “just a phase.” But this hesitation can cause real damage. LGBTQ+ youth need love, inclusion, and validation, not silence or delay. In this episode, Heather Hester offers trauma-informed guidance and practical insight into why affirming your child now is essential. You'll hear:
How cultural conditioning can cloud your instincts as a parent
What the science actually says about when kids know their gender identity
The link between family invalidation and increased mental health risks for LGBTQ+ youth

You’re not a bad parent for struggling; you're human. But staying stuck in outdated beliefs is not the path to healing, empathy, or true allyship. Your LGBTQ+ child needs you to be their fiercest advocate and protector, especially in a world that often doesn’t feel safe. This episode will help you shift from fear to fierce, from uncertainty to open-minded support.
Listen now and reflect with courage and compassion!
Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!
Learn how to create your own blueprint to build trust and connection with yourself and your teen!
Invite me to speak at your workshop or event
Receive a free excerpt and reflection guide from my book, Parenting with Pride.
Share More Human. More Kind. Please subscribe, rate, and review!
Connect [email protected]
Buy Me A Coffee
Watch on YouTube
Listen to *NEW* episodes every Tuesday and Friday!
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 foster courageous, compassionate connection.
If you’re in the thick of...

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 system. In this conversation, Heather Hester shares science-backed strategies for nervous system healing, designed especially for parents, moms, caregivers, and advocates of LGBTQ+ youth.
You’ll learn:
Why your mental health may feel off weeks after the holidays
What nervous system healing actually looks like
Somatic tools that support safety, grief, and empathy

These gentle, inclusive practices support your work as a loving, open-minded parent and community advocate, helping you stay grounded, protect your energy, and model emotional regulation for your LGBTQ child. Because real inclusion and social justice begin at home with love, boundaries, and self-compassion.
Press play now to take the first step in recalibrating your nervous system and life!
Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!
Learn how to create your own blueprint to build trust and connection with yourself and your teen!
Invite me to speak at your workshop or event
Receive a free excerpt and reflection guide from my book, Parenting with Pride.
Share More Human. More Kind. Please subscribe, rate, and review!
Connect [email protected]
Buy Me A Coffee
Watch on YouTube
Listen to *NEW* episodes every Tuesday and Friday!
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 foster courageous, compassionate connection.
If you’re in the thick of parenting, allyship, or pioneering a way to lead with love and kindness, I’m here with true, messy, and heart-warming 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 part of this journey.
More Human. More Kind. formerly Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen is a safe and supportive...

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.
Or go to https://morehumanmorekind.com/discovery
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 mental health and safety.
In this raw and honest episode of More Human, More Kind, Heather names what so many families experience but rarely say out loud: when parenting becomes a full-time emergency.
If you’ve been living in survival mode: managing self-harm, ER visits, intensive treatment, runaway fear, constant hypervigilance, and the invisible emotional labor of advocacy, this episode offers grounded practical support, deep empathy, and a reminder that you are not failing… you are overloaded.
Heather speaks directly to:
the mom or caregiver who hasn’t had a normal Tuesday in years
the parent trying to lead with love while holding impossible family dynamics
the advocate who wants to stay open minded, but is running out of fuel

You’ll walk away with:
A clear understanding of how chronic crisis impacts your child, your identity as a parent, and your nervous system
Language to stop minimizing what’s happening and begin choosing healing
A reminder that numbness isn’t “coldness,” it’s your brain trying to survive
A compassionate lens on how crisis affects your whole family, including boundaries and sibling needs
A stronger sense of what real community support and education can look like when you’re in over your head

This episode reinforces a powerful truth:
Allyship is not passive. It’s protection. It’s action. It’s creating real inclusion and safety, especially when your child is struggling.
Press play now for honest LGBTQ guidance that supports you as a parent, an ally, and a human being.
And if you’re ready for deeper support, click here to learn about Heather’s private coaching, because you don’t have to do this alone.
✅ Share this episode with another parent, advocate, or ally who needs a reminder:
You are not overreacting. You are responding to a real crisis—and you deserve support.
Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!
Learn...