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

Watch Magic & Monsters - available through November 24
What do you say to your child so they always come to you, even when someone tells them not to?
This is the Friday companion to Tuesday’s conversation with filmmaker Nora Shapiro about The Magic and the Monsters. Heather turns it into four small actions: one word, one question to ask a program, one urge to resist, and one line to say to your child. She also reads this week’s listener review.
In this episode you’ll learn how to:
Hold boundaries as something you do for someone, not to them
Ask one program whether one-on-one time with children is allowed or explicitly prohibited, and listen closely to how they answer
Notice the urge to explain or defend when your child tells you something hard, and listen all the way to the end first
Say the line that tells your child they will never be in trouble for telling you

Press play for four small ways to build safety with your child this week.
Content note: This episode touches on child sexual abuse. 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!
Immerse yourself in Community - I Love My Gay Kid
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.

Watch Magic and Monsters now!
How do you protect your child in the place where they finally feel they belong?
Heather talks with filmmaker and former public defender Norah Shapiro about her documentary Magic and Monsters, which looks at children who were abused at the Children’s Theater Company in Minnesota and how the institution responded. They talk about why the arts can be both a haven and a place of vulnerability for kids, including queer and trans kids. They also cover what parents can ask and look for, and what healing looks like when people stop carrying the shame alone.
In this episode you’ll learn how to:
Ask an arts program the right questions, including its policies on adult-to-child ratios and one-on-one time
Talk with your child about their body and boundaries, and treat “don’t tell anyone” as a warning sign
Understand why queer and trans kids who find belonging in the arts can face extra vulnerability, and why good boundaries matter, regardless of an adult’s identity
See why survivors who stop carrying shame alone can heal together

Press play to hear a thoughtful conversation about protecting the places where kids come alive.
LIMITED TIME ONLY - Watch Magic and Monsters now! (link expires 11/24/26)
Learn more about the film and other ways to support and view it HERE
Darkness to Light Honest Conversation: Protecting Children in the Theater recording (referenced during our conversation)
National Children’s Alliance One in Ten podcast episode
Content note: This episode discusses child sexual abuse. 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.

Learn more about i love my gay kid!
Where do you go when you need a place to take a breath, and no one is waiting for you to tell your story?
In this Friday episode, Heather shares what she needed in the first years after Connor came out and couldn’t find: a low-stress, judgment-free place with no pressure to perform. She describes her first in-person parent meeting, the day her feelings stopped waiting, and how she built I Love My Gay Kid, a haven and a private, approved-membership community. The community level is free through December 31st.
In this episode you’ll learn how to:
Recognize that your own feelings can’t wait in line while you care for everyone else
Say the shortest true thing out loud, and come back within a day when it goes badly
Use a private community where you can read, listen, and stay silent as long as you want

Press play to hear why Heather built a place where parents can just take a breath.
Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!
Immerse yourself in Community - I Love My Gay Kid
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.

Have you done everything you can to make sure your vote counts today?
It’s Election Day, and Heather keeps it simple: vote, then take care of yourself and the people you love. She walks through what to do if something goes wrong at your polling place, and reminds you how recently so many Americans fought for the right to vote. She also offers a few thoughts to carry with you while the results come in, however long that takes.
In this episode you’ll learn how to:
Make sure your vote counts today, including what to do if you’re told you’re not on the rolls
Help one more person vote, and talk with your kids before the results come in, not after
Take care of yourself and your family while the count continues, including when to stop watching results

Press play for a simple Election Day guide to voting, helping one more person, and protecting your peace tonight.
vote.org
Election Protection Hotline - 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)
Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!
Immerse yourself in Community - I Love My Gay Kid
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 do you say to the voice that tells you that you haven’t done enough?
This is the Friday companion to Tuesday’s episode on activism fatigue, recorded for the final weekend before Election Day. Heather turns that conversation into four small actions: one word, one tiny practice, one urge to resist, and one sentence for the tired advocate standing next to you. She also reads this week’s listener review.
In this episode you’ll learn how to:
Replace the voice that says you haven’t done enough with one word
Start a proof list that reminds you your work matters, and read it before bed
Resist the urge to do everything this weekend and pick just one thing
Offer the friend or fellow advocate running on fumes one sentence that shares the load

Press play for four small ways to rest and recharge before Election Day.
Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!
Immerse yourself in Community - I Love My Gay Kid
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.