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

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

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

By: Heather Hester | Advocate for Parents of LGBTQ Teens
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"Mom, I think I might be_____." Whether that sentence ended in gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, or something they're still figuring out — you're in the right place. Maybe you're scared. Maybe you're grieving something you can't quite name yet. Maybe you're desperate to get this right and terrified you already got it wrong. This show is for you, exactly where you are right now. More Human. More Kind. is hosted by Heather Hester, author of Parenting with Pride and a fierce advocate for LGBTQ kids and the parents who love them. Each week Heather brings lived experience, practical guidance, and the kind of honest conversation that helps you move from fear and confusion to grounded, loving action. Whether you're a parent in the early days of your child coming out, an ally deepening your understanding, or someone unlearning old beliefs to show up better for the people you love, this is your place. Every episode gives you something real: tools for navigating the hard moments, having difficult conversations, guidance on loving boundaries, and the steady reminder that you don't have to figure this out alone. New episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Start with fan-favorite Episode 3: Embrace the Messiness of Supporting Your LGBTQ Teen, an honest conversation that will help you exhale, reflect, and show up more fully for the people you love. Three-time Women in Podcasting Award winner for Best LGBTQ+ Podcast, 2024 through 2026. One of the top 1.5% of podcasts globally. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy© 2026 More Human. More Kind. Hygiene & Healthy Living Parenting & Families Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Bonus Episode: I'm Not Okay, and I Don't Think You Are Either

    Bonus Episode: I'm Not Okay, and I Don't Think You Are Either
    Jun 30 2026

    My Raw Reaction to This Week's SCOTUS Rulings

    A note before you press play.

    This isn't a normal episode. There's no outline, no structure, no neat takeaways. It's me, talking through what I'm feeling after two days of Supreme Court decisions that I'm still trying to process myself.

    If you've been doom-scrolling the news the way I have, you already know some of what's in here. The trans rights ruling. Birthright citizenship. Campaign finance. But this isn't a breakdown of the legal details. It's rage and grief and fear, unfiltered, because I didn't want to pretend everything is fine when it isn't.

    I talk about the cowardice I see in how these decisions came down. I talk about Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson, and how grateful I am for the way they've fought back in their dissents. And I talk about what it means to have this dropped the same week we're supposed to be celebrating 250 years of this country.

    Mostly, I wanted you to know you're not alone in whatever you're feeling right now. Whether it's rage or numbness or something in between.

    We're not giving up. We're not going anywhere.

    Sending you love this week, whatever this week looks like for you.



    This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

    Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy
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    10 mins
  • Up at 2AM Researching Everything: What Ally Burnout Looks Like for Parents of LGBTQ+ Kids

    Up at 2AM Researching Everything: What Ally Burnout Looks Like for Parents of LGBTQ+ Kids
    Jun 30 2026
    Talk to other parents who are experiencing burnout, too. Learn more about the Kindred Collective.Loving your child through a hard season can quietly burn you out, and most allies never see it coming.When a child comes out and struggles, parents often carry an invisible weight: vicarious stress, ambiguous grief, and a nervous system stuck on high alert. This episode names what compassion fatigue looks like for allies, and why it shows up differently depending on how you're wired.In this episode, you'll learn how to:Recognize the real signs of ally burnout, even when they don't look like "burnout"Understand why you and your partner might be falling apart in completely different waysStart recovering without waiting for the crisis to end firstPress play to find out why your exhaustion isn't a flaw, it's evidence of how much you love your kid.Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!Feeling uncertain or overwhelmed? Download my free guide to take you from Panic to Plan.Join a private community with other parents and allies just like you!Stay informed - receive my newsletterInvite me to speak at your workshop or eventRead my book, Parenting with Pride. Share More Human. More Kind. Please subscribe, rate, and review!Connect heather@heatherhester.netBuy Me A CoffeeWatch on YouTubeListen 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 grow their capacity for courageous, compassionate connection.For parents, allies, and those 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 podcast in a heartfelt and empowering space where a mom and advocate offers practical guidance and education to parents and allies, fostering 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.Mentioned in this episode:Contact Hester Painting & Decorating for a consultation! https://go.hesterdecorating.com/mhmkThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy
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    17 mins
  • PFLAG National on Creating Pride in Families: The New Resource Helping Parents Build Support Networks at Work

    PFLAG National on Creating Pride in Families: The New Resource Helping Parents Build Support Networks at Work
    Jun 29 2026
    What if the support you've been looking for was one conversation away, right where you work?PFLAG National's Jamie Henkel joins the show to talk about Creating Pride in Families, a brand new resource library designed to help parents and caregivers of LGBTQ+ people build peer support networks inside their workplaces. Whether your company has a thriving ERG or you're starting from scratch, this episode will show you what's possible and how to get there.Jamie also gets honest about what allyship actually requires: doing your own homework, speaking up even when it's imperfect, and understanding that silence is never the safe choice.In this episode you'll learn how to:Access PFLAG's Creating Pride in Families resource library and use it to start or strengthen a workplace parent groupNavigate the current DEI climate, including why some companies are actually increasing their investment right nowFind PFLAG support if there's no local chapter near you, including free virtual options and identity-specific communitiesTake action as an ally without waiting until you feel ready or perfectly informedUnderstand what your LGBTQ+ loved one actually needs from you, and why getting it wrong is still better than staying silentResources mentioned in this episode:Creating Pride in Families resource library: https://pflag.org/press/creating-pride-in-families/Find a local chapter or PFLAG Connects virtual meeting: pflag.orgPFLAG Connects Communities (free identity-specific virtual support groups)PFLAG Academy Online (monthly webinar program for members and allies)Free publications including Our Trans Loved Ones and Faith in Our Families: pflag.orgAbout Jamie Henkel:Jamie Henkel (she/her) is the Vice President of Learning and Inclusion at PFLAG National, where she has worked since 2008. She oversees the development of PFLAG's Straight for Equality publications and learning sessions, serves as the architect of PFLAG Academy Online, and has spent her career building tools that help families and allies show up with more courage and less fear. She lives in Portland, Oregon.Connect with PFLAG National:pflag.orgHi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!Feeling uncertain or overwhelmed? Download my free guide to take you from Panic to Plan.Join a private community with other parents and allies just like you!Stay informed - receive my newsletterInvite me to speak at your workshop or eventRead my book, Parenting with Pride. Share More Human. More Kind. Please subscribe, rate, and review!Connect heather@heatherhester.netBuy Me A CoffeeWatch on YouTubeListen 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 grow their capacity for courageous, compassionate connection.For parents, allies, and those 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 podcast in a heartfelt and empowering space where a mom and advocate offers practical guidance and education to parents and allies, fostering 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.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy
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    36 mins
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