More Human More Kind: Supportive Ally Tips for Parents of LGBTQ Teens

Heather Hester
  • 4.7 (111)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Do you wish you could better support your LGBTQ child? To be an ally who shows up with courage, clarity, and compassion in your family, workplace, and community? You're not alone. More Human. More Kind. is a twice-weekly podcast supporting concerned parents and allies of LGBTQ+ kids who are ready to move from fear, grief, and confusion to healing, resilience, and empowered advocacy. Hosted by Heather Hester, author of Parenting with Pride and a fierce advocate for human rights and social justice, each episode blends grounded insights, personal stories, and practical guidance to help you protect what matters, raise brave kids, and spark collective change. * You'll learn to navigate mental health challenges, set loving boundaries, and find hope and support through the messiness of parenting, allyship, and becoming. * Whether you're wrestling with bigotry, searching for connection and community, or ready to shift your mindset toward kindness and open-minded action, this show offers the education and encouragement you need. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Friday, featuring expert interviews, vulnerable Listener Queer-ies, and timely solo episodes that foster growth, empathy, and activism. Start with fan-favorite Episode 3: Embrace the Messiness of Supporting Your LGBTQ Teen (With Resilience & Hope), an honest conversation that will help you exhale, reflect, and show up more fully and fiercely for the people you love.

  1. Why Fixing Your LGBTQ Child’s Struggles Can Backfire

    3D AGO

    Why Fixing Your LGBTQ Child’s Struggles Can Backfire

    Let's help you step out of the fixing trap and into a relationship where your child actually wants to come to you. Complete this Discovery Form to see if you are ready to work with me! 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 connect. You’ll learn how this instinct, though rooted in love, can unintentionally block trust, and what to do instead. Discover why the instinct to fix often feels like rejection to LGBTQ teensLearn the key differences between support and control and how fear disguises itself as helpGet simple, grounding language that builds emotional safety and deepens connection fast If you’re ready to move from fear to inclusion and become the kind of ally your child truly needs, press play now and start shifting from fixer to safe space. Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here! Are you ready to take action? Fill out this Discovery Form to get a personalized recommendation! Invite me to speak at your workshop or event Read my book, Parenting with Pride. Share More Human. More Kind. Please subscribe, rate, and review! Connect heather@heatherhester.net 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 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 for parents and allies and space where a mom and mental health advocate offers guidance on parenting with empathy, inclusion, and open-minded allyship, fostering growth, healing, and empowerment within the LGBTQ community including lesbian, gay, bisexual,...

    16 min
  2. Why So Many Parents Miss the Silent Phase of LGBTQ Identity — And How to Be the Ally Your Teen Needs

    6D AGO

    Why So Many Parents Miss the Silent Phase of LGBTQ Identity — And How to Be the Ally Your Teen Needs

    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 really happening, and how to become a true ally before a single word is spoken. Learn the 9 subtle signs your LGBTQ teen may be struggling with identity and what those signals really meanDiscover how to respond with calm presence, so your child feels emotionally safe and supportedBecome the inclusive parent and ally your teen needs during the silent phase of coming out If you’re ready to show up with inclusion, guidance, and love, even in silence, press play now and take your first step toward being the ally your teen is hoping for. Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here! Are you ready to take action? Fill out this Discovery Form to get a personalized recommendation! Invite me to speak at your workshop or event Read my book, Parenting with Pride. Share More Human. More Kind. Please subscribe, rate, and review! Connect heather@heatherhester.net 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 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 for parents and allies and space where a mom and mental health advocate offers guidance on parenting with empathy, inclusion, and open-minded allyship, fostering growth, healing, and...

    10 min
  3. What Kind of Parent Thinks That? The Truth About Shame, Fear & Loving Your LGBTQ Child

    JAN 30

    What Kind of Parent Thinks That? The Truth About Shame, Fear & Loving Your LGBTQ Child

    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 outHow internalized fear and cultural conditioning shape your parenting responseWhy mental health and emotional regulation are essential in LGBTQ parentingHow shame harms your relationship even when left unspokenThe 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! Are you ready to take action? Fill out this Discovery Form to get a personalized recommendation! Invite me to speak at your workshop or event Read my book, Parenting with Pride. Share More Human. More Kind. Please subscribe, rate, and review! Connect heather@heatherhester.net 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...

    20 min
  4. Understanding January Grief as a Parent of an LGBTQ Child

    JAN 27

    Understanding January Grief as a Parent of an LGBTQ Child

    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 modeWhat January grief really looks and feels like (hint: it’s not always tears)Why emotional support for parents is essential, not optionalFive 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! Are you ready to take action? Fill out this Discovery Form to get a personalized recommendation! Invite me to speak at your workshop or event Read my book, Parenting with Pride. Share More Human. More Kind. Please subscribe, rate, and review! Connect heather@heatherhester.net 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 grow their capacity for courageous, compassionate connection. For...

    21 min
  5. The Dangerous Belief Hurting LGBTQ Kids and How Parents Can Do Better

    JAN 23

    The Dangerous Belief Hurting LGBTQ Kids and How Parents Can Do Better

    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 see if working together makes sense! 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 parentWhat the science actually says about when kids know their gender identityThe 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! Are you ready to take action? Fill out this Discovery Form to get a personalized recommendation! Invite me to speak at your workshop or event Read my book, Parenting with Pride. Share More Human. More Kind. Please subscribe, rate, and review! Connect heather@heatherhester.net 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 grow their capacity for courageous, compassionate connection. For parents, allies, and those pioneering a way...

    11 min
  6. Reset Your Nervous System: Mental Health Guidance for LGBTQ + Families

    JAN 20

    Reset Your Nervous System: Mental Health Guidance for LGBTQ + Families

    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 holidaysWhat nervous system healing actually looks likeSomatic 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! Are you ready to take action? Fill out this Discovery Form to get a personalized recommendation! Invite me to speak at your workshop or event Read my book, Parenting with Pride. Share More Human. More Kind. Please subscribe, rate, and review! Connect heather@heatherhester.net 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 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...

    13 min
  7. Survival Mode Parenting: LGBTQ Mental Health Guidance for Every Ally and Advocate

    JAN 16

    Survival Mode Parenting: LGBTQ Mental Health Guidance for Every Ally and Advocate

    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 see if working together makes sense! 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 yearsthe parent trying to lead with love while holding impossible family dynamicsthe 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 systemLanguage to stop minimizing what’s happening and begin choosing healingA reminder that numbness isn’t “coldness,” it’s your brain trying to surviveA compassionate lens on how crisis affects your whole family, including boundaries and sibling needsA 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! Are you ready to take action? a...

    12 min
  8. From Overthinking to Inner Knowing: A Practice for Parents and Allies of Queer Kids

    JAN 13

    From Overthinking to Inner Knowing: A Practice for Parents and Allies of Queer Kids

    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 hearing your truth again, especially as an ally or parent of an LGBTQ+ child. You’ll discover: 🌿 Why your nervous system blocks clarity under stress 🧠 What neuroscience says about intuition and inner knowing 🔍 How to tell the difference between fear, shoulds, and your true voice 🧘 A repeatable practice to access your calm, grounded inner guidance Tune in now to reclaim your own voice, reconnect with your truth, and start making decisions from a place of clarity and compassion, not fear. Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here! Are you ready to take action? Fill out this Discovery Form to get a personalized recommendation! Invite me to speak at your workshop or event Read my book, Parenting with Pride. Share More Human. More Kind. Please subscribe, rate, and review! Connect heather@heatherhester.net 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 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 for parents and allies and space where a mom and mental health advocate offers guidance on parenting with empathy, inclusion, and open-minded allyship, fostering growth, healing, and empowerment within the LGBTQ community including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals while addressing grief, boundaries, education, diversity, human rights, gender identity, sexual orientation, social justice, and the power of love and human kindness through a lens of ally support and community engagement.

    16 min
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Do you wish you could better support your LGBTQ child? To be an ally who shows up with courage, clarity, and compassion in your family, workplace, and community? You're not alone. More Human. More Kind. is a twice-weekly podcast supporting concerned parents and allies of LGBTQ+ kids who are ready to move from fear, grief, and confusion to healing, resilience, and empowered advocacy. Hosted by Heather Hester, author of Parenting with Pride and a fierce advocate for human rights and social justice, each episode blends grounded insights, personal stories, and practical guidance to help you protect what matters, raise brave kids, and spark collective change. * You'll learn to navigate mental health challenges, set loving boundaries, and find hope and support through the messiness of parenting, allyship, and becoming. * Whether you're wrestling with bigotry, searching for connection and community, or ready to shift your mindset toward kindness and open-minded action, this show offers the education and encouragement you need. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Friday, featuring expert interviews, vulnerable Listener Queer-ies, and timely solo episodes that foster growth, empathy, and activism. Start with fan-favorite Episode 3: Embrace the Messiness of Supporting Your LGBTQ Teen (With Resilience & Hope), an honest conversation that will help you exhale, reflect, and show up more fully and fiercely for the people you love.

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