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

“Mom, I think I might be_____.”

Whether that sentence ended in gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, or something they’re still figuring out, you are 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 that you’ve already gotten 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, their parents, and the people 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. Top 1.5% of podcasts globally.

Copyright: © 2021 Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen

Latest Episodes:

Non-Affirming Family at the Holidays: What Parents of LGBTQ Kids Can Say Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

What do you say when a relative at the holiday table doesn’t accept your LGBTQ child?

Heather revisits how to handle non-affirming and unsupportive people, and other crises, during the holidays. She starts with a breath, explains the difference between those two terms, and offers three points of reference: time, facts, and boundaries. She also shares how she's responded in the past and what to do if your child doesn’t want to go.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

Stay calm and ready with facts specific to where your child is in their journey
Respond to common lines like “love the sinner, hate the sin” and “I love you, but I disagree”
Honor a child who doesn’t want to attend a gathering, and remember that homophobia is not your problem or your fault
Care for yourself through the season with six simple practices, from time with your partner to a gratitude journal

Press play to prepare for the conversations you hope you won’t have this holiday season.

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.

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.

When You Lose the Family Dog: What Unconditional Love Looks Like for Parents Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

How do you celebrate a milestone when your family is grieving?

The podcast turns four, and Heather planned to mark it with a recap of guests and lessons. Then the family’s ten-year-old dog, Teagan, was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer. Heather shares what the family learned in those last weeks and how Teagan’s calm presence carried them through four years of change, paying tribute to this sweet girl who embodied unconditional love.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

Make room for grief and gratitude at the same time
Help the whole family process a loss through shared memories, photos, and stories
Notice the steady, quiet presence of a family pet through years of change
Think about what unconditional love looks like when it is simply given

Press play to hear a tribute to the dog who stayed beside one family through everything.

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.

Why Gay Kids Overcompensate for Shame: Michael Mamina’s Advice for Parents Nov 09, 2023

Show notes

What does shame look like when a gay child seems to be doing everything right?

Heather talks with Michael Mamina, a master life coach, about growing up gay and being bullied, and how he learned to hide who he was. He shares how a workshop on the shadow changed his life, and how he moves through the stages of shame described in The Velvet Rage. He also offers advice to young people considering coming out and to parents whose child comes out to them.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

Understand how beliefs formed in childhood can become survival strategies that last into adulthood
Recognize the first stages of shame, including avoidance and overcompensation
Respond when your child comes out by listening, taking a pause if you need one, and not making it about whether you are okay with it
Use Michael’s FLY acronym, which starts with first loving yourself

Press play to hear a gay man’s path from hiding to self-love, and what he wants parents to know.

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.

Is Your Child Being Bullied? Suzanne Jean on Building Confidence, Not Fear Oct 24, 2023

Show notes

What if the best way to stop bullying is to help every child, including the one doing the bullying, feel confident and seen?

Heather talks with Suzanne Jean, who has worked in community social services for 50 years and built an anti-bullying program on four pillars: attention, awareness, avoidance, and action. She explains why she sees bullying as being about power and control, and why it often targets differences. She also shares what happens when a child who bullies sees how others view him, and how breath and movement help kids regulate.

In this episode you’ll learn how to:

Understand the four pillars of the program and why self-awareness is the one that surprises people most
See how building confidence, boundaries, and self-love protects a child from bullying
Learn why the child who bullies needs support too, and how one exercise can start a change
Use breath and movement to help a child steady their nervous system

Press play to hear a practical way to help the children in your life stand up for themselves and for each other.

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.

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.

Afraid of Messing Up as a Parent? Jen Murray on Being Human and Messy Oct 10, 2023

Show notes

What would change if you stopped trying to get parenting right and started trying to be present?

Heather talks with Jen Murray (they/them), founder of the High Vibe Healing Collective and a former diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging professional. Jen shares how breathwork, somatic work, and astrology shaped them as a queer parent who feared they were failing their kids. They explore why being present matters more than being perfect, and why loving someone as they are right now is a form of belonging.

In this episode you’ll learn how to:

Use the breath as a tool you can reach anywhere, and notice what it tells you about your state
Understand Jen’s CEO framework: centered, energetic, and optimistic
Make room for being human and messy, including how to apologize without an “I’m sorry if”
Honor your LGBTQ child for who they are today, without needing them to fit a standard expectation

Press play for a conversation about presence, belonging, and giving yourself room to be human.

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.

Talking to Your Kids About Consent Earlier Than Feels Comfortable: Michelle Meek Sep 26, 2023

Show notes

When is the right time to talk to your child about consent, and what if you think you’ve already waited too long?

Heather talks with Dr. Michelle Meek, a professor, filmmaker, and author of Consent Culture and Teen Films. Michelle explains why conversations about consent and bodily autonomy have to start much younger than most parents expect, and why it’s never too late to start with a teenager. They also discuss how LGBTQ characters are portrayed in teen films and her short film on gender and youth sports.

In this episode you’ll learn how to:

Start conversations about bodily autonomy and personal boundaries with young children, long before they are about sex
Use movies and shows as a conversation starter with teens, so the talk feels about a character and not about them
Understand why queer and questioning teens can be at particular risk of consenting to something they don’t actually want
Think about how gender divisions in youth sports affect many kids, and what more inclusive options could look like

Press play to hear a practical way to start the conversations that can feel the hardest.

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.

Ask Directly: Anne Moss Rogers on Talking to Your LGBTQ Teen About Suicide Sep 12, 2023

Show notes

Content warning: This episodes discusses the important issue of teen suicide and its' prevention.

What do you say if you think your teen might be thinking about suicide?

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and Heather talks with Anne Moss Rogers, a suicide prevention educator, speaker, and author who lost her 20-year-old son Charles to suicide in 2015. Anne Moss shares the signs she wishes she had known, and why asking directly matters. She also walks through a simple index card plan any family can make.

In this episode you’ll learn how to:

Recognize a combination of risk factors, including isolation, self-critical remarks, and frequent absences
Ask your teen directly about suicide, without panic or shame, and what to do next
Make a crisis response card in your teen’s own handwriting, with reasons for living, trusted adults, and numbers to call
Approach schools and other communities with a plan when you advocate for your child

Press play to learn a calm, practical way to start the hardest conversation.

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.

This is a sensitive topic. If you are personally experiencing mental health challenges, I can help you find the right support.

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.

Is It Fear or Intuition? Heather Maguire on Listening to Your Body as a Parent Aug 29, 2023

Show notes

How do you tell the difference between your intuition and your fear when you are making a decision about your child?

Heather talks with Heather Maguire, an intuitive guide who has spent more than 15 years helping people trust their own inner knowing. Heather explains why she thinks of intuition as something your body does all the time, and how it feels different from the voice of fear. She also shares her heart rock walks, her Energy Lab, and a closing guided meditation for walking into fear safely.

In this episode you’ll learn how to:

Tell the difference between intuition, which sits in your body, and fear, which sits in the mind
Slow down and get curious instead of judging what you feel, especially after a hard news day
Ask open-ended questions, such as “How could this be easy?”, and pay attention to your whole body for the answer
Try a guided meditation that helps you walk toward a fear and ask for help

Press play to practice listening to your body’s quiet signals, and finish with a short guided meditation.

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.

The Coming Out Moment Is for Your Child: David Devore on What Parents Can Say Aug 15, 2023

Show notes

What does your child need from you in the moment they come out, and how does the work you have done before then change it?

Heather talks with David Devore, a life coach and master level psychotherapist who specializes in coming out, internalized homophobia, and shame. David shares how a spiritual retreat in India helped him see how childhood messages had shaped his life, and how his parents responded when he came out. They talk about what parents can do before and during that moment.

In this episode you’ll learn how to:

Recognize that the coming out moment belongs to your child, and hold space with curiosity instead of fear
Work through your own fears and judgments with a support group, a therapist, or PFLAG, and not on your child
Ask “In what way can I support you?” and say “I love you and I need a minute” when you need it
Understand how shame and internalized homophobia can follow a child into adulthood

Press play to hear what one gay man wishes every parent knew about the moment their child comes out.

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.

Can Your LGBTQ Child Keep Their Faith? Yuval David on Wonderfully Made Aug 01, 2023

Show notes

Can your LGBTQ child keep their faith, and what does it look like to see yourself in it?

Heather talks with Yuval David, an Emmy Award-winning actor, filmmaker, and advocate, about his documentary Wonderfully Made: LGBTQ+R, which began as a photo art project for his Catholic husband. The conversation also unexpectedly explores vulnerability, tears, gratitude, and why pausing to breathe matters. Yuval also explains why he sees the plus in LGBTQIA+ as allyship.

In this episode you’ll learn how to:

Understand why many LGBTQ people of faith struggle to see themselves in religious art and stories
Hear why Yuval sees vulnerability, including crying, as a source of strength, and why not everyone has earned your vulnerability
Try his short moment of gratitude, “I am here, I am now,” when life feels too full
Think about what it means to be “the plus” for yourself and for each other

Press play for a wide-ranging conversation about faith, art, and giving yourself room to breathe.

wonderfullymadefilm.com

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.

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