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

View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

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:

Talking to Your Gay Son About HIV and Condoms: Dr. David Huebner on What Works Jul 25, 2023

Show notes

How do you talk to your gay or bisexual son about HIV and sexual health when the conversation feels impossible to start?

Heather welcomes back Dr. David Huebner, a clinical psychologist and professor at George Washington University who has spent 20 years studying how parents shape LGBTQ youth's health. He explains what the latest CDC youth survey says about distress in queer kids, and what minority stress is. He also shares the research behind a free online toolkit that helps parents talk with their sons about sexual health.

In this episode you’ll learn how to:

Understand minority stress and the common ways well-meaning parents add to it
Ask your child, with their permission, how your behavior feels to them
Choose how to start the HIV and sexual health conversation, from a direct talk to a text with a fact sheet
Think about condoms in the house the way you think about a fire extinguisher, and keep the conversation going over time

Press play to hear a practical, low-pressure way to start the conversations that matter most.

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.

Six Years After Coming Out: What Our Family Wishes Parents Knew Sooner Jul 18, 2023

Show notes

What does a family wish it had known six and a half years ago, when one of its kids came out?

To celebrate a milestone episode, Heather talks with her husband, Steve, her son, Connor, and her daughter, Grace, about what has changed in their family. They share how communication shifted, what each of them has learned, and what they would tell a family just starting out. The conversation covers therapy, validation, impermanence, and why being uncomfortable is part of the work.

In this episode you’ll learn how to:

Notice what changes when a family communicates openly and uses therapy as support, not a last resort
Validate what your child is feeling first, before offering a silver lining or a fix
Think about how and when to talk to younger siblings
Trust your gut when something is wrong, and keep asking even after “I’m fine."

Press play to hear one family look back and share what they would tell yours.

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.

When Your Teen Walks In at 10:30 PM and You’re Exhausted: Candy Motzek on Listening Jul 11, 2023

Show notes

How would your relationships change if you listened more and talked less?

Interest: Heather welcomes back Coach Candy Motzek to talk about listening as an act of love. Candy explains three levels of listening, from the inner monologue of “I forgot the milk” to hearing what isn't being said. She also shares simple physical shifts that make listening easier, even when you are exhausted.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

Recognize the three levels of listening, and notice which one you are in
Take a breath, look at the person, and point your feet toward them so they feel heard
Listen without rushing to fix, and remember that your only job is to love them
Use listening as a quiet way to connect, even when your teen doesn’t want to talk

Press play to learn a few small changes that can make anyone you love feel heard.

https://stepintosuccessnow.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.

Keep Your Stress Off Your Kids: Madhur-Nain on Two Boundaries Every Parent Needs Jul 04, 2023

Show notes

What if the most protective thing you can do for your child is to keep your own stress from landing on them?

Heather talks with Madhur-Nain, a licensed marriage and family therapist and meditation teacher who has practiced for over 20 years. She explains how chanting, breath, and movement give an anxious mind something to do, and how two kinds of boundaries, inner and outer, shape parenting. She also covers the difference between healthy stress and anxiety, grief, and when to work on trauma.

In this episode you’ll learn how to:

Interrupt a stress spiral with chanting, singing, or a pulsed breath, even in the car
Understand the five basic needs of a child and the inner and outer boundaries that protect them
Tell healthy stress from anxiety, and release stress by walking, dancing, or shaking
Ask what meaning you are giving a choice, such as waiting to come out until after a loved one has died

Press play for simple, practical tools to calm yourself so you can show up for your family.

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 Intersectionality Means for Parents: Dr. Ronnie Gladden Explains Jun 27, 2023

Show notes

What if being an ally already makes you part of the community, and your other identities are tools you can use?

Heather talks with Dr. Ronnie Gladden (they/them), a professor, speaker, and author of White Girl Within, a book about holding a complex identity. Dr. Gladden shares how a notebook and a flood of emotion became a 15-year writing project. They explain intersectionality as putting every part of yourself in conversation, and what that means for parents and allies.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

Think about intersectionality as putting all your parts in conversation, not stuffing down the ones you were taught to hide
See why Dr. Gladden believes allies belong in the community, and how your other roles, such as faith, work, or school, can shape your advocacy
Stay engaged with legislation without losing yourself in the politics
Respond to someone still learning with patience, and aim to get it right, not to be right

Press play to hear a thought-provoking conversation about identity, allyship, and staying whole in a hard moment.

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.

When Your Son Wants to Wear a Skirt: Elizabeth Brunner on Having His Back Jun 20, 2023

Show notes

What do you do when your son gets stares for wearing a skirt and your daughter gets none for wearing a jersey and a cap?

Interest: Heather talks with Elizabeth Brunner, founder of Stereotype, a gender-free kids’ clothing brand inspired by her girl-and-boy twins. Elizabeth explains why she calls her designs “blended fashion,” what she noticed when her children dressed beyond their gender, and how she handles pushback. They also talk about unlearning old rules, apologizing to your kids, and making home the safe place.

In this episode you’ll learn how to:

Notice when children get different reactions for the same choice, depending on their gender
Ask yourself whether an old belief is still yours before you pass it on
Stand with your child out loud when someone comments, so they hear you say they are not wrong
Say “I don’t know” and “I’m sorry” in front of your kids, and why it builds trust

Press play to hear a mom explain how her twins’ closets changed the way she saw parenting.

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.

Talk About Choices, Not Fear: Court Vox on Sex, Bodies, and Your Teen Jun 13, 2023

Show notes

How do you talk to your kids about sex without fear or shame, and without waiting for one big talk?

Heather talks with Court Vox, a sex and intimacy educator who teaches through the body as well as through words. Court shares how he talks to his own teenage son about sex and drugs as choices, why bodily autonomy starts early, and how the way parents speak about their own bodies lands with kids. They also look at gender as something that can change over time, and why safety comes first when a child is thinking about coming out.

In this episode you’ll learn how to:

Talk about sex and drugs as choices, with the consequences that come with each, instead of warnings that shut a child down
Respect a child’s right to say no to a hug or a kiss, and why that matters later
Notice and change negative talk about your own body and your child’s body
Think about gender as something that can evolve, and why safety is the first question before a child comes out

Press play to hear a candid conversation about how to talk about bodies, pleasure, and safety with your kids.

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.

Four Ways Parents of LGBTQ Kids Can Fight Anti-LGBTQ Bills at Every Level Jun 06, 2023

Show notes

What can you do about anti-LGBTQ bills when the news leaves you feeling uncertain about where to start?

In the first episode of Pride Month, Heather explains why this year feels different, with the ACLU tracking hundreds of anti-LGBTQ bills nationwide. She shares five practical ideas for parents and allies, from voting in every election to starting a simple, non-confrontational conversation. She also announces the launch of the Just Breathe community.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

Vote in every election, from school boards up, and get to know your local lawmakers
Use your own gifts and talents to make a difference, big or small
Contact lawmakers at every level, and tell them you are paying attention
Start a low-pressure conversation with “I used to think...” and share a resource

Press play for five ways to keep Pride going long after June ends.

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.

Parents Panicking About Pronouns: Rae McDaniel on Why Slowing Down Works May 30, 2023

Show notes

What if exploring gender is just another part of growing, and the panic over it is the real problem?

Heather welcomes back Rae McDaniel, a therapist who works with non-binary and transgender adults, on the release day of their book Gender Magic. Ray explains the Gender Freedom Model, built on play, pleasure, and possibility, and why gender exploration is something everyone can do, not only trans people. They also talk about slowing down when you are afraid of getting pronouns wrong, and how allies can advocate right now.

In this episode you’ll learn how to:

Slow down when you are afraid of making a mistake with a name or pronoun, correct it, and keep going
Treat gender exploration the way you treat any other part of a young person’s identity
Ask your loved one what they need, instead of guessing
Stay informed and active without letting the news consume you

Press play to hear why one therapist believes gender freedom is for everyone.

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.

Being an Ally Is an Ongoing Journey of Messing Up: Jeannie Gainsberg May 24, 2023

Show notes

What if being a good ally means expecting to mess up and learning how to do it well?

Heather talks with Jeannie Gainsberg, an LGBTQ inclusion trainer and author of the second edition of The Savvy Ally. Jeannie shares how she became an ally with no LGBTQ people in her life, and why she added new chapters on messing up and on pronouns. They cover outdated words, easy ways to answer hard questions, and small actions allies can take today.

In this episode you’ll learn how to:

Use singular “they” with confidence, including a practice tip that starts with your pet
Retire common slip-ups, such as “preferred pronouns” and “transgender” used as a noun
Use someone’s current name and pronouns, even when you talk about the past
Take a small, low-risk action, such as noting a non-inclusive form, that lifts weight off LGBTQ people

Press play to hear a practical, funny guide to being an ally who keeps learning.

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.

Related Podcasts