#148 | From Shame to Sacredness: A Trans Femme Leader’s Journey to Wholeness

Is it possible to be trans, a person of deep faith, and still feel whole in a world that constantly attempts fragmentation?

In this powerful, intimate interview, Heather Hester sits down with trailblazer Celia Daniels — trans femme, Christian, South Asian, DEI leader, and unapologetically human. From her early life in India through suicidal ideation, survival, advocacy, and success in biotech, Celia shares what it means to find truth and softness in a world hardened by fear and control.

• Hear how colonialism and Christian supremacy shaped India’s perception of gender and how Celia reclaimed her identity anyway
• Learn the difference between performative DEI and truly humanizing the workplace
• Discover the “ALLIES” framework for anyone wanting to support the LGBTQ+ community with courage and clarity

Press play to witness a transformative conversation that dismantles shame, reclaims faith, and reminds us that the most powerful change begins with listening.

Celia is an entrepreneur, Motivational speaker, DEI champion, blogger, composer, musician, photographer, hiker, and filmmaker. She currently resides in Southern California with her family. She is an Asian Indian who identifies as gender non-binary, trans femme.

She is recognized as one of the Top 20 LGBTQ leaders in Biopharma and the Top 10 LGBTQ+ Voices on LinkedIn in the US and Canada. Top 100 LGBTQ+ Women in DEI worldwide along with Laverne Cox, Wanda Sykes, Lily Tomlin, and others. 

Click here to learn more!

Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!

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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 foster courageous, compassionate connection.

If you’re in the thick of parenting, allyship, or 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 explores connection, courage, and community for every concerned parent, mom, or ally navigating fear, grief, and bigotry with hope, resilience, and empathy. Through open-minded education, inclusive parenting guidance, and advocacy for mental health, safety, and a human first approach, we support LGBTQ youth and stand for human rights and social justice. More Human. More Kind. empowers listeners to shift their mindset, embrace activism and allyship, and lead with kindness, healing, and purpose.