More Human More Kind: Guidance for Parenting LGBTQ+ Teens & Growing Into a Courageous Ally
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.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Blubrry - https://create.blubrry.com/resources/about-blubrry/privacy-policy
- Update frequency
- every 8 days
- Average duration
- 35 minutes
- Episodes
- 198
- Years Active
- 2019 - 2025
#37 | 5 Key Insights Every Parent Needs to Support Their Non-Binary Teen (With Courage & Compassion)
In this episode, Heather interviews Rae McDaniel, founder of the online coaching community, The Gender Fck Club (awesome resources here), as well as Practical Audacity, a gender and sex therapy pract…
#36 | A Substance Use Primer: Courageous Guidance for Parents Navigating Teen Addiction
In this episode, Heather interviews Richard Capriola, author of The Addicted Child: A Parent’s Guide to Adolescent Substance Abuse. Richard has over two decades of experience working with adults and …
#35 | 5 Courageous Ways to Handle Homophobic Family and Stay True to Your LGBTQ Support
Heather responds to a listener's question about how to handle someone who is non-affirming with a tip and an example-filled "101" episode.
She discusses the importance of word choice, gives several g…
#34 | Why Pretending Everything’s Fine Hurts Your Mental Health (Stop the Toxic Positivity)
This short episode packs a punch! Heather candidly shares some recent experiences and her thoughts on hard days, as well as the serendipitous discovery of an article by one of her favorite thought le…
#33 | Behind Hook‑Up Apps & Homophobia: Real Insights and Allyship from a Gay Man’s POV
In this episode, Heather interviews author and speaker, Britt East. While Britt's book, "A Gay Man's Guide to Life," is written for gay men by a gay man - it is an engaging, informative read that rea…
#32 | Skip the Pamphlets—This is Real, Messy, Courageous Parenting of an LGBTQ Teen
In this episode, Heather responds to a listener's request for more information on changes during the coming-out process. She approaches her answer from two angles:
1. reviewing the stages of the comi…
#31 | What if Struggle Isn’t a Setback? The Ally’s Guide to Finding Hope in Pain
In this episode, Heather interviews life coach Kevin Nahai. Faced with extraordinary mental health and physical health challenges as a teen and young adult, Kevin tried many paths before digging into…
#30 | How To Be the Ally Your LGBTQ Friends Actually Need
In this episode, Heather shares seven tips for being a good ally and why being a good ally to your Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer loved one is so important.
1. Be a good listener
2. Don…
#29 | From Struggle to Hope: One Transgender Woman’s Path
Heather interviews Rochelle Pattison in this episode and it is packed with emotion, education, "a-ha" moments, and large doses of reality and love in equal measure! Rochelle shares her journey as a t…
#28 | Is ‘Just Love Them’ Really the Answer? One Father’s Raw Reflections on Parenting His LGBTQ+ Kids
This episode is Just Breathe's one-year anniversary episode! Heather's husband Steve joins her (finally!) to share his perspective of the past four years. He opens up with incredible vulnerability an…
#27 | Why Struggle Isn’t the Enemy of Growth—It’s the Path (Resilience in LGBTQ Life)
In this episode, Heather chats with Kirsten Beverley-Waters about her new book, Struggle Guru. Kirsten is a fitness instructor, devoted yogi, personal growth champion and coach, and LGBTQ public spea…
#26 | Why Depression Awareness Is Essential for LGBTQ Youth & How to Offer Real Guidance (From a Trauma Therapist)
In this episode, Heather highlights Depression Awareness Month in an interview with Maureen Kebo. Maureen is a well-being therapist and is certified in the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) whic…
#25 | The Dangerous Myth of the Transgender “Trend”—What Families Need to Hear
In this episode, Heather interviews LGBTQ+ activist Susan Buss, LCSW. Susan is the president of her private practice, Big Sky Consulting, Inc where she sees adolescents and adults. She has 35 years o…
#24 | The Worst Advice We Got After Our Son Came Out LGBTQ (And What We Did Instead)
Heather's husband, Steve, was so blown away by Connor's three episodes that he suggested a recap episode to highlight the emotional journey and lessons learned from their perspective. They both also …
#23 | Connor Shares His Story—Part Three: What He Won’t Forget About His NYU Freshman Year—A Courageous LGBTQ Story
Heather's son Connor has returned to the mic for a three-part series! In this episode, he shares the third part of his story (taking us to the present day) with humor, vulnerability, and the ability …
#22 | Connor Shares His Story - Part Two: The Coping Mechanisms Connor Tried—and the Courage It Took to Get Here
Heather's son Connor has returned to the mic for a three-part series! In this episode, he shares the second part of his story with humor, vulnerability, and the ability to recount what happened then,…
#21 | Connor Shares His Story - Part One: The Truth About LGBTQ Teen Struggles: Connor’s Story of Courage and Hope
Heather's son Connor has returned to the mic for a three-part series! In this episode, he shares the first part of his story with humor, vulnerability, and the ability to recount what happened then, …
#20 | Why Boundaries Are Hard—and How LGBTQ Parents Can Master Them (Part 2)
This episode is part two of Heather Hester's interview with Diane Becker. Diane is a nationally certified juvenile treatment specialist, a licensed clinical social worker, licensed continuing educati…
#19 | Why Boundaries Are Hard—and How LGBTQ Parents Can Master Them (Part 1)
In this episode, Heather Hester interviews Diane Becker. She is a nationally certified juvenile treatment specialist, a licensed clinical social worker, licensed continuing education provider for soc…
#18 | What the Church Got Wrong About Hell—And Why LGBTQ Allies Should Care
In this episode, Heather interviews Julie Ferwerda, researcher and author of Raising Hell - Christianity's most controversial doctrine put under fire. This is an absolute must-hear if you've ever que…