Episode 214

Human First. Kind Always. A Guide For Parents of LGBTQ Teens

Are you overwhelmed by the speed, noise, and pressure of the season and craving a moment of genuine connection?

In a world obsessed with performance and big gestures, we often forget the transformative power of the quiet, small moments: eye contact, a text, a name used correctly. Heather shares how these micro-moments of humanity can reset our nervous systems and ripple out more powerfully than we realize, especially for parents and allies of LGBTQ+ kids.

✔️ Discover how small acts of kindness affect the brain and body in measurable, healing ways

✔️ Learn a 3-step daily ritual to bring more presence, empathy, and grounding into your life

✔️ Understand why tiny affirming behaviors are life-saving for LGBTQ+ youth

✔️ Challenge the myth that if it’s not big, it doesn’t matter

Press play now to reconnect with what really matters: being human, being kind, and being here.

Key Takeaways

  • Kindness is not a performance, it’s a nervous system reset for everyone involved
  • LGBTQ+ youth thrive on small affirming acts, which drastically reduce risk of depression and suicide
  • Making eye contact, offering silent blessings, or simply listening with presence are radical acts of love
  • You don’t need to “fix” everything, just feel, notice, and act from empathy
  • Kindness isn’t weakness. Kindness is healing.

What if kindness wasn't about being noticed, but about noticing? This simple shift in intention can change the way we parent, partner, and participate in the world.


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

Become a private client


Attend Friday Reflection LIVE on Substack - guided journaling and Q&A


Invite me to speak at your workshop or event


Receive a free excerpt and reflection guide from my book, Parenting with Pride.


Share More Human. More Kind. Please subscribe, rate, and review!


Connect heather@heatherhester.net


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 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 is a safe and supportive podcast 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 human kindness through a lens of ally support and community engagement.



This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podder - https://www.podderapp.com/privacy-policy
Blubrry - https://create.blubrry.com/resources/about-blubrry/privacy-policy
Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

About the Podcast

Show artwork for More Human More Kind: Guidance for Parenting LGBTQ+ Teens & Growing Into a Courageous Ally
More Human More Kind: Guidance for Parenting LGBTQ+ Teens & Growing Into a Courageous Ally
Parenting and Ally Skills to Advocate for Your LGBTQ+ Teen with Love and Confidence

Listen for free

About your host

Profile picture for Heather Hester

Heather Hester

She’s a butterfly in motion—transforming spaces, stories, and hearts. Heather Hester is a rare blend of fierce advocate and gentle guide, using her voice to build bridges across divides. As the host of *More Human. More Kind.*, author of *Parenting with Pride*, and founder of Chrysalis Mama, Heather doesn’t just speak about love, allyship, and authenticity—she *embodies* them.

Her superpower? Turning complex, messy truths into clear, compassionate conversations that leave you feeling empowered, curious, and just a little more human. From Substack to podcast, workshop to stage, she creates spaces where healing is possible, voices are heard, and no one stands alone.

Whether she’s amplifying marginalized stories, coaching parents through life’s pivots, or unpacking the First Amendment with a side of soul, Heather leads with purpose and heart. She’s not here for surface-level support—she’s here to change how we show up for each other.

Married to the funniest guy she’s ever known and mom to four extraordinary kids (two of whom are LGBTQ) and one sassy mini Bernedoodle, Heather is all about showing up with humor, humility, and heart. You can almost always find her with a cup of coffee in hand—at her computer, on her yoga mat, or dancing in the kitchen to her favorite playlist. She believes in being fully human, embracing the messiness, and helping others do the same.