Episode 208

Reclaiming the Witch: How Power, Queerness & Rebellion Got Branded Evil

What if the witches we grew up fearing weren’t villains, but visionaries, healers, or queer-coded rebels whose power threatened the status quo?

In today’s rich and revolutionary episode of More Human, More Kind, Heather Hester uncovers the truth behind witch hunts, both historical and modern. From midwives to queer teens, anyone who dared to live outside the norms has been branded dangerous. But when we revisit who the “witch” really was, we open a portal to connection, empathy, and courage.

If your child is drawn to witches, monsters, or magic, this episode will show you why it’s not about rebellion, it’s about belonging, power, and healing. And how you, as a parent or ally, can show up with more curiosity, not control.

  • Why witches were originally midwives, healers, and women with ungovernable knowledge
  • How LGBTQ+ communities reclaim the witch as a symbol of queer power, survival, and self-trust
  • 4 ways you can use this history to better understand and affirm your LGBTQ+ child
  • Unlearn the myth that witches = evil and explore what society really fears: truth, autonomy, and joy

Press play to uncover how history, horror, queerness, and allyship collide—and how this ancient archetype can help you raise brave, inclusive, empowered kids today.

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 is a safe and supportive space where a mom and mental health advocate offers guidance on parenting with empathy, inclusion, love, and open-minded allyship, fostering growth, healing, connection, and empowerment within the LGBTQ community while addressing grief, boundaries, education, diversity, human rights, social justice, and the power of human kindness through a lens of ally support and community engagement.


Resource Spotlight

Historical & Theoretical

  • The Malleus Maleficarum (1486), Heinrich Kramer & Jacob Sprenger
  • Silvia Federici, Caliban and the Witch (2004).
  • Anne Llewellyn Barstow, Witchcraze: A New History of the European Witch Hunts (1994).
  • Brian P. Levack, The Witch-Hunt in Early Modern Europe (2016).
  • Lyndal Roper, Witch Craze: Terror and Fantasy in Baroque Germany (2004).
  • Mona Chollet, In Defense of Witches (2022).
  • Alex Mar, Witches of America (2015).

Feminist & Cultural Reclamation

  • Pam Grossman, Waking the Witch (2019).
  • Kristen J. Sollée, Witches, Sluts, Feminists (2017).
  • Sarah Lyons, Revolutionary Witchcraft (2019).
  • Pam Grossman, The Witch Wave Podcast.  The witch became the archetype of anyone reclaiming power denied to them—especially queer and trans people who have also been branded unnatural or dangerous.
  • As Grossman says, “To be a witch is to be a person who chooses themselves.”
  • The Love Witch (2016), The Craft (1996).
  • Queer Witch Podcast.

Academic Articles & Essays

  • Marianne Hester, “Patriarchal Reconstruction and Witch Hunting,” Gender & History (1991).
  • Deborah Willis, Malevolent Nurture: Witch-Hunting and Maternal Power (1995).
  • Smithsonian Magazine, “The Witch Craze That Swept Through Europe” (2018).
  • Teen Vogue, “Why Queer People Identify with Witches” (2022).


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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

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About your host

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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.