More Human More Kind: Practical Guidance for Allyship and Parenting LGBTQ Teens

Tired of the pressure to reinvent yourself every New Year? You’re not alone AND you’re not doing it wrong.In this final episode of 2025, Heather Hester offers a powerful shift from the tradition of resolutions to something more meaningful for LGBTQ+ parents, caregivers, and allies: repair. Rather than fix or perfect, you’re invited to reflect, release, and re-enter the next year with clarity, care, and courage.You’ll discover:Why repair matters more than resolutions for long-term emotional and relational healthA simple framework for reflecting on what the year took, gave, and taught youA grounding kindness ritual to close the year gently and truthfullyA myth-busting “unlearn” that challenges the belief that endings must be productive or performativeWhether you're exhausted, grieving, grateful or all three, this episode will give you space to exhale, return to your body, and choose softness as an act of strength.Reflection Practice:What did 2025 take from me?What did it give me?What act of self-compassion can I offer myself now?Kindness Ritual:Choose one gentle thing: light a candle, write to your future self, or speak one sentence of love to your child. Let this act be your offering to the new year.Unlearn Prompt:What if the end of the year wasn’t about doing more, but letting go?Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!Become a private clientInvite me to speak at your workshop or eventReceive a free excerpt and reflection guide from my book, Parenting with Pride. Share More Human. More Kind. Please subscribe, rate, and review!Connect [email protected] Me A CoffeeWatch 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...

DAY 12MORE HUMAN MOMENTS FOR THE MOST WONDERFUL (AND COMPLICATED!) TIME OF THE YEAR!12 TINY REBELLIONS TO COUNTER HOLIDAY CHAOSAfter a year of navigating challenges and showing up with fierce love, are you wondering if it’s made a difference?In this final capsule episode, Heather Hester reminds us that real hope, especially for LGBTQ+ families, isn’t wishful thinking. It’s a steady, relational force that fuels change. Every small effort, boundary, and affirmation you've made creates ripples that echo far beyond this season.In this reflection, you’ll:Understand why hope is a radical act of love in uncertain timesRemember the unseen impact of your daily allyshipPractice a beautiful "Send Light" ritual to close the year with intention, compassion, and communityReceive a journaling prompt to help you identify who you're holding in your heart and what you want them to feelStrategy: Remember the ripple effect. Your kindness, advocacy, and clarity matter even when you can’t see the results.Ritual: Visualize three people and send each of them light, love, or warmth. Let this gentle ritual be your final act of hope this year.Reflection Prompt: Who am I sending warmth to today, and what do I hope they feel?Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!Become a private clientInvite me to speak at your workshop or eventReceive a free excerpt and reflection guide from my book, Parenting with Pride. Share More Human. More Kind. Please subscribe, rate, and review!Connect [email protected] Me A CoffeeWatch 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

DAY 11MORE HUMAN MOMENTS FOR THE MOST WONDERFUL (AND COMPLICATED!) TIME OF THE YEAR!12 TINY REBELLIONS TO COUNTER HOLIDAY CHAOSAre you already exhausted by the pressure of “New Year, New You” messages? If you’re a parent or ally of an LGBTQ+ child, you don’t need more demands. You need direction that honors your humanity.In today’s 5-minute reflection, Heather Hester invites you to replace performative resolutions with soft, soulful intentions that center your healing, growth, and emotional wellbeing. It’s a gentle path into the new year for people who are doing the deep work of allyship, parenting, and personal change.In this episode, you’ll:Discover why resolutions often backfire and increase shameLearn a mindset shift that centers clarity over controlTry a powerful 2-minute journaling ritual to uncover the feeling you want more of in 2026 and how to support itStrategy: Resolutions demand change. Intentions invite alignment. Ask who you want to become, not what you need to fix.Ritual: Set a timer and free-write from this prompt:“In 2026, I want to feel…” Let your truth surface—without editing.Bonus Reflection: What’s one feeling I want to live into this year—and what supports that?Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!Become a private clientInvite me to speak at your workshop or eventReceive a free excerpt and reflection guide from my book, Parenting with Pride. Share More Human. More Kind. Please subscribe, rate, and review!Connect [email protected] Me A CoffeeWatch 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...

DAY 10MORE HUMAN MOMENTS FOR THE MOST WONDERFUL (AND COMPLICATED!) TIME OF THE YEAR!12 TINY REBELLIONS TO COUNTER HOLIDAY CHAOSEver caught yourself enjoying a moment, only to immediately feel guilty for it? If you’re parenting or advocating for an LGBTQ+ child in a world that feels heavy, joy can feel almost… irresponsible.On Day 10 of our holiday capsule series, Heather Hester names the guilt many parents and allies feel around feeling good and gently reframes joy as a vital, courageous act. This isn’t toxic positivity. It’s emotional resilience rooted in real life.In this 5-minute reflection, you’ll learn:Why joy triggers guilt during busy or stressful seasonsHow to reframe joy as nourishment instead of indulgenceA 30-second soft smile ritual that reawakens warmth, ease, and presence right when you need it mostStrategy: Joy is not betrayal. It’s nourishment. Let yourself feel it.Ritual: The Soft Smile – Relax your jaw, soften your face, let a quiet smile rise. Hold it. Let it restore you.Bonus Journal Prompt: Where did joy find me today? Write it down. Let it count.Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!Become a private clientInvite me to speak at your workshop or eventReceive a free excerpt and reflection guide from my book, Parenting with Pride. Share More Human. More Kind. Please subscribe, rate, and review!Connect [email protected] Me A CoffeeWatch 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...

DAY 9MORE HUMAN MOMENTS FOR THE MOST WONDERFUL (AND COMPLICATED!) TIME OF THE YEAR12 TINY REBELLIONS TO COUNTER HOLIDAY CHAOSAre you finding it hard to celebrate the holidays when the world feels like it’s unraveling? If your heart is heavy with the weight of injustice, violence, and overwhelm, this episode is for you.In Day 9 of the More Human, More Kind holiday capsule, Heather Hester invites you to stop trying to hold the whole world and instead embrace the power of one kind thing. For parents and allies of LGBTQ+ kids, this moment of reflection offers both emotional permission and grounded action.You’ll learn:Why world overwhelm hits especially hard during the holidaysHow to recognize that your nervous system isn’t broken, it’s over-capacitatedWhy micro kindness isn’t trivial, but transformativeOne simple breath and reflection practice to help you reconnect with hope, agency, and joyToday’s Strategy: Micro Kindness as ActivismYou don’t have to do everything. Choose one small, authentic act of care, something that matters to you, your child, or your community.Today’s Ritual: Ask yourself: “What is one kind thing I can do today?”Then do it. With intention. With love. Without guilt.Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!Become a private clientInvite me to speak at your workshop or eventReceive a free excerpt and reflection guide from my book, Parenting with Pride. Share More Human. More Kind. Please subscribe, rate, and review!Connect [email protected] Me A CoffeeWatch 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