<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(13, 13, 13);"&gt;How do you navigate the unexpected when your child comes out as LGBTQ+, which completely redefines your understanding of their world? &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;For &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.morehumanmorekind.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;Heather Hester&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;, the journey began in 2017 when her 16-year-old son came out as gay. What followed was a raw, transformative period marked by intense mental health struggles and substance use issues, forcing Heather to confront and unlearn bias inherited from her conservative, evangelical background.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;This is more than a coming-out story—it’s an urgent call to action for every parent and ally quietly searching for a shame-free space to navigate similar experiences.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;In this vital conversation, we sit down with Heather Hester—author of &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://amzn.to/4dFTzP8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"&gt;&lt;em&gt;Parenting with Pride: Unlearn Bias and Embrace, Empower and Love Your LGBTQ+ Teen&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;—to explore her family’s evolution and how grief transformed into healing and rebirth. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL HEAR ABOUT THINGS LIKE:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;The essential difference between acknowledging and embracing a new reality.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;The profound ways grief can surface in parenting, and how to work through its non-linear layers.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;The four transformations (Embrace, Educate/Unlearn, Empower, and Love) that purposefully guide parents toward fully supporting and loving their LGBTQ+ child.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent;"&gt;How to let go of fear and choose to lead with humanity, becoming a catalyst for change in your own community.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;WATCH ON YOUTUBE: &lt;a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt292w1bVlY&amp;amp;list=PL7judgDzhkAWmfyB5r5WgFD6ahombBvoh" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt292w1bVlY&amp;amp;list=PL7judgDzhkAWmfyB5r5WgFD6ahombBvoh&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;Learn how her family became freer and more fun after removing the constraints of who they "should be," proving that when you commit to healing, joy follows.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;🏳️‍🌈&lt;span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt; Grab your copy of Parenting with Pride: Unlearn Bias and Embrace, Empower, and Love Your LGBTQ+ Teen—available now on Amazon or&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://bookshop.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt; &lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="http://bookshop.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"&gt;Bookshop.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt; and start building a more supportive, affirming relationship with your teen today.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://bookshop.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;Bookshop.org:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://bookshop.org/a/93249/9781641709125" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt; &lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="https://bookshop.org/a/93249/9781641709125" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"&gt;https://bookshop.org/a/93249/9781641709125&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;Amazon:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://amzn.to/4dFTzP8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt; &lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="https://amzn.to/4dFTzP8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"&gt;https://amzn.to/4dFTzP8&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Join Heather's Substack for stories, reflection, and practical insight, and explore what it means to become more human and more kind in our relationships, our families, and our communities.: &lt;a href="https://heatherhester.substack.com/about" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"&gt;https://heatherhester.substack.com/about&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(31, 31, 31);"&gt;---&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;✨ Grief &amp;amp; Rebirth: Healing Resources &amp;amp; Tools ✨&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;🎧 Irene's Books (Including a Free Audiobook!)&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;They Serve Bagels in Heaven—Irene’s heartfelt story of love and life beyond.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Listen Free on Audible as a First Time User: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href="https://amzn.to/4dG4l4w" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;https://amzn.to/4dG4l4w&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Get the Paperback or Hard copy: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href="https://amzn.to/3XrE995" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;https://amzn.to/3XrE995&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;📚 Embrace Life’s Third Chapter&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Good to the Last Drop—A powerful anthology on aging with purpose: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href="https://amzn.to/3VJgEa5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;https://amzn.to/3VJgEa5&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;🛍️&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;&amp;nbsp;Healing &amp;amp; Self-Care Picks&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Curated books and essentials from Irene:&lt;em&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.amazon.com/shop/irenesweinberg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;em&gt;https://www.amazon.com/shop/irenesweinberg&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;📚 Grief &amp;amp; Rebirth Bookshop&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Books by podcast guests for healing &amp;amp; wisdom: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href="https://bookshop.org/shop/griefandrebirth" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;https://bookshop.org/shop/griefandrebirth&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;🎙️ Podcast &amp;amp; Community&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Inspiring stories of transformation on the Grief and Rebirth website: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href="https://griefandrebirth.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;https://griefandrebirth.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;📱 Stay Connected&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Subscribe to Grief and Rebirth on YouTube: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSDru2EU1djRZaZxxFkMig?sub_confirmation=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSDru2EU1djRZaZxxFkMig?sub_confirmation=1&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Instagram: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.instagram.com/irenesweinberg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;https://www.instagram.com/irenesweinberg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Facebook: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.facebook.com/IreneSWeinberg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;https://www.facebook.com/IreneSWeinberg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;TikTok: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@irenesweinberg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;https://www.tiktok.com/@irenesweinberg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;🎥 Irene’s Spiritual Awakening Story&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Watch how the podcast began: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0mJWKfg5PM" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0mJWKfg5PM&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;🎙️ Be a Podcast Guest&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Have a story or healing work to share?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Apply Here: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href="https://ireneweinberg.com/be-on-the-podcast/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;https://ireneweinberg.com/be-on-the-podcast/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;📰 Newsletter&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Get updates, tips, and new episodes by signing up to the Grief and Rebirth Substack: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href="https://substack.com/@griefandrebirth" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;https://substack.com/@griefandrebirth&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;💖 Affiliate Disclaimer&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Some links may earn us a commission. We only share trusted, personally recommended resources.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Grief and Rebirth: Finding the Joy in Life

Irene Weinberg

I Unlearned Bias to Truly Love My LGBTQ+ Child

MAY 20, 202659 MIN
Grief and Rebirth: Finding the Joy in Life

I Unlearned Bias to Truly Love My LGBTQ+ Child

MAY 20, 202659 MIN

Description

<p><span style="color: rgb(13, 13, 13);">How do you navigate the unexpected when your child comes out as LGBTQ+, which completely redefines your understanding of their world? </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">For </span><a href="https://www.morehumanmorekind.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Heather Hester</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, the journey began in 2017 when her 16-year-old son came out as gay. What followed was a raw, transformative period marked by intense mental health struggles and substance use issues, forcing Heather to confront and unlearn bias inherited from her conservative, evangelical background.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">This is more than a coming-out story—it’s an urgent call to action for every parent and ally quietly searching for a shame-free space to navigate similar experiences.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">In this vital conversation, we sit down with Heather Hester—author of </span><a href="https://amzn.to/4dFTzP8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><em>Parenting with Pride: Unlearn Bias and Embrace, Empower and Love Your LGBTQ+ Teen</em></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">—to explore her family’s evolution and how grief transformed into healing and rebirth. </span></p><p><br></p><p><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL HEAR ABOUT THINGS LIKE:</strong></p><ul><li><span style="background-color: transparent;">The essential difference between acknowledging and embracing a new reality.</span></li><li><span style="background-color: transparent;">The profound ways grief can surface in parenting, and how to work through its non-linear layers.</span></li><li><span style="background-color: transparent;">The four transformations (Embrace, Educate/Unlearn, Empower, and Love) that purposefully guide parents toward fully supporting and loving their LGBTQ+ child.</span></li><li><span style="background-color: transparent;">How to let go of fear and choose to lead with humanity, becoming a catalyst for change in your own community.</span></li></ul><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>WATCH ON YOUTUBE: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt292w1bVlY&amp;list=PL7judgDzhkAWmfyB5r5WgFD6ahombBvoh" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt292w1bVlY&amp;list=PL7judgDzhkAWmfyB5r5WgFD6ahombBvoh</a></p><p><br></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Learn how her family became freer and more fun after removing the constraints of who they "should be," proving that when you commit to healing, joy follows.</span></p><p><br></p><p>🏳️‍🌈<span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> Grab your copy of Parenting with Pride: Unlearn Bias and Embrace, Empower, and Love Your LGBTQ+ Teen—available now on Amazon or</span><a href="http://bookshop.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </a><a href="http://bookshop.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Bookshop.org</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> and start building a more supportive, affirming relationship with your teen today.</span><a href="http://bookshop.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&nbsp;</a></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Bookshop.org:</span><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/93249/9781641709125" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </a><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/93249/9781641709125" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://bookshop.org/a/93249/9781641709125</a></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Amazon:</span><a href="https://amzn.to/4dFTzP8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </a><a href="https://amzn.to/4dFTzP8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://amzn.to/4dFTzP8</a></p><p><br></p><p>Join Heather's Substack for stories, reflection, and practical insight, and explore what it means to become more human and more kind in our relationships, our families, and our communities.: <a href="https://heatherhester.substack.com/about" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://heatherhester.substack.com/about</a> </p><p><br></p><h2><br></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(31, 31, 31);">---</span></p><p><br></p><p><strong>✨ Grief &amp; Rebirth: Healing Resources &amp; Tools ✨</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>🎧 Irene's Books (Including a Free Audiobook!)</strong></p><p><strong>They Serve Bagels in Heaven—Irene’s heartfelt story of love and life beyond.</strong></p><p><strong>Listen Free on Audible as a First Time User: </strong><a href="https://amzn.to/4dG4l4w" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/4dG4l4w</a></p><p><strong>Get the Paperback or Hard copy: </strong><a href="https://amzn.to/3XrE995" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3XrE995</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>📚 Embrace Life’s Third Chapter</strong></p><p><strong>Good to the Last Drop—A powerful anthology on aging with purpose: </strong><a href="https://amzn.to/3VJgEa5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3VJgEa5</a></p><p><br></p><p>🛍️<strong><em>&nbsp;Healing &amp; Self-Care Picks</em></strong></p><p><strong>Curated books and essentials from Irene:<em>&nbsp;</em></strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/shop/irenesweinberg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>https://www.amazon.com/shop/irenesweinberg</em></a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>📚 Grief &amp; Rebirth Bookshop</strong></p><p><strong>Books by podcast guests for healing &amp; wisdom: </strong><a href="https://bookshop.org/shop/griefandrebirth" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://bookshop.org/shop/griefandrebirth</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>🎙️ Podcast &amp; Community</strong></p><p><strong>Inspiring stories of transformation on the Grief and Rebirth website: </strong><a href="https://griefandrebirth.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://griefandrebirth.com</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>📱 Stay Connected</strong></p><p><strong>Subscribe to Grief and Rebirth on YouTube: </strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSDru2EU1djRZaZxxFkMig?sub_confirmation=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSDru2EU1djRZaZxxFkMig?sub_confirmation=1</a></p><p><strong>Instagram: </strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/irenesweinberg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/irenesweinberg</a></p><p><strong>Facebook: </strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/IreneSWeinberg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/IreneSWeinberg</a></p><p><strong>TikTok: </strong><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@irenesweinberg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.tiktok.com/@irenesweinberg</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>🎥 Irene’s Spiritual Awakening Story</strong></p><p><strong>Watch how the podcast began: </strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0mJWKfg5PM" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0mJWKfg5PM</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>🎙️ Be a Podcast Guest</strong></p><p><strong>Have a story or healing work to share?</strong></p><p><strong>Apply Here: </strong><a href="https://ireneweinberg.com/be-on-the-podcast/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://ireneweinberg.com/be-on-the-podcast/</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>📰 Newsletter</strong></p><p><strong>Get updates, tips, and new episodes by signing up to the Grief and Rebirth Substack: </strong><a href="https://substack.com/@griefandrebirth" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://substack.com/@griefandrebirth</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>💖 Affiliate Disclaimer</strong></p><p><em>Some links may earn us a commission. We only share trusted, personally recommended resources.</em></p>