<p>Three words stopped time.</p><p><i><strong>“Mom, I’m gay.”</strong></i></p><p>That moment cracked Heather Hester’s world wide open — and from the mess came a movement.</p><p>In this raw, electric conversation, Heather shares how she transformed fear into advocacy, pain into purpose, and compassion into a system that actually scales.</p><p>We talk about:</p><ul><li>What really happens when your brand is born from heartbreak</li><li>The myth of “nice” versus the strategy of <i>kind</i></li><li>How to operationalize empathy without losing authority</li><li>Why the best leadership lessons often start at home</li></ul><p>If you’ve ever wondered how to stay soft in a hard world — or how to build something real after everything breaks — this episode will hit you straight in the gut (in the best way).</p><p><strong>💬 Show Notes</strong></p><p>Today’s guest, <strong>Heather Hester</strong>, is the author of <i>Parenting with Pride: Unlearn Bias and Embrace, Empower, and Love Your LGBTQ+ Teen</i>, founder of <strong>Chrysalis Mama</strong>, and host of the podcast <i>More Human. More Kind.</i></p><p>After her son’s coming-out moment in 2017, Heather began building what she couldn’t find — real resources, compassionate community, and truth-telling spaces for parents, allies, and leaders ready to grow through the hard parts.</p><p>🎯 In this episode:</p><ul><li>Why compassion without boundaries equals chaos</li><li>How to turn emotional pain into your brand’s engine</li><li>Tactical empathy — making kindness measurable</li><li>The difference between “nice” and “kind” leadership</li><li>The inner rewiring it takes to lead from humanity, not fear</li></ul><p><i><strong>Connect with Heather:</strong></i></p><p>🌐 Website → <a href="https://www.morehumanmorekind.com">https://www.morehumanmorekind.com</a></p><p>🎙 Podcast → <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/more-human-more-kind-guidance-for-parenting-lgbtq-teens/id1486711596">More Human. More Kind. on Apple Podcasts</a></p><p>📕 Book → <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Parenting-Pride-Unlearn-Embrace-Empower/dp/164170912X"><i>Parenting with Pride </i>on Amazon</a></p><p>📺 YouTube → <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCStxoUC1AC0T-otrjlf5IMw">Heather Hester – More Human More Kind</a></p><p>📸 Instagram → <a href="https://www.instagram.com/morehumanmorekind/">@morehumanmorekind</a></p><p>🔗 LinkedIn → <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/hhchrysalismama/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/hhchrysalismama/</a></p><p>💌 Email → <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a></p> <p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><i><strong>Mischa’s Stuff</strong></i><br>🔎 <strong>Find podcast contact emails fast:</strong><br>Podcast Email Finder → https://www.podcastemailfinder.com</p><p>Stop guessing. Stop overthinking.<br>Search a show. Get the contact. Send the pitch.</p><p>🎙 Want to go deeper?<br>Join the Influence Tour Masterclass → <a href="https://www.influencetour.com/go">https://www.influencetour.com/go</a></p><p>Connect on LinkedIn:<br><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mischaz/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/mischaz/</a></p></p>