Episode Details

Is your school community confusing “nice” with “kind” and leaving LGBTQ students unsupported in the process?

As a new school year begins, many of us want to build more inclusive classrooms and communities, but surface-level politeness won’t get us there. This episode challenges parents, educators, and allies to embrace kindness as a courageous, everyday act that builds true safety and connection.

• Learn the key difference between being “nice” and practicing real kindness in school settings
• Get ready-to-use scripts for handling misgendering, exclusion, and passive comments with compassion and clarity
• Discover simple ways to raise children who lead with empathy and protect their peers with quiet courage

Press play to learn how kindness can become a bold tool for change—and how you can model and teach it this school year.

RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT

Resource: Welcoming Schools – Back-to-School Kindness Resources

Why it matters: This toolkit includes class posters, conversation starters, book lists, and sample lessons to help schools and families build inclusive environments from day one.

Other resources to explore:

• Teaching Tolerance (Learning for Justice) – Culturally responsive lesson plans and conversation starters
• Kindness.org – Research-backed kindness practices for schools and communities
• StoryCorps’ “Listen Closely” LGBTQ Archive – Stories that inspire empathy, connection, and action

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 grow their capacity for courageous connection.

For parents, allies, and those pioneering a way to lead with love and kindness, I’m here with