In Season 3, Episode 1 of the Element Q Podcast, host TJ Woodward interviews Heather Hester, speaker, author, advocate, and host of the award-winning More Human. More Kind. podcast—to explore what it truly means to support and love LGBTQ+ children.

Heather shares her personal journey as a parent of two LGBTQ+ kids, opening up about the fear, confusion, and deep transformation that followed her son’s coming out at 16. What began as a search for answers became a mission to help other families navigate similar experiences with compassion and courage.

As the author of Parenting with Pride: Unlearn Bias, Embrace Your Child. Empower Their Authenticity: Heather’s work centers on meeting people exactly where they are—guiding them through complex, emotional moments with a calm, grounded presence.

Together, TJ and Heather dive into:

The intersection of faith and LGBTQ+ identity

How to move through fear-based beliefs

Why doing your own “inner work” as a parent matters

The importance of community, boundaries, and grace

Letting go of control and embracing authentic connection

👉 Subscribe to support conversations on conscious healing, authentic living, and personal transformation.

🔗 Learn more:

Element Q Healing: https://www.elementqhealingcenter.com

TJ Woodward: https://www.tjwoodward.com

Heather Hester: https://www.heatherhester.net

In Season 2, Episode 26 of the Element Q Podcast, host TJ Woodward sits down with licensed marriage and family therapist Betsy Spier to explore the complex and often hidden impact of internalized homophobia.

Even after coming out, many LGBTQ people carry unconscious shame shaped by cultural messaging, family dynamics, and early life experiences. Betsy shares her personal story of growing up during the feminist movement, navigating identity in the late 70s and 80s, and discovering how deeply internalized beliefs can linger—even after decades of personal growth.

Together, TJ and Betsy unpack how shame, trauma, and identity conditioning affect LGBTQ mental health and discuss practical ways to heal through awareness, connection, experiential therapy, and inner child work.

They also explore:

• How internalized homophobia shows up in everyday thoughts and behaviors

• Why awareness is the first step toward healing

• The power of experiential therapy and psychodrama

• Why connection—not isolation—is essential for recovery

• The importance of self-acceptance and internal safety

This conversation is a compassionate and insightful look at the journey toward authenticity, healing, and deeper self-love within the LGBTQ community. If you’re interested in LGBTQ mental health, trauma recovery, self-acceptance, or personal growth, this episode offers powerful tools and perspectives.

👉 Subscribe to support conversations on conscious healing, authentic living, and personal transformation. 🔗

Learn more:

Element Q Healing: https://www.elementqhealingcenter.com T

J Woodward: https://www.tjwoodward.com

Betsy Spier: https://betsyspier.com

In Season 2, Episode 25 of the Element Q Podcast, host TJ Woodward welcomes Rev. Cindy Edelson, Senior Minister of Centers for Spiritual Living in Salt Lake City. Together, they explore the deeper call for healing within the LGBTQ+ community and the transformative power of compassion, connection, and spiritual awareness.

Rev. Cindy shares her experience building an LGBTQ+ and allies support group in Utah and how authentic dialogue can break down fear, misunderstanding, and division. The conversation dives into topics many LGBTQ+ people can relate to—childhood shame, internalized beliefs, spiritual trauma, and the journey back to self-acceptance.

TJ and Cindy also explore how practices like mindfulness, awareness, and spiritual teachings can help people break free from negative mental loops, media overload, and “doomscrolling,” allowing us to create a more loving relationship with ourselves and others. If you’ve ever struggled with shame, felt disconnected from your spiritual path, or wondered how to create deeper compassion in a polarized world, this conversation offers insight, hope, and practical tools for healing.

Topics covered include: Healing LGBTQ+ shame and internalized stigma, Building a connection between LGBTQ+ people and allies, Breaking free from doomscrolling and negativity, The role of spirituality in healing trauma, Self-compassion and learning to be gentle with yourself

👉 Subscribe to support conversations on conscious healing, authentic living, and personal transformation.

🔗 Learn more: Element Q Healing: https://www.elementqhealingcenter.com

TJ Woodward: https://www.tjwoodward.com

Rev. Cindy Edelson: https://spirituallyfree.org/leadership