The Bright Morning Podcast with Elena Aguilar
Episodes
Design for Dignity: Episode 286
30 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What does it look like to design PD that honors people’s identities and experiences? In this episode, Elena shares a story of a dignity-absent PD se...
How Power Shows Up in the Room: Episode 285
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve ever felt the dynamics in a room shift but couldn’t quite name why, this episode is for you. Elena introduces the Power Reflection Map a...
Designing for Emotions, Not Just Content: Ep 284
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve ever felt like your session was “technically fine” but still falling flat, this episode is for you. Elena Aguilar explores why PD faci...
The Conditions for Learning Checklist: Ep 283
09 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve ever designed a PD session that had great content—but still didn’t land—this episode is for you. Elena shares a story of how she red...
What Makes PD Transformational: Episode 282
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve ever led a PD session that felt great in the moment but didn’t lead to real change, this episode is for you. Elena Aguilar shares the 3 ...
The Lie We’ve Been Told About PD: Episode 281
23 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve ever walked out of a PD session wondering what the point was, this episode is for you. In this kickoff to our PD podcast series, Elena Agu...
Coaching Through the Low Points: Episode 280
16 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve ever found yourself staring at a team member who’s clearly struggling and wondered, “What do I even say right now?”—this episode i...
What to Do When a Team Member Breaks Down: Episode 279
09 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve ever been in a conversation where someone starts crying, shuts down, or lashes out—and you weren’t sure what to do—this episode is f...
How to ACE Your Coaching Conversations: Episode 278
02 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t know what to say when someone gets emotional,” this episode is for you. Elena introduces the ACE Emotions fra...
You Want to Coach Emotions? Start Here: Episode 277
26 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this foundational episode, Elena Aguilar shares why understanding emotions is essential for Transformational Coaching. You’ll walk away with a re...
Coaching Through Core Values: Episode 276
19 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re looking for a way to start the year with depth and clarity in your coaching conversations, this episode is for you. Elena explores the pow...
When Energy is Low and Needs are High Episode 275
12 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re returning from break and feeling like your energy is low but the demands are already high, this episode is for you. Elena shares a practic...
Coaching Across Lines of Difference | Adam Morales
06 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Elena coaches Adam Morales, an assistant principal from Arizona. on working across lines of racial of racial differences.
Restarting with Intention: Episode 274
05 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re coming back from winter break and want to start this next chapter with clarity and calm, this episode is for you. Elena shares a powerful ...
How to Re-Enter with Intention After Break: Ep 273
29 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Returning from break doesn’t have to mean jumping back into the chaos. In this special episode, Elena offers three reflection questions to help you...
How to Sign Off for Winter Break with Intention: Ep 272
22 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you leave the year behind and truly rest? In this special episode, Elena offers five powerful questions to help you reflect, release, and step...
What If They Don’t Want to Come Back?: Ep 271
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dreading January? You’re not alone—and neither are your clients.In this episode, Elena shares how to help educators return from break with renewed...
How to End the Year on a High Note: Ep 270
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
December is a blur—but it doesn’t have to be a missed opportunity. In this episode, Elena shares how to help your clients reflect, celebrate, and...
Special Drop: Go Deeper This Week with Elena
07 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tomorrow’s episode tackles a powerful topic: how to help your clients end the year on a high note—and today, Elena’s giving you a preview. Plus,...
Updating Admin About a Struggling Teacher: Ep 269
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Worried about a struggling teacher—and not sure what to tell your admin? In this episode, Elena shares how to raise concerns with honesty, integrit...
How to Bring Your Coaching Skills to the Thanksgiving Table: Ep 268
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if your coaching skills could help you navigate Thanksgiving? In this special episode, Elena Aguilar shares how to bring curiosity, presence, an...
Should I Be Taking Notes?: Episode 267
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you taking too many notes—or none at all?In this episode, Elena offers a practical and powerful approach to note-taking during coaching conversa...
What Just Happened in that Conversation?: Episode 266
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You coached. Now what? In this episode, Elena explains why the moments after a coaching conversation are where your growth lives. Learn how to build ...
Planning for a Coaching Conversation in 5 Minutes: Episode 265
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do I really need to plan for every coaching session? In this episode, Elena explains how even five minutes of intentional prep can transform your coa...
Am I Even Making a Difference?: Episode 264
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Three months into coaching and wondering if you’re making any difference at all? You’re not alone. In this episode, Elena shares a reflective pro...
What If We’re Just Not Clicking?: Episode 263
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Your client keeps canceling. Or giving one-word answers. Or something just feels... off. In this episode, Elena shares what to do when you’re not c...
Coaching BIG Emotions: Episode 262
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Your client is crying again… or emotionally checked out… or endlessly venting. What do you do? In this episode, Elena teaches you how to coach em...
Where Do I Start? They Have 101 Gaps!: Ep 261
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When a teacher has 101 gaps to close, where do you start? In this episode, Elena walks you through how to use the Gaps Framework to lead overwhelmed ...
Coaching Core Human Needs [Demonstration]: Episode 260
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When our core needs go unmet, we suffer. When they’re met, we thrive. In this episode, Elena shares a live coaching demonstration of how to help a ...
Coaching Limiting Beliefs [Demonstration]: Episode 259
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Limiting beliefs can keep your clients stuck. In this episode, Elena shares a live demonstration of how to coach someone using the Exploring Beliefs ...
Using the Ladder of Inference [Demonstration]: Episode 258
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When your client jumps to conclusions, the Ladder of Inference can help. In this episode, Elena demonstrates how to use the Ladder to surface assumpt...
Using the Wheel of Privilege and Power [Demonstration]: Episode 257
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Want to hear what it sounds like to coach with the Wheel of Privilege and Power? In this episode, Elena shares a live coaching demo and unpacks how t...
Coaching Someone Off the Drama Triangle [Demonstration]: Episode 256
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tired of coaching clients stuck in blame, burnout, or helplessness? In this episode, Elena shares a live demonstration of how to coach someone off th...
Staying True to Yourself as a Coach: Episode 255
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“This isn’t who I want to be.”If you’ve ever said those words—or quietly thought them at the end of a long day—this episode is your invita...
You’re Not the School Helper. Reclaiming Your Time as a Coach: Ep 254
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If your calendar reflects everyone’s priorities except yours, this episode is for you. Elena shares why so many coaches feel overworked and under-i...
What’s My Role Again? How to Introduce Yourself as a Coach: Ep 253
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Your introduction as a coach sets the tone for every conversation that follows. But what if you’re not sure what to say—or how to say it in a way...
What if My Boss Doesn’t Get Coaching?: Episode 252
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if your admin doesn’t understand what coaching is—or worse, expects you to “fix” teachers? In this episode, Elena shares how to proactiv...
Ask One More Question: Episode 251
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes, the people we love the most get the version of us we like the least. That’s normal, and we can do better. Our summer break series will he...
“How Would You Like Me to Listen?”: Ep 250
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes, the people we love the most get the version of us we like the least. That’s normal, and we can do better. Our summer break series will he...
How to Acknowledge Emotions In One Sentence: Ep 249
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes, the people we love the most get the version of us we like the least. That’s normal, and we can do better. Our summer break series will he...
Coach the Person, Not the Problem: Ep 248
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes, the people we love the most get the version of us we like the least. That’s normal, and we can do better. Our summer break series will he...
How 5 Seconds Can Transform Your Conversations: Ep 247
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes, the people we love the most get the version of us we like the least. That’s normal, and we can do better. Our summer break series will he...
Prepare for Your Conversations in 30 Seconds: Ep 246
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes, the people we love the most get the version of us we like the least. That’s normal, and we can do better. Our summer break series will he...
How to Create an Energizing Summer Learning Plan: Episode 245
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Elena tackles a challenge you're likely facing right now: the frantic race to complete year-end responsibilities while a crucial...
Turn Your Triggers into Tools: Episode 244
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Elena reveals how those moments when you suddenly lose composure—whether from a colleague's comment or an unexpected email—aren't signs ...
Celebrating Success in Community: Episode 243
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tired of end-of-year celebrations that only recognize a select few? In this episode, Elena reveals how inclusive celebrations that honor everyone&apos...
EOY Reflection for Coaches: Episode 242
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Want to improve your self-awareness, strengthen your relationships, and refine your ability to make choices that align with your values?That’s wh...
Coaching Up: Episode 241
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever been frustrated in a conversation with a manager? If so, this episode is for you! Elena shares how you can use your coaching tools to “...
How to Lead an End-of-Year Conversation With a Client: Episode 240
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The peak-end rule tells us that how a person experiences an ending matters tremendously– that people judge an experience based on how they felt at i...
Navigating a Client’s Lack of Growth: Episode 239
05 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have a client who failed to make meaningful progress towards their goals this year? In this short episode, Elena guides you through how to navi...
Core Emotions Tool in Action: Episode 238
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Coaching emotions is a foundational ability of a Transformational Coach…and one of the hardest things for many people to do. In this episode, Elena ...
Transformational Coaching Dispositions: Episode 237
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cultivating our way of being—how we show up—is the most important work we can do. In this episode, Elena shares the five Transformational Coaching...
How to Return to Presence: Episode 236
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Not being present is a recipe for unproductive conversations and relationships. Unfortunately, it’s a hard state for most people to be in–especial...
Expansive Listening in Action: Episode 235
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Coaching the problem, not the person, is the number one trap that coaches fall into. In this episode, Elena demonstrates how you can use expansive lis...
First 5 Minutes: “Who is a fictional character…” [Replay]
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can we bring some creativity and levity to our coaching conversations? What about helping our clients access their needs? Or connecting them to th...
First 5 Minutes: “Tell me about a challenging moment…” [Replay]
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you kindle a sense of power and agency in your coachee when they are feeling deflated or overwhelmed? A replay of our fan-favorite First 5 Mi...
First 5 Minutes: “Tell me a story…” [Replay]
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can we instill our clients with confidence in their potential to learn and grow? A replay of our fan-favorite First 5 Minutes series. These short...
First 5 Minutes: “Tell Me About a Place…” [Replay]
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A replay of our fan-favorite First 5 Minutes series. These short episodes will teach you how to incorporate one resilience-boosting question into your...
Transformational Lesson Plan Feedback: Coaching Demonstration: Episode 234
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it look like to incorporate Transformational Coaching into everyday instructional coaching practices? Get ready to see it in action. In this...
Navigating Standardized Testing Woes: Coaching Conversation: Episode 233
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Standardized testing season is upon us, and that means you’re likely to experience some big feelings in your schools and coaching conversations. In ...
Instructional Coaching with Transformational Coaching Strategies: Coaching Demonstration: Episode 232
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do instructional coaching and Transformational Coaching work together? This is a question we hear a lot. In this episode, Elena demonstrates some...
Combat Overwhelm with a Focal Student: Episode 231
10 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Working with a focal student is one coaching strategy that works just as well with clients who are completely overwhelmed as it does with those who ar...
Using Student Surveys to Build Trust and Close Gaps: Ep 230
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Student surveys can help close knowledge gaps about students' backgrounds, close emotional intelligence gaps regarding the experience their stude...
Taking a Confrontational Stance: Coaching Demonstration: Episode 229
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Change is why we coach. And it’s why working with a client who is stuck, resistant, or has hit a plateau can be so frustrating. In these moments, yo...
Assessing Trust In Your Coaching Relationships: Coaching Demonstration: Episode 228
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There is no coaching without trust. But how do you know if your clients trust you? In today’s episode, Elena demonstrates how to do a trust check-i...
Normalizing Struggles with the Conscious Competence Ladder: Coaching Demonstration: Episode 227
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you are coaching someone who is struggling to learn how to do something new, today’s episode is for you. When growing our skills, the stages of l...
How to Set Yourself Up For a Great Year [Repeat]
30 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Resolutions don’t work for the overwhelming number of people, but we know what does! In this timely episode replay, Elena shares the simple, researc...
Preparing for Break [Replay]
23 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this timely replay, Elena once again becomes the coach in your ear, providing some guidance for how you can think about winter break to ensure it s...
The Final Coaching Conversation of the Calendar Year: Episode 226
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Peak End rule tells us that people's final experience has an outsized influence on how they remember something. This is great news for our co...
How to Know What Your Clients Think About Your Coaching: Episode 225
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Soliciting feedback from your coaching clients has big benefits, including strengthening your practice, building trust, and modeling being a learner. ...
Navigating Confidentiality in Coaching: Coaching Demonstration Episode 224
02 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Elena addresses one of the most challenging aspects of coaching—navigating confidentiality within an organization. Through a role-play conversation ...
Your 10-Minute Conversation Reflection Guide [Replay]
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The easiest thing you can do to improve your coaching conversations is to incorporate reflection. In this fan-favorite episode replay, Elena shares th...
Disrupting Racism at the Dinner Table…And Beyond [Replay]
18 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The winter holidays can include many things: time with family, a break from work…and maybe some casual racism over dinner. In today’s episode, Ele...
How to Prepare for a Coaching Conversation in Five Minutes [Replay]
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this replay of a fan-favorite episode, Elena shares a minute-by-minute breakdown of how you should spend the five minutes before you walk into a me...
Bright Morning Podcast Trailer
08 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A Question to Cultivate Agency [Replay]
04 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do you kindle a sense of power and agency in your client when they are feeling deflated or overwhelmed? In this fan-favorite replay episode of o...
Soliciting Feedback from Your Admin: Coaching Demonstration: Episode 223
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We spend most of our waking hours at work. With that level of investment, we better make sure that what we’re doing is working, but too often, we ju...
Coaching an Emotions-Resistant Client: Coaching Demonstration: Episode 222
21 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do you coach emotions with a client who doesn’t want to talk about their emotions? That’s what you’ll learn in this episode. In just ten min...
Navigating Client Cancelations: Coaching Demonstration: Episode 221
14 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What do you do when a client continues to cancel their meetings with you? That’s what you’ll learn in this episode. Elena demonstrates practical s...
Using the Gaps Framework: Coaching Demonstration: Episode 220
07 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Elena coaches a teacher experiencing frustration after a failed family night in her classroom. She introduces the Gaps Framework to support the teache...
How to Open and Close a Coaching Conversation: Episode 219
01 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Running short on time in your coaching conversations? This episode is for you. Elena, playing the role of a school-based coach, demonstrates how to de...
Navigating First Observation Nerves: Episode 218
23 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re leading classroom observations, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Elena, playing the role of school-based coach, demonstrates h...
The Getting-to-Know-You Conversation: Episode 217
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Elena demonstrates how to facilitate an impactful getting-to-know-you portion of a coaching conversation. Playing the role of a school-based coach wor...
Aligning Expectations Between Coach and Admin: Episode 216
09 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Elena (playing the role of school-based coach) and Mike (playing the role of her admin) explore the introduction of a new coaching mo...
Designing Impactful Coaching Goals: Episode 215
02 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The number one way to make every conversation count is to have a clearly defined coaching goal that matters for students that you and your client are ...
Crafting Your Personal Vision for the School Year: Episode 214
26 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The beginning of the school year is the ideal time to ground yourself in who you want and need to be in your role this year. Elena provides two exerci...
Six Things Coaches Need to Know Before School Starts: Episode 213
19 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Unclear expectations are a recipe for resentment. Elena shares how coaches and admin can align from day zero and the six things to cover in a beginnin...
Determining Your Schedule for the School Year: Episode 212
12 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Trying to do all the things is a recipe for burnout. Elena shares considerations for how to create a weekly schedule that sets you up to thrive as a T...
How to Introduce Yourself to Clients: Episode 211
05 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The way you introduce yourself to your clients sets the tone for your work together. Elena shares four options to consider and the pros and cons of ea...
How to Coach Behaviors: Coaching Conversations: Episode 210
29 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Elena demonstrates how to coach a new teacher struggling with classroom culture and not consistently following through with the next ...
Coaching Behaviors: Teacher-to-Student Interaction Tool: Episode 209
22 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is the fourth in a series of five episodes on coaching beliefs. Elena introduces the Teacher-to-Student Interaction Tracking Tool, explains how t...
How to Coach Behaviors: The Gaps Framework: Episode 208
15 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is the third in a series of five episodes on coaching behaviors. Elena provides an overview of how to use her “Gaps Framework” coaching tool,...
Coaching Behaviors: Planning for the Conversation: Episode 207
08 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is the second in a series of five episodes on coaching behaviors. Elena shares how she prepared for her coaching conversations, including how the...
How to Coach Behaviors: Episode 206
01 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is the first of five episodes sharing knowledge and tools to help you coach behaviors. To kick things off, Elena shares the seven factors she con...
How to Coach Beliefs: Coaching Demonstration: Episode 205
24 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Elena coaches a teacher who is resistant to exploring her emotions. Then she pulls back the curtain to reveal her coaching moves and ...
How to Coach Beliefs: Create New Beliefs: Episode 204
17 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you want to support your clients in releasing beliefs that aren’t serving them, you need to be able to guide them to create new beliefs. That’s...
Coaching Beliefs: A Simple Three-Step Tool: Episode 203
10 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Elena introduces and demonstrates a new, simple three-step tool for coaching someone who has slipped into a victim mindset. This is e...
How to Coach Beliefs: The Drama Triangle: Episode 202
03 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Limiting beliefs often accompany frustration. In this episode, Elena provides a framework and tool to help you identify when the person you are coachi...
How to Coach Beliefs: Five Things You Need to Know: Episode 201
27 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you want to coach the beliefs that drive actions, you need to know and be able to do five things. Elena shares those and much more in this first of...
Coaching Conversation: Coaching Core Human Needs: Episode 200
20 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Elena uses the Core Human Needs framework to coach a teacher who is struggling to adapt to a new school environment. At multiple poin...