The Bright Morning Podcast with Elena Aguilar
Episodes
How to Coach Towards Agency: Episode 199
13 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do you struggle to coach disempowered clients? Do you have teammates who often feel like things are happening to them? In this episode, Elena shares ...
How to Curb Your “Fix It” Tendency: Episode 198
06 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many of us respond to problems by attempting to solve them. Doing so in coaching conversations undermines our client’s agency. In this episode, Elen...
Core Human Needs and Coaching Conversations: Episode 197
29 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Core Human Needs is a thinking tool that has had the biggest impact on Elena’s coaching practice over the past 20 years. In this episode, Elena...
How to Coach Ways of Being: Episode 196
22 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Coaching a way of being is a crucial distinguisher of Transformational Coaching. If you want to be a Transformational Coach, this is something you mus...
Sneak Peek #4: Inside Elena’s Newest Book!
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The final sneak peek inside Elena’s newest book, Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching. In this episode, Elena shares what you need to know ...
Sneak Peek #3: Inside Elena’s Newest Book!
08 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We’re interrupting our regular programming to bring you the third exclusive look inside Elena’s newest book, Arise: The Art of Transformational Co...
Sneak Peek #2: Inside Elena’s Newest Book!
01 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Surprise! We’re bringing you another exclusive look inside Elena’s newest book, Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching. In this episode, yo...
Sneak Peek #1: Inside Elena’s Newest Book!
25 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We’re interrupting our regular programming to bring you an exclusive look inside Elena’s newest book, Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching....
Building Strong Coach/Admin Relationships: Episode 195
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you a coach who feels like you’re “between” different groups in your building (admin, teachers, etc.)? Are you trying to navigate an “us ...
What to Do When You’re Not Feeling Compassionate or Curious: Episode 194
11 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We all experience moments in our conversations where our compassion and curiosity reserves are low. We also know that compassion and curiosity are cor...
What You Need to Know about Classroom Walkthroughs: Episode 193
04 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do your classroom walkthroughs and data collection lead to empowered teachers and stronger relationships? If not, this is the episode you need. Elena ...
How to Set Up Meeting Process Observers: Episode 192
26 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are your team meetings working for you? If you’re experiencing…Underlying tensionThings that are not being saidPeople not listening to each otherT...
Coaches of Color, It’s Time to Honor Your Needs: Episode 191
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you a coach or leader of color working across lines of racial difference? If so, this episode is for you! Elena shares what you need to know and ...
How to Use the Ladder of Inference in Your Coaching Conversations: Episode 190
12 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Ladder of Inference is a powerful coaching tool…if you know how to use it. In this episode, Elena demonstrates how to use the Ladder of Inferenc...
I Don’t Want to Co-Sign THOSE Feelings: Episode 189
05 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever found yourself on the receiving end of feelings that make you feel some kind of way? In this episode, Elena walks you through five steps...
REPLAY: What is Resistance?: Episode 147
29 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Elena hasn’t experienced resistance in her coaching conversations in over a decade. In this episode, she shares her five step process to eliminate r...
REPLAY: Attend to the Details: Episode 125
22 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Details can make or break a learning experience, yet are too often overlooked or deprioritized as “logistics.” It’s time for that to change. In...
REPLAY: When Things Don’t Go According to Plan: Episode 147
15 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There are 20 minutes left in your session, and you have an hour's worth of content. What do you do? Adaptive facilitation is the key to staying ...
REPLAY: Powerful Facilitation Starts and Ends With You: Episode 123
08 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you want to lead transformative learning experiences, you must tend to your own transformation. In this episode, Elena dives into one of the 7 habi...
REPLAY: How to Set Yourself Up For a Great Year: Episode 146
01 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Resolutions don’t work for the overwhelming number of people, but we know what does! Today we’re replaying one of the most listened-to episodes in...
REPLAY: The End of Month Routine You Need
18 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Here’s the secret to ending the year feeling fulfilled and accomplished: reflect and adjust along the way. Today we’re replaying a listener favor...
REPLAY: The role of "self-care" for educators: Episode 160
18 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week the Bright Morning Podcast is on break so we’re replaying timely episodes. Today we’re replaying the first episode in a four-part mini-s...
Coaching Resistance: Part 1 - What is Resistance: Episode 147
11 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dreading some of your potential holiday conversations? If you’re anticipating resistance to your ideas, activities, or beliefs, this is an episode f...
REPLAY: Preparing for Break
04 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode replay, Elena once again becomes the coach in your ear, providing some guidance for how you can think about winter break to ensur...
Try It On: Supercharge Your Learning: Episode 188
27 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this final episode of our Try it On Challenge mini-series, Elena shares the three questions you need to engage in a 10-minute post-coaching convers...
Try It On: Let Your Coachee Lead: Episode 187
20 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of our Try it On Challenge mini-series, Elena shares the coaching question you need if you’d like to trust the coaching process and ...
Thank You for One Million Downloads!
19 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We are popping up on your feed to share some exciting news and a special giveaway that we will run for the next two weeks to thank all of your for hel...
Try It On - The Power of Silence: Episode 186
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Try It On Challenge mini-series, Elena shares about the power of holding silence in a coaching conversation and provides you wi...
Try It On: A Question to Unlock Our Power: Episode 185
06 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of our Try It On Challenge mini-series Elena shares a question that can support your coachee to make a choice to release a belief that...
Try It On: A Question to Surface Underlying Beliefs: Episode 184
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this mini-episode of the Try if On Challenge, Elena shares a question that will help you and your coachees surface underlying beliefs. You’ll lea...
Try It On: A Confidence Building Sentence Stem: Episode 183
23 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this Try it On Challenge mini-episode, Elena is sharing one of her favorite questions to ask a coachee. You’ll hear her model it, share how you m...
Try It On: Less Talking, More Impact: Episode 182
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of our current mini-series, the Try It On Challenge, Elena shares what you need to know to reduce the talk time you’re taking up as ...
Try It On: Learn from Your Coachee’s Non-Verbals: Episode 181
09 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s try it on challenge focuses on what you can learn from your client’s non-verbals. Listen in to hear Elena explore the strategy you can...
Try It On: Improve Your Communication with Non-Verbals: Episode 180
02 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the “try it on challenge!” This episode kicks off a new mini-series that will provide you with a tool or strategy in each episode guara...
What You Need to Know About Taking Notes During Your Coaching Conversations: Episode 179
25 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What’s the purpose of taking notes in a coaching conversation? What notes should I take? Should I send notes that I take to my coachee? Elena answe...
How to Prepare for a Coaching Conversation in Five Minutes: Episode 178
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Elena shares a minute-by-minute breakdown of how you should spend the five minutes before you walk into a meeting where you will be coaching. These fi...
How to Set Goals with Your Coachees: Episode 177
11 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Elena shares the key to setting impactful goals with your coachees, and the secret to making goal-setting, and accountability, a heal...
How to Introduce Yourself as a Coach: Episode 176
04 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, designed for new coaches at the beginning of the school year, Elena demonstrates how she introduces herself to new coachees and pulls...
How to Introduce Coaching to New Clients: Episode 175
28 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, the third in a series designed to support new coaches in the beginning of the school year, Elena demonstrates how she introduces coac...
The Six Elements of Transformational Coaching: Episode 174
21 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode is arguably the most important Bright Morning Podcast episode to date. Elena provides the foundational knowledge that you need if yo...
The Six Most Important Things to Know If You're a New Coach: Episode 173
14 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s back-to-school season so we’re kicking off a mini-series that will help new coaches have an excellent start to their coaching practice. In th...
Proactively Mitigating and Responding to Harm in Group Spaces: Episode 172
07 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do you proactively mitigate harm being done in PD spaces, particularly harm experienced by people who identify with a marginalized identity? How ...
Facilitating PD: Post-Event Reflection: Episode 171
31 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The reflection you do after facilitating PD has the ability to transform your approach. In this episode, Elena walks you through the four sets of ques...
Designing PD: Reflection Before the Event: Episode 170
24 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this first episode of a three-part series on designing and facilitating transformational PD, Elena “pulls back the curtain” and shares how she ...
Designing & Facilitating Team Meetings - Part 2: Episode 169
17 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever led a team meeting that got derailed due to emotional flair-ups?Elena shares the specific prompts she uses in these daunting facilitatio...
Designing & Facilitating Team Meetings: Part 1: Episode 168
10 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the first of this two-part series, Elena pulls back the “Bright Morning curtain” to give you an insider’s look into how we use purpose to dri...
Navigating Contagious Negativity: Episode 167
03 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this final episode of our Hot Topics of Coaching for Equity mini-series Elena shares seven things you can do when you are in a toxic culture, one w...
Can I Coach Here?: Episode 166
26 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“What do you do if you’re coaching in a place where your values are misaligned?” In this episode of our Hot Topics in Coaching for Equity mini-...
When Someone Is “Too Far Gone” for Coaching: Episode 165
19 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“Is there ever a time when we should consider that someone shouldn't be working with kids…and should we advise supervisors to let them go ver...
When “Equity” is Prohibited: Episode 164
12 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This is the first of a four-episode Hot Topics in Coaching for Equity mini-series. In this episode, Elena is joined by Bright Morning teammate, Nick C...
Finding Your Power: Coaching Conversation: Episode 163
05 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do you support a client who has “lost their mojo?” In this coaching conversation, Elena does so by cultivating self-compassion, engaging with...
Coaching Conversation: ACE In Action: Episode 162
29 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Coaching emotions is the key to Transformational Coaching. And our ACE tool is the key to coaching emotions. In today’s episode, Elena utilizes ACE ...
Three Resilience Boosters You Haven’t Heard Before: Episode 161
22 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This is the second episode in our four-part mini-series on coaching for resilience and coaching emotions. In this episode, Elena shares three resilien...
The Role of "self-care" for Educators: Episode 160
15 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This is the first episode in a four-part mini-series on cultivating emotional resilience and coaching emotions. To kick things off, Elena is sharing t...
REPLAY: Disrupting Racism in Coaching Conversations
08 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“Why don't you disrupt racist behavior more immediately? Our kids needed change yesterday…” We get asked a version of this question frequ...
REPLAY: Why We Need Affinity Spaces
01 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What are racial affinity spaces?Why are racial affinity spaces necessary? How do you respond when people are concerned about there being racial affin...
REPLAY: Microaggressions 101
24 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is a microaggression? What can you do when you hear, see or experience a microaggression? If these are questions you are curious about, this ep...
5 Ways to Normalize Emotions in Your Coaching Conversations: Episode 159
17 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you want to be a Transformational Coach, you must be able to coach emotions. If you want to coach for equity, you must be able to coach emotions. ...
What do we mean by "every conversation is an equity conversation?": Episode 158
10 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Episode Description | At Bright Morning, we believe every conversation is an equity conversation (or at least it should be). But what does that mean...
Coaching When You’re the Boss: Episode 157
03 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“Can I coach if I’m the boss?” The short answer is yes. But only if you are clear, intentional, and capable. If you are an administrator, a sup...
Responding When Emotionally Activated: Episode 156
27 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You’re in the middle of a team meeting or a work conversation and someone says something that sets you off. How do you respond? In today’s episod...
How to Build Your Team’s EQ: Episode 155
20 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you want a team that can engage in healthy conflict, one that experiences high levels of investment and low levels of resistance, you need to focus...
How to Close Your Coaching Conversations: Episode 154
13 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How our conversations end matters. A lot. In this episode, Elena provides 5 tips that will allow you to close your coaching conversations in a way tha...
How to Determine Your Coaching Conversation Area of Focus: Episode 153
06 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What do you do when a coaching client doesn’t know what to focus on during your time together? If you want to feel confident in answering that ques...
REPLAY: A Framework for Responding to Racism
27 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’re replaying an essential What to Say When You Hear Something Racist episode in which Elena shares her simple framework for responding to r...
REPLAY: The Role of Your Identity in Responding to Racism
20 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’re replaying the first episode of our, “What to Say When You Hear Something Racist” series. In this inaugural episode, Elena shares the...
Transformational PD Part 3: Responding to Resistance: Episode 152
13 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever faced resistance while facilitating? Us too! In this final episode of our Transformational PD mini-series, Elena is joined by Bright Mo...
Transformational PD Part 2: Six Transformational Tips: Episode 151
06 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What do I do when an activity I planned just isn’t working? How do I respond to a question that I don’t know how to respond to? My agenda is too...
Transformational PD Part 1: What It Is and Why You Need It: Episode 150
30 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is “transformational PD?” How do we make PD joyful?What are important considerations for one-time vs. ongoing PD?How do we center equity in ...
Coaching Resistance: Part 3 - Coaching Demonstration: Episode 149
23 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s been two months and the teacher you’re coaching still hasn’t implemented the strategies they agreed to. What do you do? In today’s episo...
Coaching Resistance: Part 2 - Preparing OURSELVES: Episode 148
16 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know a childhood photo or a lunch date can help you coach resistance? On today’s episode, Elena and Bright Morning teammate, Nick Cains, di...
Coaching Resistance: Part 1 - What is Resistance: Episode 147
09 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Elena hasn’t experienced resistance in her coaching conversations in over a decade. In this episode, she shares her five step process to eliminate r...
How to Set Yourself Up For a Great Year: Episode 146
02 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Resolutions don’t work for the overwhelming number of people, but we know what does! In this episode, Elena shares the simple, research-based, strat...
An Ask: Episode 146
26 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We’re hard at work preparing amazing episodes for you in 2023, starting with a series on resistance in early January (get excited!). So today we’r...
REPLAY: Preparing for Break: Episode 101
19 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode replay, Elena once again becomes the coach in your ear, providing some guidance for how you can think about winter break to ensur...
REPLAY: First 5 Minutes: “Who is a fictional character…”: Episode 98
12 Dec 2022
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...
REPLAY: First 5 Minutes: Tell Me About a Place…: Episode 92
05 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’re replaying an episode from our First 5 Minutes series. These short episodes provided you with all you need to know to incorporate one res...
In Conversation with Dr. Dena Simmons: Episode 145
28 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Dena Simmons, the founder of LiberatED, a collective focused on developing school-based resources at the intersection of social and emotional lear...
Disrupting Racism at the Dinner Table…And Beyond: Episode 144
21 Nov 2022
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...
Disrupting Racism in Coaching Conversations: Episode 143
14 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
“Why don't you disrupt racist behavior more immediately? Our kids needed change yesterday…” We get asked a version of this question frequ...
Why We Need Affinity Spaces: Episode 142
07 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What are racial affinity spaces?Why are racial affinity spaces necessary? How do you respond when people are concerned about there being racial affini...
Microaggressions 101: Episode 141
31 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What is a microaggression? What can you do when you hear, see or experience a microaggression? If these are questions you are curious about, this ep...
The End of Month Routine You Need (Replay)
24 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Here’s the secret to ending the year feeling fulfilled and accomplished: reflect and adjust along the way. Today we’re replaying a listener favor...
REPLAY: Behind the Design: How to Coach Strong Emotions: Episode 140
17 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this replay of a 2021 episode, Elena pulls back the curtain to provide expert advice on holding spaces for transformation. Today she’s sharing th...
You Want to Coach for Equity? Start Here (REPLAY)
10 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’re replaying an essential podcast episode from last year. In this Coaches’ Corner Elena shows up as your coach and expertly guides you th...
REPLAY: How to ACE Your Coaching Conversations
03 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The October slump is a real thing for educators, and a time where there are a lot of big emotions at play. To help you navigate this reality, we’re ...
The Final Conversation: Coaching Conversation: Episode 140
26 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this fifth, and final, episode of our special Transformational Coaching mini-series, Elena and Erica wrap-up their coaching engagement. Their conve...
Coaching Conversation: Phase 4: Build New Practices: Episode 139
19 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this fourth episode of our special Transformational Coaching mini-series, Elena begins to move her client into Phase 4 of the Transformational Coac...
What Happens When You Trust the Process: Coaching Conversation: Episode 138
12 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes coaching conversations don’t fall neatly into a framework. Sometimes making progress simply requires making space to process. In this thi...
Building Relationships and Trust in Phases 1 and 2 of Transformational Coaching: Coaching Conversation: Episode 137
05 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this second episode of our special Transformational Coaching mini-series, we continue exploring Phase 1 of the Transformational Coaching model: Sur...
Transformational Coaching in Action - Phase 1: Surface Current Reality: Episode 136
29 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this first episode of our special Transformational Coaching mini-series, we’re diving into Phase 1 of the Transformational Coaching model: Surfac...
Limited Series: Starting the School Year Strong Setting Yourself Up to Coach: Episode 135
22 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the fourth and final episode of our four part mini-series, Starting the School Year Strong, Elena shares her favorite tips and tricks relating to t...
Limited Series: Starting the School Year Strong Considerations for a Thriving Coaching Program: Episode 134
15 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the third of our four episode mini-series, Starting the School Year Strong, Elena shares what needs to be crystal clear if you want a thriving coac...
Limited Series: Starting the School Year Strong The PD You Need: Episode 133
08 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the second of our four episode mini-series, Starting the School Year Strong, Elena shares the considerations you need to take into account to ensur...
Starting Strong: The Power of Vision: Episode 132
01 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the final week of our podcast summer break and we’re bringing you a replay episode that will help you incorporate an energizing practice that...
REPLAY: Quarterly Wisdom: Journey into Wanderland: Episode 131
25 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the final week of our podcast summer break and we’re bringing you a replay episode that will help you incorporate an energizing practice that...
Morning Rituals that Meet Your Needs (Repeat)
18 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are you starting the day in a way that serves you and sets you up to have your needs met? How you spend the first part of your day sets the tone for ...
What Do You Need to Quit in Order to Stay (Repeat)
11 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What do you need to quit in order to stay? We’re on summer break, so this week we’re replaying a fan favorite episode to help you explore what yo...
Design Your Summer of Learning (Repeat)
04 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We’re on summer break so today we’re replaying a timely episode to make sure you have an impactful summer. Grab your notebook and something to wr...
Coaching Joy: Episode 129
13 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Exploring our joy (fulfillment, meaning, love, satisfaction, etc.) is a necessary component to cultivating our resilience…and something that require...