The Bright Morning Podcast with Elena Aguilar

Coaching Sadness: Episode 128

06 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There is loss inherent in change regardless of the size or the amount of that change. If this school year was a magical one, or your most challenging ...

Coaching Emotions: Anger: Episode 127

30 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Anger is a part of all of our lives. It has the potential to be a catalyst for change, an insight into our needs, and a source of wisdom. Yet too ofte...

10 Strategies to Shift a Mood: Episode 126

23 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s episode offers ten specific strategies you can use when you need to be “on” but are currently in a mood. If you’ve experienced this in...

It’s All In the Details: Episode 125

16 May 2022

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...

When Things Don’t Go According to Plan: Episode 124

09 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There’s 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 c...

Powerful Facilitation Starts and Ends With You: Episode 123

02 May 2022

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...

The PD Book Sneak Peek: Episode 122

25 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In less than a month The PD Book will be out in the world! This is the book you need if you lead teams, groups and/or professional development of any ...

What to Say: Listener Questions- Asked & Answered: Episode 121

18 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do you respond when young students say something racist? What do you do when you are the one who has said something racist? How do you address a...

REPEAT: You Want to Coach for Equity? Start Here

11 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We’re busy working to put together our What to Say When You Hear Something Racist Listener Questions episode, so today we’re replaying one of our ...

What to Say: An Invitation for You - Get Your Questions Answered

04 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The last episode of our limited series, What to Say When You Hear Something Racist, wrapped up last week and today Elena is back with an invitation fo...

What to Say: Designing Your Racial Equity Learning Journey

28 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the final episode of our limited series, What to Say When You Hear Something Racist, Elena shares recommendations and resources to continue this cr...

What to Say: It’s Complex - What to Say as a Person of Color

27 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of our limited series, What to Say When You Hear Something Racist, Elena is joined by Stacey Goodman to discuss the additional conside...

What to Say: Compassion, Curiosity and Boundaries

18 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do you hold compassion and curiosity when you experience racism? When do you draw boundaries around people who say racist things? These are a few...

What to Say: Here’s What to Say

16 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of our limited series, What to Say When You Hear Something Racist, Elena demonstrates specific sentence stems and responses you can us...

What to Say: Evaluating What’s Possible: Episode 116

14 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode of our limited series, What to Say When You Hear Something Racist, Elena dives into the third (and final) P in her 3 P’s framew...

What to Say: The Role of Power in Addressing Racism: Episode 115

11 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of our What to Say When You Hear Something Racist limited series, Elena guides you through how to reflect on power dynamics that are p...

What to Say: The Power of Purpose: Episode 114

09 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Effectively responding to racism requires you to act with a clear purpose. In this episode of our What to Say When You Hear Something Racist limited s...

What to Say: A Framework for Responding to Racism: Episode 113

07 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Elena shares her simple framework for responding to racism and demonstrates how she recently put it into action while antiquing (because unfortunately...

What to Say: Reckoning with Our Past: Episode 112

28 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

“We can’t go forward unless we look backwards” In today’s episode, Elena shares the three vital reflection questions you must ask and answer ...

What to Say: Recognizing Racism: Episode 111

21 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How can people build knowledge around what racism is and build the accompanying skillset to identify racism in our daily lives? Today Elena is joined...

What to Say: Three Steps to Navigate Your Emotions: Episode 110

14 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the second episode of our new, “What to Say When You Hear Something Racist” series, Elena shares the next step you must take if you want to ski...

What to Say: The Role of Your Identity in Responding to Racism: Episode 109

07 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the first episode of our new, “What to Say When You Hear Something Racist” series, Elena shares the first step you must take if you want to ski...

What to Say: Introducing What to Say When You Hear Something Racist

06 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today Elena is dropping into your feed to introduce a new limited series we’ll be sharing during the months of February and March, 2022: What to Say...

The End of Month Routine You Need: Episode 108

31 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Here’s the secret to ending the year feeling fulfilled and accomplished: reflect and adjust along the way. If you’ve set a goal or an intention f...

Three Steps to Better Decision Making: Episode 107

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Do you struggle with decision making fatigue? Do you want to make decisions with confidence, knowing they are aligned with what matters most and will...

What Do You Need to Quit In Order to Stay?: Episode 106

17 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What do you need to quit in order to stay? This week we continue our January episodes focused on helping you get set-up to have a fantastic year. Tod...

Morning Routines for Educators: Episode 105

10 Jan 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 ...

Coach's Corner: It’s Time to Get Your Needs Met: Episode 104

03 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Have you been dreading the first day back to work after the break? Or are you feeling refreshed and looking forward to the year to come…while fever...

REPLAY: How to Feel Better: Make and Create

20 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Would you benefit from an infusion of energy, healing and joy? That is what we’re hoping to provide you with today’s episode - a replay of one of...

What Do You Need This Winter Break?: Episode 101

12 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, Elena becomes the coach in your ear, providing some guidance for how you can think about winter break to ensure it serves you an...

Introducing The PD Book!: Episode 100

06 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This is an episode you won’t want to miss. Today Elena is joined by her co-author, Lori Cohen, to give you a sneak peek into their forthcoming book:...

Preparing for Healthy Conflict: Episode 99

29 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Are you interested in strengthening your leadership muscles to support your teammates in engaging in healthy conflict? Are you conflict averse but wa...

When it Feels Like it’s Never Enough: Episode 98

22 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How do you support a client when they are working at capacity and still feeling like a failure because the demands are never ending and time is finite...

First 5 Minutes: “Who is a fictional character…”: Episode 95

01 Nov 2021

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: Episode 94

25 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How do you kindle a sense of power and agency in your coachee when they are feeling deflated or overwhelmed?  In this third episode of our special fo...

First 5 Minutes: Resilience Boosting Opener: Episode 93

18 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How can we instill our clients with confidence in their potential to learn and grow? In this second edition of our special four-part First 5 Minutes ...

First 5 Minutes: Tell Me About a Place…: Episode 92

11 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s episode is the first in our special four-part First 5 Minutes series. These short episodes will provide you with all you need to know to inc...

First 5 Minutes Series Trailer

10 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Quarterly Wisdom: Journey into Wanderland: Episode 91

04 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Does your life feel like it’s one checklist after another? Are you feeling unbalanced with your energy being spent only on what must get done and no...

Coaches’ Corner: Is Your Tank Full?: Episode 90

27 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode is a Coaches' Corner episode where you have the opportunity to be guided by Elena in your own "coaching" session. ...

REPLAY: Virtual Reality: Confronting Self-Doubt

20 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we are replaying an earlier coaching conversation with Kathrina Mendez, a teacher in California we first met in episode 2. This was the sec...

How to ACE Your Coaching Conversations: Episode 88

13 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we are replaying an earlier coaching tools episode where Elena provides an overview of the ACE framework, one of the core strategies for coa...

Behind the Design: How to Coach Strong Emotions: Episode 87

06 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This is a Behind the Designs episode in which Elena pulls back the curtain to provide expert advice on holding spaces for transformation. Today she’...

Addressing Race-based Opportunity Gaps: Episode 86

30 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s episode Elena coaches an instructional coach who works at a school that is the top performing high school in the state where despite thei...

You Want to Coach for Equity? Start Here: Episode 85

23 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this Coaches’ Corner episode Elena shows up as your coach and expertly guides you through some exercises and prompts to consider if you are looki...

Kicking Off Coaching Relationships in 2021-22: Episode 84

16 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

“What should my kick-off conversations look like?” In this short Behind the Design episode Elena walks us through how kick-off conversations with...

How Do I Set Up Coaching At My Site?: Episode 83

09 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How do you approach a coaching role in a new (largely undefined) coaching program? Today Elena shares her advice for what you need to consider on the ...

Creating Space: Coaching Conversation: Episode 82

02 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the podcast Elena coaches a former principal turned regional administrator in a power packed 30-minute conversation. The two thought they wer...

Three Tips for Navigating Conflict: Episode 81

26 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today Elena pulls back the curtain on three of her own experiences navigating conflict: with a co-worker, a managee and a manager. She shares her top ...

Remember. Reclaim. Restore. In Conversation with Trisha Moquino: Episode 80

19 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week Elena is in conversation with Trisha Moquino, the founder of Keres Children's Learning Center (KCLC) in Cochiti Pueblo, NM. KCLC is a K...

What Makes a Conversation Transformational: Episode 79

12 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This is a Quarterly Wisdom episode. Today Elena explores two foundational understandings that are essential if you want to have conversations that all...

REPLAY: How to Feel Better: How to Make Changes that Last

05 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

 our final week on break from recording new episodes we’re replaying one of our favorite mini-episodes from Elena’s How to Feel Better program. E...

REPLAY: How to Feel Better: Reflect on Last Year

28 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this repeat of this  mini-episode Elena walks you through the second Feel Better exercise in the How to Feel Better Week 2 Program Guide: “Refle...

REPLAY: How to Feel Better: How am I Feeling?

21 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

 We’re taking a short summer break on the podcast. Over the next three weeks we’ll be replaying a few of our favorite mini-episodes from Elena’...

Unpacking: Creating Boundaries with Cultural Humility: Episode 74

09 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This is a different type of episode, one where we unpack a coaching conversation. If you listened in on Monday, you know Elena coached a white leader ...

Where Do You Draw a Line?

07 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This is a coaching episode. Today Elena coaches a school leader, who identifies as white, as she considers how she wants to lead through ongoing inter...

Coaches’ Corner: Design Your Summer of Learning

31 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s episode is the first of its kind, designed to provide you with some of the benefits of working with your own Transformational Coach. We’re...

Closing Strong: End-of-Year Conversations

17 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

 This is a Behind the Design Episode, the first in its kind that pulls back the curtain on the decisions we make to create the conditions for transfo...

What Do You Say When: A Client Says, “I Don’t Know How…”

10 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This is a “What Do You Say When…” episode, the first of its kind designed to explore some of the most commonly asked questions we receive from c...

Taking a Confrontational Stance

03 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This is a coaching tool episode. Today Elena takes you behind the scenes to explore how and why she uses the confrontational stance in her coaching co...

Who Defines the Terms of a Coaching Conversation?

26 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This is a coaching conversation. In this episode Elena coaches a veteran school-based coach seeking to increase the impact of their coaching sessions....

Special Announcement - Season 3

25 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Feel Better: Create Your Recipe for Well-Being

23 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This is the final episode of our special edition How to Feel Better podcast series. Today Elena gets us ready to engage in the final two exercises in ...

Feel Better: Create a Pandemic Transition Plan

22 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this mini-episode of the Feel Better program, Elena walks you through the fourth exercise in the Week Four How to Feel Better Guide: A Post-Pandemi...

Feel Better: How to Make Changes that Last (CORRECTED)

21 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Note  This is  the correct version of the episode that was originally released  on April 20, 2021 .  Sorry for the confusion. In this episode Ele...

Feel Better: Letting Go

21 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this mini-episode of the Feel Better program, Elena walks you through the third exercise in the Week Four How to Feel Better Guide: Letting Go. Get...

Feel Better Step 4: Act

19 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, Elena kicks off the fourth and final week of her free How to Feel Better program. This week we move to action and lay the founda...

Feel Better: Make and Create

16 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this mini-episode Elena walks you through the final Feel Better exercise in the How to Feel Better Week 3 Program Guide: “Make and Create" a...

Feel Better: Honoring Heroes and Human Resilience

15 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this mini-episode Elena walks you through the fourth Feel Better exercise in the How to Feel Better Week 3 Program Guide: “Honoring Heroes and Hu...

Feel Better: Rest. Grief is Exhausting.

14 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this mini-episode Elena walks you through the third Feel Better exercise in the How to Feel Better Week 3 Program Guide: “Rest. Grief is Exhausti...

Feel Better: Write Your Story

13 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this mini-episode Elena walks you through the second Feel Better exercise in the How to Feel Better Week 3 Program Guide: “What's the Story ...

Feel Better Step 3: Commemorate

12 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, Elena kicks off week 3 of her free How to Feel Better 4-week program. This week we move from reflection into intentional action....

Feel Better: Connect with Others

09 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this mini-episode Elena walks you through the fourth and final Feel Better exercise in the How to Feel Better Week 2 Program Guide: “Connect with...

Feel Better: Resilience Infusion: Cultivate Perspective

08 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this mini-episode Elena walks you through the third Feel Better exercise in the How to Feel Better Week 2 Program Guide: “Cultivate Perspective&q...

Feel Better: Reflect on Last Year

07 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this mini-episode Elena walks you through the second Feel Better exercise in the How to Feel Better Week 2 Program Guide: “Reflect on Last Year&q...

Feel Better: Have Your Emotions to Tea

06 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this mini-episode Elena walks you through the first Feel Better exercise in the How to Feel Better Week 2 Program Guide: “Have Your Emotions to T...

Feel Better Step 2: Explore

05 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, Elena kicks off week 2 of her free How to Feel Better 4-week program. What is the second step you need to take if you want to st...

Feel Better: Resilience Infusion: Energy Check-In

02 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this mini-episode Elena walks you through the forth Feel Better exercise in the How to Feel Better Week 1 Program Guide: the “Energy Check-In.&qu...

Feel Better: How Do You Want to Feel?

01 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this mini-episode Elena walks you through the third Feel Better exercise in the How to Feel Better Week 1 Program Guide: the “What do I Want to F...

Feel Better: Name Those Feelings

31 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this mini-episode Elena walks you through the second Feel Better exercise in the How to Feel Better Week 1 Program Guide: the “Name Those Feeling...

Feel Better: How am I feeling?

30 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this mini-episode Elena walks you through the first Feel Better exercise in the How to Feel Better Week 1 Program Guide: the “How am I Feeling?”...

Feel Better Step 1: Look

29 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, Elena officially kicks off her free How to Feel Better 4-week program. Here’s a spoiler: the first step of how to feel better ...

Feel Better Program Starts on Monday!

26 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Announcing Feel Better: A Special Edition Podcast Series

22 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week Elena dives into what is behind the current phenomenon of hearing so many people expressing the desire to want to “feel better” right no...

Creating a Recipe for Thriving Through Change

15 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This is a coaching conversation. In this episode Elena once again coaches Huber Trenado, a teacher (who is also a former student!) who we met in Seaso...

Coaching Tool: The Spheres of Influence

01 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this power-packed mini-episode Elena provides guidance on how The Spheres of Influence can be engaged right now as a critical resilience boosting s...

A Lonely Role with Adam Morales [Revisited]

22 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On the Bright Morning Podcast: This week is a coaching conversation. Continuing on with our theme for this season, Elena is catching up with a coachee...

Getting Unstuck: Standing in Solidarity

15 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This is a different kind of episode. Not an interview or a coaching conversation, but rather a candid talk between two colleagues as we explore how we...

Ask Me Anything: Coaching for Equity Edition

08 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Elena is joined by Bright Morning Senior Associate, Lori Cohen, for an Ask Me Anything episode. The two respond to your questions related to coaching ...

How to ACE Your Coaching Conversations

17 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Elena provides an overview of the ACE framework, one of the core strategies for coaching resilience. The ACE framework is one that ha...

Virtual Reality: Confronting Self-Doubt

11 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Elena once again coaches Kathrina Mendez, a teacher in California we first met in episode 2 where the conversation centered around dra...

Quarterly Wisdom - A Word for the Year

04 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to Season 2 of the Bright Morning podcast! In this “Quarterly Wisdom Episode,” Elena shares the word that she hopes will encapsulate her h...

Coaching Tools for Transformation: Core Values, Mind the Gap and Strengths-Based Coaching

23 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is the first of a new kind you can expect ongoing: Coaching Tools for Transformation.Two of the questions we receive most often during ou...

Coaching A First-Year Teacher | Abigail Brown

07 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Elena coaches Abigail Brown, a first-year teacher in Indianapolis. While in some ways Abigail is dealing with typical new teacher challenge...