The Bright Morning Podcast with Elena Aguilar
It’s possible for every coaching conversation to build connection and spark change, and Elena Aguilar will show you how. Elena Aguilar is one of education’s leading voices on coaching. Educators around the globe use her research-based coaching method to transform their organizations. Her company, Bright Morning, brings the ideas in her best-selling books to life by providing world-class professional development to mission-driven leaders. In The Bright Morning Podcast, Elena teaches you how to make every conversation count by demonstrating Transformational Coaching conversations. Every episode tackles a pressing coaching challenge. Resistance. Racism. Burnout. Overwhelm. Struggling new teachers. You’ll find it all here. If you’re ready to thrive in your work, listen in. New episodes drop every Monday. To learn more about Elena, go deeper into every episode, find the resources and tools she mentions, or join one of her workshops, check out https://brightmorningteam.com.
Episodes
296 episodes
Ending the Year When You’re Not Coming Back: Episode 292
If you’re wrapping up the school year knowing you won’t be returning to your current role or organization, this episode is for you. Elena shares how to find clarity and integrity in your final days, how to say goodbye with care, and how to u...
Strengths-Based Coaching: Episode 291
If you’re ready to move beyond fixing problems and start coaching in a way that builds trust and motivation, this episode is for you. Elena walks you through how to shift into a strengths-based stance, shares how it transformed her coaching ...
Spheres of Influence: Episode 290
If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or powerless in the face of things you can’t change, this episode is for you. Elena introduces the Spheres of Influence framework—a powerful tool to help coaches and leaders move from frustration to empo...
Mind the Gap: Episode 289
If you’ve ever wondered why a client isn’t doing what they say they want to do—and you’re tempted to label it as resistance—this episode is for you. Elena introduces the Gaps Framework, a transformational tool for identifying learning needs ...
Data Conversations That Don’t Shut People Down: Episode 288
What do you do when your client looks at data and shuts down? Or gets defensive? Or spirals into blame? In this episode, Elena explores how to coach through tough data conversations with empathy, clarity, and courage—so that data becomes a t...
Make Virtual Spaces Come Alive: Episode 287
If you’ve ever wondered how to make your virtual PD sessions more energizing, more human, and more engaging—this episode is for you. Elena pulls back the curtain on three strategies we use in every session to make online spaces come alive. P...
Design for Dignity: Episode 286
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 session she once attended, and shows how one tool—the Human-Centered Design Scan—can transform ...
How Power Shows Up in the Room: Episode 285
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 and shares how she used it to design a session that helped a fractured team confront and shift l...
Designing for Emotions, Not Just Content: Ep 284
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 facilitators must tune into emotional energy—and how to skillfully respond when the mood in the room ...
The Conditions for Learning Checklist: Ep 283
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 redesigned a session to prioritize emotional safety and connection—and offers a powerful checklist wit...
What Makes PD Transformational: Episode 282
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 B’s framework—behavior, beliefs, and ways of being—and how to use it to design professional lea...
The Lie We’ve Been Told About PD: Episode 281
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 Aguilar shares a powerful reframe—and a 5-question reflection to help you assess whether your se...
Coaching Through the Low Points: Episode 280
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 is for you. Elena explores how to coach team members through the inevitable low points of the school y...
What to Do When a Team Member Breaks Down: Episode 279
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 for you. Elena offers guidance on how to respond when a team member breaks down emotionally during a...
How to ACE Your Coaching Conversations: Episode 278
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 framework, a three-part process that helps coaches and leaders skillfully navigate emotional intensity...
You Want to Coach Emotions? Start Here: Episode 277
In this foundational episode, Elena Aguilar shares why understanding emotions is essential for Transformational Coaching. You’ll walk away with a reflective practice to deepen your emotional fluency. This episode sets the stage for a new way...
Coaching Through Core Values: Episode 276
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 power of coaching through core values—especially at the beginning of a new year. You’ll learn ho...
When Energy is Low and Needs are High Episode 275
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 practical tool to help you stay anchored when your energy is low and the demands are high. ...
Restarting with Intention: Episode 274
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 ritual to help coaches and leaders return from winter break with clarity and intention. ...
How to Re-Enter with Intention After Break: Ep 273
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 re-enter your work with clarity, peace, and power.Notable mo...
How to Sign Off for Winter Break with Intention: Ep 272
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 into winter break with intention.Notable moments:
What If They Don’t Want to Come Back?: Ep 271
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 clarity, compassion, and a plan they actually want to follow.Notab...
How to End the Year on a High Note: Ep 270
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 close out the calendar year with clarity and pride.Notable mom...
Updating Admin About a Struggling Teacher: Episode 269
Worried about a struggling teacher—and not sure what to tell your admin? In this episode, Elena shares how to raise concerns with honesty, integrity, and care for everyone involved.Notable moments: <...
How to Bring Your Coaching Skills to the Thanksgiving Table: Ep 268
What if your coaching skills could help you navigate Thanksgiving? In this special episode, Elena Aguilar shares how to bring curiosity, presence, and boundaries to your holiday gatherings—and build connection even across ...