
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.
Latest episodes

May 27, 2024 • 28min
How to Coach Beliefs: Five Things You Need to Know: Episode 201
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 a five-part series on coaching beliefs. Mentioned on this episode: Become a Friend of the Podcast Pre-order Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching Claim your pre-order bonuses Attend an in-person workshop with Elena Opportunities for continued learning: Become a Bright Morning Member Attend an in-person workshop with Elena Reflection questions: What is a belief that you hold right now about your work?What is possible if you hold that belief? What actions do you take as a result of that belief?How do those actions impact you and other people? Is this a belief you want to maintain, or one that might better serve you if you were to release it? Follow Elena on Instagram and LinkedIn.Follow Bright Morning on LinkedIn and InstagramReceive weekly wisdom and tools from Elena delivered to your inbox!As a Bright Morning Member, you get a front-row seat to see the process of Transformational Coaching unfold during live coaching demonstrations by our presenters and the training and practice time you need to transform your skills and impact. Support us by becoming a Friend of the Show! Podcast Transcript and Use:Bright Morning Consulting owns the copyright in and to all content in and transcripts of The Bright Morning Podcast, with all rights reserved. You may not, except with our express written permission, distribute or commercially exploit the content.We welcome you to download and share the podcast with others for personal use; please acknowledge The Bright Morning Podcast as the source of the material.Episode TranscriptLISTEN WHEREVER YOU FIND PODCASTS – AND BE SURE TO RATE AND REVIEW US!

May 20, 2024 • 49min
Coaching Conversation: Coaching Core Human Needs: Episode 200
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 points in the conversation, Elena “pulls back the curtain” and provides insights into her coaching moves. Mentioned on this episode: Become a Friend of the Podcast Core Human NeedsPre-order Arise: The Art of Transformational CoachingEpisode 183: Try It On: A Confidence Building Sentence StemOpportunities for continued learning: Become a Bright Morning Member Attend The Art of Coaching (Bright Morning workshop) Reflection questions: Consider a current pain point in your life. Which of your core human needs are currently met and unmet? How might you use this framework to consider next steps? Consider a client who is struggling. What core human needs might be unmet? How could you use this framework in your next coaching conversation? Follow Elena on Instagram and LinkedIn.Receive weekly wisdom and tools from Elena delivered to your inbox! Sign up at https://brightmorningteam.com/newsletter/ As a Bright Morning Member, you get a front-row seat to see the process of Transformational Coaching unfold during live coaching demonstrations by our presenters and the training and practice time you need to transform your skills and impact. Learn more: https://www.brightmorningteam.com/membership Support us by becoming a Friend of the Show! Podcast Transcript and Use:Bright Morning Consulting owns the copyright in and to all content in and transcripts of The Bright Morning Podcast, with all rights reserved. You may not, except with our express written permission, distribute or commercially exploit the content.If you would like to support the show and enable us to invest additional resources into providing more polished transcripts, you can do so by becoming a Friend of the Show. Episode TranscriptLISTEN WHEREVER YOU FIND PODCASTS – AND BE SURE TO RATE AND REVIEW US!

May 13, 2024 • 16min
How to Coach Towards Agency: Episode 199
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 coaching ways of being, and in particular, coaching agency is the skill a Transformational Coach needs to help their clients feel better and empowered to get their needs met. You’ll learn two approaches to start utilizing this approach in your coaching conversations. Mentioned on this episode: Become a Friend of the Podcast Pre-order Arise: The Art of Transformational Coachingand claim your pre-order bonus offers Coaching agency tool created by ElenaEpisode 43: Coaching Tool: The Spheres of InfluenceOpportunities for continued learning: Become a Bright Morning Member Attend a The Art of Coaching virtual workshop or a The Art of Transformational Coaching in-person workshop with Elena Reflection questions: What have you heard in your coaching conversations lately that indicates a client might be experiencing a lack of agency? Coaching toward agency requires a foundational belief that a client doesn’t need to be fixed. To what extent is this a deeply held belief of yours? Elena shared multiple ways you might invite clients to explore increasing their agency. Which approaches resonated with you? Is there a way you would like to modify one of these to make it more your own? Follow Elena on Instagram and LinkedIn.Receive weekly wisdom and tools from Elena delivered to your inbox!Become a Friend of the Show!Podcast Transcript and Use:Bright Morning Consulting owns the copyright in and to all content in and transcripts of The Bright Morning Podcast, with all rights reserved. You may not, except with our express written permission, distribute or commercially exploit the content.If you would like to support the show and enable us to invest additional resources into providing more polished transcripts, you can do so by becoming a Friend of the Show.Episode TranscriptPLEASE BE SURE TO RATE AND REVIEW US!

May 6, 2024 • 18min
How to Curb Your “Fix It” Tendency: Episode 198
Many of us respond to problems by attempting to solve them. Doing so in coaching conversations undermines our client’s agency. In this episode, Elena shares what causes a fix-it tendency and five steps you can take to resist it in your conversations.Mentioned on this episode: Become a Friend of the PodcastPre-order Arise: The Art of Transformational Coachingand claim your pre-order bonus offersThe Creative ACT: A Way of Being, by Rick RubinOpportunities for continued learning: Become a Bright Morning MemberAttend a The Art of Coaching virtual workshop or a The Art of Transformational Coaching in-person workshop with ElenaReflection questions: Recall the last time you slipped into a fix-it tendency:What uncomfortable emotions were present for you in this moment?What element of your conditioning might have been at play?In retrospect, what alternative approach would have better served your client?Elena shared five steps you can take to resist the fix-it tendency. Which will be most challenging for you? How can you build your capacity in this area?Follow Elena on Instagram and LinkedIn.Receive weekly wisdom and tools from Elena delivered to your inbox!As a Bright Morning Member, you get a front-row seat to see the process of Transformational Coaching unfold during live coaching demonstrations by our presenters and the training and practice time you need to transform your skills and impact.Podcast Transcript and Use:Bright Morning Consulting owns the copyright in and to all content in and transcripts of The Bright Morning Podcast, with all rights reserved. You may not, except with our express written permission, distribute or commercially exploit the content.If you would like to support the show and enable us to invest additional resources into providing more polished transcripts, you can do so by becoming a Friend of the Show.Episode TranscriptLISTEN WHEREVER YOU FIND PODCASTS – AND BE SURE TO RATE AND REVIEW US!

Apr 29, 2024 • 32min
Core Human Needs and Coaching Conversations: Episode 197
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 explains what the core human needs are, what you might hear in coaching conversations to indicate they aren’t being met, and how to respond in those moments. This tool is critical for coaching ways of being. Mentioned on this episode: Become a Friend of the PodcastPre-order Arise: The Art of Transformational Coachingand claim your pre-order bonus offersCore Human NeedsEpisode 43: Coaching Tool: The Spheres of InfluenceEpisode 37: How to ACE Your Coaching ConversationsEpisode 183: Try It On: A Confidence Building Sentence StemOpportunities for continued learning: Become a Bright Morning MemberAttend a The Art of Coaching virtual workshop (retired July 2024 and replaced by The Art of Transformational Coaching workshop) or The Art of Transformational Coaching in-person workshop with ElenaReflection questions: How do you think/feel/act/communicate when your own core human needs are not being met?Think about a client whom you are struggling to support. What types of things are they saying in your conversation? What can those comments tell you about what core human need(s) aren’t being met?What do you need to do in order to use the Core Human Needs framework in an upcoming coaching conversation?Follow Elena on Instagram and LinkedIn.Receive weekly wisdom and tools from Elena delivered to your inbox!Podcast Transcript and Use:Bright Morning Consulting owns the copyright in and to all content in and transcripts of The Bright Morning Podcast, with all rights reserved. You may not, except with our express written permission, distribute or commercially exploit the content.If you would like to support the show and enable us to invest additional resources into providing more polished transcripts, you can do so by becoming a Friend of the Show.Episode TranscriptPLEASE BE SURE TO RATE AND REVIEW US!

Apr 22, 2024 • 16min
How to Coach Ways of Being: Episode 196
Coaching a way of being is a crucial distinguisher of Transformational Coaching. If you want to be a Transformational Coach, this is something you must know how to do! This is the first episode of a 5-part series that will help you do so. Mentioned on this episode: Pre-order Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching Become a Friend of the Podcast Opportunities for continued learning: Become a Bright Morning Member Attend a The Art of Coaching virtual workshop (retired July 2024 and replaced by The Art of Transformational Coaching workshop) or a The Art of Transformational Coaching in-person workshop with Elena Reflection questions: What resonated about this episode? What connections did you make? How would you describe your current default way of being when you coach? What does the concept of coaching ways of being make you want to do as a coach, as a leader, as a human? What kind of actions does this evoke in you or inspire in you? Follow Elena on Instagram and LinkedIn.Receive weekly wisdom and tools from Elena delivered to your inbox! Sign up at https://brightmorningteam.com/newsletter/ As a Bright Morning Member, you get a front-row seat to see the process of Transformational Coaching unfold during live coaching demonstrations by our presenters and the training and practice time you need to transform your skills and impact. Learn more: https://www.brightmorningteam.com/membership Support us by becoming a Friend of the Show! Podcast Transcript and Use:Bright Morning Consulting owns the copyright in and to all content in and transcripts of The Bright Morning Podcast, with all rights reserved. You may not, except with our express written permission, distribute or commercially exploit the content.If you would like to support the show and enable us to invest additional resources into providing more polished transcripts, you can do so by becoming a Friend of the Show. Episode TranscriptLISTEN WHEREVER YOU FIND PODCASTS – AND BE SURE TO RATE AND REVIEW US!

Apr 15, 2024 • 10min
Sneak Peek #4: Inside Elena’s Newest Book!
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 about coaching emotions–and why you don’t need to be a therapist to do so. Mentioned on this episode: Pre-order Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching Claim your pre-order bonus offersJoin Elena in person at a workshop this fall!San Francisco - August 8-9Los Angeles - August 26-27Austin - September 5-6Atlanta - September 12-13Minneapolis - September 16-17Chicago - September 19-20Philadelphia - September 23-24New York - September 26-27San Francisco - October 3-4Chicago - October 8-9San Diego - October 24-25Opportunities for continued learning: Become a Bright Morning Member Join Elena in person at an upcoming book tour/workshop! Sign up for her Weekly Wisdom newsletter to be the first to know all the details. Follow Elena on Instagram and LinkedIn.Receive weekly wisdom and tools from Elena delivered to your inbox! Sign up at https://brightmorningteam.com/newsletter/ As a Bright Morning Member, you get a front-row seat to see the process of Transformational Coaching unfold during live coaching demonstrations by our presenters and the training and practice time you need to transform your skills and impact. Learn more: https://www.brightmorningteam.com/membership

Apr 8, 2024 • 12min
Sneak Peek #3: Inside Elena’s Newest Book!
We’re interrupting our regular programming to bring you the third exclusive look inside Elena’s newest book, Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching. In this episode, Elena shares what you must do to build trust in your coaching relationships–a non-negotiable skill for any Transformational Coach. Mentioned on this episode: Pre-order Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching Claim your pre-order bonus offersJoin Elena in person at a workshop this fall! Opportunities for continued learning: Become a Bright Morning Member Join Elena in person at an upcoming book tour/workshop! Sign up for her Weekly Wisdom newsletter to be the first to know all the details. Follow Elena on Instagram and LinkedIn.Receive weekly wisdom and tools from Elena delivered to your inbox! Sign up at https://brightmorningteam.com/newsletter/ As a Bright Morning Member, you get a front-row seat to see the process of Transformational Coaching unfold during live coaching demonstrations by our presenters and the training and practice time you need to transform your skills and impact. Learn more: https://www.brightmorningteam.com/membership Support us by becoming a Friend of the Show! Podcast Transcript and Use:Bright Morning Consulting owns the copyright in and to all content in and transcripts of The Bright Morning Podcast, with all rights reserved. You may not, except with our express written permission, distribute or commercially exploit the content.We welcome you to download and share the podcast with others for personal use; please acknowledge The Bright Morning Podcast as the source of the material.Episode TranscriptLISTEN WHEREVER YOU FIND PODCASTS – AND BE SURE TO RATE AND REVIEW US!

Apr 1, 2024 • 10min
Sneak Peek #2: Inside Elena’s Newest Book!
Surprise! We’re bringing you another exclusive look inside Elena’s newest book, Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching. In this episode, you’ll be the first to hear Elena speak about the power of Transformational Listening and what it requires of us. Mentioned on this episode: Pre-order Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching Claim your pre-order bonus offersJoin Elena in person at a workshop this fall! San Francisco - August 8-9Los Angeles - August 26-27Austin - September 5-6Atlanta - September 12-13Minneapolis - September 16-17Chicago - September 19-20Philadelphia - September 23-24New York - September 26-27San Francisco - October 3-4Chicago - October 8-9San Diego - October 24-25Opportunities for continued learning: Become a Bright Morning Member Join Elena in person at an upcoming book tour/workshop! Sign up for her Weekly Wisdom newsletter to be the first to know all the details. Follow Elena on Instagram and LinkedIn.Receive weekly wisdom and tools from Elena delivered to your inbox! Sign up at https://brightmorningteam.com/newsletter/ As a Bright Morning Member, you get a front-row seat to see the process of Transformational Coaching unfold during live coaching demonstrations by our presenters and the training and practice time you need to transform your skills and impact. Learn more: https://www.brightmorningteam.com/membership

Mar 25, 2024 • 8min
Sneak Peek #1: Inside Elena’s Newest Book!
We’re interrupting our regular programming to bring you an exclusive look inside Elena’s newest book, Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching. Overwhelmingly, educators are not thriving. This book will help change that reality. Listen in to hear Elena read you the first page of this game-changing text. Mentioned on this episode: Pre-order Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching Claim your pre-order bonus offersJoin Elena in person at a workshop this fall! San Francisco - August 8-9Los Angeles - August 26-27Austin - September 5-6Atlanta - September 12-13Minneapolis - September 16-17Chicago - September 19-20Philadelphia - September 23-24New York - September 26-27San Francisco - October 3-4Chicago - October 8-9San Diego - October 24-25Opportunities for continued learning: Become a Bright Morning Member Join Elena in person at an upcoming book tour/workshop! Sign up for her Weekly Wisdom newsletter to be the first to know all the details. Follow Elena on Instagram and LinkedIn.Follow Bright Morning on LinkedIn and Instagram (we also have accounts on Facebook and Twitter) Receive weekly wisdom and tools from Elena delivered to your inbox! Sign up at https://brightmorningteam.com/newsletter/ As a Bright Morning Member, you get a front-row seat to see the process of Transformational Coaching unfold during live coa