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In this episode Elena once again coaches Kathrina Mendez, a teacher in California we first met in episode 2 where the conversation centered around drawing boundaries, practicing self-compassion, and imagining possibilities.Seven months later Kathrina finds herself in a different context, confronting new challenges of teaching virtually during a pandemic. Listen in to hear about the quest for growing self-compassion and implementing power doses of self-care to support Kathrina in being the teacher she wants to be - for herself, and her students.Mentioned in this episode: Become a Friend of the Podcast! February Resilience Intensive  

Welcome to Season 2 of the Bright Morning podcast! In this “Quarterly Wisdom Episode,” Elena shares the word that she hopes will encapsulate her hopes, vision and values for 2021, and the mantra that she’ll use to guide her behavior. She also shares what her 2020 word was and how she wrestled with it. This episode is for you if:You’re thinking about what the start of a new year means to you, and you’re wanting to set goals, intentions or commitments.You ache to feel more grounded in your core values and you want to live those values. You’re looking for ways to continue engaging clients or anyone in further reflection on their values.

This week we’re replaying one of our favorite episodes from season one of the podcast. In this episode Elena talks to Garret Bucks, an educator and organizer of white people looking to organize their friends, neighbors and colleagues for racial equity. Elena and Garret explore the role of white people and how to leverage the tools of Transformational Coaching in this moment of creation where we have the ability to reimagine a better, more just world.This episode is for you if:You identify as white, know other white people and are looking for ways to dismantle white supremacy. You’re curious about how Transformational Coaching can be leveraged in all areas of your life. A dose of hope for a better future and practical tips for how to engage in conversations that bridge our divides sounds gr

Our next season of the Bright Morning Podcast kicks off in January with all new episodes. Elena will once again be coaching clients and pulling back the curtain on her coaching moves...but this time it will be a little different. Instead of introducing new clients with each episode, the clients you met in season one will be back so you can see how the coaching relationship evolves over time. To kick things off, we’ll listen in on Elena’s second coaching conversation with Kathrina Mendez, a teacher Elena coached in season one around drawing boundaries, practicing self-compassion, and imagining possibilities.In preparation, we’re replaying the initial episode with Kathrina from season one so you’re ready to go. Enjoy! Resources:An Analysis of the Coaching Strategies used in the Conversation with Kathrina, https://brightmorningteam.com/blogIs there someone whose story should be shared on our podcast? Someone who has stepped into their courage and reclaimed a part of themselves? Send me an email: podcast@brightmorningteam.com  

This week Elena and her friend, Maia Heyck-Merlin, discuss what topped their list of what they watched, read and listened to in 2020. Maia is the CEO of the Together Group and the author of The Together Teacher and The Together Leader. This episode is for you if:You love hearing about and receiving recommendations of media to consumeYou’re looking for recommendations of what to binge over breakA fun conversation between friends feels like a nice break For links of everything mentioned (there’s a lot!), check out the full show notes here. Mentioned in this EpisodeWhat’s New at Bright Morning in 2021 Bright Morning Memberships The Durrells in Corfu (PBS/Amazon Prime)Lovecraft Country (HBO)Normal People (Hulu)World on Fire (PBS)The HBO Lovecraft Country PodcastThe Undoing (HBO)The Great British Baking ShowOlive Kitteridge The Talented Miss Farwell The Great BelieversGet a Life, Chloe BrownTake a Hint, Dani BrownThe Kiss Quotient, Helen HoangThe Bride Test, Helen Hoang Red, White and Royal BlueRosie Reads - Instagram accountThe Vanishing Half, Brit BennettThe Guest List, Lucy Foley Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas The Floor is Lava (Netflix)The Tom Gates series, Liz PichonMalcolm in the Middle (Netflix)The Good Place (Netflix)Sabrina (Netflix)Lost in Space (Netflix)Santa Clarita Diet (Netflix)Money Heist (Netflix)Picard (CBS)Maia’s Punch Needle CatI May Destroy You (HBO)The Watchmen (HBO)

In this new type of episode, Elena answers your questions! Listeners sent in dozens of questions including some about how to coach teachers who are exhausted and frazzled, how to deal with getting difficult feedback on your coaching, and how to engage adult learners deeply so they’ll want to keep coming back for more. Elena’s husband, Stacey, asks her the questions and shares his insights in a couple of places. You’ll also hear about a recent coffee-related discovery that Elena has made. Mentioned in this episode:What’s New at Bright Morning Episode 29 The Art of Coaching TeamsCoaching for EquityJohn Lewis documentaryElena’s 2014 article on gathering feedback on your coaching

Linda Cliatt-Wayman is best known for her 2015 TED Talk, “How to Fix a Broken School” in which she shared the story of how she led the transformation of a Philadelphia high school. In this episode, Elena uncovered how Principal Wayman became the seemingly fearless force of a leader that she appears to be, who her primary influences were, and how she’s navigated changes she couldn’t control. This episode is for you if: You crave inspiration to be an anti-racist leader for equity. You need a reminder that courage is hard. And leading doesn’t always (or often) feel good.You want a new role model. Mentioned in this show:How to Fix a Broken School? Lead Fearlessly, Love Hard TED Talk Global Teaching Prize profile Linda Cliatt-Wayman’s website

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 our trainings are, "how do you know what tool to use?" And, "how do you use X tool?" so we have created these episodes to support you in developing and deepening your coaching toolkit.On todays episode Elena dives into three approaches she utilized in episode 28 when she coached Naomi on her pursuit of building an anti-racist school. You'll hear her talk through how and why she decided to pull on three of her foundational tools: Core Values, Mind the Gap and Strengths-Based Coaching.If you haven't already listened to episode 28, you'll want to do so either before or after you listen to this episode for a fuller learning experience.Bright Morning’s upcoming eventsEpisode 28: Where to Start in Pursuit of an Anti-Racist School

How do we structure our school, during distance learning and beyond, in an anti-racist way? How do we build trust between the adults in our community so we can achieve that? In today’s episode Elena coaches Naomi Yokota, a second year assistant principal in Los Angeles, as she explores these timely and critical questions. 

In this episode, Elena talks with a dozen friends and colleagues about their reactions to the Biden/Harris win. You’ll hear from past podcast guests including Zaretta Hammond, Nick Cains, Huber Trenado and Helen Park Truong, as well as from Elena’s husband, Stacey Goodman, and others. We discuss hope, cautious euphoria, exhaustion, and the whole range of emotions.  This episode is for you if:·       You are still processing the election and want to continue reflecting on it. 

In this Grab Bag episode, Elena and her co-host, laura brewer, talk about how to prepare for the election, what’s giving them hope and bringing them joy, what they’re reading, and how they’re practicing radical self-care. For listeners who know Elena as a coach or interviewer, you’ll get a glimpse into who she is on a more personal level and how she’s really feeling these days.  This episode is for you if:You’re looking for ideas and support to prepare for and manage election weekYou’re looking for more ideas to boost your resilienceYou’re curious about what’s going on with Elena’s eyebrows Mentioned in this Episode: laura brewer, co-hostFat and the Moon: face oil, body oil, and face mistThe de Young Museum in San FranciscoStacey Goodman - Elena’s husband, the artistHow to Make Love podcast, Episode 56 - laura’s podcast Being with Dying, by Joan HalifaxBraiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer  

This week, Elena talks to Garret Bucks, an educator and organizer of white people looking to organize their friends, neighbors and colleagues for racial equity. Elena and Garret explore the role of white people and how to leverage the tools of Transformational Coaching in this moment of creation where we have the ability to reimagine a better, more just world.This episode is for you if:·       You identify as white, know other white people and are looking for ways to dismantle white supremacy. ·       You're curious about how Transformational Coaching can be leveraged in all areas of your life. ·       A dose of hope for a better future and practical tips for how to engage in conversations that bridge our divides sounds great.  Mentioned in this episode:·      Coaching for Equity: Conversations that Change Practice - chapter 6·      The Barnraisers Project (Garret's training organization)·      The White Pages (Garrett's substack)  Continued learning:·      Interrupting Inequities 101 Workshop ·      Coaching for Equity Masterclass·      Equity Leadership Summit  ·      The Art of Coaching Across Lines of Difference   

In this episode, Elena brings her coaching skills to an intimate conversation with Bright Morning teammate Helen Park Truong. This conversation addresses both experiencing heartbreak and finding a path to empowerment while parenting in a white supremacist culture. Tune in to hear Elena pull back the curtain on her coaching moves and demonstrate how Transformational Coaching is an approach to apply in any and all conversations where we are striving to deepen our connections, grow our resilience and lead with our values. 

As the superintendent of the Boston Public Schools, Tommy Chang led several groundbreaking initiatives to create equitable experiences and outcomes for that city’s children. In this conversation with Elena, Tommy shared his first traumatic experience in an American school, his journey into leadership, and how he thinks about his role as an Asian American leader in the anti-racism and anti-Blackness movement.   Show Notes:For more about Tommy ChangBlack Lives Matter. An Open Letter from Asian Pacific Islander American Education Leadersadrienne maree brown, Emergent StrategyViet Thanh NguyenYuri KochiyamaGrace Lee Boggs 

In this episode, Elena coaches Adam Morales, an assistant principal from Arizona. on working across lines of racial of racial differences.Go here to register for the free webinar on October 9, 2020, on coaching across lines of racial difference. 

Elena talks to leader and educator Tiffany Cheng Nyaggah about courage and the journey that led her to working with teachers in Kenya.Dignitas  Article by Elena about Tiffany and DignitasObserving Instructional Coaching in Kenya, a blog post by Elena What do American Coaches and Kenyan Coaches Have in Common? a blog post by Elena 

In this episode, Elena coaches Isao Osuga, a veteran high school math teacher, as he contemplates career paths and what he really wants in life. This conversation went into places that neither Elena nor Isao expected!

On our first Bright Morning Book Club episode, Elena and Rebecca talk about Zadie Smith’s most recent book of essays, Intimations, and her 2012 novel, NW. Topics include why we read, parachuting into characters, the challenges of these times we live in, and more. There are spoilers! 

In this episode, Elena has a conversation with artist and writer Indira Allegra. Indira shares how their performative practice responds to this current moment, honors ancestors, and works toward healing the community and the self. Indira’s websiteSan Francisco Chronicle article, “How can we mark this moment?” James BaldwinNina Simone Gunta StölzlPamela Djerassi Paul RobesonJosephine BakerWilma MankillerLorraine Hansberry Felix Gonzalez-Torres

This week, Elena coaches Abigail Brown, a first-year teacher in Indianapolis. While in some ways Abigail is dealing with typical new teacher challenges, she’s also (as we all know) beginning her career in an unprecedented situation. Elena coaches Abigail on prioritizing, getting clear on her values and the impact she wants to have, and on self-care.