In this final episode before the summer break, Donald Clark and John Helmer explore the rise of happiness and wellbeing as central themes in psychology, education, and policy. From Seligman’s Positive Psychology to Nussbaum’s Capabilities Approach, they examine the thinkers who defined the science—and pseudo-science—of flourishing. Is wellbeing a universal human right, or a set of scantly-evidenced models that has somehow become an industry? And what happens when AI becomes your therapist?

 

⏱️ Timestamps

• 00:00:00 - Start
• 00:01:24 - Intro
• 00:02:25 - Introducing Wellbeing
• 00:09:07 - Martin Seligman (1942–) & Richard Layard (1934–)
• 00:21:47 - Ed Diener (1946–2021)
• 00:29:57 - Carol Ryff
• 00:41:22 - Corey Keyes
• 00:51:01 - Amartya Sen (1933–) & Martha Nussbaum (1947–)
• 00:58:37 - Lucy Foulkes
• 01:09:03 - Summing up

🔗 Contact

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer
• X: @johnhelmer
• Bluesky: @johnhelmer.bsky.social
• Website: learninghackpodcast.com