Jul 14, 2025
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