In this conversation, Dr. Denise Quinlan discusses her journey in positive psychology, emphasizing the importance of context, cultural sensitivity, and the need for a human-centric approach in workplaces. She critiques the current state of wellbeing science, advocating for collaboration with other fields and addressing societal issues such as polarization and economic precarity. The discussion highlights the shift from shareholder to stakeholder capitalism and the need for organizations to value their employees as integral to their success.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Happiness Research

01:00 Denise Quinlan's Journey and Current Work

05:10 The Importance of Context in Positive Psychology

09:57 Challenges in Applying Positive Psychology

12:35 The Role of Work in Fulfillment

15:24 Cultural Sensitivity in Strengths Work

20:07 Reframing Strengths Conversations

25:07 The Need for Diverse Strengths Research

30:28 Financial Security and Wellbeing

32:49 Resilience vs. Systemic Change

33:18 The Changing Nature of Work and Well-being

36:06 The Political Economy of Well-being

39:35 Long-term Employment and Community Responsibility

42:11 Making Work Better: Human-Centric Approaches

46:04 The Importance of Leadership in Well-being

51:02 Valuing People: Beyond Programs to Processes

55:48 The Need for Collaboration in Well-being Science

01:00:50 Addressing Polarization and Community Belonging