Center Stage · Mornings in the Lab
Meet Darnell Lamont Walker
Darnell Lamont Walker is a death doula, Emmy-nominated children’s television writer and author of Never Can Say Goodbye: The Life of a Death Doula and the Art of a Peaceful End. His official biography lists Karma’s World, Work It Out Wombats! and Blue’s Clues & You. In this appearance, Keith and Jon explore his experiences supporting families, preserving stories and making room for what matters now.
MORE LIFE. LESS FEAR.
Darnell makes clear that he loves life and wants to remain here. Sitting with people near the end of life has made him think harder about how to use his own time. He describes asking clients how they want to live the time they have left.
07:27 · Watch this moment ↗
THERE IS NO LATER
Darnell remembers a musician friend who had pursued things he thought his grandmother wanted. In Darnell’s account, the friend later learned that she had wanted him to live his own life. Keep the memory attributed to Darnell; the illustration does not document this friend or the events.
14:18 · Watch this moment ↗More places to begin
Current Library v1 full-cut coordinates: original Center Stage bumper, Sophia opener, interview continuation and farewell. Source broadcast coordinates remain preserved separately.
Darnell describes working with people at different stages of life.
He talks about his son and what he hopes to leave behind.
The hosts connect priorities with how time is used.
Childhood experiences, hospice volunteering and intentional work during COVID.
The Reel Room
Recorded highlights. The original vertical frame and airtime text promote the recurring show.
MORE LIFE. LESS FEAR.
Darnell makes clear that he loves life and wants to remain here. Sitting with people near the end of life has made him think harder about how to use his own time. He describes asking clients how they want to live the time they have left.
Watch this moment in the full interview using the link below. Native horizontal and vertical downloads are being prepared.
07:27 · Watch this moment ↗Native highlight downloads are being prepared.
Illustrations depict ideas from the conversation, rather than documented photographs of events.
more-life-horizontal.jpg ↓960 × 540 · 0.2 MB · Approved illustrated artwork
more-life-vertical.jpg ↓960 × 1706 · 0.3 MB · Approved illustrated artworkOptional post · Guest may edit
Talking about death has made me want to live more. I don't want to leave this place. I love life. Being around people at the end of theirs hasn't changed that. What it has changed is the way I look at the time I have. When I sit with someone who is dying, the conversation is also about living: How do you want to live the rest of this time? What matters to you? What can we still make possible? Their stories make me look at my own life. Some show me what I want to move toward. Others show me what I don't want to leave unfinished. I spoke with Keith and Jon on Mornings in the Lab about why these conversations can help us live more fully while we're here. Watch the clip. Then ask yourself: What would you make room for this week if you stopped assuming it could wait?
THERE IS NO LATER
Darnell remembers a musician friend who had pursued things he thought his grandmother wanted. In Darnell’s account, the friend later learned that she had wanted him to live his own life. Keep the memory attributed to Darnell; the illustration does not document this friend or the events.
Watch this moment in the full interview using the link below. Native horizontal and vertical downloads are being prepared.
14:18 · Watch this moment ↗Native highlight downloads are being prepared.
Illustrations depict ideas from the conversation, rather than documented photographs of events.
no-later-horizontal.jpg ↓960 × 540 · 0.2 MB · Approved illustrated artwork
no-later-vertical.jpg ↓960 × 1706 · 0.4 MB · Approved illustrated artworkOptional post · Guest may edit
My friend was 39. He thought he had time. We had been friends for 20 years. He was an incredible musician, one of those people you imagine growing old with. Near the end of his life, I asked whether he'd done everything he wanted to do. He told me he'd spent years pursuing things he thought his grandmother wanted for him. When she was dying, she told him she hadn't wanted those things. She'd wanted him to live his life. Now he was dying a few years later, and he hadn't gotten around to it. He asked me to make sure his nephews didn't do the same thing. I told him I would do my best. I shared that conversation with Keith and Jon on Mornings in the Lab because I keep coming back to the same question: What are we postponing because we assume there will be more time? Watch the clip. If something important came to mind, give it some room now.
The conversation
Selected dialogue from the conversation.
“I love life.”
“He was only 39.”
“Later may not come”
One appearance. Full context.
Center Stage on Mornings in the Lab · Episode #3149 · Aired 2026-10-05. The air date is separate from a video’s upload date.
A death doula and children’s television writer on the conversations we postpone, the stories we leave behind, and making room for life while there is time.
Guest’s official website ↗Questions and answers
Darnell Lamont Walker is a death doula, Emmy-nominated children’s television writer and author of Never Can Say Goodbye: The Life of a Death Doula and the Art of a Peaceful End. His official biography lists Karma’s World, Work It Out Wombats! and Blue’s Clues & You. In this appearance, Keith and Jon explore his experiences supporting families, preserving stories and making room for what matters now.
A death doula and children’s television writer on the conversations we postpone, the stories we leave behind, and making room for life while there is time.
2026-10-05, in episode #3149, with Keith Bilous and Jon Andersen.
These are recorded highlights. The vertical frame’s LIVE and airtime text promote the recurring show.
The full interview is available as a low-bandwidth review and a 720p download. All four H/V highlight videos and four dedicated H/V story covers are separately downloadable. Approval states remain individual.
Use the guest’s official sources linked beside the biography.
His supported description is Emmy-nominated writer.
Keep the conversation going
Native full-interview and highlight downloads are being prepared. The full interview is available on YouTube, and the approved story covers are available above.
