Never Can Say Goodbye: A Talk about Death & Why it Makes Life Sweeter

Never Can Say Goodbye: A Conversation about Death and Why it Makes Life Sweeter

Darnell Lamont Walker and Alua Arthur have spent years walking people home and living boldly in the meantime. In this intimate, expansive conversation guided by Dr. Julie Shaw, they explore grief, presence, being fully alive, and the ways death sharpens our hunger for joy. Expect honesty, laughter, and, if you need it, permission to live.

The night will begin with a guided exercise led by Darnell, inviting everyone in the room to start telling their own stories about life and death. Together, we’ll name what brings us joy, what we’ve drifted away from, and how we might find our way back—gently, honestly, without pressure to perform or be “healed.”

This evening also marks the Los Angeles launch of Darnell’s book, , a love letter to endings, beginnings, and the brave act of staying present for both. Books will be available on site for the signing.

This gathering is for anyone who has lost someone, feels a little lost themselves, or knows deep down there is more life waiting for them. Come as you are. Bring your grief, your curiosity, your joy-in-waiting. We’ll make room for all of it.

Book signing to follow the event.

Darnell Lamont Walker is a death doula, Emmy-nominated writer, and cultural anthropologist whose work lives at the intersection of grief, culture, and storytelling. His voice shows up in children’s television, writing for Karma’s World, Work It Out Wombats!, Blue’s Clues & You, and more, as well as in books and in the quiet, sacred rooms where people take their last breaths. Across the world, from Johannesburg and Saigon to London, Amsterdam, Ghana, and beyond, Darnell has helped individuals and communities find spaces where their stories could be shared safely and held with care. In his legacy work with dying clients, this often looks like preserving favorite recipes, ensuring that long after someone is gone, families can still gather, cook, eat, and remember the love that once lived at the table. His book, Never Can Say Goodbye (HarperOne), reflects on his journey as a death doula and the lessons learned from walking alongside the dying. At the heart of all his work is a simple mission: to help people tell the truth of their lives, tend to one another through transition, and leave behind something nourishing, whether that’s a story, a ritual, or a meal that keeps them close.

Alua Arthur is the most visible death doula in the world today. A New York Times bestselling author, TIME100 Health honoree, and the founder of Going with Grace, Alua and her team have trained almost 3000 death doulas in 58 countries, helped thousands of healthy folks learn from their mortality, and supported families as they plan the exit of a beloved member. A self proclaimed recovering attorney, she’s become the go-to death educator, having been featured on Disney’s docu-series Limitless featuring Chris Hemsworth, CBS Mornings, ABC News, and in The New York Times, the LA Times and Vogue among countless other publications. Her TED Talk entitled “Why Thinking About Death Helps You Live a Better Life,” has been viewed millions of times sparking global conversations about dying well, and her NYT bestselling debut book, , earned spots on multiple “best of lists” and the ultimate blessing in her mom’s eyes: a “Gayle Recommends” seal from Oprah’s Book Club.

With heart, humor, and a likely innocent question in casual conversation or from the stage which will make you live with more intention, Alua is on a mission to make death less feared, more talked about—and maybe even a little inspiring.

Dr. Julie Shaw is a certified grief educator, speaker, coach, and creator of the G.R.O.W.T.H. Method™, a framework grounded in three core principles: grief education, grief integration, and grief processing. She is the host of the Hello I’m Grieving podcast and the creator of a fast-growing newsletter that isn’t just a newsletter—it’s a practical resource for those navigating grief and those who support them, offering five meaningful ways to say hello to grief in under five minutes. Dr. Shaw was featured in the documentary Meet Me Where I Am and is a skilled facilitator who designs and leads grief education courses and experiences for individuals and organizations. A former professional basketball player and college professor, she has worked in the NBA, served as Director of Education for Billie Jean King’s Women’s Sports Foundation, and co-founded Lead Different, where she brings her leadership, facilitation, and grief education expertise into spaces focused on growth, inclusion, performance, and human-centered leadership.

Ticket price: $15 (in-person and Zoom event)

Please email [email protected] or phone 323-663-2167 with any questions.

This event will be recorded and shared for up to 2 weeks following the event. The recording will be emailed to you a few days afterward.

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The views, opinions, and thoughts expressed within exhibited works are solely those of their creators and may not represent those of the Philosophical Research Society (PRS), its affiliates, or any individuals associated with PRS. Screenings are intended for educational and entertainment purposes.

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