Meet Our Team 

 
 
 
 

Host, Producer 

Lauren Kelly, MD, MPH, MS

I’m Lauren — a physician who spends my days walking with people through some of life’s most difficult questions: What matters most when time feels short? How do we live with illness, with pain, with uncertainty and still find meaning?

When I Die, Let Me Live is my passion project. I created it because I believe that talking openly and honestly about our vulnerability and mortality helps us live better. On this show, you’ll hear from patients, caregivers, and clinicians navigating serious illness, caregiving, grief, and all the complexity that comes with it. My hope is that these conversations offer you language, insight, and maybe even a sense of connection, wherever you’re at in your own journey.

Outside of the podcast, I’m an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. I’ve trained in Internal Medicine, Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, and Addiction Medicine, and my clinical expertise is in in the care of older adults and people with serious illness, particularly those living with substance use disorders and chronic pain. Before becoming a physician, I studied English literature and Narrative Medicine, which continue to shape how I approach my work and these conversations. When I Die, Let Me Live is a project that blends my clinical work with a deep belief in the power of stories to heal and connect.

 
 
 
 

Co-Editor

Emma Quaytman

I’m Emma Quaytman, an editor and producer based in Brooklyn, New York. My background is in visual art and museum education, where I’ve created audio guides, wall texts, and podcasts. Much of my work focuses on making museums more accessible—especially for people with disabilities—and this naturally connects with my interest in shaping stories about palliative care.

For me, the When I Die, Let Me Live podcast is about demystifying the unknown, much like learning about art. The exploration this podcast offers has been especially helpful to me after losing a close family member.

 
 
 
 
 

MUSIC EDITOR

John Albano

I’m John Albano, a composer and sound designer with experience in theater and film. I’ve written musical scores for projects by River Gallo, nicHi Douglas, Kevin Kuhlke, La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, Steve Girard, Kelly Schiesswohl, Ani Taj's Dance Cartel, and Moisés Kaufman's Tectonic Theater Project. I also perform as one half of the cult R&B duo Bigmun & Frost.

My work blends emotional nuance with experimental soundscapes, which I bring to my role as Music Editor on When I Die, Let Me Live. I was drawn to the podcast because of its deep humanity and the chance to help tell stories exploring the profound intersections of life, death, and art.