The Leftover Pieces: Suicide Loss Conversations
Suicide loss changes everything. This show is about life after suicide—real talk and practical support for grief after suicide: parents, partners, siblings, and friends finding their footing again. Each week, we explore what helps in suicide bereavement so you can keep going with honesty and hope.
Hosted by Melissa Bottorff-Arey, whose 21-year-old son, Alex, died by suicide in 2016, the podcast blends intimate conversations with survivors, healers, and mental health experts with short solo “Daily Nugget” episodes you can actually use. We cover child loss, trauma and nervous-system care, anniversaries and seasons, stigma, faith and meaning, legacy, and the everyday practices that make life livable again. You’ll hear grounded tools, language that honors your person, and the reminder that you are not broken—you are grieving.
For supporters and educators, these episodes offer insight into the realities of suicide grief and what genuine, non-fixing support looks like. If you’d like to share your story or expertise, you can request to be a guest via my website. 💜
Content Note
This podcast speaks candidly about difficult experiences and may feel activating. We avoid method details and graphic description. Please care for yourself as needed. I’m not a doctor or licensed therapist; nothing here is medical or mental-health advice.
The Leftover Pieces: Suicide Loss Conversations
Dr. Lenore Matthew; Melding Science & Spirit in Healing after Suicide Loss
Life after the suicide loss of a loved one- there is so much we could say about the SCIENCE of it. There is so much that we could say about the SPIRIT side of it all. BUT... can they overlap? Do they? Today I have a conversation with someone who feels like an old friend. She definitely is a friend (she is NOT old) but we are indeed new friends in the sense that we have only known each other a few years yet, the 'old friend' feeling comes from the deep connection we share where our souls have collided. Trust me - she is phenomenal! Dr. Lenore (Lenny to most) shares with us how she became a young widow with the loss of her beloved husband Bruno by suicide and how this has transformed her, her beliefs, and her life's purpose.
Today, you will hear Lenore and I talk about
- Her story as a young widow and the past few years
- Post-Traumatic Growth (over PTSD)
- Melding Science & Spirit
- What are medium vs psychic readings
- How often can/should we have readings?
- How to find a medium … and SO. MUCH. MORE.
You can find her and ALL of the wonderful work she is doing in the world at -->
Dr. Lenore Matthew - Melding Science and Spirit to Heal through Trauma and Grief
Her FIRST visit to my podcast (Season 1 Ep 30) - CLICK to LISTEN HERE
Other places or people we discussed---->
Forever Family Foundation
Journey Within
Arthur Findlay College (UK)
Angel the Medium (the medium I have a great connection with - besides Lenore!)
A bit more about Dr. Lenore Matthew in her own words --
Lenore Matthew, Ph.D., MSW is a Doctor of Social Work and a trauma and grief specialist, as well as a psychic medium and intuitive healer. Her intuitive gifts suddenly opened up when her husband, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, unexpectedly took his own life. Today, she blends her scientific background with her intuitive abilities, to help others heal through trauma and grief.
Her writing has been featured by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and The Mighty: Community for Mental Health Awareness, among others. Learn more about Dr. Matthew and her work at www.drlenorematthew.com and on Instagram
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💜 The Leftover Pieces is support central for grieving hearts.
🔗 Stay connected: Join my free email community for weekly check-ins, resources, and encouragement.
🌟 For moms: Explore the $9 Lighthouse Community — safe connection, tools, and hope.
🛠 Resources for all grievers: Start here.
🤝 One-on-one grief coaching for moms after child loss to suicide: Learn more here.
📞 Need help now? If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, dial 988 in the U.S. & Canada, or text HOME to 741741.