The Leftover Pieces: Suicide Loss Conversations
Suicide loss changes everything. The Leftover Pieces® Podcast explores life after suicide through honest conversations with survivors, experts, and grieving parents learning to live forward after unimaginable loss. Parents, partners, siblings, and friends share what it means to keep living when the world has been forever changed.
Hosted by Melissa Bottorff-Arey, whose 21-year-old son Alex died by suicide in 2016, the show blends intimate conversations with survivors, healers, and mental health professionals with short solo reflections you can actually use. Together we explore child loss, trauma and nervous-system care, anniversaries and seasons, stigma, faith and meaning, legacy, and the everyday practices that help make life livable again.
At its heart, this podcast is about learning to live forward after loss. We never move on from the people we love, but we can learn to carry the grief differently. This road can feel incredibly lonely—but you are not alone here.
For supporters, educators, and professionals, these conversations also offer insight into the realities of suicide grief and what genuine, non-fixing support can look like.
If you’d like to share your story or expertise, you can request to be a guest through Melissa’s website.
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Content Note
This podcast speaks candidly about grief and suicide loss and may feel activating for some listeners. We avoid graphic descriptions and discussion of suicide methods. Please care for yourself as needed. Melissa is not a doctor or licensed therapist, and nothing shared here should be considered medical or mental-health advice.
The Leftover Pieces: Suicide Loss Conversations
Mindsets, Motivation & Monkeys" Pt 1; What IF Asked Yourself THIS Question?
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Today I go (deep) into the rabbit hole to discuss a haunting question -- haunting for anyone, but even more so for us suicide loss survivors. Everything is harder now, right? (but that's NOT the question).
Sing with me “I can do hard things. I can do hard things...” (it may just be the weirdo in me, but yes, I sing it out loud to myself often ...when I feel frustrated or discouraged), and then I DO “it” -- whatever the current “it” is. Or at least TRY to. How about you? (STILL NOT THE QUESTION though).
I want to know if you have asked yourself this question I ask in the episode-- now, in your “after loss” life OR before? Should you? (pssst....the answer is “yes”) YOLO is what Alex would say and he was my kid after all...I hope this episode is thought provoking & motivating....and YES, you have to listen to the episode to actually HEAR THE QUESTION!
Today I touch base on:
- Why risk and hard things are easier for some ...or are they?
- Why asking this question matters
- How Rita Wilson factors in
- And an update on life in Puerto Rico ....and more
Listen to the TedX Talk I reference HERE and for the joy of it (& because you will be left feeling like "I want to hear the song" So...
HERE is the song she sings at the end (it's not part the original TedX recording)
Remember to look for me again WEEKLY with a mixture of longer conversational episodes and the shorter solo down the rabbit hole episodes, roundtables and more.... I have missed you friends and am glad to be back!
THANK YOU for listening to this episode. It means the world!
Check out ALL of my books including the lastet legacy book (and there's more on the way!) -- CLICK HERE!!
PS....The FIRST SESSION of the Legacy Writing Project in 2024 is under way BUT you can get on the wait list for the August 7 group NOW!!
For a way to leave a Legacy of your child - GO HERE
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My WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" is support central.
The latest Legacy projects are NOW published BOOKS -- GET THEM HERE!!!
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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.