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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
Your "Why" After Suicide Loss; The How & Why to find IT!
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
What is my WHY??? Such a complicated topic, right? Well … yes and no, BUT definitely a relevant & essential one for grievers. So much changes after suicide loss and nearly everyone who experiences it finds themselves reevaluating and needing to re-tool, or re-build, some (or all) of life as they knew it. Finding, or 're-finding', what our "WHY" is after suicide loss (of a child) is necessary to actually being able to move forward, in my opinion. And it takes time, and choice, and hard work, to actually get to it -- and then be able to live your WHY! AND BELIEVE ME ...it is worth the work!!
ANNOUNCMENT TIME (because I do announce it in this episode!!) ---->
IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS my (in progress) website "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" will be LIVE and that means my first coaching options will be available. The first (3 month) group is planned to begin Sept 15 OR maybe Oct 1, so stay tuned and then there will be a new group start every 3 months. There WILL be limited spots in each group so let me know if you want on the notify list! These groups will be one part community, one part discovery/growth. I believe these two things are intertwined for us in the earlier stages of grief especially.
This coaching has been a long time in coming grievers. I knew, in my heart, that this was my WHY about a year and a half ago … then I set out on the next stage of my healing/learning journey. I am so, so ready to be able to serve this community in an expanded capacity. I have gained a lot through my lived experiences, but also through my certifications (with more to come). Please DM me on Instagram or email me at anytime melissa@theleftoverpieces.com
The website will be at www.theleftoverpieces.com (naturally, right?)
Keep an eye out - even book mark it & check back in a few weeks (there IS a holding page with "coming soon" there now) !!
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Please reach out to me if you know of someone that I should talk to or if you yourself would like to have a conversation around the suicide loss and grief space. Instagram is probably still the best way to contact me or directly through email. I am already scheduling people into this FALL so it's not too soon to reach out!
Let's have a conversation Let's keep talking Let's be there for each other. Let's make a change. TALK SOON!
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts PLEASE reach out & talk to someone
The National Suicide Lifeline
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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.