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.
💜
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
The Grief Seasons; Wintering & the Value in Hibernation
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Today I tackle another precarious topic in life after suicide loss --remember, as always, take what serves you, and leave the rest.
In today's Down the Rabbit Hole, I discuss this topic of what I call the "Wintering" and Grief Seasons. It's not a long one, but something to think about!
Come with me today and let's explore grieving through all of the seasons, but today, we take on "Winter" - or looking ahead to "un-wintering", with all of its intricacies and nuances ...and the promise of Spring ahead!
Here is the Sesame Workshop Video I discussed and promised. I hope there is something of use here. AND AGAIN ... Bravo for the grief affirming message. We need SO. MUCH. MORE. of this in the world!!
The Poem (by author/poet Ullie-Kaye)
Winter.
winter reminds me that i
have a greater appreciation
for the warmth when I am
made to endure the cold.
my heart has a winter too.
Have you seen the latest MOMs RETREAT scheduled for May 28- June2, 2025 (held here in sunny Puerto Rico) that is out? LOOK HERE
And what about Legacy? Let's remember your child together!! I start the ONE & ONLY Legacy Project this year (2025) on March 5 --- there's still time to talk to me & see if this is your year!! LET"S CHAT - SCHEDULE A CHAT HERE
It would be my honor to do this work with you -- I wish I had opportunities like this earlier in my grief, but I didn't...so now you do! My hearts mission is to provide meaningful, real-help-resources and healing opportunities for suicide loss survivors and one-on-one with other moms like me. Be sure to check out my website for tons of free resources and recommendations as well as other healing opportunities. AND watch emails in Jan and February for some new options. I don't add a LOT, but what I do add is always designed for maximum impact.
Sending love, peace and enough hope for us both! (See, that's just one way community helps -- we need others to be our strength and motivators and accountability partners when we can't get there alone!) "This is so lonely, but you do not have to be alone." - XO Melissa
__________________________________________________________________________
Go to my WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" is support central.
PS....The Legacy Writing Project in 2024 has finished. Volume 5 is out in the world ...GET ON THE LIST NOW fo
__________________________________________________________________________
💜 The Leftover Pieces is support for life after suicide loss. Click links below
🎙 Leave me a message: Share a question, your story, or your person’s name for a future episode → theleftoverpieces.com/voicemail
🔗 Stay connected: Join my email community for weekly support, resources, and honest conversations.
🛠 Start here: Explore website for suicide loss resources for early grief, family support, and next steps.
🤝 For moms: One-on-one grief coaching for mothers navigating life after child loss.
📞 Need support right now? If you or someone you love is struggling, call or text 988 (U.S. & Canada), or text HOME to 741741.