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
A Roundtable Discussion; 8 Brave Moms Speak about Grief, Healing & their Amazing Kids
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Today's episode is 8 x as special --- because you will hear from EIGHT moms, it is A LONG EPISODE SO BUCKLE UP -- but it's soooo worth it!!! These ladies are near & dear to my heart as they are all a part of my all-access membership community. These ladies are between 11 months & 3 years in their journey of life after the suicide loss of their child. This community has absolutely surpassed any hopes I had when I started it... these women interact daily & meet weekly plus they get to peek at products early & gain special discounts as new projects & classes roll out. They welcome every new mom with tender hearts & open arms.....
Find out more, or join our mom's community of Super Support HERE
In this episode you will hear from:
Vickie - Calvin (31); Cerita - Gage (17); Kerilyn - Taylor (22); Betty - Tyberius (32); Barb - Donavon (16); Marcie - Kara (23); Crystal - Taylor (18); Rachel -Jane (20)
We talk about our loss, healing and community after loss. And while I know this is a group of moms, I do think that there is great wisdom and nuggets for anyone in this episode!
Watch for UPCOMING ROUNDTABLES with Siblings, Friends and (hopefully) Dads.
Some Links of things that were mentioned in this episode:
- EMDR
- Tim Braun - medium, book and more
- Peyton Heart Project (Vickie calls them 'joy bombs)
- Alliance for Hope
- Faith's Lodge
- Eric's House
- Paul Denniston / Grief yoga
- Dr. Peter Levine - Somatic Experiencing
- Dr. David Kessler - Grief.com
- Totally Got Out of Bed Podcast
- Disney Pixar movie "Inside Out"
- Rebecca Jax Healing
- The Body Keeps the Score Book
My WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" support central - MY HUB - and that means my different SUPPORT GROUP Options are available. Go DIRECTLY to my SUPPORT page here where you will find ALL of the ways to connect and find support. My first two books (tools I am creating for you!) in the "Facing Life After Suicide" series are available on Amazon If you, or someone you know, is struggling with suicidal thoughts PLEASE reach out:
CALL 988 OR, you can also TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA
in Canada TEXT 686868
in the UK TEXT 85258
Click to Send a Text or Voicemail to Melissa
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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
Support After Suicide Loss
If you are grieving after suicide loss, you do not have to carry this alone.
Visit The Leftover Pieces for podcast episodes, grief support, resources, and ways to connect with Melissa’s work: https://theleftoverpieces.com
or Join Melissa’s email list: https://theleftoverpieces.com/join
If you someone you love is in immediate crisis or may be in danger, please call or text 988 in the United States. You can also text HOME to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line