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
What to Watch (or Not); When Grief Insomnia Hits
We regularly find suicide as a subject matter on TV and in film these days...or at least more than we used to.... but being surprised by the plot or content is NOT always good. I like to try and give you a heads up when I can, so I am going to dive down the rabbit hole to talk about my current thoughts because I always have a list AND there is always new things coming out OR new ones being discovered...AND because I always go in and out of battles with 'grief insomnia' since losing Alex in 2016., the list needs to be long! As I said last year (in a Sept 2022 episode), when we watch movies with a theme toward suicide, grief or death, does the content activate you or help you? Since the reasons these films, or shows, are made can be so diverse (- to educate, to cause fear or shock or disgust, or even to provoke or bring about change and awareness) so are our reasons for choosing, or not choosing, to watch them.
Today, I explore and discuss just some of the current choices out there. Be sure to also check out the other 3 episodes from past seasons (or earlier this one).
Season 1 Ep 17 -What Am I Watching (aka binging)
Season 2 Ep 17 - To Watch or Not to Watch
Season 4 Ep 8 - Movies, Series & Documentaries; About Suicide Loss & Grief
I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHICH ONES YOU HAVE SEEN AND YOUR TAKE ON THEM - from ANY of the episodes! Or others you would recommend watching - or not! I will also disclaim this episode as I do all others - take that which serves you and leave the rest. We are all on a very individual journey, and at different spaces inside of each journey. My heart and thoughts are always with you. The shows/movies that I discuss are not linked, You will have to search them to see where they might currently be available or streaming. - it changes too much to keep up): I am listing them as I discussed them in the episode.
Yes - For Distraction / Entertainment (not grief related, a new topic for me):
The Lost Kitchen
Somebody Feed Phil
Beach Cottage Chronicles
Wednesday
Stranger Things
Road Runner (documentary/biography & it straddles the next category for sure)
Probably (for Most) on Subject of Grief &/or Suicide:
Mare Of Easttown
Unstable
Those Left Behind
Aftersun
Proceed With Real Caution - No for Many:
The Discovery
A Man Called Otto
Super Mario Movie (
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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.