.jpg)
The Leftover Pieces; Suicide Loss Conversations
This podcast focuses on surviving life after a suicide loss, an experience that can be devastating and leave you feeling lost as you try to pick up the pieces of your shattered heart. The host, Melissa Bottorff-Arey, lost her 21-year-old son, Alex, to suicide on August 7, 2016, and brings (& often shares) her insights from her personal journey.
In each episode, Melissa engages in honest and challenging conversations with other survivors of loss, healers, and mental health experts. She also produces shorter solo episodes where she reflects on her own thoughts and experiences thus far. The podcast covers a wide range of relevant topics and addresses difficult questions. Melissa explores all aspects of grief, including trauma, hope, healing, self-care, legacy, and stigma. She believes that we learn to live alongside our grief rather than getting over it. Actual change comes through authentic, meaningful connections and mindful choices.
For supporters or educators, these conversations provide valuable insights and shine a light on suicide and grief genuinely and unapologetically. Listeners who are grieving a suicide loss can find comfort in the community and hope for a better tomorrow. Melissa aims to help others, like herself, transition from merely surviving to discovering a life filled with meaning and, potentially, even happiness amid the leftover pieces around you. You can always schedule a time to chat about being a guest from my main website.
[Please NOTE: This podcast is for only relational, informational, and entertainment purposes. It candidly and openly discusses sensitive and sometimes activating topics. There will be no in-depth or graphic descriptions of the method, but merely the possible mention of suicide, murder, rape, and the like. Be guided and care for yourself accordingly. Also, Melissa is not a doctor or licensed therapist, and nothing on this podcast should be taken in place of, or as, medical/mental health advice or recommendations.]
The Leftover Pieces; Suicide Loss Conversations
Life After Suicide Loss; A Friend-to-Friend Round Table Discussion
Today you are getting the much-anticipated, long promised (& finally here)- friends roundtable episode! And it was so. worth. the. wait!
After loss it feels like (publicly) there is so much that is centered around the immediate family and friends often seem 'forgotten' or definitely might feel unseen in their grief. It's really important to me to give them a voice because their loss was NOT small or inconsequential, at all! It was so very relevant and important in their lives!
Today I talk with three amazing humans who all lost a dear friend to suicide. A fourth friend who couldn't join, is represented by submitting answers to the talking points and I read these answers to Intermingle his answers in between the other's answers.
We here from Christian Murillo & Branislav Tadic from North Kansas City, Missouri here in the States and also from Oakley Mengel from Elkford, British Columbia, Canada. Brock Lorenzen (also from NKC) submitted his answers (and I read them for him in his absence).
Christian, Brock and Branislav lost their friend (my son) Alex and Oakley lost her dear, best friend Donavon.
This conversation is a joy and heartbreaking all at once, but it is so very, very powerful and I am SO THANKFUL that we had this time!
Some of the things we speak to are:
- How the loss of their friends affected their life - at the time of loss & now
- Do you ever receive signs from spirit?
- Were you treated 'differently' as "just" a friend?
- And they offer GREAT encouragement for surviving and thriving after this loss while you still carry them forward with you in life
- And so much more ...
Such an IMPACTFUL & AMAZING conversation - like me, I think that you will take a WHOLE lot from this! It was a REAL GIFT FOR ME!!
______________________________________________________________________
PS....LAST SESSION of the Legacy Writing Project for 2023 began August 16 BUT you can get on the wait list for the February 7, 2024, group NOW!!
For a way to leave a Legacy of your child - GO HERE
______________________________________________________________________
My WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" support central.
The latest Legacy projects are NOW published BOOKS -- GET THEM HERE!!!
ALSO, my first two books (tools I have created for you!) in the "Facing Life After Suicide" series are available on Amazon
__________________________________________________________________________
💜 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.