
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 Am I Watching (aka "Binging"); My Thoughts & Recommendations
Today, I go "Down the Rabbit Hole" to discuss things I have watched, binged or still want to watch with regards to suicide, loss & grief in general. These are everything from movies to series to documentaries; and can be watched on various platforms. THIS IS NOT A DEFINITIVE LIST of what I have watched NOR all of the subject matter ... just some that I chose to share today. Some of these titles are about suicide loss, but most just about loss and grief and how the characters deal with it in such different ways -- just like we do. I admit my taste runs to dark comedy or very real (head on tackling) subject matter so my list will be heavy that direction. I would love to know what you have watched that has distracted you or kept you company or held your heart as you grieve.
As with everything you hear on my podcasts, please take that which serves you & leave the rest. I hope you will find something of value & I am so sorry that you need to be here, but so honored you are here. Talk soon!
As I say at the end of the episode, there some really great conversations with some dynamic people coming in the next few months. 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.
Here is the list of the films, series or other that I talked about AND as I said, I have listed next to each where I think (hope) you can find it to watch today ... but you, like me, may be relegated to "Google" a title and find out where it is currently since this seems to change often! The first 4 deal with suicide loss specifically
- "A Million Little Things" (ABC series, currently Amazon Prime has past episodes)
- "13 Reasons Why" AND "Beyond the Reasons"
- "Audrie & Daisy" (Netflix)
- "Suicide; The Ripple Effect" look on Facebook at the page of the same name
- "Pieces of a Woman" Martin Scorsese film on Netflix
- "Surviving Death" 6 part docuseries on death on Netflix
- "Lila & Eve" movie on Netflix
- "Dead to Me" - Netflix series
- "Six feet Under" - HULU ( an old HBO series)
- "Afterlife" - movie on Netflix
- "Virgin River" - series on Netflix
- "Memory of Water" - movie
- "Rabbit Hole" - movie
- "I Know This Much is True" -movie
- This one IS a LINK ...
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💜 The Leftover Pieces is support central for grieving hearts.
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🛠 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.