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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
Contact with Spirit; Down the "Psychic" Rabbit Hole for Halloween
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Click to Send a Text or Voicemail to Melissa
This episode release on HALLOWEEN 2021 - so, Happy Halloween! Now that we have had a whole week of Instagram Posts, a live pop ins .... HERE is the HALLOWEEN SPECIAL EDITION RABBIT HOLE. Why did I "do" this whole week of spooky, fear-themed post? Well, because grief and fear and spirits and sad, dark and terrifying things all happen this time of year. AND because I love Halloween and because I can, honestly. I hope you found something of value - or insightful - or even fun this week!
Today, I go "down the rabbit hole" and take a spirited, somewhat psychic, turn …. I chat about clairsenses and give you just enough to either make you go deeper - or leave it for those of us that "buy into that stuff" (ME - I do!! LOL) . I am good with either and my heart is with each and every one of you - until next week!
Here are a few interesting links for you to read (a few from last week and a new one!)
SPIRITED: Unlock Your Psychic Self & Change Your Life by Rebecca Rosen
Rebecca Rosen - the website (so much great info here)
The History of Halloween as told by The World History Encyclopedia (it also goes into Samhain and other related traditions as well)
The History of Halloween in Salem (because "witches" of course!)
Here's a link to listen to 5 hours (or less) of Edgar Allen Poe - and scroll down for some other fun links to other Poe links on this page
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My brand NEW website "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" is LIVE and that means my 2 x/mo FREE SUPPORT GROUP is available (it begins Oct 2) AND my first coaching options are available. The first (3 month) group is planned to begin NOVEMBER 3 and there will be a new group begin every 10 weeks after. There will be limited spots in each group so let me know if you want on the notify list! These groups will be one part community, one part discovery/growth. I believe these two things are intertwined for us in the earlier stages of grief especially.
Interested? Please DM me on Instagram or email me at anytime melissa@theleftoverpieces.
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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
🔗 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.