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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
Saving Military Lives; A Legacy to their Son
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Today I talk with the Hicks FAMILY - of #HicksStrong. Today I have a conversation with Jolee, Mike, and Sienna. If you have lost a child to suicide, a sibling to suicide or a family or friend in the military to suicide this episode will speak loudly to you!
The Hicks are a warm and fun-loving family who are fiercely loyal and connected. Just three years ago, with one child in the Navy and the other in college, things were looking up for all of them
On February 11th, 2019 they received the call that would forever change their lives.
The person on the other end said “Mr. and Mrs. Hicks your son was found dead this morning”. Their hearts were shattered that day. They do not want other families to know this pain. They do not want our service members to feel alone…
#HicksStrong is here to help!
- There is an overwhelming stigma, across all branches, regarding mental health in the military.
- Service members feel they cannot talk about their mental health difficulties without losing rank or being dishonorably discharged.
- They are being told to suck it up, being mistreated by their chain of command, and being mocked by peers.
The mission is to SAVE MILITARY LIVES! - #HicksStrong Inc. aims to do this by linking veteran & active duty service members with confidential mental health therapists via telehealth and we cover up to 24 sessions.
Believe in what they do and want to SUPPORT or DONATE - do so HERE
Find a HUG MUG or other EVENT near you HERE
Find ALL things HicksStrong HERE
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My website "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" is LIVE and that means my different SUPPORT SPACE Options are available and much more will be coming in 2022
Go DIRECTLY to my SUPPORT page here where yo9u 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
The website again is at www.theleftoverpieces.com
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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.