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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
Seven Years After Suicide Loss; A Widow & Her New Hopes
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Lindsey Doolittle is my guest today. She is the author of a children's book called "Goodnight Mr. Vincent Van Gogh". This book is illustrated by suicide loss survivors and was inspired by the questions of Lindsey's nieces and nephews after her husband - their uncle Brett - died by suicide in 2015.
Lindsey was a guest in Season 1 and while we touch base on some of the same topics - this is a very different conversation almost 2 years later - a lot happens, while some things do remain the same, in a few years! Hear us talk about her book and art exhibition both becoming short films along with many other elements of her journey as well as her plans for the future
LISTEN HERE to our first conversation in 2020
Find Lindsey, her book, and website plus some of the groups she supports here:
Get her children's book "Goodnight Mr. Vincent Van Gogh" here on Amazon. (This book is also a part of the permanent collection at the Vincent Van Gogh library in Amsterdam! :)
Above The Rug Advocate, Activist, Suicide Loss Survivor (Lindsey's website including links to her social media, etc)
Blue H.E.L.P Honoring the Loss of Police Officers who have died by Suicide
Through This Together (Online Support) A Journey Through Grief Together
SASS-MoKan Suicide Awareness Survivor Support serving Kansas & Missouri
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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
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with suicidal thoughts PLEASE reach out:
The National Suicide Lifeline is there for you
IN a crisis you can also TE
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Get THE Leftover Pieces APP & don't miss anything! CLICK HERE
💜 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.