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
Grief Waves Years After Loss; Different or the Same?
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Today I go “down the rabbit hole” to talk about when those 'grief waves' hit me even years (over 5 & 1/2 years) after the loss of my son to suicide. Are they they different now or the same as in the early days?
I talk about feeling your emotions - I believe it's the best way to
Even later - even forever - it is stil "ok" to cry and scream and miss then with ALL OF YOU ... there is NO F***ING TIMELINE for loving someone. BUT, how do the bad days or grief waves look later??
Here are a FEW of the 'resources' or suggestions that I offered, oor titles I mentioned, if you are interested::
Podcasts-
- Coming Back OR Grief Seeds (both by Shelby Forsythia
- Not Allowed to Die by Dan Maigler
- Good Mourning (by Imogen & Sally)
Movies / Shows - (all are about healing in some fashion but have a hopeful message)
- Hope Floats
- Nights in Rodanthe
- Chef
- Surviving Death a Docuseries (Netflix)
- The Starling (Melissa McCarthy)
- Rabbit Hole (Nicole Kidman)
Come with me “down the rabbit hole” every other week as I share my thoughts on topics surrounding life after suicide. On the other weeks, I release an episode where I have a conversation with a suicide loss survivor or perhaps an expert in a field connected to suicide loss.
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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
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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.