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
Kelli Nielson is The Grief Guru; Moving Forward & Embracing Healing
Today I have a meaningful, needle-moving conversation with Kelli Nielson of The Grief Guru. Kelli and I have a lot of the same beliefs about grief, mourning and healing so this was a very affirming conversation for me. She is also candid and funny and no-nonsense...traits i find easy to engage with and warm up to. Here is a bit about her. You can find Kelli at her website THE GRIEF GURU
"Kelli didn’t grow up with visions of becoming The Grief Guru, but life had other plans. After losing her mother to suicide in 2017 she found herself swept out in a sea of grief. Barely able to get through the days she looked for help and was discouraged when she didn’t find the support or tools to recover.
Thankfully an encounter with an inspiring speaker showed her that healing was available to her. She decided then and there to dedicate herself to recovering from grief. She studied, prayed, documented her process, and began to recover. Her recovery came not a moment too soon as just a year later her 20 year old son Quintin died of an accidental drug overdose.
Kelli has since become a speaker, author, and coach. Her book, You’re Not Crazy, You’re Grieving, shares the process she used to heal from her tremendous losses. She also founded The Grief Guru, a company focused on helping others learn to move forward on purpose, in purpose and love their lives after loss. "
Some of the things we talk about are:
- Healing is a choice - it will take time, and isn't easy - but it can be done
- Healing does NOT mean that you will 'move past' your loved one
- How important our brain is in the healing journey because our feelings are actually the LAST thing to catch up when we choose to start a transformative journey - thoughts and words (or actions) come first/
- What we need to be radical and intentional about
- How her Christian faith was challenged and where she is now with God
You can find Kelli at her website THE GRIEF GURU and she is under the same name on social media.
Her book You're Not Crazy, You're Grieving can be found HERE or on MY WEBSITE Resource Page
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My WEBSITE "The Leftover P
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💜 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.