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
Widow Abby Dart Speaks Up; 19 Years After Husband’s Suicide
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Today I have a poignant conversation with Abby Dart... a suicide widow of 19 years. Her husband Steve died by suicide in 2004 when her 5 children were only 8,10, 12, 13 & 17 (now, 26,29,31,32, & 36 to put it in perspective). Because Steve was in the public eye (in politics) and they had to figure out to grieve publicly while trying to find private time as a family. We pack a LOT into our time together and this was a very enlightening chat.
"I wonder if I'm just still trying to find myself. Because I feel I was robbed of my future, I was, with my husband... And I never really figured it out...So no, I never remarried. And I think I'm still searching." - Abby Dart
"(Suicide is) it's such an abrupt and complicated way for our life to take a hard right turn." Melissa w/ The Leftover Pieces
Some of what Abby & I discuss today:
- The stigma & mental health - still not where we should be
- Her family with 5 kids - then and now
- The importance of a community of support
- Her brokenness - even today AND the duality of it all
- Mental Health AS HEALTH
- Did his death cause her to be "stuck" forever...?
- Her "WHY" as to still talking about suicide 19 years later
- AND so much more!
Abby Dart is a mother of five and Steve Dart's widow. She has her B.A. in Political Science, J.D. Law Degree, Member California Bar, Executive Director for Scenic Michigan and has had Extensive Political Campaign Experience.
Such a poignant conversation - like me, I think that you will take a lot from this!
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PS....LAST SESSION of the Legacy Writing Project for 2023 began August 16 BUT you can get on the wait list for January 2024 anytime!
For a way to leave a Legacy of your child - GO HERE
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My WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" support central.
The latest Legacy projects are NOW published BOOKS -- GET THEM HERE!!!
ALSO, my first two books (tools I have created 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:
CALL 988 OR, you can also TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA
Click to Send a Text or Voicemail to Melissa
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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
Support After Suicide Loss
If you are grieving after suicide loss, you do not have to carry this alone.
Visit The Leftover Pieces for podcast episodes, grief support, resources, and ways to connect with Melissa’s work: https://theleftoverpieces.com
or Join Melissa’s email list: https://theleftoverpieces.com/join
If you someone you love is in immediate crisis or may be in danger, please call or text 988 in the United States. You can also text HOME to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line