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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
Let's Talk to a Medium; Soul & Spirit Mom's Healing Retreat
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Today, I share a long overdue conversation...with Angel the Medium. After child loss by suicide, we need connection - to so much, other moms included, & we need a connection to our child in spirit. Many grievers look for, wonder about, &/or sit in front of a medium to facilitate that connection after loss.
I know I did -- the first few attempts didn't go well for me after I learned how to find a medium, prepare for a reading, and moreover, I finally found "my medium" (yes, once you find a fit, you should stick with them) In this episode, Angel and I attempt to demystify mediumship including discussing that he is deeply Catholic (many people assume God & spirituality do not go hand-in-hand. Untrue. They can!)
BUT THAT'S NOT ALL. Angel and his wife (mystic Medium), Lisa Dawn, are the guest co-hosts for my upcoming Mom's Soul & Spirit Connection RETREAT (Jan. 15-20, 2025). It will be an (almost) weeklong healing retreat where we integrate mediumship, psychic, and healing modalities with a fully immersive dive into soul and spirit. Come get replenished, cared for, and connected this January (and hopefully, we will partner for a yearly retreat after this!!!
Angel the Medium is an Evidential Psychic Medium &Spiritual Life Coach who is passionate about teaching, helping others. Every day, he gets to do what he loves. Angel is genuinely grateful for his gifts and loves to help people the best he can.
"I understand the challenges life can bring, and I'm here without judgment for you and your family. My role is to support & assist you to the best of my abilities. I aspire to contribute to your healing journey during our sessions...thank you for choosing to connect with me." -Angel the Medium.
Lisa Dawn sums up who should get a reading from here in a significant way:
- Anyone needing clarity on their life (any subject) | Psychic Reading
- People who want to connect to a passed loved one | Mediumship Reading
- If you need emotional, spiritual, or physical healing | Healing Session
- Anyone who wants to know themselves better, understand more about themselves, &see their path in life, challenges, talents, and skills would make a good partner. | Astrology Reading
The Retreat specifics are best read about HERE on the Retreat Page.
BELOW are the LINKS to websites for Angel, Lisa, and the RETREAT!
Angel the Medium (website)
HOW to PREPARE for a READING (by Angel)
HERE's Season 4 Ep 11 (Dr. Lenore Matthew- how to find a Medium, &...)
A great LIST of RESOURCES (from Dr. Lenore)
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My WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" is support central.
For a way to leave a Legacy for your child - GO HERE
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with suicidal thoughts, reach out: CALL 988 OR, TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 i
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