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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 'Get Griefy': Change Makers & Hope Spreaders
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Today, I share some resources, talk about a few change makers and read a few inspiring messages for this season - for every season, really.
Today, hear me discuss the past, present and future (no, it's not a holiday tale filled with chain clanking ghosts) and then dip into some exciting, hope-filled options and resources -- and the incredible people behind them!
Be sure to stay 'til the end where I read an article that I wrote for the 4th Quarter Get Griefy magazine. And there are so many other incredible articles and resources -- you will want to own a physical copy so that you can read them all over and over!
Access Get Griefy Magazine HERE Editor in Chief Kera Sanchez (click the "READ" tab at left to read past issues) OR Order on Amazon HERE at Kera's author page where you will also see her Legacy Letters books (I am currently filling in a copy myself-- because, yes, legacy truly matters!
Look at the Resilient AF book / Global Resilience Project HERE by Blair Kaplan Venables AND WATCH FOR RESLIENT AF 2 in January 2025!!
Erin Blechman's WEBSITE and BOOK My Unexpected Journey at these links
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Go to my WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" is support central.
PS....The FIRST SESSION of the Legacy Writing Project in 2024 has finished & the last one is under way...GET ON THE LIST NOW for the SINGLE DATE start for 2025
For a way to leave a Legacy of your child - GO HERE
If you, or someone you know, is struggling ww suicidal thoughts, reach out:
CALL 988 OR, you can also TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA
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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.