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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
Acceptance & Change after Suicide Loss; "You used to be ..."
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
"You used to be …much more muchier"
Whether we are saying it to ourselves in the mirror or hearing it from others (either literally or in those 'loud glances' we get from someone), I am certain you too have heard this "You used to be …" and can finish the sentence many ways! ME TOO!
Today I head "down that rabbit hole (again)" to share my thoughts on acceptance and change after suicide loss. What do I mean? Well, I mean accepting our loss and then the personal changes that (whether we resist them or not) must take place to go forward - and everything in between.
I share my thoughts on how MY own (almost ) 5 year journey has looked with regards to these two things. Plus where I am now, how I got here and what I see ahead -- can I see ahead now??
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For Fun …. If you haven't seen it, Here is how you can watch Alice in Wonderland (the Depp movie version)
For Serious …. a Healthline article that has good basic bones to it "Grief Without Denial: 6 Healthy Ways to Accept Death"
I also really like this article from Full Circle.org about Journaling It has some great journal prompts to get you writing!!
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AND ALWAYS … THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT! It means the WORLD to me because after all, we are in this together!
As with everything you hear on my podcasts, please take that which serves you & leave the rest. I hope you will find something of value & I am so sorry that you need to be here, but so honored you are here.
Please reach out to me if you know of someone that I should talk to or if you yourself would like to have a conversation around the suicide loss and grief space. Instagram is probably still the best way to contact me or directly through email. I am already scheduling people into this Spring so it's not too soon to reach out!
Let's have a conversation Let's keep talking Let's be there for each other. Let's make a change. TALK SOON!
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts PLEASE reach out & talk to someone... RESOURCES BELOW:
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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.