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.

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Suicide Can Happen in Any Family; A Mother's Humble Realization

Can it really happen to ANY family?? Unfortunately, many of us have discovered that answer. My guest in this episode knows this all too well herself. Today I have a conversation with Janice "JJ" Joi...

28 Maalis 20221h 12min

How Long Does Grieving Take; Is Something Wrong with Me?

In today's "Down the Rabbit Hole" episode in life after a suicide loss, I talk about the NY Times article from this past week that has caused quite a stir amongst grievers and the therapeutic world al...

21 Maalis 202229min

Seven Years After Suicide Loss; A Widow & Her New Hopes

Lindsey Doolittle is my guest today. She is the author of a children's book called "Goodnight Mr. Vincent Van Gogh". This book is illustrated by suicide loss survivors and was inspired by the question...

13 Maalis 202251min

Funerals during a Pandemic; Plus Tools, Signs and Healing from Trauma

Today I share my SECOND conversation with J India (Jennifer Ciotta) and it is a GIFT! As the title implies - there is a LOT packed into this one! I am fortunate to call Jen my friend now and we jus...

27 Helmi 20221h 10min

Trauma Induced Creativity; Why Helping Helps Us

In today's "Down the Rabbit Hole" episode in life after a suicide loss, I talk about why helping helps - you know, why 'getting involved' or writing or painting - HELPS. I go into a lot of things here...

20 Helmi 202221min

Saving Military Lives; A Legacy to their Son

Today I talk with the Hicks FAMILY - of #HicksStrong. Today I have a conversation with Jolee, Mike, and Sienna. If you have lost a child to suicide, a sibling to suicide or a family or friend in the ...

13 Helmi 20221h 13min

What has Helped Me the Most after Suicide Loss?; Part 3 Time & Self Care

Today I go "down the rabbit hole" for Part 3 in a 3 part series called "What has helped me the most" (after the loss of my son by suicide). I know that I have talked about these topics before - and I ...

8 Helmi 202217min

Suicide by Firearm; Two Survivors United for Change

Today, I sit down with two survivors left behind after losing their loved ones to suicide. Debbie lost her father Don 12 years ago, and Adrianna's brother Luc died in May of 2017 - both died by suicid...

6 Helmi 202256min