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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Avsnitt(330)

Tools Part 2; Engaging Your Senses In Grief Healing

Today, I am publishing Part 2 of "Tools" … the first one is (way) back in Season 1, Episode 15. It's worth a re-visit even if you listened to it then. Today I talk about MORE TOOLS that I use in my da...

27 Juni 202121min

No More "S" Word; A Daughter's Legacy

Today, my conversation is with Jamie Fabroa. She lost her father Wilmer, to suicide 10 years ago but he is still always with her in heart. Jamie now works to bring awareness to help prevent suicide b...

20 Juni 20211h 13min

Acceptance & Change after Suicide Loss; "You used to be ..."

"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...

13 Juni 202120min

Greif Dreams; What DO They Mean?

This episode is my conversation with Dr. Joshua Black who is arguably the world's leading expert on the topic of GRIEF DREAMS. It was so eye opening for me. We all dream but dreams are so complicated…...

6 Juni 20211h 21min

BONUS 2 "The Fog is Real; THIS is your Brain on Trauma"

Today I go 'down the rabbit hole" in this BONUS episode between seasons. I talk talk about grief trauma from loss by suicide & how it affects our brain - suicide loss causes brain trauma. Say that a...

30 Maj 202116min

BONUS! What is Clubhouse; Is it a 'Safe Space' for Grievers?

Today I take a 'mini-dive' into the new(ish) & super relevant social media app "Clubhouse" that is creating a lot of buzz out there in the social media world. Today I just give you some "basics" becau...

16 Maj 202123min

Season 1 ReCap; What Should I Listen to Next?

Today I go "down the rabbit hole" and give you a recap of the conversations that I had this season. And remember that there are just as many short, solo 'down the rabbit hole' episodes as well, but I ...

25 Apr 202124min

Breaking the Cycle; Shame & Stigma & Suicide

Today, I go "Down the Rabbit Hole" to talk about the cycle of SHAME & STIGMA & SUICIDE. I give my thoughts on how the & why the cycle exists and what I have done (and am doing) to try to break it and...

11 Apr 202113min