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)

Creating "Esther & Astor" ; A Sister's Love Lives On

This conversation is with an amazingly bright light of a human being. Cara Perkins lost older sister Leah (Cox) unexpectedly in 2018 to suicide. In Cara's own words: "I work day to day as an interior...

4 Apr 20211h 20min

BONUS EPISODE; Guided Sleep Meditation

Today Chellor of "Chellor's House of Rocks" will guide you into a place in your mind to help you ease into sleep or rest. For me, sleep has eluded me SO much since losing Alex to suicide so I am alwa...

31 Mars 202111min

Birthdays, Holiday & Hard Days; Here's How I Survive it All

Today, I go "Down the Rabbit Hole" to talk about some of the hardest days & times of the year that we grievers face - their birthday, the holidays & even the day that they left us. I discuss what I ha...

29 Mars 202119min

Sharon Survived; How She Defined Her Why

Today I share my conversation with suicide attempt survivor Sharon Greenwald. Hear her share her story and how it has led her to find her "why" and a life of purpose AND happiness! She talks openly ab...

21 Mars 20211h 3min

Joey Somebody; Sibling Loss, Vulnerability and the Male Ego

Today I am sharing a very important conversation. I recently spoke with Joey Dumont, a self-professed 'recovering egoist' who took a year off to write a book about his life, his loss & 'recovery' tha...

7 Mars 20211h 21min

Oracle Cards; My Grief inside Woo-ville

Today I dive (deep) into 'the rabbit hole' ... I let you into my mind to explore why (& how) I use Oracle cards! Yep -- I said it - Oracle Cards!!! Many people refer to crystals, Reiki, tarot, oracle...

28 Feb 202117min

Brenda's Brutal Reality of Child Loss by Suicide; Delayed Grief & Finding Her New Self

In this conversation Brenda & I y=talk about the loss of her 22 year old son to suicide in 2012. And while Brenda, her family & loved ones were grieving it wouldn't be until Feb of 2017 when Chase wou...

21 Feb 20211h 17min

Teasers, Plans & Hopes; We are just getting Started!

Today, I go "Down the Rabbit Hole" to kind of reminisce, appreciate where I am AND look ahead (just a bit). My plan has always been to grow this podcast organically as it calls to me & to talk about ...

14 Feb 20218min