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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
The Final Salute LLC; A Sister Honors her Brother's Life
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Today I am sharing a poignant & heartfelt conversation I had with an amazing woman named Jessica Timmerman. She lost her brother to suicide & everything changed. Jessica & Zach were not a typical brother and sister.... losing both of their parents before they were 18, they became each other's whole family and also the very best friends.
Zach died by suicide in 2022 while serving his country (he was 15 years in when he died) - leaving Jess to pick up the pieces and figure out how to live without him AND honor his amazing life. This is a bold conversation with a brave lady & it's my honor to share it.
"Jessica Timmerman is a married mom of three kids and a military mental health advocate, currently residing in Edmond, Oklahoma. Sergeant First Class Zachary M. Brown lost his life to suicide on Mother’s Day 2022 while on active duty in Germany. He was Jessica’s baby brother, a proud Infantryman, a combat veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan, a devoted Dad with a huge heart and made an impact on so many. Zach BELIEVED in a life of service and Jessica intends to continue that code".
Today, we talk about:
- There are programs to help -- like the Army's A.S.E. Program --but they come with very human limitations.
- How the military failed Zach in life and his family & memory in death
- Being Hope Growers!
- How siblings (& others) become disenfranchised grievers
- What she became a Death Doula (& what it is) but where she feels drawn to help now.
- Some of her favorite things about Zach
Find Jess at INSTAGRAM - please follow her & support her efforts for change
And look for me to add a link to her (currently being updated) website in the next month or so to my resource page.
THANK YOU for listening to this episode. It means the world!
Check out ALL of my books including the lastet legacy book (and there's more on the way!) -- CLICK HERE!!
PS....The FIRST SESSION of the Legacy Writing Project in 2024 is under way BUT you can get on the wait list for the August 7 group NOW!!
For a way to leave a Legacy of your child - GO HERE
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My WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" support central.
The latest Legacy projects are NOW published BOOKS --
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💜 The Leftover Pieces is support for life after suicide loss. Click links below
🎙 Leave me a message: Share a question, your story, or your person’s name for a future episode → theleftoverpieces.com/voicemail
🔗 Stay connected: Join my email community for weekly support, resources, and honest conversations.
🛠 Start here: Explore website for suicide loss resources for early grief, family support, and next steps.
🤝 For moms: One-on-one grief coaching for mothers navigating life after child loss.
📞 Need support right now? If you or someone you love is struggling, call or text 988 (U.S. & Canada), or text HOME to 741741.