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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
Lenore Matthew and Brainspotting; Neurology & Spirituality in Healing
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Today I have Lenore Matthew, PhD, MSW, back on the podcast -- for the THIRD time! That tells you how much I value what she has to say BUT is also a testament to her own healing and growth - AND her desire to share it with those who need to hear it! Today we discuss her latest endeavor in healing - one that can bring so. much. freedom... welcome to BRAINSPOTTING!
On her website she says that she is "Melding science and spirit to welcome joy, light, and expansion" as well as "Helping creatives, high performers, healers, and lightworkers heal through trauma and step fully into their soul's purpose and full self"
IF you currently are looking for healing - whether early acute grief, or later in deeper healing, I have links for you below:
Lenore is findable HERE --> FIND HER HERE - on her website
WHAT IS BRAINSPOTTING? CLICK HERE to FIND OUT
READ ABOUT Brain/Body/Spirit Research Lab for Post-Traumatic Growth and Expansion
Listen to her PREVIOUS 2 Episodes:
S1 Ep 30 Are They Really Gone? Alchemy of Science and Spirit
S4 Ep 11 Dr. Lenore Matthew; Melding Science & Spirit in Healing after Suicide Loss
The resource page she discussed, for others (earlier) grievers is HERE
Len also recently honored me (& the other 2 authors) by writing the Foreword to the latest Legacy Project Vol. 4.... read it today. Available on Amazon at the LINK BELOW
Find ALL Legacy BOOKS HERE
Check out the LEGACY PROJECT HERE
THANK YOU for listening to this episode. It means so much to me!
Support the Show.
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My WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" is support
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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.