131 episodes
The Leftover Pieces; Suicide Loss Conversations Melissa Bottorff-Arey
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- Health & Fitness
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4.8 • 6 Ratings
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You have found a podcast is about surviving life after suicide, which is nothing short of a wasteland of the leftover pieces of your shattered heart. As the host, Melissa Bottorff-Arey is a mother who lost her 21-year-old son Alex to suicide on August 7, 2016. You will hear her have honest, hard conversations with other loss survivors, healers, and mental health experts on the podcast. She also produces shorter, solo episodes where she shares her own thoughts & experiences in this journey (thus far). She explores relevant topics and asks the hard questions. Nothing is 'off limit' as she delves into all areas of this grief, such as trauma, hope, healing, self-care, legacy & stigma. Melissa believes we learn to live alongside our grief, not get over it. We can make a difference only through authentic, meaningful connections and mindful choices. For a supporter or educator, these conversations hold nuggets of awareness and shine a spotlight on suicide and grief honestly and unapologetically. As a suicide loss griever, one can find the comfort of a community and hope for a little brighter tomorrow. Melissa wants to help others, like herself, go from surviving to finding a life with meaning, maybe even happiness, amid their own leftover pieces.
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Moms Leaving a Legacy; Healing, Bonding ...& a Book
NEW EPISODE!! Today SUNDAY, Feb 4, 2024 The Leftover Pieces; Suicide Loss Conversations Podcast officially launched Season 5 !! I am honored to be back behind the mic talking with other loss survivors and experts....so that I can share these conversations with you - fellow griever.
So, yes, I AM BACK!!! AND I did take a bit of a “pause” and I can’t wait to share with you why...(psst, episode 2 tells all of the details -- or at least some!)
I am launching Season 5 with this very exciting episode directly from the book launch Zoom event for the latest legacy book “Because They Lived; Stories & Memories of Amazing Kids Lost to Suicide. As Told by the Moms They Left Behind” (Volume 3) AND I will be releasing at least one Down the Rabbit Hole episode as well!
GET YOUR OWN COPY -- CLICK HERE
Now you can look for me again WEEKLY with a mixture of longer conversational episodes and the shorter solo down the rabbit hole episodes, roundtables and more.... I have missed you friends and am glad to be back!
Check out ALL of my books (and there's more on the way!) -- CLICK HERE!!
PS....LAST SESSION of the Legacy Writing Project for 2023 began August 16 BUT you can get on the wait list for the February 7, 2024, 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 -- GET THEM HERE!!!
ALSO, my first two books (tools I have created for you!) in the "Facing Life After Suicide" series are available on Amazon
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with suicidal thoughts PLEASE reach out:
CALL 988 OR, you can also TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA
Support the show
Support the show -
What's New Here; I Am Back & Why I Paused the Podcast
SUNDAY, Feb 4, The Leftover Pieces launched Season 5 with 3 new episodes ...with more coming EVERY WEEK! I am honored to be back behind the mic talking with other loss survivors and experts....so that I can share these conversations with you, fellow griever.
So, yes, I AM BACK!!! AND I did take a bit of a “pause” and I can’t wait to share with you why...(psst, this episode tells why)
I am launching Season 5 with a very exciting first episode directly from the book launch Zoom event for the latest legacy book “Because They Lived; Stories & Memories of Amazing Kids Lost to Suicide. As Told by the Moms They Left Behind” (Volume 3) AND I am releasing TWO Down the Rabbit Hole episodes as well
Then....look for me again WEEKLY with a mixture of longer conversational episodes and the shorter solo down the rabbit hole episodes, roundtables and more.... I have missed you friends and am glad to be back!
Check out ALL of my books (and there's more on the way!) -- CLICK HERE!!
PS....LAST SESSION of the Legacy Writing Project for 2023 began August 16 BUT you can get on the wait list for the February 7, 2024, group NOW!!
For a way to leave a Legacy of your child - GO HERE
______________________________________________________________________
My WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" support central.
The latest Legacy projects are NOW published BOOKS -- GET THEM HERE!!!
ALSO, my first two books (tools I have created for you!) in the "Facing Life After Suicide" series are available on Amazon
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with suicidal thoughts PLEASE reach out:
CALL 988 OR, you can also TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA
Support the show
Support the show -
Serendipities & Synchronicities; An Essay to (My) Alex
This episode (the 3rd of 3 in the initial drop of Season 5) is releasing on SUNDAY, Feb 4, 2024. I am honored to be back behind the mic talking with other loss survivors and experts....so that I can share these conversations with you, fellow griever.
So, yes, I AM BACK!!! AND I did take a bit of a “pause” and I can’t wait to share with you why...(psst, episode 2 episode tells why if you haven't listened in order)
THIS episode is me reading my recently published essay to (my) Alex “Serendipities & Synchronicities; An Essay to Alex” from the most recent legacy book (see next paragraph)
I launched Season 5 with a very exciting episode directly from the book launch Zoom event for the latest legacy book “Because They Lived; Stories & Memories of Amazing Kids Lost to Suicide. As Told by the Moms They Left Behind” (Volume 3) AND I will be releasing TWO Down the Rabbit Hole episodes as well (I mean episode 2 was really just an update -- but an episode nonetheless)
Now you can look for me again WEEKLY with a mixture of longer conversational episodes and the shorter solo down the rabbit hole episodes, roundtables and more.... I have missed you friends and am glad to be back.
THANK YOU for listening to this episode. It means the world to share Alex with you!
Check out ALL of my books including the latest legacy book (and there's more on the way!) -- CLICK HERE!!
PS....LAST SESSION of the Legacy Writing Project for 2023 began August 16 BUT you can get on the wait list for the February 7, 2024, group NOW!!
For a way to leave a Legacy of your child - GO HERE
______________________________________________________________________
My WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" support central.
The latest Legacy projects are NOW published BOOKS -- GET THEM HERE!!!
ALSO, my first two books (tools I have created for you!) in the "Facing Life After Suicide" series are available on Amazon
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with suicidal thoughts PLEASE reach out:
CALL 988 OR, you can also TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA
Support the show
Support the show -
Deciphering the Words People Use; Untangling Acceptance
In this episode, I go down the rabbit hole to discuss the concept of acceptance, or acceptable, as it pertains to our loss. Words can be so very tricky.
I am anxious to know your feelings after you listen to this episode. Do you agree? Have you encountered this with others wondering why you can’t “accept” your loss? Is your loss acceptable to you?
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I launched Season 5 last week with a very exciting first episode directly from the book launch Zoom event for the latest legacy book “Because They Lived; Stories & Memories of Amazing Kids Lost to Suicide. As Told by the Moms They Left Behind” (Volume 3) and TWO Down the Rabbit Hole episodes as well. If you haven’t listened, you should when you have time!
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Remember to look for me again WEEKLY with a mixture of longer conversational episodes and the shorter solo down the rabbit hole episodes, roundtables and more.... I have missed you friends and am glad to be back!
You can look for me again WEEKLY with a mixture of longer conversational episodes and the shorter solo down the rabbit hole episodes, roundtables and more.... I will drop episodes between Sunday night & Monday night but the best way to know a new one is out, is still to subscribe to be notified from you podcast platform.
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....LAST SESSION of the Legacy Writing Project for 2023 began August 16 BUT you can get on the wait list for the February 7, 2024, group NOW!!
For a way to leave a Legacy of your child - GO HERE
______________________________________________________________________
My WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" support central.
The latest Legacy projects are NOW published BOOKS -- GET THEM HERE!!!
ALSO, my first two books (tools I have created for you!) in the "Facing Life After Suicide" series are available on Amazon
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with suicidal thoughts PLEASE reach out:
CALL 988 OR, you can also TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA
Support the show
Support the show -
The Final Salute LLC; A Sister Honors her Brother's Life
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 deathBeing Hope Growers! How siblings (& others) become disenfranchised grieversWhat she became a Death Doula (& what it is) but where she feels drawn to help now.Some of her favorite things about ZachFind 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
______________________________________________________________________
My WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" support central.
The latest Legacy projects are NOW published BOOKS -- GET THEM HERE!!!
ALSO, my first two books (tools I have created for you!) in the "Facing Life After Suicide" series are available on Amazon
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with suicidal thoughts PLEASE reach out:
CALL 988 OR, you can also TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA
Support the show -
Mindsets, Motivation & Monkeys" Pt 1; What IF Asked Yourself THIS Question?
Today I go (deep) into the rabbit hole to discuss a haunting question -- haunting for anyone, but even more so for us suicide loss survivors. Everything is harder now, right? (but that's NOT the question).
Sing with me “I can do hard things. I can do hard things...” (it may just be the weirdo in me, but yes, I sing it out loud to myself often ...when I feel frustrated or discouraged), and then I DO “it” -- whatever the current “it” is. Or at least TRY to. How about you? (STILL NOT THE QUESTION though).
I want to know if you have asked yourself this question I ask in the episode-- now, in your “after loss” life OR before? Should you? (pssst....the answer is “yes”) YOLO is what Alex would say and he was my kid after all...I hope this episode is thought provoking & motivating....and YES, you have to listen to the episode to actually HEAR THE QUESTION!
Today I touch base on:
Why risk and hard things are easier for some ...or are they? Why asking this question mattersHow Rita Wilson factors inAnd an update on life in Puerto Rico ....and moreListen to the TedX Talk I reference HERE and for the joy of it (& because you will be left feeling like "I want to hear the song" So...
HERE is the song she sings at the end (it's not part the original TedX recording)
Remember to look for me again WEEKLY with a mixture of longer conversational episodes and the shorter solo down the rabbit hole episodes, roundtables and more.... I have missed you friends and am glad to be back!
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
______________________________________________________________________
My WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" is support central.
The latest Legacy projects are NOW published BOOKS -- GET THEM HERE!!!
ALSO, my first two books (tools I have created for you!) in the "Facing Life After Suicide" series are available on Amazon
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with suicidal thoughts PLEASE reach out:
CALL 988 OR, you can also TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA
Support the show
Customer Reviews
Insightful, helpful and comforting.
Since my son died by suicide 7 months since, I have found so much comfort in listening to this podcast. I trawled the internet to find something, anything and everything I could to try to make some kind of sense of what had happened and this is my go to every time. I have definitely felt less alone in my grief because of it.
Finally someone who is talking about it
As a suicide loss survivor, I was relieved to finally find a podcast I could relate to. I like hearing the different perspectives and it’s helpful and healing (even a little bit difficult - but very much needed) for me to listen to this podcast.