Welcome today fellow griever. I appreciate you, I see you and thank you so much for listening and if you can, please ---Support the show

Today, I’m taking you behind the scenes — not just of the podcast, but of why I do all of this.

Spoiler alert: it’s not about making six figures. Not even close to what it's about!
It started with a mic, a grieving heart, and the hope that I could create the kind of podcast I couldn’t find after losing my son Alex to suicide. And in many ways, most ways that matter, it still is about that same 'seed' that was planted when the podcast started... the desire to create the space i couldn't find and to walk alongside others on this journey.

In this episode, I share how The Leftover Pieces was born — and how everything that’s followed (coaching, community, books, retreats…) has grown out of real conversations with other survivors like you. We talk about how I approach grief support differently, why I resist cookie-cutter coaching models, and how I’ve built this space with heart, not hustle.

Yes, I left a full-time job to do this.
No, I don’t have sponsors or ads.
Yes, this work is sacred.

And yes — if the podcast has helped you, you can support it (there’s a button on the website) — but this episode? It’s just me, being real, with no pitch. Just truth. The link is also here in the show notes (top and bottom) BUT I would love you to check out all of the new and newly "spruced up" things on the website! I have been working hard and am so proud of what you will find there.

Take what serves you, leave the rest. And thank you — truly — for being here.

💜
 Melissa

Sending love, peace and enough hope for us both! (See, that's just one way community helps -- we need others to be our strength and motivators and accountability partners when we can't get there alone!) "This is so lonely, but you do not have to be alone." - XO Melissa

Go to my WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" is support central. GET ON MY EMAIL LIST THERE (Blue buttons on home page)

Have you seen the NEW Anthology Book  "Becasue They Are Loved" -- submit your poems and letters TODAY!! Be an author-- tell their story! Because legacy matters

And what about Legacy? Let's remember your child together!! I start the ONE & ONLY Legacy Project this year (2025) --- and NOW is the time to get on the list for Jan 2026 LET"S CHAT - SCHEDULE A CHAT HERE

PS....The Legacy Writing Project in 2024 has finished. Volume 5 is out in the world & 6 is on the way as i type ...GET ON THE LIST NOW for the SINGLE DATE start for 2026
For a way to leave a Legacy of your child - GO HERE

If you, or someone you know, is struggling ww suicidal thoughts, reach out:
CALL 988   OR, you can also TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA

Support the show

Welcome today fellow griever. I appreciate you, I see you and thank you so much for listening and if you can, please ---Support the show

You may have seen soft mentions of some new things I’ve been building — maybe in your inbox or on social — and today I’m diving all the way in. If this is the first you’re hearing of it, then welcome — you’re right on time.

In this heart-led episode of Down the Rabbit Hole, I’m walking you through what’s new — and what’s next — here at The Leftover Pieces™. Each of these new offerings has grown out of real conversations with grieving survivors — and from the truth of my own lived experience.

💜 First, I talk about Destination: Me™ — my intimate 12-week 1:1 coaching experience for moms ready to rebuild their identity, release guilt, and walk forward with purpose. This isn’t therapy. It’s future-focused healing. And as of now, there are just 3 open spots.

💜 Next, I share the details of the Because They Are Loved Anthology — a collaborative book of poems and letters written by those left behind after suicide loss. If you want to write for someone you love, you have until June 30 to submit.

💜 Then, for the first time, I reveal the name of my upcoming online community: The Lighthouse Community. This space will offer gentle connection, topic-based resources, and real-time support for grieving moms — all at an affordable monthly cost. It's built to be soft, welcoming, and real.

✨ I also talk briefly about the January 2026 Legacy Writing Project — and why now is the right time to join the waitlist and begin a longer payment plan if it’s been on your heart.

And yes — I still dream of bringing back retreats. 2026, if the world allows.

Come take a listen — not just to learn what’s coming, but to understand the why behind it all.

As always, take what serves you, leave the rest. I’m just so glad you’re here.

Sending love, peace and enough hope for us both! (See, that's just one way community helps -- we need others to be our strength and motivators and accountability partners when we can't get there alone!) "This is so lonely, but you do not have to be alone." - XO Melissa

Go to my WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" is support central. GET ON MY EMAIL LIST THERE (Blue buttons on home page)

Have you seen the NEW Anthology Book  "Becasue They Are Loved" -- submit your poems and letters TODAY!! Be an author-- tell their story! Because legacy matters

Andt he 1:1 Coaching -- Destination Me SEE IT HERE

And what about Legacy? Let's remember your child together!! I start the ONE & ONLY Legacy Project this year (2025) --- and NOW is the time to get on the list for Jan 2026 LET"S CHAT - SCHEDULE A CHAT HERE

If you, or someone you know, is struggling ww suicidal thoughts, reach out:
CALL 988   OR, you can also TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA

Support the show

Support the show

"Hello --It is May 31st and welcome to Wonderland Fellow Griever. — “You’ve just stepped Down the Rabbit Hole — where mental health meets madness after loss. This is your daily dose of truth, grief, and yes, just the right bit of madness.”

WEEK 5: The FINALE for may 2025 Daily Nuggets

Day 31: Today’s truth is: "You're still here. That matters." Idea: Completion, continuation, and gratitude. Day 31. We made it. This is something! THANK YOU

You've shown up—for 31 days—inside your grief, your heart, and your truth. That is not small. It is extraordinary. Your courage is inspiring. You are an extraordinary person.

This wasn't about fixing anything. It was about witnessing and giving voice to the parts that often go unseen. And you've done that.

You're still here. And that matters. It matters immensely.

Wherever you go from here — know that you carry love. That you are love. And that your story and your loved one's story are still unfolding.

This is not the end—just a pause. Remember, I'll be right here when you need me, and there's a bright future waiting for you.

Thank you for walking through May with me. Remember, you're not alone—not in this life, not in this grief, and not in this strange, sacred, mad little world we share. I'm here for you, always.

So, this is where I leave you - the finale May Nugget -- but by far, not our last time together -- I am so very, very grateful for you. If you have seen my new link in the show notes, or on my podcast, and have donated, please know I am grateful from the depths of my heart - all of it helps me continue being able to help other grievers. 

AND Here is the Coupon Code: Podcast5 - to use at checkout

It is good for BOTH the "Because They Lived" Anthology  Info & Submit HERE 

and The One-on-One Coaching (for moms) HERE

Both coupons good through June 30, 2025 - Thank you for listening! - Melissa

Take a breath. Take what you need. leave the rest. And come back tomorrow because, remember, you're not broken—you're grieving. And you're not alone in this madness. ---I'll be right here Talk Soon."

[P.S... Like this podcast? Support the show by clicking...thank you]

SEE YOU TOMORROW!!! 

__________________________________________________________________________

My WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" is support central.

If you, or someone you know, is struggling ww suicidal thoughts, reach out:
CALL 988 in the US or Canada OR, you can also TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA & Canada

Support the show

"Hello --It is May 30th and welcome to Wonderland Fellow Griever. — “You’ve just stepped Down the Rabbit Hole — where mental health meets madness after loss. This is your daily dose of truth, grief, and yes, just the right bit of madness.”

WEEK 5: The 3 Day Wrap -up for the Month

Day 30: Today’s truth is: "Life, what is it but a dream?"  Idea: The surreal nature of life after loss. 

Grief makes reality feel hazy — like you're walking through someone else's life. Or maybe the world is continuing without you.

It's okay to feel lost in this surreal, poetic, and incomprehensible life. But remember, you're not alone in this journey.

It's okay to feel like you're simultaneously living in a dream and reality. Your emotions are not only valid but also a testament to the depth of your love.

And know that your child's love still threads through this dream. You're not living it by yourself. All of us in this community are walking this path with you, sharing the same love and loss.

So, let's end here. One more day to go. This was the second to last nugget for May. 

AND Here is the Coupon Code: Podcast5 - to use at checkout

It is good for BOTH the "Because They Lived" Anthology  Info & Submit HERE 

and The One-on-One Coaching (for moms) HERE

Both coupons good through June 30, 2025 - Thank you for listening! - Melissa

Take a breath. Take what you need. leave the rest. And come back tomorrow because, remember, you're not broken—you're grieving. And you're not alone in this madness. ---I'll be right here Talk Soon."

[P.S... Like this podcast? Support the show by clicking...thank you]

SEE YOU TOMORROW!!! 

__________________________________________________________________________

My WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" is support central.

If you, or someone you know, is struggling ww suicidal thoughts, reach out:
CALL 988 in the US or Canada OR, you can also TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA & Canada

Support the show

"Hello --It is May 29th and welcome to Wonderland Fellow Griever. — “You’ve just stepped Down the Rabbit Hole — where mental health meets madness after loss. This is your daily dose of truth, grief, and yes, just the right bit of madness.”

WEEK 5: The 3 Day Wrap -up for the Month

Day 29: Today’s truth is: (Finale echo) "I can't go back to yesterday..." Idea: Reinforcing transformation.

We began this month with this truth and return to it now — because some truths don’t get easier, only more familiar.

You can’t go back. And that’s a heartbreak you’ll carry. But remember, you've also carried your love. Your memory. Your child's spirit-all the way to this moment. That's a testament to your resilience.

So today, take a moment to acknowledge your emotional journey. What has shifted in you this month? What feels a fraction lighter, clearer, or braver?

You didn’t go back. But you did move. And that’s not just something; it's a significant step forward in your journey.

So, let's end here. That's your truth - your nugget for today.

AND Here is the Coupon Code: Podcast5 - to use at checkout

It is good for BOTH the "Because They Lived" Anthology  Info & Submit HERE 

and The One-on-One Coaching (for moms) HERE

Both coupons good through June 30, 2025 - Thank you for listening! - Melissa

Take a breath. Take what you need. leave the rest. And come back tomorrow because, remember, you're not broken—you're grieving. And you're not alone in this madness. ---I'll be right here Talk Soon."

[P.S... Like this podcast? Support the show by clicking...thank you]

SEE YOU TOMORROW!!! 

__________________________________________________________________________

My WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" is support central.

If you, or someone you know, is struggling ww suicidal thoughts, reach out:
CALL 988 in the US or Canada OR, you can also TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA & Canada

Support the show

"Hello --It is May 28th and welcome to Wonderland Fellow Griever. — “You’ve just stepped Down the Rabbit Hole — where mental health meets madness after loss. This is your daily dose of truth, grief, and yes, just the right bit of madness.”

WEEK 4: Resilience & Reclamation

Day 28: Today’s truth is:  "Why did you come out here at all?" Idea: The isolation of grief. 

There are days when grief makes you question your place in the world. You might feel like a shadow of yourself. Or like a misfit in every room.

Isolation is part of this journey. But it doesn't have to define it.

Today, reach for a small connection. Share a memory, a text, a voice that sees you. These shared memories keep your loved one's spirit alive.

You came out here — into this complicated world — because your love for your person still lives. This is a testament to your strength and resilience, even in the face of unbearable loss.

And that love deserves to be witnessed. You deserve to be seen. Remember, you are not alone in this journey. Others understand and are here to support you.

So, that's what I have today. That's your nugget.

AND Here is the Coupon Code: Podcast5 - to use at checkout

It is good for BOTH the "Because They Lived" Anthology  Info & Submit HERE 

and The One-on-One Coaching (for moms) HERE

Both coupons good through June 30, 2025 - Thank you for listening! - Melissa

Take a breath. Take what you need. leave the rest. And come back tomorrow because, remember, you're not broken—you're grieving. And you're not alone in this madness. ---I'll be right here Talk Soon."

[P.S... Like this podcast? Support the show by clicking...thank you]

SEE YOU TOMORROW!!! 

__________________________________________________________________________

My WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" is support central.

If you, or someone you know, is struggling ww suicidal thoughts, reach out:
CALL 988 in the US or Canada OR, you can also TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA & Canada

Support the show

"Hello --It is May 27th and welcome to Wonderland Fellow Griever. — “You’ve just stepped Down the Rabbit Hole — where mental health meets madness after loss. This is your daily dose of truth, grief, and yes, just the right bit of madness.”

WEEK 4: Resilience & Reclamation

Day 27: Today’s truth is: "It sounds uncommon nonsense." Idea: Navigating unhelpful advice. 

Grief comes with opinions — often terrible ones. "Everything happens for a reason." "They wouldn't want you to be sad." "At least you have other children."

Let's name that for what it is: nonsense. Well-intentioned - maybe. But deeply unhelpful.

On the other hand, "I'm here for you." "Take all the time you need." "It's okay not to be okay." These are the kind of things that can genuinely help.

You don't have to smile and nod or educate every person. But you can give yourself permission to reject the societal noise and feel supported in your struggle. Embrace your emotions and know it's okay to feel what you feel. 

You understand your grief better than anyone. Your truth is your guide. Let that be louder than their nonsense. Remember, your journey is yours alone, and every step you take is valid. Stand firm in your reality, and don't let others dictate your path to healing.

So, that's what I have today. That's your nugget.

AND Here is the Coupon Code: Podcast5 - to use at checkout

It is good for BOTH the "Because They Lived" Anthology  Info & Submit HERE 

and The One-on-One Coaching (for moms) HERE

Both coupons good through June 30, 2025 - Thank you for listening! - Melissa

Take a breath. Take what you need. leave the rest. And come back tomorrow because, remember, you're not broken—you're grieving. And you're not alone in this madness. ---I'll be right here Talk Soon."

[P.S... Like this podcast? Support the show by clicking...thank you]

SEE YOU TOMORROW!!! 

__________________________________________________________________________

My WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" is support central.

If you, or someone you know, is struggling ww suicidal thoughts, reach out:
CALL 988 in the US or Canada OR, you can also TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA & Canada

Support the show

Welcome today fellow griever. I appreciate you, I see you and thank you so much for listening and if you can, please ---Support the show

Today, I release a recent conversation with Betsy Thibaut Stephenson to talk about her son Charlie who was a smart, witty, reserved, and was (silently) living with being 'unmotivated' & being depressed. Despite doing what seemed like all of the right things, Charlie, a rising senior in college, died by suicide in July of 2022 at only 21 years old. It was shocking and devastating -- and they are learning to live with it, to carry with it! 

"Betsy Thibaut Stephenson lives in Alexandria, Virginia with her husband and labrador retrievers. When she isn't visiting her grown daughters in North Carolina and South Carolina, she is helping public affairs clients tell their story to policymakers and the media. Blackbird is her first book."

There are SO many take aways from this mom-to-mom heart-to-heart....

Here's a few of the highlights of our conversation include: 

• How they responded as a family when Charlie reached out when he spoke out about his thoughts of self-harm from the first time. 
• The trips to see him after he opened up-- and the letter she wrote him, that he carried with him & was found in his backpack after he was gone.
• The letters he wrote and left behind (not a suicide note, per se, but insight of sorts) & what those told his family & how they 'helped' them understand more
• The shock of his death-- and how they spoke 'the open truth' from the beginning.
• ALL of the 'signs; she gets from him now... why bringing him into 'everything" helps and makes it lighter somehow. (I love this part!) 
• It's OK to be 'selfish' in your grief
• Why the title "Blackbird" for the book --- you HAVE TO HEAR THIS--- stuff you can NOT make up here people!?? 
• What IS Stuck Song Syndrome (OMG --- there's a name for it!!) LO-FI people -- LO-FI is the answer.... who knew? 

There is SOOO much to this incredible chat that I think you will love --- I hope you will get this book and curl up 

Find Betsy & her book HERE

@blackbirdbetsy21 on Instagram

_________________________________________________________________________

My WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" is support central.

I hope you will consider SUBMITTING A POEM OR LETTER to my NEW ANTHOLOGY PROJECT --- a book called "Because They Are Loved" SEE ALL OF THE  DETAILS HERE!!

PS....The Legacy Writing Project in 2024 has finished. Volume 5 is out in the world ...GET ON THE LIST NOW for the SINGLE DATE start for 2025 OR FUTURE PROJECTS
For a way to leave a Legacy of your child - GO HERE

If you, or someone you know, is struggling ww suicidal thoughts, reach out:
CALL 988 in the US or Canada OR, you can also TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA & Canada

Support the show

Support the show

"Hello --It is May 26th and welcome to Wonderland Fellow Griever. — “You’ve just stepped Down the Rabbit Hole — where mental health meets madness after loss. This is your daily dose of truth, grief, and yes, just the right bit of madness.”

WEEK 4: Resilience & Reclamation

Day 26: Today's truth is: "I shall be punished... by being drowned in my own tears." Idea: Emotional overwhelm.

Have you ever felt like grief might consume you? If you let it in, would it pull you under for good?

You're not alone. Many of us have felt the weight of grief, fearing that our pain is too big, too dark, too much. But remember, we're all in this together.

But your tears are not a punishment. They are a testament to the depth of your love. They are released. They are language.

Today, if you cry — let it come. Let it move through you. You are not drowning. You are flowing. And in this flow, you will find healing and eventually, you will find shore again.

So, let's end here today. with this nugget

AND Here is the Coupon Code: Podcast5 - to use at checkout

It is good for BOTH the "Because They Lived" Anthology  Info & Submit HERE 

and The One-on-One Coaching (for moms) HERE

Both coupons good through June 30, 2025 - Thank you for listening! - Melissa

Take a breath. Take what you need. leave the rest. And come back tomorrow because, remember, you're not broken—you're grieving. And you're not alone in this madness. ---I'll be right here Talk Soon."

[P.S... Like this podcast? Support the show by clicking...thank you]

SEE YOU TOMORROW!!! 

__________________________________________________________________________

My WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" is support central.

If you, or someone you know, is struggling ww suicidal thoughts, reach out:
CALL 988 in the US or Canada OR, you can also TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA & Canada

Support the show

"Hello --It is May 25th and welcome to Wonderland Fellow Griever. — “You’ve just stepped Down the Rabbit Hole — where mental health meets madness after loss. This is your daily dose of truth, grief, and yes, just the right bit of madness.”

WEEK 4: Resilience & Reclamation

Day 25: Today’s truth is: "Why is a raven like a writing desk?" Idea: Unanswerable questions. 

This is one of those questions that has no answer. It's a shared experience, much like the ones we ask in grief: Why my loved one? Why then? Why now? And the BIG one - Why suicide?

Some things don't make sense. They can't. It's important to acknowledge this. No logic will soothe the ache. No theory will soften the silence.

And that's where we meet mystery. Not to solve it — but to survive it. To say: I hate this. I don't understand this. But I'm still breathing inside of it.

Today, if the questions are loud, let them be. You don't have to answer them to live with them. And remember, if the weight of these questions becomes too heavy, there are people who care about you and are ready to listen.

So, let's stop here. That's your nugget for today.

AND Here is the Coupon Code: Podcast5 - to use at checkout

It is good for BOTH the "Because They Lived" Anthology  Info & Submit HERE 

and The One-on-One Coaching (for moms) HERE

Both coupons good through June 30, 2025 - Thank you for listening! - Melissa

Take a breath. Take what you need. leave the rest. And come back tomorrow because, remember, you're not broken—you're grieving. And you're not alone in this madness. ---I'll be right here Talk Soon."

[P.S... Like this podcast? Support the show by clicking...thank you]

SEE YOU TOMORROW!!! 

__________________________________________________________________________

My WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" is support central.

If you, or someone you know, is struggling ww suicidal thoughts, reach out:
CALL 988 in the US or Canada OR, you can also TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA & Canada

Support the show