Today I dive DEEP into the rabbit hole and discuss perception vs reality and if they are one in the same. I talk about where I am in this grief journey and the evolution of my thoughts on what we have the power over with regard to grief - in my opinion. I think that the real destruction lies in allowing ourselves to go on auto-pilot - you know when we are not intentional about how we are grieving or what choices we are making.  

________________________________________________________

My brand NEW website "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" is LIVE and that means my 2 x/mo FREE SUPPORT GROUP is available (it begins Oct 2)  AND my first coaching options are available. The first (3 month) group is planned to begin  NOVEMBER 3  and there  will be a new group begin every 10 weeks after.  There will be limited spots in each group so let me know if you want on the notify list! These groups will be one part community, one part discovery/growth. I believe these two things are intertwined for us in the earlier stages of grief especially.

Interested? Please DM me on Instagram or email me at anytime [email protected]

The website will be at www.theleftoverpieces.com  (naturally, right?)

Please reach out to me if you know of someone that I should talk to or if you yourself would like to have a conversation around the suicide loss and grief space. Instagram is probably still the best way to contact me or directly through email. I am already scheduling people into this  FALL so it's not too soon to reach out!

If you, or someone you know, is struggling  with suicidal thoughts PLEASE reach out:
The National Suicide Lifeline is there for you

IN a crisis you can also TEXT--->
TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA
in Canada TEXT 686868
in the UK TEXT 85258

And Grievers, I am always here. You can find me on  at The Leftover Pieces

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________

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

NEW July 30, 2025 ---> FIND the $9 Lighthouse Community for Moms Here!!

Resources for ALL --> Find Here

One-on-One Grief Coaching for Moms after suicide loss ---> Find 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

Today I share my conversation with Sharon Ehlers. She lost her best friend Joy and ex-fiancé John within a few years of each other, both to suicide. Sharon is the founder of Grief Reiki® - a multidimensional approach to grief and loss using emotional recovery, Reiki and other spirituality-based tools. She is also an award-winning Author, Grief Educator, Death Midwife and Reiki Master Teacher. She has three beautiful children and lives in Los Angeles, CA.

She talks about the isolation she felt after her losses as well as the immense affect on her outlook on life and ultimately she took a completely new path.  She discusses how she started down this path by allowing herself to be led from spirit. She discusses how reiki was a stronger tool for her - as she was using before her loss - but she also discusses how her spiritual connection became more dialed in and developed as well. 

She de-mystifies Reiki for us - us as basic laymen, AND we also dive a (little) deeper into energy healing and the whys and how's of it working.  Energy is everywhere and it's everything. Once we accept it - harnessing energy is easy and it IS SO HEALING!!! This is a fun and enlightening conversation and Sharon has wisdom worth listening to!

Sharon's website is  Greif -Reiki  where you can find a great bog and SO MUCH MORE!

Here's her blog post "How Grief Walking Saved Me"
 
Sharon's Books are: Grief Reiki  and Grief Diaries, Surviving Loss by Suicide

Her Oracle Cards are available per the App Store or here on Amazon

________________________________________________ 

 My brand NEW website "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" is LIVE and that means my 2 x/mo FREE SUPPORT GROUP is available AND my first coaching options are available. The first (3 month) group is planned to begin  NOVEMBER 3  and there  will be a new group begin every 10 weeks after.  There will be limited spots in each group so let me know if you want on the notify list! These groups will be one part community, one part discovery/growth. I believe these two things are intertwined for us in the earlier stages of grief especially.

Interested? Please DM me on Instagram or email me at anytime [email protected]

The website will be at

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________

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

NEW July 30, 2025 ---> FIND the $9 Lighthouse Community for Moms Here!!

Resources for ALL --> Find Here

One-on-One Grief Coaching for Moms after suicide loss ---> Find 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

Today I talk to Imogen Carn who is a suicide loss survivor. "Im", as she goes by,  is the co-host of the Good Mourning Podcast (with Sally "Sal"  Douglas). Im & Sal believe that "together, let’s make the topic of grief more open and less awkward." They speak to grief and loss of many different kinds as they both lost their mothers (but to different manner of death)

Im's  mother Vanessa died by suicide on Feb 22, 2020, just before the world locked down for the first wave of the pandemic. Her death was a complete and total shock to the family as Vanessa had no previous history of mental health conditions or suicidal ideation. She even says it would be months before she would really comprehend the lockdown because of the trauma of her grief. Im is warm and candid and funny. This conversation is important and it was my honor to have shared this time with Imogen!

Find her on INSTAGRAM at Good Mourning |Grief Podcast HERE

Find Imogen (& Sally) on their podcast Good Mourning HERE and the Facebook Group

Dr. Edith Eger's book,  The Choice,  as was referenced and her follow-up book, The Gift

HERE is the LINK for The Alliance of Hope 

HERE is the LINK to Rebecca Jax Holistic Healing
________________________________________________ 

 IN THE COMING WEEKS - by Sept 15 - my (in progress) website "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" will be LIVE and that means my first coaching options will be available. The first (3 month) group is planned to begin  SEPT 29, so stay tuned and then there will be a new group start every 3 months.  There will be limited spots in each group so let me know if you want on the notify list! These groups will be one part community, one part discovery/growth. I believe these two things are intertwined for us in the earlier stages of grief especially.

Interested? Please DM me on Instagram or email me at anytime [email protected]

The website will be at www.theleftoverpieces.com  (naturally, right?)
Keep an eye out - even boo

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________

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

NEW July 30, 2025 ---> FIND the $9 Lighthouse Community for Moms Here!!

Resources for ALL --> Find Here

One-on-One Grief Coaching for Moms after suicide loss ---> Find 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

Today, I go "down the rabbit hole" again.  I specifically wanted to talk to you about why I do this podcast; why I do all of the things I do in the area of suicide loss and grief. In the simplest version I could just say "because I lost my son Alex to suicide" and while that is of course the catalyst, my motivation and reasons run so far beyond that. Thank you for giving me a safe space to share and for listening - because connecting with other loss survivors, means more than I can say. If I can provide hope, or comfort, or shred of healing to even one of you... that is why I do this. if you get to know Alex even a little through me ... that too, is why I do this.

So, as I share in this episode, IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS (no later than Sept 15)  my website "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" will be LIVE and that means my first coaching options will be available. The first (3 month) group is planned to begin Sept 29,  so stay tuned and then there will be a new group start every 3 months.  There WILL be limited spots in each group so let me know if you want on the notify list! These groups will be one part community, one part hope/healing. I believe these two things are intertwined for us in the earlier stages of grief especially.

This coaching has been a long time in coming grievers.  I knew, in my heart,  that this was my WHY about a year and a half ago … then I set out on the next stage of my healing/learning journey. I am so, so ready to be able to serve this community in an expanded capacity. I have gained a lot through my lived experiences, but also through my certifications (with more to come). Please DM me on Instagram or email me at anytime [email protected]

The website will be at www.theleftoverpieces.com  (naturally, right?)
Keep an eye out - even book mark it & check back in a few weeks (there IS a holding page with "coming soon" there now) !!
__________________________________________________________________________________

Please reach out to me if you know of someone that I should talk to or if you yourself would like to have a conversation around the suicide loss and grief space. Instagram is probably still the best way to contact me or directly through email. I am already scheduling people into this  FALL so it's not too soon to reach out!

Let's have a conversation  Let's keep talking   Let's be there for each other.  Let's make a change. TALK SOON!

If you or someone you know is struggling  with suicidal thoughts PLEASE reach out & talk to someone
The National Suicide Lifeline is there for you

IN a crisis you can also TEXT--->
TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA
in Canada TEXT 686868
in the UK T

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________

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

NEW July 30, 2025 ---> FIND the $9 Lighthouse Community for Moms Here!!

Resources for ALL --> Find Here

One-on-One Grief Coaching for Moms after suicide loss ---> Find 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

Today I share my conversation with Linzi Meaden around the loss of her brother Stuart. "Stu" died by suicide in the height of a global pandemic in June of 2020, just over a year ago. Linzi and I have a conversation, of sorts, every week for an hour. We co-moderate a Clubhouse room (along with Sue Egan) called "Life After Suicide" but this conversation goes deeper and is much more personal as it's just here and I sharing our personal experiences. As  mom, I always gain insight (to help me be there for my kids) when speaking with siblings of suicide loss.

Linzi wrote her book "What Suicide Left Behind, in the first 6 months of her grief. It is a story of her survival, but even more importantly, it is a big part of how she survived! Reading writing and sharing our stories have great power - for both sides!

Linzi Meaden – Author of the Book “What Suicide Left Behind – Written in the first 6 months of grief”

Founder of Paradisium – The Suicide Loss Survivor Community

Mind Coach, Hypnotherapist & Havening Techniques Practitioner.

HERE ARE ALL EAYS TO FIND & CONNECT WITH LINZI (you will be better for it, she is an amazing soul!)

www.paradisium.co.uk – my grief journey videos and interviews with others

www.paradisium.mn.co – the community

https://www.instagram.com/linzi_meaden_suicide_grief/ - IG

https://www.facebook.com/whatsuicideleftbehind/ - FB page

https://www.facebook.com/groups/whatsuicideleftbehind - private FB group

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

 IN THE COMING WEEKS my (in progress) website "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" will be LIVE and that means my first coaching options will be available. The first (3 month) group is planned to begin  Oct 1, so stay tuned and then there will be a new group start every 3 months.  There will be limited spots in each group so let me know if you want on the notify list! These groups will be one part community, one part discovery/growth. I believe these two things are intertwined for us in the earlier stages of grief especially.

Interested? Please DM me on Instagram or email me at anytime [email protected]

The website will be at www.theleftoverpieces.com  (naturally, right?)
Keep an eye out - even book mark it & check back in a few weeks (there IS a holding page with "coming soon" there now) !!
___________________________________________

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________

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

NEW July 30, 2025 ---> FIND the $9 Lighthouse Community for Moms Here!!

Resources for ALL --> Find Here

One-on-One Grief Coaching for Moms after suicide loss ---> Find 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

What is my WHY??? Such a complicated topic, right? Well … yes and no, BUT definitely a relevant & essential one for grievers.  So much changes after suicide loss and nearly everyone who experiences it finds themselves reevaluating and needing to re-tool, or re-build, some (or all) of life as they knew it. Finding, or 're-finding', what our "WHY" is after suicide loss (of a child) is necessary to actually being able to move forward, in my opinion. And it takes time, and choice, and hard work, to actually get to it -- and then be able to live your WHY! AND BELIEVE ME ...it is worth the work!!

ANNOUNCMENT TIME (because I do announce it in this episode!!) ---->

IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS my (in progress) website "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" will be LIVE and that means my first coaching options will be available. The first (3 month) group is planned to begin Sept 15 OR maybe Oct 1, so stay tuned and then there will be a new group start every 3 months.  There WILL be limited spots in each group so let me know if you want on the notify list! These groups will be one part community, one part discovery/growth. I believe these two things are intertwined for us in the earlier stages of grief especially. 

This coaching has been a long time in coming grievers.  I knew, in my heart,  that this was my WHY about a year and a half ago … then I set out on the next stage of my healing/learning journey. I am so, so ready to be able to serve this community in an expanded capacity. I have gained a lot through my lived experiences, but also through my certifications (with more to come). Please DM me on Instagram or email me at anytime [email protected]

The website will be at www.theleftoverpieces.com  (naturally, right?) 
Keep an eye out - even book mark it & check back in a few weeks (there IS a holding page with "coming soon" there now) !!
__________________________________________________________________________________

Please reach out to me if you know of someone that I should talk to or if you yourself would like to have a conversation around the suicide loss and grief space. Instagram is probably still the best way to contact me or directly through email. I am already scheduling people into this  FALL so it's not too soon to reach out!

Let's have a conversation  Let's keep talking   Let's be there for each other.  Let's make a change. TALK SOON!

If you or someone you know is struggling  with suicidal thoughts PLEASE reach out & talk to someone
The National Suicide Lifeline is there for you

IN a crisis you can also TEXT--->
TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA
in Canad

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________

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

NEW July 30, 2025 ---> FIND the $9 Lighthouse Community for Moms Here!!

Resources for ALL --> Find Here

One-on-One Grief Coaching for Moms after suicide loss ---> Find 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

Today I have a vibrant and enlightening conversation with Jennifer, aka J India. She is not a suicide loss survivor but IS an attempt survivor and a trauma survivor turned healer. This is a very relevant conversation for us as trauma survivors.

Jennifer is the producer and host of "Two Inches Off the Ground," a podcast where the metaphysical meets the practical. Her master’s degree in creative writing combined with her former 10-year-career as a book editor bring storytelling and entertainment to the forefront of her podcast content. She loves being a voice for the metaphysical world and hopes that she assists in healing the collective with her words and energy. You can follow her @twoinchesofftheground on Instagram.

LINKS as referenced by J India during the conversation:

• Ayurveda Diagnosis and Intro” episode 9 of "Two Inches Off the Ground" Podcast
• Ayurveda Experience with Saskia” episode 16  of "Two Inches Off the Ground" Podcast 
• Dr. John Douillard of  https://lifespa.com - one of the two best AV practitioners in the US. 
• Take the dosha quiz to find your dosha (constitution)
• ChakraPro app
• Chakra Dance To Change Your Life” by Natalie Southgate

Lion’s Gate Portal (link to Sage Goddess as a trusted source for information) read about it here
 
Here are crystals as recommended by ME (also great for all new moon intention setting work)  : 

• For Energy & Follow Through : Carnelian, Amethyst & Citrine
• For Grounding to Mother Earth: Petrified Wood, Orthoceras & Moss Agate 
• For Manifestation & Raising Consciousness: Lapis Lazuli, Shiva Lingam, Larvikite/Nuummite
• Bonus - For Heart/Self-Love - Rose Quartz. Pink Calcite or Strawberry Quartz for gentle love OR Malachite & Rhodochrosite for healing trauma in the heart

__________________________________________________________________________________

Please reach out to me if you know of someone that I should talk to or if you yourself would like to have a conversation around the suicide loss and grief space. Instagram is probably still

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________

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

NEW July 30, 2025 ---> FIND the $9 Lighthouse Community for Moms Here!!

Resources for ALL --> Find Here

One-on-One Grief Coaching for Moms after suicide loss ---> Find 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

Today, I go "Down the Rabbit Hole" to talk about a topic that is NOT new to me -- in some form I have been living with this since losing Alex nearly 5 years ago.  Unless you have not left your house yet, I am certain that you too have experienced some form of this isolating feeling that comes when you start to interact with people and they bring up children … or mental health … or look at you with that look and say "how ARE you?"  Or "I just don't think I could do this, you are so strong".... OR (Fill in the blank)  … you  even start to anticipate it before it happens. You feel like you are the one to avoid in the room ... ETC!!! Right??? How to cope!!??

As child (suicide) loss survivors we find that going out into public, or social circles, now creates more stress, where it once relieved stress to go out, see friends, be social. Not now, right?  Even in leaving said event - we now carry the fact that once we have exited the space, the people left undoubtedly often talk about us in hushed tones -- "she's the one who lost her son to suicide"  or "do you think she's 'coping' or ' doing ok' or … ???

We TRY to not let it bother us, but it DOES,  It is emotionally exhausting, and very isolating. So, how do we not let it hurt our healing or set us backward. How do we cope IN THE MOMENT?

I discuss this and also offer a tool (or two) that you may want to try that I believe will help. It can (& does) get better with time, but it takes work. AND somethings will just never be the same - and accepting that is just part of it too.  

 THANK YOU for listening, it means more than I can say.  Sending so much love & peace to you all!

HERE is a good article from a website called Complex Trauma Resources that explains top-down,  bottom-up & even side-door approaches to trauma healing. I think you will see why I gravitate toward the latter two.

This journey is SO HARD my friends, but you can do it, we can do it- together!

As with everything you hear on my podcasts, please take that which serves you & leave the rest. I hope you will find something of value & I am so sorry that you need to be here, but so honored you are here. Talk soon!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Please reach out to me if you know of someone that I should talk to or if you yourself would like to have a conversation around the suicide loss and grief space. Instagram is probably still the best way to contact me or directly through email. I am already scheduling people into this Spring so it's not too soon to reach out!

Let's have a conversation  Let's keep talking   Let's be there for each other

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________

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

NEW July 30, 2025 ---> FIND the $9 Lighthouse Community for Moms Here!!

Resources for ALL --> Find Here

One-on-One Grief Coaching for Moms after suicide loss ---> Find 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

Today I talk with Victoria Moore, aka Yogi Mami.  Victoria lost her husband, and her children lost their father,  in May of 2019 to suicide and she talks openly about his struggles with depression, and the help they were actively getting him,  prior to his death. This is a poignant and honest conversation. I think  that this episode will really resonate with widows of suicide who are still raising children, but there is something for all grievers of suicide loss here!

Victoria is warm, funny and (still) very full of life. I find her attitude and spirit both helpful and hopeful. After getting to know her a bit better through our conversation I can say that her Yogi Mami website subtitle of "happy, healthy living" seems so fitting for this surviving, but thriving, dynamic woman who is also a mom of two! EVERY GRIEVER WILL BENEFIT FROM HER TOOLS!! 

Find her here on INSTAGRAM

And HERE is her Yogi Mami Website

You will find SO MUCH GREAT INFO on both!
______________________________________________________________________________

AND ALWAYS … THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT! It means the WORLD to me … we are in this together!

As with everything you hear on my podcasts, please take that which serves you & leave the rest. I hope you will find something of value & I am so sorry that you need to be here, but so honored you are here.

Please reach out to me if you know of someone that I should talk to or if you yourself would like to have a conversation around the suicide loss and grief space. Instagram is probably still the best way to contact me or directly through email. I am already scheduling people into this Spring so it's not too soon to reach out!

Let's have a conversation  Let's keep talking   Let's be there for each other.  Let's make a change. TALK SOON!

If you or someone you know is struggling  with suicidal thoughts PLEASE reach out & talk to someone

The National Suicide Lifeline is there for you

IN a crisis you can also TEXT--->
TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA
in Canada TEXT 686868
in the UK TEXT 85258

And Grievers, I am always here. You can find me on Instagram at The Leftover Pieces

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________

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

NEW July 30, 2025 ---> FIND the $9 Lighthouse Community for Moms Here!!

Resources for ALL --> Find Here

One-on-One Grief Coaching for Moms after suicide loss ---> Find 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

Today, I go "Down the Rabbit Hole" to talk about my amazing son Alex. As we approach five very long, yet somehow also short,  years without him it feels like the perfect time to share more of what we had with him while he was alive.  Today, I do share a little more of the story leading up to his death by suicide on Aug 7, 2016, but mostly I just talk a little but more about his life and the amazing human that he was during his 21 years here on earth. He was funny and smart and no, he didn't love change, but was the best friend anyone could ask for - and one of the best kids a mom could ask for.  And I didn't talk about them in this episode but HIS HUGS WERE THE STUFF OF LEGENDS!  When Alex hugged you his love was felt!! XO THANK YOU for listening, it means more than I can say.  Sending so much love & peace to you all!

Let's all strive to live more in the sunshine of their lives, and less in the shadows of their death

As with everything you hear on my podcasts, please take that which serves you & leave the rest. I hope you will find something of value & I am so sorry that you need to be here, but so honored you are here. Talk soon!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Please reach out to me if you know of someone that I should talk to or if you yourself would like to have a conversation around the suicide loss and grief space. Instagram is probably still the best way to contact me or directly through email. I am already scheduling people into this Spring so it's not too soon to reach out!

Let's have a conversation  Let's keep talking   Let's be there for each other.  Let's make a change. TALK SOON!

If you or someone you know is struggling  with suicidal thoughts PLEASE reach out & talk to someone
The National Suicide Lifeline is there for you

IN a crisis you can also TEXT--->
TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA
in Canada TEXT 686868
in the UK TEXT 85258

And Grievers, I am always here. You can find me on Instagram at The Leftover Pieces

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________

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

NEW July 30, 2025 ---> FIND the $9 Lighthouse Community for Moms Here!!

Resources for ALL --> Find Here

One-on-One Grief Coaching for Moms after suicide loss ---> Find 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