Audio link above is provided to listen to Ep4: Merging the life – Meet Lourdes, a Nurse and Photographer who finds JOY in capturing the essence of people, events and places! With Guest Lourdes Araiza RN (left) and Host Susan J. Farese, MSN, RN (right)
Nursing and the Arts is a podcast devoted to Nurses discussing their diverse artistic passions (or endeavors) such as visual arts/photography, journaling, comedy, podcasting, storytelling, writing/poetry, crafting, cooking, dance, theatre, music, film etc.
Join us on today’s 4th episode of the Nursing and the ArtsPodcast for an informative and entertaining discussion with Lourdes Araiza, RN, Owner, Enchanting Pixels
Watch the Nursing and the Arts Podcast (above)
Ep4: Merging the life – Meet Lourdes, a Nurse and Photographer who finds JOY in capturing the essence of people, events and places!
In this podcast, Lourdes infuses energy and joy in telling her inspiring story – where and how she became a photographer early in life (age 11) by observing at the photography studio next door – in her childhood home town of Sinaloa, Mexico.
Lourdes specializes in headshot and event photography with her business Enchanting Pixels – but photographs nature for her mental health.
After 3 semesters in law school, with a purpose of wanting to help others, she attended and graduated with her Associates Degree in Nursing in San Diego (1986-88).
Lourdes is the Mom of twins, with one twin being autistic. She made it her purpose to learn more about the autism spectrum which enabled her to obtain necessary special needs services and resources for her child.
Although she practiced Emergency Room for most of her Nursing career, it led to her entering the field of Psychiatric Nursing in 2018.
Over the years she photographed family events and made a commitment to mental health. She bought her first “good” camera, a Canon, years ago and the rest is history!
She decided to be in solitude for her photography – and for a year took several angles of photos of local abandoned buildings and street people with mental health issues.
During Covid, Lourdes worked in psychiatric nursing on a locked psychiatric unit , with 4 nurses for up to 108 patients.
Lourdes had been doing professional photography alongside her nursing for many years, but decided to leave nursing in 2023 due to trauma and PTSD to fully focus on her photography.
For fun, community and healing, Lourdes is a member of a Dragonboat community, where she is a member of (and photographer for) the group Paddle Warriors with a vision “to empower women through a sport that is physically, mentally, and emotionally challenging”.
Lourdes recommends that nurses explore different aspects of nursing for their “perfect fit” and to remember to practice having personal family time, life balance, enjoy life, (and self-care).
About Susan J. Farese, MSN, RN, SJF Communications
Susan J. Farese, MSN, RN, a native of New Jersey, is the owner/ president of SJF Communications, San Diego, CA.
Susan has diverse health care experience including military and civilian nursing with clinical, administration/management, staff development, research and consulting roles.
SJF Communications, originally established in 2002 in San Jose, CA, provides services including Public Relations, Publicity, Marketing, Websites, Filmmaking, Acting, Social Media, Writing and Public Speaking, Photography, Mentoring, Coaching and Nurse Consulting services.
If you are a nurse (or know of a nurse) who would like to be considered for a “Nursing and the Arts” Podcast interview, please reach out to Susan by email: info@sjfcommunications.com.
Thanks for visiting! Please feel free to Share this:
CONTACT: Susan J. Farese SJF Communications 408-398-5940 sjfcommunications@gmail.com
SAG SHORT FILM “LIFE AFTER OBLIVION” FILM WILL PREMIERE VIRTUALLY ON FEBUARY 25, 2021VIA THE “ARMED FORCES FILM CHALLENGE”SPONSORED BY THE FILM CONSORTIUM SAN DIEGO
The premiere is set for Thursday, February 25 at 7 pm PST and is part of the Armed Forces Film Challenge Virtual Screening in collaboration with So Say We All. Life After Oblivion is one of three films written and directed by military veterans. Mature content. Price: $6.00.
Due to the topics realistically portrayed, this film is intended for mature audiences.
The Armed Forces Film Challenge was a 60 Day challenge, (extended due to the coronavirus pandemic) during which Team VetPics selected one of several stories offered by the Challenge management, wrote a screenplay (by Tommy Anderson, Veteran), filmed (with 2 assigned elements and one optional element), directed and edited (by Floyd Strayer, Veteran) and submitted to the Challenge management.
Based on the Story Oblivion by Adam Stone
Susan Farese and Ryan Gangl – “Life After Oblivion” Production Still by Tommy Anderson.
The story chosen was Oblivion by Veteran Adam Stone through So Say We All. It is about a Marine Sniper returning from Afghanistan and the ghosts that come with him. It focuses on a singular event that tends to stick out amongst the many he has experienced. It stands out with Team VetPics as a phenomenal opportunity to show the world a snippet of what veterans struggle with when they return home.
About the Producing Team
The VetPics Productions team includes:
Floyd Strayer (Chula Vista, CA) ~ (Team Leader/ Producer/ Director/Veteran) works withSurvivors of Suicide Loss in San Diego, supporting those that have loss to suicide. He acts as the military and Veteran Chair to reach out to our veteran community offering our support. Daily, 22 veterans have struggled with PTSD, mental illness, depression or ghosts of some sort that drove them to take their own life. Twenty-two a day! Floyd’s IMDB;
Tommy Anderson (Norco, CA) ~ Best-selling author and award-winning photographer/artist Tommy Anderson enjoys his role as a motivational speaker and Co-Host of “The Take it Back Show” with Tommy and Tina (Hargett) on the IQ Podcast Network in San Diego. An accomplished screenwriter and Producer on “Life After Oblivion”; a film based on his adapted screenplay from the short story by Adam Stone, Tommy is routinely cast as an actor in commercials, television, and film. Tommy is a founding member of Team VetPics which produced ‘Life after Oblivion”, a short film for the Armed Forces Film Challenge. Tommy”s IMDB.
Susan J. Farese (San Diego, CA) ~ (Producer/Casting/Publicist/Veteran) is the owner of SJF Communications PR and is a veteran Army and Navy Nurse; Susan is a filmmaker: (Producer, Casting Director and Publicist) as well as a SAG-AFTRA actor , writer/poet and photographer. Susan’s IMDB.
Shar Yonan (Bakersfield, CA) ~ (Producer/Location Scout) Shar is a film producer, originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and later raised in Chicago. She studied Improv at Columbia College and has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Counseling and Therapy. After taking acting classes at Act I Studios in Chicago, she relocated to California. Shar was the Festival Director for the Beverly Hills Film Festival for five years and then she was involved in the Bakersfield Out of the BoxFilm Festival where Veteran and disability feature films were showcased, notably Inclusion Films, founded by Joey Travolta. Shar is a strong supporter of Veterans and their stories. In 2016, Shar joined Global Edge Pictures as a producer, showcasing diversity and inspirational stories. Shar is a strong child advocate, empowering foster youth to excel so that they can reach their fullest potential. Shar is currently in the development stage of a number of feature films and continues to be a liaison for independent filmmakers, screenwriters and producers. Shar’s IMDB.
Sue Vicory (Mound City, KS) (Producer) is a three-time Telly Award winning filmmaker. Sue has been making films since 2003. Heartland Films, Inc., her non-profit production company was established to create films that inspire and educate. Sue has spoken on and moderated panels around the world including Sundance and Cannes Film Festivals. She is a member of the Alliance of Women Directors and has served as an Emmy judge both regionally and nationally. Sue’s IMDB.
Twelve veterans were involved in Life After Oblivion: production team, cast and crew, along with Adam Stone, writer of the story ‘Oblivion’.
Ryan Gangl and Elliott McKenzie – “Life After Oblivion” Production Still by Josh Conner
Elliott McKenzie, Ryan Gangl with Will McBride on boom. “Life After Oblivion” Production Still by Josh Conner
Josh Conner, Will Dittrich, Will Hill and Keith Fingers Jr. with DP Joey Garza “Life After Oblivion” Production Still by Tommy Anderson
Will Hill and Emmy Farese, Floyd Strayer in Background. – “Life After Oblivion” Production Still by Josh Conner
Winner: Niagara Falls Indie Film Fest (Poster), Indie Short Fest November, 2020 (Short Script), Big Sur (Screenplay)
Certificate of Achievement (Screenplay): IndieX Film Fest (Short Script), Independent Shorts Awards (Screenplay and Film, November 2020), Indie Short Fest (Short Script), Indie Short Fest (Original Song)
Honorable Mention: Phoenix Short Film Festival (Short Script)
Semi-Finalist: Los Angeles International Film Festival Indie Short Fest (Screenplay December 2020)
Nominee: IndieX Film Festival (Short Screenplay), Independent Shorts (Script), Indie Short Fest December (Short), Venice Short Film Awards (Script)
Official selection: Armed Forces Film Challenge (2020), Indie Short Fest (Screenplay 2020, Film, January 2021), Phoenix Monthly Short Film (Screenplay), Big Sur Film Festival (2021), Vegas Shorts (Screenplay, January 2021), Venice Shorts Film Awards (Screenplay), Paris International Short Festival (Best Music in Short)
More photos from Life After Oblivion
Ryan Gangl, Elliott McKenzie, Josh Conner , Emmy Farese, Chase Dittrich and Will Hill “Life After Oblivion” – Photo by Susan J. Farese
Joey Garza, Floyd Strayer, Elliott McKenzie, Ryan Gangl “Life After Oblivion” Photo by Susan J. Farese
Josh Conner, Sheila Mauck, Shar Yonan and Chase Dittrick “Life After Oblivion” Photo by Susan J. Farese
Joseph Lloyd, La Contessa Miller, Emmy Farese & Miguel Montoya “Life After Oblivion” Photo by Susan J. Farese
Tina Hargett, Will Hill & Robert Hargett “Life After Oblivion” Photo by Susan J. Farese
Keith Fingers, Jr. and Patrick Haynes “Life After Oblivion” Photo by Susan J. Farese
Patrick Haynes, Keith Fingers, Jr. and Joey Garza “Life After Oblivion” Photo by Susan J. FareseCast of “Life After Oblivion” Photo by Susan J. Farese
Joseph Lloyd, Emmy Farese & La Contessa Miller “Life After Oblivion” Photo by Susan J. Farese
Joseph Lloyd, La Contessa Miller & Emmy Farese “Life After Oblivion” Photo by Tommy Anderson
Janey Hann, Kyle Brody & Miguel Montoya “Life After Oblivion” Photo by Susan J. Farese
In summary:
Team VetPics hopes to help bring awareness and remove the stigma around PTSD and suicide to provide hope and encouragement to those in need with Life After Oblivion.
“The ghosts of the battlefield last longer than the war itself”
Thrilled to announce our new SJF Communications Author Clients: Guts, Grit & The Grind: A MENtal Mechanics MANual – Advanced Mechanics in Preventative Maintenance, which is the second of four books in the Guts, Grit & The Grind books on Men’s Mental Health/Wellness!
Second of Four Innovative Books on Men’s Mental Health
Announces Launch August 16th:
Guts, Grit & The Grind: A MENtal Mechanics MANual –
Advanced Mechanics in Preventative Maintenance
The Stories, Science and Strategy to Help Men Build and Maintain a Life Worth Living
DENVER (August 6, 2020) — Today United Suicide Survivors International (United Survivors) announces the publication of the second book in a series to help support men’s mental health, “Guts, Grit & The Grind: A MENtal Mechanics MANual – Advanced Mechanics in Preventative Maintenance” edited by Sally Spencer-Thomas Psy.D., Sarah Gaer, MA and Frank King and published by BDI Publishers. The book officially launches on August 16, 2020 with pre-orders available now on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
Guts, Grit & The Grind Book Series Editors (Left to Right):
Increasingly, guys are embracing the fact that mental health is an important part of men’s health. This self-help book gives men the tools to increase the psychological hardiness they need to face tough times. Readers will be inspired by stories of resilience and transformation.
A blend of a “Chicken Soup for the Man’s Soul,” and a therapist’s workbook, Guts, Grit & The Grind is a collection of men’s stories of coping with trauma, addiction, depression and more. The format is like an automobile owner’s manual, using car metaphors many men can relate to in “preventative maintenance.”
“As a former NFL player, I know what happens when tough guys try to power their way through emotional challenges. It just doesn’t work,” says Dwight Hollier, former linebacker for the Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts and current Senior Associate Athletics Director for the University of North Carolina. Guts, Grit & The Grind gives men another pathway through their pain.”
“When life gets stressful, the first things to go are often those ‘non-urgent and important’ parts of our lives — the things that keep us well,” said Sally Spencer-Thomas, psychologist and co-editor, “This book reminds guys to keep these action steps front and center.”
“Many books are written by remarkable people, but Guts, Grit, & The Grind is a collection of essays from regular guys who have remarkable wisdom they’ve gained through lived experiences or professional expertise,” says Peter Dudley, one of the storytellers in the series.
”I hope these books show that the unwritten rules of manhood aren’t actually rules, and that strength comes not from bearing the unbearable but from sharing the unsharable. The vulnerability in these essays makes mental health approachable and discussable. I hope it gives people in distress a light in the fog.”
“The difference between hard times and unbearable times is often believing you are alone in your pain,” said Sarah Gaer, co-editor of Guts, Grit & The Grind. “By walking alongside our courageous storytellers, readers feel the healing power of men sharing their experiences and lessons learned.”
“Being from the South, an area of the US where people take great joy in sharing oral history, as entertainment, as well as education, I understand the power of storytelling, especially among men,” reflects co-editor and comedian Frank King. “Guts, Grit & The Grind has tapped that power, featuring stories of the struggles of men, by men, for men, emphasizing most importantly, how these men are coping.”
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Sean Adam, Bart Andrews, Ph.D., Dr. Dennis Archambault, Johnnie Calloway, Peter Dudley, Efrem Epstein, Brendan Fitzgerald, Glenn Freezeman, Guy Giard, Mark Jon Gottschalk, Dwight Hollier, Gabe Howard, Einar Jensen, Paul Lavalee, John Marx, Jerry Meddock Jr., Rick Strait, Joe Williams.
CHAPTERS of Guts, Grit & The Grind: A MENtal Mechanics MANual – Advanced Mechanics in Preventative Maintenance include:Chapter 1: Find Your “Classic Car Club” Community; Chapter 2: Family is Your Pit Crew; Chapter 3: Friends Refuel Us; Chapter 4: Tune Up with Total Wellness; Chapter 5: Making Meaning and Zen Motorcycle Maintenance.
United Suicide Survivors International is an independent international organization that serves as a home for people who have experienced suicide loss, suicide attempts and suicidal thoughts and feelings, and their friends and families — collectively known as people with lived experience with suicide. Our goal is to leverage their expertise for large scale change. For more information, visit http://www.unitesurvivors.org or follow along on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
The Armed Forces Film Challenge is a 60 Day challenge, (extended a bit due to the coronavirus pandemic and Covid-19) during which VetPics Productions selected one of several stories offered by the Challenge management, wrote a screenplay (by Tommy Anderson), filmed (with 2 assigned elements), edited (by Floyd Strayer) and submitted to the Challenge management.
Based on the Story Oblivion by Adam Stone
The story we chose is Oblivion by Veteran Adam Stone. It is about a Marine Sniper returning from Afghanistan and the ghosts that come with him. It focuses on a singular event that tends to stick out amongst the many he has experienced. It stands out with our team as a phenomenal opportunity to show the world a snippet of what our veterans struggle with when they come home.
Life After Oblivion – Photo by Tommy Anderson
About the Producing Team
The VetPics Productions team includes:
Floyd Strayer (Chula Vista, CA) ~ (Team Leader/ Producer/ Director/Veteran) works withSurvivors of Suicide Loss in San Diego, supporting those that have loss to suicide. He acts as the military and Veteran Chair to reach out to our veteran community offering our support. Daily, 22 veterans have struggled with PTSD, mental illness, depression or ghosts of some sort that drove them to take their own life. Twenty-two a day! Floyd’s IMDB;
Tommy Anderson (Norco, CA) ~ (Producer/Screenwriter/Veteran) www.haboobwind.com, is a PTS survivor and has worked with veterans’ issues including suicide prevention for both veterans and public safety personnel. He is on the board of directors of the US For Warriors Foundation in San Diego and has been recognized by both the Los Angeles County Board and the Riverside County Board for with work with veterans.Tommy’s IMDB;
Susan J. Farese (San Diego, CA) ~ (Producer/Casting/Publicist/Veteran)is the owner of SJF Communications and is a veteran Army and Navy Nurse.Susan’s IMDB;
Shar Yonan (Bakersfield, CA) ~ (Producer/Location Scout) is a strong child advocate for abused children in foster care as well as an advocate for children who have attempted to take their own life. Shar’s IMDB.
Sue Vicory(Mound City, KS) (Producer) is a three-time Telly Award winning filmmaker. Sue has been making films since 2003. Heartland Films, Inc., her non-profit production company was established to create films that inspire and educate. Sue has spoken on and moderated panels around the world including Sundance and Cannes Film Festivals. She is a member of the Alliance of Women Directors and has served as an Emmy judge both regionally and nationally. Sue’s IMDB.
We have 12 veterans involved in Life After Oblivion, the film, (production team, cast and crew) along with Adam Stone, writer of the story ‘Oblivion’.
We hope to help bring awareness and remove the stigma around PTS/PTSD and suicide to provide hope and encouragement to those in need with Life After Oblivion
“The ghosts of the battlefield last longer than the war itself”
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
YouTube
Amazon Music
Audible
Audacy
iHeartRadio
CastBox
