Ave Explores

Osad

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  Week One: Travel and Pilgrimages with a Family feat. John Hale and daughter, Elizabeth Hale 07.10.2026 45min

  When John Hale became CEO of Corporate Travel, it opened up a world of opportunities to explore new places, both on his own and alongside pilgrims. He and his wife, Kristen, also made it a priority to bring their children along on adventures around the world. In their first joint interview, John sits down with his eldest daughter, Elizabeth, to reflect on the impact of traveling as a family and the difference between taking a vacation and going on pilgrimage. Together, they share how these shared experiences have shaped their family’s faith and brought them closer to God. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)Links:Sign Up to Receive Emails for Ave Explores Learn More about Corporate Travel Follow Ave Maria Press on Instagram
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  Teaser: Why Pilgrimages? feat. Edmundo Reyes of Seeking Beauty 30.09.2026 53min

  Edmundo Reyes was bitten by the travel bug at a young age, always seeking adventure and hoping to discover something beautiful along the way. Years later, it was only fitting that he became the showrunner and executive producer of a Catholic travel series hosted by David Henrie, taking curious Catholics on a journey through Italy (Season 1) and Spain (Season 2), with many more destinations to come. But you don’t have to produce a travel show to have a pilgrim’s heart. Edmundo shares how we can all remain open to the movement of the Holy Spirit by embracing our desire to go and see what the Lord has in store for us. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)Links:Sign Up for Ave Explores Follow Ave Maria Press on Instagram
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  Week Six: Books are a Bridge feat. Katie McGrady 01.07.2026 25min

  At the beginning of this season, Pope Leo told the Vatican Publishing House that books are bridges of encounter. By the season's end, he told writers that books help us more deeply explore what it means to be human. In this concluding episode, Katie reflects on how reading has shaped her own life and faith, and why great literature has the power to transform us. She also shares a curated list of the books recommended by each of this season's guests, offering listeners a reading guide to continue the conversation long after the season ends. Check out these documents: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/speeches/2026/giugno/documents/20260624-scrittori-lev.html https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/speeches/2026/may/documents/20260507-lev.html We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)Links:Follow Ave Maria Press on Instagram
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  Week Five: A Russian Novel for Lent on Hallow feat. Alex Jones and Ashley Lenz 24.06.2026 44min

  When Hallow CEO Alex Jones told Ashley Lenz he wanted to feature The Brothers Karamazov in the app’s annual Pray40 Lenten challenge, she had one condition: a weeklong retreat at Notre Dame. The retreat became the foundation for what would become Hallow’s most successful Pray40 campaign ever. More importantly, it confirmed a conviction at the heart of her work—that a truly good and beautiful book can open hearts to Jesus Christ. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)Links:Follow Ave Maria Press on Instagram Learn More about Hallow
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  Week Four: Finding Community through Great Books with Marcie Stokman and Colleen Hutt, Founders of Well-Read Mom 17.06.2026 51min

  In this episode, Katie talks with Marcie Stokman and Colleen Hutt, co-founders of Well-Read Mom, a nationwide book club for women seeking deeper friendships and meaningful conversations through great literature. Marcie and Colleen share how reading good books transformed their own lives, making them a better person, wife, and mother. In a culture increasingly shaped by constant screens and distractions, they argue that literature helps us recover the lost arts of thinking, reading, and speaking well. For many women, finding time to read can feel impossible. Marcie offers a simple answer: read together. Through book clubs and shared conversations, women discover a space to wrestle with the questions that matter most—the joys and sorrows, hopes and fears, and challenges of everyday life. These friendships provide the connection, encouragement, and sense of belonging that every person longs for. Marcie and Colleen also explain the Well-Read Mom four-step process: Read: Let go of the guilt and simply begin. Compare: Connect the themes of the book to your own life. Share: Engage in authentic conversations with others, ideally face-to-face. Accompany: Support one another through life's struggles with compassion and confidentiality. Three Takeaways: Reading fosters friendship, and friendship inspires us to keep reading. Every person has a deep desire to be seen, known, loved, and connected in authentic community. The Well-Read Mom four-step process offers a practical path to deeper relationships and a richer intellectual and spiritual life. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)Links:Learn More About Well-Read Mom Check out their book, The Well-Read Life
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  Week Three: C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien: Faith, Imagination, and the Power of Story feat. Kaitlyn Facista and Andrew Swafford 10.06.2026 43min

  In this episode of Ave Explores: Catholicism in Literature, Katie sits down with Kaitlyn Facista and Andrew Swafford to discuss the enduring legacy of two of Christianity’s greatest storytellers, C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. Facista, author of _Into the Heart of Middle-earth and founder of Tea with Tolkien, shares how Tolkien’s works played a significant role in her conversion to Catholicism. Drawn into Middle-earth by its unforgettable heroes and villains, she discovered profound lessons about virtue, vice, courage, and sacrifice. In a culture hungry for authentic examples of goodness and bravery, Tolkien’s stories continue to awaken the heart and point readers toward truth. Swafford reflects on encountering Tolkien later in life while reading The Lord of the Rings with his children. Those family readings sparked rich conversations, nurtured their spiritual imaginations, and created opportunities for catechesis. He also discusses introducing students at Benedictine College to Lewis’s Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, and The Great Divorce, marveling at Lewis’s ability to reach students of every background and faith. Through imagination and story, Lewis demonstrates how art and literature can communicate truths that might otherwise remain hidden. Journey through the wardrobe and wander into the Shire for an inspiring conversation about faith, imagination, and the transformative power of great stories. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)Links:Learn about Kaitlyn's book Into the Heart of Middle-earth! Check out Andrew Swafford's books on three great works by C. S. Lewis
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  Week Two: Murder Mysteries and Vampire Novels with Fr. Michael Brisson, LC, and Sr. Allison Gliot, FSP 03.06.2026 53min

  Sr. Allison Gliot, FSP, and Fr. Michael Brisson, LC, both set out to write fiction, only to find their stories taking unexpected turns. One created a tale involving a priest entangled with the mafia; the other imagined a world where young adults navigate the mysteries of vampires. Unlikely stories from a priest and a religious sister—but perhaps all the more compelling because of their vocations. In this episode, we bring Sr. Allison and Fr. Michael together for the first time to discuss creativity, storytelling, and the surprising paths their novels have taken. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)Links:Sign up to Follow Ave Explores: Catholicism in Literature Follow Sr. Allison on Instagram Follow Fr. Michael on Instagram
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  Week One: Reading in the Home 26.05.2026 50min

  Authors Haley Stewart and Claire Swinarski reflect on how a lifelong love of reading sparked their writing careers, helped cultivate a rich reading culture in their homes, and continues to open the door to deeper, more meaningful connections with others. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)Links:Sign up to Follow Ave Explores: Catholicism in Literature
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  Teaser: Read like a Friar with Fr. Jonah Teller, OP 20.05.2026 56min

  To kick off the new series of Ave Explores on Catholicism in Literature, Fr. Jonah Teller, OP, shares how a lifelong love of reading shaped his faith, imagination, and vocation. In an age dominated by scrolling and screens, he reflects on why great books still matter and how the classics form us in wisdom, virtue, and attentiveness to God and the world around us. Fr. Jonah also offers practical ways to build reading into everyday life and cultivate habits that make space for deeper reflection, even amid busy schedules. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)Links:Sign up to Follow Ave Explores: Catholicism in Literature
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  BONUS EPISODE: One Year with Pope Leo XIV 08.05.2026 41min

  On May 8, 2025, Pope Leo XIV was elected the 267th pope of the Catholic Church. In the months since, his leadership, messages of peace, and warm presence among the faithful have offered much to reflect on. In this special episode of Ave Explores, Katie McGrady and Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP, discuss the lessons and insights Pope Leo XIV has shared with the Church and the world. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)Links:Get Your copy of Praying with the Popes Follow Ave Maria Press on Instagram
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  Easter: Feast after the Fast with Laura Kelly Fanucci 03.04.2026 38min

  We usually arrive at Easter ready to stop "counting the days" of Lent and happy to end our fasting. Laura Kelly Fanucci's new Easter devotional, Living Easter encourages us to enter the 50 days of Easter with the same focus and purpose as we did for the 40 days of Lent. Get your copy of Witness today, with a foreword by Jonathan Roumie from The Chosen. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)Links:Order Living Easter today!
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  Holy Week: The Shock of Holy Week with Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP 30.03.2026 40min

  Holy Week arrives with a sudden silence—marked by darkness, stillness, and striking liturgical traditions—that invites us to enter more deeply into the mystery and memory of Jesus’ Passion, Death, and Resurrection. Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP, helps us prepare for the intensity of the week by sharing the rich Holy Week traditions of the Dominican Order. Get your copy of Witness today, with a foreword by Jonathan Roumie from The Chosen. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)Links:Get Your Copy of Witness Today!
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  5th Week of Lent: Lent Makes Us Courageous with Pete Burak 21.03.2026 37min

  Author of A Man on Purpose, Pete Burak shares how courage doesn’t begin with heroic moments, but with daily faithfulness. In this episode, he explores how small, sometimes difficult Lenten practices—like fasting—form us to respond when God calls us to step forward in bigger ways. Get your copy of Witness today, with a foreword by Jonathan Roumie from The Chosen. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)Links:Get Your Copy of Witness Today! Check Out Pete Burak's New Book!
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  4th Week of Lent: The Cross is Humbling with Meg Hunter-Kilmer 14.03.2026 34min

  Crucifixion was meant to be a humiliating death, a public sign of defeat. Yet Jesus transforms the Cross into the place of ultimate victory. In this episode of Ave Explores, Meg Hunter-Kilmer reflects on how gazing upon the Cross humbles us—revealing both the depth of Christ’s love and the saving power found in what once seemed like failure. Get your copy of Witness today, with a foreword by Jonathan Roumie from The Chosen. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)Links:Get Your Copy of Witness Today! Follow Meg Hunter-Kilmer on IG
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  3rd Week of Lent: Suffering with Christ featuring Mary Lenaburg 07.03.2026 38min

  When we stand at the foot of the Cross, we encounter true compassion—literally, “to suffer with.” Mary Lenaburg knows this compassion intimately. Having experienced profound sorrow and deep joy, she understands that suffering is not a season to escape but a place to remain with Christ. While her life has not been a perpetual Lent, she has learned how to walk through it—standing beside Jesus at the Cross and discovering there a love that redeems every trial. Get your copy of Witness today, with a foreword by Jonathan Roumie from The Chosen. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)Links:Get Your Copy of Witness Today! Follow Mary Lenaburg on Instagram
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  2nd Week of Lent: Friendship at the Cross with Fr. Jeronimo Espinosa and Ali Hoffman 02.03.2026 48min

  Lent invites us to stand at the foot of the Cross—but never alone. The Christian life is meant to be lived in communion, alongside companions who help draw us closer to the Lord. In this episode, Fr. Jerónimo Espinosa and Ali Hoffman reflect on how friendship and community have shaped their faith over the years. Through their shared journey, they reveal the beauty of growing in intimacy with Jesus through genuine relationships and the transformative grace that comes from encountering the Lord together. Get your copy of Witness today, with a foreword by Jonathan Roumie from The Chosen. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)Links:Get Your Copy of Witness Today! Follow Ali Hoffman on Instagram Follow Fr. Jeronimo Espinosa on Instagram
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  1st Week of Lent: Dignity at the Cross with the Sisters of Life 21.02.2026 48min

  Rooted in their mission to uphold the dignity of every human person, the Sisters of Life witness to the truth that no one is beyond God’s love and mercy. During Lent, we are invited to stand at the foot of the Cross and encounter the Lord’s loving gaze, even in his suffering. Sr. Cora Caeli and Sr. Magnificat Rose share how they live Lent as religious sisters, reflecting on why the cross is not something to avoid but to embrace—especially as we repent, convert, and cling to Christ throughout these forty days. Get your copy of Witness today, with a foreword by Jonathan Roumie from The Chosen. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)Links:Get Your Copy of Witness Today! Learn More about the Sisters of Life
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  Ash Wednesday: Starting Lent with a Plan with Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP, and Tommy McGrady 17.02.2026 50min

  Lent invites us to trust God’s providence—but it also calls for intention. In this episode, Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP, author of Witness, joins Katie and her husband, Tommy, to reflect on approaching the season with purpose. Fr. Patrick shares how writing a Lenten reflection journal helped him contemplate the Cross more deeply and why we’re invited to stand at its foot—ready to receive all the grace the Lord desires to give through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Get your copy of Witness today, with a foreword by Jonathan Roumie from The Chosen. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)Links:Get Your Copy of Witness Today! Sign Up to Receive Emails for Ave Explores
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  NEW SERIES: Not a Fan of Lent? You’re Not Alone with Fr. Gregory Pine, OP 12.02.2026 42min

  In this teaser episode of Ave Explores: Lent with Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP, host Katie McGrady sits down with Fr. Gregory Pine, OP, to name a familiar tension: many of us resist Lent, even while longing for the work God wants to do in us. Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving aren’t ends in themselves—they’re pathways into deeper participation in the divine life and a renewed ability to recognize God in the ordinary. Fr. Gregory invites us to begin simply, with an honest prayer: Lord, I need you. This conversation sets the tone for our Lenten series inspired by Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe’s book Witness. Throughout Lent, we’ll walk alongside those who encountered the Passion firsthand, with weekly videos featuring Fr. Patrick and companion podcast episodes with guests including Bishop Andrew Cozzens, Meg Hunter-Kilmer, Ali Hoffman, Fr. Jerónimo Espinosa, Laura Fanucci, and more. This Lent, don’t get stuck in what you dislike about the season. Let God meet you where you are—and lead you where he is calling you to go. Get your copy of Witness today, with a foreword by Jonathan Roumie from The Chosen. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)Links:Get Your Copy of Witness Today! Check out the Godsplaining Podcast Sign Up to Receive Emails for Ave Explores
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  Fourth Sunday of Advent: The Wonder of the Journey with Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP 19.12.2025 41min

  In the final days of Advent, Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP, reflects on Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem—sudden in appearance, yet deeply intentional and necessary. Their path invites us to consider our own journeys during this liturgical season and throughout life, and to recognize the deeper purpose meant to be received with wonder. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)Links:Sign Up for Ave Explores Get Your Copy of Behold the Wonder Today! Check out Fr. Patrick's NEW Lent journal, Witness