app03 Sun, 21 Jun 2026 20:29:35 +0000 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Ave Explores - Episodes Tagged with “Alex Jones” https://aveexplores.fireside.fm/tags/alex%20jones Wed, 17 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0400 A project of Ave Maria Press, Ave Explores helps you discover and learn about aspects of the Catholic faith from a variety of different angles, looking at topics relevant to the spiritual life in a fresh, engaging, and practical way. en-us episodic Everyday Faith for Everyday Catholics Ave Maria Press A project of Ave Maria Press, Ave Explores helps you discover and learn about aspects of the Catholic faith from a variety of different angles, looking at topics relevant to the spiritual life in a fresh, engaging, and practical way. no Faith, Ave Maria press, Catholicism, Catholic, Mary, Church, Our Lady, Blessed Mother, Jesus Ave Maria Press katieprejean@gmail.com Week Four: Finding Community through Great Books with Marcie Stokman and Colleen Hutt, Founders of Well-Read Mom https://aveexplores.fireside.fm/aveexplorescatholicisminliteraturewellreadmom 9cd7e807-c9ed-4b3c-b85e-50765f76ab97 Wed, 17 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Ave Maria Press full 33 Ave Maria Press 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. 51:56 no <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>Marcie and Colleen also explain the Well-Read Mom four-step process:</p> <ul> <li><p><strong>Read:</strong> Let go of the guilt and simply begin.</p></li> <li><p><strong>Compare:</strong> Connect the themes of the book to your own life.</p></li> <li><p><strong>Share:</strong> Engage in authentic conversations with others, ideally face-to-face.</p></li> <li><p><strong>Accompany:</strong> Support one another through life's struggles with compassion and confidentiality.</p></li> </ul> <h3>Three Takeaways:</h3> <ul> <li><p>Reading fosters friendship, and friendship inspires us to keep reading.</p></li> <li><p>Every person has a deep desire to be seen, known, loved, and connected in authentic community.</p></li> <li><p>The Well-Read Mom four-step process offers a practical path to deeper relationships and a richer intellectual and spiritual life.</p></li> </ul> <p>We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends!</p> <p>Editing provided by Forte Catholic (<a href="https://www.fortecatholic.com/" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.fortecatholic.com/</a>) </p> Ave Explores, Fr. Johan Teller, OP, Catholicism in Literature, Katie McGrady, Alex Jones, Haley Stewart, Claire Swinarski, Fr. Michael Brisson, Sr. Allison Gliot, Kaitlyn Facista, Andrew Swafford, well read moms, Marcie Stokman, Colleen Hutt, Hallow, The brothers Karamazov, CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien 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:

]]> 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:

]]> Week Three: C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien: Faith, Imagination, and the Power of Story feat. Kaitlyn Facista and Andrew Swafford https://aveexplores.fireside.fm/httpsaveexploresfiresidefmaveexplorescatholicisminliteratureswaffordfacista 4bacdb3d-3b16-4f62-bc95-1a5f400c47a5 Wed, 10 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Ave Maria Press full 33 Ave Maria Press 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. 43:31 no <p>In this episode of <em>Ave Explores: Catholicism in Literature</em>, 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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>Swafford reflects on encountering Tolkien later in life while reading <em>The Lord of the Rings</em> 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 <em>Mere Christianity</em>, <em>The Screwtape Letters</em>, and <em>The Great Divorce</em>, 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.</p> <p><strong>Journey through the wardrobe and wander into the Shire for an inspiring conversation about faith, imagination, and the transformative power of great stories.</strong></p> <p>We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends!</p> <p>Editing provided by Forte Catholic (<a href="https://www.fortecatholic.com/" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.fortecatholic.com/</a>)</p> Ave Explores, Fr. Johan Teller, OP, Catholicism in Literature, Katie McGrady, Alex Jones, Haley Stewart, Claire Swinarski, Fr. Michael Brisson, Sr. Allison Gliot, Kaitlyn Facista, Andrew Swafford, well read moms, Marcia Stockman, Colleen Hutt, Hallow, The brothers Karamazov, CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien 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:

]]> 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:

]]> Week Two: Murder Mysteries and Vampire Novels with Fr. Michael Brisson, LC, and Sr. Allison Gliot, FSP https://aveexplores.fireside.fm/httpsaveexploresfiresidefm10 9d637491-437a-424d-aac6-3d19058f4fa4 Wed, 03 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Ave Maria Press full 33 Ave Maria Press 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. 53:05 no <p>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.</p> <p>We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends!</p> <p>Editing provided by Forte Catholic (<a href="https://www.fortecatholic.com/" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.fortecatholic.com/</a>) </p> Ave Explores, Fr. Johan Teller, OP, Catholicism in Literature, Katie McGrady, Alex Jones, Haley Stewart, Claire Swinarski, Fr. Michael Brisson, Sr. Allison Gliot, Kaitlyn Facista, Andrew Swafford, well read moms, Marcia Stockman, Colleen Hutt, Hallow, The brothers Karamazov, CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien 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:

]]> 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:

]]> Week One: Reading in the Home https://aveexplores.fireside.fm/httpsaveexploresfiresidefm9 a364331c-bfa9-453a-b01b-1ea68b6b6266 Tue, 26 May 2026 14:00:00 -0400 Ave Maria Press full 33 Ave Maria Press 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. 50:05 no <p>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.</p> <p>We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends!</p> <p>Editing provided by Forte Catholic (<a href="https://www.fortecatholic.com/" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.fortecatholic.com/</a>) </p> Ave Explores, Fr. Johan Teller, OP, Catholicism in Literature, Katie McGrady, Alex Jones, Haley Stewart, Claire Swinarski, Fr. Michael Brisson, Sr. Allison Gliot, Kaitlyn Facista, Andrew Swafford, well read moms, Marcia Stockman, Colleen Hutt, Hallow, The brothers Karamazov, CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien 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:

]]> 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:

]]> Teaser: Read like a Friar with Fr. Jonah Teller, OP https://aveexplores.fireside.fm/httpsaveexploresfiresidefmaveexplorescatholicisminliteratureteller 9da267bd-eb7e-4343-ac9d-f502c7bb153b Wed, 20 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Ave Maria Press full 33 Ave Maria Press 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. 56:05 no <p>To kick off the new series of <em>Ave Explores</em> 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.</p> <p>We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends!</p> <p>Editing provided by Forte Catholic (<a href="https://www.fortecatholic.com/" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.fortecatholic.com/</a>) </p> Ave Explores, Fr. Johan Teller, OP, Catholicism in Literature, Katie McGrady, Alex Jones, Haley Stewart, Claire Swinarski, Fr. Michael Brisson, Sr. Allison Gliot, Kaitlyn Facista, Andrew Swafford, well read moms, Marcia Stockman, Colleen Hutt, Hallow, The brothers Karamazov, CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien 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:

]]> 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:

]]> How to Help People Listen to the Bible with Alex Jones of Hallow https://aveexplores.fireside.fm/aveexploresalexjoneshallow 2db661c7-e87a-44e1-9935-f53ba7d8b72b Wed, 29 Sep 2021 07:00:00 -0400 Ave Maria Press full 12 Ave Maria Press Alex Jones discusses the founding of Hallow--a Catholic prayer and meditation app--which came from his desire to read and meditate more on scripture. Scripture is a key component of the app, including audio recordings of books of the Bible, Gospel challenges, and scripture-based sleep stories. Jones said thousands of users have developed a habit of reading the Bible because of Hallow. 30:29 no <p>Alex Jones discusses the founding of Hallow--a Catholic prayer and meditation app--which came from his desire to read and meditate more on scripture. Scripture is a key component of the app, including audio recordings of books of the Bible, Gospel challenges, and scripture-based sleep stories. Jones said thousands of users have developed a habit of reading the Bible because of Hallow. </p> Ave Explores, Ave Maria Press, Alex Jones, Katie Prejean McGrady, bible, prayer app Alex Jones discusses the founding of Hallow--a Catholic prayer and meditation app--which came from his desire to read and meditate more on scripture. Scripture is a key component of the app, including audio recordings of books of the Bible, Gospel challenges, and scripture-based sleep stories. Jones said thousands of users have developed a habit of reading the Bible because of Hallow.

Links:

]]> Alex Jones discusses the founding of Hallow--a Catholic prayer and meditation app--which came from his desire to read and meditate more on scripture. Scripture is a key component of the app, including audio recordings of books of the Bible, Gospel challenges, and scripture-based sleep stories. Jones said thousands of users have developed a habit of reading the Bible because of Hallow.

Links:

]]>