Ave Explores

Week Two A Pilgrim’s Heart: How to "Be a Pilgrim" On and Off a Trip feat. Joan Watson (Verso Ministries)

October 14th, 2026  |  Season 34  |  39 mins 20 secs

33 days to prepare your heart for pilgrimage, ave explores, basilicas, catholic pilgrimages, corporate travel, david henrie, edmundo reyes, fr. dave pivonka, fr. mark toups, grady connolly, hiking the camino, joan watson, john hale, katie mcgrady, lourdes, paul jarzembowski, pilgrimage, rome, santiago de compostela, the holy land, the way of st. james, verso travel

St. Augustine coined the term peregrini to describe what it means to be a traveler through this life, making our pilgrimage toward our final home: heaven. This spirit of journeying, with a heart open to what God will do, is essential to pilgrimage. Joan Watson, pilgrimage formation manager for Verso Ministries, explores how a pilgrim’s heart is developed before, during, and after a journey to a specific place—and how we can carry that spirit with us every day.

Bonus Episode: Blessed Fulton Sheen's Impact

October 12th, 2026  |  39 mins 8 secs

Saints, ave explores, ave maria press, ave spotlight, beatification, blessed fulton sheen, catholic church, catholicism, evangelization through the media, katie mcgrady, oscar rivera, sheen awards

Katie joins Oscar Rivera on Ave Spotlight for a conversation about the legacy of Blessed Fulton Sheen and the power of media to proclaim the Gospel. Fresh off receiving the inaugural Sheen Award for Impact in Radio and Podcasting, she reflects on the importance of using our platforms for something greater than recognition. Together, they explore Sheen’s groundbreaking television ministry and his remarkable gift for communicating timeless truths with clarity, boldness, humor, and a profound understanding of the Church’s mission. From the missionary creativity of the 1950s to today’s world of podcasts, social media, and algorithms, this episode asks a challenging question: If we have more ways than ever to share Jesus with the world, what are we doing with that gift?

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

October 7th, 2026  |  Season 34  |  45 mins 59 secs

33 days to prepare your heart for pilgrimage, ave explores, basilicas, catholic pilgrimages, corporate travel, david henrie, edmundo reyes, fr. dave pivonka, fr. mark toups, grady connolly, hiking the camino, john hale, katie mcgrady, lourdes, pilgrimage, rome, santiago de compostela, the holy land, the way of st. james

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.

Teaser: Why Pilgrimages? feat. Edmundo Reyes of Seeking Beauty

September 30th, 2026  |  Season 34  |  53 mins 56 secs

33 days to prepare your heart for pilgrimage, ave explores, basilicas, catholic pilgrimages, corporate travel, david henrie, edmundo reyes, fr. dave pivonka, fr. mark toups, grady connolly, hiking the camino, john hale, katie mcgrady, lourdes, pilgrimage, rome, santiago de compostela, the holy land, the way of st. james

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.

Week Six: Books are a Bridge feat. Katie McGrady

July 1st, 2026  |  Season 33  |  25 mins 28 secs

alex jones, andrew swafford, ave explores, catholicism in literature, claire swinarski, colleen hutt, cs lewis, fr. johan teller, fr. michael brisson, haley stewart, hallow, jrr tolkien, kaitlyn facista, katie mcgrady, marcie stokman, op, sr. allison gliot, the brothers karamazov, well read moms

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.

Week Five: A Russian Novel for Lent on Hallow feat. Alex Jones and Ashley Lenz

June 24th, 2026  |  Season 33  |  44 mins 32 secs

alex jones, andrew swafford, ave explores, catholicism in literature, claire swinarski, colleen hutt, cs lewis, fr. johan teller, fr. michael brisson, haley stewart, hallow, jrr tolkien, kaitlyn facista, katie mcgrady, marcie stokman, op, sr. allison gliot, the brothers karamazov, well read moms

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.

Week Four: Finding Community through Great Books with Marcie Stokman and Colleen Hutt, Founders of Well-Read Mom

June 17th, 2026  |  Season 33  |  51 mins 56 secs

alex jones, andrew swafford, ave explores, catholicism in literature, claire swinarski, colleen hutt, cs lewis, fr. johan teller, fr. michael brisson, haley stewart, hallow, jrr tolkien, kaitlyn facista, katie mcgrady, marcie stokman, op, sr. allison gliot, the brothers karamazov, well read moms

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.

Week Three: C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien: Faith, Imagination, and the Power of Story feat. Kaitlyn Facista and Andrew Swafford

June 10th, 2026  |  Season 33  |  43 mins 31 secs

alex jones, andrew swafford, ave explores, catholicism in literature, claire swinarski, colleen hutt, cs lewis, fr. johan teller, fr. michael brisson, haley stewart, hallow, jrr tolkien, kaitlyn facista, katie mcgrady, marcia stockman, op, sr. allison gliot, the brothers karamazov, well read moms

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.

Week Two: Murder Mysteries and Vampire Novels with Fr. Michael Brisson, LC, and Sr. Allison Gliot, FSP

June 3rd, 2026  |  Season 33  |  53 mins 5 secs

alex jones, andrew swafford, ave explores, catholicism in literature, claire swinarski, colleen hutt, cs lewis, fr. johan teller, fr. michael brisson, haley stewart, hallow, jrr tolkien, kaitlyn facista, katie mcgrady, marcia stockman, op, sr. allison gliot, the brothers karamazov, well read moms

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.

Week One: Reading in the Home

May 26th, 2026  |  Season 33  |  50 mins 5 secs

alex jones, andrew swafford, ave explores, catholicism in literature, claire swinarski, colleen hutt, cs lewis, fr. johan teller, fr. michael brisson, haley stewart, hallow, jrr tolkien, kaitlyn facista, katie mcgrady, marcia stockman, op, sr. allison gliot, the brothers karamazov, well read moms

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.