Ave Explores

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

June 24th, 2026  |  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.

Teaser: Read like a Friar with Fr. Jonah Teller, OP

May 20th, 2026  |  Season 33  |  56 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

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.