Advertise on podcast: Ave Spotlight

Oscar welcomes Catholic speaker, author, and radio host Katie McGrady back to 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, Katie 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? Three Takeaways: The platform is a tool, not the prize. Fulton Sheen understood that the value of media wasn’t found in awards or recognition, but in its ability to communicate Christ and his Church to the world. The Church is bigger than what we see. The veneration of relics and the communion of saints remind us that we belong to one Body of Christ, united across generations and throughout the world. Every generation has a missionary opportunity. From television and radio to podcasts and social media, the challenge remains the same: use the tools of our time to bring people closer to Jesus. 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/)

Oscar sits down with Catholic hip-hop artist and evangelist Joe Melendrez for a conversation about identity, creativity, and what happens when an encounter with God redirects your entire life. From appearing on MTV as a teenager to encountering the Holy Spirit at a teen A.C.T.S. retreat, Joe shares how he discovered that his gifts for music, dancing, and performance weren’t meant to build up the world but to glorify God. We explore why Catholic artist should pursue excellence, not because we are perfect but because our God is so perfect. Three takeaways: Encounter with Jesus changes our direction in life. Creativity is part of evangelization Your gifts are your mission. 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/)

Oscar sits down with Lauren Gothard to discuss how to navigate major transitions without retreating into what feels comfortable. Starting with an insightful takeaway from Spider-Man, they explore what happens when life shifts and we are challenged to embrace who we are becoming rather than clinging to who we’ve been. Lauren and Oscar dive into the difference between being a consumer of faith and an active contributor to the Gospel. Lauren shares practical insights on overcoming the fear of sharing our faith, getting past the mental blocks that quiet the Holy Spirit, and recognizing that goodness is meant to be shared with those around us. She reminds us that God meets us as a healer in our brokenness so that we can step out in courage. Whether you’re heading to college, entering a new season, trying to deepen your faith, or just wondering whether God is real, this episode offers a simple challenge: give God an opportunity to lead you somewhere new. 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/)

On this episode of Ave Spotlight, Meg Hunter-Kilmer talks about staying rooted in Christ during one of life’s biggest transitions: college. Meg challenges the idea that holiness requires having everything figured out—sharing stories of imperfect saints whose lives reveal a God who meets us exactly where we are and calls us forward. For college students navigating new freedom, relationships, busy schedules, and questions of identity, Meg offers a refreshingly practical path to holiness. Holiness isn’t about becoming someone else; it’s about allowing God to transform the person he already created you to become. Three Takeaways: Get into scripture. Make time to read, pray with, and reflect on God’s word. Make space for silence. Silence creates room to hear God’s voice and recognize his presence. Embrace the sacramental life. The sacraments give us the grace and strength we need to grow in holiness.

Fr. John Garabedian, associate director of vocations for the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts, talks with Oscar about baseball, priesthood, creativity, and learning to trust God’s call. A former college baseball player and graphic designer, Fr. John reflects on how the highs and lows of athletics taught him to keep success and failure in perspective, and how these lessons transfer to the spiritual life. He also shares his journey from recognizing a possible call to priesthood, and eventually surrendering to the vocation God had been placing on his heart all along. Three takeaways: Use the tools without losing the human touch. Your identity is bigger than your performance. God’s call requires a response. 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/)

I sit down with Tom Corcoran, co-founder and president of Rebuilt Parish, to explore one of the most challenging encounters in the Gospels: Jesus and the Rich Young Man. Drawing from his new book, Tom unpacks why this story continues to speak to every Christian wrestling with the tension of happiness. Together, we discuss how Jesus always begins with love before inviting us to the cross. Three Takeaways: Jesus loves us before He challenges us. Every invitation to sacrifice begins with an encounter rooted in His love and desire for our happiness. Idols take many forms. Wealth, status, comfort, family, entertainment, and even good things can become obstacles when they take God's rightful place. Mission begins with surrender. Personal conversion and parish renewal both start by letting go of what keeps us from fully following 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/)

Oscar welcomes Andy Churray, president of Vagabond Missions, to Ave Spotlight for a conversation about what it means to live on mission. Andy shares how Vagabond Missions brings the Gospel to inner-city neighborhoods by reaching young people who are often overlooked by traditional ministry. Rooted in Jesus' words that "the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head," their mission isn't built on flashy programs but on a simple philosophy: make a friend, be a friend, and bring a friend to Christ. Through stories of authentic relationships, Andy reminds listeners that evangelization begins not with projects or programs, but with presence, grace, and the courage to go where others will not. Three Takeaways: Mission begins with relationships. The Gospel spreads most powerfully through authentic friendships, not elaborate strategies. Create margin for people. Like Jesus, we must slow down enough to truly see, know, and accompany those around us. Grace comes before the checklist. Lasting evangelization isn't about completing tasks—it's about allowing Christ's love to overflow into the lives of 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/)

Oscar welcomes Santonio Hill for a conversation that bridges the worlds of sports, faith, and discipleship. Together, we explore why people passionately identify with teams, wear their colors, defend their loyalty, and find community through sports. But what might happen if that same energy were directed toward a relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church? Drawing from the examples of elite athletes, Santonio challenges listeners to embrace the discipline, sacrifice, and consistency required for spiritual growth. Through his personal conversion story in Eucharistic Adoration, he reveals how falling in love with God transformed his life and gave him a mission greater than himself. 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/)

Oscar sat down with Paul Blanchard, director of social media outreach and IT specialist for the Catholic Diocese of Biloxi, to explore one of the most important questions facing the Church today: How do we embrace technology without losing our humanity? Drawing from Pope Leo XIV recent encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, Paul shares insights from the front lines of digital evangelization, where technology serves the mission of making disciples rather than replacing relationships. Together we discuss AI companions, social media, human dignity, and the Church’s responsibility to provide moral guidance in a rapidly changing world. Through it all, Paul reminds listeners that the goal of technology should not be efficiency alone, but deeper communion with God and one another. Three Takeaways: Technology should serve relationships, not replace them. Human dignity must remain at the center of AI development. Evangelization is ultimately personal. 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/)

On this episode, Oscar sits down with Helena Heffernan of Life Teen International to explore the often challenging journey of discernment. Helena shares how prayer, silence, and honest self-awareness helped her recognize where her gifts could truly flourish. Their conversation is a powerful reminder that vocation is not about forcing a path forward, but faithfully responding to where God is genuinely calling you. 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/)

In this episode, my wife, Pamela Rivera, joins me for a heartfelt conversation about how motherhood changes when our prayer life and interior life begin to deepen. Pam encourages listeners to embrace humility, rediscover the beauty of silence, and make space for the Lord to speak in the quiet moments of Adoration. Sometimes what our souls need most is less noise and more time in God’s presence. In this conversation, we explore: Why pride stands in opposition to the feminine genius How trust in God’s providence grows when we take courageous leaps of faith Whether marriage is more like a football team or a track team—and why the difference matters Plus, I sit down with my own mother to ask one simple question: “What was I like as a kid?” 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/)

Josh Rosa joins Oscar to unpack the mindset needed to overcome life’s “mountains.” From stepping beyond comfort zones to rejecting performative faith, he explores how real transformation begins with action—not just emotion. This conversation challenges listeners to stop waiting, start moving, and trust that God meets them in the climb. Joshua Rosa, of Dominican descent, is a co-founder of Agnus Dei Ministry, a published author, Catholic speaker, and passionate follower of Christ. He also hosts the Made for This Mountain podcast. 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/)

In this episode, TJ Bogan joins Oscar to talk about the Camino de Santiago as more than a physical challenge, it’s a spiritual awakening. Through his work with Follow My Camino, TJ leads pilgrims through sacred sites and into deeper faith, rooted in Catholic tradition. This conversation reveals how pilgrimage can move from tourism to transformation, guiding souls closer to Christ through every step. 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/)

In this Holy Week reflection, Oscar looks back on the Lenten journey—its highs and lows—and considers how God meets us in all of it. As beloved sons and daughters, we can trust that he responds to every effort we make. But how are we called to respond in return? We’re not made to avoid suffering, but to embrace it with gratitude and grace, trusting that even our hardships have purpose. This week, as we walk more closely with Jesus, we remember that we’re already strapped into the ride of his love. The question is: will we trust him enough to pull the cord and follow where he leads? 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/)

Fr. Josh Johnson shares his journey from spiritual searching to the priesthood and how prayer became the anchor of his life. In this episode of Ave Spotlight, he reflects on the universal call to holiness and the power of scripture to help us hear God’s voice. Slow down, listen, and rediscover how prayer can draw you into deeper relationship with 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/)